JP4947615B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging unit having a close-up function and an imaging device having a light emitting unit.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some imaging devices such as a digital camera, a mobile phone with an imaging function, and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) with an imaging function include a light emitting unit (flash unit) (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This image pickup apparatus can take a picture in a state where the light emitted from the light emitting unit is applied to the subject even in the dark.

On the other hand, recently, there has also been proposed an imaging apparatus that can perform close-up shooting in addition to shooting at a normal distance by including an imaging unit having a close-up function.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-230027

  However, in such an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit with a conventional close-up function, a light emitting unit is further provided, and even if the light emitting unit is disposed in the vicinity of the imaging unit, the light emitted from the light emitting unit is directional. For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult to properly apply this light to the subject during close-up photography in the dark, and it is difficult to photograph beautifully.

  In other words, the light emitting unit emits only within a certain angle range with directivity, and the irradiation area becomes narrower as the shooting distance becomes shorter. Therefore, the light emitted from the light emitting unit during close-up shooting Does not hit the part of the subject outside the range of a certain angle.

  In addition, since the light emitting unit cannot be arranged on the imaging axis of the imaging unit and is arranged alongside the imaging unit, the light emitting unit is not on the imaging axis as the imaging unit and the subject on the imaging axis approach each other. The direction of the straight line connecting the light emitting unit and the subject on the imaging axis is gradually inclined toward the imaging unit. On the other hand, the irradiation direction of the light emitting unit is set to be almost parallel to the shooting direction on the premise of shooting at a normal distance, and therefore, in close-up shooting, a straight line connecting the light emitting unit and the subject is used. The direction is away from the irradiation direction of the light emitting unit.

  For this reason, the conventional imaging apparatus has a problem that it is difficult to appropriately apply light from the light emitting unit to the subject during close-up photography, and it is difficult to photograph beautifully.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that can capture a beautiful image by appropriately applying light from a light emitting unit to a subject even in close-up shooting in the dark. is there.

In order to solve the above problems, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention provides:
A plate-shaped housing;
An imaging unit having a close-up function;
A light emitting unit used to illuminate the subject;
A rotary knob arranged on the side surface of the casing along the plane direction of the plate-like casing so that it can be pinched from the outside of the casing, and by interlocking with the rotary knob, diffusion during close-up photography A lens holding unit that switches positions of the diffusion lens, the through hole, and the aperture lens so that any one of the lens, the through hole, and the aperture lens is disposed in front of the light emitting position of the light emitting unit;
A switching unit comprising:
It is characterized in that chromatic and a display portion arranged so as to be exposed to the main surface of the housing.

In addition, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes:
The light emitting unit is a discharge tube or a light emitting diode,
It has a control part which controls so that the light quantity of the said light emission part irradiated at the time of close-up photography may become smaller than the light quantity of the said light emission part irradiated at the time of imaging | photography other than close-up photography.

  According to such an image pickup apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to capture a beautiful image by appropriately irradiating the subject with light from the light emitting unit even in dark close-up shooting.

Hereinafter, embodiments of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 are diagrams to be referred for describing the mobile phone 2 with an imaging function (corresponding to an imaging apparatus) according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile phone 2 with an imaging function according to the present embodiment includes a first housing 6 having a substantially rectangular plate shape that is rotatably connected in the direction of arrow A via a hinge 4. A second housing 8 is provided. The first housing 6 has a display unit 10 and a speaker 12 on a surface 6 a facing the second housing 8, and the speaker 12 is opposite to the hinge 4 in the length direction of the first housing 6. It is arrange | positioned in the position near the edge part. In addition, the second housing 8 has an operation unit 14 and a microphone 16 on the facing surface 8 a with the first housing 6, and the microphone 16 is the hinge 4 in the length direction of the second housing 8. It is arranged at a position near the opposite end.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone 2 with an imaging function has an imaging window 18 a facing the display direction of the display unit 10 (not shown in FIG. 2) in the first housing 6 in a direction substantially opposite to the display direction. A portion 18 is provided. Therefore, when the mobile phone 2 with an imaging function is set to an imaging mode in which imaging is performed by the imaging unit 18, the user can perform imaging by the imaging unit 18 while viewing the display unit 10 as a viewfinder. Further, the imaging unit 18 has a close-up function.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the cellular phone 2 with an imaging function includes a light emitting unit 20 that is disposed in the vicinity of the imaging unit 18 and inside the first housing 6. As such a light emitting unit 20, an LED (light emitting diode), a discharge tube, or the like is used. In addition, the cellular phone 2 with an imaging function has a protective plate 24 that protects the light emitting unit 20 on the outer surface of the first housing 6. The protective plate 24 has translucency, and the light emitted from the light emitting unit 20 is irradiated to the subject through the protective plate 24.

