JP7300329B2 - Filter turret for electronic tunable optical element - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to filter turrets for electronically tunable optical devices.

In general, the optical block part of an imaging device such as a TV camera for broadcasting includes multiple filters such as an ND (Neutral Density) filter that attenuates the amount of light and a filter that corrects color temperature characteristics (CC filter: Color Compensating filter). A rotating filter turret equipped with optical filters is used. Such an optical filter is externally attached to or built into the imaging apparatus, and manually or automatically controlled to switch to an appropriate optical filter each time and arranged on the imaging optical path. A commonly used optical filter is a fixed-property type optical filter with fixed optical properties manufactured according to predetermined optical properties (transmittance, color temperature).

On the other hand, as a light modulating element using a power source, an element capable of varying the reflectance is known (see Patent Document 1). The light modulating element disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a structure in which a space formed by interposing a spacer between two electrode substrates is filled with an electrolytic solution. These electrode substrates have a transparent electrode made of a transparent conductive film on the surface of a glass substrate. Each transparent electrode is arranged so as to face each other, and an electrolytic solution is filled therebetween. This electrolytic solution is a liquid in which silver (or copper), which is a metal salt, is dissolved in methanol. Therefore, depending on the change in the electric field applied between the two transparent electrodes, the silver ions in the electrolytic solution are deposited on one of the transparent electrodes (negative electrode) to attenuate the light transmittance, and the silver adhering to the transparent electrode is electrolyzed. It is possible to reversibly repeat the process of reducing silver ions in a liquid to restore the original transmittance. In other words, this light modulating element can steplessly change the transmittance of light by applying or stopping a direct current between both transparent electrodes as a control signal.

Further, by changing the main components in the electrolyte between the two electrode substrates, it is possible to greatly change the spectral transmission characteristics. In that case, since the hue of transmitted light changes, it works as a light control element capable of adjusting the color temperature.

Furthermore, in addition to the light modulating element disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is known a light modulating element that continuously changes the light transmittance steplessly based on another operating principle (see Non-Patent Document 1). The light modulating element disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 has a structure in which two liquid crystal elements are sandwiched in a space formed between two linear photons arranged in an intersecting direction. Therefore, the shutter is fully opened when the AC square wave voltage is not applied, and remains closed while the voltage is applied. Due to this operating principle, the refraction state of the liquid crystal molecules is changed by applying a voltage to adjust the phase difference of the light. can be changed by
In the following, various light modulating elements whose optical characteristics change in accordance with changes in the electrical current applied to them will be referred to as electronic tunable light filters.

Japanese Patent No. 6402113

Luminex Co., Ltd., "Liquid crystal shutter", [online], [searched on March 11, 2019], Internet <URL: http://www.luminex.co.jp/products/products03/products03_24.html>

When a turret body equipped with multiple filters such as a TV camera for broadcasting is equipped with an electronically modulated light filter, a control circuit that supplies control signals and a signal that transmits control signals to the turret unit. A transmission line is required. On the other hand, in order to switch filters, the turret body must be rotated. At this time, simply connecting the signal transmission line may hinder the operation, such as restricting the rotation, or cause disconnection or short-circuiting of the signal transmission line. As a result, it becomes impossible to stably supply power to the electronically tunable light filter, and the usability becomes poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an electronic tunable optical device capable of stably continuing to supply power to an electronic tunable light filter even when the turret body is moved. It is an object of the present invention to provide a filter turret for

In order to solve the above-described problems, a filter turret for electronically tunable optical devices according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises an electronically tunable light filter whose optical characteristics change according to a control signal; A turret body mounted with at least one tunable light filter and reciprocating linearly, and a control circuit fixed to the outside of the turret body transmitting a control signal output to the electronic tunable light filter. and a signal transmission line, wherein the signal transmission line is formed on the turret body and has a shape along the movable path of the turret body, and a plurality of receiving electrodes formed on the turret body and the a plurality of conducting wires for electrically connecting the electrodes of the electronically tunable light filter and the receiving electrodes; and a plurality of control signal supply side electrodes for guiding the reciprocating movement of the turret body by coming into contact with the turret main body. It is biased in the direction of sandwiching the electrodes .
Further, a filter turret for an electronically tunable optical element according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises an electronically tunable light filter whose optical characteristics change according to a control signal, and the electronically tunable light filter. a turret body on which at least one is mounted and which reciprocates linearly; a signal transmission line for transmitting a control signal output from a control circuit fixed to the outside of the turret body to the electronically modulated light filter; wherein the signal transmission line comprises a plurality of receiving electrodes formed on the turret body and having a shape along the movable path of the turret body, and a plurality of receiving electrodes formed on the turret body for the electronically modulated light a plurality of conducting wires for electrically connecting the electrodes of the filter and the receiving electrodes; and a plurality of control signal supply side electrodes for guiding the reciprocating movement of the main body, wherein the reception side electrodes are continuously formed along the outer frame of the turret main body from one end to the other end of the outer frame. there is

