JP4986016B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera provided with a lens unit.

  In recent years, an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera has been reduced in size and reduced to a palm size or a card size. On the other hand, the functions of an imaging apparatus to be reduced are required to have multiple functions. In such a multifunctional imaging apparatus, those having a reproduction mode in which not only an image to be imaged but also an already captured image can be viewed on a display unit provided in the camera are mainstream.

  In addition, while being required to have multiple functions, there is also a demand for longer battery life by energy saving in both the playback mode and the imaging mode. For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-242398 (Patent Document 1), a measuring unit for measuring the luminance of a subject in the imaging mode is provided, and the display state of the display unit is changed according to the luminance of the subject obtained by the measuring unit. Proposals have been made for cameras having means for changing.

In the present invention, when the surroundings are bright and the brightness of the subject is high, the brightness of the backlight of the liquid crystal as the display unit is increased, and when the surroundings are dark, the backlight brightness is reduced to extend the battery life. Yes. As another method of extending the battery life, there is a method of suppressing wasteful power consumption by selecting the brightness of the liquid crystal by the photographer in the reproduction mode.
JP-A-8-242398

  However, it is troublesome for the photographer to select the brightness of the liquid crystal every time the playback mode is used. In most cases, it is used at a constant brightness. There were many times to make it faster. In addition, there has been no image pickup apparatus having a function of automatically changing the brightness in the reproduction mode.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and includes a lens unit that can automatically detect external brightness in the playback mode, and automatically displays in the playback mode. An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus having a function of changing the luminance of a part.

  The imaging device (1) of the present invention includes an imaging control unit and a display unit control unit and has functions of an imaging mode and a reproduction mode, and holds the imaging optical system (20) and the imaging optical system (20). A lens barrel (30), a lens protection section (40) positioned at the tip of the lens barrel (30) to protect the front surface of the imaging optical system (20), and an image sensor (26); The lens protection part (40) includes a cover part (41) having a substantially square-shaped through-hole part in front of the imaging optical system (20), and a lens barrier (42) that closes or opens the through-hole part. And a barrier control unit (44) for controlling the opening and closing of the lens barrier (42), the lens protection unit (40) has a first external light intake hole (43) for capturing external light, The brightness of the display unit (5) is controlled by detecting the amount of light entering the lens barrel (30) from the first outside light intake hole (43).

  Further, the first outside light intake hole (43) provided in the lens protection part (40) is formed at an arbitrary position of the cover part (41), and when the lens barrier (42) is closed, the lens barrier Even if the lens barrier (42) deviates from the position (42), it may be formed at a position where the lens barrier (42) is located when the lens barrier (42) is opened. Further, the first outside light intake hole (43) formed at an arbitrary position of the cover part (41) shall be formed at the front position of the barrier control part (44), and the barrier control part (44) The external light small hole (37) may be provided at a position on the optical axis of the first external light intake hole (43) when the lens barrier (42) is closed.

The first external light intake hole (43) is provided in the cover part (41), and the first external light intake hole (43) can be opened and closed behind the cover part (41). An intake hole cover (53) and a cover driving device (54) for controlling opening and closing of the first external light intake hole cover (53) may be provided.
Further, the second external light intake hole (47) may be provided in the first lens group holding portion (35) on the optical axis of the first external light intake hole (43).

  Then, the first reflection prism (51) is provided on the optical axis of the first external light intake hole (43), and the first external light intake hole (43) is provided on the back side of the lens barrier (42). There may be provided a second reflecting prism (52) for reflecting the incident light reflected by the first reflecting prism (51) in the optical axis direction of the imaging optical system (20).

  Further, when providing the first external light intake hole (43) in the lens protection section (40), the first external light intake hole (43) may be provided at a position on the lens optical axis in the lens barrier (42). In some cases, a translucent transparent plate (50) may be disposed in the first outside light intake hole (43).