  The mobile phone 2 with an imaging function has a fan-shaped lens holding unit 26 and a switching unit 28 in the first housing 6. The lens holding unit 26 is fixed on the outer periphery of a first gear 36 (to be described later) of the switching unit 28, and is sequentially arranged on a virtual circumference (not shown) around the rotation axis of the first gear 36. The diffusing lens 30, the through-hole 32, and the aperture lens 34 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the switching unit 28 includes a first gear 36, a rotary knob 38, and the like, and a plurality of teeth 38 a formed on a part of the outer peripheral edge of the rotary knob 38 rotate with respect to the first gear 36. It is configured to mesh with each other. The first gear 36 is an outer peripheral portion excluding the length portion to which the lens holding portion 26 is fixed, and an angular range having the same size as the angular range between the diffusion lens 30 and the aperture lens 34 of the lens holding portion 26. The gear teeth 36a are formed only in the length portion corresponding to. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the outer peripheral edge of the rotary knob 38 opposite to the first gear 36 is exposed to the outside of the first housing 6.

  When the rotary knob 38 is rotated by applying the antinode of the fingertip to the outer peripheral edge exposed to the outside of the first housing 6, the first gear 36 is rotated and the lens holding portion 26 is diffused. Any one of the lens 30, the through-hole 32, and the aperture lens 34 is moved and switched to a position between the light emitting unit 20 and the protection plate 24.

  When the diffusion lens 30 is moved to a position between the light emitting unit 20 and the protective plate 24 by switching the position of the lens holding unit 26, the diffusion lens 30 widens the angle range irradiated by the light emitting unit 20. Acts as follows. Further, when the through hole 32 moves to a position between the light emitting unit 20 and the protection plate 24, the through hole 32 acts so as to transmit the light of the light emitting unit 20 almost as it is. When the diaphragm lens 34 is moved to a position between the light emitting unit 20 and the protection plate 24, the diaphragm lens 34 acts to narrow the angle range irradiated by the light emitting unit 20.

  For example, when photographing in the dark, when the through hole 32 of the lens holding unit 26 is located between the light emitting unit 20 and the protective plate 24, the light of the light emitting unit 20 is as shown in FIG. Through the through-hole 32 (not shown in FIG. 5) and the protective plate 24 of the lens holding portion 26 and irradiating within the angle range θ1 on the premise of photographing at a normal distance, The imaging region of the imaging unit 18 is appropriately included in the irradiation region of the light emitting unit 20 within a set range of a certain distance from the mobile phone 2 (range d in FIG. 5). .

  In such a state, when close-up photography is performed on the subject M closer than the normal distance, a part of the subject M falls outside the angular range θ1 irradiated by the light emitting unit 20, but the lens If the diffusion lens 30 (see FIG. 3) is moved to a position between the light emitting unit 20 and the protective plate 24 by switching the position of the holding unit 26, the light emitting unit 20 has an angular range as shown in FIG. Irradiation is made within θ2, and the entire subject M is irradiated.

  According to the mobile phone 2 with an imaging function according to the present embodiment, the diffuser lens 30 is replaced with the light emitting unit 20 and the protective plate 24 by switching the position of the lens holding unit 26 even in close-up shooting in the dark. If the position is moved to a position between the two, the angle range irradiated by the light emitting unit 20 is widened, and the light of the light emitting unit 20 is appropriately applied to the subject, so that a clear image can be taken.

  Further, according to the mobile phone 2 with an imaging function according to the present embodiment, even when shooting a subject at a position opposite to close-up shooting in the dark, by switching the position of the lens holding unit 26, If the aperture lens 34 is moved between the light emitting unit 20 and the protective plate 24, the angle range irradiated by the light emitting unit 20 can be reduced, and the illuminance of the subject (the brightness of the illuminated surface) can be increased. So that you can shoot beautifully.

