JP6004726B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for reducing an impact on an optical barrel unit in an imaging apparatus.

  In recent years, imaging devices such as digital cameras have become more sophisticated, and an increasing number of cameras have improved drop resistance and impact resistance. In addition, while there is a demand for miniaturization of the camera body, there has been provided a camera equipped with a thin optical barrel unit using a bending optical system or the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an imaging apparatus in which an optical barrel unit is not completely fixed to an exterior case but is urged and held via an elastic member with respect to the exterior case. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which an optical barrel unit is fixed to a chassis to which an LCD panel is attached, and the chassis is held while being urged by an exterior case via an elastic member.

  In this configuration, in the normal state, the display surface of the LCD panel is substantially flush with the outer shape of the outer case. When an external force is applied to the optical barrel unit, the LCD panel moves together with the optical barrel unit and protrudes from the outer shape of the outer case, thereby eliminating the dead space.

JP 2010-237297 A

  However, in the imaging device of Patent Document 1, the chassis is only urged in the thickness direction of the main body by the elastic member. For this reason, countermeasures for mitigating impacts in directions other than the thickness direction, for example, the height (up and down) direction, the width (left and right) direction, and the rotation direction have not been sufficient.

  In addition, when an impact is applied, the LCD panel protrudes from the exterior case as much as the elastic member is crushed, so that there is a problem in that the appearance quality deteriorates. There is also a risk that the gap between the LCD panel and the outer case is clogged with dust.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to alleviate the impact that the lens barrel unit receives from the top, bottom, left, and right or the thickness direction without impairing the appearance quality.

This onset bright in order to achieve the above object, an imaging device, a lens barrel unit having a bending optical system for bending the imaging light beam, is arranged on one side of the lens barrel unit, the imaging light beam passing through An exterior member in which a window portion to be formed is formed; an elastic member disposed between the lens barrel unit and the exterior member; and a rib-shaped protrusion that is long in the left-right direction of the imaging device; other surface a reinforcing member that is positioned and fixed on the side, the engagement hole is formed, a chassis member disposed so as to cover the reinforcing member, the cushion member disposed between the chassis member and the reinforcing member of And the one surface of the elastic member is positioned and fixed to the exterior member, and the other surface of the elastic member is positioned and fixed to the barrel unit, and the chassis member is the cushion member With compression, the engagement hole is arranged to engage the projection of the reinforcing member with a predetermined clearance, by the protrusion comes into contact with the engaging hole, the displacement of the lens barrel unit The lens barrel unit is provided with a front lens at one end and an image sensor at the other end, and the protrusion corresponds to a position approximately in the middle between the front lens and the image sensor of the lens barrel unit. is formed, characterized in Rukoto.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to mitigate the impact that the lens barrel unit receives from the top, bottom, left, and right or the thickness direction without impairing the appearance quality.

It is the perspective view which looked at the inside of the imaging device concerning one embodiment of the present invention from the back side. An external perspective view of the optical barrel unit as seen from the front side (FIG. (A)), an external perspective view of the optical barrel unit as seen from the back side (FIG. (B)), It is the external appearance perspective view (figure (c)) of the elastic member which looked at the elastic member from the front side, and the external appearance perspective view (figure (d)) of the elastic member which looked at the elastic member from the back side. It is a disassembled perspective view of this imaging device except a rear cover. An external perspective view of the reinforcing member as seen from the front side (FIG. (A)), an external perspective view of the reinforcing member as seen from the rear side (FIG. (B)), and the reinforcing member as an optical barrel unit It is a figure (figure (c)) explaining a mode that it attaches. FIG. 2 is a rear view (FIG. (A)) of the optical barrel unit with the rear sheet and the flexible substrate removed, and a rear view (FIG. (B)) showing the inside of the digital camera. It is a rear view (Drawing (a)) which shows the inside of a digital camera, and a sectional view (Drawing (b)) which meets an AA line of Drawing 6 (a).

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inside of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the back side.

  This imaging apparatus is configured as a digital camera, for example. A front cover 101 as an exterior member formed of a synthetic resin material covers the front surface of the digital camera. The front cover 101 is formed with a window portion 101c through which a photographing light beam passes.

  A jack cover 102 is attached to the right side surface of the digital camera so as to be openable and closable with respect to the front cover 101. The jack cover 102 is used when connecting the digital camera and an external device. A battery cover 103 is attached to the bottom surface of the digital camera so as to be openable and closable with respect to the front cover 101. The battery memory card can be replaced by opening the battery cover 103.

