JPH01283532A - Flash device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase as far as possible the distance from the flash part of a flash part unit to the optical axis of the photographing lens of a camera and to reduce the red-eye phenomenon by driving a moving case to a specified position by using a single driving means, and by switching the angle of the orientation of the flash part. CONSTITUTION:The rotation of a motor 4 and pinion 5 allows a sun gear 7 to turn clockwise via reduction gear trains 6(a), 6(b), and 6(c), and also allows a planetary carrier 10 to turn around the axis part 10(a) through a compression spring 13 in a clockwise direction. As it does so, the moving case being the flash part, which is integrally joined with the planetary carrier 10, is transported from the position where it is accommodated to the position where it is to be used. The instant a signal indicates the moving case has reached the position where it is to be used, information on the focal length of the photographing lens is read, whereupon on the basis of the read signal the orientation of the flash part is adjusted to the position where it coincides with its focal length. Since the same motor controls the switch of the angle of the orientation, the distance from the flash part to the optical axis of a lens is increased, and thus the red-eye phenomenon is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a flash device, and in particular, the flash device is characterized by the movement and switching of a light emitting part and the light distribution switching.

(Prior art) The main components of a flash device include a light emitting unit, a capacitor, a flash circuit, a case, etc.
Some AF cameras have a built-in auxiliary light unit. The light emitting unit consists of a reflector, a xenon tube, etc., and is designed to minimize the distance between the light emitting part of the light emitting unit and the optical axis of the camera's photographic lens in order to reduce the red-eye phenomenon.

For this reason, in conventional cameras, it is known that the light emitting unit is a movable case part that is popped up from the main body case part, but most of these operations are performed manually, which is cumbersome.

Furthermore, some flash devices utilize the emitted energy more effectively by switching the light distribution angle depending on the focal length of the photographic lens. There are commercially available large flash units that allow you to switch the light distribution angle, but most of them are 16-manual.

In recent years, means for controlling the light emitting part of a flash device using a motor has been developed, and this type uses the rotation of the motor to raise and lower the light emitting part using a cam section provided at the end of a gear train.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, conventionally, in order to raise the light emitting part housed in the main body case to the operating position, and to store the light emitting part in the operating position in the main body case, - There is no suitable structure for controlling the light distribution angle of the light emitting section by the same motor as a means for driving the camera to a predetermined position using the same motor.

According to the present invention, a single motor controls the raising of the light emitting part to the operating position and lowering to the storage position, and the light distribution angle of the light emitting part can be changed by operating the motor subsequent to the control. The purpose of this invention is to provide a new flash device.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a flash device including a single drive means capable of forward or reverse rotation of a motor, and a movable light-emitting section provided with a light emitting section by the drive means. A means for switching the case between a storage position and a use position, and a movable case equipped with a light emitting section are switched to the use position, and the light emitting section is moved in accordance with the focal length information of the photographing lens by the subsequent operation of the driving means. (Function) According to the structure of the present invention, the movable case equipped with the light emitting part in the storage position starts and rotates the driving means in one direction. At the same time, while the movable case is stopped at this use position, the drive means moves the light emitting part to a light distribution angle suitable for wide-angle or telephoto, depending on the focal length information of the photographic lens. It can be switched by subsequent rotation.

In addition, in order to return the movable case equipped with the light emitting section from the use position to the storage position, the driving means is started and rotated in the opposite direction to the above direction, and the movable case equipped with the light emission section can be stored in the storage position. .

As described above, in the present invention, the raising and lowering of the movable case can be automatically controlled by a single driving means, and
The light distribution angle can be automatically switched depending on the raised position of the movable case.

(Example) Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a flash device to which the present invention is applied, in which 1 is a main body case, 2 is a movable case, and 3 is a front panel, which is provided with a reflector and a xenon tube.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the movable case 2 of the flash device shown in FIG. 1 has been popped up from the main case 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the internal mechanism of a flash device for raising and lowering the movable case 2 relative to the main body case 1 and switching light distribution with a single motor; FIG. 6 is a side view showing its operating state.

