JPS6358415A - Photographing lens driving device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve efficiency of operation by providing a zoom switch operating section around a change-over switch operating section. CONSTITUTION:The operating section consists of an annular zoom/focus ring 50 as a zoom switch operating section, an AF mode switch 51 provided inside of the zoom/focus ring 50 and switches autofocusing mode to spot and wide and a hold button 52a as a change-over switch operating section provided inside of the zoom/focus ring and under the AF mode switch 51. When a hold switch 52 is made off, the terminal (a) of an AF circuit 60 becomes L, and an AF motor 61 is driven by output from the AF circuit 60 based on range-finding output of an AF sensor, and automatic focusing is made by a compensator. As the zoom switch operating section is provided around the change-over switch operating section, an operator can operate the change-over switch and zoom switch freely and can execute zooming and focusing easily and quickly.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a photographing lens drive device for a photographing machine such as a video tape recorder (hereinafter abbreviated as VTR) integrated video camera equipped with a zoom function and an autofocus function. Regarding.

<Prior Art> Conventionally, as this type of VTR-integrated video camera, one in which a lens barrel protruding from the camera body is provided with a zoom ring for zooming and a distance adjustment ring for focusing is known. The zoom ring is driven manually or by a motor, and the distance adjustment ring is driven manually or by an autofocus mechanism to adjust the position of the photographic lens consisting of a zoom system and an imaging system.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in the conventional VTR-integrated video camera mentioned above, the protruding length of the lens barrel is usually 1/2 to 1/2 of the length of the camera body.
This causes the problem that the video camera cannot be made sufficiently compact. Another drawback is that the lens barrel, which expands and contracts each time zooming or focusing, can become an unexpected hindrance when photographing, or it can become a hindrance when handling the camera, resulting in inconvenience.

Therefore, in order to eliminate these drawbacks and meet the demand for compactness, the applicant proposes a video camera in which the lens barrel does not protrude as in the past, and the photographing lens is completely built into the camera body. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a photographing lens drive device with excellent operability that is required in this video camera in place of the conventional zoom ring and distance adjustment ring.

In order to achieve the above object, the photographing lens driving device of the present invention is used in a photographing machine equipped with a zoom function and an autofocus function, and is capable of switching between an autofocus mode and a manual focus mode. A selector switch, a zoom switch that changes the focal length, and a power supply that energizes the power zoom motor when in autofocus mode and cuts off energization to the power zoom motor when in manual focus mode, depending on the output of the selector switch. Depending on the output of the zoom circuit and the changeover switch mentioned above, when in autofocus mode, the focus drive device is controlled based on the distance measurement output from the autofocus sensor, and when in manual focus mode, this is controlled by the output of the zoom switch mentioned above. The present invention is characterized in that it includes an autofocus circuit for controlling a focus drive device, and a zoom switch operation section for moving the zoom switch is provided around the changeover switch operation section for moving the changeover switch.

When the selector switch is set to autofocus mode, the power zoom circuit causes the variator to zoom to long focus or short focus depending on whether the zoom switch is switched to long focus or short focus. While the power zoom motor is energized to drive the variator, the autofocus circuit controls the focus drive device including the autofocus motor based on the distance measurement output from the autofocus sensor to move the focus as the variator is driven. The convencator is driven to correct the As a result, until the operator switches the zoom switch to the neutral position, the variator continues zooming to a long focal point or short focal point, and at the same time the convencator continues to correct the focus movement. Next, manually flip the above selector switch.

When switching to al-focus mode, the power zoom circuit cuts off the power to the power zoom motor, and while the variator stops at that position and zooming is locked,
The autofocus circuit controls a focus drive device in response to the zoom switch being switched to a long focus or a short focus, and drives a convencator so that a distant or nearby object is brought into focus. Therefore, the operator:
The zoom switch is held at long focus or short focus until the locked image is in focus, and then returned to the neutral position.

Further, since the zoom switch operation section is provided around the changeover switch operation section, the operator can arbitrarily operate the changeover switch and the zoom switch, and can perform zooming and focusing easily and quickly.

<Example> Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a VTR equipped with a photographing lens drive device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the internal structure of the integrated video camera. In FIG. 1, a lens block 2 fixed to a frame 1 includes a front lens 3, a variator 4, a compensator 5,
A drive device 6 including a PZ (power zoom) motor and an AP (autofocus) motor that drive the variator 4 and the compensator 5 in the optical axis direction, an encoder for detecting the position of the variator 4, and a WB (white balance) light receiver. part 7, AF sensor 8, half prism 9,
An exposure meter 10, a master lens 11, a lens base plate 12 for connecting these parts, and the driving device 6. WB light receiving section? , AF sensor 8. It consists of a flexible lens substrate 13 etc. that controls the exposure meter 10. A CCD 15 soldered to a C0D (charge coupled device) substrate 14 is attached to the rear part of the lens block 2 via a member not shown.
At the rear of the EVF (electronic viewfinder) board 16
EVI'1 is a flat fluorescent display tube soldered to
7 is fixedly arranged on the frame l. moreover,
A video board 19 and a VTR deck 18 are fixed to the frame 1 for processing signals from the C0D 15 and controlling the system for driving the camera.

