JP5441662B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that is reduced in size by adjusting the layout of a lens barrier disposed on the front surface of an imaging optical system so as to be openable and closable and a ranging unit for measuring the distance to a subject.

  In general, an image pickup apparatus is usually equipped with an automatic focusing mechanism (autofocus, automatic focusing, AF) that automatically performs a focusing operation.

  As such an automatic focusing mechanism of the imaging apparatus, a contrast detection type or external measurement type automatic focusing mechanism is used. Furthermore, in recent imaging apparatuses, there is a tendency that it is preferable to adopt an external measurement type autofocus which is advantageous for photographing a moving subject.

  This external focusing autofocus uses a distance measuring optical system that is different from the imaging optical system, measures the distance to the subject by the principle of triangulation, moves the imaging optical system based on the distance measurement information, and focuses. It is a method to make it.

  In addition, the lens barrel of the image pickup apparatus opens and closes the front surface of the image pickup optical system lens and protects the image pickup optical system lens from dust or finger contamination by a lens barrier composed of one or two pairs of lens barrier blades. Is usually installed.

  Thus, when both the external measurement autofocus mechanism and the lens barrier are mounted, if the angle of view is blocked by the lens barrier blade, the external measurement autofocus mechanism cannot perform accurate distance measurement. .

  In view of this, a conventional imaging apparatus has been proposed in which an external distance measuring optical system unit is disposed at a position that avoids the operating range of the lens barrier blades (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP2008-175970

  In such a conventionally proposed imaging apparatus, as illustrated in FIG. 7, a layout in which an external distance measuring optical system unit is disposed so as to protrude from an obliquely lower part of a lens barrel, and Has been.

  This is because the conventional imaging apparatus has a layout limitation that the rotation center 201 for opening and closing the lens barrier blades is arranged at the left and right lateral ends of the imaging optical system opening 202. At the same time, since the external distance measuring optical system unit 203 is generally horizontally long, it is necessary to dispose the external distance measuring optical system unit 203 at a position avoiding the operation range 204 of the lens barrier blade. is there.

  Therefore, in the conventional image pickup apparatus, the distance measuring optical system unit of the external measurement method is arranged so as to protrude from the obliquely lower part of the lens barrel. For this reason, in the conventional image pickup apparatus, an installation place that combines the lens barrier blade operation range 204 and the diagonal length 204 of the distance measuring optical system unit is required on the front surface of the apparatus. As a result, the image pickup apparatus is large-sized. There is a problem of becoming.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to optimize the overall configuration by using a dead space in a lens barrier that can be opened and closed on the front surface of an imaging optical system so as to optimize the overall configuration and to reduce the size. To provide an apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a lens barrier unit that includes a lens barrier blade that is disposed in front of an imaging optical system and is mounted to open and close an angle of view, and the imaging optical system. In an imaging apparatus having a distance measuring optical system unit that measures a distance to a subject using a light flux different from that of the lens barrier unit, the lens barrier unit is provided at a position other than the operating range of the lens barrier blade. The distance measuring optical system unit is arranged in a manner such that the distance from the optical axis center of the imaging optical system to the outer edge of the distance measuring optical system unit is reduced in the housing recess.

  According to the present invention, at least one side portion of the distance measuring unit is disposed in the dead space in the lens barrier disposed to be opened and closed on the front surface of the imaging optical system. Then, by configuring the distance measuring unit disposed in the dead space to be an optimal position of the distance measuring unit for downsizing with respect to the image capturing apparatus, the image capturing apparatus is viewed from the front side. This has the effect of reducing the size of the general contour.

1 is a perspective view showing an outline of a configuration of a digital video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the distance measuring optical system unit is attached to the video camera body according to the embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a measurement performed on the video camera body according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic front view which shows the state which attached the distance optical system unit. It is a disassembled perspective view of the lens barrier unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the open state of the lens barrier unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the closed state of the lens barrier unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the operation | movement range of the lens barrier blade | wing which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part front view which illustrates the layout of the lens barrier blade | wing and the ranging optical system unit of an external measurement system in the conventional imaging device. (A) is a front view which shows the external shape of the conventional imaging device, (B) is a front view which shows the external shape of the imaging device concerning this Embodiment for comparison with this.

