JPH09222542A - Fpc board housing structure for lens barrel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove the looseness of a flexible printed circuit(FPC) board without increasing the number of parts and complicating structure by providing a spring means applying force in a direction where the FPC board is pulled in a housing space provided on a camera body side. SOLUTION: An FPC board housing space 81 is equipped with the spring means for moving and energizing the FPC board 6 into the housing space 81. The spring means possesses a tension spring 82 whose one end is locked on a locking projection 12s provided at a fixed part 12m. By utilizing the dead space formed by the rounded outer wall surface 80a of a cartridge chamber (or spool chamber) 80 on the camera body side and the outer wall surface 12q of a cylindrical part 12p holding a lens barrel unit, the looseness of the FPC board 6 caused on the lens barrel unit side is removed without forming a special space. In such a case, the part required to remove the looseness is constituted of two parts, that is, the spring 82 and a spring receiving pin 83.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an FPC board housing structure for a lens barrel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a zoom lens camera, a slack that occurs when a flexible printed circuit board that connects an electric shutter mounted on a lens barrel extended in the optical axis direction and a control unit mounted on a camera body moves back and forth. When removing the slack, if the slack removal space is provided in the lens barrel, the lens barrel will be enlarged, and if the slack removal space is provided on the camera body side, the camera body will be enlarged and the structure will be reduced. There is a problem that it is likely to be complicated.

[0003]

It is an object of the present invention to effectively loosen a flexible printed circuit board without increasing the size of the lens barrel, increasing the number of parts, and complicating the structure, based on the above awareness. An object of the present invention is to provide a removable FPC board housing structure for a lens barrel.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, the present invention has a shutter unit, a movable lens barrel supported by a fixed lens barrel on the camera body side so as to be movable back and forth in the optical axis direction; a control section on the camera body side. FPC board that connects the shutter unit with
An FPC board housing space provided on the camera body side for housing the FPC board emerging from the shutter unit; and this F
It is characterized in that it is provided with a spring means for applying a force in a direction for pulling the FPC board into the PC board storage space.

The control unit side of the FPC board is fixed to the wall surface of the FPC board housing space, a long hole is formed in the extension direction in a portion of the FPC board located in the FPC board housing space, and the FPC board is moved to the long hole. It is preferable to exert the biasing force of the spring means on the FPC board via the spring receiving pin that is freely fitted.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on illustrated embodiments. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to the lens shutter zoom lens camera shown in FIG. 19. First, the concept of this zoom lens camera will be described with reference to FIG. The lens configuration is the front lens group L
1 group and the rear lens group L2.

[0007] The camera body includes an overall movement motor control means 60, a rear group movement motor control means 61, and a zoom operation means 6.
2, a shutter release means 63, a distance measuring device 64, a photometric device 65, and an AE motor control means 66 are provided.

When the zoom operating means 62 such as a zoom lever provided on the camera body is operated, the overall movement motor control means 60 controls the overall movement motor 25 to include a zoom lens including a front lens group L1 and a rear lens group L2. A movement command for moving the camera from the wide side to the tele side or a movement command for moving the tele side to the wide side is given. The focal length is changed and set to an arbitrary focal length by the operation of the zoom operating means 62 by the photographer. The image magnification of the viewfinder field is changed in association with the change of the focal length by the zoom operation means 62. Therefore, the photographer can know the change in the focal length due to the operation of the zoom operation means 62 by observing the change in the image magnification of the viewfinder field. The focal length set by the operation of the zoom operation means 62 can be recognized by a numerical value displayed on the LCD display panel (not shown), for example.

The overall movement motor control means 60 is also driven by the rear group movement motor control means 61 when the shutter release means 63 is operated.
At the same time, the whole movement motor 25 is driven to focus the zoom lens on the subject. The shutter release means 63 is
It is composed of a release button, and when it is pressed one step, it gives a distance measuring command to the distance measuring device 64 and a photometric command to the photometric device 65, and when it is pressed two steps, it performs a focusing operation and the AE motor control means 66. The shutter 27 of the AF / AE shutter unit 21 is operated via this. The shutter 27 receives the photometric output from the photometric device 65 and opens its shutter blade 27a for a predetermined time.

When operated, the zoom operating means 62 drives the whole moving motor 25 to move the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 integrally. The rear lens group moving motor 30 may be operated via the rear lens group moving motor control means 61 at the same time as this movement, but an important point in this zoom lens camera is that the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group lens by the zoom operation means 62 are operated. It means that the movement of L2 is not performed in the conventional zooming concept in which the focal length is continuously changed without moving the focal position. That is, when the zoom operation means 62 is operated, only the whole movement motor 25 is operated to move the front lens group L.
1 and the rear lens group L2 are moved back and forth without changing the air gap between them, and both the overall movement motor 25 and the rear lens group movement motor 30 are operated to operate the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2. It is possible to move while changing the air gap between the two.

