JPH10248030A - Digital camera with card size - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the entire camera compact and to improve the performance of the camera by containing an image pickup section in a PC card. SOLUTION: The camera main body 12 is formed to be a PC card consisting of a 1st plate 16 integrated with an image pickup lens 20 and a 2nd plate 18 integrated with a CCD, and the 1st and 2nd plates 16, 18 are hinged by a hinge member 14 so as to be folded. In the case of image pickup, an optical path length is ensured by folding the 1st and 2nd plates 16, 18 and in the case that they are not folded, the entire camera forms a card shape.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card-size digital camera, and more particularly, to a digital camera having a photographing unit such that the entire camera becomes a PC card size.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 7-313716, 7-322117 and 8-9215 disclose a digital camera that attempts to downsize the entire camera to the size of a PC card. Have been. For example, in a digital camera disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-327716, a camera section, an image input section, and an image memory section are attached to a PC card section, and the PC card section is inserted into a card slot of an external information processing apparatus. The device can be monitored in real time, and the external information processing device can access the image memory unit of the camera.

[0003]

However, in the conventional PC card type digital camera, a portion to be inserted into a card slot of an external information processing apparatus such as a notebook personal computer has a thickness of the PC card but includes a photographing lens. The shooting unit still has a bulge and does not fit in the size of the PC card.

[0004] Therefore, there is a drawback that the balance is poor when handled as a single camera, and that it is inconvenient to carry when inserted into a card slot of an external information processing apparatus. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a card-size digital camera in which the entire camera can be formed into a PC card shape and the performance as a camera can be improved.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, when a shutter release operation is performed, image data representing a subject image obtained through a photographing lens and an image pickup device is recorded in a camera body. What is claimed is: 1. A card-sized digital camera for recording on a medium, comprising: a first plate-like portion provided with the photographing lens therein such that an optical axis thereof coincides with a thickness direction of the camera body; Is formed in the same shape as a PC card to be used by being inserted into a PC card slot of a personal computer with a second plate portion provided therein, and the first plate portion and the second plate portion are formed in the same shape. Is foldably connected by a hinge member, and the camera body is connected to a PC.
The image data can be transmitted to the personal computer by inserting it into the card slot, and the first lens and the second lens of the camera body are folded so that the photographing lens and the image sensor overlap. In addition to enabling photographing, an optical path length at the time of photographing is ensured.

According to the present invention, a PC card-shaped camera main body is composed of first and second plate-shaped portions connected by a hinge member, and when folded, a photographic lens and an image sensor are superimposed to form a photographic optical path. As it is formed, the whole camera becomes a card shape when the main body is not folded,
When the first plate portion and the second plate portion are folded, they function as a camera. In addition, since the first plate-shaped portion in which the taking lens is provided and the second plate-shaped portion in which the image pickup device is provided are overlapped, the taking lens is adjusted so that its optical axis coincides with the thickness direction of the main body. Even if it is arranged, the optical path length at the time of photographing can be secured.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a card-size digital camera according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a card-size digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a main body 12 of the digital camera 10 is formed in a well-known PC card shape as a whole, and has a thickness of, for example, a standard Ty of a PC card.
pe1 (3.3 mm), Type2 (5.0 mm), T
type 3 (10.5 mm), Type 4 (16.0 m
m) is selected as appropriate. The main body 12 is composed of a first plate-like portion 16 and a second plate-like portion 18 connected by a hinge 14, and is formed to be foldable as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C. As the hinge member, not only the hinge 14 but also a high elastic film 17 can be used as shown in FIG.

A first opening 23 and a second opening 25 are formed in the first and second plate portions 16 and 18, respectively, and a lid 19 is provided in each of the openings 23 and 25. The first plate portion 16 has a first opening 23.
A photographic lens 20 is provided in a position facing the photographic window 21, and a CCD (image pickup device) is provided in the second plate-shaped portion 18 in a position facing the second opening 25. That is, both the photographing lens 20 and the image sensor 22 are arranged such that the optical axes thereof coincide with the thickness direction of the main body 12.

