JPH10160995A - Lens barrel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability by adjusting the position of the AF operation switch of a lens barrel to a position in accordance with user's taste. SOLUTION: An operation button position changing ring 13 capable of rotating centering around an optical axis is provided on an outside fixed barrel 14 adjacent to the manual focusing ring 18 of the lens barrel 10 capable of automatic focusing and manual focusing, and an AF start operation button 11 is provided on a guide member 12 provided in the ring 13. After the position of the button 11 is changed by turning the ring 13 to a position desired by a user, the button 11 is fixed at a fixed part inside the lens barrel 10 by a locking member 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lens barrel of an optical apparatus such as a camera, and more particularly to a lens barrel having a mechanism for moving a lens by an actuator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, cameras having an AF function for automatically performing focus adjustment and the like in cameras and the like have become the mainstream. For example, a motor is built in a lens barrel to drive a focus adjustment lens system. It is designed to focus. By the way, in recent years, a large number of lenses, such as a large-aperture telephoto lens, having a lens barrel having various functions have been commercialized in order to improve operability at the time of photographing. For example, a lens such as a large-aperture telephoto lens has a shallow depth of field. Because it may not be able to be cut, it is used like shooting with a pin. For this reason, there is a lens in which a focus lock switch is provided on the lens so that pin shooting can be performed even during AF shooting.

Also, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, for example, a half-press operation of the camera 6 (the release button A of the camera).
The AF start switch 1 guided by the operation button guide member 2 provided on the fixed barrel 3 adjacent to the manual focus ring 4 is disposed near the left hand position of the lens barrel 5 when the lens barrel 5 is held in order to eliminate the (F start operation). However, it is also conceivable that the release button of the camera 6 is used only to release the shutter. Further, recently, a lens having an image stabilizing function for automatically performing image stabilization has also come out.For example, a lens system for image stabilization is driven by operating an image stabilizing switch provided on a lens barrel, In some cases, shake correction is performed.

[0004]

However, the arrangement of the focus lock switch, the AF start switch, and the image stabilization switch in the above-described conventional example is conventionally set at a position (for example, FIG. 1
1 and the position shown in FIG. 12), it is not always a position with good operability for a user who has various hand sizes and holding methods, and smooth switch operation cannot be performed. was there.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art,
An object of the present invention is to provide a lens barrel in which the position of an operation switch can be adjusted to a position according to a user's preference.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is such that an operation switch provided on a lens barrel is movable.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the position of an operation switch provided on a lens barrel is movable relative to a fixed barrel. According to a second aspect of the present invention, the position of the operation switch is configured to be movable in a rotational direction about the optical axis. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the position of the operation switch is configured to be movable in the optical axis direction. The present invention according to claim 4 has means for fixing the position of the operation switch. With the above-described configuration, the position of the operation switch can be adjusted and fixed to a desired position of the user, so that all users with various hand sizes and holding styles can smoothly perform required switch operations. Can be. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the operation switch is provided on a lens barrel capable of performing automatic focusing and manual focusing, automatic focusing operation and the like can be easily performed.

[0008]

1 to 6 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
It will be described based on. FIG. 1 is a holding state diagram of the lens barrel of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the lens barrel taken along line XX, and FIGS. 3 to 6 are various holding state diagrams. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a lens barrel, 11 denotes an AF start operation button, and an electric switch 19 described later is operated to drive a focusing lens (not shown) to a focusing position. Reference numeral 12 denotes an operation button guide member, and 13 denotes an operation button position change ring, the inner peripheral portion 13a of which is fitted to the outer fixed cylinder 14 so as to be movable only in the rotation direction. And a switch board fixing portion 23 described later is a screw 1.
5 fixed. Reference numeral 16 denotes an inner fixed cylinder, which is provided on the inner diameter side of the outer fixed cylinder 14, and a flexible printed board 25 described later is adhered to the outer periphery thereof. A lock member 17 fixes the operation button position change ring 13 to a fixing portion. Reference numeral 18 denotes a manual focus ring for manually performing focusing.

An electric switch 19 is mounted on a switch board 20 located below the AF start operation button 11. Reference numeral 21 denotes a flexible printed circuit board, one end of which is electrically connected to the electric switch 19. Reference numeral 22 denotes a brush.
And is fixed to the switch board fixing portion 23 along with the switch board 20 by screws 24 along the circumferential direction. Reference numeral 25 denotes a flexible printed board, which is bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the inner fixed cylinder 16 and connected to an electric circuit board (not shown). And the brush 22
When the operation button position change ring 13 is integrally rotated by the rotation about the optical axis, the contact piece 22a slides on the flexible printed circuit board 25, and the electric switch 19 and the electric switch (not shown) The circuit board is electrically connected to the flexible printed board 21 via the flexible printed board 25. Reference numeral 26 denotes a camera to which the lens barrel 10 is attached.

The operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described.
First, when using a large-aperture telephoto lens, perform hand-held shooting as shown in FIG. 1 or mount it on a monopod or tripod. 3 or 5, the back of the hand is held down as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the back of the hand is held on the left side.
Therefore, the lock member 17 is loosened, the operation button position change ring 13 is rotated with respect to the outer fixed cylinder 14, the AF start operation button 11 is adjusted to a position according to the user's preference, and the lock member 17 is tightened. The operation button position change ring 13 is fixed to the fixing portion. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the case of a first user (a user with a large hand),
When the position of the AF start operation button 11 is
5 and 6, respectively, and in the case of a second user (a user with a small hand), the position of the AF start operation button 11 is set at Θ1 ′ (<θ1) and θ2 ′ (<θ2), respectively
Adjust so that That is, any user having a different hand size can adjust and fix it to an arbitrary angle (θ1, θ2, θ1 ′, θ2 ′, etc.) according to each preference.

