JP6420956B2 - Lens optical unit and camera - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lens optical unit and a camera including a lens optical system, and in particular, a lens including a barrier member that is used in an outdoor environment as an in-vehicle camera, a surveillance camera, and the like and that opens and closes the front of an optical path window. The present invention relates to an optical unit and a camera including the same.

As a conventional camera, a housing (housing) that defines an accommodation space, a lens optical system (lens unit) disposed in the housing, an image sensor (CCD) disposed behind the lens optical system in the housing, a housing A barrier member (lens barrier) for opening and closing the front side of the cover glass disposed inside the opening (window) inside and in front of the lens optical system, and a drive mechanism disposed in the housing for driving the barrier member to open and close 2. Description of the Related Art An imaging device including a lens barrier driving unit and a piston is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In this camera, the barrier member is supported so as to be swingable between an open position and a closed position by an axis provided in the housing, not the outside of the housing, so that the opening of the housing is a transparent window such as glass. When formed, there is no through-hole penetrating from the outside to the inside of the housing, and it is not necessary to take measures for waterproofing.

By the way, as a lens optical unit or camera provided with a barrier member, as shown in FIG. 7, the barrier member 1 is arranged outside the housing 2 and is opened and closed by a drive mechanism arranged inside the housing 2. For example, a method of transmitting the driving force of the driving mechanism to the barrier member 1 through the rotating shaft 3 inserted into the through hole 2a of the housing 2 and extending from the outside to the inside can be considered. For example, a rubber O-ring 4 (annular seal member having a circular cross section) that fits into an annular recess 2b that is formed outside the through-hole 2a in order to waterproof can be cited.
However, when the housing 2 is molded using a metal material, a resin material, or the like, the inner peripheral wall surface 2c of the annular recess 2b expands outward due to the mold slipping out (forms an angle α in the cross section). (That is, the annular recess 2b is formed in a substantially truncated cone), and the rotating shaft is fitted into the annular recess 2c having a drop gradient with the O-ring 4 being compressed by a predetermined compression allowance. When the 3 rotates, the frictional force or torsional force generated in the contact area between the rotating shaft 3 and the O-ring 4 and the contact area between the inner peripheral wall surface 2 c and the O-ring 4, the compression force of the O-ring 4, etc. The ring 4 may move outward (as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 7), so that the desired compression allowance cannot be maintained, and as a result, the desired waterproof action may not be obtained.

JP 2003-219237 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described prior art, and the object of the present invention is to simplify the structure, reduce the cost, reduce the size, etc. without causing an increase in the number of parts. And a barrier member that opens and closes the front of the window portion by ensuring that the annular seal member does not deviate from a predetermined fitting position to ensure a desired waterproof action (preventing water droplets from entering the housing). It is an object of the present invention to provide a lens optical unit that can be reliably driven, can form a desired subject image (capture), and can improve durability and the like, and a camera including the lens optical unit.

The lens optical unit of the present invention includes a housing having a window portion for an optical path, a lens optical system disposed behind the window portion in the housing, and a movable portion outside the housing so as to open and close the front of the window portion. A lens optical unit including a barrier member and a drive mechanism that opens and closes the barrier member, wherein the housing includes a through-hole penetrating from the inside to the outside, a through-hole that is continuous with the through-hole, and The drive mechanism includes a rotating shaft that extends from the outside to the inside of the housing through the through hole and is connected to the barrier member, and between the annular recess and the rotating shaft of the housing. The annular seal member includes a ring-shaped seal member, and the cross-sectional shape of the ring-shaped seal member is in contact with the inner peripheral wall surface of the annular recess at a single location, and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft and a plurality of locations. It is formed so as to contact Te, and characterized in that.
According to this configuration, the barrier member provided on the outer side of the housing is driven by the drive mechanism including the rotation shaft that is inserted through the through hole of the housing and whose outer periphery is sealed by the annular seal member. Open and close the optical path window located in front.
Here, when the housing is molded using a metal material or a resin material, the inner peripheral wall surface of the annular recess is shaped so as to expand outward (approximately the truncated cone in order to provide a mold escape gradient). If a conventional O-ring having a circular cross-sectional shape is used as the annular sealing member, the O-ring moves outward as the rotating shaft rotates, and the compression ratio decreases, and the desired However, the annular seal member has a cross-sectional shape that contacts the inner peripheral wall surface of the annular recess at one location and contacts the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft at a plurality of locations. In other words, it is in contact with the inner peripheral wall with a draft angle at one location and with the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft at multiple locations. Annular seats at multiple contact areas on the rotating shaft side It is possible to obtain an action of suppressing the movement of the member, thereby maintaining a desired compression allowance and ensuring a desired sealing performance (sealing action for preventing intrusion of water droplets, etc.). The barrier member can be reliably driven, and a desired imaging action can be obtained by the lens optical system.
Even when the housing is a processed product such as a metal material and the inner peripheral wall surface of the annular recess has no escape slope, the use of the annular seal member prevents the fall off. The sealing performance can be ensured.

