JP4569321B2 - Camera device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera apparatus having an optical zoom.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, optical zoom in a so-called compact camera is a retractable type in which a zoom optical system is incorporated in a lens barrel that is drawn from the camera body at the time of shooting, and the zoom optical system moves according to the zoom magnification (for example, see Patent Document 1 below) ) And an optical element such as a prism or a mirror that once bends incident photographing light, and a zoom optical system that moves in the optical axis direction (usually in the vertical direction) of the bent photographing light (for example, the following patent document) 2).
JP 2002-112097 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-20191

  However, when the retractable optical zoom is not used, the zoom optical system needs to be accommodated within the thickness of the camera body. When the inner optical zoom is used, the movement space of the zoom optical system is always secured in the camera body. There is a need to. On the other hand, there is a limit to the main body size that can be secured in a compact camera, considering the market demands. Therefore, the optical zoom magnification that can be secured in a compact camera is currently limited to about 3 times. .

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and the ratio of the enlargement of the camera body is small compared to the increase in the magnification of the optical zoom, and the higher magnification of the optical zoom and the compactness of the camera body are achieved. It is an object to provide a camera device that can be realized simultaneously.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the invention of claim 1, in the camera device provided with the optical zoom lens, the optical zoom lens is incorporated in the lens barrel and accommodated in the camera body, and zooming is performed. A retractable zoom optical system that is driven together with the lens barrel in a state of being drawn out from the camera body in accordance with the magnification, and a folding optical element that folds the photographing light passing through the retractable zoom optical system inside the camera body And an inner side zoom optical system that is driven in accordance with the zoom magnification on the optical axis of the photographic light bent by the bending optical element, and the optical zoom lens is zoomed to the telephoto side. Control means for driving the inner zoom optical system with priority, and driving the retractable zoom optical system with priority when zoomed to the wide angle side. It was that there was example.

In such a configuration, a high zoom magnification can be ensured by both the retractable zoom optical system and the inner zoom optical system. In addition, the camera body can be made smaller than when the zoom magnification is achieved by only one of the retractable zoom optical system and the inner zoom optical system. That is, the ratio of enlargement of the camera body can be reduced as compared with the higher magnification of the optical zoom. Furthermore, when zooming to the telephoto side, the inner side zoom optical system is driven with priority, so when using the telephoto side zoom that is frequently used, the retractable side zoom optical system is driven to move the lens in and out. The frequency of doing can be reduced.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a condensing lens provided on the retractable zoom optical system for condensing photographing light toward the bending optical element, and the bending optical element. And a diffusing lens that diffuses the bent photographing light.

  In such a configuration, the optical path width of the moving region of the inner zoom optical system can be reduced. Therefore, the thickness of the camera body can be further reduced.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the diffusing lens diffuses and enters the photographic light bent by the bending optical element into the inner zoom optical system.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the condenser lens is a focus lens that forms an optical image of a subject on the bending optical element.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an image pickup device for picking up an optical image of a subject formed through the inner zoom optical system and image data of the subject image picked up by the image pickup device are recorded. And a recording means.

  In the invention of claim 6, the retractable side driving means for driving the retractable side zoom optical system, the inner side driving means for driving the inner side zoom optical system, and at the end of the photographing mode operation, The retractable zoom optical system is accommodated in the camera body together with the lens barrel by the retractable drive means, and the inner zoom optical system is accommodated in the camera body by the inner drive means. And control means for driving to the corresponding wide end side magnification position.

  In such a configuration, when the shooting mode operation starts (when the power is turned on), the inner zoom optical system is at the magnification position on the wide end side corresponding to the retractable zoom optical system housed in the camera body. Immediately after the shooting mode setting operation or the power-on operation, shooting in the zoom wide state can be performed without waiting for driving of the retractable zoom optical system or the inner zoom optical system.

In the invention of claim 7, the collapsible is driven together with the lens barrel so as to be incorporated in the lens barrel and housed in the camera main body and extended from the camera main body according to the zoom magnification. a side zoom optical system, inside the camera body, the computer camera device having having an optical zoom lens including a a fold optical element for bending the imaging light having passed through the collapsed side zoom optical system, the optical zoom lens When the zoom is operated to the telephoto side, the inner zoom optical system is preferentially driven, and when the zoom is operated to the wide angle side, the retractable zoom optical system is preferentially driven. It was a program to make it.