  Hereinafter, a digital video camera according to an embodiment of an imaging apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a digital video camera body 100 according to the present embodiment includes an imaging lens 101 as an imaging optical system. The imaging lens 101 is disposed on the front surface of the digital video camera body 100 so as to face the subject. The imaging lens 101 can move an internal optical group and has zoom and focus functions.

  In addition, a solid-state imaging device (not shown) and a printed circuit board (not shown) on which circuit components for driving the solid-state imaging device are mounted are arranged at a position where an image is formed by the imaging lens 101 as an imaging optical system. Yes. This imaging optical system is configured to photoelectrically convert an optical image formed on the solid-state imaging device and output it to the signal processing circuit 117.

  The digital video camera body 100 further includes a distance measuring optical system unit 106 and a lens barrier unit 115 formed in a substantially rectangular shape for measuring the distance to the subject using a light beam different from that of the imaging lens 101.

  The digital video camera body 100 includes a microphone 116 for recording sound, a signal processing circuit 117 as a control unit for controlling the entire imaging apparatus, a substrate 118 on which the signal processing circuit 117 is mounted, and the like.

  The microphone 116 is a unit that houses a pair of left and right microphone elements (not shown), and a cover having a large number of holes drilled is provided on the front surface of the microphone 116. The microphone 116 converts sound that has reached through the hole of the cover into an electric signal by the microphone element, and outputs it to the signal processing circuit 117.

  The signal processing circuit 117 is mounted on the substrate 118 and is electrically connected to the imaging lens 101, the distance measuring optical system unit 105, and the microphone 116.

  This signal processing circuit 117 calculates the distance to the subject from the deviation (phase difference) between the imaging positions of the two subject optical images based on the output from the distance measuring optical system unit 106, and controls the imaging lens 101. Controls the action of scorching. The signal processing circuit 117 has a function of creating audio data based on the output from the microphone 116.

  Next, a ranging optical system unit used in the digital video camera main body 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The distance measuring optical system unit 106 includes a distance measuring lens 102, a distance measuring sensor 103, and a distance measuring holder 104. The distance measuring optical system unit 106 is fastened and attached to the housing of the imaging lens 101 by screws 105.

  The distance measuring lens 102 of the distance measuring optical system unit 106 is configured as a lens unit in which a pair of convex lens A 102a and convex lens B 102b are arranged side by side and formed integrally. The pair of convex lens A 102 a and convex lens B 102 b has a function of dividing the subject optical image into two optical images and re-imaging the divided subject optical images on the distance measuring sensor 103.

  The distance measuring sensor 103 of the distance measuring optical system unit 106 is configured by arranging a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements on a line. Two object optical images are formed on the distance measuring sensor 103 by the distance measuring lens 102 at two positions in the longitudinal direction. The distance measuring sensor 103 photoelectrically converts two subject optical images formed at two locations in the longitudinal direction thereof, and outputs them to the signal processing circuit 117.

  Note that the distance measuring lens 102 and the distance measuring sensor 103 described above are held by a distance measuring holder 104.

  Here, since the principle of triangulation used in the autofocus of the external measurement method is a known technique, a description thereof will be omitted, but on the principle, the vertical or horizontal edge of the subject optical image is omitted. Need to be detected.

  Further, a general subject has more edges in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction regardless of whether it is a natural object or an artificial object. For this reason, in order to perform distance measurement with high accuracy, it is better to arrange a pair of convex lenses in the distance measurement lens 102 and a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements in the distance measurement sensor 103 side by side to detect the edge in the vertical direction. preferable. Therefore, the external shape of the distance measuring optical system unit 106, which is formed in a substantially rectangular shape as a whole, is LX> LY and has a horizontally long shape.

  Next, a lens barrier unit mounted on the digital video camera body 100 will be described with reference to an exploded perspective view of FIG.

  The lens barrier unit 115 includes a lens barrier blade A107 and a lens barrier blade B108, which are substantially arc-shaped thin plate members that protect the imaging lens 101 from dust or finger contamination when not photographing. The base end portions of the lens barrier blade A107 and the lens barrier blade B108 are each pivotally attached to a rotation center shaft 120 provided on the front surface side (subject side) of the guide member 111.