In the above configuration, the cross-sectional shape of the annular seal member is a bifurcated shape that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft at two locations, and is formed symmetrically with respect to a straight line perpendicular to the rotating shaft Can do.
According to this configuration, the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft is sealed by a bifurcated shape (that is, a shape that forms a recessed portion (thickening portion) sandwiched between two seal portions), and therefore the seal portion is compressed. When it is elastically deformed, the clearance to the dent is secured, the deterioration of the elastic force can be prevented while maintaining the desired amount of compression, and since it is formed in line symmetry, it is built-in Sometimes the orientation is not mistaken, and the assembly workability is improved.

In the above-described configuration, the rotating shaft has a reduced diameter shaft portion that is closely fitted in the through hole in the radial direction and is rotatably supported, and an expanded portion that defines a step portion that contacts the bottom surface of the annular recess in the axial direction. A configuration including a radial shaft portion and being fitted between the inner peripheral wall surface of the annular recess and the outer peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter shaft portion can be adopted for the annular seal member.
According to this configuration, the rotary shaft has the reduced diameter shaft portion supported by the through hole of the housing as a radial bearing, the step portion of the enlarged diameter shaft portion supported by the bottom surface of the annular recess of the housing as a thrust bearing, It is sealed (sealed) by an annular seal member fitted between the outer peripheral surface of the portion and the inner peripheral wall surface of the annular recess.

In the above configuration, the barrier member includes a barrier portion that can be opposed to the front of the window portion, a first arm portion that extends integrally from the barrier portion and is rotatably supported with respect to the housing. The first arm portion is connected to the rotation shaft so as to rotate integrally, and the second arm portion is disposed coaxially with the rotation shaft and is provided on the outer side of the housing. A configuration in which the member is rotatably supported by the member can be employed.
According to this configuration, the barrier member is rotated by the shaft member that the first arm portion is rotatably supported by the rotation shaft and the second arm portion is provided outside the housing (so as not to penetrate into the housing). The driving force for opening and closing is transmitted through the rotating shaft, and the barrier portion opens and closes the window portion of the housing.
Here, the shaft member that rotatably supports the second arm portion of the barrier member is screwed into a shaft member provided outside so as not to penetrate into the housing (for example, a screw hole provided outside the housing). Alternatively, a shaft member made of a metal material or the like press-fitted into the fitting hole, or a metal or resin shaft member integrally formed so as to protrude outward from the housing, etc. It is not necessary to provide a seal and the sealing performance can be improved.

In the above configuration, the rotating shaft has, in its axial direction, a flange portion formed on the outer side of the enlarged diameter shaft portion and a connecting shaft portion formed on the outer side of the flange portion. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which a restriction plate that is detachably fixed and restricts falling off of the rotating shaft is fitted, and the first arm portion is connected to the outside of the restriction plate.
According to this configuration, for example, the rotating shaft is inserted into the through hole of the housing in a state where the annular seal member is mounted on the diameter-expanded shaft portion (then, it is connected to a component such as a gear appropriately constituting the internal drive mechanism) Then, the restriction plate is fitted from the outside of the collar portion (so that the connecting shaft portion is passed through the circular hole), and the first arm portion of the barrier member is connected from the outside, so that the rotation shaft is rotated by the restriction plate. Can be rotatably held at a predetermined position, and the barrier member can be opened and closed by the rotation shaft via the first arm portion.

In the above-described configuration, the drive mechanism may employ a configuration including a gear to which a rotary shaft is detachably connected and a drive motor that exerts a rotational driving force on the gear inside the housing.
According to this configuration, the rotational force of the drive motor is transmitted to the rotating shaft via, for example, a reduction gear, and is transmitted to the barrier member via the rotating shaft.
Thus, even when a drive motor is included in the drive mechanism, since it is reliably sealed by the annular seal member, it is easy to prevent the intrusion of water droplets and the like while maintaining the expected function of the drive motor. With such a structure, the barrier member can be driven to open and close, so that a lens optical unit preferable for application as a small camera such as an in-vehicle camera or a surveillance camera can be obtained.