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the ratio of enlargement of the camera body can be reduced as compared with the higher magnification of the optical zoom, the higher magnification of the optical zoom and the compactness of the camera body can be achieved. Can be realized simultaneously. Furthermore, when using the telephoto zoom that is frequently used, it is possible to drive the retractable zoom optical system to reduce the frequency at which the lens enters and exits.

  In the inventions of claims 2, 3 and 4, since the thickness of the camera body can be further reduced, further downsizing can be realized.

  In the invention of claim 6, immediately after the power-on operation or the shooting mode setting operation, shooting in the zoom wide state is performed without waiting for the drive of the retractable zoom optical system or the inner zoom optical system. I was able to do that. Therefore, convenience can be improved.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
1 and 2 are schematic sectional views showing the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera 1 has general AE and AF functions, and also includes the retractable optical zoom and the inner optical zoom described in the background art.

  That is, on the upper front side of the camera body 2, a retractable lens having a three-stage configuration that is driven in the retracted state shown in FIG. 1 and the extended state extended from the camera body 2 as shown in FIG. A lens barrel 3 is provided. A drive mechanism (not shown) is incorporated in the lens barrel 3, and the drive mechanism is retracted together with the lens barrel 3 or in the direction of the optical axis O in the lens barrel 3 in accordance with the zoom magnification. The side zoom lens 4 is held.

  In addition, the camera body 2 has a mirror 5 as a bending optical element that is fixed to the support 10 and bends photographing light that has passed through the retractable zoom lens 4, an inner zoom lens 6, and a focus lens. 7, a mechanical shutter (hereinafter simply referred to as a shutter) 8, and a CCD 9 are accommodated.

  The inner zoom lens 6 is held by a drive mechanism (not shown) assembled to the support 10 and is vertically moved along the photographing light bent by the mirror 5, that is, on the optical axis O according to the zoom magnification. Driven by. In the present embodiment, the maximum zoom magnification that can be secured independently in each of the retractable zoom lens 4 and the inner zoom lens 6 is 3 times.

  Similarly to the inner zoom lens 6, the focus lens 7 is also held by a driving mechanism (not shown) assembled to the support 10. Then, it is driven up and down on the optical axis O according to the subject distance or following the inner zoom lens 6, thereby imaging the photographing light that has passed through each of the optical systems described above on the light receiving surface of the CCD 9. The shutter 8 opens and closes the optical path to the CCD 9.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of the electrical configuration of the digital camera 1. The digital camera 1 is composed of the following units with a CPU 21 that controls the entire system as a center.

  In the figure, a retractable lens block 22 is a block showing a drive mechanism including the retractable zoom lens 4 described above, and a first motor control unit 24 for controlling a first motor 23 that is a drive source is a CPU 21. Connected with. The inner side lens block 25 is a block showing both the driving mechanism including the inner side zoom lens 6 and the driving mechanism including the focus lens 7 described above, and a second motor (actually, each driving source). A second motor control unit 27 for controlling 26 (individually present) is connected to the CPU 21. Thus, the CPU 21 can control the lens positions of the retractable zoom lens 4 and the inner zoom lens 6. That is, the first motor 23 and the first motor control unit 24 realize the retraction side driving means of the present invention, and the second motor 26 and the second motor control unit 27 realize the inner side driving means of the present invention. Has been. The CPU 21 is also connected with a shutter control unit 28 for opening and closing the shutter 8.

  The CCD 9 is driven by a drive circuit (not shown) and picks up an optical image of a subject formed by the focus lens 7. The image picked up by the CCD 9 is temporarily stored in the image memory 29, and then subjected to predetermined processing by the image processing unit 30, and is displayed on the screen on a display unit 31 comprising a liquid crystal monitor or the like. The image processing unit 30 performs compression processing of the image data temporarily stored in the image memory 29 and expansion processing of the compressed image data. The image data compressed by the image processing unit 30 is attached to the camera body 2. It is recorded in an external memory 32 (recording means) composed of various memory cards.

  A key input unit 33 and a flash memory 34 are connected to the CPU 21. The key input unit 33 includes a power button and switches (not shown) such as a shutter key, a zoom operation button, and a mode switching button for instructing photographing. The operation state of the switches is periodically scanned by the CPU 21. Various programs executed by the CPU 21 are stored in the flash memory 34, and the CPU 21 controls each unit described above based on these programs and the operation state of the switches. In particular, in this embodiment, it functions as the control means of the present invention by performing the control described later.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing contents executed by the CPU 21 after the digital camera 1 is activated in response to a power-on operation. Here, it is assumed that the photographing mode (recording mode) is set in the digital camera 1 when the power is turned on.