Furthermore, the second lens group (22) is held by a movable lens support member (33), and the first movable light capture hole (43) and the second external light capture are in the movable lens support member (33). A third external light intake hole (48) is provided on the optical axis of the hole (47), and the image sensor (26) extends from the optical axis of the imaging optical system (20) to the optical axis of each external light intake hole. An image sensor operating means that is operable and controls the operation of the image sensor (26) may be provided.
And these lens units (2) detect the light quantity which injects into a lens-barrel (30) with an image pick-up element (26).

In addition, an external light receiving element (55) may be provided on the optical axis of the first external light intake hole (43).
The display unit control means for controlling the luminance of the display unit (5) adjusts and controls the luminance of the display unit (5) stepwise in proportion to the amount of light incident on the lens barrel (30). .

  According to the present invention, there is provided an imaging apparatus that includes a lens unit that can automatically detect external brightness in a playback mode and has a function of automatically changing the brightness of a display unit in the playback mode. Can do.

  The imaging apparatus 1 of the best mode for carrying out the present invention includes imaging control means and display unit control means and has functions of an imaging mode and a reproduction mode. The imaging optical system 20 and the imaging optical system 20 are It has a lens barrel 30 to be held, a lens protection unit 40 that is located at the tip of the lens barrel 30 and protects the front surface of the imaging optical system 20, and an imaging element 26. A cover 41 having a substantially square through hole in front of the system 20, a lens barrier 42 for closing or opening the through hole, and a barrier controller 44 for controlling the opening and closing of the lens barrier 42. The lens protection unit 40 has a first external light intake hole 43 for taking in external light, and the image sensor 26 is used to determine the amount of light incident into the lens barrel 30 from the first external light intake hole 43. Display unit control means for detecting and controlling the luminance of the display unit is provided.

The first external light intake hole 43 provided in the cover part 41 is formed at a position where the lens barrier 42 of the cover part 41 is located in the open state.
The lens barrel includes a first barrel 31 that holds the first lens group 21, a second barrel 32, and a constantly fixed barrel frame 38. The first barrel 31 and the second barrel 32 is a retractable retractable lens unit 2.

  According to the best mode, the retractable lens having the lens unit 2 capable of detecting the external brightness in the reproduction mode and having the function of automatically adjusting the display unit 5 to the luminance suitable for the external brightness is provided. A thin imaging device 1 having the same can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The first embodiment of the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention has an image pickup mode for picking up an image and a reproduction mode for reproducing an already picked-up image. In the image pickup mode, the lens barrel housed in the camera casing is The lens unit 2 has a retractable lens unit 2 that extends to the outside.

  The camera housing is a thin rectangular body having a front plate and a back plate, and incorporates an imaging optical system 20 covered with a lens barrel 30 as a lens unit 2, and the front of the housing is shown in FIG. Thus, the lens protection unit 40 that protects the imaging optical system 20 and the first external light intake hole 43 formed at an arbitrary position of the lens protection unit 40, and further, the flash 3 and the like are appropriately disposed. It is something that is set up.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a display unit 5 using a liquid crystal display panel, various buttons 6 such as menu buttons and setting buttons for setting various functions, direction keys 7 and the like are arranged on the back surface of the imaging device 1. Furthermore, although not shown, a power button, a shooting button, a switching button for switching between the imaging mode and the reproduction mode, and the like are appropriately provided on the upper surface of the imaging device 1.

  Further, inside the camera casing, a lens unit 2, a microcomputer as an imaging control means for performing various controls including image processing, and a display section control means for controlling the display section, and a memory for storing image data Etc. When the power is turned on and the mode is switched to the imaging mode, the lens unit 2 can be moved forward and imaging can be performed. . Further, when the power is turned on as the reproduction mode, the lens unit 2 is in the reproduction mode while being stored.