In the internal mechanism of the flash device of the present invention, a pinion 5 is provided on the output shaft of the motor 4, which is the drive source. A reduction gear train 6 consisting of gears 6a, 6b, and 6c consisting of large-diameter gears and small-diameter gears is provided between the binion 5 and the sun gear 7, and reduces the rotation speed of the motor 4. 2 desired ascending and descending speeds can be obtained. 7 is a sun gear, and gear 6 of the reduction gear train 6
It meshes with the small diameter part of C. Sun gear 7 is planetary gear 8
The sun gear 7 and the planet gear 8 are rotatably supported at their respective shaft portions by mounting portions 10a and 10b of the planet carrier 10.

A compression coil spring 13 as a frixigon mechanism is fitted between the sun gear 7 and the planet carrier 10, and the rotation of the sun gear 7 is transmitted to the planet carrier 10 via the compression coil spring 13. Rotation fulcrum 10
a (coinciding with the axis LOa of the sun gear 7). This planet carrier 10 is integrally fixed to a movable case 2 shown in FIGS.
The clockwise rotation of the planet carrier 10 moves the movable case from the lowered position in the housed state to the raised position where it is in the activated state, and the counterclockwise rotation of the planet carrier 10 moves the movable case from the raised position to the lowered position. It means to cause.

This planetary carrier lO is provided with a light emitting part position detecting contact piece 12 at one end that can detect the position of the movable case 2, and on the other hand, the one light emitting part position detecting contact piece 12a is provided on the main body case 1 side. Grounding pattern IL that is in constant contact with
A light emitting part position detecting board 11 is provided, which includes a storage position pattern Ilb and a use position pattern Ilc that can come into contact with the other light emitting part position detection contact piece 12b. The position of the movable case 2 is detected by the light emitting part position detection contact piece 12 and the light emitting part position detection board 11, and when it is detected that it is in the raised position, the focal length information of the photographing lens described below is obtained from the detection signal. The information is read and operates the device to control the light distribution angle. Further, when the lowered position is detected, the detection signal gives a stop signal to the motor 4. It goes without saying that the light emitting part position detecting board 11 and the light emitting part position detecting contact piece 12 may be arranged in opposite positions to each other.

The above configuration is a mechanism for raising and lowering the movable case by a motor and a position detection mechanism for raising and lowering the movable case.

The planetary gear 8 is provided with a gear portion 8a that meshes with the sun gear 7, and also forms a cam portion consisting of a small diameter cam 8b and a large diameter cam 8C integrally with the gear portion 8a. The cam surface 9C of the xenon tube support member 9 forming part of the xenon tube supporting member 9 is in contact with the cam surface 9C.

The xenon tube support member 9 is rotatably attached around a support shaft 25 formed on the movable case 2, and is connected to a locking portion 9a formed on the xenon tube support member 9 and a fixed pin 15 provided on the side of the movable case 2. The spring 14 is arranged between the
/The tube support member 9 is formed with a guide hole 9b, and the xenon tube support member 9 is inserted into the guide hole 9b along the guide pin 23 formed on the movable case 2 side. l) Can be displaced by contact.

In the embodiment, since the xenon tube 24 is fixed to the xenon tube support member 9 and the reflector 20 is fixed to the movable case 2, the small diameter cam portion 8b is attached to the cam portion 9C of the xenon tube support member 9. Upon contact, the xenon tube 24 approaches the reflector 20, and the distance is 50 m.
When the above telephoto compatible light distribution characteristics are obtained and the large diameter cam portion 8C comes into contact with the cam portion 9c of the xenon tube support member 9, the xenon tube 24 is separated from the reflector 20, and the
0I! A light distribution characteristic corresponding to a wide angle of less than 1 liter can be obtained.

A light distribution switching control board 16 is attached coaxially with the planet gear 8, which is rotatably supported by the attachment portion 10b of the planet carrier 10. This light distribution switching control board 1
6, three conductive patterns 16a, 16b, and 16c are formed, and the movable case 2 is provided with a group of light distribution switching control contacts 17, 18, and 19 that can detect these conductive patterns.

Regarding this contact group, 17 can be a wide-angle position detection contact, 18 can be a ground contact, and 19 can be a telephoto position detection contact. In addition, the light distribution switching control board 16 and the light distribution switching control contact group 1
7, 18, and 19 may be arranged in opposite positions.

In order to regulate the ascending and descending position of the planetary carrier 10,
A descending position limiting stopper 21 and an ascending position limiting stopper 22 are provided, and the ascending position limiting stopper 22 can cause the planetary gear 8 to rotate on its own axis.