  As shown in the figure, the CPU 21 starts an operation upon activation, and first starts imaging of a subject by the CCD 9 at a predetermined slew rate and through display on the imaging result display unit 31 (step S1). Next, it is determined whether or not the shutter key has been pressed. If the shutter key has been pressed (YES in step S2), the CCD 9 is caused to image the subject and the image data acquired by the imaging is recorded in the external memory 32 ( Step S3).

  If the shutter key has not been pressed (NO in step S2), it is determined whether or not there is a zoom operation with the zoom key. If there is a zoom operation (YES in step S4), the following processing is executed.

  That is, when there is a zoom operation, if it is an operation toward the tele side (“tele side” in step S5), the inner side zoom lens 6 is preferentially driven (step S6). That is, if the position of the inner zoom lens 6 is not at the tele end at that time, the inner zoom lens 6 is first driven to the tele side. If the inner zoom lens 6 has already reached the telephoto end, that is, if the zoom magnification has been tripled, the retractable zoom lens 4 for extending the lens barrel 3 is driven to the telephoto side. As a result, the zoom magnification is changed to any of 3 to 9 times. When the zoom operation is an operation to the wide side (“wide side” in step S5), the retractable zoom lens 4 is preferentially driven (step S7). In other words, if the retractable zoom lens 4 is not at the wide end at that time, the retractable zoom lens 4 is first driven to the wide side, and the retractable zoom lens 4 is already shown in FIG. If the wide end is reached in the retracted state, the inner zoom lens 6 is driven to the wide side. The above-described processing is repeated until the user turns off the power (NO in step S8).

  On the other hand, if the power is turned off while repeating the above processing (YES in step S8), the CPU 21 starts storing the retractable zoom lens 4 (lens barrel 3) in the camera body 2 (step S9). If the retractable zoom lens 4 is already in the retracted position (in the present embodiment, at the wide end) when the power is turned off, such processing is skipped. Subsequently, if the position of the inner zoom lens 6 is the wide end at that time (YES in step S10), the storage end of the retractable zoom lens 4 is awaited as it is (step S12), and all the processes are ended. If the retractable zoom lens 4 is already in the retracted position as described above, all processing is immediately terminated. If the position of the inner zoom lens 6 is not the wide end (NO in step S10), after driving it to the wide end (step S11), waiting for the retracting of the retractable zoom lens 4 to be completed or immediately. All processing ends.

  Here, as an example, the case where the power is turned on while the digital camera 1 is set in the shooting mode and then the power is turned off has been described. However, the above-described processing is performed while the digital camera 1 is being activated. The same applies when there is a mode change from an operation mode other than the shooting mode to the shooting mode and then the power is turned off, or when there is a mode change to another operation mode other than the shooting mode. It is.

  Here, in the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment described above, a zoom magnification of 9 times at maximum can be obtained by enlarging the subject with the retractable zoom lens 4 and the inner zoom lens 6. Moreover, the camera body 2 has a thickness W and a height H (see FIG. 1) as compared with the case where the same maximum zoom magnification is achieved by only one of the retractable zoom lens 4 and the inner zoom lens 6 as in the prior art. ) Can be small. That is, the proportion of enlargement of the camera body 2 can be reduced as compared with the higher magnification of the optical zoom. Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously realize a high optical zoom magnification and a compact camera body.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as described above, when the power is turned off in the recording mode, or when the operation mode is changed from the shooting mode to another mode, that is, at the end of the shooting mode operation, the inner zoom lens 6 is turned on. Since the is moved to the wide end, there are the following advantages. That is, at the time of the next shooting (or the same when starting up), it is possible to immediately perform shooting in the zoom wide state by simply pressing the shutter key without waiting for the retractable zoom lens 4 and the inner zoom lens 6 to be driven. it can. That is, high-speed startup is possible. The effect is not limited to the camera device including both the retractable zoom lens 4 and the inner zoom lens 6 as in the present embodiment, but includes only the inner zoom lens 6. Also in the camera device, the same operation can be obtained by moving the inner zoom lens 6 to the wide end at the end of the shooting mode operation.

