JP4660030B2 - Strobe device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a flash discharge as a light source that is useful as an artificial illumination source when taking a picture using a camera (imaging device) equipped with a silver salt film, a charge coupled device (CCD), or a CMOS sensor. The present invention relates to a strobe device using a tube.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Analog cameras that have been known for a long time, well-known digital cameras that use CCD or CMOS sensors as photosensitizers, or so-called disposable cameras that incorporate a simple lens unit into a film-containing container have a built-in strobe device. There are many things.
[0003]
In addition, with the spread of packet communication networks, mobile phone terminals that can deliver captured images using a built-in digital camera have come to the market. At the same time, strobe devices that can be attached to and detached from mobile phone terminals are also available. It has come to be offered.
[0004]
In these strobe devices, after an aluminum reflector is fitted from the front into the opening of the resin-molded frame, Xe gas, for example, is supplied from the side opening of the reflector that protrudes behind the opening of the frame. The enclosed glass flash discharge tube is inserted into a reflector, and then a pair of lead wires are soldered to the printed circuit board on which the strobe circuit is formed and the main electrode of the flash discharge tube, and the trigger lead wire is printed. After soldering to the back surface of the substrate and the reflector, the optical panel is fitted into the front surface of the frame body, or the printed circuit board and the frame body are accommodated in the housing with the optical panel fitted into the opening of the housing. It is common.
[0005]
The frame has a plurality of locking pieces respectively engaged with several notches engraved on the edge of the reflector, and has a holding piece behind the opening. A rubber umbrella and a flash discharge tube are fixed by attaching both ends of the rubber bushing to the both ends of the flash discharge tube with the holding piece straddled.
[0006]
As the holding piece, various structures have been conventionally provided. For example, a holding piece in the shape of a strip having a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional view that protrudes from the rear of the opening and contacts the central region on the back of the reflector. In addition, a strip-shaped holding piece having a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional view that surrounds substantially the entire area of the back surface of the reflector umbrella across the back surface of the opening is known.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Each holding part has a simple configuration and is useful in that respect. However, in the latter holding piece surrounding the back of the reflector, for example, when the strobe device is accidentally dropped, it is applied to the frame via the housing. If the shock is transmitted to the reflector and the flash discharge tube as they are without being absorbed by the holding piece, the flash discharge tube may sometimes be damaged.
[0008]
In addition, since the reflector umbrella is usually used as a trigger electrode, the trigger lead wire is connected directly or indirectly, but the trigger lead is covered by the back of the reflector umbrella by the holding piece. There is also a problem in that the soldering workability is deteriorated due to restrictions on the attachment points of the wires.
[0009]
On the other hand, in the former holding piece whose one end is a free end, the shock applied to the frame body is partially absorbed by the holding piece by forming the holding piece by, for example, an elastic member, and the flash discharge tube However, in addition to the poor soldering workability due to restrictions on the trigger lead wire mounting location, there are fewer contact points with the reflector than the latter holding piece. Poor retention is pointed out.
[0010]
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the conventional problems as described above, and is excellent in impact resistance and can perform soldering work of the trigger lead wire smoothly and reliably. It is an object of the present invention to provide a strobe device that can easily position the reflector with respect to the frame body by improving the retentivity.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A strobe device according to the present invention is made to solve the above-described problems, and is a resin frame having a substantially rectangular opening, and a reflector that is fitted into the opening of the frame from the front. A flash discharge tube inserted in the reflector along the longitudinal direction of the opening of the frame, and an optical panel disposed in front of the opening of the frame, and emitted from the flash discharge tube, In the strobe device configured to irradiate the condensed light to the subject via the optical panel, a pair of holding pieces that surround both ends in the longitudinal direction of the reflector from the rear and are divided at a midpoint by the notch Provided behind the opening of the frame, the reflector and the flash discharge tube are arranged so as to straddle one side of the pair of holding pieces, and both ends are extrapolated to the flash discharge tube It is attracted to the one side by a band-shaped elastic member It allows to characterized by being fixed to the one side.
