KR100232479B1 - Acceptor structure of lens barrel - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lens shutter zoom camera, in which a zoom lens is located in the lens block (1), and the lens block (1) has a sector gear (15) rotatably engaged with the lens block and the rotatable cam ring (14). Equipped. The cam ring and the sector gear are rotatable at constant axial positions.

The movable finder optical assembly 8 and the movable strobe assembly 9 can be moved in conjunction with the movement of the zoom lens. The zoom lens can be moved between the telephoto position and the wide end position as well as the full lens folded position past the wide angle unit value and the macro or close up position past the telephoto position.

When the camera is in macro mode, the prism P1 is inserted into the finder optics assembly to correct the parallax. The strobe assembly is movable to change its irradiation angle, and the optical wedge 4e is pivoted into the path between the light receiver 4 and the light emitter 3e.

A single cam plate 53 is provided to move the finder assembly and the strobe assembly. The photographing opening portion 22b is selectively closed by the barrier plate 31a when the zoom lens moves to the fully folded position. The light blocking member 210 is provided to block light from entering the imaging optical assembly through the cam grooves 20 and 21. This shading assembly includes a flexible code plate 90 which surrounds the outer periphery of the cam ring 14 and provides positional information relating to the position of the zoom lens.

Description

[Name of invention]

Lens barrel storage structure

[Brief Description of Drawings]

1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a lens shutter type camera having a zoom lens formed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a macro correction optical member forming part of a distance measuring device together with a lens barrel block, a light emitter, a light receiver, and a zoom operation motor forming part of the present invention of FIG.

3 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 along line V-V of FIG.

6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a lens barrel block and two photographing optical lenses formed in accordance with the present invention;

7 is an exploded view of flat cam ring cam grooves used to surround the front and rear lens groups of the imaging optical system of the camera of FIG.

8 is an exploded perspective view of a lens barrel block used in the camera of FIG.

9 is a cross-sectional view showing an optical arrangement for adjusting the focus of the camera when the camera is in macro mode.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged top view of the prism, frame (ie mask) and one receiver lens of the system of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing the assembly of FIG. 10. FIG.

12 is a sectional view of an optical arrangement used for the zoom lens of the two lens groups of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a light emitter and a light receiver of a distance measuring device used in the camera of FIG.

14 is a cross-sectional view of an optical array of a system for adjusting the focus of a subject distance measuring system when the camera is in macro mode.

15 (a) to 17 (a) are vertical cross sectional views of a first embodiment of a finder optical system according to the present invention;

Figure 15 (a) is a side view of the finder optical system when in the wide field of view, at a small magnification position.

FIG. 16 (a) is a plan view of the assembly of FIG. 15 (a) when the camera is in narrow field, large magnification mode.

FIG. 17 (a) is a plan view of the assembly of FIG. 15 when the camera is in the narrow field magnification position in macro mode.

15 (b), 16 (b) and 17 (b) show the aberrations of the respective optical systems of FIGS. 15 (a) and 17 (a), respectively.

18 (a) to 20 (b) are vertical cross-sectional views of a second embodiment of a finder optical system according to the present invention,

18 (a) is a plan view of an optical system when the camera is in wide-field small magnification mode.

19 (a) is a plan view of an optical system when the camera is in narrow field magnification mode.

Figure 20 (a) is a plan view of an optical system when the camera is in narrow field macro scale macro mode.

18 (b), 19 (b) and 20 (b), the finder optical assembly at the respective positions of FIGS. 18 (a), 19 (a) and 20 (a) Each showing aberrations for.

Figure 21 is a plan view of a cam plate that can be attached to the finder block portion and strobe light emitting assembly of the present invention.

22 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XII-XII of FIG.

FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the cam plate of FIG.

24 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 21 with the cam plate removed.

25 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XV-XV of FIG.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 25 showing the finder plate in the first position. FIG.

FIG. 27 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 26, except that the finder plate is shown in the second operating position.

FIG. 28 is a cross sectional view similar to the one of FIG. 26 with the refractive prism actuating plate removed for convenience.

FIG. 29 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 25 shown in the position where the refractive prism actuating plate is inserted.

30 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 29;

31 and 32 are cross-sectional views of the first embodiment of the optical barrier device along a plane perpendicular to the optical axis when the central lens frame opening is in the open position.

FIG. 32 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 31 except for showing the optical barrier device when in the closed position. FIG.

33 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the optical barrier device according to the present invention, similar to that of the first embodiment of the optical barrier device shown in FIG.

FIG. 34 is a sectional view of the optical barrier device of FIG. 33 in the closed position, similar to that of the embodiment of FIG. 32;

35 is an exploded perspective view of the light shielding device positioned adjacent to the lens barrel block.

36 is a perspective view of a shading ring.

37 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 36;

38 is a cross sectional view of a second embodiment of a light shielding ring according to the present invention, similar to the one of FIG. 37;

Figure 39 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) guide apparatus with the cam ring partially cut;

40 is a perspective view of the FPC board guide member of FIG. 39;

Fig. 41 is a sectional view of the mechanical arrangement of the FPC board guide plate with respect to the space formed between the cam ring and the front lens group frame.

42 is a side view of an FPC substrate showing stretching (double dashed line) and strain (solid line).

43 is a side view of a light shielding device used in connection with an FPC substrate.

FIG. 44 is an exploded or schematic view of the code plate showing the functional relationship between the conductive lands on the code plate and the cam (ring and plate) grooves on the cord plate with the lends and cam grooves of the code plate shown on a flat cam ring.

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing the fixed positions located on the code plate and the zoom code on the code of FIG. 44. FIG.

46 is a front view of the operation switches of the camera according to the present invention.

Fig. 47 is a rear view showing a zoom lens operating switch of the camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 48 is a plan view showing additional operation switches of the camera of FIGS. 46 and 47;

49 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the mode changeover switch according to the present invention in a first, non-operational position.

50 is a cross-sectional view of the mode switch and the macro button shown in the second, operating position.

Fig. 51 is a schematic diagram of a telephoto-wide selection switch of the camera of the present invention.

52 is a front view of a finder optical system lens having a plurality of bright frames.

53 (a) is a perspective view of a double wedge shaped prism used in the finder optical system of the present invention.

53 (b) is a plan view of the prism of FIG. 53 (a), and

FIG. 53 (c) is a right side view of the prism of FIG. 53 (a).

Detailed description of the invention

[Background]

[Technical Field]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to a lens shutter type autofocus camera, and more particularly, a zoom lens system is used as a photographing optical system, and a finder optical system and an electronic flash device (strobe) are used for zoom operation of a zoom lens system. The present invention relates to a zoom lens type camera operated in conjunction with the present invention. In other words, the finder optical system and strobe operate in a manner that can cooperate with the zooming of the lens.