  3 and 4, the lens unit 2 of the imaging apparatus 1 includes an imaging element 26 that converts incident light into a signal, a first lens group 21, and a movable second for zooming. An imaging optical system 20 comprising a lens group 22, a third lens group 23 for focusing the lens, and a fourth lens group 24 that is always fixed and is located in the vicinity of the imaging device 26, and a lens barrel that protects them 30 includes a first lens barrel 31 and a second lens barrel 32 that are extended in the front direction, and a lens barrel frame 38 that is always fixed. In the description of this embodiment, the front means the imaging target side, and the back is the direction of the inner side of the lens unit 2 or the back plate on which the imaging device 1 is provided.

  The first lens group 21 is held by the first lens barrel 31 by the first lens group holding unit 35, and is extended from the camera housing to the outside in the imaging mode, and is positioned at the foremost end in the imaging optical system 20. . A lens protection unit 40 that protects the first lens group 21 is provided at the tip of the first lens barrel 31.

  The second lens group 22 is a lens group having a function of changing the magnification of the captured image by changing the distance from the first lens group 21, and the lens movable support member 33 at a position inside the first lens barrel 31. Therefore, the first lens barrel 31 is held as a movable type that can be expanded and contracted differently.

  As a method of changing the magnification of the captured image, the first lens group 21 is always fixed, and the second lens group 22 is operated to change the distance between the first lens group 21 and change the magnification. There are cases where the first lens group 21 and the second lens group 22 are operated. That is, there are a case where the projection amount when the lens unit 2 is extended is always constant and only the internal lens group is operated, and a case where the magnification is changed by changing the projection amount of the first lens barrel 31 itself.

  The third lens group 23 is for adjusting the lens focal point deviation that occurs when the distance between the second lens group 22 and the first lens group 21 is changed. The lens focus shift is adjusted by changing the distance. The third lens group 23 is held by a lens movable support member 33 in the vicinity of the back surface side of the second lens group 22. As the focus adjustment, an aperture stop may be installed in the vicinity of the third lens group 23, and the adjustment may be performed by this aperture stop.

  In addition, a retractable support member 34 is installed on the inner surface of the second lens barrel 32 to make the retractable operation of the lens unit 2 smooth. When the retractable support member 34 causes the lens unit 2 to be retracted, The first lens barrel 31 and the second lens barrel 32 are prevented from being tilted to enable a smooth linear collapsing operation.

  The fourth lens group 24 is the image pickup optical system 20 for condensing light on the image pickup element 26, and is fixed by a fourth lens group fixing member 36. The image pickup element 26 is fixed to the fourth lens group fixing member 36. And the lens barrel back plate 39.

  The image pickup element 26 includes a filter called a low-pass filter (LPF) that passes only a signal having a frequency equal to or lower than the cutoff frequency and attenuates a signal having a frequency equal to or higher than the cutoff frequency. It is called a charge coupled device. Then, signals of light incident from various optical systems are transmitted to an imaging control unit that controls the imaging device 1.

  The lens protection unit 40 has a disc shape, and includes a cover 41 having a rectangular through hole formed on the optical axis of the imaging optical system 20 in the vicinity of the center thereof. An openable lens barrier 42 that protects the through hole provided in the cover 41 is provided. Further, an external light intake hole 43 is formed as a first external light intake hole 43 for taking in external light at a position where the lens barrier 42 of the cover portion 41 is located in the open state.

  The opening / closing mechanism of the lens barrier 42 includes a barrier control unit 44, a slider operating projection 45, and a slider guide member 46. The barrier control unit 44 is in the shape of a donut plate having an opening, and the opening is rotatably arranged on the back side of the cover 41 so that the periphery of the through hole of the cover 41 is covered. A gap is provided between them.

  In addition, a lens barrier 42 is disposed in the gap between the cover 41 and the barrier controller 44, and the lens barrier 42 is opened and closed when the barrier controller 44 is slightly rotated. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the barrier control unit 44 forms a curved portion at a position on the optical axis of the first outside light intake hole 43 when the lens barrier 42 is in the closed state. External light incident from the take-in hole 43 can enter the lens unit 2.