(Embodiment 2)
5 and 6 are schematic cross-sectional views showing a digital camera 51 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the digital camera 51 described in the first embodiment, the digital camera 51 has a general AE and AF function, and a retractable optical zoom and an inner optical zoom.

  That is, on the upper front side of the camera body 52, a retractable lens having a three-stage configuration driven in the retracted state shown in FIG. 5 and the extended state extended from the camera body 52 as shown in FIG. A lens barrel 53 is provided. A driving mechanism (not shown) is incorporated in the lens barrel 53, and is driven in the direction of the optical axis O together with the lens barrel 53 or in the lens barrel 53 according to the zoom magnification. The retractable zoom lens 54 is held.

  Further, the retracting side focus lens 61 is held together with the retracting side zoom lens 54 in the drive mechanism. The retractable focus lens 61 is driven in the direction of the optical axis O together with the lens barrel 53 or within the lens barrel 53 in accordance with the subject distance or following the retractable zoom lens 54, thereby retracting the retractable focus lens 61. The photographing light that has passed through the zoom lens 54 is imaged on a mirror 55 described later.

  Further, inside the camera main body 52, a mirror 55 as a bending optical element that is fixed to the support 60, bends photographing light that has passed through the retractable zoom lens 54 and the retractable focus lens 61, and a diffusion lens. 62, an inner zoom lens 56, an inner focus lens 57, a mechanical shutter 58, and a CCD 59 are accommodated.

  The diffusion lens 62 is fixed to the support 60 in the same manner as the mirror 55, and once the image is formed on the mirror 55 by the retractable focus lens 61 and is bent by the mirror 55, the diffusion lens 62 diffuses the photographic light to the inner side. The light enters the zoom lens 56.

  The inner side zoom lens 56 is held by a driving mechanism (not shown) assembled to the support body 60, and moves vertically along the photographic light bent by the mirror 55, that is, on the optical axis O in accordance with the zoom magnification. Driven in the direction. In the present embodiment, the maximum zoom magnification that can be secured independently in each of the retractable zoom lens 54 and the inner zoom lens 56 is 3 times.

  Similarly to the inner zoom lens 56, the inner focus lens 57 is also held by a driving mechanism (not shown) assembled to the support body 60. Then, the photographic light passing through each of the optical systems is imaged on the light receiving surface of the CCD 59 by being driven up and down on the optical axis O in accordance with the subject distance or following the inner zoom lens 56. The mechanical shutter 58 opens and closes the optical path to the CCD 59.

  The electrical configuration of the digital camera 51 is the same as that shown in FIG. 3 in the first embodiment except for the following points, and a description thereof will be omitted. That is, in the present embodiment, the retractable lens block 22 is a block showing both a drive mechanism including the retractable zoom lens 54 and a drive mechanism including the retractable focus lens 61, and the first motor. The control unit 24 controls the first motors (actually present individually) 23 that are the respective drive sources.

  Also in the digital camera 51 having the above-described configuration, as in the digital camera 1 shown in the first embodiment, a maximum of 9 can be obtained by enlarging the subject with the retractable zoom lens 54 and the inner zoom lens 56. Double zoom magnification can be obtained. Moreover, the camera body 52 has a thickness W and a height H (see FIG. 5) as compared to the case where the same maximum zoom magnification is achieved by only one of the retractable zoom lens 54 and the inner zoom lens 56 as in the prior art. ) Can be small. That is, the proportion of enlargement of the camera body 2 can be reduced as compared with the higher magnification of the optical zoom. Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously realize a high optical zoom magnification and a compact camera body.

  Moreover, the photographic light once imaged on the mirror 55 smaller than the mirror 5 described in the first embodiment by the collapsible side focus lens 61 is diffused by the diffusion lens 62 and applied to the inner side zoom lens 56. As shown in FIG. 6, the moving area of the inner zoom lens 56 is moved backward to the CCD 59 side opposite to the retractable zoom lens 54, and the optical path width A in that portion is not moved backward, as shown in FIG. By making it narrower than the optical path width B in this case, a margin space 100 suitable for storing the lens barrel 53 can be secured in the camera body 52. Therefore, the lens barrel 53 can be efficiently stored inside the camera body 52.

  Further, unlike the present embodiment, a small inner zoom lens 56 and inner focus lens 57 may be provided on the optical path between the mirror 55 and the diffusion lens 62. In this case, since the optical path width A can be set to just before the CCD 9, the marginal space 100 can be further expanded. As a result, it is possible to further reduce the size of the camera body 52 by expanding the degree of freedom when other components other than the lens barrel 53 are arranged.