A permanent magnet 27 is embedded in each of the first and second plate-like portions 16 and 18, and the permanent magnets 27 of the first and second plate-like portions 16 and 18 when the main body 12 is folded. Adsorbs as shown in FIG. As a result, the first opening 23 and the second opening 25 are held in a state where they exactly match. The lid 19 is opened and closed in conjunction with a folding operation of the main body 12 and an expanding operation of expanding the main body into the original PC card shape by an opening / closing device described later.

An operation button 24 including a shutter release button is provided on the upper surface 12A of the main body 12, and an external information processing apparatus such as a personal computer having a slot-side connector is provided on one side of the side edge of the main body 12. Is provided with a camera-side connector 42 that can be connected to the card slot.
As shown in FIG. 1 (c), the finder frame 29 is provided so as to be able to be pulled out of the first plate-shaped portion 16, and when photographing, the photographer pulls out the slot (not shown) of the first plate-shaped portion 16 and uses it. And stored when not in use.

FIG. 3 shows the digital camera 10 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the device. In the figure, a subject image formed on a light receiving surface of a CCD (image pickup device) 22 via a photographing lens 20 is photoelectrically converted here and sequentially read as a CCD output signal by a driving pulse applied from a CCD driving circuit 34. Is done. This CCD output signal is
The analog signal is added to an analog processing circuit 26 having a CDS circuit, a gain adjustment circuit, a color balance adjustment circuit, and the like. The analog signal is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter 28 and output to a digital image processing circuit 30. Is done. The drive pulse is output from the CCD drive circuit 34 based on the timing signal output from the timing generator 36, and the analog processing circuit 26
The A / D converter 28 and the like are synchronized.

The digital processing circuit 30 includes a luminance signal generation circuit, a color difference signal generation circuit, a gamma correction circuit, a compression circuit and the like, and stores image data processed by these circuits in a built-in memory (for example, a built-in flash memory) 32. Output. This image data is recorded in the built-in memory 32 under the control of the memory control circuit 40. The built-in memory 32 has a capacity capable of recording a plurality of (for example, about ten to several tens) image data.

A system control circuit 38 controls and controls each circuit of the camera. The system control circuit 38 performs control for performing photographing based on an input signal from an operation button 24 including a shutter release button, and the memory control circuit 40. Control of writing image data to the built-in memory 32, control of transfer of image data to an external device such as a personal computer or printer via the connector 42, control of erasure of image data, and the like are performed.

When the camera body 12 is folded at the time of photographing, the lid 19 formed in the openings 23 and 25 of the first and second plate-like portions 16 and 18 is opened in conjunction with the folding operation. An optical path for photographing is formed. FIG.
4A shows a state in which the lid 19 is closed, and FIG.
Is an open state, which is a case where the movable lid 19A and the fixed lid 19B are composed of two lids 19.

Lid 1 comprising movable lid 19A and fixed lid 19B
9, the fixed lid 19B is fixed to the main body 12. As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of slide grooves 44, 44 parallel to the opening / closing direction are formed in the fixed lid 19B, and a pair of pins 46, 46 formed on the upper surface of the movable lid 19A are fixed to the fixed lid 19B. Is engaged with the slide groove 44 from below. Thus, when the lid 19 is opened, the movable lid 19A is
Slide along the lower surface of 9B.

In FIG. 5, the first and second plate-like portions 16, 1
8 shows the opening / closing device 48, and the fixed lid 19B is shown by a broken line so that the opening / closing mechanism of the lid 19 can be easily understood. The opening / closing device 48 is provided on both the first and second plate-shaped portions 16 and 18 in a bilaterally symmetrical structure with respect to the hinge 14 connecting the first and second plate-shaped portions 16 and 18. It is constituted as follows.