  Further, a slider operation protrusion 45 having a tip formed in a tapered shape is attached to the back surface side of the barrier control unit 44. Further, the slider guide member 46 is fixed to the front side of the fourth lens group fixing member 36, and the tip portion is formed in a tapered shape like the slider operation projection 45.

  When the lens unit 2 is in the retracted state, as shown in FIG. 3, the slider operating protrusion 45 and the tapered portion formed at the tip of the slider guiding member 46 are in contact with each other. Since the taper portion of the operating projection 45 and the taper portion of the slider guide member 46 are held in a state rotated in an arbitrary direction, as shown in FIG. It is supposed to be possible.

  On the other hand, when the lens unit 2 is in the extended state, as shown in FIG. 4, the contact state between the slider operating projection 45 and the tapered portion formed at the tip of the slider guiding member 46 is released, and the barrier control unit 44 is opened. The lens barrier 42 is slightly rotated by a spring or the like (not shown), and the opened lens barrier 42 closes the first outside light intake hole 43 from the back side of the cover portion 41 as shown in FIG. The external light is not incident from the first external light intake hole 43.

  When the power is turned off from the imaging mode or when the mode is switched to the reproduction mode, the lens unit 2 is in the retracted state, so that the tapered portion formed at the tip of the slider operating projection 45 and the slider guiding member 46 is again. The barrier control unit 44 is slightly rotated by being guided by the taper portion so as to close the lens barrier 42 again.

  By such a lens barrier opening / closing mechanism, when the lens unit 2 is stored, the lens barrier 42 is closed as shown in FIG. 7 and at the same time the first outside light intake hole 43 is opened and the lens unit 2 is extended. In some cases, as shown in FIG. 8, the lens barrier 42 is opened, and at the same time, the first external light intake hole 43 can be covered from the back side.

  With such a configuration of the lens unit 2, the light incident from the first outside light intake hole 43 is depicted as a straight line in FIG. 3, but is actually diffused in the lens unit 2 and captured as scattered light. It reaches the image sensor 26 arranged behind the optical system 20, and the image sensor 26 can detect the external brightness.

  The imaging device 26 is driven even in the reproduction mode, and the brightness information signal corresponding to the amount of light incident from the first outside light intake hole 43 is output in the reproduction mode to detect the external brightness. Further, the brightness of the display unit adapted to the external brightness detection result is controlled by the display unit control means to adjust the backlight brightness according to the external brightness in the playback mode. It is.

  In addition, when adjusting the backlight brightness of the liquid crystal display panel, five stages are set in advance, and the backlight is adjusted in proportion to the output brightness information of the image sensor 26 in the playback mode according to the amount of light received by the image sensor 26. It is what you are doing. In this way, by performing the luminance adjustment step by step, the received light amount detection control of the image sensor 26 by the imaging control unit and the luminance control of the display unit 5 by the display unit control unit are facilitated.

  According to the present embodiment, since the brightness of the display unit 5 can be used according to the external brightness in the playback mode, the backlight is bright when the outside is bright, and the backlight brightness is automatically adjusted when the outside is dark. Thus, wasteful power consumption can be reduced. Note that the operation of detecting the external brightness in the image sensor 26 may be performed only once at the beginning when switching in the playback mode, or may be performed periodically during the playback mode, or playback. It may be performed continuously during the mode. If it is performed only once or periodically, the battery life of the imaging device 1 can be further extended.

  In addition, by forming the first outside light taking-in hole 43, outside light can be taken in even when the lens unit 2 is stored, and the lens unit 2 can be used to detect external brightness in the playback mode. There is no need to perform an operation of unnecessarily extending the lens, and it is possible to detect the external brightness while the lens unit 2 is stored, and to provide the brightness of the display unit according to the external brightness.