This application is related to application number 143,946, filed Jan. 7, 1988, entitled "Zoom Lens Driving System for Lens Shutter Camera", filed on the same date and assigned.

The present invention particularly relates to a barrier mechanism for opening and closing the front of the photographing lens of the camera.

[Background]

In general, in a conventional lens shutter type autofocus camera (i.e., with a shutter between the lenses), it is impossible to change the focal length of the photographing optical system.

Other lens shutter autofocus cameras have a dual focal length system in which one lens is provided to change the focal length and can be selectively inserted into the photographing optical system.

Such a system is equipped with two focal lengths but it is only possible to use two focal lengths, for example wide and telephoto ranges, or for example standard and telephoto ranges.

Such cameras, despite the advantages of double focal length, are unable to cover the range of focal lengths between two extreme focal lengths, or the focal length between wide angle and intermediate telephoto focal lengths.

Under such circumstances, previously, taking pictures using zoom lenses was only possible by using single-lens reflex cameras.

However, since single-lens reflex cameras are much more expensive and heavier than lens shutter cameras, it is not easy for a person unfamiliar with the use of such single-lens reflex cameras freely.

Because these single-lens reflex cameras are heavy and large, travelers and women who want to reduce the weight and volume of their carry-on baggage, although they generally appreciate the high-quality photos taken with these cameras, Tend to hesitate the use of.

Thus, users who hesitate to use a relatively bulky and heavy single-lens reflex camera as described above have only two choices:

That is, (a) select a relatively small, light lens shutter type automatic camera that has not been able to control the focal length of the optical system, or (b) use a dual focal length autofocus camera that can use only two focal lengths. To choose.

In particular, in the prior art of the camera barrier mechanism according to the present invention, the photographing lens of the camera was protected by a removable lens cap in the past, but recently, especially in a lens shutter camera, the lens cap (barrier) in the camera itself Installing it is common practice. Conventionally, the barrier mechanism is known in various structures, but conventionally, a barrier that is mechanically independent of the photographing lens is basically provided in front of the photographing lens, and the barrier is applied in any direction to open and close by a spring force or the like. And the operator opened or closed against this side force. However, in lens shutter type cameras where automation has been pursued to the limit, barriers requiring manual opening and closing operations have room for improvement.

In view of this situation, one main object of the present invention is to provide a compact, lightweight, compact lens shutter camera having a zoom lens that can automatically perform focusing control and electronic flash or strobe control.

Another object of the present invention is to have an additional macro (i.e. close-up) function that can take very large, detailed images; The viewfinder optical system and electronic flash unit provide a lens shutter autofocus camera that is adapted to normal or normal operation (e.g., wide angle, telephoto or standard operation) as well as the zoom operation of the zoom lens in macro mode.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a movable macro correction optical member, which extends the value of the optical base length of a normal photographing method to detect a position when measuring the distance of a subject. It is used in range finders or range finders to allow light to be received on substantially the same area on the sensor.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a camera having a field of view with minimal parallax in macro mode.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a lens by providing a prism in the path of the finder optical system that is selectively movable to refract the field of view right and downward relative to the axis of the imaging optical system when the camera is in macro shooting mode. It is to reduce the parallax of the shutter-type camera.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to move the strobe lamp along the light output in accordance with the operation of the zoom lens.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a distance measuring device for use in an autofocus lens shutter type camera in which an optical wedge is selectively inserted to extend an optical base length between a light emitter and a light receiver having a distance measuring device. To provide.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a finder optical system that operates only one lens to change the field of view.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a lens shutter camera having a light shielding device for minimizing light rays coming into a photographing optical lens system.

It is still further an object of the present invention to provide a lens shutter type camera comprising a strobe device in which an illumination angle varies with the position of the movable zoom lens assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) guided along one side of the cam ring and the zoom lens in an operating state, and to minimize internal reflection from the flexible printed circuit board into the photographic optical assembly. It is to provide a lens shutter-type camera comprising a.

In particular, an object of the present invention relating to a barrier mechanism is to obtain a barrier mechanism that automatically opens and closes a lens driving ring driven by a motor based on the above-described problem of the conventional barrier mechanism. Further, an object of the present invention is to obtain a barrier mechanism capable of automatically opening and closing a barrier using an invasion mechanism, in order to reduce the size in an emergency state.

[Initiation of invention]

The present invention provides a lens shutter type camera having a subject distance measuring device, a photographing optical system driven in response to a measurement amount of a subject distance detected by the distance measuring device, a finder optical system independent from the photographing optical system, and a strobe. To provide.

The photographing optical system according to the present invention has a zoom lens assembly capable of continuously changing the focal length of the optical system; The finder optical system has a variable magnification finder optical lens assembly capable of changing the field of view of the finder lens assembly independent of the photographing optical system, in accordance with a particular focal length of the zoom lens system at some point in time; The zoom lens system and the variable magnification finder optical system are driven by a single zooming motor.

With such a configuration, only the zoom operation and the shutter release operation are made manually, and as a result, a high quality compact automatic camera can be obtained.

The lens shutter type camera used in the present invention is equivalent to or better than a single-lens reflex camera as long as it is combined with a strobe device, thereby providing a highly systematic, easy-to-use and easy-to-use autofocus camera.

The stroboscopic apparatus may be of a type, for example, in which the irradiation angle is fixed, but a variable irradiation angle stroboscopic apparatus capable of changing the irradiation angle according to or in response to the variable focal length of the zoom lens system is preferable.

When the camera is designated in macro mode according to the present invention, the zoom lens system can be partially or completely moved in the direction of the optical axis of the photographing optical system over one extreme range of the focal length.

Another feature of the invention is that the finder optical system includes a variable magnification finder system comprising an optical member capable of changing the field of view, wherein the optical member changes the field of view according to or in response to a particular focal length of the zoom lens system. .

The finder system includes an optical member capable of stacking the finder optical axis toward the optical axis of the photographing optical system to correct the parallax in the macro mode of the camera.

Also in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the stroboscope apparatus is capable of varying the strobe irradiation angle depending on the focal length of the zoom lens system and in connection with or in response to moving or switching the zoom lens (photography lens) system to macro mode. An irradiation angle strobe device is provided.

The subject distance measuring apparatus of the present invention can detect the subject distance by the conventional triangulation principle, and this method ensures accurate detection of the subject distance even when the camera is in the macro mode.