The camera of the present invention includes any one of the lens optical units having the above-described configuration and an image sensor disposed behind the lens optical system.
According to this configuration, by using the lens optical unit having the above configuration and a camera including an imaging device, the structure can be simplified, the cost can be reduced, the size can be reduced without causing an increase in parts, and the like. A desired waterproof action can be secured by preventing the annular seal member from deviating from the predetermined fitting position (water droplets etc. can be prevented from entering the inside of the housing), and a barrier member that opens and closes the front of the window portion can be reliably secured It can be driven, can form a desired subject image (imaging), and can be used as an in-vehicle camera, a surveillance camera or the like having excellent durability and the like.

  According to the lens optical unit having the above-described configuration, the annular seal member does not deviate from a predetermined fitting position while achieving simplification of the structure, cost reduction, size reduction, and the like without causing an increase in parts. As a result, a desired waterproof effect can be ensured (water droplets and the like can be prevented from entering the inside of the housing), a barrier member that opens and closes the front of the window can be reliably driven, and a desired subject image is formed (imaging). In addition, durability can be improved, and a lens optical unit that can be applied to a vehicle-mounted camera, a surveillance camera, and the like, and a camera including the lens optical unit can be obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a vehicle-mounted camera equipped with a lens optical unit according to the present invention, in which (a) is a perspective view showing a state in which a barrier member is located at a closed position, and (b) is a state where the barrier member is located at an open position. It is a perspective view which shows a state. It is a disassembled perspective view of the camera shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view showing a housing, a drive mechanism, a rotation shaft, a first arm portion of a barrier member, and an annular seal member in the camera shown in FIG. 1. In the camera shown in FIG. 1, it is a partial expanded sectional view which shows the 1st arm part of a housing, a rotating shaft, an annular seal member, and a barrier member. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a housing, a second arm portion of a barrier member, and a shaft member that rotatably supports the second arm in the camera shown in FIG. 1. In the camera shown in FIG. 1, it is sectional drawing which shows the cyclic | annular sealing member which seals the periphery of a rotating shaft. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a configuration in which an O-ring as an annular seal member is employed to arrange a barrier member on the outside of a housing, transmit a driving force by a rotating shaft, and waterproof around the rotating shaft.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
This camera is applied as an in-vehicle camera provided outside the vehicle body. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the camera 10 is disposed inside the housing 10 and seals the window 11 from the inside. A lens barrel 20 having an optical axis L as a lens optical system to be fitted, an imaging unit 30 disposed behind the lens barrel 20 in the housing 10, a barrier member 40 disposed outside the housing 10, and a barrier A drive mechanism (a drive unit 51 including a drive motor 51, a gear 52, and the like, a rotation shaft 60, a shaft member 70, and an annular seal member 80), a regulating plate 90, a retaining member 100, and the like are provided.

  The housing 10 is molded using an aluminum material, and as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the housing 10 is formed in a structure that is detachably divided in the front-rear direction in the direction of the optical axis L and has a front wall. It is curved in a convex shape and both side walls are formed flat, a window portion 11 for an optical path on the front wall, a substantially rectangular concave portion 12 on one side wall, two screw holes 13 provided in the concave portion 12, and the center of the concave portion 12 Circular through-hole 14 provided in the region, annular recess 15 provided on the outer side coaxially with the through-hole 14 (axis S), screw hole provided on the other side wall on the same axis S as the through-hole 14 16, a fixing portion (not shown) for fixing the lens barrel 20 and the drive unit 50 inside is provided.

2 and 3, the window portion 11 is formed in a circular hole so that the lens holding cylinder 21 of the lens barrel 20 is fitted in a sealed state via a seal member (not shown). ing.
As shown in FIG. 2, the concave portion 12 is formed in a concave shape having a substantially rectangular shape on one side wall so that a regulating plate 90 having a substantially rectangular shape and a flat plate shape is fitted therein.
As shown in FIG. 2, the screw hole 13 is formed on the bottom surface of the recess 12 so as not to penetrate, and is formed so that the screw B passed through the circular hole 92 of the regulating plate 90 is screwed.
As shown in FIG. 4, the through hole 14 is formed as a circular hole penetrating from the inside to the outside of the housing 10, and functions as a radial bearing that rotatably supports the reduced diameter shaft portion 61 of the rotating shaft 60. Is formed.
As shown in FIG. 4, the annular recess 15 is formed so as to be continuous with the through-hole 14 on the axis S and to have a diameter larger than that of the through-hole 14 so as to open to the outside. It is formed as an annular concave portion having a substantially truncated cone shape having an annular bottom surface 15a with which the portion 63 abuts (functioning as a thrust bearing) and an inner peripheral wall surface 15b that expands outward due to the escape angle of the mold.
As shown in FIG. 5, the screw hole 16 is formed on the outside of the other side wall on the axis S (so as not to penetrate to the inside), and the shaft member 70 into which the second arm portion 43 of the barrier member 40 is fitted. The screw portion 71 is screwed and fixed.