  Further, when shooting a subject in normal shooting in the dark, switching the position of the lens holding portion 26 to move the through hole 32 between the light emitting portion 20 and the protective plate 24 will cause shooting as before. can do.

  Next, a mobile phone 50 with an imaging function (corresponding to an imaging device) according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the cellular phone 50 with an imaging function shown in these drawings, the same parts as those in the cellular phone 2 with an imaging function according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the same configuration is duplicated. The description will be omitted.

  The cellular phone 50 with an imaging function according to the present embodiment has a switching unit 52 as shown in FIG. 6 instead of the switching unit 28 according to the first embodiment. The switching unit 52 includes a first bevel gear 54, a second bevel gear 56 that meshes with the first bevel gear 54, and a motor 58 that rotates the second bevel gear 56.

  In addition, the cellular phone 50 with an imaging function includes a lens holding unit 60 having a substantially fan shape instead of the lens holding unit 26 according to the first embodiment. Similar to the lens holding unit 26 according to the first embodiment, the lens holding unit 60 includes a diffusing lens 30, a through hole 32, and an aperture lens 34. As shown in FIG. It has a disk part 62 with the rotation axis L of the holding part 60 as the central axis. The first bevel gear 54 of the switching portion 52 is integrally formed on the lower surface of the disk portion 62 on the same axis.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cellular phone 50 with an imaging function includes a distance measuring unit 64. The distance measuring unit 64 includes a light emitting element 66 and a light receiving element 68, and the light receiving element 68 receives infrared rays irradiated from the light emitting element 66 and reflected from the subject, thereby measuring the distance to the subject. It is like that.

  The cellular phone 50 with an imaging function includes a control unit that controls the imaging unit 18, the light emitting unit 20, the switching unit 52, the distance measuring unit 64, and the like, although the block diagram showing the circuit configuration is not shown. Based on the distance to the subject measured by the distance measuring unit 64, the control unit (not shown) makes the light amount of the light emitting unit 20 irradiated during close-up photography smaller than the light amount of the light emitting unit 20 irradiated during photographing other than close-up shooting. Is controlling. That is, the light intensity of the light emitting unit 20 during close-up photography (the intensity of light as a light source) is controlled to be smaller than the light intensity of the light emitting unit 20 during photographing other than close-up photography.

  Further, the control unit (not shown) drives the motor 58 of the switching unit 52 shown in FIG. 6 based on the distance to the subject measured by the distance measuring unit 64, and the diffusion lens 30 and the through hole of the lens holding unit 60. Either 32 or the diaphragm lens 34 is controlled to move to a position between the light emitting unit 20 and the protective plate 24.

  For example, when the distance to the subject is 10 cm or less, the control unit (not shown) switches the position of the lens holding unit 60 so that the diffusion lens 30 is positioned between the light emitting unit 20 and the protective plate 24. Control to move to. When the distance to the subject is more than 10 cm and not more than 50 cm, the through hole 32 is controlled to move to a position between the light emitting unit 20 and the protective plate 24. When the distance to the subject exceeds 50 cm, the diaphragm lens 34 is controlled to move to a position between the light emitting unit 20 and the protective plate 24.

  According to the mobile phone with an imaging function 50 according to the present embodiment, the position of the lens holding unit 60 is automatically switched even in close-up shooting in the dark, so that the diffusing lens 30 is changed to the light emitting unit 20. Since the angle range irradiated by the light emitting unit 20 is widened so that the light of the light emitting unit 20 properly strikes the subject, it is possible to take a clear image.

  In addition, according to the mobile phone 50 with an imaging function according to the present embodiment, the position of the lens holding unit 60 is automatically switched even when shooting a subject at a position opposite to close-up shooting in the dark. In other words, the aperture lens 34 moves to a position between the light emitting unit 20 and the protective plate 24, the angle range irradiated by the light emitting unit 20 is reduced, and the illuminance (brightness of the illuminated surface) of the subject is increased. So that you can shoot beautifully.

  Further, even when shooting a subject separated by a normal distance in the dark, the position of the lens holding unit 60 is automatically switched, so that the through hole 32 moves to a position between the light emitting unit 20 and the protective plate 24. In addition, it is possible to take a picture as in the conventional case.

