JPH07199292A - Structure of stroboscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the structure of a stroboscope capable of eliminating a dead space in a stroboscopic main body as much as possible and improving the visibility of a liquid crystal display panel by providing it on the top surface of a retractable stroboscopic main body. CONSTITUTION:The stroboscopic main body 14 is retractable in a stroboscope housing part 10a and a light emitting part 16 is provided in the front part of the stroboscopic main body 14. A display window 14b is formed on the rear side of the light emitting part 16 and the top surface 14a of the stroboscopic main body 14 and the liquid crystal display panel 18 is provided inside the display window 14b. When a main switch is tuned off, the stroboscopic main body 14 is housed in the stroboscope housing part, 10a and the liquid crystal display panel 18 is in a nearly horizontal state. The stroboscopic main body 14 appears by the turning on of the main switch and the display panel 18 is directed diagonally backward, so that a photographer can easily confirm the contents of the display of the display panel 18.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a strobe structure for a camera, and more particularly to a retractable strobe structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Flash photography is performed for indoor photography and daytime synchronized photography with a camera. In particular, most compact cameras have a built-in flash, and flash photography can be easily performed.

By the way, as a strobe structure built in the camera body, there is a so-called retractable strobe. As shown in FIG. 5, in the retractable type strobe structure, a strobe accommodating portion 1a is formed on an upper portion of one side of the camera body 1, and a rotary shaft 2 is provided at a rear end portion of the strobe accommodating portion 1a. Is provided, and the strobe main body 3 is swingably attached to the rotary shaft 2. The flash unit 3 is provided with a light emitting unit 4 at the front thereof, and the flash unit 4 emits light when the flash unit 3 is in the raised state. Further, when the camera is not used, the strobe body 3 is housed in the strobe housing portion 1a, which does not interfere with the carrying of the camera body 1.

Further, a release button 5 and a liquid crystal display plate 6 are arranged on the upper surface of the camera body 1, and the liquid crystal display plate 6 displays the number of images to be taken and a shooting mode such as a panorama mode.

[0005]

However, in the strobe structure described above, only the light emitting portion 4 is built in the strobe body 1, and the components of the light emitting portion 4 are concentrated in the front portion of the strobe body 1. Has been done. For this reason, the space behind the strobe body 3 is not utilized and is a wasted space, which may hinder the downsizing of the camera body 1.

On the other hand, since the liquid crystal display plate 6 is arranged substantially horizontally on the upper surface of the camera body 1, when the photographer confirms the display contents of the liquid crystal display plate 6, he looks into the camera body 1 from above. However, there is a risk that the user may miss a photo opportunity because it may interfere with quick shooting.

Therefore, in the present invention, paying attention to the fact that the liquid crystal display plate 6 has a substantially flat plate shape, the useless space can be eliminated as much as possible, and the retractable strobe structure in which the visibility of the liquid crystal display plate 6 is improved. Is intended to provide.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the strobe structure according to the present invention is exposed in the upper part of the camera body during flash photography and is housed in the camera body when the camera is not in use. In the retractable type strobe, an information display section is provided behind the light emitting section of the strobe body, and when the strobe body appears above the camera body, the information display section points the photographer. There is.

[0009]

When taking a picture, the main switch of the camera is turned on so that the strobe main body appears on the upper portion of the camera main body or the like. Then, the strobe is charged and ready to emit light, and waits for the release button to be pressed down.

At this time, since the information display unit is installed at a position that moves integrally with the strobe body and directs the photographer, the photographer displays information such as the number of shots and shooting mode displayed on the information display unit. Can be easily confirmed.

When the photographing is finished, the main switch of the camera is turned off and the strobe body is housed in the camera body. At this time, since the information display section is also moved together with the strobe main body, it is possible to prevent the strobe main body and the information display section from interfering with the carrying of the camera main body.

It should be noted that the strobe body is housed in the camera body during normal photographing, and the strobe body can be used only for flash photographing. In this case, during normal shooting, the information display plate is in a substantially horizontal state, and during flash shooting, the strobe body appears so that the information display plate points toward the photographer.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The strobe structure according to the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the camera body 10
A stroboscope housing portion 10a is formed on the upper part of one side portion of the one side, and a rotary shaft 12 extending in the left-right direction is provided at the rear portion of the strobe housing portion 10a. A rear end portion of a strobe main body 14 is swingably attached to the rotary shaft 12, and the strobe main body 14 is exposed to and housed in the camera main body 10 by this swing. That is, as shown in FIG.
When the camera is not used, the strobe body 14 is housed in the strobe housing portion 10a, and the upper surface 14a of the strobe body 14 is in a substantially horizontal state. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, when the camera is used, the strobe main body 14 swings upward, and the upper surface 14a is tilted so as to be directed obliquely rearward. Further, a light emitting unit 16 is built in the front portion of the strobe body 14, and the light emitting unit 16 irradiates the strobe light to the front during flash photography.

