JPH0714447U - Electrical contact structure of camera and external attachment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The electrical connection between the camera and the external attachment that can prevent the connection failure between the electrical contacts of the external attachment and the camera, and further promote the multifunctionalization of the external attachment. A contact structure is provided. [Structure] When electrically connecting a camera 1 and an external multifunction grip 5 attached thereto, a peripheral wall 310 of a cylindrical member 31 defining a battery housing chamber 3 inside the camera 1.
1 and the peripheral wall 7101 of the cylindrical member 71 forming the battery dummy portion 7 of the external multifunction grip 5, the windows 3103 communicating with each other when the external multifunction grip 5 is attached.
7103 respectively to form the windows 3103 and 710.
3, the terminal contacts 37A to 37D on the camera 1 side and the terminal contacts 77A to 77D on the external multifunction grip 5 side are arranged.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a structure of a contact portion, such as a multifunction grip or a motor drive, which electrically connects an attachment side externally attached to a camera and a camera side.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 For example, in a single-lens reflex camera or the like, the shutter speed (hereinafter referred to as a TV value) and the exposure value (hereinafter referred to as an AV value) when the camera is rotated by 90 degrees and held are changed. In order to improve the operability of the mode selection switch for selecting the mode for changing either the AV value or the TV value by the switch, and to increase the types of batteries that can be used, It may be attached externally to the housing. Generally, the multi-function grip is mounted on the bottom surface of the camera housing, and the multi-function grip is provided with a release switch different from the camera, an AV value / TV value change switch, and a mode selection switch. In addition to accommodating batteries such as rechargeable batteries and dry batteries, it also transmits signals generated when operating the switches on the multi-function grip side to the camera side and supplies power from the battery to the camera. , A plurality of electrical contacts are provided.

In the single-lens reflex camera or the like, a motor drive may be externally attached to the bottom surface of the camera housing in order to enable high-speed continuous shooting and wireless remote control shooting. The motor drive is provided with a coupling that can be engaged with and disengaged from the spool shaft of the camera, a motor connected to the coupling, a battery, and the like, and also receives a film winding completion signal and an exposure completion signal from the camera. A plurality of electrical contacts are provided as in the multi-function grip, such as an electrical contact for power supply and an electrical contact for supplying power from the battery to the camera. Therefore, the camera is also provided with a plurality of electrical contacts that can be connected to the electrical contacts on the external attachment side, such as the multifunction grip and the motor drive.

Conventionally, such electrical contacts are arranged on the bottom surface of the camera and the top surface of the external attachment, which face each other when the external attachment is mounted on the camera, and when the external attachment is mounted on the camera. When the accommodated part that is inserted from the bottom surface of the camera into the internal battery housing chamber is provided on the external attachment, the camera-side electrical contact is arranged at the upper end of the battery housing chamber together with the battery contact piece. Correspondingly, the electrical contact on the side of the external attachment has been arranged at the tip of the accommodation portion facing the upper end of the battery accommodation chamber.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 Therefore, in a conventional camera in which the electrical contacts are arranged on the bottom surface, when the external attachment is not attached, the electrical contacts are exposed to the outside, dust and the like adhere to the electrical contacts of the camera, and When the attachment was attached, there was a problem that a poor electrical connection between the external attachment and the camera was likely to occur. In addition, in the conventional camera in which the electrical contacts are arranged at the upper end of the battery housing chamber, the upper end of the battery housing chamber only has an area corresponding to the thickness of the battery and the space is originally narrow, and in addition, Since the location of the electrical contacts is restricted by one piece, it is not possible to provide a large number of electrical contacts, which is an obstacle to the multi-functionalization of the external attachment.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent a connection failure between the electrical contacts of the external attachment and the camera, and further, to prevent the external attachment of the external attachment. An object of the present invention is to provide a structure of an electric contact portion of a camera and an external attachment which can promote multi-functionalization.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cylindrical member that is incorporated in a camera and that defines a battery housing chamber that opens at the bottom of the camera, and an external attachment that is detachably attached to the bottom of the camera. And a window formed in the peripheral wall of the tubular member, and a window formed in the peripheral wall of the tubular member and a contact portion for electrically connecting the camera side and the external attachment side. The camera-side contact member that is provided and faces the window, and the external attachment that is mounted on the bottom surface of the camera, is supported by the external attachment portion that faces the opening, and extends from the opening to the battery storage chamber. An attachment-side contact member that contacts the camera-side contact member through the window.