  Further, in the imaging mode in which the lens unit 2 is extended, the lens barrier 42 covers the first outside light taking-in hole 43 from the back side of the cover portion 41, so that the image is taken from the first outside light taking-in hole 43. It is possible to prevent light from entering the lens unit 2 inside, and the quality of the captured image is not deteriorated.

  As described above, it is possible to reduce the power consumption by performing easy-to-view screen display by imaging and brightness adjustment without degrading the image quality, and it is possible to extend the battery life and to be easy to use for the photographer. Can be provided.

  Next, a modification of the first embodiment will be described. In the lens unit 2 described above, the lens barrier 42 has a shape that covers the first outside light intake hole 43 from the back surface side of the cover portion 41, but the barrier control portion 44 of this modification example is as shown in FIG. In addition, a small external light hole 37 is formed in a part of the barrier control unit 44. The small external light hole 37 provided in the barrier control unit is a first external light intake hole when the lens unit 2 is stored. The position is on 43 optical axes.

  As described above, when the external light small hole 37 is formed at the position on the optical axis of the first external light intake hole 43 in the barrier control unit 44, the lens unit 2 is shown in FIG. As described above, the barrier control unit 44 rotates slightly, the optical axis of the first outside light intake hole 43 and the small outside light hole 37 shift, and the first outside light intake hole 43 is blocked by the barrier control unit 44. Therefore, it is possible to prevent external light from entering the lens unit 2.

  When the lens unit 2 is stored, the optical axis of the first external light intake hole 43 and the external light small hole 37 of the barrier control unit 44 overlap, so that external light can be taken into the lens unit 2. Since the external brightness can be detected in the same manner as the lens unit 2 described above, the brightness of the display unit can be adjusted to the external brightness in the playback mode.

  Next, an image pickup apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the lens unit 2 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, a second external light intake hole 47 is formed in the first lens barrel 31. The second outside light taking-in hole 47 is arranged on the optical axis of the first outside light taking-in hole 43, and other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.

  In this embodiment, the light incident from the first external light intake hole 43 passes through the second external light intake hole 47 and enters the inside of the first lens barrel 31, and enters the inside of the first lens barrel 31. The diffused light is diffused inside the first lens barrel 31 to become scattered light, passes through the second lens group 22, the third lens group 23, and the fourth lens group 24 and enters the image sensor 26.

  According to the present embodiment, as compared with the first embodiment, in the first embodiment, the external light incident on the inside of the first lens barrel 31 from the first external light intake hole 43 is the first lens group 21. The second lens group 24 is configured to transmit to the fourth lens group 24 and irradiate the image pickup element 26. In the second embodiment, the second external light intake hole 47 is formed to form the first lens group 21. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the attenuation of the light incident on the image sensor 26 and to perform detection with higher accuracy when detecting external brightness than in the first embodiment.

  Therefore, compared with the lens unit 2 of the first embodiment, it is possible to detect the external brightness more accurately, to provide a screen display with a luminance that is easier for the photographer to see, and to further improve the effect. Power consumption can be reduced.

  Next, an image pickup apparatus 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the lens unit 2 used in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a first reflecting prism 51 is disposed on the optical axis of the first external light taking-in hole 43. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment described above.

  Therefore, in the first embodiment, the amount of light reaching the image sensor 26 is reduced by the diffusion of the external light incident from the first external light intake hole 43, whereas the reflecting prism 51 is disposed. As a result, a large amount of light incident from the first external light taking-in hole 43 can be guided to the first lens group 21, and the amount of external light reaching the image sensor 26 can be increased.

  Therefore, compared with the lens unit 2 of the first embodiment, the external brightness can be detected more accurately, and the screen display can be adjusted to a brightness that is easier to see for the photographer while further reducing power consumption. Can do.

  Next, a modification of the lens unit 2 of the present embodiment will be described. In this lens unit 2, a second reflecting prism 52 is further arranged on the back side of the lens barrier 42 as shown in FIG. 13.