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION This invention has the outstanding effect shown below.
According to the filter turret for electronically tunable optical element, the control signal supply side electrode constituting the signal transmission line for transmitting the control signal to the filter for electronically tunable light is fixed to the outside of the turret main body. Disconnection or short-circuiting of the signal transmission line due to the movement of the turret body can be prevented. Therefore, even if the turret main body is moved, power can be stably supplied to the electronically modulated light filter.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a turret main body included in the filter turret for electronically tunable optical devices according to the embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a schematic diagram of a filter turret for an electronically tunable optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams each showing a configuration example of a control signal supply side electrode in FIG. 2; FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2; 3 is a schematic diagram of two signal transmission lines in the electronically tunable optical device filter turret of FIG. 2; FIG. (a) and (b) are explanatory diagrams showing the reciprocating motion of the turret body.

[Configuration of Filter Turret for Electronic Modulatable Optical Device]
First, the configuration of the filter turret for an electronically tunable optical element will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. Note that FIG. 5 shows an explanatory diagram of an electric circuit in which the arrangement of the components in FIG. 2 is shifted. Also, the sizes and positional relationships of members shown in each drawing may be exaggerated for clarity of explanation.

In the television camera body (not shown), in the optical block section 20 shown in FIG. and is provided.
As shown in FIG. 5, the electronically tunable optical device filter turret 21 includes a turret body 1 on which a plurality of optical filters 4 and 5 are mounted, and signal transmission lines 51 and 52 . Here, the turret main body 1 is equipped with one fixed characteristic optical filter and one electronically modulatable light filter whose optical characteristic changes according to a control signal. As an example, the optical filter 4 is an optical filter with fixed characteristics.

Also, the electronic variable light filter will be described as an electronic variable ND filter 5 as an example. Also, as an example, the electronic variable ND filter 5 is driven by a DC control signal. Specifically, the electronic variable ND filter 5 is a metal salt deposition type electrochromic element (see Patent Document 1).

A feeding electrode (for example, a negative electrode) of the electronic variable ND filter 5 is connected to the electronic light control element side electrode 6 . A power supply electrode (for example, positive electrode) of the electronic variable ND filter 5 is connected to the electronic light control element side electrode 7 . Here, the power feeding electrode of the electronic variable ND filter 5 is a transparent electrode made of ITO and formed on the surface of the glass substrate. The electronic dimming element side electrode 6 has one end electrically connected to the transparent electrode and the other end connected to the receiving side electrode 2 via a lead wire 8 . The electronic dimming element side electrode 7 has one end electrically connected to the transparent electrode and the other end connected to the receiving side electrode 3 via the lead wire 9 .

The turret main body 1 is mounted with an electronic variable ND filter 5 and linearly reciprocates. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3(a) and 3(b), the turret main body 1 is slid vertically while being sandwiched between the control signal supply side electrodes 10 and 11 from both left and right sides. described as what to do. Any known mechanical method, electric method, manual method, or the like may be used as the method of movement.
Signal transmission lines 51 and 52 transmit control signals output from control circuit 14 to electronic variable ND filter 5 .

A control circuit 14 outputs a control signal for controlling the operation of the electronic variable ND filter 5 . Here, the control circuit 14 functions as a DC power supply. Depending on the type of the electronic variable ND filter 5, a control circuit that functions as an AC power supply can also be used. This control circuit 14 is fixed outside the turret body 1 . As long as the control circuit 14 is not interlocked with the turret main body 1, the installation location within the television camera main body is not limited.