Further, according to the present invention, the external attachment is formed into a shape corresponding to an inner space of the battery housing chamber, and is inserted into the battery housing chamber through the opening in the mounted state. The attachment-side contact member has a member, and is arranged so as to be retractable from the second cylindrical member portion facing the window in the mounted state to the battery storage chamber side. Further, according to the present invention, a power source is built in the external attachment, and the camera side contact member and the attachment side contact member include a power supply contact for supplying the power of the power source to the camera side. It has been configured.

Further, according to the present invention, the external attachment is provided with a switch for operating the camera, and the camera side contact member and the attachment side contact member receive a signal generated by the operation of the switch. It is configured to include a signal transmission contact for transmitting from the external attachment side to the camera side. Further, in the present invention, the window is formed in the peripheral wall portion near the opening.

[0010]

【Example】

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 are views showing the electrical contact structure of a camera and an external attachment according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a front view of the camera when the external attachment is attached, and FIG. 2 is a side view thereof. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the external attachment. In FIG. 1, 1 is a camera, 3 is a battery chamber of the camera 1, 5 is an external multifunctional grip (corresponding to an external attachment) detachably mounted on the camera 1, and 7 is an external multifunctional grip 5. It is a battery dummy part.

As shown in FIG. 1, a screw hole 1103 for mounting a tripod is formed at a substantially central portion of the bottom surface 1101 of the housing 11 of the camera 1, and a positioning is provided at a portion of the bottom surface 1101 near one end in the longitudinal direction. A hole 1105 is formed, and an opening 30 of the battery housing chamber 3 is formed near the other end. The battery accommodating chamber 3 is defined by a cylindrical member 31 having a length and an inner diameter corresponding to a battery to be accommodated in the battery accommodating chamber 3, which is incorporated into the camera 1, and the bottom surface 1101. In a state where the external multifunction grip 5 is not attached, the opening 30 is closed by a battery lid (not shown).

On the upper wall 33 of the tubular member 31, a battery contact piece 35 for a negative electrode made of a coil is provided so as to make elastic contact with the negative electrode of the battery housed in the battery housing chamber 3. A battery contact piece (not shown) made of a metal plate for the positive electrode is provided on the upper surface of the battery lid so as to contact the positive electrode of the battery housed in the battery housing chamber 3.

In the peripheral wall 3101 portion of the tubular member 31 near the opening 30, a window 3103 is formed through a pair of peripheral walls 3101 facing each other in the radial direction of the tubular member 31, and outside the peripheral wall 3101. At the portion facing the windows 3103, four terminal contacts 37A to 37D for receiving signals and electric power from the external multifunction grip 5 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall 3101. A flexible print substrate 39, which is connected to a CPU (not shown) that controls the overall operation of the camera 1, is connected to each of the terminal contacts 37A to 37D. An arrow X in FIGS. 2 and 3 indicates a front direction of the camera 1.

The external multifunction grip 5 includes a base portion 51 detachably attached to the camera 1, and the base portion 51 includes an upper surface 5101 having substantially the same contour as a bottom surface 1101 of the housing 11. A release switch 5105 is provided on a side surface 5103 of the base 51, and an up switch 5109 and a down switch 5111 for AV and TV values are provided on a rear surface 5107 of the base 51.

On the upper surface 5101 of the base portion 51, a male screw member 5113 that can be screwed into the screw hole 1103 and a positioning pin 5115 that can be fitted into the positioning hole 1105 are projectingly provided. 5113 and the positioning pin 5115 are screwed and fitted into the screw hole 1103 and the positioning hole 1105, respectively, whereby the external multifunction grip 5 is attached to the bottom surface 1101 of the camera 1, and the male screw member 5113 is It is rotated by operating the rotary knob 5117. An accommodating part 5119 capable of accommodating four AA size batteries 9 (corresponding to a power source) is formed inside the base part 51.