2 and 3, the lens barrel 20 is connected to a lens holding cylinder 21, a plurality of lenses 22 that are held inside the lens holding cylinder 21 and define the optical axis L, and the rear of the lens holding cylinder 21. The holding cylinder 23 and the like are provided.
In the lens barrel 20, the front side of the lens holding cylinder 21 is fitted into the window portion 11 of the housing 10 via a seal member, and is fixed to the inside of the housing 10.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the imaging unit 30 includes a substrate 31, an imaging device 32 such as a CCD (charge coupled device) mounted on the substrate 31, and the substrate 31 is fixed to the holding cylinder 23 of the lens optical system 20. Thus, the optical axis alignment of the imaging surface of the imaging element 32 is performed in the optical axis L direction and the direction perpendicular to the optical axis L.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the barrier member 40 is movably disposed on the outside of the housing 10, and extends from the barrier portion 41 that can be opposed to the front of the window portion 11. The first arm portion 42 and the second arm portion 43 that are formed so as to be rotatable about the axis S with respect to the housing 10, and the fitting hole 44 formed at the rotation center of the first arm portion 42. And a fitting hole 45 formed at the rotation center of the second arm portion 43.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the barrier portion 41 is formed as a substantially rectangular curved wall that covers the window portion 11.
The first arm portion 42 and the second arm portion 43 are formed symmetrically so as to sandwich both side walls of the housing 10 in the axis S direction.
As shown in FIG. 2, the fitting hole 44 is formed as a long hole having two parallel surfaces, and the rotation shaft 60 (the connecting shaft portion 65 of the rotation shaft 60 that is rotatably supported by the through hole 14 of the housing 10. ), The barrier member 40 is formed so as to rotate integrally with the rotating shaft 60.
As shown in FIG. 2, the fitting hole 45 is formed in a circular hole. By fitting the shaft portion 72 of the shaft member 70 to be screwed into the screw hole 16 of the housing 10, the barrier member 40 is inserted. The shaft member 70 is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the shaft member 70.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the drive unit 50 includes a drive motor 51, and a gear including an end gear 52 to mesh with a drive gear (not shown) of the drive motor 51 and transmit a rotational driving force while decelerating. A case 53 for holding (and fixing) a row (not shown), a drive motor 51, a gear train, and the like is provided.
The gear 52 includes a U-shaped connecting portion 52 a that is rotatably supported by the case 53 and that is detachably connected to the reduced diameter shaft portion 61 (the connecting portion 61 a thereof) of the rotating shaft 60.
When the drive motor 51 is activated and the drive gear rotates in one direction, the barrier member 40 is moved to the state shown in FIG. 1A via the gear train (gear 52) → the rotation shaft 60 → the first arm portion 42. From the closed position shown (the position covering the window portion 11) to the upper open position shown in FIG. 1B (the position where the window portion 11 is opened so as to be exposed to the outside), the drive gear is moved in the other direction. When rotated, the barrier member 40 is moved from the open position shown in FIG. 1 (b) to the closed position shown in FIG. 1 (a) via the gear train (gear 52) → the rotary shaft 60 → the first arm portion 42. It is like that.

  The rotating shaft 60 is made of a metal material, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a reduced diameter shaft portion 61 and a reduced diameter shaft portion 61 that are closely fitted in the through hole 14 and supported rotatably. And a stepped portion 63 formed at the boundary between the diameter-reduced shaft portion 61 and the diameter-expanded shaft portion 62, and formed on the outside continuously from the diameter-expanded shaft portion 62. And a connecting shaft portion 65 formed on the outer side continuously to the flange portion 64.