The ranging device includes an optical member capable of refracting the ranging beam in order to optically extend the baseline length of the measuring device in response to moving or switching the zoom lens system to macro mode.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a lens shutter autofocus camera includes a zoom lens that is continuously movable between a wide-angle end position and a telephoto end position.

The lens can be moved to a macro or close-up position beyond the telephoto position. And beyond the range of the wide-angle end position, the photographing lens is completely folded and the lens barriers are movable to a proximal position where the barriers are close to the openings of the lens barrier block.

The viewfinder and strobe irradiation angle of the camera changes as the subject zooms in, as well as when the subject is photographed at close range in macro mode.

Focusing can be controlled automatically in macro mode and in any range of the zoom lens.

The optical wedge is intended to be positioned along the light path of the distance measuring device forming the camera's automatic focusing system.

The prism is pivoted into the optical path of the finder optics system to correct parallax in macro mode.

The cam plate is driven by a single motor and is provided to drive the zoom lens through the cam ring. The cam plate is configured to drive the finder optical system and the strobe light emitting assembly in accordance with the zooming operation of the zoom lens.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a lens shutter type camera having a zoom lens driven by a motor.

Furthermore, the camera is equipped with a finder optical assembly and a device for moving the finder according to the zooming operation of the lens to change the field of view through the finder.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a lens shutter camera having a zoom lens driven by a motor, a movable strobe light emitting assembly having a variable irradiation angle, and a device for moving the strobe assembly according to the zooming operation of the zoom lens. .

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a lens shutter type camera is a zoom lens driven by a motor, a device for driving a zoom lens over a range of a telephoto position for close-up or macro photography, as well as a wide-angle end position and a telephoto position. And a device for continuously driving the zoom lens between and.

The camera includes an autofocus adjusting mechanism having a subject distance measuring device for measuring the distance of the subject from the film surface of the camera by triangulation.

The ranging device includes an optical wedge that is movable in the path between the light emitter and the light receiver to extend the baseline length of the object ranging device when the camera is assigned to the close-up mode.

A rotatable cam ring for accommodating the photographing optical assembly is attached to the zoom lens, and the rotatable gear is positioned in the vicinity of the cam ring.

The cam ring engages the lower end of the optical member and includes a concave portion and an adjacent protrusion in front of the light receiver of the distance measuring device to pivot the optical member against a pressing force of a spring attached to the optical member.

The finder optics assembly and strobe assembly can be positioned in a plurality of positions in response to or in response to the continuous movement of the lens over a myriad of positions.

This is accomplished by using a code plate that determines 13 positions, including telephoto position and wide angle unit value.

In a fifth aspect, the present invention discloses an autofocus camera having a lens that is movable to a macro position.

The camera includes a subject distance measuring device configured as a device for determining a distance of a subject from a film surface in the camera.

The camera also includes an imaging optical system that automatically focuses along the detected subject distance.

The optical system can move to the telephoto position and beyond this telephoto unit to the macro or close-up position.

The object distance measuring apparatus includes an optical member and a device for selectively inserting the optical member into the optical path of the object distance measuring apparatus.

The optical member is located in a frame or mask to which the flexible correction flag is attached and this flag has a second free end at which one pivotally connects to the camera substrate and the correction optical member is positioned.

The cam ring includes a rotatable gear and includes a recess and an adjacent protrusion configured to pivot the flag so as to overcome the pressing force of the spring which continues to press the correction flag to the retracted position away from the light path of the light receiving member of the ranging device.

In another aspect, the invention provides a zoom lens adapted to be positioned within a camera.

The lens includes at least a first lens group and a second lens group, and an apparatus for positioning the photographing optical system of the zoom lens at the wide-angle end position and the telephoto end position.

The zoom lens further includes a device for moving only the first lens group to a position past the telephoto position to provide close-up focusing of the imaging optical system when the camera is in macro mode.

In addition, as another feature of the present invention, a zoom lens that can be positioned in a close-up position past the telephoto position, as well as a wide-angle position, a telephoto position, and a plurality of variable magnification positions between these two extreme positions. A camera is provided.

The camera includes an auto focusing device consisting of a light emitter and a light receiver, wherein the light receiver includes a first area used to detect the position of the subject during auto focus adjustment for all lens positions except the macro position, and a first area. And a second area proximate to the area and including a device for detecting the position of the subject when the camera focuses the macro. These two regions may be the same or may overlap.

The camera may be composed of a zoom lens capable of moving between a wide-angle end position and a telephoto position, a plurality of variable magnification positions between these two positions, as well as a focusing position positioned beyond the telephoto unit value.

The camera includes a device for measuring a subject distance from a film surface of a camera including a light receiver and a light emitter.

The optical member may be selectively positioned in an optical path between the light receiver and the light emitter, and a motor is provided for driving the lens.

An apparatus is provided for driving connecting the motor to the lens and for placing the optical member between the light emitter and the light receiver when the lens is moved to the close-up position or the macro focusing position.

The lens shutter-type camera includes a photographing optical system having a zoom function and a macro function, and includes a first lens group having a negative refractive index composed of a positive lens and a negative lens, a second lens group including a negative lens, and a positive refractive index. And an independent finder optical system composed of a third lens group having a lens and a prism selectively fitted in an optical path between two lenses of the first lens group.

The prism includes an apparatus for refracting the optical path of the finder optical system toward the optical axis of the photographing optical system when positioned between the lenses of the first lens group.

In still another aspect of the present invention, a finder optical system is provided in a lens shutter type camera having a photographing optical system that can have a macro position.

The finder optical system is independent of the photographing optical system, and is composed of at least one lens and an optical member selectively fitted to the finder optical system when the photographing optical system, that is, the zoom lens, is in macro mode.

The optical member includes an apparatus for correcting parallax by refracting the optical axis of the finder optical system toward the optical axis of the photographing optical system.

A movable cam plate may be provided in this camera, which is driven by a motor.

The cam plate consists of a substantially flat main part, a rack attached to the rear end of the main part and extending downward, and a plurality of grooves in the main part.

These grooves are parallax corrected cam grooves with non-projection sections, forward macro feed sections and macro fixed sections, strobe assembly guide grooves with wide-angle section and variable magnification section and telephoto section, and variable widths with wide-angle section and tele section and variable magnification section. It consists of a lens guide groove.

In another aspect, the lens shutter type camera is composed of a photographing optical system including a zoom lens having a movable variable magnification lens group for changing the focal length of the optical system. An independent finder optical system is provided with a variable magnification lens group for changing the field of view of the finder according to the changing focal length of the zoom lens system. have.

The motor is provided to move the variable magnification lens group of the zoom lens system, and a single cam plate is moved in conjunction with the movement of the zoom lens.