2 and 3 are external perspective views of the VTR-integrated video camera, in which 20 on the right side when looking at the camera from the rear is a grip that houses the lens block 2, and 21 is a hand attached to this grip 20. A strap 22 is a microphone detachably attached to the front of the upper part of the grip 20; 23 is a slider that moves in the direction of arrow A to protect the lens; 24 is a white diffuser plate located in front of the WB light receiving section 7; 25 is a trigger button provided at the rear of the grip 20.

Also, 26 on the top of the camera is PLAY (playback), FF (fast forward), REW (rewind), 5TOP (stop), PAU
SE (stop at -), RFC (recording), EJECT (cassette eject), MONITOR (video monitor), REC
- Deck control switch that controls the operation of 9 modes of REVIEW (recording check), 27 is an AE (automatic exposure) lock switch that temporarily locks the exposure, 28 is a WB rotary switch that locks the white balance, 2
9 is a date switch that controls on/off imprinting of the date, 30 is a power switch, 31 is a light emitting diode that lights up when the power switch 30 is on, and 32 is an EP/D switch that switches the recording mode between long time and standard time. SP switch, 33 is a liquid crystal display for displaying the deck's operating mode, counter or date, 34 is a mode switch for switching between the counter and date, 35.36 is a memory switch for setting the date, resetting the counter and memory switch. It is a set switch that has all the functions. - Also, 37 on the rear of the top surface of the camera is a diopter adjustment knob for adjusting the diopter of the viewfinder, 38 is a tracking knob for adjusting tracking during playback, and 39 on the left side of the camera is an EJ knob for adjusting the diopter of the viewfinder.
The cassette lid moves in the direction of arrow B when the CT switch is operated, and serves as an entrance/exit for the cassette. 40 is a fade switch that fades out while being pressed and fades in when released; 41 is for enlarging the image of EVF l 7. FM (finder magnification) switch, 42
is a lock button to remove the battery case 43 by pulling it in the direction of arrow C while pushing it. 44 on the back of the camera is an eyepiece, 45 is an eyepiece hood, 46 is an earphone terminal for monitoring audio input and output, and 47 is for driving the tape. A remote control terminal for turning on and off, 48 a DC input terminal, and 49 an AV terminal for inputting and outputting video signals and audio signals.

In the lower part of the front part of the camera in FIG. 2, an operating section of the photographic lens driving device of the present invention is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, this operating section includes a ring-shaped zoom/focus ring 50 as a zoom switch operating section, and is provided inside this zoom/focus ring 50, and is configured to switch autofocusing modes between spot and wide. The AP mode switch 51 to switch to the zoom/focus ring 50
It consists of a hold button 52a as a changeover switch operation section provided below the AP mode switch 51 inside the AP mode switch 51. FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal cross section of the operation section, and the AP mode switch 51 is connected to an AF mode knob 51a protruding from the front plate 55 and a slide switch 51b that fits into the lower end of the knob and is soldered to the zoom board 53. Become, AF
In conjunction with the movement of the mode knob 51a, the hold button 52a is moved to the zoom board 53 so that it can come into contact with the lower end of the hold button 52a.
Together with the soldered button-on/button-off switch 52b, the hold switch 52 is configured as a changeover switch for switching between autofocus mode and manual focus mode. When this hold switch 52 is off, the camera is in autofocus mode, and when it is on, it is in manual focus mode. The upper zoom/focus ring 50 functions as a zoom switch in the autofocus mode, and when rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
E), if you rotate it in the direction of arrow E, it will move to the short focal length side (WID).
It has a two-stage switch structure so that zooming is performed respectively in E), and high-speed zooming can be performed to the long focus side or short focus side by rotating the lens further. In addition, this zoom/focus ring 50 functions as a focus switch in the manual focus mode described in 1.
Alternatively, focusing is performed on a subject that is near (NEAR).

FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the operation section, and shows the zoom/
The focus ring 50 is a ring-shaped protrusion 5 of the cover 54.
A brush 56 with three legs is fixed to the tip of a bar 50a which is rotatably held between the bar 4a and the front plate 55 and attached to the inner periphery, and two protrusions 50b and 50c are attached to the inner periphery.
is provided.