As shown in FIG. 4, the reduced-diameter shaft portion 61 is formed in a cylindrical shape, is closely fitted in the through hole 14 of the housing 10 and is rotatably supported, and at the inner end portion thereof, the gear 52. The U-shaped connecting portion 52a is detachably inserted so as to have a connecting portion 61a having two parallel surfaces to be connected.
As shown in FIG. 4, the enlarged diameter shaft portion 62 is formed in a columnar shape having an outer diameter larger than that of the reduced diameter shaft portion 61, and is formed to face the inner peripheral wall surface 15 b of the annular recess 15 of the housing 10. Has been. The annular seal member 80 is fitted between the outer peripheral surface of the diameter-expanded shaft portion 62 and the inner peripheral wall surface 15b in a state compressed to a predetermined compression allowance.
As shown in FIG. 4, the stepped portion 63 is formed as an annular flat surface in contact with the bottom surface 15 a of the annular recess 15 in the axis S direction, and is positioned in the axis S direction.
As shown in FIG. 4, the flange portion 64 is larger than the outer diameter of the enlarged-diameter shaft portion 62 at a position outside the enlarged-diameter shaft portion 62 in the axis S direction and not projecting outward from the side wall of the housing 10. A space that is formed in an annular shape having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the inner peripheral wall surface 15b and that fits the annular seal member 80 with a predetermined gap in the axis S direction in cooperation with the bottom surface 15a of the annular recess 15. (In other words, when the annular seal member 80 is fitted in a compressed state, it is formed so as to demarcate a space for securing an escape region that allows elastic deformation).
As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting shaft portion 65 is formed to have an outer diameter smaller than that of the enlarged diameter shaft portion 62 on the outer side in the axis S direction than the flange portion 64, and is not in contact with the circular hole 91 of the restriction plate 90. A two-sided width portion 65a having two parallel surfaces into which the fitting hole 44 of the first arm portion 42 of the barrier member 40 is fitted, and an attachment portion formed with a reduced diameter to attach the retaining member 100. 65b or the like.

  Then, the rotary shaft 60 is brought close to the outside of the housing 10 in a state where the annular seal member 80 is fitted in the annular recess 15 of the housing 10 in advance (or in a state where the rotary shaft 60 is fitted in the enlarged diameter shaft portion 62 in advance). The reduced-diameter shaft portion 61 is fitted into the through-hole 14 and the connecting portion 61a is connected to the connecting portion 52a. The stepped portion 63 is brought into contact with the bottom surface 15a and positioned. A circular hole 91) is fitted into the connecting shaft portion 65 and fastened and fixed to the recess 12 of the housing 10, and the first arm portion 42 (the fitting hole 44 thereof) of the barrier member 40 is formed from the outside of the restricting plate 90 with a two-sided width portion. The retaining member 100 is attached to the mounting portion 65b from the outside of the housing 10 so that the retaining member 100 can be rotatably assembled to the housing 10 so as not to fall off. It has become exert a rotational driving force to the A member 40 (the first arm portion 42 of).

The shaft member 70 is made of a metal material, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a screw portion 71 screwed into the screw hole 16 provided in the other side wall of the housing 10 and a screw in the axis S direction. A cylindrical shaft portion 72 formed with an enlarged diameter on the outside of the portion 71, an annular flange portion 73 formed with an enlarged diameter on the outside of the shaft portion 72 in the axis S direction, and the like.
Then, the shaft member 70 is approached from the outside of the housing 10, the second arm portion 43 (the fitting hole 45) of the barrier member 40 is fitted into the shaft portion 72, and the screw portion 71 is the screw hole of the housing 10. The barrier member 40 (second arm portion 43 thereof) is supported so as to be rotatable about the axis S by being screwed into 16 and fastened.
Thus, since the shaft member 70 is provided outside so as not to penetrate into the housing 10, it is not necessary to provide a seal member at that portion, and the sealing performance (waterproofness) can be improved.

The annular seal member 80 is formed using a rubber material, and as shown in FIG. 6, the cross-sectional shape is formed on the outer peripheral side so as to come into contact with the inner peripheral wall surface 15 b of the annular recess 15 at one place. Bifurcated convex contact portions 82 and 83 formed on the inner peripheral side to contact the convex contact portion 81 and the diameter-expanded shaft portion 62 (the outer peripheral surface thereof) of the rotary shaft 60 at a plurality of locations (here, two locations). , A V-shaped concave portion 84 formed between the bifurcated convex contact portions 82, 83, side surfaces 85, 85 on both sides that define the width in the axis S direction, and the like.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the cross-sectional shape of the annular seal member 80 is formed symmetrically with respect to a straight line X perpendicular to the axis S of the rotation shaft 60, that is, the direction of the axis S (width direction). ), A single convex contact portion 81 is positioned on the straight line X and formed in a line-symmetric shape with respect to the straight line X, and the bifurcated convex contact portions 82 and 83 are aligned in the direction of the axis S from the straight line X. It is formed in the position of distance, and is formed in a line symmetrical shape with respect to the straight line X.