In the aspect, the subject at a specific distance cannot always be in focus. However, in the lens shutter type camera such as the present camera which does not observe the image by the photographing optical system, the subject is focused during the shutter release. There is no problem at all as it fits. Further, in the mode, while allowing the movement of the focal position, the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 are moved, and both the overall movement motor 25 and the rear group movement motor 30 are operated at the time of shutter release to focus. .

After executing any one of the above control modes in accordance with the operation of the zoom operation means 62, the shutter release means 63 is operated in the focal length range of at least a part of the focal length set by the zoom operation means 62. Then, the whole moving motor 25 and the rear group moving motor 30
Both are operated to focus on the subject. The amount of movement of the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 by the overall movement motor 25 and the rear group movement motor 30 at this time is not limited to the movement amount obtained from the subject distance information by the distance measuring device 64, and
It is determined in consideration of the movement amount obtained by the focal length information set by the zoom operation means 62. As described above, when the shutter release means 63 is operated, if the whole movement motor 25 and the rear group movement motor 30 are operated to perform the focusing operation, the degree of freedom in controlling the lens position is increased, and the control is performed. Will be easier.

Theoretically, when the zoom operation means 62 is operated, the whole moving motor 25 and the rear group moving motor 30 are operated.
The shutter release means 63 is operated by changing only the view field magnification and the focal length information of the finder without operating any of the above.
When the is operated, its focal length information and distance measuring device 64
The overall movement motor 25 and the rear group movement motor 30 are simultaneously operated according to the subject distance information according to, and the front group lens L1 and the rear group lens L2 are moved to positions uniquely determined by the focal length information and the subject distance information. You can also let it.

Next, an embodiment in which the zoom lens barrel of the above concept is embodied will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 11 and 18. The schematic configuration and operation of the zoom lens barrel 10 will be described first. The first movable barrel 20 and the second movable barrel 20 will be described in order from the front.
A movable lens barrel 19, a third movable lens barrel 16, and a fixed lens barrel block 12 are provided. The third movable lens barrel 16 is screwed into the tubular portion of the fixed lens barrel block 12, and advances and retreats in the optical axis direction with rotation. The third movable lens barrel 16 has a linear guide cylinder 17 whose rotation is restricted, which moves integrally in the optical axis direction, inside, and the second movable lens barrel 19 rotates relative to the linear guide cylinder 17. While moving forward and backward along the optical axis. First movable lens barrel 2
0 is restricted in rotation, and moves forward and backward in the optical axis direction due to relative rotation with respect to the second movable lens barrel 19. The whole movement motor 25 is fixed to the fixed lens barrel block 12, and the shutter mount 4 having the AE motor 29 and the rear group movement motor 30 mounted thereon.
0 is fixed to the first movable lens barrel 20. The front lens group L1 is a lens having a positive power and is supported by the lens support barrel 34, and the rear lens group L2 is a lens support barrel 5.
It is a lens having a negative power supported by 0.

The fixed lens barrel block 12 fixed to the front of the aperture plate 14 of the camera body has a cylindrical portion 12p.
On the inner peripheral surface of the female helicoid 12a, and a plurality of linear guide grooves 12 that are parallel to the optical axis O and that cross the female helicoid 12a.
b. One of the plurality of straight guide grooves 12b has a code plate 1 having a predetermined pattern on the bottom thereof.
3a is fixed. The code plate 13 a is configured as a part of the flexible printed circuit board 13 located outside the fixed lens barrel block 12. Aperture plate 1
4 is an aperture 14 that determines the exposure area on the film.
a.

On the cylindrical portion 12p of the fixed lens barrel block 12, there is formed a gear accommodating portion 12c which bulges outward in the radial direction and extends in the optical axis direction (see FIG. 8). A drive pinion 15 which is long in the optical axis direction is rotatably stored in the gear storage portion 12c. The drive pinion 15 has support shafts 4 provided at the fixed lens barrel block 12 at both ends of the shaft 7.
And rotatably supported in support holes 31a provided in the gear support plate 31. The tooth surface of the drive pinion 15 projects to the inner peripheral surface of the fixed barrel block 12.

A third movable lens barrel 16 is screwed onto the inner circumference of the fixed lens barrel block 12. This third movable lens barrel 16
Is a plurality of straight guide grooves 16 extending in the optical axis direction on the inner peripheral surface.
c has a male helicoid 16a that engages with the female helicoid 12a of the fixed lens barrel block 12 and an outer peripheral gear 16b that engages with the drive pinion 15 on the outer periphery of the rear end portion (see FIG. 17).
And The drive pinion 15 is the third movable lens barrel 1
6 has an axial length that meshes with the outer peripheral gear 16 in the entire movement range of the optical axis direction 6.