  A top cover 104 is attached to the upper surface of the digital camera. A power button 105, a release button 106, and a playback button 107 are attached to the top cover 104 so that they can be pressed. The lens barrel stay 108 is positioned and fixed with respect to the front cover 101 on the left side of the digital camera. The lens barrel stay 108 is formed of a sheet metal material, and serves as a seating surface for fixing a main chassis 116 to be described later with screws and maintaining the rigidity of the side surface of the main body.

  In the present embodiment, the thickness direction of the digital camera is defined as the front-rear direction. In the vertical direction, the side to which the top cover 104 is attached is defined as the upper side of the digital camera, and the side to which the battery cover 103 is attached is defined as the lower side of the digital camera. The side to which the lens barrel stay 108 is attached is defined as the left side of the digital camera, and the side to which the jack cover 102 is attached is defined as the right side of the digital camera.

  The optical barrel unit 111 is disposed inside the front cover 101, that is, on the back side. That is, the front cover 101 is disposed on one surface side of the optical barrel unit 111, and the elastic member 109 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the front cover 101 and the optical barrel unit 111.

  The optical barrel unit 111 includes a photographing lens, a shutter having a diaphragm function, an imaging sensor 111f (shown in FIG. 2A) for converting a photographed optical image into an electrical signal, and the like. The elastic member 109 is a member that elastically positions and fixes the optical barrel unit 111 with respect to the front cover 101, and is integrally formed of an elastically deformable material, for example, an elastomer. However, any elastically deformable material may be used, and the material is not limited to an elastomer.

  The reinforcing member 110 is positioned and fixed on the back side (the other side) of the optical barrel unit 111. The reinforcing member 110 functions as a reinforcing member that reinforces the back side (the other side) of the optical barrel unit 111. A plurality of, for example, five cushion members 115 that can be compressed and deformed are attached to the back side of the reinforcing member 110. The cushion member 115 only needs to be a member having elasticity and cushioning properties such as a compressible and deformable sponge, and any kind of material may be used.

  Flexible substrates 112, 113, and 114 are arranged in the optical barrel unit 111. An imaging sensor 111 f is mounted on the flexible substrate 112. On the flexible substrate 113, a photo interrupter for detecting the positions of the shutter and the photographing lens is mounted. An IS (Image Stabilizer) drive mechanism is mounted on the flexible substrate 113. The flexible boards 112, 113, and 114 are connected to a main board (not shown) by a connector or the like.

  FIG. 2A is an external perspective view of the optical barrel unit 111 when the optical barrel unit 111 is viewed from the front side. FIG. 2B is an external perspective view of the optical barrel unit 111 when the optical barrel unit 111 is viewed from the back side.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, a positioning boss 111 a is formed to protrude from the front side of the optical barrel unit 111. A front lens 111e made of glass is disposed at the upper part of the optical barrel unit 111, and an imaging sensor 111f for converting an optical image into an electrical signal is disposed at the lower part of the optical barrel unit 111. The optical barrel unit 111 includes a bending optical system, and guides the image incident from the front lens 111e to the imaging sensor 111f by bending it through an internal prism (not shown).

  As illustrated in FIG. 2B, a positioning hole 111 b is formed on the back side of the optical barrel unit 111. The front side of the optical barrel unit 111 is covered with a front frame 111c formed of a synthetic resin material. On the back side of the optical barrel unit 111, a rear sheet 111d formed of a sheet-like PET material is fixed to the front frame 111c by a plurality of fixing tapes 111g. As a result, the back side of the optical barrel unit 111 is closed.

  FIG. 2C is an external perspective view of the elastic member 109 when the elastic member 109 is viewed from the front side. FIG. 2D is an external perspective view of the elastic member 109 when the elastic member 109 is viewed from the back side.

  As shown in FIG. 2D, the elastic member 109 has two positioning holes 109a. The elastic member 109 is positioned on the optical barrel unit 111 by fitting the positioning boss 111a of the optical barrel unit 111 with the positioning hole 109a. As shown in FIG. 2C, two bosses 109b project from the front side of the elastic member 109. As shown in FIG. The elastic member 109 is positioned on the front cover 101 by the boss 109b. Thereby, the position of the window 101c of the front cover 101 and the position of the front lens 111e of the optical barrel unit 111 can be matched. As illustrated in FIG. 2C, a double-sided tape 109 c is attached to the front side of the elastic member 109. The elastic member 109 is bonded and fixed to the back side of the front cover 101 by a double-sided tape 109c. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the digital camera. In FIG. 3, the rear cover is omitted. FIG. 4A is an external perspective view of the reinforcing member 110 when the reinforcing member 110 is viewed from the front side. FIG. 4B is an external perspective view of the reinforcing member 110 when the reinforcing member 110 is viewed from the back side. FIG. 4C is a diagram for explaining how the reinforcing member 110 is attached to the optical barrel unit 111.