As described above, the annular seal member 80 is formed so that the cross-sectional shape thereof is in contact with the inner peripheral wall surface 15b of the annular recess 15 at one location and in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft 60 at two locations. In other words, it contacts with the inner peripheral wall surface 15b with a drop gradient, and contacts with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 60 at two points, so that it can rotate while suppressing the influence of the drop gradient of the inner peripheral wall surface 15b. The effect of suppressing the movement of the annular seal member 80 at two contact areas on the shaft 60 side is obtained, thereby maintaining the desired compression allowance and the desired sealing performance (sealing to prevent intrusion of water droplets and the like) Action) can be ensured.
Here, the seal portion is particularly sealed because it is sealed by a bifurcated shape (that is, a shape having a bifurcated convex contact portions 82 and 83 (two seal portions) and a concave portion 84 (thickening portion) sandwiched between them). When the material is compressed and elastically deformed, a clearance to the concave portion 84 is ensured, and the desired amount of compression can be maintained. Therefore, deterioration of the elastic force due to overcompression (sagging) is prevented. be able to.
Further, since the cross-sectional shape of the annular seal member 80 is formed symmetrically with respect to the straight line X perpendicular to the axis S of the rotating shaft 60, the annular seal member 80 can be assembled from any of the side surfaces 85 and 85, and is suitable for assembly. Assembling workability can be improved without making a mistake.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the restriction plate 90 is formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape that is fitted into the recess 12 of the housing 10 using a metal plate, and a connecting shaft portion of the rotary shaft 60 in the central region thereof. A circular hole 91 through which 65 is passed in a non-contact manner and two circular holes 92, 92 through which a screw B screwed into the screw hole 13 of the housing 10 is passed at two diagonal positions.
Then, after the annular seal member 80 is fitted in the annular recess 15 and the rotating shaft 60 is fitted in the through hole 14, the connecting plate portion 65 of the rotating shaft 60 is passed through the circular hole 91. The screw 10 is fitted into the recess 12 of the housing 10 and screwed into the screw hole 13 through the circular hole 92 to be fastened and fixed to the housing 10.
According to this restricting plate 90, since the restricting plate 90 is fitted from the outside of the flange portion 64 of the rotating shaft 60 in the axis S direction, the rotating shaft 60 can be rotatably held at a predetermined position so as not to fall off. it can.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the retaining member 100 is formed as a snap ring having a slit using a metal material, and is formed on the connecting shaft portion 65 of the rotating shaft 60 (the connecting shaft portion). It is configured to be detachably attached to the attachment portion 65b (which has a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of 65) by snap-fit coupling.
The retaining member 100 is assembled to the housing 10 with the annular seal member 80, the rotating shaft 60, and the regulating plate 90, and the first arm portion 42 (of the barrier member 40) of the connecting shaft portion 65 of the rotating shaft 60. After the fitting hole 44) is fitted, the first arm portion 42 is prevented from falling off by being attached to the attachment portion 65b of the rotary shaft 60 from the outside.

Next, assembly of the camera having the above configuration will be described.
First, the housing 10, the lens optical system 20, the imaging unit 30, the barrier member 40, the drive unit 50, the rotation shaft 60, the shaft member 70, the annular seal member 80, the regulating plate 90, the retaining member 100, and the like are prepared.
Then, the housing 10 is divided into two housing halves, and the lens optical system 20, the imaging unit 30, and the drive unit 50 are accommodated and fixed at predetermined positions, and then the two halved housing halves are joined together. Go.

Subsequently, the annular seal member 80 is fitted into the annular recess 15 of the housing 10, the rotary shaft 60 is brought closer to the outside of the housing 10, the reduced diameter shaft portion 61 is fitted into the through hole 14, and the connecting portion 61 a is attached to the drive unit 50. It is connected to the connecting portion 52a (of the included gear 52) and positioned by bringing the stepped portion 63 into contact with the bottom surface 15a, and the restricting plate 90 (the circular hole 91) is fitted into the connecting shaft portion 65 from the outside thereof. The recess 12 is fastened and fixed using a screw B.
Here, when the rotary shaft 60 is assembled, the annular seal member 80 is compressed to a predetermined compression allowance between the inner peripheral wall surface 15b of the annular recess 15 of the housing 10 and the outer peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter shaft portion 62, In the cross-sectional state, the convex contact portion 81 contacts with the inner peripheral wall surface 15b while being compressed at one location, and the bifurcated convex contact portions 82 and 83 are compressed with the outer peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter shaft portion 62 at two locations. Touching.
The annular seal member 80 may be fitted into the housing 10 together with the rotary shaft 60 in a state where the annular seal member 80 is fitted into the diameter-expanded shaft portion 62 of the rotary shaft 60 in advance.