  The lens barrier blade A107 and the lens barrier blade B108 rotate about the rotation center axis 120 and can be opened to the open position (FIG. 4) completely retracted from the angle-of-view opening 119 on the front surface of the imaging lens 101. It is attached to. At the same time, the lens barrier blade A107 and the lens barrier blade B108 rotate about the rotation center axis 120 and are mounted so as to be able to close the door to the closed position (FIG. 5) that completely closes the angle-of-view opening 119. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a lens barrier driving member 109 and a pressing member 112 are mounted on the back side of the guide member 111 in order to constitute a driving mechanism for the lens barrier blade A107 and the lens barrier blade B108.

  The lens barrier driving member 109 is mounted so as to be rotatable about the optical axis center of the imaging lens 101 while being sandwiched between the guide member 111 and the pressing member 112.

  Further, the lens barrier spring 110 is installed so as to open and close the lens barrier blade B <b> 108 following the forward or reverse operation of the lens barrier driving member 109.

  The lens barrier spring 110, which is a torsion coil spring, is attached by laying the coil portion on a hook portion (not shown) provided on the guide member 111.

  Further, the lens barrier spring 110 is engaged with a driving shaft 124 protruding from the lens barrier driving member 109 and installed.

  Furthermore, in order to operate the lens barrier blade A107 following the lens barrier blade B108, the lens barrier blade A107 is provided with an operating boss 125 at a predetermined position near the base end portion. At the same time, an arc-shaped operation groove 126 is formed at a position corresponding to the operation boss 125 of the lens barrier blade B108. Then, the operation boss 125 of the lens barrier blade A107 is inserted into the operation groove 126 of the lens barrier blade B108 so as to be movable in the arc-shaped groove.

  Accordingly, the lens barrier blade A107 follows the opening / closing operation of the lens barrier blade B108 with play within the range in which the operation boss 125 moves within the range of the arc-shaped groove of the operation groove 126. Accordingly, when the lens barrier blade B108 rotates by a predetermined angle or more, the end surface of the operation groove 126 contacts the operation boss 125, and the lens barrier blade A107 rotates around the rotation center axis 120 in conjunction with the lens barrier blade B108. To open and close.

  In this lens barrier unit, a motor 113 is disposed above the imaging lens 101 in the pressing member 112 as a driving source for opening and closing the lens barrier blade A107 and the lens barrier blade B108.

  The lens barrier unit is configured such that the driving force of the motor 113 is transmitted to the driving gear portion 121 of the lens barrier driving member 109 via a gear train 114 connected to the output shaft of the motor 113.

  In this lens barrier unit, by rotating the motor 113 forward or backward, the lens barrier driving member 109 follows an operation of rotating by a predetermined angle between the open position and the closed position, and the lens barrier blade A107 and the lens barrier blade. B108 is opened and closed.

  When the lens barrier unit performs the closing operation, the motor 113 is driven to rotate the lens barrier driving member 109 from the open position to the closed position. Then, the lens barrier blade A107 and the lens barrier blade B108 that follow the lens barrier driving member 109 via the lens barrier spring 110 move from the open position to the closed position.

  At this time, the lens barrier blade B108 continues to operate until the lens barrier blades B108 come into contact with each other. Further, even after the lens barrier blades B <b> 108 come into contact with each other, the lens barrier driving member 109 rotates by a predetermined angle within the play range of the operation groove 126. A spring force is generated in the lens barrier spring 110 by the rotation operation of the predetermined angle. Thereby, in the lens barrier unit 115, the lens barrier blade A107 and the lens barrier blade B108 are urged and held in the closed position.

  The operation of the lens barrier unit 115 from the open position to the closed position is the reverse procedure of the operation from the closed position to the open position described above.

  The lens barrier unit 115 attached to the angle-of-view opening 119 on the front surface of the imaging lens 101 configured as described above is in an open position (shown in FIG. 4) when the digital video camera body 100 is in a shooting state. The lens barrier unit 115 is in a closed position (shown in FIG. 5) when the reproduction state and the power supply are turned off.