[0012]
According to the strobe device having the above-described configuration, the reflector is inserted into the opening of the frame body from the front and the edge of the reflector is substantially aligned with the opening. By holding both ends in the direction from the rear, the reflector is prevented from falling out to the back side. Since each holding piece comes into contact with at least three or more points on the back surface of the reflecting umbrella at the end of the reflecting umbrella (including cases where they are in surface contact with each other in a predetermined region or all regions), the holding property of the reflecting umbrella is obtained. The stability of the reflector with respect to the frame is improved.
[0013]
Further, if the holding piece is partially cut (opened), the holding piece is formed of an elastic member, for example, so that the shock applied to the frame is partially absorbed by the holding piece, and the flash discharge tube A shock-absorbing action against the shock applied to the surface occurs.
[0014]
In addition, the pair of holding pieces are arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other corresponding to both ends of the reflector, and the central area on the back of the reflector is exposed, so there is a work space for soldering the trigger lead wire. Secured.
[0015]
Further, in the strobe device according to the present invention, as described in claim 2, the holding piece contacts at three points, that is, both edge portions and the central portion in the direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the reflecting umbrella attracted by the elastic member. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which a notch portion is formed in the vicinity of one side of both corner portions of the holding piece.
[0016]
According to the strobe device configured as described above, the substantially U-shaped holding piece is composed of a substantially L-shaped part and a substantially straight part, and the one side of the former is in contact with one edge of the reflector. At the same time, the other side contacts the central part of the reflector, and the latter side contacts the other edge of the reflector.
[0017]
By this three-point contact, the reflector is not inadvertently rotationally displaced around the axis of the flash discharge tube, and the stability of the reflector with respect to the frame is ensured.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
The strobe device 1 according to the present embodiment includes an optical panel 3 made of a transparent resin as a light emitting surface and a plug 4 in a substantially box-shaped housing 2 that is a resin molded product, and a CCD or CMOS sensor is used as a photosensitive agent. It is detachably attached to an earphone jack a of a mobile phone terminal A incorporating a known digital camera, and emits light when receiving power supply and an imaging start signal from the mobile phone terminal A.
[0020]
2 to 4, the strobe device includes a printed circuit board (not shown), a frame 5 attached to the printed circuit board, a reflector 6 formed by appropriately bending an aluminum cutting plate, and a straight tubular flash. It further includes a discharge tube 7 and a trigger electrode 8 in which a copper plate sheet is curved in an arc shape corresponding to the reflector.
[0021]
A circuit pattern for causing the flash discharge tube 7 to emit light is printed on the printed board. As circuit components, various lead wires for the plug 4, the flash discharge tube 7, the trigger electrode 8, the synchro switch, the main capacitor, the trigger capacitor, the transformer, etc. are soldered to the printed circuit board, and the strobe circuit is formed. It is configured.
[0022]
The holding frame 5 corresponds to the substantially rectangular optical panel 3 and corresponds to the base portion 5a formed in a substantially rectangular shape and a flat plate shape, and the front opening portion (light projection passage portion) of the reflector 6. An opening 5b formed in a substantially rectangular shape at the center of the base 5a, a peripheral wall 5c protruding forward from the three sides of the base 5a, and a pair of legs protruding rearward from both side edges of the base 5a A pair of holding pieces 5f, 5f projecting upward and rearward from the base 5a so as to pass through positions near both ends of the portions 5d, 5d, and the opening 5b, and two upper and lower positions of the opening 5b. It is a resin molded product obtained by integrally molding the provided locking pieces 5e, 5e.
[0023]
In the opening 5b, an annular rib projects from the front side of the base 5a. The rib is lower on the lower side (one side in the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction) and higher on the upper side (the other side). Therefore, the end surface of the rib is inclined with respect to the surface of the housing 2.
[0024]
The peripheral wall portion 5c has an inner shape that substantially matches the outer shape of the optical panel 3, and a height that substantially matches the thickness of the optical panel 3. The optical panel 3 is fitted into the peripheral wall portion 5c. By doing so, the frame 5 can be detachably attached.
[0025]
Accordingly, a corrugated diffusion surface 3a having a light diffusion function is formed on the back surface of the optical panel 3 at a position facing the opening 5b of the frame body 5, while the front surface of the optical panel 3 is formed. In addition, a condensing surface 3b made of a Fresnel lens having a light condensing function is formed at a position facing the opening 5b of the frame 5.