On the inner circumference of the third movable lens barrel 16, a linear guide cylinder 17 is supported so as to be movable integrally with the third movable lens barrel 16 in the optical axis direction and relatively rotatable around the optical axis. . The linear guide cylinder 17 has a rear end flange portion 17d provided on the outer periphery of the rear portion with a plurality of engagement protrusions 17c protruding outward in the radial direction,
A retaining flange portion 1 having a smaller diameter than the flange portion 17d, which is provided in front of the rear end flange portion 17d with a slight gap.
7e and. A plurality of cutout portions 17f are formed in the circumferential direction of the retaining flange portion 17e. The third movable lens barrel 16 has a plurality of engagement projections 16d (FIG. 11) protruding inward in the radial direction on the inner circumference of the rear end portion.
Insert d from the above-mentioned notch 17f to insert both flanges 17
It is located in the gap between d and 17e, and is connected to the linear guide tube 17 by rotating relative to the linear guide tube 17.

An aperture plate 23 having an opening 23a having substantially the same shape as the aperture 14a is formed on the rear end surface of the linear guide cylinder 17.
Has been fixed. The linear guide cylinder 17 has the engaging projection 1
7c is slidably engaged with the linear guide groove 12b of the fixed lens barrel block 12 to restrict rotation with respect to the tubular portion 12p. Engagement protrusion 17 which is one of the engagement protrusions 17c
In c ', a contact terminal 9 for slidingly contacting the code plate 13a and generating a signal corresponding to the focal length during zooming.
Are fixed by fixing screws 5 (FIGS. 10 and 11).

The linear guide cylinder 17 has a plurality of linear guide grooves 17a parallel to the optical axis O on its inner peripheral surface, penetrates the peripheral wall surface, and is inclined with respect to the circumferential direction and the optical axis direction. It has a linear lead groove 17b. The linear guide cylinder 17 guides the flexible printed circuit board 6 whose one end is supported by the AF / AE shutter unit 21 on the inner peripheral side and is parallel to the optical axis O.
A PC board introducing groove 17g is provided on the inner peripheral surface, and a through hole 17i penetrating in the radial direction is provided at a rear part of the FPC board introducing groove 17g.

A second movable lens barrel 19 is fitted on the inner circumference of the linear guide barrel 17. The second movable lens barrel 19 has a plurality of linear lead grooves 19c on its inner peripheral surface, and a plurality of trapezoidal follower protrusions 19a having a trapezoidal cross-section protruding outward in the radial direction on the outer periphery of the rear end portion. The follower pin 18 is located on the follower protrusion 19a. The lead groove 19c is formed so as to have an inclination opposite to that of the lead groove 17b. Follower Pin 18
Comprises a ring member 18b and a center fixing screw 18a for supporting the ring member 18b on the follower protrusion 19a. The follower protrusion 19a is slidably fitted in the lead groove 17b of the linear guide cylinder 17, and the follower pin 18
Is slidably fitted in the linear guide groove 16c of the third movable lens barrel 16. Therefore, when the third movable lens barrel 16 rotates,
While the movable lens barrel 19 rotates, it moves straight in the optical axis direction.

The first movable lens barrel 20 is fitted on the inner circumference of the second movable lens barrel 19. The first movable lens barrel 20 has a plurality of follower pins 24 provided on the outer periphery of the rear end portion engaged with the corresponding inner peripheral lead grooves 19c, and is linearly guided by a linear guide member 22.

The linear guide member 22 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and as shown in FIGS. 9, 12 and 13, an annular portion 22a and a pair of annular portions 22a extending forward from the optical axis. It has a guide leg portion 22b and a plurality of engaging projections 28 which protrude outward in the radial direction of the annular portion 22a and slidably engage with the linear guide groove 17a, and the inner peripheral surface of the first movable lens barrel 20. AF
A guide leg portion 22b is inserted between the / AE shutter units 21 so as to be able to guide straight ahead.