A display window 14b is formed at the rear of the upper surface 14a of the strobe main body 14, and a liquid crystal display plate 18 is provided inside the display window 14b as an information display section.
The liquid crystal display plate 18 is provided with a number-of-shots display section 18a, a shooting mode display section 18b, etc., and these are displayed during shooting.

A mode changeover switch 20 is provided behind the strobe housing portion 10a of the camera body 10 to set a photographing mode or the like.

The rotating shaft 12 of the strobe body 14 is projected into the camera body 10, and the fan gear 22 is attached to the rotating shaft 12.
Are fitted. A connecting gear 24 is meshed with the fan-shaped gear 22, and an appropriate connecting hole 24a is formed in the connecting gear 24. A connecting rod 26 is swingably engaged with the connecting hole 24a, and a lower end portion of the connecting rod 26 is engaged with an upper end portion of a slider 28.

The slider 28 is slidable in the vertical direction, and a guide pin (not shown) fixed to the camera body 10 is engaged with and guided by a guide hole 28a formed at an appropriate position. A spring mounting portion 28b is formed on the slider 28, and a biasing spring 30 such as an appropriate coil spring is mounted on the spring mounting portion 28b. The upper end of the biasing spring 30 is hooked on a fastening pin (not shown) fixed to the camera body 10, and the slider 28 is biased upward. Further, a cam projection 28c is formed on the slider 28, and a notch is formed at the tip of the cam projection 28c in conformity with the shape of a cam portion 32a described later.

A cam gear 32 is arranged adjacent to the slider 28, and a substantially arcuate cam portion 32a is formed on the cam gear 32 along the circumferential direction thereof. The cam portion 32a is in contact with the cam protrusion 28c of the slider 28. The cam gear 32 is meshed with a long gear 34 extending in the front-rear direction, and the long gear 34 is meshed with a lens barrel gear 36.

The lens barrel gear 36 is integrally attached to the outer surface of a lens barrel (not shown), and the lens barrel is rotated simultaneously with the rotation of the lens barrel gear 36. A guide groove is formed on the outer surface of the lens barrel, and a guide pin is engaged with the guide groove. Therefore, when the lens barrel is rotated, the guide groove is guided by the guide pin, the lens barrel and the lens barrel gear 36 are retracted in the front-rear direction, and the focal length changes. When the lens barrel gear 36 is moved in the front-rear direction, the lens barrel gear 36 is always meshed with the long gear 34.
Transmission of rotation is continued with 34.

Further, the lens barrel gear 36 is meshed with a drive gear (not shown), and the strobe body 14 is swung with the rotation of the drive gear as a driving force.

The operation of the embodiment of the strobe structure according to the present invention constructed as above will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the camera is not used, the strobe main body 14 is accommodated in the strobe accommodating portion 10a and nothing is displayed on the liquid crystal display plate 18. The lens barrel is collapsed, and the lens barrel gear 36 integrally attached to the lens barrel is located at the rear part of the camera body 10.

When a main switch (not shown) is turned on at the time of photographing, an appropriate motor is driven to rotate the drive gear, and the lens barrel gear 36 is rotated. The lens barrel is rotated with the rotation of the lens barrel gear 36, and the lens barrel is projected to the wide end. At this time, the lens barrel gear 36 is also moved forward, and the rotation of the lens barrel gear 36 is transmitted to the long gear 34.

Rotation of the long gear 34 is transmitted to the cam gear 32, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 (a), the cam gear 32 is rotated.
The tip of the cam portion 32a of 32 presses the upper surface of the cam protrusion 28c of the slider 28. At this time, the slider 28 moves the biasing spring 30.
The cam portion 32a pushes down the slider 28 against the urging force. The slider 28
2 is pushed down, the connecting rod 26 engaged with the upper portion of the slider 28 is pulled down as shown in FIG.
Is rotated. The fan gear 22 is rotated by the rotation of the connecting gear 24, and as shown in FIG. 1, the strobe main body 14 is rocked and rises. Further, the liquid crystal display plate 18 on the upper surface 14a of the strobe main body 14 is operated to display the number of shots and the shooting mode.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display plate 18 is inclined so as to be directed obliquely upward and rearward, and the photographer does not look into the upper surface of the camera body 10 and the liquid crystal display plate 18 is not seen.
You can easily check the display contents of 18. In this state, shooting is possible, and shooting is performed by pressing down the release button.