An upper surface 5101 of the pedestal portion 51 is provided with the battery dame portion 7 to be inserted into the battery housing chamber 3 with the external multifunction grip 5 attached to the bottom surface 1101 of the housing 11. There is. The battery dummy portion 7 includes a tubular member 71 (corresponding to a second tubular member) that is provided upright from the upper surface 5101 in a shape corresponding to the internal space of the battery housing chamber 3. A battery contact piece 75 capable of contacting the battery contact piece 35 is provided on the upper wall 73, and the external multi-function grip 5 is provided on the peripheral wall 7101 of the tubular member 71 near the base 51. With the camera mounted on the camera 1, windows 7103 are respectively provided so as to face the windows 3103.

The portion of the cylindrical member 71 facing the windows 7103 inside the peripheral wall 7101 can be brought into contact with the terminal contacts 37A to 37D of the battery housing chamber 3 in a one-to-one manner. Four terminal contacts 77A to 77D for sending signals and electric power to 1 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction of the circumferential wall 7101. Each of the terminal contacts 77A to 77D is composed of a leaf spring, and a base portion 7701 thereof is supported by the base portion 51. A bent portion 7703 is formed on each of the terminal contacts 77A to 77D so as to come into contact with each of the terminal contacts 37A to 37D through the window 7103 when the external multifunction grip 5 is attached to the camera 1. At the upper end of the bent portion 7703, an engaging portion 7705 that can be engaged with the upper edge portion of the window 7103 inside the peripheral wall 7101 is formed.

Next, the block diagram of FIG. 4 is shown for the electrical connection relationship of the terminal contacts 37A to 37D, 77A to 77D of the battery accommodating chamber 3 and the battery dummy portion 7 and the battery contact pieces 35 and 75. It will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 8 denotes a battery that is housed in the battery housing chamber 3 when the external multifunction grip 5 is not attached, and 36 denotes a battery that houses the battery 8 in the battery housing chamber 3 and the opening. The battery contact piece for the positive electrode on the upper surface of the battery cover that contacts the positive electrode of the battery 8 when the portion 30 is closed by the battery cover is shown. In FIG. 4, reference numerals 13, 15, and 17 respectively indicate a release switch, an AV value and TV value up switch, and an AV value and TV value down switch, which are provided in the housing 11 of the camera 1, and 18 denotes the housing. A DC / DC converter built in 11 and 19 are the CPUs that control the entire operation of the camera 1.

First, the terminal contacts 37A to 37D of the battery housing chamber 3 will be described. The terminal contact 37A is a positive contact for receiving power from the external multifunction grip 5, and the terminal contact 37B is operated by the release switch 5105. The transmission contact of the generated release signal, the terminal contact 37C and the terminal contact 37D are the transmission contacts of the AV value or the TV value change signal generated by the operation of the up switch 5109 and the down switch 5111, respectively. The terminal contacts 37B to 37D are connected to the CPU 19 via the flexible printed board 39, like the release switch 13, the zoom up switch 15, and the zoom down switch 17. The terminal contact 37A and the battery contact pieces 35, 36 are connected to the DC / DC converter 18.

Next, the terminal contacts 77A to 77D of the battery dummy section 7 will be described. The terminal contacts 77A to 77D correspond to the terminal contacts 37A to 37D of the battery accommodating chamber 3 in a one-to-one correspondence, and the terminal contacts 77A correspond to the batteries 9 accommodated in the accommodating portion 5119 of the base 51. Power supply positive contact for supplying the electric power of the camera 1 to the camera 1, the terminal contact 77B is a contact for outputting a release signal generated by the operation of the release switch 5105, and the terminal contact 77C and the terminal contact 77D are the up switch, respectively. This is a contact for outputting an AV value or TV value change signal generated by operating the 5109 and the down switch 5111.