  The second reflection prism 52 is disposed on the optical axis of the external light reflected by the first reflection prism 51, and the external light incident from the first external light intake hole 43 is reflected by the first reflection prism 51. The external light irradiated on the second reflection prism 52 and irradiated on the second reflection prism 51 is further reflected on the second reflection prism 51 and directed in the optical axis direction of the imaging optical system 20 to be directed to the first lens group 51. Is irradiated.

  Therefore, by arranging only the first reflection prism 51 and guiding the outside light incident through the first outside light intake hole 43 to the first lens group 21, the second reflection prism 52 is arranged to Since the light reflected by the one reflecting prism 51 can be reflected by the second reflecting prism 52 toward the image sensor 26, the external light incident from the first external light intake hole 43 is not diffused to the image sensor 26. Can be irradiated.

  Thereby, it is possible to determine a more accurate external brightness, and it is also possible to reduce power consumption. Note that the second reflecting prism 52 can be integrally formed with the lens barrier.

  Next, an image pickup apparatus 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 14, the lens unit 2 of the present embodiment forms a cut portion in a part of the first lens barrel 31 holding the first lens group 21, and the first outer portion is located at the position of the cut portion. A dedicated opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the light intake hole 43 is provided.

  As this dedicated opening / closing mechanism, a movable first external light intake hole cover 53 capable of opening and closing the first external light intake hole 43 and cover driving as a drive means of the first external light intake hole cover 53 are provided. A motor serving as the device 54 is arranged. As the cover driving device 54, a solenoid or the like for operating or sliding the first outside light intake hole cover 53 can also be used.

  This open / close mechanism is configured so that the first external light intake hole cover 53 is in a state of covering the first external light intake hole 43 from the back side when the image pickup apparatus is turned off and in the image pickup mode, and only in the reproduction mode. The first outside light intake hole cover 53 is opened. Thereby, the external light can be taken into the lens unit 2 from the first external light taking hole 43 in the reproduction mode, and the luminance of the display unit can be adjusted.

  In addition, the lens unit 2 described so far was always in the state where the first external light intake hole 43 was opened at the time of storage, but by providing an opening / closing mechanism dedicated to the first external light intake hole 43, Since the first outside light intake hole 43 can be closed at times other than the playback mode, there is no risk of dust inflow, etc., and the position of the first outside light intake hole 43 It is possible to obtain a new effect that it is not necessary to limit to the front position of the barrier control unit 44.

  It should be noted that an opening / closing mechanism is provided behind the first outside light taking-in hole 43 and the first reflecting prism and the second reflecting prism described in the second embodiment are formed in combination, There may be a case where a second outside light intake hole is provided behind the hole 43.

  Next, an image pickup apparatus 1 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 15, the lens unit 2 of the present embodiment is dedicated to external light that detects external brightness incident from the first external light intake hole 43 on the optical axis of the first external light intake hole 43. The external light receiving element 55 is arranged. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment described above.

  By providing the external light receiving element 55 in this way, attenuation of the light incident from the first external light intake hole 43 until it reaches the external light receiving element 55 is eliminated, and accurate external brightness is detected. Therefore, it is possible to provide a screen display with brightness that is easier for the photographer to see, and to reduce wasteful power consumption.

  Next, an image pickup apparatus 1 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the lens unit 2 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, a second external light intake hole 47 is formed in the first lens barrel 31, and a third external light intake hole 48 is formed in the lens movable support member 33. Furthermore, the image pickup device 26 is operable from the optical axis of the image pickup optical system 20 to the optical axes of the external light intake holes 43, 47, and 48, and image pickup device operating means for operating the image pickup device is provided. Is. The first outside light taking-in hole 43, the second outside light taking-in hole 47, and the third outside light taking-in hole 48 are arranged on the same optical axis.