When the photographer changes the focal length, he operates a zoom switch (not shown). As a result, the drive gear is rotated, the lens barrel gear 36 and the lens barrel are rotated, the lens barrel is projected and retracted forward and backward, and the focal length is changed.

At this time, the rotation of the lens barrel gear 36 is transmitted to the cam gear 32 via the long gear 34, as shown in FIG.
As shown in, since the cam portion 32a has a substantially arcuate shape, even if the cam portion 32a rotates, the cam protrusion 28c does not move and the slider 28 does not slide. Therefore, even if the focal length is changed, the position of the strobe main body 14 is not changed.

Then, when the photographing is finished, the main switch is turned off. Then, by the drive gear, the lens barrel gear 36
Is rotated in the direction opposite to that at the start of shooting, and the lens barrel is collapsed. Further, the cam gear 32 is rotated so that the cam portion 32a
Is raised, the slider 28 is slid upward by the biasing spring 30. As a result, the connecting rod 26 is also pushed up, and the connecting gear 24 and the fan-shaped gear 22 are rotated. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the strobe main body 14 is accommodated in the strobe accommodating portion 10a, and the display on the liquid crystal display plate 18 is turned off. As a result, the camera cannot be used and the flash unit 14
The lens barrel does not get in the way of carrying.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the liquid crystal display plate 18 is provided inside the upper surface 14a of the strobe body 14, and the liquid crystal display plate 18 is flat and positioned behind the light emitting portion 16. Therefore, the shape and the like of the light emitting unit 16 are not limited, and the space of the strobe body 14 can be effectively used, which contributes to the reduction in size and weight of the camera.

In this embodiment, the structure having the strobe structure in the camera having the zoom lens has been described, but it may be used in the camera having the single focus lens. In this case, since the lens barrel does not project or retract during use of the camera, the barrel gear 36 and the cam gear 32 are not rotated. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the cam gear 32 may be provided with a cam pin 32b, and the cam pin 32b may be brought into contact with the cam projection 28c of the slider 28. Then, when the camera is not used, as shown in FIG.
By this, the slider 28 is pulled up, and when the camera is used, as shown in FIG. 4B, the cam pin 32b is moved downward by the rotation of the cam gear 32, and the cam projection 28c and the slider 28 are pushed down. Therefore, according to this structure, it is not necessary to form the cam portion 32a having a complicated shape on the cam gear 32, and the cam gear 32 can be easily molded.

Further, in this embodiment, the camera having the structure in which the strobe body 14 is raised by turning on the main switch of the camera has been described, but the strobe body 14 is housed in the strobe housing portion 10a during normal photographing. ,
The camera may have a structure in which the flash main body 14 is raised only when performing flash photography. In this case, the liquid crystal display plate 18 is in a substantially horizontal state during normal shooting, and is tilted obliquely rearward during flash shooting. According to this structure, the display of the liquid crystal display plate 18 can be easily confirmed when the photographer's surroundings become dark and it is necessary to perform the flash photographing, which facilitates the photographing. it can.

[0033]

As described above, according to the strobe structure of the present invention, the information display portion is provided behind the light emitting portion of the retractable type strobe body which is provided at the upper portion of the camera body, etc. When the strobe body appears above the camera body, etc., the information display section is oriented toward the photographer, so the photographer can display information without looking far away from the viewfinder and looking into the top surface of the camera body. You can check the information shown in the section. Therefore, it is possible to take a picture quickly and effectively capture a photo opportunity.

Further, since the information display section is provided in an empty space behind the light emitting section of the strobe body, the space can be effectively utilized, which contributes to the reduction in size and weight of the camera. Further, the light emitting unit can be used as it is without changing the conventional structure. Therefore, the performance of the flash itself is not impaired.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially omitted perspective view showing an embodiment when using a camera having a strobe structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially omitted perspective view showing an embodiment of a camera having a strobe structure according to the present invention when not in use.

FIG. 3 is a partially omitted front view showing a positional relationship between a cam gear and a slider of a camera having a zoom lens,
(A) shows when the camera is not used, and (b) shows when the camera is used.

FIG. 4 is a partially omitted front view showing a positional relationship between a cam gear and a slider of a camera having a single focus lens,
(A) shows when the camera is not used, and (b) shows when the camera is used.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a positional relationship between a conventional strobe body and a liquid crystal display plate.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Camera body 14 Strobe body 16 Light emitting part 18 LCD panel (information display part) 28 Slider 28c Cam protrusion 32a Cam part 32b Cam pin 36 Lens barrel gear

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a retractable type strobe that appears in the upper part of the camera body when shooting with a flash and is housed in the camera body when the camera is not in use, an information display section is provided behind the light emitting section of the strobe body. A strobe structure, wherein the information display section directs the photographer when the strobe body appears above the camera body or the like.