Next, the operation and operation will be described. When the external multifunction grip 5 is not attached to the camera 1, the battery 8 housed in the battery housing chamber 3 is used as a power source, and the voltage of the battery 8 is set by the DC / DC converter 18. , Is converted into a voltage value corresponding to the camera 1. When the release switch 13, the up switch 15, and the down switch 17 of the camera 1 are operated when the external multifunction grip 5 is not attached, the release signal, AV value, or TV value generated by the operation. Is input to the CPU 19, and under the control of the CPU 19, the release operation and the AV value or TV value changing operation are performed.

Next, when the external multifunction grip 5 is attached to the camera 1, the battery 8 in the battery housing chamber 3 is taken out and the battery dummy portion 7 of the external multifunction grip 5 is opened. It is inserted from the portion 30 into the battery housing chamber 3. Then, the positioning pin 5115 of the base 51 is fitted into the positioning hole 1105 of the bottom surface 1101 of the housing 11, and the rotary knob 5117 is operated to screw the male screw member 5113 into the screw hole 1103, The external multifunction grip 5 is positioned and fixed with respect to 1.

In this case, when the window 7103 of the tubular member 71 faces the opening 30, the bent portions 7703 of the terminal contacts 77A to 77D come into contact with the edge of the opening 30 and further the battery. When the dummy part 7 is inserted, the terminal contacts 77A to 77D are elastically bent to the inside of the tubular member 71, and the bent part 7703 slides inside the peripheral wall 3101 of the tubular member 31. Then, in a state where the external multifunction grip 5 is positioned, the bent portion 7703 is elastically projected from the windows 7103 and 3103 to the outside of the tubular member 31, and is elastically contacted with the terminal contacts 37A to 37D. As a result, the terminal contacts 37A to 37D are electrically connected to the terminal contacts 77A to 77D. Further, when the external multifunction grip 5 is positioned, the electric contact piece 75 makes elastic contact with the electric contact piece 35.

In this way, when the external multifunction grip 5 is attached to the camera 1, the battery 9 housed in the housing portion 5119 of the base 51 is used as a power source. Electric power is supplied to the DC / DC converter 18 via the electric contacts 75, 35 and the terminal contacts 77A, 37A, and the voltage thereof is adjusted by the DC / DC converter 18 to a voltage value corresponding to the camera 1. Be transformed.

When the external multifunction grip 5 is attached, the release signal from the release switch 13, the up switch 15, and the down switch 17 of the camera 1 and the change signal of the AV value or the TV value. In addition, a release signal generated by operating the release switch 5105, the up switch 5109, and the down switch 5111 arranged on the side surface 5103 or the rear surface 5107 of the base 51 and a signal for changing the AV value or the TV value are also included. , The terminal contacts 77B to 77D, 37B to 37D, and the flexible printed board 39 to be input to the CPU 19.

Therefore, when the release switch 5105, the up switch 5109, and the down switch 5111 are operated when the external multifunction grip 5 is attached, the release switch 13, the up switch 15, and the down switch 17 are operated. As in the case of operating, the operation corresponding to these switches is performed under the control of the CPU 19.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the camera 1 and the external multifunctional grip 5 attached to the camera 1 are electrically connected, the battery housing chamber 3 is defined inside the camera 1. A window 3103 communicating with the peripheral wall 3101 of the tubular member 31 and the peripheral wall 7101 of the tubular member 71 forming the battery dummy portion 7 of the external multifunction grip 5 when the external multifunction grip 5 is attached. , 7103 are formed respectively, and the terminal contacts 37A to 37D on the camera 1 side and the terminal contacts 77A to 77D on the external multifunctional grip 5 side are arranged in the windows 3 103 and 7103, respectively.

Therefore, when the external multifunction grip 5 is not attached, the terminal contacts 37A to 37D on the camera 1 side are not exposed to the outside, and dust and the like are prevented from adhering to the terminal contacts 37A to 37D when not attached. Therefore, when the external multifunction grip 5 is attached, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a defective electrical connection between the terminal contacts 37A to 37D and the terminal contacts 77A to 77D. Further, compared with the case where the electric contacts are arranged on the upper walls 33, 73 of the battery accommodating chamber 3 and the battery dummy part 7, there is no restriction on the arrangement position by the battery contact pieces 35, 75, and a large space is provided. Therefore, it is advantageous in arranging more electric contacts to improve the function of the external multifunction grip 5.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the windows 3103 and 7103 are respectively provided on the peripheral wall 3101 near the opening 30 of the bottom surface 1101 and on the peripheral wall 7101 for the external multifunction grip 5. It is formed in a portion close to the portion 51. Therefore, when the battery dummy part 7 is inserted into the battery housing chamber 3 from the opening 30, the bent portion 7703 of each of the terminal contacts 77A to 77D slides inside the peripheral wall 3101. Is shortened, wear of the terminal contacts 77A to 77D can be prevented, and durability can be improved.