  When the power is off and in the imaging mode, as shown in FIG. 16, the imaging device 26 is positioned on the optical axis of the imaging optical system 20, and when the mode is switched to the reproduction mode, the imaging device 26 is illustrated by the imaging device moving means. As shown in FIG. 17, the first external light taking-in hole 43 is slid onto the optical axis. Therefore, in the reproduction mode, the external light incident from the first external light intake hole 43 is directly incident on the image sensor 26 through the second external light intake hole 47 and the third external light intake hole 48. Can do.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the external light incident from the first external light intake hole 43 in the reproduction mode is incident on the image pickup device 26 in a straight line, so that accurate external brightness can be detected. Therefore, it is possible to provide a screen display with brightness that is easier for the photographer to see, and to reduce unnecessary power consumption.

  Furthermore, an imaging apparatus 1 according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 18, the lens unit 2 of the present embodiment has a first outside light intake hole 43 formed on the optical axis of the imaging optical system 20 of the lens unit 2 of the lens barrier 42.

  In the lens unit 2 of this embodiment, since external light is incident from the first external light intake hole 43 even when the lens barrier 42 is closed, external light is applied to the light receiving element in the same manner as the lens unit 2 of the above-described embodiment. Irradiation can be performed, and the luminance of the backlight in the playback mode can be adjusted. Further, since the first external light capturing hole 43 is formed on the optical axis of the imaging optical system 20 of the lens unit 2, the external light incident from the first external light capturing hole 43 is linearly applied to the image sensor 26. As a result, the attenuation of external light inside the lens unit 2 can be suppressed.

  Therefore, it is possible to automatically select the brightness of the display unit adapted to the external brightness even in the playback mode, to provide a screen display with a brightness that is easy for the photographer to see, and to reduce unnecessary power consumption. Is also possible.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 19, a translucent transparent plate 50 may be attached to the position of the first outside light intake hole 43. In this case, dust and the like can be prevented from entering from the first outside light taking-in hole 43.

  In each of the above embodiments, a thin digital camera is used as the image pickup apparatus 1 including the retractable lens unit 2, but the first lens group 21 is provided with the lens protection unit 40 in front of the first lens group 21 on the front plate. Is a fixed barrel type provided with a rectangular through hole in front of the lens and having a lens barrier 42 that can be opened and closed inside the front plate, and is an internal zoom type that moves the second lens group 22 and the third lens group 23 In some cases, the imaging apparatus 1 includes the lens unit 2.

  In the above-described embodiment, the backlight brightness is controlled to control the brightness of the display unit using the liquid crystal display panel, but the brightness is adjusted by changing the liquid crystal display driving method, When a self-luminous device such as an EL display or LED display board is used, the brightness of the display board may be adjusted, and it is sufficient to appropriately control the brightness of the display unit according to the external brightness by the display unit control means. Is.

  The imaging device 1 is not limited to a digital camera that records a still image, and may be an imaging device that can capture a moving image and record it in a memory, such as a video camera.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the form of the above Example, A change and improvement are possible freely in the range which does not deviate from the summary of invention.