  The reinforcing member 110 is made of a synthetic resin material. As shown in FIG. 4A, two positioning bosses 110 a protrude from the front side of the reinforcing member 110. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, a protrusion 110 b is formed to protrude from the back side of the reinforcing member 110. The protrusion 110b has a long rib shape in the left-right direction of the digital camera. On the back side of the reinforcing member 110, there are five affixing portions 110c to which the cushion member 115 is attached.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a lens barrel stay 108 is fixed to the back side of the front cover 101 by screws 118. Further, a protective cushion 117 for protecting the side surface portion of the optical lens barrel unit 111 is attached to the inner side surface portion of the lens barrel stay 108. As shown in FIG. 2C, two elastic member 109 positioning holes 101 a into which the positioning boss 109 b of the elastic member 109 is fitted are formed on the back side of the front cover 101. The elastic member 109 is positioned on the front cover 101 by fitting the positioning boss 109b and the positioning hole 101a. As shown in FIG. 2C, the elastic member 109 is bonded and fixed to the back side of the front cover 101 by a double-sided tape 109c.

  A method of fixing the optical barrel unit 111 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the elastic member 109 is fitted to a positioning hole 101a (illustrated in FIG. 2A) of the front cover 101 and a positioning boss 109b (illustrated in FIG. 2C) of the elastic member 109 to fit the elastic member 109 to the front cover 101. Position with respect to. At that time, the elastic member 109 is bonded and fixed to the flat surface portion 101b of the front cover 101 by the double-sided tape 109c. Thereby, the elastic member 109 is fixed to the back side of the front cover 101.

  Next, two positioning bosses 111a (shown in FIG. 2A) of the optical barrel unit 111 and corresponding positioning holes 109a (shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D) of the elastic member 109 are fitted. Combine. Then, the position of the optical barrel unit 111 in the plane direction (direction parallel to the top and bottom and the left and right) is determined. Here, since the optical barrel unit 111 is fixed to the front cover 101 via an elastic member 109 formed of an elastically deformable material, the optical barrel unit 111 is also elastically held in the planar direction. Therefore, the positioning boss 111a is prevented from being damaged when a planar impact is applied.

  Next, the positioning hole 111b (shown in FIG. 2B) of the optical barrel unit 111 and the positioning boss 110a of the reinforcing member 110 (shown in FIG. 4A) are fitted. As a result, the reinforcing member 110 is positioned on the optical barrel unit 111. The reinforcing member 110 moves integrally with the optical barrel unit 111.

  Five cushion members 115 are bonded and fixed to the attaching portion 110c (shown in FIG. 4B) on the back surface of the reinforcing member 110 (shown in FIG. 3). The main chassis 116 is assembled to the front cover 101 from the back side while the cushion member 115 is compressed. That is, the main chassis 116 is fixed with a plurality of fastening screws to the lens barrel stay 108 and a battery box which is a component of the main body (not shown). When the main chassis 116 is fixed, the cushion member 115 is compressed by the main chassis 116. The main chassis 116 corresponds to a chassis member.

  When the plurality of cushion members 115 are in a compressed state, the reinforcing member 110 and the optical barrel unit 111 are integrally biased toward the front cover 101 (front side) by the repulsive force of the cushion member 115. Here, the optical barrel unit 111 is urged forward integrally with the reinforcing member 110, but the camera body can be moved in the thickness direction within a deformable range of the cushion member 115. For example, when an impact in the thickness direction is applied to the camera body due to dropping or the like, the impact force is reduced by the cushion member 115, and the impact is not directly transmitted to the optical barrel unit 111.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, a horizontally long engagement hole 116 a corresponding to the protrusion 110 b of the reinforcing member 110 is formed in the main chassis 116. When the engagement hole 116a and the protrusion 110b are fitted to each other when the main chassis 116 is assembled, the dimensions of the engagement hole 116a are set so that a predetermined clearance is secured vertically and horizontally with respect to the protrusion 110b. Yes.

  Here, one of the reasons why the predetermined clearance is necessary is to prevent the positioning accuracy of the optical barrel unit 111 from deteriorating due to the protrusion 110b coming into contact with the engagement hole 116a. On the other hand, when a drop impact is applied to the camera body, the projection 110b and the engagement hole 116a come into contact with each other, so that the optical barrel unit 111 is restricted from being displaced too much in the vertical and horizontal directions. Can also be expected.