On the other hand, the front plate 55 is provided with holes 55a and 55b for the AF mode knob 51a and the hold button 52a, as well as three bosses 55C and 55C with screw holes.
e is provided protruding from the inner surface, and a tapping screw is screwed into this screw hole from the back side of the cover 54 to fix it.

After the zoom/focus ring 50 is sandwiched between the cover 54 and the front plate 55 and fixed with three tapping screws, the center boss 55c of the front plate 55 is connected to the zoom/focus ring through the opening on the back side of the ring-shaped protrusion 54a. 50 protrusions 5
As shown in FIG. 7, coil springs 57 are stretched between 0b and 50c, respectively. As shown in FIG.
0b is turned by the operator's hand until it comes into contact with the boss 55e, and can be rotated 20 times clockwise or counterclockwise. When the operator releases the hand, it is balanced by the coil springs 57, 57 and returns to the neutral position shown in the figure. To position. Further, a pattern 53a as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 is formed on the zoom substrate 53 so as to face the brush 56 of the zoom/focus ring 50.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the electric circuit of the lens operation section. In the figure, the pattern 53a has three concentric patterns with different radii.
The outer arc part has an angle of 12θ to -0 and θ to 2θ, and the middle arc part has an angle of 12θ to 2θ.
The inner circular arc portions are each provided at an angle of 12θ to 2θ with a space of approximately 2 mm in the center. The outer arc portion is connected to an input terminal a of a motor driver 58, and when this terminal a becomes I(), a PZ (power zoom) motor 59 is driven at high speed.

The middle 7 arcuate portions are connected to the power supply Vcc. Further, the left side of the inner circular arc part is connected to the E terminal of the motor driver 58 through the analog gate 62, and directly to the FAR terminals of the A and F (autofocus) circuits 60 without going through the analog gate 62. It is connected. On the other hand, the right side of the inner circular arc portion is connected to the WIDE terminal C of the motor driver 58 via the analog gate 62', and directly to the NEAR terminal C of the AP circuit 60 without passing through the analog gate 62'. And motor driver 5
When the terminal of 8 becomes
When the Z motor 59 is energized and the terminal C becomes T,
Electricity is supplied to the PZ motor 59 to drive the variator 4 to zoom WIDE. The control terminals of the analog gates 62, 62' and the terminal a of the AF' circuit 60 are grounded via a resistor and connected to Vcc via a hold switch 52. When the terminal a of the A1 circuit 60 is H, the AF drives the compensator 5 so that the distant subject is in focus (F'AR).
(Autofocus) When the motor 61 is energized and the terminal C becomes l(,
EAR) AF' motor 61 that drives the convencator 5
is now energized. On the other hand, when the terminal ah<L of the AP circuit 60, the A1 circuit 60 connects the AF' sensor 8 (
AF motor 61 based on the distance measurement output from
The compensator 5 is moved to automatically focus on the subject.

Figure 2 shows the operation of the photographing lens drive device with the above configuration.
The following will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when the hold switch 52 is off and the zoom/focus ring 50 is not operated and is in the neutral position, the brush 56 is in the position shown in FIG. 8, so both terminals S and C of the motor driver 58 become oven. The PZ motor 59 does not move, the variator 4 remains stopped, and no zooming is performed. However, since the bold switch 52 is off, the terminal a of the AP circuit 60 becomes L, and the AF motor 61
is driven by the output from the A1 circuit 60 based on the distance measurement output of the AF sensor, and automatic focusing is performed by the compensator 5. Next, when the zoom/focus ring 50 is rotated counterclockwise (see the arrow in FIG. 2) at an angle of θ or less, the brush 56 moves and the pattern 5
Connecting the middle arc part of 3a and the inner arc part on the left side, the output of the analog gate 62 becomes H, the terminal of the motor driver 58 becomes H, the PZ motor 59 is energized and drives the variator 4, and the At the same time, since the terminal a of the AP circuit 60 is the oven, automatic focusing is performed by the compensator 5 in the same way as described above. When the zoom/focus ring 50 is further rotated, the middle arc part of the pattern 53a is connected to the outer arc part by the plan 56, and the terminal a of the motor driver 58 becomes H, so the PZ motor rotates at high speed and zooms up at high speed. will be carried out. Conversely, when the zoom/focus ring 50 is rotated clockwise (see arrow E in FIG. 2), the variator 4 simultaneously zooms toward the WIDE side at normal or high speed.
Automatic focusing is performed by the compensator 5. Therefore, while the operator is rotating the zoom/focus ring 50, automatic focusing is continued simultaneously with zooming to the long focus side or short focus side.