As the cam plate moves, the finder optical system is moved by the first driven pin that is engaged in one groove of the cam plate, and the strobe assembly is moved by the pin that is attached to the strobe assembly and engaged with the second groove of the cam plate.

A lens cap opening device for a lens support frame having an outer periphery, a central opening, and at least one barrier plate selectively covering the opening is provided.

The apparatus includes a movable member located at an outer circumferential opening of the frame, which is in engagement with at least one barrier plate.

A device is provided for selectively moving the member into the frame to cover the opening with at least one barrier plate.

The camera includes a zoom lens that can be moved by a drive motor to a collapsedlens position behind the wide end lens position.

The lens is supported by an outer frame having a central imaging opening, and one or more barrier plates are provided to selectively cover the central opening.

The camera includes a device that moves the barrier plate to cover the opening when the lens is moved to the lens folded position and opens the barrier plate at all other lens positions.

A light shielding device is used for a lens shutter type camera having a cam ring having at least one cam groove.

The cam ring is rotatable at a constant axial position, and the light shielding device includes at least one light blocking member positioned around the cam ring.

The light blocking member covers each cam ring groove and thus includes a device for preventing light from entering the cam ring.

In a lens shutter type camera having a rotatable cam ring at a fixed axial position and at least one movable lens barrel movable along the optical axis of the photographing optical system as the cam ring is rotated, the front end of the cam ring support member and the lens barrel are A light shielding member is provided that is located in a space between the front cover having an opening adapted to move.

A flexible printed circuit board (FPC) is provided in the lens shutter type camera to transmit an operation signal from the camera body to a shutter block attached to the lens barrel movable axially within the camera.

A guide plate for an FPC is provided having a front end having at least one bend and a rear end attached to the camera body with a second bend guide.

The front end of the guide plate is attached to the shutter block.

The lens shutter camera may also include an antireflective device attached to the flexible printed circuit board.

In another aspect of the invention, the lens shutter camera is movable along the axis of the imaging optical system and engaged by at least one lens group within the zoom lens to change the optical distance of the imaging optical system according to the rotational motion of the cam ring. Provided is such a zoom lens photographing optical system having a rotatable cam ring with a cam groove.

The cam ring includes zoom lens position information and includes at least one flexible code plate attached to the ring.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements in the several figures.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

The invention will now be described in more detail below in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate various embodiments and features of the invention.

Descriptions will generally be given according to the following general subheadings:

A: Overall Camera Structure of Lens Shutter Type Camera

B: Range finder, ie rangefinder and its camera macro function

C: Finder Optical System

D: Finder and Strobe Drive

E: barrier, ie lens cap device

F: Light blocking device

G: FPC board guide and reflection prevention mechanism

H: Zoom lens position information detection mechanism

[A. Overall Camera Structure of Lens Shutter Type Camera]

The overall structure of the lens shutter camera according to the present invention is shown well in FIGS.

The lens shutter type camera according to the present invention includes a zoom lens barrel block 1, a finder and stroboscopic block 2 (hereafter referred to as a finder block), a distance measurement, ie AF, a light emitter 3 forming part of the device; A light receiver 4 and a zoom operation motor 5 used for zoom operation of the photographing optical system.

All of these members are fixed to the substrate 6 which forms the non-movable part of the camera body.

The substrate 6 includes a lens barrel support plate portion 6a that lies in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4.

The horizontal support plate portion 6b is provided so as to extend at right angles from the lens barrel support plate portion 6a.

As shown in FIG. 2, in order to support the finder assembly 8 and the strobe assembly 9, the support plate portion 6b extends beyond the side edges of the plate 6a.

The substrate also has motor support plate portions 6c positioned perpendicular to the horizontal support plate portion 6b.

The barrel block 1 is supported on the barrel supporting plate portion 6a, which has a central opening (not shown) for housing the barrel block as shown in FIG.

The zoom operation motor 5 is attached to the motor support plate portion 6c and is located on the center portion of the barrel block 1.

Preferably, only such a single motor (eg a DC motor) is used to drively couple all of the movable members of the system.

The distance measuring device includes a light emitter 3 and a light receiver 4, which are fixed to the horizontal support plate portion 6b of the substrate 6 and located opposite to the zooming motor 5. (See FIGS. 2 and 3).

The finder block 2 is fixed to the right portion of the horizontal support plate portion 6b when viewed from the front of the camera as shown in FIG.

The gear row support plate portion 6e is connected to the motor support plate portion 6c through the spacer 6f as best shown in FIG.

The barrel block 1 is operated by the zoom operation motor 5, the structure of which will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS.

The rear fixing plate 11 is mounted to the lens barrel support plate 6a by a fastening screw 10 as best shown in FIG.

The rear fixing plate 11 includes four guide rods 12 attached through the holes in the rear portion of the guide plate, which guide rods are located parallel to this axis around the optical axis of the imaging optical system. .

The front fixing plate 13 is fixed to the front end of the guide rods 12; These guide rods and the plates are the fastening members of the lens barrel block 1.

The rotatable cam ring 14 is located between the front fixing plate 13 and the rear fixing plate 11; The sector gear 15 is provided around a substantial portion of the outer circumference of the cam ring 14 (but preferably not the entire 360 °); This gear can be attached to the cam ring with a conventional device, for example screws 15a, as shown in FIG. 6; This gear is directly or indirectly with the first pinion 7 (FIG. 1) positioned between the gear train support plate 6e and the motor support plate part 6c, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 (partially). It is intended to interlock.

The gear 15 may be a sector gear covering a predetermined range of the rotational motion of the cam ring 14.

The rotary recess 44a and the cam surface 44 are provided adjacent to each other on the flat surface portion of the gear.

The cam ring is provided with zoom actuating cam grooves 20 and 21 (see FIG. 7) used to engage the front and rear lens groups, respectively.

7 is a schematic or exploded view of the zoom actuating cam grooves 20 and 21 of the ring 14.

The cam groove 21 engaged with the rear lens group has a wide-angle end fixed section 21a, a variable magnification section 21b inclined upward from the portion 21a (as shown in FIG. 7), and a telephoto end fixed section ( 21c).

The cam groove 20 used for the front lens group is the barrier block 30 opening / closing section 20a, lens contraction section 20b, wide-angle end fixing section 20c, light magnification section 20d, telephoto end fixing section 20e. ), The macro switching section 20f, and the macro stage fixed section 20g.

When the term "macro" is used herein, it refers to the "close-up" imaging of the camera. Previously, the term "macro" has sometimes been used to mean "greater than full-scale", but the term "macro" will be used herein as synonymous with "close-up", and when used herein, If you do not indicate the opposite of it, it is used with that meaning.