  That is, the optical barrel unit 111 is positioned in the vertical and horizontal directions by fitting the positioning boss 111a (shown in FIG. 2A) and the positioning hole 109a of the elastic member 109. It can be displaced vertically and horizontally by elasticity. However, in a situation where the elastic member 109 is excessively elastically deformed, the protrusion 110b and the engagement hole 116a abut. Accordingly, excessive displacement of the optical barrel unit 111 in the camera body in the vertical and horizontal directions is restricted, and the optical barrel unit 111 is also prevented from colliding with adjacent components.

  Further, there is an effect of restricting the rotational displacement of the optical barrel unit 111 by the contact between the engagement hole 116a and the protrusion 110b, which will be described later with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5A is a rear view of the optical barrel unit 111 from which the rear sheet 111d and the flexible substrate 112 are removed. FIG. 5B is a rear view showing the inside of the digital camera. In FIG. 5B, the main chassis 116 and the flexible substrate 112 are removed.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, a zoom lens holder 121 that holds a zoom lens group (not shown), a zoom motor 119, a lead screw 120, and a shutter unit on the front frame 111c of the optical barrel unit 111. 125 is stored. The zoom lens holder 121 holds a plurality of zoom lenses therein, and has an engagement portion 121a in which a female screw for engaging with a lead screw 120 (male screw) to move up and down is formed inside. Accordingly, when the zoom motor 119 as a driving source rotates, the lead screw 120 rotates in the same direction, and the zoom lens holder 121 engaged therewith moves in a direction in which the magnification of the zoom lens is changed.

  Similarly, a focus lens holder 124 that holds a focus lens group (not shown), a focus motor 122, and a lead screw 123 are housed below the front frame 111c. The focus lens holder 124 holds a plurality of focus lenses therein, and has an engaging portion 124a in which a female screw for engaging with a lead screw 123 (male screw) to move up and down is formed. As a result, when the focus motor 122 as a drive source rotates, the lead screw 123 rotates in the same direction, and the focus lens holder 124 engaged therewith moves in a direction to adjust the focus lens focus.

  The optical barrel unit 111 includes an IS unit 126 that houses an anti-vibration mechanism for preventing hand touch. The IS unit 126 prevents blurring of a captured image by moving an internal IS lens (anti-vibration lens) (not shown) with respect to a direction orthogonal to the optical axis.

  Since the zoom lens holder 121 and the focus lens holder 124 are configured to be movable in the direction of the arrow (vertical direction) in FIG. 5A, a space for moving the lens group inside the optical barrel unit 111. Is required. Therefore, in the optical barrel unit 111, there are a space portion S that is a movable region of the lens group and a high-rigidity region G in which the frame shape of the front frame 111c is formed and is more rigid than the space portion S. The high-rigidity region G is a region where the meat part of the front frame 111c exists in the rear view. The space S corresponds to the first region, and the high rigidity region G corresponds to the second region.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the plurality of cushion members 115 on the back surface of the reinforcing member 110 are disposed at positions corresponding to the high rigidity region G while avoiding the space portion S. In other words, the cushion member 115 is arranged avoiding the corresponding position of the region for moving the zoom lens holder 121 and the focus lens holder 124 which are movable parts in the optical barrel unit 111.

  With such an arrangement, when a plurality of cushion members 115 are compressed from the back and an urging force is applied, the force is received in a region having high rigidity. Therefore, it is possible to prevent excessive deformation of the optical barrel unit 111 so that no force is applied to the space portion S of the optical barrel unit 111, and appropriate movement of the movable part can be ensured.

  FIG. 6A is a rear view showing the inside of the digital camera. FIG. 6A shows a state in which the main chassis 116 is attached to the state shown in FIG. FIG.6 (b) is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of Fig.6 (a).

  Here, since the protrusion 110b of the reinforcing member 110 is inserted into the engagement hole 116a of the main chassis 116, the optical barrel unit 111 rotates in the rotation directions B and C indicated by arrows in FIG. 6B. Is regulated. In other words, the protrusion 110b and the engagement hole 116a are fitted with an appropriate clearance, so that the amount of rotational displacement (tilt) of the optical barrel unit 111 about the horizontal axis is appropriately regulated. can do.