The signal transmission line 51 has a receiving electrode 3 , a conducting wire 9 and a control signal supplying electrode 11 . The signal transmission line 52 has a receiving electrode 2 , a conducting wire 8 and a control signal supplying electrode 10 . The receiving electrodes 2 and 3 are formed on the turret body 1 as shown in FIG. The receiving electrodes 2 and 3 are arranged linearly along the moving direction of the turret body 1 . The receiving electrodes 2 and 3 are formed continuously along the outer frame of the turret body 1 on the left and right sides of the turret body 1 from one end to the other end of the outer frame. The receiving electrodes 2 and 3 are provided at locations not related to the optical path C of the incident light shown in FIG. The receiving electrodes 2 and 3 move together with the turret body 1 when the turret body 1 moves. Copper, for example, can be used as the material of the receiving electrodes 2 and 3 . By making the receiving electrodes 2 and 3 made of copper, long-term conductivity can be ensured.

The receiving electrodes 2 and 3 may be formed by being attached to the surface of the turret main body 1 .
In the examples shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the receiving electrodes 2 and 3 are connected to the outer frame of the turret body 1 and formed continuously from the light incident surface side to the light emitting surface side. ing. When the receiving electrodes 2 and 3 are configured in this way, the strength is increased compared to the case where they are attached to the surface, which is preferable.

The conducting wire 8 electrically connects the receiving electrode 2 and the electronic variable ND filter 5 as shown in FIG. The conducting wire 8 receives the control signal supplied to the receiving electrode 2 by the control signal supplying electrode 10 on the side of the receiving electrode 2 as shown in FIGS. The conducting wire 8 is connected to the electronic light control element side electrode 6 on the electronic variable ND filter 5 side. The conducting wire 8 is fixed to the turret body 1 .

A conducting wire 9 electrically connects the receiving electrode 3 and the electronic variable ND filter 5 as shown in FIG. The conducting wire 9 receives the control signal supplied to the receiving electrode 3 by the control signal supplying electrode 11 on the side of the receiving electrode 3 as shown in FIGS. The conducting wire 9 is connected to the electronic light control element side electrode 7 on the electronic variable ND filter 5 side. Conducting wire 9 is fixed to turret body 1 .

The control signal supply side electrode 10 is fixed outside the turret main body 1 and electrically connects the control circuit 14 and the reception side electrode 2, as shown in FIGS. The control signal supply side electrode 10 supplies the control signal from the control circuit 14 to the reception side electrode 2 . The control signal supply side electrode 10 contacts the reception side electrode 2 and guides the reciprocating movement of the turret body 1 . At least a part of the control signal supply side electrode 10 is made of a spring material, and is biased in a direction to sandwich the reception side electrode 2 by a biasing force. Here, the spring material is made of copper, for example, and has excellent elasticity.

The control signal supply side electrode 11 is fixed outside the turret main body 1 and electrically connects the control circuit 14 and the reception side electrode 3, as shown in FIGS. The control signal supply side electrode 11 supplies the control signal from the control circuit 14 to the reception side electrode 3 . The control signal supply side electrode 11 contacts the reception side electrode 3 and guides the reciprocating movement of the turret body 1 . At least a part of the control signal supply side electrode 11 is made of a spring material, and is urged in a direction to sandwich the reception side electrode 3 by an urging force.

The place where the control signal supply side electrodes 10 and 11 are fixed is not limited to any place such as the housing of the television camera body or various substrates mounted in the housing. As a result, the control signal supply side electrodes 10 and 11 remain fixed even when the turret body 1 reciprocates.

With the above configuration, the electronic variable ND filter 5 can always receive the control signal from the control circuit 14 .
In the circuit diagram of the filter turret 21 for electronically tunable optical devices shown in FIG. Although the electrode 3, the conducting wire 9, and the electronic dimming element side electrode 7 are provided, it is not limited to this. For example, the receiving electrode 3 may be directly connected to the electronic light control element side electrode 7, or the conducting wire 9 and the electronic light control element side electrode 7 may be integrally formed.
5, from the negative electrode side of the control circuit 14, the signal transmission line 52 includes the conductor 12, the control signal supply side electrode 10, the receiving side electrode 2, the conductor 8, and the electronic light control element side. and electrodes 6, but are not limited thereto. For example, the receiving electrode 2 may be directly connected to the electronic light control element side electrode 6, or the conducting wire 8 and the electronic light control element side electrode 6 may be integrally formed.