The total angle θ ₁ of the rotational displacement of the cam ring opening / closing section 20a, the lens contraction section 20b, and the wide-angle end fixing end 20c of the zoom-operating cam groove 20 is fixed to the wide-angle end fixing of the zoom-operating cam groove 21. It is equal to the angle θ ₁ of the section 21a.

The angle θ ₁ of the variable magnification section 20d of the zoom operation cam groove 20 is equal to the angle θ ₁ of the variable magnification section 21b of the zoom operation cam groove 21.

Further, the telephoto end total angle (θ ₃₎ of the fixed section (20e), the macro-stage fixed intervals (20g), and macro conversion section (20f) are the same and each (θ ₃₎ of the telephoto end fixed section (21c).

In the illustrated embodiment, the zoom operating range is between about 35 mm and about 70 mm.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the roller 17 is located in the zooming cam groove 20; This roller is attached to the front lens group frame 16.

The roller 19 of the rear lens group frame 18 is located in the zooming cam groove 21, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG.

The front lens group frame 16 and the rear lens group frame 18 are movably guided by the guide rods 12, and the exterior frame 22 and the shutter block 23 are, of course, not only the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6. As best shown in the exploded view of FIG. 8, it is fixed to the front lens group frame 16 via screws 22a.

The front lens frame 24 supporting the front lens group L1 is engaged with the shutter block 23 through the spiral 25 shown in FIG.

Since the front lens frame 24 includes an arm 24a that engages with the lens transfer lever 23a of the shutter block 23 (see FIG. 6), the raise lens 23a is the front lens frame 24. When rotating in the circumferential direction to rotate the front lens frame 24 will move along the direction of the optical axis of the imaging optical system with the guidance of the spiral body 25.

The rear lens group L2 is directly attached to the rear lens group frame 18 as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, one preferred form of lens groups L1 and L2 is disclosed in US Patent Application No. 935,982, filed November 28, 1986.

The structure of the shutter block 23 is originally known.

The shutter block rotates the lens transfer lever 23a at a predetermined angular displacement through a pulse motor, as described later, in accordance with the detection signal received by the distance measuring device shutter shutter block. The shutter sector 23b, which is engaged in the body and has been closed for a predetermined time, is opened, and thereafter, after the shutter is closed again, the lens transfer lever 23a is returned to its original position.

This type of shutter block is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 60-235,126, filed November 21, 1985.

The camera of the present invention uses such a shutter block in the basic manner disclosed therein.

As is apparent from the above configuration, when the cam ring 14 is rotated through the zoom operation motor 5, the outer frame 22 (front lens group frame 16) and The rear lens group frame 18 is moved in the optical axis direction and zooming is performed. The outer frame 22 is further linearly displaced from the last photographable position to the further folded position by the rotation of the lens folding section 20b of the zoom operation cam groove 20, and the optical axis in the unused state. The direction length is further shortened.

The finder block 2 includes a finder device 8 and a strobe device 9.

The finder device and the strobe device are respectively adapted to change the intensity of the finder field of view and the irradiation angle, that is, the strobe, in accordance with the change in the focal length of the lens barrel block 1.

The zoom motor 5 is used as a power source for both finder control and strobe control; Only one motor is used for it.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sector gear 15 of the cam ring 14 is engaged with the second pinion 50 different from the first pinion 7 mentioned above.

The shaft 51 to which the second pinion 50 is attached extends backward toward the rear portion of the substrate 6 and has a reduction gear train 52 adjacent to the rear end of the shaft.

The reduction gear train includes a final gear 52a engaged with the rack 53a of the movable cam plate 53.

This generally flat cam plate 53 is slidable in the lateral direction as shown in FIG. 1 and includes a downward bend 53b at its rear end as best shown in FIG. .

The rack 53a is formed on the lower end of the bent portion 53b of the cam plate 53.

The reduction gear train 52 is configured to decelerate and rotate the gear 15 to restrain or restrict the lateral movement of the cam plate 53.

The cam plate is provided with a variable magnification cam groove 55 for guiding the finder device 8, a parallax correction cam groove 56, and a stroboscopic cam groove 57 for guiding the stroboscope device 9.

The lens system used for the finder optical assembly 8 consists essentially of the subject side lens group L3, the eyepiece group L4, and the movable variable magnification lens group L5. It has the refractive prism P1 used when it puts in close-up mode.

The variable magnification lens group L5 causes the screen to be changed according to the variable magnification operation of the barrel block 1 to coincide with the field of view of the finder device 8.

The refraction prism P1 enters the optical path of the finder lens system only in the macro mode to adjust the parallax that occurs in the macro mode.

More specifically, the inevitably occurring parallax when using a lens shutter type camera increases as the subject gets closer to the camera, and thus a large parallax generally occurs in the macro mode.

In order to solve this problem and reduce large parallax that may occur in the macro mode, the refractive prism P1 is provided in a wedge shape having a thick lower end and a thin upper end.

The refraction prism P1 refracts light rays downward to photograph a subject positioned extremely close to the camera when it is located along the optical axis of the finder optical system.

FIG. 28 shows an optical path of light rays when the refractive prism P1 is positioned along the optical axis of the camera.

As described below, the wedge prism used is preferably selected as a double wedge prism, which is clearly shown in FIGS. 53 (a), 53 (b) and 53 (c), The width changes in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

Such a prism refracts the rays downward and right so that they move in alignment with the photographic optic axis.

The stroboscopic apparatus 9 constrains or restricts the irradiation angle when the focal length of the photographing lens is large, that is, when the zoom lens is moved forward; The strobe device 9 is also moved to increase the irradiation angle in the macro mode to reduce the amount of light reaching the subject.

In the illustrated embodiment, the stroboscope 9 comprises a fixed Fresnel lens L6, a movable concave reflector 59, and a xenon lamp 58 which can be moved along the optical axis of the strobe. It is included.

Optionally, a simple strobe can be used when the irradiation angle is fixed. Although such a stroboscopic structure is possible, it is preferable to move the lamp in the optical axis direction in accordance with the movement of the zoom lens in order to optimize the amount of light given to the subject at the time of photographing, depending on the position where the zoom optical system of the zoom lens is located.

[B. Distance measuring device, ie range finder and camera macro function]

Prior to explaining the relationship between the detailed configuration of the distance measuring device of the present invention and the macro function of the camera, the relationship between the distance from the subject to the zoom lens of the two lens groups and the displacement or forward movement of the zoom lens will be described first.