  Further, according to the cellular phone 50 with an imaging function according to the present embodiment, the control unit calculates the light quantity of the light emitting unit 20 irradiated during close-up based on the distance to the subject measured by the distance measuring unit 64. Since the amount of light emitted from the light emitting unit 20 is controlled to be smaller than that of the light emitting unit 20 other than shooting, it is possible to prevent the reflected light from the subject from being excessively large and appearing white in the dark close-up shooting. be able to.

  Although the lens holding portions 26 and 60 of the cellular phones 2 and 50 with an imaging function according to the first and second embodiments are provided with the diffusion lens 30 and the aperture lens 34, the diffusion lens 30 Instead of the aperture lens 34, a prism that operates in the same manner as each of the diffusion lens 30 and the aperture lens 34 may be provided.

  Further, the lens holding portions 26 and 60 of the cellular phones 2 and 50 with an imaging function according to the first and second embodiments are provided with the diffusing lens 30, but instead of the diffusing lens 30. Further, a refracting lens or a refracting prism may be provided that refracts the light of the light emitting unit 20 to bring the irradiation direction toward the imaging unit 18 side.

  According to such a cellular phone with an imaging function including the lens holding units 26 and 60 having a refractive lens or a refractive prism, the refractive lens or the refractive lens or the refractive lens or the like by switching the position of the lens holding units 26 and 60 even in close-up photography in the dark. Since the refraction prism moves to a position between the light emitting unit 20 and the protective plate 24, and the irradiation direction of the light emitting unit 20 can be appropriately irradiated toward the subject, it is possible to photograph clearly.

  In the first and second embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to the mobile phones 2 and 50 with an imaging function has been described. However, for example, a digital camera or a PDA with an imaging function is provided. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to image pickup apparatuses other than the mobile phones 2 and 50.

It is a perspective view which shows the front surface of the open state of the mobile telephone 2 with an imaging function which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the back surface of the open state of the mobile telephone 2 with an imaging function which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the 1st housing | casing 6 of the closed state of the mobile telephone 2 with an imaging function which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing a lens holding unit and a switching unit shown in FIG. The light emitting unit 20 of the mobile phone 2 with an imaging function according to the first embodiment of the present invention moves the through hole 32 or the diffusion lens 30 of the lens holding unit 26 between the light emitting unit 20 and the protective plate 24. It is a schematic diagram which shows angle range (theta) 1 and (theta) 2 irradiated sometimes. It is a top view which shows the 1st housing | casing 6 of the closed state of the mobile telephone 50 with an imaging function which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the switching part 52 and the lens holding | maintenance part 60 which are shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Cellular phone with an imaging function 4 Hinge 6 1st housing | casing 6a Opposing surface 8 2nd housing | casing 8a Opposing surface 10 Display part 12 Speaker 14 Operation part 16 Microphone 18 Imaging part 20 Light emission part 24 Guard plate 26 Lens holding part 28 Switching part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 Diffuse lens 32 Through-hole 34 Aperture lens 36 1st gear 36a Tooth 38 Rotation knob 38a Tooth 50 Cell-phone with an imaging function 52 Switching part 54 1st bevel gear 56 2nd bevel gear 58 Motor 60 Lens holding part 62 Disk part 64 Measurement Distance part 66 Light emitting element 68 Light receiving element

Claims (2)

A plate-shaped housing;
An imaging unit having a close-up function;
A light emitting unit used to illuminate the subject;
A rotary knob arranged on the side surface of the casing along the plane direction of the plate-like casing so that it can be pinched from the outside of the casing, and by interlocking with the rotary knob, diffusion during close-up photography A lens holding unit that switches positions of the diffusion lens, the through hole, and the aperture lens so that any one of the lens, the through hole, and the aperture lens is disposed in front of the light emitting position of the light emitting unit;
A switching unit comprising:
Imaging apparatus characterized by chromatic and a arranged display unit so as to expose the main surface of the housing. The light emitting unit is a discharge tube or a light emitting diode,
The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit that controls the light amount of the light emitting unit irradiated during close-up photography to be smaller than the light amount of the light emitting unit irradiated during shooting other than close-up photography.

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