Next, a configuration example of the control signal supply side electrodes 10 and 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b). 3(a) and 3(b) are enlarged views of the control signal supply side electrodes 11 and 10. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the control signal supply side electrode 11 has supply portion contacts 11a and 11b. The feeder contacts 11a, 11b function as electrical contacts to the receiver electrode 3. FIG. The supply section contacts 11a and 11b are provided on the side of the control signal supply side electrode 11 on which the turret main body 1 is arranged, and are formed of a spring material using copper. The control signal supply side electrode 11 is fixed to the outside of the turret body 1 at a portion opposite to the side where the turret body 1 is arranged, for example. Here, the outside of the turret main body 1 means, for example, the housing of the television camera main body, various substrates mounted inside the housing, and the like. The control signal supply side electrode 11 is also fixed to the outside of the turret main body 1 at the bottom.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the control signal supply side electrode 10 has supply portion contacts 10a and 10b. The supply section contacts 10a and 10b are similar to the supply section contacts 11a and 11b except that they function as electrical contacts for the receiving side electrode 2 provided on the opposite side of the turret body 1 so as to face the receiving side electrode 3. , further description is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control signal supply side electrodes 11 and 10 fixed to the outside of the turret body 1 sandwich the reception side electrodes 3 and 2 formed on the turret body 1 from both left and right sides, respectively. . When the turret body 1 moves, for example, the supply contact points 11a and 11b of the left control signal supply side electrode 11 guide the reciprocating movement of the turret body 1 while being in contact with the receiving side electrode 3 as shown in FIG. do. The shape, size, and spring material of the feeder contacts 11a and 11b are determined as long as they have an elastic force that can keep them in contact with the receiving electrode 3 even when the turret body 1 moves. can be selected as appropriate. Further, for example, the supply portion contacts 10a and 10b of the right control signal supply side electrode 10 are similarly configured.

Next, the operation of the filter turret 21 for electronically tunable optical devices will be described with reference to FIG. 6 (see also FIGS. 1 to 5 as appropriate). Note that FIG. 6A is the same as FIG. Here, when the turret main body 1 is stationary at the position shown in FIG. 6A, the electronic variable ND filter 5 is selected without the optical filter 4 being selected. At this time, the light from subject A shown in FIG. 4 passes through electronic variable ND filter 5 .

The electronic variable ND filter 5 can steplessly change the amount of light incident on the camera lens of the television camera body. The operator energizes the electronic variable ND filter 5 for, for example, several seconds to several tens of seconds until the desired amount of light is obtained. As a result, the light from the object A shown in FIG. 4 passes through the electronic variable ND filter 5, is adjusted to the light amount desired by the operator, and is incident on the imaging element B to form an image. In this way, it can be suitably used for broadcasting television cameras and the like, which require stringent image quality characteristics.

Further, the operator stops the energization of the electronic variable ND filter 5 for a predetermined period of time until the desired amount of light is restored before photographing. Alternatively, the operator may switch to energize at a low voltage value with the opposite polarity and perform energization for a predetermined period of time before photographing.

Next, when a selection switch (not shown) is operated, the turret body 1 is lowered by, for example, a mechanical drive mechanism in conjunction with this, and stops at the position shown in FIG. 6B, thereby selecting the optical filter 4. be. At this time, the light from the subject A shown in FIG. 4 is dimmed with fixed optical characteristics preliminarily vapor-deposited on the optical filter 4, and is incident on the imaging element B to form an image.
Further, when a selection switch (not shown) is operated, the turret body 1 is lifted by, for example, a mechanical drive mechanism in conjunction with this, and stopped at the position shown in FIG. selected. Thereafter, the turret body 1 can be reciprocated up and down in the same manner.

In the filter turret 21 for electronically tunable optical elements according to this embodiment, the control signal supply side electrodes 11 and 10 constituting the signal transmission lines 51 and 52 are fixed to the outside of the turret main body 1. does not move when is moved. Therefore, the signal transmission line that supplies power to the electronic variable ND filter 5 is less likely to be disconnected or tangled due to movement of the turret body 1 . Therefore, the electronic variable optical element filter turret 21 can always transmit a control signal to the electronic variable ND filter 5 regardless of the movement of the turret main body 1 .

In the filter turret 21 for an electronically tunable optical element according to this embodiment, the turret body 1 reciprocates linearly in the vertical direction. has the effect of reducing the size of For example, broadcast television cameras used in studios tend to use larger imaging elements to capture higher definition images. In contrast, the present embodiment has the effect of providing a more compact and lightweight imaging apparatus by reducing the size of the filter turret.