Next, when the hold switch 52 is turned on, the analog gates 62 and 62° are cut off, terminals S and C of the motor driver 58 become ovens, the PZ motor 59 stops, and the variator 4 stops at that position. While zooming is locked, terminal a of the AP circuit 60 becomes H, so the AF' motor 61 is controlled by the input level of terminals S and C, and when the zoom/focus ring 50 rotates, terminal A becomes H. When the terminal C becomes H, the convencator 5 is driven to the F'AR side, and to the NEAR side. It goes without saying that if the hold switch 52 is turned off again, power zooming and automatic focusing will be performed as described at the beginning.

Further, since the hold switch 52 is provided to protrude inside the annular zoom/focus ring 50, the operator can operate both as desired, and can easily and quickly perform zooming and focusing.

In the embodiment described above, the zoom/focus ring 50 as a zoom switch has a two-stage switch structure to enable high-speed zooming, so it can sufficiently handle fast-moving subjects and ensure reliable photography. Further, since the hold switch 52 as a changeover switch is a push-off switch, zooming lock and manual focusing can be performed reliably.

As shown in FIG. 9, if the width Q of the zoom/focus ring 63 is made wider than that of the zoom/focus ring 50 shown in FIG. 2, the area on which the fingers can rest becomes larger, making it easier to operate. FIG. 10 shows a modification of the zoom/focus ring. The zoom/focus ring 64 is provided with two protrusions 64a and 64b on its outer periphery for hooking fingers, thereby improving operability.

<Effects of the Invention> As is clear from the above description, the photographing lens driving device of the present invention is used in a photographing machine equipped with a zoom function and an autofocus function, and has a changeover switch for switching between an autofocus mode and a manual focus mode. , a zoom switch that changes the focal length, and a power zoom circuit that energizes the power zoom motor when in autofocus mode and cuts off energization to the power zoom motor when in manual focus mode, depending on the output of the changeover switch. According to the output of the changeover switch, when in autofocus mode, the focus drive device is controlled based on the distance measurement output from the autofocus sensor, and when in manual focus mode, the focus drive device is controlled by the output of the zoom switch. A zoom switch operation section for operating the zoom switch is provided around the changeover switch operation section for operating the above-mentioned changeover switch, so that the conventional lens barrel protruding from the main body is In a configuration in which the photographic lens is completely housed within the camera body, the photographic lens is connected to the power zoom circuit, autofocus circuit, and focus drive device via the changeover switch operation section and zoom switch operation section that are close to each other. It can be driven and controlled by the camera to easily and quickly perform zooming and automatic one-manual zooming, which greatly contributes to making the camera more compact.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the internal structure of a VTR-integrated video camera equipped with the photographing lens driving device of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are external perspective views of the VTR-integrated video camera, and FIG. 4 , FIG. 5 is a front view and longitudinal cross-sectional view of the operating section of the photographic lens driving device, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the operating section.
FIG. 7 is a front view showing the internal structure of the operating section, FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the electric circuit of the operating section, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views showing modified examples of the zoom/focus ring. . l...Frame, 2...Lens block, 3...
Front element, 4...variator, 5...convencator,
6... Drive device, 8... AP (autofocus)
Sensor, 13... Lens board, 50... Zoom/focus ring, 51... AP mode switch, 52
...Hold switch, 53...Zoom board, 53
a...Pattern, 54...Cover, 55...Front plate, 56...Brush, 57...Coil spring, 58...
・Motor driver, 59...PZ (power zoom) motor, 60...AF circuit, 61...AF motor, 6
2.62'... Analog gate, 63.64... Zoom/focus ring, 64 a
, 64 b--Protrusion. ill! Figure 7! 191i1U t%Q Figure 8

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) In the photographic lens drive device of a camera equipped with a zoom function and an autofocus function, there is a changeover switch that changes between autofocus mode and manual focus mode, a zoom switch that changes the focal length, and a changeover switch that changes the focal length according to the output of the above changeover switch. , energizes the power zoom motor when in autofocus mode,
In manual focus mode, the power zoom circuit cuts off power to the power zoom motor, and in autofocus mode, the focus drive device is activated based on the distance measurement output from the autofocus sensor. and an autofocus circuit that controls the focus drive device by the output of the zoom switch when in manual focus mode, and an autofocus circuit that controls the focus drive device by the output of the zoom switch when in manual focus mode; A photographic lens driving device characterized by being provided with a zoom switch operation section. (2) The photographing lens driving device according to claim 1, wherein the zoom switch operating section is ring-shaped. (3) The photographic lens driving device according to claim 1, wherein the zoom switch operating section has a wide ring shape. (4) The photographic lens driving device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the zoom switch operating portion is provided with an operating protrusion.