12 shows a relatively simple structure for the zoom lens of the two lens groups. In such a structure, the subject distance and the displacement of the zoom lens have the following relationship:

Where U is the distance from the film plane to the subject;

f1 is a focal length of the first lens group;

X is the displacement of the zoom lens;

HH is the principal point distance;

Δ is the distance between the focus of the first lens group and the focus of the zoom lens of the second lens group.

From equation (1), it can be calculated as follows:

FIG. 13 shows the relationship between the subject distance U and the positional deviation t on the position detecting member 4a, which is a distance from the film surface to the subject based on the principle of triangulation. Form part of the distance measuring device that detects.

Triangulation type distance measuring device includes a light emitter (3) having a light source (3a) and a light emitting lens (3b); And a light receiver 4 having a light receiving lens 4b and a position detecting member 4a, for example, a photosensitive sensor (hereinafter referred to as PSD).

The light rays emitted from the light source 3a are reflected by the subject, and the light rays reflected therefrom are received by the position detection sensor 4a to detect the distance of the subject from the film surface F. As shown in FIG.

The deviation t from the reference point of the image on the position sensor 4a, which is expressed as the position on the subject at an infinite distance to the distance U from the film surface F of the subject, is given by the following equation:

Where L is the baseline length of the distance measuring device;

f is the focal length of the light receiving lens; And

d is the distance between the film surface F and the focal plane of the light receiving lens.

The deviation t can be detected by the current, that is, the output of the position detection sensor 4a in accordance with the amount of light received by the position detection sensor 4a in a known manner.

The photographing optical system of the camera is adjusted based on equations (2) and (3) to form an image on the focus of the image plane according to the output signal of the position detection sensor 4a, i. Adjustment can be made.

The operation or drive of the imaging optical system is mentioned above.

In order to perform the macro function of the camera, it is necessary to move the measurement range of the subject distance by the distance measuring device toward the near subject distance.

In macro mode, it is well known that the imaging optical system is partially or completely displaced from the standard position towards the subject.

In the embodiment of Fig. 12, the first lens group of the photographing lens is moved forward to a predetermined displacement toward the subject in the macro mode, which is independent of the displacement made by the autofocus control device during normal photographing.

14 shows one mechanism for converting the measurement range of the object distance in the macro mode according to the present invention.

In Fig. 14, a conventional prism P having a vertex angle δ is inserted in front of the light receiving lens 4b to move the measurement range of the subject distance toward the photographed subject.

In other words, the zoom lens camera system uses a pivotable prism or wedge positioned in front of the light receiver 4.

For example, assuming that the vertex angle and refractive index of the prism P are δ and n, respectively, the deviation t1 of the image on the position detection sensor 4a with respect to the object distance U1 can be obtained as follows:

First, the incident angle α of the rays on the plane of the prism P proximate to the subject is determined by the following equation:

The refractive angle β of the light rays incident on the prism P having the vertex angle δ at the incident angle α is determined by the following equation.

Therefore γ = α-δ-β

Therefore, the deviation t1 of the image on the position detection sensor 4a will be determined by t1 = f × tanγ.

The subject distance Unm1 obtained when a light ray coinciding with the optical axis of the light receiving lens 4b intersects the optical axis of the light emitting lens 3b is determined as follows, ignoring the thickness of the prism P:

Umf1 = L / tan {sin-1 (n sin δ) -δ} + f + d.

In one example, the inventors of the present application computed the values of U, U1, t, t1, and t-t1 for a camera with a photographic optical system that includes two lens groups of zoom lenses, where f1 That is, the focal length of the first group is 24.68 mm; HH, i.e., tavern distance is 7.02 mm; Δ, that is, the distance between the focus of the first lens group and the focus of the zoom lens is 30.04 mm; d, i.e., the distance between the film surface and the focal plane of the light receiving lens is 6.292 mm; The displacement of the first group in the macro setting is 0.5502 mm; L, that is, the baseline length of the distance measuring device is 30 mm; f, that is, the focal length of the light receiving lens is 20 mm; δ, that is, the vertex angle of the prism P is 2.826 °; n, that is, the refractive index of the prism P is 1.483; The measurable distance ranges from 0.973m to infinity; The number of steps of the forward movement of the zoom lens is 18 so that the range of 0.973 m to 6 m is divided into 17 forward movement steps of the zoom lens.

The results of these calculations are shown in Table 1 below.

In these calculations, the distance range of 0.973 m-6 m is transitioned to the range of 0.580 m-1.120 m.

In Table 1 below, steps 17-18 indicate transition points at which step 17 is changed to step 18; Similarly, step 0-1 represents the transition point between 0 and the first step.

TABLE 1

As can be seen from Table 1, as a result of the correction by the prism P, an image deviation of 0.027 mm occurs in the position detection sensor 4a at both ends of the measurement range of the measurable subject distance.

Such a deviation substantially coincides with approximately one step in the number of steps of feeding the zoom lens.

Therefore, it is impossible to move the photographing lens to the correct focus by directly controlling the displacement of the photographing optical system in response to the output of the position detecting sensor 4a, resulting in a state of "out of focus." .

In other words, since the rate of change of the image deviation t1 on the position detection sensor 4a with respect to the subject distance U1 cannot be changed by the prism P, only the prism P is used to completely correct the deviation of the image. It is impossible to do.

Prism begins to correct image deviations, but cannot do so alone.

In view of such results, since the reduction amounts of the deviations t and t1 between steps 17-18 and 0-1 are 0.5334 mm and 0.4794 mm, respectively, the ratios of the steps t-1 and 0-1 and step 1-1 are reduced. Multiply it by 1.1130 (0.5334 divided by 0.4794) equal to the change in deviation t from step 0-1 to step 17-18 divided by the change in deviation t1 between steps 17-18. The inventors have found that a complete correction of such deviation can be achieved if the proportion of the deviation t1 is adjusted.

To this end, in the present invention, the macro mode correction optical member is used to optically extend the base line length between the light emitter and the light receiver of the ranging optical system, and to cross the optical axis of the light emitter and the optical axis of the light receiver as a finite distance. Only when the camera is in macro mode is it selectively moved to the front of the ranging optics.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, an actuation mechanism is provided to move the macro correction optical member to the front of the receiver in relation to switching or moving the photographing optical system, i.e., the zoom lens from the normal photographing mode to the macro mode. This will be described in detail later.

9 shows the optical arrangement of the distance measuring device when the autofocus camera of the present invention is in the macro mode.

In this figure, the macro correction member 4e is composed of not only an optical wedge of FIG. 14 but a prism 4c and a mask or frame 4d.

The member 4e is moved forward of the light receiving lens 4b of the ranging apparatus when the camera is set to the macro mode.

In the normal photographing mode, the member 4e is retracted away from the optical axis of the light receiving lens 4b.