The annular portion 22a is coupled to the rear end portion of the second movable lens barrel 19 so as to be integrally movable in the optical axis direction and relatively rotatable about the optical axis. The linear guide member 22 has a rear end flange portion 22d provided with a plurality of engagement protrusions 28 protruding outward in the radial direction on the outer periphery of the rear portion, and the rear end flange portion 22d.
The flange portion 22d provided with a slight gap in front of the
It has a smaller diameter retaining flange portion 22c, and has a plurality of notches 22e in the circumferential direction of the retaining flange portion 22c. The second movable lens barrel 19 has a plurality of engagement projections 19b (FIG. 11) protruding inward in the radial direction on the inner circumference of the rear end portion, and the engagement projections 19b are inserted from the cutout portions 22e to both sides. It is located in the gap between the flange portions 22c and 22d, and is connected to the linear guide member 22 by rotating relative to the linear guide member 22. With the above configuration, the first movable lens barrel 2
When the second movable lens barrel 19 rotates forward and backward, 0 moves straight forward and backward with respect to the second movable lens barrel 19 while the rotation is restricted.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the rectilinear guide member 22 has an annular portion 22a, which is a rear end portion, and an AF on the inner peripheral side.
The / AE shutter unit 21 supports a pressing member 70 that presses and urges the first U-shaped portion 6b of the flexible printed circuit board 6 whose one end is supported rearward of the optical axis. Annular part 22
A straight key groove 22f for passing straight through the first straight line portion 6a of the flexible printed circuit board 6 and guiding straight is formed at a position in a near the pressing member 70. The pressing member 70 slidably fits a pair of sliding guide protrusions protruding forward of the optical axis to the rear surface of the annular portion 22a of the linear guide member 22, and the compression member 70 is interposed between the annular portion 22a and the annular portion 22a. The spring 71 moves and urges the optical axis rearward.

A barrier device 35 having barriers 48a and 48b is attached to the front end portion of the first movable lens barrel 20, and three shutter blades 27a (FIG. 16) are provided on the inner peripheral surface.
An AF / AE shutter unit 21 having a shutter 27 composed of The AF / AE shutter unit 21 has a plurality of fixing holes 40a (FIG. 14) formed in the outer peripheral portion of the shutter mount 40 at equal angular intervals. The plurality of follower pins 24 are connected to the AF / A
Also serves as a fixing means for the E shutter unit 21, and
The pin hole 20a formed in the movable lens barrel 20 and the fixing hole 4
The follower pin 24 is fitted and fixed to 0a, and the shutter unit 21 is fixed to the first movable lens barrel 20 (see FIG. 15). The follower pin 24 is, for example, glued,
It can be fixed by means such as screwing. Reference numeral 41 is a decorative plate fixed to the front end of the first movable lens barrel 20.

The AF / AE shutter unit 21 is shown in FIG.
6, and a shutter mount 40, as shown in FIG.
A shutter blade support ring 46 fixed to the rear portion of the shutter mount 40 and a lens support barrel 50 (rear group lens L) supported to be movable relative to the shutter mount 40.
2). The front lens L1, the AE motor 29, and the rear group moving motor 30 are supported by the shutter mount 40. The shutter mount 40 has an annular portion having a photographing opening 40d through which the lens support tube 34 is inserted, and three leg portions 40b extending rearward from the annular portion. Two of the gaps between the three leg portions 40b are provided in the pair of guide leg portions 2 of the rectilinear guide member 22.
It is configured as a straight-ahead guide portion 40c which slidably engages with each other and guides movement.

The shutter mount 40 further has an AE gear train 45 that transmits the rotation of the AE motor 29 to the shutter 27.
And the rotation of the rear group movement motor 30 to the screw shaft 4
3 and the photo interrupters 56 and 57 connected to the flexible printed circuit board 6.
And the rotary plates 59, 6 having a large number of slits in the circumferential direction.
0 is supported. The photo interrupter 57 and the rotary plate 59 constitute an encoder for the rear group moving motor that detects the rotation of the rear group moving motor 30, and the photo interrupter 56 and the rotary plate 58 constitute the AE motor 29.
The encoder for the AE motor that detects the rotation of the is configured.

The shutter 2 is provided between the shutter mount 40 and the shutter blade support ring 46 fixed to the mount 40.
7, a support member 47 that pivotally supports the three shutter blades 27a of the shutter 27, and an annular drive member 49 that applies rotational force to the shutter blades 27a. The annular drive member 49 is provided with three operation protrusions 49a that engage with the three shutter blades 27a at equal angular intervals. The shutter blade support ring 46 is provided on the front wall portion with the photographing opening 4
6a and three support holes 46b provided at equal angular intervals around the photographing opening 46a, and the straight guide portion 4 is provided on the outer peripheral portion.
It has a bending restriction surface 46c exposed from 0c and slidably supporting the inner peripheral surfaces of the pair of guide leg portions 22b.

Further, the support member 47 located in front of the shutter blade support ring 46 includes a photographing opening 47a facing the photographing opening 46a and three shaft portions 47b (one in FIG. 16) facing the three supporting holes 46b. Only shown). Each of the three shutter blades 27a has, at one end, a shaft hole 27b through which the shaft portion 47b is inserted, and at the other end, a shielding portion that shields the photographing openings 46a and 47a.
Between the one end and the other end, there is an elongated hole 27c through which the operation protrusion 49a is inserted. The support member 47 includes shafts 47b that respectively support the shutter blades 27a.
The shutter blade support ring 46 is fixed to the corresponding shutter hole support ring 46 in a state of being fitted into the corresponding support hole 46b.