  Therefore, the thickness W of the camera body 52 can be further reduced as compared with the digital camera 1 in the first embodiment. That is, the proportion of enlargement of the camera body 52 can be made extremely small as compared with the increase in magnification of the optical zoom. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the photographic light is once imaged on the small mirror 55 by the retractable focus lens 61, the optical path width A described above can be minimized, and the above effect is great.

  In the present embodiment, the imaging light is once focused on the mirror 55. However, the imaging light is condensed toward the small mirror 55 even before the imaging is performed. If there is, the retractable focus lens 61 can be another condensing lens.

  Also in the digital camera 52 of the present embodiment, as in the case of the digital camera 1, if the inner zoom lens 56 is moved to the wide end at the end of the shooting mode operation, the next shooting (or In the same manner at the time of start-up, it is possible to immediately shoot in the zoom wide state by simply pressing the shutter key without waiting for the inner zoom lens 56 to be driven. That is, high-speed startup is possible.

  In the above description, the case where the present invention is applied to a digital camera has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention is also applicable to a conventional silver salt camera or the like as long as it is a camera device equipped with an optical zoom. can do.

It is a schematic cross section when the retractable lens barrel showing the digital camera in the first embodiment is in a retracted state. It is a schematic cross section when the retractable lens barrel is in the extended state. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of an electrical structure of a digital camera. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of CPU which concerns on this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a digital camera according to a second embodiment when a retractable lens barrel is in a retracted state. It is a schematic cross section when the retractable lens barrel is in the extended state.

Explanation of symbols

2 Camera body 4 Retractable zoom lens 5 Mirror 6 Inner zoom lens 9 CCD
21 CPU
23 1st motor 24 1st motor control part 26 2nd motor 27 2nd motor control part 32 External memory 34 Flash memory 52 Camera body 54 Retractable side zoom lens 55 Mirror 56 Inner side zoom lens 57 Inner side focus lens 61 Retractable focus lens 62 Diffuse lens 100 Spare space A, B Optical path width O Optical axis

Claims (7)

In a camera device equipped with an optical zoom lens,
The optical zoom lens is
A retractable zoom optical system that is incorporated in the lens barrel and is driven together with the lens barrel in a state of being housed in the camera body and being drawn out of the camera body according to the zoom magnification;
A folding optical element that folds the photographing light passing through the retractable zoom optical system inside the camera body;
The folding of the photographing light bent by the optical element for the optical axis viewing including an inner side zoom optical system which is driven in accordance with the zoom magnification,
When the optical zoom lens is zoomed to the telephoto side, the inner zoom optical system is driven with priority. When the zoom lens is zoomed to the wide angle side, the retractable zoom optical system is driven with priority. Comprising control means,
A camera device characterized by that. A condensing lens provided in the retractable zoom optical system for condensing photographing light toward the bending optical element;
The camera apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a diffusing lens that diffuses photographing light that is bent by the bending optical element.   3. The camera apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the diffusion lens diffuses and enters the photographing light bent by the bending optical element into the inner zoom optical system.   4. The camera apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the condensing lens is a focus lens that forms an optical image of a subject on the bending optical element. An image sensor that captures an optical image of a subject imaged through the inner zoom optical system;
The camera apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a recording unit that records image data of a subject image captured by the imaging element. Retraction side drive means for driving the retraction side zoom optical system;
Inner side driving means for driving the inner side zoom optical system;
At the end of the photographing mode operation, the retracting side zoom optical system is housed in the camera body together with the lens barrel by the retracting side driving means, and the inner side zoom optical system is housed in the camera body by the inner side driving means. 6. The camera device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that drives the zoom position to a magnification position on the wide end side corresponding to the retractable zoom optical system in the state. A retractable zoom optical system that is built in the lens barrel, housed in the camera body, and driven out of the camera body according to the zoom magnification, and driven with the lens barrel, and inside the camera body, A computer having a camera device including an optical zoom lens including a bending optical element that folds photographing light passing through the retractable zoom optical system;
When the optical zoom lens is zoomed to the telephoto side, the inner zoom optical system is driven with priority. When the zoom lens is zoomed to the wide angle side, the retractable zoom optical system is driven with priority. Control procedure,
A program for running

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