Next, a plurality of modifications of the filter turret 21 for electronically tunable optical devices according to the embodiment will be described. In the above embodiment, the electronic variable ND filter is described as an electronic variable ND filter, but it is not limited to this, and may be a filter that corrects color temperature characteristics.
In the above embodiment, the electronically tunable light filter is a metal salt precipitation type electrochromic element driven by a DC control signal, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a liquid crystal type modulator driven by an AC control signal is used. It may be an optical element.

Further, for example, the number of electronic variable ND filters mounted on the turret main body 1 may be two. Furthermore, the turret main body 1 may be configured so that three or more filters can be mounted.
In the above-described embodiment, the turret main body 1 is described to reciprocate up and down, but it may be configured to move in the horizontal direction. In this case, the turret main body 1 slides in the horizontal direction while being sandwiched between the control signal supply side electrodes 10 and 11 from both upper and lower sides.

In the above-described embodiment, for example, the supply contact points 11a and 11b of the left control signal supply electrode 11 sandwich the receiving electrode 3. An electrical contact having a structure in which the signal supply side electrodes 11 and 10 are sandwiched may be formed.

Although the filter turrets for electronically tunable optical devices according to the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the gist of the present invention is not limited to these descriptions, and can be broadly interpreted based on the description of the scope of claims. It must be. In addition, it goes without saying that various changes and modifications based on these descriptions are also included in the gist of the present invention.

1 turret body 2, 3 receiving electrode 4 optical filter 5 electronic variable ND filter (electronic variable light filter)
6, 7 Electronic dimming element side electrode 8, 9, 12, 13 Lead wire 10, 11 Control signal supply side electrode 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b Supply section contact 14 Control circuit 20 Optical block section 21 Electronic variable optical element filter turret 51, 52 signal transmission line A subject B imaging device C optical path

Claims (7)

an electronically tunable light filter whose optical properties change according to a control signal;
a turret body on which at least one of the electronically tunable light filters is mounted and which reciprocates linearly;
a signal transmission line for transmitting a control signal output from a control circuit fixed to the outside of the turret body to the electronic tunable light filter;
The signal transmission line is
a plurality of receiving electrodes formed on the turret body and having a shape along the movable path of the turret body;
a plurality of conducting wires formed on the turret body and electrically connecting the electrodes of the electronically tunable light filter and the receiving electrodes;
a plurality of control signal supply electrodes fixed to the outside of the turret body, electrically connected to the control circuit, and in contact with the receiving electrodes to guide the reciprocating movement of the turret body ;
A filter turret for an electronically tunable optical element, wherein at least a part of said control signal supply side electrode is made of a spring material, and is urged in a direction in which said receiving side electrode is sandwiched by an urging force. an electronically tunable light filter whose optical properties change according to a control signal;
a turret body on which at least one of the electronically tunable light filters is mounted and which reciprocates linearly;
a signal transmission line for transmitting a control signal output from a control circuit fixed to the outside of the turret body to the electronic tunable light filter;
The signal transmission line is
a plurality of receiving electrodes formed on the turret body and having a shape along the movable path of the turret body;
a plurality of conducting wires formed on the turret body and electrically connecting the electrodes of the electronically tunable light filter and the receiving electrodes;
a plurality of control signal supply electrodes fixed to the outside of the turret body, electrically connected to the control circuit, and in contact with the receiving electrodes to guide the reciprocating movement of the turret body;
The receiving electrode is formed continuously from one end to the other end of the outer frame of the turret body along the outer frame of the turret main body. 2. A filter turret for an electronically tunable optical element according to claim 1 , wherein said receiving electrode is formed continuously along the outer frame of said turret body from one end to the other end of said outer frame. 4. The filter turret for an electronically tunable optical element according to claim 1, wherein the electronically tunable light filter is an electronically variable ND filter. 4. The filter turret for an electronically tunable optical element according to claim 1, wherein the electronically tunable light filter is a filter for correcting color temperature characteristics. 6. The filter turret for an electronically tunable optical element according to claim 1, wherein the electronically tunable light filter is driven by a DC control signal. 6. The filter turret for an electronically tunable optical element according to claim 1, wherein the electronically tunable light filter is driven by an AC control signal.

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