The annular drive member 49 has a gear train 4 on its outer peripheral portion.
It has a gear portion 49b that receives rotation from 5. Further, the support member 47 has three circular arc grooves 47c along the circumferential direction at positions close to the three shaft portions 47b. The three operation protrusions 49a of the annular drive member 49 penetrate the three arcuate grooves 47c to form the elongated holes 27 of each shutter blade 27a.
c is engaged. The shutter blade support ring 46 is inserted from the rear side of the shutter mount 40 while supporting the annular driving member 49, the support member 47, and the shutter 27, and is screwed to the shutter mount 40.

Behind the shutter blade support ring 46, a lens support cylinder 50 is disposed on the shutter mount 40 via slide shafts 51 and 52 so as to be relatively movable. The shutter mount 40 and the lens support cylinder 50 are urged to move away from each other by the coil spring 3 fitted to the slide shaft 51, thereby removing play between them. The drive gear 42a provided in the gear train 42 is restricted from moving in the axial direction, and a female screw is formed on the inner periphery thereof. A screw shaft 43 whose one end is fixed to the lens support cylinder 50 is screwed into this female screw, and these drive gears 42a are
The screw shaft 43 and the screw shaft 43 constitute a feed screw mechanism. Therefore, when the rear group movement motor 30 is rotationally driven to rotate the drive gear 42a in either forward or reverse directions, the screw shaft 43 moves forward and backward with respect to the drive gear 42a, and is supported by the lens support barrel 50, that is, the support barrel 50. The rear lens group L2 moves relative to the front lens group L1.

Pressing members 53 and 55 for pressing the motors 29 and 30 supported by the shutter mount 40 are screwed to the front of the shutter mount 40. Motors 29 and 30 and photo interrupters 56 and 57 are connected to the flexible printed circuit board 6 whose one end is fixed to the shutter mount 40. In a state where the first to third movable lens barrels 20, 19, 16 and the AF / AE shutter unit 21 are assembled, the aperture plate 23 is fixed to the rear end surface of the linear guide barrel 17, and the front end of the fixed lens barrel block 12 is fixed. An annular retaining member 33 is fitted in the portion. The retaining member 33 engages with the retaining projection 33a that engages with the front end portion of the fixed lens barrel block 12 and the FPC board introducing hole 12k during this engagement to support the inner flexible printed circuit board 6 from the front. And annular retaining member 3
3 has a restricting protrusion 33g for suppressing rotation of the cylindrical portion 12p of itself.

Next, the F of the lens barrel which is the feature of the present invention.
The PC board storage structure will be described.

The fixed lens barrel block 12 has, on one side thereof, a support portion 32 for fixing the whole moving motor 25 on its rear surface and for supporting a gear train 26 composed of a plurality of gears on its front surface. Further, the fixed lens barrel block 12 has, on the other side thereof, the FPC board introducing hole 12k parallel to the optical axis O for projecting the end of the flexible printed board 6 outward, and the flexible printed board protruding from this introducing hole 12k. (FPC
It has a fixing portion 12m for fixing the end portion of the substrate 6).
A plurality of fixing protrusions 12n for fitting and supporting fixing holes 6i (FIG. 6) at the ends of the flexible printed circuit board 6 are planted in the fixing portion 12m. The flexible printed circuit board 6 connects the AF / AE shutter unit 21 and the control unit 75 (see FIG. 10) mounted on the camera body side. The control unit 75 includes a CPU and the like, and has the whole movement motor control means 60, the rear group movement motor control means 61, the distance measuring device 64, the photometric device 65, and the AF.
The motor control means 66 etc. are included. A zoom operation means 62, a shutter release means 63, etc. are also connected to the control section 75.

In the zoom lens barrel 10, the flexible printed circuit board 6 is arranged as shown in FIG. To give an explanation with giving a name to each part in this arrangement state, the flexible printed circuit board 6 includes the first movable lens barrel 2
The first straight line portion 6a extending from the AF / AE shutter unit 21 mounted on No. 0 to the inner surface of the second movable lens barrel 19 and the straight keyway 22f (of the linear guide member 22 at the rear end of the second movable lens barrel 19). The first bent forward through (see FIG. 9)
The U-shaped portion 6b, the second linear portion 6c extending from the first U-shaped portion 6b to the inner surface of the front end portion of the third movable lens barrel 16, and the second bent portion at the front end portion of the second linear portion 6c. 2U
It has a character portion 6d. The flexible printed circuit board 6 further includes a third linear portion 6e extending from the second U-shaped portion 6d to the camera body side along the inner surface of the third movable lens barrel 16.
And a third U-shape that is guided from the outer surface 17h side of the FPC board introducing groove 17g through the through hole 17i to the inner surface of the linear guide tube 17 and then goes through the FPC board introducing hole 12k of the fixed lens barrel block 12 toward the control section 75. 6f, a fourth straight portion 6g following the third U-shaped portion 6f, and a fixed end portion 6h (see FIG. 6) fixed to the fixed portion 12m (FIG. 1) outside the fixed lens barrel block 12. And have. Further, since the flexible printed circuit board 6 needs to be fixed to the straight guide cylinder 17, it passes through the FPC board introducing groove 17g, is bent at the front end portion of the straight guide cylinder 17, and then is once exposed to the outside, so that the second U The third linear portion 6e following the character-shaped portion 6d is attached to the outer surface 17
After being fixed to h (Fig. 9) with double-sided tape 73 (Fig. 9),
As described above, after being again inserted from the outer surface 17h side through the through hole 17i to the inside of the straight guide cylinder 17, it is guided to the outside of the third movable lens barrel 16 and further to the FPC board introducing hole 12k.
It projects from the fixed barrel block 12 through (FIGS. 7 and 9).