In the descriptions of FIGS. 3 to 6, the main body case 1 and the movable case 2 are omitted, but the main body case L includes a motor 4.
, a drive gear train 6 for deceleration, a sun gear 7, a light emitting part position detection board 11, and each lowering/ascending position limit stopper 21, 22 are fixed, and the movable case 2 has a planetary carrier 10° xenon. Tube support member 9, reflective umbrella 2
0, a fixed bin 15 is provided.

Next, the operation according to the configuration of the present invention will be explained.

In FIG. 4, which shows the position of the movable case 2 provided with the light emitting part in the stored state, the light emitting part position detection contact piece 12a contacts the storage position pattern llb of the light emitting part position detection board 11, and the movable case 2 is in the stored position. It tells the control circuit what is happening. When a start signal is input to the motor 4 in this state,
The motor 4 and the pinion 5 start rotating clockwise in FIG. This motor activation signal may be input by turning on the main switch on the camera side or the switch on the strobe side, or by turning on both of them. Alternatively, the brightness of the subject may be detected and the activation signal may be automatically input when the flash is required.

The rotation of this motor 4 and pinion 5 is controlled by reduction gear trains 6a and 6.
b, 6c to rotate the sun gear 7 clockwise, and further the compression coil spring 13 to rotate the planetary carrier 10 clockwise around the shaft portion 10a. At this time, the movable case 2, which is a light emitting unit integrally coupled with the planetary carrier 10, is driven from the storage position to the use position.

The compression force of the compression coil spring 13 disposed between the sun gear 7 and the planetary carrier 10 is set to a torque that does not cause relative slippage between the sun gear 7 and the planetary carrier 10. Of course.

At the same time as this planet carrier 10 rotates, the planet gear 8
The gear portion 8a begins to revolve around the sun gear 7 in a clockwise direction. When the planet carrier 10 comes into contact with the lifting position limit stopper 22 as shown in FIG. 5, it stops without rotating any further.

At this time, the contact piece 12a of the light emitting part position detection contact piece 12 contacts the use position pattern Ilc, and informs the control circuit that the movable case 2 has come to the use position, which is the raised position.

The focal length information of the photographic lens is read based on the signal that the movable case 2 has reached the use position. Based on this read signal,
Adjust the light distribution angle of the light emitting unit to a position that matches its focal length. In this embodiment, light distribution is switched by changing the relative distance between the xenon tube 24 and the reflector 20. If the above-mentioned relative distance is widened, light distribution characteristics compatible with angle adjustment can be obtained, and as the relative distance is approached, various light distribution characteristics compatible with telephoto can be obtained.

In the state shown in FIG. 5, the small diameter cam portion 8b is in contact with the cam surface 9C of the xenon tube support member 9, and the light distribution characteristics of the light emitting portion are positioned to correspond to telephoto. At this time, the focal length information of the photographic lens to be used is read. For example, if the telephoto lens is 50 cm or more, the pattern 16a of the light distribution switching control board 16 is read.
, 16b, the telephoto position detection contact piece 19 and the ground contact piece 18 are in contact with each other, so the signal is transmitted to the control circuit and the motor 4 is stopped.

If the focal length information of the photographic lens is a wide angle of 50- or less, the motor 4 continues to rotate in the same direction. At this time, the planet carrier 10 is moved to the upper position limit stopper 2.
2, the clockwise rotation of the sun gear 7 begins to slip due to the compression coil spring 13 provided between it and the planetary carrier 10, and the sun gear 7 rotates clockwise on the stopped planetary carrier 10. In contrast, the planetary gear 8 starts rotating. Along with this rotation of the planetary gear 8, the cam portions 8b and 8C also rotate. When the small-diameter cam portion 8b rotates from the telephoto-compatible light distribution position where it abuts the cam surface 9C of the xenon tube support member 9 to the position where the large-diameter cam portion 8c abuts the cam surface 9c, the wide-angle light distribution characteristic is changed. At the same time, a wide-angle position detection contact piece 17 is attached to the patterns 16c and 16b of the light distribution switching control board 16.
, the ground contact 18 contacts and provides this signal to the control circuit to stop the motor 4. This state is shown in Figure 6,
The movable case serving as the light emitting unit can be switched to a wide-angle compatible light distribution characteristic at the use position.