  Next, the layout of each component arranged in the digital video camera main body 100 so as to be miniaturized will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the digital video camera main body 100, it is necessary to dispose the distance measuring optical system unit 106 at a position that avoids the operation range 127 of the lens barrier blade A107 and the lens barrier blade B108. Further, since the distance measuring optical system unit 106 needs to be disposed at a position that does not appear in the angle of view of the imaging lens 101, it cannot be disposed, for example, in front of the lens barrier unit 115.

  Therefore, in the digital video camera main body 100, the rotation center axis 120 of the lens barrier blade A107 and the lens barrier blade B108 is disposed on an extension line of a substantially diagonal line of the field angle opening 119. Accordingly, as can be seen from the hatched operation range of the lens barrier blade in FIG. 6, ranges outside the lens barrier blade operation range 126 are set on the upper and lower sides of the imaging lens 101. The range outside the lens barrier blade operating range 126 is a so-called dead space, which is a usable space without affecting the lens barrier blade A107 and the lens barrier blade B108.

  Therefore, at least a part of the distance measuring optical system unit 106 is within a range not covered by the lens barrier blade operation range 126 and inside the arc 127 around the optical axis connecting the lens barrier blade operation range outline. Set the layout so that.

  In such a configuration, the distance measuring optical system unit 106 is arranged in a state where a part of the distance measuring optical system unit 106 bites into the inside of the cylindrical housing of the lens barrel. The amount of protrusion can be reduced to reduce the size.

  Specifically, as described above, the outer shape of the distance measuring optical system unit 106 is LX> LY. Therefore, when the ranging optical system unit 106 is disposed either vertically above or below the imaging lens 101, the necessary area on the front surface of the digital video camera body 100 includes the lens barrier blade operating range 127 and the ranging optical system unit 106. And the vertical length LY.

  As a result, the distance measuring optical system unit 106 is not blocked by the lens barrier blade A107 and the lens barrier blade B108. At the same time, since the distance measuring optical system unit 106 is disposed relatively close to the optical axis center 122 side of the imaging lens 101, the digital video camera body 100 can be downsized.

  In short, in the digital video camera main body 100 shown in FIG. 6, the installation portion of the distance measuring optical system unit 106 is located in a portion having a relatively large area in the range not covered by the lens barrier blade operation range 126 in the lens barrier unit 115. Set.

  In the lens barrier unit 115, the installation unit of the distance measuring optical system unit 106 is configured at a location corresponding to a so-called dead space other than the operating range 126 of the lens barrier blades in the guide member 111 and the pressing member 112.

  The guide member 111 and the holding member 112 are notched into a rectangular recess to accommodate the one side portion of the distance measuring optical system unit 106 at locations other than the operating range 126 of the lens barrier blade. The formed accommodation recess 130 is formed. The housing recess 130 formed at a position other than the operating range of the lens barrier blade may be formed only on the guide member 111 corresponding to the size of the distance measuring optical system unit 106.

  The bottom of the housing recess 130 formed at a position outside the operating range of the lens barrier blade is formed so as to be along a direction (direction perpendicular to the radial direction) perpendicular to a straight line (diameter) passing through the center of the optical axis center 122. . It arrange | positions so that the one side part of the rectangular-shaped ranging optical system unit 106 may be inserted in the accommodation recessed part 130 which comprises this installation part.

  The distance measuring optical system unit 106 arranged in the housing recess 130 in this way is arranged in such a manner that one side in the longitudinal direction is along a direction orthogonal to a straight line (diameter) passing through the optical axis center 122. Thereby, in this lens barrier unit 115, it arrange | positions in the aspect from which the distance from the optical-axis center 122 to the outer edge of the ranging optical system unit 106 becomes the smallest, and it can achieve size reduction of the whole.