A pin 50 is provided at one corner of the movable lid 19A.
One end of the first arm 52 is pivotally supported via the first arm 52, and the other end of the first arm 52 is connected to the second arm 56 via a pin 62.
, And one end of the third arm 60 are pivotally supported. The other end of the second arm 56 is rotatably supported via a fixing pin 54, and the other end of the third arm 60 is
8 are provided. The third arm 60 includes a pair of guide portions 6.
Guided in the left and right directions in FIG. Thus, a link mechanism having the fixing pin 54 as a fixed end is formed. Such a link mechanism is provided on the first and second plate-like portions 16 and 18 via the hinge 14, so that a pair of opening and closing devices 48 and 48 are formed. Further, the magnets 58 provided at the distal ends of the third arms 60 of the pair of opening / closing devices 48, 48 are arranged close to each other as shown in FIG. The N pole is formed so that the other becomes the S pole. This allows
The third arms 60 of the pair of opening / closing devices 48 exert an attraction force (in the direction of arrow A) on each other. In addition, the movable lid 19
A is connected to one end of a spring 64 and the other end is supported by a pin 66 fixed to the main body 12. Due to the spring 64, the movable lid 19A is moved downward in FIG.
That is, the movable lid 19A is urged in the opening direction (the direction of arrow B). Therefore, when the urging force of the spring 64 is smaller than the attraction force between the magnets 58, the opening / closing device 48 closes the lid 19 by the link mechanism as shown in FIGS. On the other hand, when the urging force of the spring 64 is greater than the attraction force between the magnets 58, the movable lid 19A is pulled by the spring 64 to open the lid 19 as shown in FIG.
When the main body 12 is in the deployed state, that is, when the magnets 58 are opposed to and adjacent to each other, the attraction force between the magnets 58 is greater than the urging force of the spring 64. Is set. Thereby, the movable lid 1
9A receives a force in the direction C in the drawing by the link mechanism of the opening / closing device 48, and thus is held in a closed state.

Next, the operation of the card-size digital camera of the present invention configured as described above will be described. When carrying around or inserting the card into a card slot of an external information processing apparatus such as a notebook personal computer, the main body 12 is not folded and is kept in the original flat shape of the PC card. In the flat state, no photographing optical path is formed between the CCD 22 and the photographing lens 20, so that photographing cannot be performed.

When photographing, as shown in FIG. 1, the photographer folds the main body 12 and replaces the first plate-like portion 16 with the photographing lens 20 inside with the second plate-like portion 16 with the CCD 22 inside.
Is superimposed on the plate-shaped portion 18. By this folding operation, as shown in FIG. 1B, the contact surfaces of the first plate portion 16 and the second plate portion 18 are separated from each other and do not face each other. Magnet 5 attached to
The attraction force between the eight is weakened. Thereby, the spring 64
Is larger than the attraction force between the magnets 58, the movable lid 19A moves in the direction B in FIG. At this time, the slide pins 46 provided on the movable lid 19A are guided by the slide grooves 44 of the fixed lid 19B to perform a smooth slide. Thereby, the openings 23, 2
5 is opened to form a photographing optical path, and the photographing lens 20 and the CCD 22 are arranged in a straight line so that photographing is possible. At this time, since the first and second plate-like portions 16 and 18 are attracted by the permanent magnet 27, the first and second plate-like portions 1 and 18 are attracted.
The positions of the optical paths 6 and 18 can be reliably held so as not to shift.

When the photographing is completed and the lid 19 is closed, the photographer need only extend the main body 12 to the original PC card shape. As a result, the magnets 58 of the opening / closing device 48 attract each other against the urging force of the spring 64 and move in the direction A in FIG. 5, so that the movable cover 19A slides in the direction C in FIG. I do. Thereby, the lid 19 is closed.

As described above, the digital camera 10 of the present invention
Can form an optical system that functions as a camera at the time of shooting, while the main body 12 has a shape that fits into the original PC card size of the PC card. Also, taking lens 2
Since the first plate-shaped portion 16 in which the CCD 0 is provided and the second plate-shaped portion 18 in which the CCD 22 is provided are folded and overlapped, the photographic lens 20 has the optical axis of the main body 12. The optical path length at the time of photographing can be ensured even if it is arranged so as to match the thickness direction. As a result, the optical path length can be increased, so that the photographing lens 20 can be made large and the CCD 22 having a large number of pixels can be employed. Therefore, the quality of a captured image can be improved as compared with a conventional digital camera.