Next, in order to store the movable case that is the light emitting unit from the use position to the storage position, the motor 4 is started to rotate counterclockwise by turning off the main switch on the camera side or the switch on the strobe side. , the sun gear 7 is rotated counterclockwise, the planetary carrier 10 is rotated counterclockwise via the compression coil spring 13 until it comes into contact with the lowering position limiting stopper 21, and the contact piece of the light emitting unit position detection contact piece 12 is rotated counterclockwise. 12a comes into contact with the storage position pattern 11b of the light emitting part position detection board 11, the motor 4 is given a stop signal, and the planetary carrier 10 comes into contact with the lowering position limiting stopper 21 and stops.

Moreover, when the movable case 2 is moved from the operating position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,
When manually pushed down to the storage position shown in FIG.
separated by

Therefore, the planet carrier 10 can rotate counterclockwise until it comes into contact with the lowering position limit stop knob τ-21, and at this time, the planet gear 8 pivotally supported by the planet carrier 10
will also revolve around the sun gear 7 in a counterclockwise direction. At this time, a force for rotating the sun gear 7 is applied, but the sun gear 7 cannot be rotated because it is directly connected to the motor 4 and the pinion 5 through a reduction gear train, and the load is too large.

The sun gear 7, the planet carrier 10, and the compression coil springs 13 arranged at Φ angles function as a clutch, and function as a safety measure when an external force is applied to the movable case. In addition, when a pulling force is applied to the movable case 2 in the storage position, or when a force to prevent movement is applied to the movable case 2 that is being moved from the storage position to the use position by the motor, etc., the compression coil spring clutch Due to this slippage, a relief action is produced in response to the action of each force, and the movable case etc. will not be damaged.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the light distribution is changed by changing the relative distance between the xenon chive and the reflective umbrella.
Although the xenon tube is moved, it is also possible to make the reflector movable, or the relative distance between the front panel and the reflector can be changed by fixing the positional relationship between the xenon tube 24 and the reflector 20. It can also be achieved by.

Furthermore, the cam portion 8 for light distribution switching integrally formed in the planetary gear 8 is composed of two cam portions, a small diameter cam portion 8a and a large diameter cam portion 8b. By doing so, the amount of rotation of the planetary gear can be reduced,
It is possible to speed up light distribution switching.

Furthermore, although a compression coil spring is provided in the embodiment as a friction mechanism disposed between the sun gear and the planetary carrier, the invention is not limited to this, and between the sun gear and the planetary carrier, It is possible to transmit normal rotational force without causing slippage, and to arrange a means to cause slippage in response to a load exceeding a predetermined value.Furthermore, the light emitting part position detection contact piece can be placed in the appropriate place on the movable case even if it is not on the planetary carrier. Can be installed.

(Effects) According to the configuration of the present invention, the movable case provided with the light emitting part can be moved to the use position or storage position by rotating the single drive means in one direction or the other direction, and at the use position, the movable case can be moved to the use position or the storage position. The light distribution angle of the light emitting section can be changed, and a single driving means can automatically drive the movable case to a predetermined position and switch the light distribution angle of the light emitting section.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a flash device to which the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is an external perspective view of the flash device with the movable case of Fig. 1 moved to the use position, and Fig. 3 is an external perspective view of the flash device of the present invention. An exploded perspective view showing the internal mechanism. Figure 4 is a schematic side view showing the main parts of the mechanism in Figure 3 with the movable case in the storage position. Figure 5 also shows the light distribution characteristics for telephoto with the movable case in the use position. FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing the light distribution characteristics for wide angle when the movable case is in the operating position. 1... Main body case, 2... Movable case, 4... Motor, 7... Sun gear, 8 river planetary gear, 1o... Planetary carrier, 13... Compression coil spring, 2o...・Reflector, 22... Raise position limit stopper, 24...
xenon tube.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a single driving means for rotating a motor in forward or reverse directions; a means for switching a movable case equipped with a light emitting section to a storage position and a use position by the drive means; and a means for switching a movable case equipped with a light emitting section to a use position. 1. A flash device comprising: means for switching the light distribution angle of a light emitting section according to focal length information of a photographing lens by a subsequent operation of said driving means in a state where