  In particular, by restricting the rotation in the rotation direction B, it is possible to prevent the front lens 111e on the upper part of the optical barrel unit 111 from colliding with the protective lens 101c of the front cover 101 and damaging each other. Further, by restricting the rotation in the rotation direction C, it is possible to prevent the imaging sensor 111f below the optical barrel unit 111 from colliding with the inner wall of the front cover 101 and deteriorating the positional accuracy of the imaging sensor 111f. .

  Here, the vertical position of the protrusion 110b of the reinforcing member 110 is approximately in the middle of the front lens 111e and the image sensor 111f, as shown in FIG. 6B. As a result, the amount of movement in both the rotational directions B and C becomes substantially equal.

  According to the present embodiment, the positioning boss 111a of the optical barrel unit 111 is fitted into the positioning hole 109a of the elastic member 109 which is an elastic member. At the same time, the main chassis 116 was fixed to the front cover 101 from the back side while the cushion member 115 was compressed.

  Thereby, first, the impact that the optical barrel unit 111 receives from the thickness direction of the camera body can be mitigated by the elasticity of the elastic member 109 and the cushion member 115. Further, since the positioning hole 109a and the positioning boss 111a are fitted, the impact received by the optical barrel unit 111 from the vertical and horizontal directions can be reduced by the elasticity of the elastic member 109. Moreover, even if the optical barrel unit 111 is elastically displaced, the optical barrel unit 111 does not protrude outward from the camera body, so that the appearance quality is not deteriorated, and a gap for dust is not generated. Therefore, the impact received by the optical barrel unit 111 from the top, bottom, left, and right or the thickness direction can be reduced without deteriorating the appearance quality.

  Further, the protrusion 110b of the reinforcing member 110 is fitted into the engagement hole 116a of the main chassis 116 with a clearance, so that the rotational displacement of the optical barrel unit 111 with the horizontal axis as the center is appropriately restricted. Is done. As a result, the amount of rotational displacement (tilting) of the optical barrel unit 111 can be regulated appropriately, and excessive displacement in the vertical and horizontal directions can be regulated.

  In addition, the optical barrel unit 111 has a bending optical system, and includes a front lens 111e at one end and an image sensor 111f at the other end. The protrusion 110b is located approximately in the middle between the front lens 111e and the image sensor 111f in the vertical direction. Thereby, the amount of displacement between the front lens 111e and the image sensor 111f when the optical barrel unit 111 is rotationally displaced can be made uniform, and damage and deterioration of accuracy can be avoided.

  Further, the cushion member 115 is disposed so as to avoid the movable region of the movable parts (the zoom lens holder 121 and the focus lens holder 124) in the optical barrel unit 111 on the back surface of the reinforcing member 110. As a result, the cushion member 115 is disposed at a position corresponding to the high-rigidity region G while avoiding the space portion S of the optical barrel unit 111, so that no force is applied to the space portion S. An excessive deformation of 111 can be prevented.

  The number of cushion members 115 is not limited to five, but from the viewpoint of stably holding the optical barrel unit 111, at least a part of the cushion member 115 exists above and below the protrusion 110b and to the left and right. It is preferable to do this.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail based on preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 109 Elastic member 109a Positioning hole 101 Front cover 110 Reinforcement member 110b Protrusion part 111 Optical barrel unit 111a Positioning boss 115 Cushion member 116 Main chassis 116a Engagement hole

Claims (2)

An imaging device,
A lens barrel unit having a bending optical system for bending a photographing light beam;
An exterior member that is disposed on one side of the barrel unit and in which a window portion through which the imaging light flux passes is formed;
An elastic member disposed between the lens barrel unit and the exterior member;
A rib-shaped protrusion that is long in the left-right direction of the imaging device is formed, and a reinforcing member that is positioned and fixed on the other surface side of the barrel unit;
A chassis member formed with an engagement hole and covering the reinforcing member;
And a cushion member disposed between the chassis member and the reinforcing member,
While the one surface of the elastic member is positioned and fixed to the exterior member, the other surface of the elastic member is positioned and fixed to the lens barrel unit,
The chassis member is disposed such that the engagement member engages with the protrusion of the reinforcement member with a predetermined clearance while compressing the cushion member ,
When the projection comes into contact with the engagement hole, the displacement of the barrel unit is restricted,
The lens barrel unit has a front lens at one end and an image sensor at the other end,
The projection imaging apparatus according to claim Rukoto is formed at a position corresponding to the vicinity of substantially middle between the image sensor and the front lens of the lens barrel unit. In the lens barrel unit, a first region that is a movable region of the lens group and a frame shape are formed, and a second region that is more rigid than the first region is formed,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cushion member is disposed in a portion corresponding to the second region of the barrel unit.

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