[0026]
In a state where the optical panel 3 is mounted in the opening 2a of the housing 2, the diffusion surface 3a is inclined with respect to the surface of the housing 2 according to the inclination angle of the end surface of the rib of the opening 5b of the frame body 2, The light condensing surface 3 b is parallel to the surface of the housing 2.
[0027]
The reflector 6 is formed by cutting a thin glittering aluminum plate into a predetermined shape, bending it into a substantially U shape, and further bending its end portion inwardly. And a pair of side surface portions 6b, 6b, the inner surface of which is a reflecting surface that reflects the strobe light.
[0028]
Openings 6c, 6c that are slightly larger than the outer diameter of the flash discharge tube 7 are formed in the pair of side surface portions 6b, 6b. The flash discharge tube 7 is inserted from one opening 6c, and the other opening The end of the flash discharge tube 7 is exposed from the portion 6c.
[0029]
Square cutouts 6 a are formed at two positions on the top and bottom of the reflector 6.
[0030]
This notch 6a is provided corresponding to the locking piece 5e of the frame 5, and is locked in each notch 6a with the reflector 6 fitted in the opening 5b of the frame 5. When the piece 5e enters and the claws are coupled to each other, the reflector 6 is fixed to the opening 5b of the frame body 5 in an elastically contacted state.
[0031]
At this time, the four edge portions of the reflector 6 are set to be substantially flush with the end face of the rib of the opening 5b. As a result, the reflector 6 has an inclination angle of the end face of the rib (the diffusion surface of the optical panel 3). In accordance with the inclination angle 3a), it is inclined with respect to a virtual line L1 orthogonal to the surface of the housing 2.
[0032]
That is, the end surface of the opening 5b of the frame 5, the diffusion surface 3 a of the optical panel 3, and the open surface of the reflector 6 are substantially matched, and the light from the flash discharge tube 7 passes through the optical panel 3. It is irradiated in an oblique direction.
[0033]
Therefore, the center of the condensing surface 3b (the center of the circle of the Fresnel lens) is set at a position shifted from the center line L1 in correspondence with the deviation of the optical axis.
[0034]
The flashlight discharge tube 7 has a structure in which main electrodes 7a and 7a made of metal rods are sealed at respective ends of a straight tubular glass bulb, and a part of the main electrode 7a protrudes to the outside along the axial direction. . The flash discharge tube 7 has one main electrode 7a connected to a lead wire 11 connected to a main capacitor, and the other main electrode 7a connected to a lead wire 11 directly connected to, for example, ground.
[0035]
The holding pieces 5f, 5f of the frame 5 are for preventing the reflecting umbrella from coming out rearward by surrounding both ends in the longitudinal direction of the reflecting umbrella 6 from the rear. 6 is formed in a substantially U-shape that contacts at both edges and the center of the concave surface portion, and a notch 5g is formed in the vicinity of one side of both corners of the holding piece 5f. .
[0036]
By the notch 5g, the holding piece 5f has a substantially L-shaped portion that surrounds from one edge to the center of the concave portion of the reflector 6 and a substantially linear shape that surrounds the vicinity of the other edge of the concave portion of the reflector 6. Divided into parts.
[0037]
The substantially L-shaped part is in contact with (or close to) one edge and the center of the concave part of the reflector 6, while the substantially straight part is the other edge of the concave part of the reflector 6. Touch (or come close) at one point of the part.
[0038]
Further, for the purpose of holding the reflector 6 and the flash discharge tube 7 with respect to the frame 5 and pulling the flash discharge tube 7 into the reflector 6 so that the trigger electrode 8 can act effectively, a belt-like elastic member is used. A rubber bushing 9 as a member is used.
[0039]
The rubber bushing 9 (both ends not shown) is formed with holes that can be externally inserted into the glass bulb of the flash discharge tube 7 at both ends so as to straddle the substantially L-shaped portions of the pair of holding pieces 5f, 5f. Each of the end portions of the rubber bushing 9 arranged in this manner is extrapolated to the glass bulb end portion of the flash discharge tube 7 exposed from the side openings 6c, 6c of the reflector 6 so that the tensile force of the rubber bushing 9 is increased. Is used to fix the flash discharge tube 7 to the reflector 6 and fix the flash discharge tube 7 to the substantially L-shaped portion of the pair of holding pieces 5f, 5f.