Further, since the lids 19 are provided in the openings 23 and 25, dust and dust can be prevented from entering the optical system, and the CCD 22 can be protected. FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the opening / closing device 48. The opening and closing device 48 includes the first and second plate-shaped portions 16 and 18.
Are provided on both the first and second plate-like portions 16 and 18 in a symmetrical structure with respect to the hinge 14 for connecting the two. The same members as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the fixing cover 19B is omitted for easy understanding of the opening / closing mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 6, one end of a connecting arm 78 is pivotally supported at one corner of the movable lid 19A via a pin 80, and the other end of the connecting arm 78 is connected to a rotating disk via a fixed pin 82. The rotating disk 74 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 74, and the center of the rotating disk 74 is supported by a rotating shaft 72 supported by the main body 12. The other end of an arm 70 having a magnet 58 at one end is pivotally supported on the surface of the rotating disk 74 via a pin 76, and the arm 70 is moved by a pair of guides 61 in the left-right direction in FIG. Will be guided to. Then, the first and second plate portions 16, 1
The magnet 5 at the tip of the arm 70 of the opening / closing device 48 provided at 8
8, the polarity of the facing portion is the same as described with reference to FIG.
One is an N pole and the other is an S pole.
Such a link mechanism is provided with first and second hinges 14 via hinges 14.
Are provided on the plate-like portions 16, 18, so that a pair of opening / closing devices 48, 48 are formed. Further, the movable lid 19A has
One end of the spring 64 is connected, and the other end is supported by a fixing pin 66 fixed to the main body 12. The movable cover 19A is urged by the spring 64 in a direction (arrow B direction) to open the movable cover 19A. Therefore, when the urging force of the spring 64 is smaller than the attraction force of the magnets 58, the opening / closing device 48 moves the rotating disk 74 in the direction D in FIG. The lid 19A moves in the direction C in FIG.
The lid 19 is closed as shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the urging force of the spring 64 is larger than the attraction force between the magnets 58, the movable lid 19A moves in the direction B in FIG. At this time, the rotating disk 70 rotates in the direction E in FIG.

Therefore, even when the opening and closing device 48 is configured as shown in FIG. 6, the lid 19 can be opened and closed in conjunction with the folding operation and the unfolding operation of the main body 12. FIG.
The switch circuit 80 is provided in the opening / closing device 48, and when the contact portion 82 of the switch circuit 80 is in contact with the movable shutter 19A, the switch circuit 80 is turned off, and the contact portion 82 is not in contact with the movable shutter 19A. At the time, the switch circuit 80 is turned on. The shutter opening / closing device is the same as that described with reference to FIG.

Thus, the power of the camera can be turned on only when the shutter 19 is opened and a photograph can be taken. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a second embodiment of a card-size digital camera according to the present invention. In the second embodiment of the present invention, a separately provided lens can be detachably attached to the main body 12.

FIG. 8A shows the first plate-like portion 1 of the main body 12.
8 is a lens unit 86 including a lens 84 having a focal length different from that of the photographing lens 20 provided in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a view showing a state where the lens unit 86 is mounted on the main body 12. Projections 92 are provided at the bottom corners of the lens unit 86 shown in FIG. 8, and holes 94 corresponding to the projections 92 are formed on the main body 12 side. Accordingly, when the lens unit 86 is mounted on the main body 12, the protrusion 92 of the lens unit 86 is
By fitting into the holes 94, the positioning is performed, and the lens units 86 and 90 are prevented from falling off from the main body 12. Further, the lens unit 86 is provided with a permanent magnet 27 so that the first plate-shaped portion 16 can be connected to the second plate-shaped portion 1.
8, the permanent magnet 27 of the first plate portion 16, the permanent magnet 27 of the second plate portion 18, and the permanent magnet 27 of the lens unit 86 are arranged to be attracted to each other when folded at 90 °. Is done. Thereby, the protrusion 92 and the hole 94 are formed.
In addition to the fitting, the attractive force of the magnet 27 is complemented,
The lens unit 86 can be reliably prevented from dropping from the main body 12.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing another aspect of the second embodiment of the card size digital camera of the present invention. FIG. 9A shows a lens unit 90 including a lens having a different focal length from the photographing lens 20 provided on the first plate-shaped portion 16 of the main body 12 and having a built-in strobe 88.
FIG. 9C is a view showing a state in which the lens unit 90 is mounted on the main body 12.