In other words, the flexible printed circuit board 6 is guided rearward from the AF / AE shutter unit 21 through the inner surface of the second movable lens barrel 19 and then folded back forward at the rear end of the lens barrel 19. And the straight guide tube 17
After being guided forward in the FPC board introducing groove 17g of
The FPC board is introduced into the fixed lens barrel block 12 after being folded back from the tip of the PC board introducing groove 17g along the outer surface 17h of the straight guide cylinder 17 and guided again through the through hole 17i to the inner surface of the straight guide cylinder 17. From the hole 12k to the third U-shaped portion 6f
The fourth straight portion 6g is projected outward, and the fixed end portion 6h is fixed to the fixed portion 12m. Another flexible printed circuit board (not shown) connected to the controller 75 is connected to the fixed end 6h. Therefore, the flexible printed circuit board 6 is connected to the control unit 75 via the other flexible printed circuit board.

The flexible printed circuit board 6 thus arranged has the first, second and third movable lens barrels 20, 19 and 1.
Straight guide tube 1 of lens barrel unit u (FIG. 1) in which 6 and the like are assembled
7 is fixed with double-sided tape 73, so that when the zoom lens barrel 10 is extended from the lens storage position by the operation of the zoom operating means 62, the zoom lens barrel 10 is moved between the third movable lens barrel 16 and the annular portion 12p as shown in FIG. As shown by the two-dot chain line 6f, there is slack that interferes during shooting. In order to remove this slack, it is conceivable to provide a slack removing space in the lens barrel unit u, but in that case, the lens barrel unit u becomes larger and the zoom lens barrel 10 becomes smaller. It will be against the request. Further, when the slack eliminating space is provided on a portion other than the zoom lens barrel 10, for example, on the camera body side, the slack eliminating space is specially provided on the camera body side, which leads to an increase in size of the camera and a structure. Is easy to complicate.

Therefore, in the present FPC board housing structure, the dead space generated on the camera body side, which is provided with the patrone chamber for loading the film patrone and the spool chamber for winding the film from the patrone, is loosened and removed. The above-mentioned inconvenience is eliminated by utilizing it as a space for use.

That is, in this FPC board storage structure, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the fixed lens barrel block 12 is fixed to a camera body 79 having a cartridge chamber (or spool chamber) 80 and an aperture plate 14 integrally formed, and the annular portion 12p in front of the photographing opening 14a of the aperture plate 14 is fixed. AF /
The third movable lens barrel 16 of the lens barrel unit u equipped with the AE shutter unit 21 is screwed. And the R-shaped outer wall surface 80a of the cartridge chamber 80 on the camera body 79 side,
The dead space generated between the outer wall surfaces 12q of the cylindrical portion 12p is used as an FPC board storage space 81 for drawing in the slack of the flexible printed board 6. The plate-shaped fixed portion 12m of the fixed barrel block 12 is configured as a wall surface that closes the front of the FPC board storage space 81. In such a configuration, the AF / AE mounted on the lens barrel unit u
The flexible printed circuit board 6 coming out of the shutter unit 21 has an R-shaped outer wall surface 80 in its extension direction (longitudinal direction).
It is taken out into the FPC board storage space 81 in a state of being orthogonal to the axis of the cartridge chamber (or spool chamber) 80 having a. In this FPC board storage space 81, one wall surface is R
The outer wall surface 80a is a so-called dead space,
Since the flexible printed circuit board 6 is put out in the FPC board housing space 81 as described above, the space can be effectively utilized as compared with the case where the flexible printed board 6 is put out obliquely with respect to the axis.

The FPC board storage space 81 is provided with spring means for urging the flexible printed circuit board 6 into the storage space 81. This spring means is fixed part 12
It has a tension spring 82 whose one end is hooked on a locking projection 12s provided on m. Further, the flexible printed circuit board 6 passes through the gap 12u between the fixing portion 12m and the regulation projection 33g of the annular retaining member 33 engaged with the FPC board introducing hole 12k after coming out to the FPC board housing space 81. The fixed end portion 6h on the 75 side is fixed to the fixed portion 12m. The flexible printed circuit board 6 has a long hole 6j (FIG. 4) that is formed in the extension direction of the board 6 in a portion located on the back side of the fixed portion 12m, that is, in the fourth linear portion 6g located in the FPC board housing space 81. have.