Subsequently, the barrier member 40 is brought close to the housing 10, the first arm portion 42 (the fitting hole 44 thereof) is fitted into the two-surface width portion 65 a of the connecting shaft portion 65, and the shaft member 70 is attached to the housing 10. Approaching from the outside, the shaft portion 72 is passed through the second arm portion 43 (the fitting hole 45 thereof) and the screw portion 71 is screwed into the screw hole 16 of the housing 10.
Subsequently, the retaining member 100 is attached to the attachment portion 65 b of the connecting shaft portion 65 outside the first arm portion 42.
Thereby, the barrier member 40 is a shaft in which the first arm portion 42 is rotatably supported by the rotation shaft 60 and the second arm portion 43 is provided outside the housing 10 (so as not to penetrate into the housing 10). The member 70 is rotatably supported by the member 70, and the opening / closing driving force is transmitted through the rotating shaft 60, so that the barrier portion 41 is assembled so as to open and close the window portion 11 of the housing 10.

Next, the operation and action of the barrier member 40 and the annular seal member 80 of the camera (and the lens optical unit) having the above configuration will be described.
First, in a state where the camera is not used, as shown in FIG. 1A, the barrier member 40 rotates downward and is positioned at a closed position toward the substantially horizontal direction and covers the window portion 11 of the housing 10. Is in a state.
Subsequently, when the camera is used, the drive unit 50 is activated (the drive motor 51 rotates in one direction) based on the switch signal of the operator's start of use, and the barrier member 40 is shown in FIG. Rotating upward from the closed position shown in a) to the open position shown in FIG. 1B, the window portion 11 of the housing 10 is exposed to the outside.
On the other hand, when the use of the camera is stopped, the drive unit 50 is activated (the drive motor 51 rotates in the other direction) based on the switch signal for stopping the use of the operator, and the barrier member 40 is shown in FIG. ) To the closed position shown in FIG. 1 (a), and it is in a closed state covering the window 11 of the housing 10.

As described above, during the opening / closing operation of the barrier member 40, the rotation shaft 60 repeats rotation (rotation in one direction and the other direction), and the annular seal member 80 rotates (rotation shaft portion of the rotation shaft 60). 62) and the inner peripheral wall surface 15b of the stationary housing 10, but the cross-sectional shape of the annular seal member 80 is in contact with the inner peripheral wall surface 15b at one location and the rotating shaft 60 It is formed so as to be in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the radial shaft portion 62) at two locations, that is, it is in contact with the inner peripheral wall surface 15b with a drop gradient at one location, and the rotary shaft 60 (expanded shaft portion of the rotary shaft 60). 62) is in contact with the outer peripheral surface at two locations, so that the effect of suppressing the movement of the annular seal member 80 in the two contact regions on the rotating shaft 60 side is obtained while suppressing the influence of the escape gradient of the inner peripheral wall surface 15b. be able to.
As a result, the desired compression allowance of the annular seal member 80 can be maintained and desired seal performance (sealing action to prevent intrusion of water droplets or the like) can be ensured, and therefore the barrier member 40 is driven reliably. In addition, the lens optical system 20 can obtain a desired image forming action.

  In particular, even when the drive motor 51 is included in the drive mechanism and the image pickup device 32 is included in the image pickup unit 30, a desired waterproof action can be ensured by preventing the annular seal member 80 from deviating from a predetermined fitting position (housing). 10 can prevent water droplets or the like from entering the inside of the motor 10), so that the desired function of the drive motor 51 can be maintained and the structure can be simplified, the cost can be reduced, and the size can be reduced without increasing the number of parts. The barrier member 40 that opens and closes the front of the window portion 11 can be reliably driven, and a desired subject image can be captured by the imaging device 32, and is suitable as an in-vehicle camera or a surveillance camera having excellent durability. A small camera can be obtained.

  In the above embodiment, as the annular seal member, the cross-sectional shape is bifurcated in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 60 at two locations, and is symmetrical with respect to the straight line X perpendicular to the rotating shaft 60 (axis S). Although the case where the formed annular seal member 80 is employed is shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and the side that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 60 is formed to be in contact at a plurality of three or more locations. An annular seal member may be adopted, and the axis line is not symmetrical with respect to the straight line X perpendicular to the rotation shaft 60 (axis S), but has a different shape, for example, taking into account the escape gradient of the inner peripheral wall surface 15b. The outer region in the S direction may be formed in a shape that increases the thickness in the radial direction.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the shaft member 70 that is screwed into the screw hole 16 of the housing 10 is employed as the shaft member that rotatably supports the second arm portion 43 of the barrier member 40 is shown. The shaft member is not limited, and a shaft member press-fitted into the housing, or a shaft member that is integrally formed or implanted so as to protrude outward from the housing is employed, and the outer side of the shaft member is adopted. Alternatively, a configuration may be employed in which the second arm portion 43 is fitted in and a retaining member or the like is attached from the outside.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the rotary shaft 60 integrally including the reduced-diameter shaft portion 61, the enlarged-diameter shaft portion 62, the stepped portion 63, the flange portion 64, the connecting shaft portion 65, etc. is adopted as the rotary shaft. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a rotating shaft having another form may be adopted.
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the drive unit 51 including the drive motor 51 and the gear 52 is employed as the drive mechanism for driving the barrier member 40 is not limited to this. Other driving mechanisms may be adopted as long as the driving force can be transmitted.