  At the same time, in the lens barrier unit 115, the housing recess 130 to which the distance measuring optical system unit 106 is attached has a long side on the lower side of the angle-of-view opening portion 119 as viewed in FIG. It arrange | positions in the position which opposes so that it may become parallel. Thereby, in this lens barrier unit 115, the distance from the optical axis center 122 to the bottom side of the accommodation recessed part 130 can be made the smallest, and the whole size can be reduced. In the case of such a configuration, although depending on the shapes of the lens barrier blade A107 and the lens barrier blade B108, the rotational center axis 120 of the two barrier blades is positioned at positions obliquely up and down with respect to the angle-of-view opening 119. Will be placed.

  Next, the digital video camera main body 100 which is miniaturized by laying out the lens barrier unit 115 and the distance measuring optical system unit 106 as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, in the digital video camera main body 100, the distance measuring optical system unit 106 is disposed at the lower center of the imaging lens 101, and microphones 116 are disposed on both sides of the distance measuring optical system unit 106. Configured.

  In such a configuration, the space below the imaging lens 101 can be used effectively, and thus the digital video camera body 100 can be downsized. In addition, the distance between the elements in the microphone 116 can be increased without increasing the outer shape of the digital video camera main body 100, and the stereo feeling of the recorded voice can be improved. As described above, the distance measuring optical system unit 106 is disposed below the imaging lens 101, and the microphones 116 are disposed on both sides thereof, so that space efficiency is improved and the digital video camera body 100 can be downsized. It was.

  Here, the digital video camera body 100 according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 8B will be described in comparison with the conventional digital video camera shown in FIG.

  In the digital video camera main body 100 according to the present embodiment, the rotation center 201 of the lens barrier blade A107 and the lens barrier blade B108 is disposed substantially diagonally with respect to the angle-of-view opening 119. Further, in the digital video camera main body 100, the distance measuring optical system unit 106 is arranged at the lower center of the imaging lens 101.

  Further, in the digital video camera main body 100, the distance measuring optical system unit 106 is disposed outside the operation range of the lens barrier blade A107 and the lens barrier blade B108. At the same time, the digital video camera main body 100 is arranged so that at least a part of the distance measuring optical system unit 106 is placed inside an arc connecting the outer shapes of the operation ranges of the lens barrier blade A107 and the lens barrier blade B108. Note that microphones 116 are disposed on both sides of the distance measuring optical system unit 106, respectively.

  On the other hand, in the digital video camera main body 200 illustrated in FIG. 8A, the distance measuring optical system unit 203 is disposed on the lower extension line of the substantially diagonal line of the field angle opening.

  As can be understood by comparing FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, the digital video camera body 100 according to this embodiment is different from the digital video camera body 200 illustrated in FIG. 8A. On the other hand, it is understood that the external dimensions 128 are reduced.

  Further, by laying out and configuring the lens barrier unit 115 and the distance measuring optical system unit 106 as described above, an increase in the thickness direction of the lens barrier unit 115 can be prevented as compared with the example illustrated in FIG. However, it became possible to reduce the size in the radial direction.

  In the present embodiment, a digital video camera has been described as an example of the imaging device, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention has a lens barrier that can be opened and closed on the front surface of the imaging optical system and a distance measuring optical system that measures the distance to the subject using a light flux different from that of the imaging optical system. Of course, it is adaptable.

100 Digital video camera body 106 Distance measuring optical system unit 115 Lens barrier unit 116 Microphone 119 Angle of view opening 126 Operating range of lens barrier blade

Claims (4)

A lens barrier unit provided with a lens barrier blade disposed on the front surface of the imaging optical system and mounted to open and close the angle of view opening;
In an imaging apparatus having a distance measuring optical system unit of an external measurement method that measures a distance to a subject using a light flux different from that of the imaging optical system,
The measurement is performed in such a manner that a distance from the optical axis center of the imaging optical system to the outer edge of the distance measuring optical system unit is reduced in a housing recess provided at a position outside the operating range of the lens barrier blade in the lens barrier unit. An image pickup apparatus comprising a distance optical system unit.   The distance measuring optical system unit is formed in a rectangular shape, and the long side of the distance measuring optical system unit is arranged in the accommodating recess so as to be along a direction orthogonal to a straight line passing through the center of the optical axis. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the distance measuring optical system unit is arranged in a state parallel to a straight aperture side of the field angle aperture.   The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein microphones are disposed on both sides of the distance measuring optical system unit.

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