[0040]
A trigger lead wire 10 is soldered to the trigger electrode 8 interposed between the pair of holding pieces 5f, 5f. Thus, when the trigger voltage is supplied to the trigger electrode 8 in a state where the main capacitor on the printed circuit board is charged by the power supply from the mobile phone terminal A, the trigger voltage is passed through the reflector 6 as is well known. As a result, the flash discharge tube 7 is excited and emits light by consuming the charging energy of the main capacitor.
[0041]
At this time, the optical axis L2 of the strobe device 1 is tilted with respect to a virtual line L1 (substantially parallel to the optical axis of the digital camera) perpendicular to the surface of the housing 2 of the strobe device 1, and the tilt direction is digital. This is the direction approaching the optical axis of the camera.
[0042]
Accordingly, since the light emitted from the strobe device 1 is applied to a relatively near area in front of the digital camera, the strobe device captures a subject (for example, the owner of the mobile phone terminal A) having a shorter focal length than a general camera. Is preferred.
[0043]
The strobe device according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0044]
For example, the shape of the frame 5, particularly the shape of the holding piece 5 f (including the position of the notch 5 g) is arbitrarily selected from the viewpoint of the holding performance of the reflector, impact resistance, and ease of soldering work of the trigger electrode. It can be changed.
[0045]
The trigger electrode 8 is not an essential component, and the trigger electrode 8 may be omitted as long as the trigger lead wire 10 can be connected to the reflector 6.
[0046]
Furthermore, it is not necessary to attach the optical panel 3 to the frame 5. In short, the optical panel 3 may be arranged on the front surface of the open surface of the reflector 6 by attaching it to the housing 2.
[0047]
Moreover, since it is not essential to attach the reflector 6 in a state inclined with respect to the frame body 5, when used in a general camera, it is necessary to irradiate the light emitted from the strobe device 1 in a farther area. The inclination angle of the optical axis L2 of the strobe device 1 may be reduced or set substantially parallel to the optical axis of the camera.
[0048]
Further, when the strobe device is built in a camera or the like, a housing of the camera or the like becomes a housing.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, since the strobe device according to the present invention has at least three contact points between the holding piece and the reflecting umbrella, the holding ability of the reflecting umbrella is improved and the positioning of the reflecting umbrella with respect to the frame is easily performed. be able to.
[0050]
In addition, since a part of the holding piece is divided and the displacement of the holding piece is allowed, vibration due to external impact or light emission of the flash discharge tube is buffered by the holding piece, and thus applied to the flash discharge tube. The stress is absorbed and breakage of the flash discharge tube can be suitably prevented.
[0051]
Furthermore, by arranging a pair of holding pieces on both ends of the reflector, a space is formed between them, so the trigger lead wire is attached to the central area on the back of the reflector or in this sheet The workability when soldering to the trigger electrode is improved, and the work can be performed smoothly and reliably.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a state in which a strobe device according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a mobile phone terminal. FIG. FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of the main part configuration of the strobe device of FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the main part configuration of the strobe device of the same embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Strobe device 2 Housing 3 Optical panel 3a Diffusion surface 3b Condensing surface 5 Frame 5b Opening 5f Holding piece 5g Notch 6 Reflector 7 Flash discharge tube 7a Main electrode 8 Trigger electrode 9 Rubber bushing

Claims (2)

A resin frame having a substantially rectangular opening, a reflector inserted into the opening of the frame from the front, and a flash discharge tube inserted into the reflector along the longitudinal direction of the opening of the frame And an optical panel disposed in front of the opening of the frame, and a strobe device configured to irradiate the subject with the light emitted from the flash discharge tube and collected by the reflector via the optical panel , A pair of holding pieces that surround both ends in the longitudinal direction of the reflector from the rear and are separated by a notch in the middle are provided at the rear of the opening of the frame body, and the reflector and the flash discharge tube are held in pairs. It is arranged so as to straddle one side of the piece and is fixed to the one side by being attracted to the one side by a belt-like elastic member whose both ends are extrapolated to the flash discharge tube. Strobe device. The holding piece is formed in a substantially U shape that contacts at three points of both the edge and the center in the direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the reflector that is attracted by the elastic member, and out of both corners of the holding piece The strobe device according to claim 1, wherein a notch is formed in the vicinity of one side of the stroboscope.

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