  As described above, the lens optical unit of the present invention achieves the simplification of the structure, the cost reduction, the size reduction, etc. without incurring an increase in the number of parts, etc., and the annular seal member from the predetermined fitting position. The desired waterproof action can be secured without slipping out (water droplets etc. can be prevented from entering the inside of the housing), the barrier member that opens and closes the front of the window can be driven reliably, and the desired subject image is formed (Imaging) and durability can be improved, so it can be applied to in-vehicle cameras, surveillance cameras and other cameras used in outdoor environments, as well as in other severe environments. It is also useful as a lens optical unit for cameras.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Housing 11 Window part 14 Through-hole 15 Annular recessed part 15a Bottom face 15b Inner peripheral wall face 16 Screw hole 20 Lens barrel (lens optical system)
30 Image pickup unit 32 Image pickup element 40 Barrier member 41 Barrier part 42 First arm part 43 Second arm part 44, 45 Fitting hole 50 Drive unit (drive mechanism)
51 Drive Motor 52 Gear 52a Connecting Portion 60 Rotating Shaft (Drive Mechanism)
S axis 61 reduced diameter shaft portion 61a connecting portion 62 expanded diameter shaft portion 63 stepped portion 64 flange portion 65 connecting shaft portion 70 shaft member 80 annular seal member X straight line 81 convex contact portion 82, 83 forked convex contact portion 84 concave portion 85 Side surface 90 Restriction plates 91, 92 Circular hole 100 Retaining member

Claims (6)

A housing having an optical path window, a lens optical system disposed behind the window in the housing, and a barrier member movably disposed outside the housing to open and close the front of the window A lens optical unit comprising: a drive mechanism that opens and closes the barrier member;
The housing includes a through-hole penetrating from the inside to the outside, and an annular recess that is continuous with the through-hole and has a diameter larger than the through-hole and opens to the outside.
The drive mechanism includes a rotary shaft that extends from the outside to the inside of the housing through the through hole and is connected to the barrier member, and an annular seal member that is fitted between the annular recess of the housing and the rotary shaft. ,
The inner peripheral wall surface of the annular recess is expanded outward by a predetermined gradient,
The cross-sectional shape of the annular seal member has a convex portion formed on the outer peripheral side, the inner peripheral wall surface of the annular concave portion and the convex portion are in contact with each other while being compressed at one location, and two locations on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft Is formed in a bifurcated shape that comes into contact while being compressed, and is formed line-symmetrically with respect to a straight line perpendicular to the rotation axis, and one of the two points in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotation axis is: It is located on the side where the inner peripheral wall surface of the annular recess is expanded from the place where it comes into contact with the inner peripheral wall surface of the annular recess,
A lens optical unit. The rotating shaft has a reduced diameter shaft portion that is closely fitted in the through hole in the radial direction and is rotatably supported, and an enlarged diameter portion that defines a stepped portion that contacts the bottom surface of the annular recess in the axial direction. Including the shank,
The annular seal member is fitted between an inner peripheral wall surface of the annular recess and an outer peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter shaft portion,
The lens optical unit according to claim 1. The barrier member includes a barrier portion that can be opposed to the front of the window portion, a first arm portion that extends from the barrier portion and is integrally formed, and is rotatably supported with respect to the housing. Including two arm parts,
The first arm portion is coupled to rotate integrally with the rotation shaft,
The second arm portion is coaxially disposed with the rotation shaft and is rotatably supported by a shaft member provided outside the housing.
The lens optical unit according to claim 1, wherein the lens optical unit is provided. The rotating shaft has, in its axial direction, a flange portion formed on the outside of the enlarged diameter shaft portion, and a connecting shaft portion formed on the outside of the flange portion,
A restriction plate that is detachably fixed to the housing and restricts falling off of the rotating shaft is fitted into the connection shaft portion, and the first arm portion is connected to the outside of the restriction plate.
The lens optical unit according to claim 3 . The drive mechanism includes a gear to which the rotary shaft is detachably connected inside the housing, and a drive motor that exerts a rotational driving force on the gear.
Lens optical unit according to any one claims 1 to 4, characterized in that. The lens optical unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and an imaging device disposed behind the lens optical system,
A camera characterized by that.

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