Also in the case of this lens unit 90, a projection 92 is formed at the bottom corner portion of the lens unit 90, and by fitting into a hole 94 formed in the main body 12, positioning and prevention of attachment and detachment are achieved. . As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the case of the type in which the lens units 86 and 90 are mounted on the main body 12, the lid 19 provided in the openings 23 and 25 of the main body 12 It must be opened by the time that the shape 18 is folded 90 °.

According to the second embodiment of the card-size digital camera of the present invention, in the case of normal photographing, the photographing lens 20 provided in the main body 12 is used to photograph a distant place, for example. When shooting at night, the lens units 86 and 90 shown in FIG.
This is done by attaching it to Therefore, in the second embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and a more practical digital camera can be configured.

Although not shown, the lens unit 8
A shutter may also be provided on the individual imaging side of 6, 90 to provide a structure resistant to dust and dust.

[0032]

As described above, according to the card-size digital camera of the present invention, the PC card-shaped main body is composed of two plate-like portions connected by hinge members, and the photographic lens is folded when folded. And the imaging device are superimposed to form an optical path for photography, and the optical path length between the imaging lens and the imaging device can be ensured. Therefore, when the main body is not folded, the entire camera is shaped like a card. It functions as a camera when folded.

Therefore, the entire camera can be formed in a card shape. As a result, since the camera can be stored in a pocket or the like without being bulky, it is easy to carry and the entire camera can be inserted into a card slot of an external information processing device such as a notebook personal computer, so that it does not become a hindrance when carrying a notebook personal computer or the like. . Further, the first plate-like portion and the second
Since the optical path length between the taking lens and the imaging device can be increased by overlapping the plate-shaped portions of the above, it is possible to increase the size of the taking lens or to use an imaging device having a large number of pixels.

As a result, the quality of a captured image can be improved as compared with a conventional digital camera.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first view of a card-size digital camera of the present invention.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are external views illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A illustrates a state when the camera body is not folded, and FIG. 4B illustrates a state when the camera body is folded.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the hinge member of the card-size digital camera of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the digital camera shown in FIG.

4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams illustrating the structure of a shutter, wherein FIG. 4A is a diagram when a lid is closed, and FIG. 4B is a diagram when a lid is opened.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view illustrating an opening / closing mechanism of a lid opening / closing device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view illustrating another opening / closing mechanism of the lid opening / closing device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view in the case where a switch circuit is provided in the lid opening / closing device.

FIG. 8 shows a second example of the card-size digital camera of the present invention.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are external views illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 3A shows a lens unit, and FIG.

FIG. 9 shows a second example of the card-size digital camera of the present invention.
In another example of the embodiment, (a) shows a lens unit, (b) shows a main body to which the lens unit is attached,
(C) is a diagram when the lens unit is attached to the main body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital camera 12 ... Main body 14, 17 ... Hinge member 16 ... 1st plate-shaped part 18 ... 2nd plate-shaped part 19 ... Lid 19A ... Movable lid 19B ... Fixed lid 20 ... Photographing lens 22 ... CCD 24 ... Operation Button 27 Permanent magnet 48 Lid opening / closing device 52 First arm 56 Second arm 58 Magnet of opening / closing device 60 Third arm 70 Arm 74 Rotating disk 86, 90 Lens unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A card-size digital camera which records image data representing a subject image obtained through a photographing lens and an image pickup element on a recording medium in a camera body when a shutter release operation is performed, wherein the camera A PC of a personal computer is composed of a first plate-like portion having the photographing lens therein and a second plate-like portion having the image pickup element provided therein such that an optical axis thereof coincides with a thickness direction of the camera body. The camera body is formed into the same shape as a PC card used by being inserted into a card slot, and the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion are foldably connected by a hinge member. The image data can be transmitted to a personal computer by inserting it into a card slot, and the photographic lens and the image sensor can be connected to each other by folding a first plate portion and a second plate portion of the camera body. With superimposed allows shooting, the digital camera of the card size, characterized in that so as to secure the optical path length at the time of shooting. 2. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said first and second plate portions are held by magnets when said first and second plate portions are folded. A card-size digital camera according to claim 1. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion each have an opening for a photographing optical path, and the opening is provided with a lid that opens in conjunction with the folding operation. The card-sized digital camera according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. A card-size digital camera according to claim 1, wherein a lens unit attachable to said camera body is detachably provided.