1 is a front view of a first embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention. The rear view in the 1st Example of the imaging device concerning the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment when the lens unit is housed in the first embodiment. Sectional drawing at the time of lens unit extension in the 1st example of the imaging device concerning the present invention. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the lens protection unit when the lens unit is housed in the first embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the lens protection unit when the lens unit is extended in the first embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lens unit when the lens unit is housed in the first embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lens unit when the lens unit is extended in the first embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the lens protection unit when another lens unit is housed in the first embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the lens protection unit when another lens unit is extended in the first embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. Sectional drawing at the time of the lens unit accommodation in 2nd Example of the imaging device which concerns on this invention. Sectional drawing at the time of lens unit accommodation in the 3rd example of the imaging device concerning the present invention. Sectional drawing at the time of other lens unit accommodation in the 3rd Example of the imaging device concerning the present invention. Sectional drawing at the time of lens unit accommodation in the 4th example of the imaging device concerning the present invention. Sectional drawing at the time of lens unit accommodation in the 5th example of the imaging device concerning the present invention. Sectional drawing of the lens unit at the time of the power-off state in the 6th Example of the imaging device which concerns on this invention. Sectional drawing of the lens unit at the time of reproduction | regeneration mode in 6th Example of the imaging device which concerns on this invention. The perspective view of the lens unit at the time of lens unit accommodation in the 7th example of the imaging device concerning the present invention. The perspective view of the other lens unit at the time of lens unit accommodation in the 7th Example of the imaging device which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Imaging device 2 Lens unit
3 Flash 5 Display
6 Various buttons 7 Direction keys
20 Imaging optics 21 First lens group
22 Second lens group 23 Third lens group
24 Fourth lens group 26 Image sensor
30 Lens barrel 31 First barrel
32 Second lens tube 33 Lens movable support member
34 Retractable support member 35 First lens group holder
36 Fourth lens group fixing member 37 Small hole for external light
38 Lens barrel frame 39 Lens barrel back plate
40 Lens protection part 41 Cover part
42 Lens barrier 43 First external light intake hole
44 Barrier control section 45 Slider operation protrusion
46 Slider guide member 47 Second external light intake hole
48 Third external light intake hole 50 Transparent plate
51 First reflection prism 52 Second reflection prism
53 First outside light intake hole cover 54 Cover drive unit
55 Light receiving element for external light

Claims (14)

In an imaging apparatus having an imaging control unit and a display unit control unit and having functions of an imaging mode and a reproduction mode,
An imaging optical system, a lens barrel that holds the imaging optical system, a lens protection unit that is positioned at the tip of the lens barrel and protects the front surface of the imaging optical system, and an imaging element;
The lens protection part controls a cover part having a substantially square-shaped through-hole part in front of the imaging optical system, a lens barrier that closes or opens the through-hole part, and opens and closes the lens barrier. Having a barrier control unit,
The lens protection unit has a first external light intake hole for taking in external light, and the brightness of the display unit is detected by detecting the amount of light entering the lens barrel from the first external light intake hole. An imaging device characterized by controlling the above.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first outside light intake hole is formed in a cover portion of the lens protection portion.   2. The first outside light taking-in hole is formed at a position where the lens barrier deviates from a lens barrier position when the lens barrier is in a closed state and is located when the lens barrier is in an open state. Or the imaging device of Claim 2.   The said barrier control part has the small hole for external light in the position which becomes on the optical axis of said 1st external light taking-in hole when the said lens barrier is a closed state. 2. The imaging device according to 2.   A first external light intake hole cover capable of opening and closing the first external light intake hole and a cover driving device for controlling opening and closing of the first external light intake hole cover. The imaging device according to claim 1 or 2.   The first lens group holding portion on the optical axis of the first outside light taking-in hole has a second outside light taking-in hole according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Imaging device.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first reflecting prism on an optical axis of the first outside light intake hole. A second reflecting prism on the back surface of the lens barrier;
The said 2nd reflective prism reflects in the optical axis direction of the said imaging optical system the light which injected from said 1st external light taking-in hole and reflected by said 1st reflective prism. Imaging device.   The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the lens barrier has the first external light intake hole at a portion exposed to the through-hole portion in a closed state.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a translucent transparent plate is disposed in the first outside light taking-in hole. The second lens group is held by a lens movable support member,
The lens movable support member has a third external light intake hole on the optical axis of the first external light intake hole and the second external light intake hole,
The image sensor is operable from the optical axis of the image pickup optical system to the optical axis of each external light intake hole, and has an image sensor operating means for controlling the operation of the image sensor. The imaging device according to claim 6.   The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup device detects the amount of light incident on the lens barrel.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a light receiving element for external light on an optical axis of the first external light intake hole.   The display unit control means for controlling the luminance of the display unit adjusts and controls the luminance of the display unit stepwise in proportion to the amount of light incident on the lens barrel. The imaging device according to any one of the above.

Images