In this embodiment, the external multi-function grip 5 is provided with the battery damascene portion 7 formed of the tubular member 71. However, for example, the battery contact piece 75 is mounted on the base portion 51. The battery dummy part 7 may be omitted by directly supporting it on the surface 5101. Further, although the external multifunction grip is described as an example in the present embodiment, the electrical contact structure of the present invention has a camera having a battery housing chamber opened at the bottom and a detachable mount to the camera. Needless to say, the present invention can be widely applied to a contact portion that electrically connects various external attachments such as a motor drive.

[0031]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, there are provided a tubular member that is incorporated in a camera and that defines a battery housing chamber that opens at the bottom surface of the camera, and an external attachment that is detachably attached to the bottom surface of the camera. A structure of a contact portion that is respectively provided and electrically connects the camera side and the external attachment side, and includes a window formed on the peripheral wall of the tubular member and a window formed on the peripheral wall of the tubular member. A camera-side contact member that is provided and faces the window, and is supported by the external attachment portion facing the opening with the external attachment mounted on the bottom surface of the camera, and extends from the opening to the battery storage chamber. Since it is configured to include the attachment side contact member that comes into contact with the camera side contact member through the window, it prevents connection failure between the electrical attachment between the external attachment and the camera, Raniwa, as possible out to promote the multi-functionality of an external attachment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera having an external attachment equipped with an electrical contact structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the camera shown in FIG.

3 is a plan view of the external attachment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection relationship between each terminal contact and a battery contact piece of the battery accommodating chamber and the battery dummy portion shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera 1101 Bottom surface 3 Battery accommodation chamber 30 Opening 31 Cylindrical member 3101 Peripheral wall 3103 Window 37A-37D Terminal contact (camera side contact member) 5 External multifunctional grip (external attachment) 71 Cylindrical member (second tube) -Shaped member) 77A-77D Terminal contact (attachment side contact member) 9 Battery (power supply)

Claims (5)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A cylindrical member that is incorporated in a camera and defines a battery chamber that opens to the bottom surface of the camera, and an external attachment that is detachably attached to the bottom surface of the camera. A structure of a contact portion for electrically connecting a camera side and an external attachment side, a window formed on a peripheral wall of the tubular member, and a camera disposed on the peripheral wall of the tubular member and facing the window The side contact member and the camera side contact member are supported by the external attachment portion facing the opening in a state where the external attachment is attached to the bottom surface of the camera and extend from the opening to the battery accommodating chamber through the window. An electric contact part structure for a camera and an external attachment, comprising: an attachment-side contact member that comes into contact with an attachment. 2. The external attachment has a second tubular member formed in a shape corresponding to an internal space of the battery housing chamber and inserted into the battery housing chamber from the opening in the mounted state. The camera and the external attachment according to claim 1, wherein the attachment-side contact member is disposed so as to be retractable from the second cylindrical member portion facing the window in the mounted state to the battery storage chamber side. Electric contact structure. 3. A power source is built in the external attachment, and the camera side contact member and the attachment side contact member are configured to include a power supply contact for supplying the power of the power source to the camera side. The electric contact structure of the camera and the external attachment according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The external attachment is provided with a switch for operating the camera, and the camera side contact member and the attachment side contact member provide a signal generated by operating the switch to the external attachment side. The electrical contact part structure of the camera and the external attachment according to claim 1, 2 or 3, which is configured to include a signal transmission contact for transmitting from the camera to the camera side. 5. The electric contact portion structure of a camera and an external attachment according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the window is formed in the peripheral wall portion near the opening.