At this time, the brush 22 rotates integrally with the operation button position change ring 13 about the optical axis and slides on the electric pattern of the flexible printed circuit board 25 by the contact piece 22a. Even if the AF start operation button 11 is adjusted, the electric switch 19 is always connected to an electric circuit board (not shown).
When the AF start operation button 11 is pressed with a thumb or a forefinger, the electric switch 19 is turned on, and a circuit (not shown) electrically connected via the flexible printed board 21, the brush 22, and the flexible printed board 25 is provided. The signal is transmitted, and the focusing lens is driven to the focusing position.

FIGS. 7 to 10 show a second embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of simplicity, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Only different points will be described. FIG. 7 is a view showing the holding state of the lens barrel of the present embodiment, FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a main part of the lens barrel taken along the line Y-Y, and FIGS. The operation button position change ring 13 is rotatable in the circumferential direction around the optical axis in the first embodiment, but is movable only in the optical axis direction in the present embodiment. That is, the operation button position change ring 13 is fitted to the outer fixed cylinder 14 at its inner peripheral portion 13a so as to be movable only in the optical axis direction, and the brush 22 has a contact piece 22a formed by insert molding in the mold part 22b. Is electrically connected to the other end of the flexible printed circuit board 21 by a screw 24.
Thereby, the contact piece 22a is fixed to the switch board fixing portion 23 along with the switch board 20 along the optical axis direction. Then, the brush 22 is attached to the operation button position changing ring 1.
3, the contact piece 22a slides on the flexible printed circuit board 25 to move the electric switch 19 and an electric circuit board (not shown) together with the flexible printed circuit board 21. They are electrically connected via a flexible printed circuit board 25. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described. In the case of hand-held shooting as shown in FIG. 7 or when mounting on a monopod for shooting, the user holds the back of the hand down as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, but depending on the user, a lens mirror may be used. Holds near the tip of the cylinder or slightly near the back from the tip. Therefore, the lock member 17 is loosened, and the operation button position change ring 13 is moved in the optical axis direction with respect to the outer fixed cylinder 14, so that the AF start operation button 1
1 is adjusted to a position according to the user's preference, and the lock member 1 is adjusted.
7 to fix the operation button position change ring 13 to the fixing portion. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, in the case of a user holding the vicinity of the tip of the lens barrel 10, the operation button position change ring 13 is moved toward the subject in the optical axis direction, and the position of the AF start operation button 11 is changed to the tip. In the case of a user holding the position slightly behind the front end of the lens barrel 10 as shown in FIG. 10, the operation button position change ring 13 is moved to the film surface side in the optical axis direction. Let A
The position of the F-start operation button 11 is adjusted to be slightly near the rear side from the front end. That is, it is possible for any user having different holding positions to adjust and fix it to an arbitrary position according to each preference.

At this time, the brush 22 moves integrally with the operation button position change ring 13 in the optical axis direction and slides on the electric pattern of the flexible printed circuit board 25 by the contact piece 22a. Even if the start operation button 11 is adjusted, the electric switch 19 is always connected to an electric circuit board (not shown). When the AF start operation button 11 is pressed with a thumb or a forefinger, the electric switch 19 is turned on, and a circuit (not shown) electrically connected via the flexible printed board 21, the brush 22, and the flexible printed board 25 is provided. The signal is transmitted, and the focusing lens is driven to the focusing position.

In each of the above embodiments, the switch operation member is an AF start operation button. However, the switch operation member may be another switch operation member such as a focus preset or an image stabilization start switch. Needless to say, there is a great effect.

[0016]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the position of the operation switch provided on the lens barrel is configured to be movable. The position of the switch is configured to be movable in the rotation direction about the optical axis, and the present invention according to claim 3 is configured such that the position of the operation switch is configured to be movable in the optical axis direction, so that the position of the operation switch can be changed. By adjusting the position to a position according to the user's preference, a smooth switch operation can be performed for all users regardless of the size of the hand or the state of holding. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the means for fixing the position of the operation switch can surely fix the adjusted position of the operation switch, thereby facilitating the switch operation. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the operation switch is provided on a lens barrel capable of automatic focusing and manual focusing, automatic focusing operation and the like can be easily performed by all users without difficulty. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a holding state diagram of a camera having a lens barrel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway view of the XX line portion of the lens barrel in which a first user holds the back of the hand below.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway view of the same, holding the back of the hand on the left side.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway view of the XX line portion of the lens barrel in which a second user holds the back of the hand below.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway view of the same, holding the back of the hand on the left side.

FIG. 7 is a holding state diagram of a camera having a lens barrel according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 8;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a holding state near the tip of the lens barrel.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a holding state in the vicinity of the rear side slightly from the front end.

FIG. 11 is a holding state diagram of a conventional camera having a lens barrel.

FIG. 12 is a partially cutaway view of a main part of the lens barrel held with the back of the hand facing down.

[Explanation of symbols]

10. Lens barrel, 11 AF start operation button, 12 Operation button guide member, 13 Operation button position change ring, 14 External fixed cylinder, 16 Internal fixed cylinder, 17 Lock Member, 18 Manual focus ring, 19 Electric switch, 20 Switch board, 2
1, 25 flexible printed board, 22 brush, 23 switch board fixing part.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A lens barrel, wherein a position of an operation switch provided on the lens barrel is movable. 2. The lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein the position of the operation switch is configured to be movable in a rotational direction about the optical axis. 3. The lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein a position of the operation switch is configured to be movable in an optical axis direction. 4. A lens barrel according to claim 1, further comprising means for fixing a position of said operation switch. 5. The lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein said operation switch is provided on a lens barrel capable of automatic focusing and manual focusing.