A spring receiving pin 83 is fixed to the other end of the tension spring 82. As shown in FIG. 5, the spring receiving pin 83 has an abutting portion 83a that is long in the vertical direction in the figure, and a spring hooking portion 83b that is located approximately in the center of the abutting portion 83a. The abutting portion 83a has a width similar to that of the long hole 6j, and the other end of the tension spring 82 whose one end is hooked on the locking projection 12s is fixed to the spring hooking part 83b. After being passed along the long hole 6j on the opposite side, the tension spring 8 is orthogonal to the long hole 6j.
A biasing force of 2 is exerted on the flexible printed circuit board 6. Therefore, the flexible printed circuit board 6 extending from the lens barrel unit u side includes the outer wall surface 12q, the R-shaped outer wall surface 80a, and the fixing portion 1.
By pulling the fourth linear portion 6g into the substantially triangular FPC storage space 81 surrounded by 2 m, the slack mainly generated in the third U-shaped portion 6f and the fourth linear portion 6g is effectively removed. An urging force is always applied to the fourth straight line portion 6g of the flexible printed circuit board 6 in the direction of removing the slack, but the spring receiving pin 83 pulls the fourth straight line portion 6g while sliding the long hole 6j. Therefore, the amount of extension of the spring is small enough to obtain the same pull-in amount, and the degree of freedom in designing the spring can be increased.

As described above, according to the FPC board housing structure, the cartridge chamber (or the spool chamber) on the camera body side.
The dead space formed by the R-shaped outer wall surface 80a of 80 and the outer wall surface 12q of the cylindrical portion 12p that holds the lens barrel unit u is utilized, and the lens barrel unit u is created without creating a special space.
Since the slack of the flexible printed circuit board 6 generated on the side can be removed, the camera can be downsized. Moreover, since the parts required for removing the slack can be configured by the two points of the tension spring 82 and the spring receiving pin 83, the structure can be simplified.

In this embodiment, the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 are respectively provided in the AF / AE shutter unit 21.
The AE motor 29 and the rear group movement motor 30 are mounted on the unit 21 as one of the components. According to this configuration, there is an advantage that the supporting structure and the driving structure of the front group lens L1 and the rear group lens L2 can be simplified, but at least one of the front group lens L1 and the rear group lens L2 is
Shutter mount 40, annular drive member 49, support member 4
The present zoom lens can be realized even if the AF / AE shutter unit 21 including the shutter 7, the shutter 27, the shutter blade pressing ring 46, and the like is provided as a separate member and is supported by a support member different from the unit.

The present zoom lens camera operates as follows. FIG. 11 where the zoom lens barrel 10 is most retracted.
When the power switch (not shown) is turned on in the lens housed state, the whole movement motor 25 is driven to rotate in the positive direction by a slight amount. Then, this rotation is transmitted to the drive pinion 15 via the gear train 26 supported by the support portion 32, and the third movable lens barrel 16 is rotated in the payout direction.
The movable lens barrel 19 and the first movable lens barrel 20 are the third movable lens barrel 16 and
At the same time, it is slightly extended in the optical axis direction, and the camera is ready for shooting with the zoom lens positioned at the wide end.

When the zoom operation means 62 is operated to the tele side in this photographing possible state, the whole movement motor 25 is rotationally driven in the positive direction via the whole movement motor control means 60, and the driving pinion 15 and the outer peripheral gear 16b are used. The third movable lens barrel 16 is rotated in the feeding direction. Therefore,
The third movable lens barrel 16 is extended from the fixed lens barrel block 12 due to the relationship between the female helicoid 12a and the male helicoid 16a, and at the same time, the straight guide tube 17 is fixed by the relationship between the engagement projection 17c and the straight guide groove 12b. Block 12
With respect to the third movable lens barrel 16, the lens moves forward along the optical axis in a state where it does not relatively rotate. At this time, the second movable lens barrel 19
Attaches the follower pin 18 to the lead groove 17b and the straight guide groove 1
By being engaged with 6c at the same time, the third movable lens barrel 16 is relatively rotated in the same direction and relatively moved forward of the optical axis with respect to the movable lens barrel 16. Also, the first movable lens barrel 20 is
Since the linear guide member 22 linearly guides and the follower pin 24 is moved and guided by the lead groove 19c, the second movable lens barrel 19 and the AF / AE shutter unit 21 together with the fixed lens barrel block 12 do not rotate relative to each other. Advance to the front of the optical axis.