Prior to explaining the mechanical structure for operating the correction member 4e, the actual structure of the macro correction member 4e and the reason why the measurement accuracy is improved or increased in the macro mode will be described in detail.

The member includes a prism 4c adapted to optically extend the baseline length of the ranging device and to refracting incident light.

10 shows the prism 4c, the mask 4d, and the light receiving lens 4b in detail.

11 is a front view of FIG. 10; These two figures show how the mask or frame 4d can block light rays off the optical path approaching the prism.

The mask 4d includes a front opening 4f (refer to FIG. 10) in front of a frame in which the front opening 4f, which is generally shown in the shape of a rectangular elongated slot, is located very close to the subject. It is included in the frame or mask side close to 4b).

The opening 4f has a slit shape spaced apart from the optical axis 0 of the light receiving lens 4b by a distance l measured from the light emitting lens 3b to the opposite side of the optical axis.

The rear opening 4g also has an elongated slit shape which is located along the optical axis 0 of the light receiving lens 4b.

With the mask 4d, when the prism 4c is moved forward of the light receiving lens 4b, that is, when the camera is in macro mode, the first lens group of the photographing lens is in the normal shooting mode by the auto focusing device. Regardless of the displacement of the lens, it is forwarded by a certain displacement.

As best shown in Figs. 9 and 10, when the prism 4c is positioned in front of the light receiving lens 4b, the measurement range of the object distance can be shifted to the macro mode range.

Since the prism 4c moves parallel light rays to a place separated by the displacement L in the direction of the base length, the base length L can be optically extended to the length L + L.

If the angle and refractive index of the prism 4c are δ ₁ and n, respectively, and the parallel movement of the light beam by the prism 4c is represented by the length l, as shown on the position detecting member 4a with respect to the object distance U2 The deviation t2 of the image of can be obtained as described below.

The incident angle α1 of the light beam with respect to the plane of the prism 4c adjacent to the subject is given by the following equation:

α ₁ = tan ⁻¹ {(L + ℓ) / (U ₁ -fd)} + δ ₁

This equation indicates that the base line length of the triangulation distance measuring device extends from L to L + L by insertion of the prism 4c in front of the light receiving lens 4b.

The refraction angle β1 of the light beam incident on the prism having the angle δ ₁ at the incident angle α1 is calculated according to the following equation:

β ₁ = α ₁ -δ ₁ + sin- ¹ [n sin {δ ₁ -sin (α ₁ / n}],

Therefore, γ ₁ = α ₁ -δ ₁ -β ₁ .

Therefore, the deviation t ₂ of the image on the position detection sensor 4a is f × tanγ1,

That is, t ₂ = fx tan γ ₁ .

The object distance Umf ₂ obtained when a light ray coinciding with the optical axis of the light receiving lens 4b intersects with the optical axis of the light emitting lens 3b is calculated by using the following equation if the thickness of the prism 4c is ignored.

Umf ₂ = (L + L) / tan {sin- ¹ (nx sinδ ₁ ) -δ ₁ } + f + d.

Table 2 below shows the calculation results, in which the distance measuring device of FIGS. 10 and 11 is applied to a photographing lens that satisfies the same basic conditions as mentioned for the embodiment of FIG.

That is, the conditions are as follows.

(a) the photographing lens is a group 2 lens;

(b) f1, ie the focal length of the first group is 24,68 mm;

(c) HH, i.e. tavern distance is 7.02 mm;

(d) Δ, i.e., the distance between the focal length of the first lens group and the focal length of the Zoomlems is 30.04 mm;

(e) d, that is, the distance between the film surface and the focal plane of the light receiving lens is 6.292 mm;

(f) the displacement of the first lens group in the macro setting is 0.5502 mm;

(g) L, ie the baseline length of the distance measuring device is 30 mm;

(h) f, that is, the focal length of the light receiving lens is 20 mm;

(i) δ ₁ , ie the angle of prism 4c is 3.39 °;

(j) n, that is, the refractive index of the prism 4c is 1.483;

(k) 1, i.e., the distance representing the translational displacement of the rays, is 3.39 mm;

(l) The range of measurable subject distance is from 0.973m to infinity;

(m) the number of steps of the forward movement of the zoom lens is 18;

(n) the range of 0.973 m to 6 m is divided into 17 steps; And

(o) The shooting range from 0.973m to 6m is shifted from 0.580m to 1.020m.

TABLE 2

It will be clearly understood that the deviation of the images on the position sensor 4a at various steps between the normal shooting mode and the macro mode is within +/- 0.0001 mm from Table 2.

This is indicated by the value of the last column in table 2 (t2-t).

Therefore, by adjusting the photographing optical system according to the output of the position detection sensor 4a, an image can be almost completely formed at the focus.

Table 2 shows that the prism 4c can optically extend the baseline length, which is usually 30 mm in normal shooting mode, to be 1.113 times the normal baseline length in macro mode, that is, when the camera is in macro mode, the baseline length is 33.39 mm. Becomes; As a result, the displacement of the position detection sensor 4a can be increased by 1.113 times.

In operation, by operating the above-described shutter unit 23 according to the output signal transmitted by the position detecting sensor 4a, that is, the measurement data, the camera is automatically operated within the zoom operation range, including the macro mode of the camera. To adjust the focus.

Specifically, when the driving pulse is applied to the pulse motor of the shutter unit 23 in accordance with the measurement data received from the detection sensor 4a, the lens operation or the transfer lever 23a, as shown in FIG. 8, With it, the front lens frame 24 is rotated by an angle corresponding to the received driving pulses. As a result of this rotation of the front lens frame 24, the front lens group L1 is moved in the direction of the photographing optical axis through the operation of the spiral 25 so that the focusing adjustment of the photographing lens assembly is made automatically.

The lens barrel block 1 rotates the cam ring 14 when the zoom operation motor 5 is driven.

Rotation of the cam ring 14 causes the roller 17 of the front frame 16 to engage with the macro end position fixing section 20g of the cam groove 20.

That is, the roller moves from the macro switching section 20f of the cam ring 14 to the section 20g so that the front lens group L1 moves further forward to move to the position for the macro mode operation of the camera.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the macrocorrection member 4e pivotally attaches to the substrate 6 of the camera at its proximal end via an axis 41 positioned below the light receiver 4. It is fixed to the free end of the flexible correction flag 42.

The flag 42 is normally supported in a substantially upright position when no external force is applied to the flag, and is elastically deformed even when an external force is applied to the flag.