Since the rear lens group moving motor 30 is not driven while the zoom lens barrel 10 is driven in this way, the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 are integrally integrated with each other while keeping a constant distance from each other. In the direction (see FIG. 10). The focal length set by the zoom operation means 62 is displayed by the display means (not shown).

When the release button is pushed one step at any focal length set by the zoom operating means 31, a distance measuring command is given to the distance measuring device 64 and a light measuring command is given to the light measuring device 65 to measure the distance and Photometry starts. Thereafter, when the release button is depressed two steps, both the whole moving motor 25 and the rear group moving motor 30 move the moving amount obtained by the distance measuring device 64 based on the subject distance information and the focus set by the zoom operating means 31. The AE motor control means 6 moves the front lens group L1 and the rear lens group L2 by a movement amount determined in consideration of the movement amount obtained from the distance information to set the focal length and focus on the subject.
The AE motor 29 rotationally drives the annular driving member 49 in accordance with the subject luminance information from the photometric device 65 via 6 to drive the shutter 27 so as to satisfy a predetermined exposure. After completion of the shutter release, both the whole movement motor 25 and the rear group movement motor 30 are immediately driven to return the front group lens L1 and the rear group lens L2 to the state before the shutter release.

When the zoom operating means 62 is operated to the wide side, the whole moving motor 25 is rotationally driven in the reverse direction, and
The movable lens barrel 16 is rotated in the retracting direction and retracted into the fixed lens barrel block 12 together with the linear guide barrel 17. At the same time, the second movable lens barrel 19 is retracted with respect to the movable movable lens barrel 16 while rotating in the same direction as the third movable lens barrel 16.
The movable lens barrel 20 has a position A relative to the rotating second movable lens barrel 19.
It is pulled in together with the F / AE shutter unit 21.
Also during this retraction drive, the rear group moving motor 30 is not driven, as in the above-described retraction drive. Then, when the power switch is turned off after the zoom lens has moved to the wide end position, the zoom lens barrel 10 is retracted to the lens storage position shown in FIG. 11 by the overall movement motor 25 that is rotationally driven based on this.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, the slack of the flexible printed circuit board is effectively prevented without increasing the size of the lens barrel, increasing the number of parts and complicating the structure. It is possible to provide an FPC board housing structure for a removable lens barrel.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective external view showing a main part of a zoom lens barrel to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view showing an FPC board housing structure in the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view showing a state of the FPC board housing structure different from that of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view showing an end structure of a flexible printed board having the same FPC board housing structure.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view showing an end structure of a flexible printed board having the same FPC board housing structure.

6 is a perspective external view showing a state in which the lens barrel unit shown in FIG. 1 is contracted.

FIG. 7 is a perspective external view showing a fixed barrel block of a zoom lens barrel to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a fixed barrel block of the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 10 is an upper half sectional view showing a maximum extended state of the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 11 is an upper half sectional view showing a lens housed state of the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a main part of a mechanism for linearly guiding an AF / AE shutter unit of the zoom lens barrel.

13 is a perspective view showing a main part of a mechanism for linearly guiding the AF / AE shutter unit of the zoom lens barrel in a state different from that in FIG.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state where the AF / AE shutter unit of the zoom lens barrel is assembled to the first moving barrel.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 17 is a perspective external view showing a third movable lens barrel of the zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view showing the entire zoom lens barrel.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a control system for controlling the operation of the zoom lens barrel.

[Explanation of symbols]

6 Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPC Board) 6j Long Hole 10 Zoom Lens Barrel 12 Fixed Lens Barrel Block (Fixed Lens Barrel) 12k FPC Board Introduction Hole 12m Fixed Part (Wall) 12p Cylindrical Part 14a Photographic Aperture 16 Third Moving Lens Barrel (Movable lens barrel) 21 AF / AE shutter unit (shutter unit) 75 control unit 79 camera body 80 cartridge chamber (spool chamber) 80a R-shaped outer wall surface 81 FPC board storage space 82 compression spring (spring means) 83 spring receiving pin O optical axis

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A movable lens barrel having a shutter unit, which is supported by a fixed lens barrel on the camera body side so as to be movable back and forth in the optical axis direction; an FPC board for connecting a control unit on the camera body side and the shutter unit; FPC board storage space provided on the camera body side for storing the FPC board that has come out from the FPC board;
An FPC board housing structure for a lens barrel, comprising: spring means for applying a force in a direction to draw the board into the housing space. 2. The FPC board according to claim 1, wherein the control portion side of the FPC board is fixed to a wall surface of the FPC board housing space.
A long hole that is long in the extension direction of the FPC board is formed in a portion located in the FPC board housing space, and the biasing force of the spring means is applied to the FPC board through a spring receiving pin movably fitted in the long hole. FPC board storage structure of the lens barrel that has been extended to.