Further, the protrusion 43 attached to the shaft 41 and having a pointed surface in the opposite direction to the flag may be integrally formed with the flag and attached to the shaft 41 or formed separately from the flag. And may be attached to the shaft 41 at the central hole of the projection.

As shown in FIG. 2, the macro correction member 4e is continuously rotatably pressed by the tension spring 46 to the retracted position which is retracted away from the optical axis of the light receiver 4.

As better shown in FIG. 1 and as shown in FIG. 2, the cam ring 14 always moves the macro correction optical member 4e to the distance measuring device and the optical axis receiver when the cam ring 14 is rotated to the macro setting position. A projection 44 is included on the sector gear 15 (or cam ring) that meshes with the flag projection 43 to move forward of 4).

As shown in FIG. 1, a semi-cylindrical recess 44a (or other recess shape) is provided on the gear 15 adjacent to the cam face or protrusion 44.

This recess is easily provided for pivoting or rotational movement of the flag protrusion 43 as the cam ring rotates. In other words, the recess 44a facilitates the rotational movement of the projection, and is therefore necessary for pivoting or rotating the optical member 4e in front of the light receiver 4 at the position shown by the dotted line in FIG.

Optionally, the ring 14 or gear 15 may be formed with a smaller diameter to provide sufficient pivot space for the protrusion 43.

The cam protrusion 44 causes the macro correction optical member 4e to rotate or move forward through engagement with the protrusion 43. The cam protrusion 44 slightly adjusts the position where the optical member 4e is aligned with the optical axis of the light receiver 4. It is positioned and formed to rotate past.

However, the flat end of the member 4e, which is very close to the support plate 6e attached integrally to the substrate 6, has the shock absorbing nubs or buttons 4g shown in FIGS. Through (as shown in FIG. 2), the left side of the plate 6e is engaged.

Thus, excessive rotational movement of the member 4e made by the protrusion 44 is engaged with the flexible flag 42 and / or the side edges of the plate 6e formed of elastic plastic, rubber, or other elastic material. It is absorbed by the nub 4g.

Thus, when the cam ring 14 moves to the macro setting position, the macro correction optical member 4e automatically adjusts the length of the base line between the light emitter 3 and the light receiver 4 so as to optically extend the base line length of the light receiver 4. It may enter the front position of the receiver which is aligned with the optical axis.

[C. Finder Optical System]

The finder optics system is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 15-20.

The finder optics system is designed to not only change the magnification between the low magnification wide field and the large magnification narrow field according to the zooming operation of the photographing lens system, but also to provide a smaller field of view when the camera is used in macro mode. have.

One of the important features of the present invention is that the finder optical system can be automatically moved in conjunction with both the movement of the photographing lens to the macro setting state and its zoom operation to satisfy all the requirements of the finder system as described above. will be.

Although the conventional finders have a plurality of bright frames with different size of view fields, this is not a satisfactory solution to the above mentioned problems. In other words, only the use of such frames does not minimize parallax in macro mode to the same extent as used in the camera of the present invention.

Under such circumstances, and in accordance with the present invention, a finder device equipped with an improved inverted Galiean Finder is provided for a lens shutter type camera including a zoom lens.

In other words, the finder optical system of the present invention comprises a first lens group having a negative refractive index composed of a positive lens in the form of a fixed lens L3 and a negative lens in the form of a variable magnification lens L5. A second lens group including the negative lens L4-1, which is one lens of the fixed eyepiece group L4, and a lens of a refractive index L4-2, which is the second lens of the fixed eyepiece group L4; And a third lens group including the lens.

The prism P1 is selectively moved between the positive lens L3 and the negative lens L5 of the first lens group in order to refract the light beam toward the optical axis.

The negative lens L5 of the first lens group may be displaced from a position adjacent to the subject to a position adjacent to the photographer's eye in order to change the magnification from the small magnification wide field of view to the large magnification narrow field of view.

The prism P1, which is optionally aligned with the optical axis of the finder optical system, is moved when the photographing optical system is in the macro setting state and when the first group of negative lenses L5 moves along the optical axis to be closest to the photographer's eyes. Reduces parallax

The bright frames shown by dashed lines in FIG. 52 form a photographing range, and the surfaces of the third group of lenses closest to the subject, that is, in FIGS. 15A, 16A, and 17A Figs. 18A, 19A, and 20A are also formed on the left surface A of each of the fixed eyepieces L4-2.

These yellow frames lying on the lens surface A are centered on the autofocusing point (located on the main part of the subject), a large image area frame (for normal photography with a zoom lens), and a smaller parallax correction frame ( Used in macro mode because the image area is slightly narrower).

Furthermore, since the surface B of the second lens group L4-1, which is closest to the photographer's eye, is formed of a translucent material, the virtual image of the bright frame formed of translucent portion is the third lens group L4. It can be seen through the positive lens of -2).

Yellow bright frames are located in front of the fixed eyepiece L4-1, for example, by sputtering; The rear of the eyepiece member L4-1, ie the surface B or r6, may be in the form of a translucent, semi-reflective concave mirror.

Light rays from the bright frames (ie reflected by them) are reflected back by the concave surface R6 to focus on the observer's eye.

The eye perceives the enlarged virtual image of the frames in the far foreground position, which are formed through the optical effect of the lenses L4-1 and L4-2.

Since the first group of negative lenses L5 is movable as mentioned above, the focal length of the photographing optical system can be increased during normal zoom operation so that the magnification can be changed from a small magnification wide field of view to a large magnification narrow field of view. To do this, it moves from a position closer to the subject to a position closer to the photographer's eyes.

When photographing in macro (over-telephoto) mode with a narrow field of view, the prism is inserted between the movable lens (L5) and the fixed lens (L3) to reduce parallax, so that the beam Refract towards the position.

Pivoting or Rotating the Prism P1 for Macro Focusing, As Shown in Figures 16 (a), 17 (a), 19 (a), and 20 (a) To this end, sufficient space is provided to pivot the prism upwards, in order to move the lens L5 by a sufficient distance.

The advantage of this system is that it is not necessary to correct the zooming movement of all the lenses since the zooming of a plurality of lenses or all the lenses is performed only with a single moving lens L5.

This simplifies the structure of the zoom cam because the movement of only a single lens is sufficient to change the magnification of the finder image.

As shown in FIG. 52, a fixed view frame is provided to avoid having to adjust the view.

The two rear eyepiece groups L4-1 and L4-2 containing the frames are fixed, and the curvatures of their respective surfaces are compatible with the image magnification over which the reflected frames span the entire zoom operation of the photographing lens. It is controlled to have a predetermined magnification possible.

The vertex angle of the selectively insertable prism is defined by the composite angle in the horizontal and vertical directions depending on the positions of the finder system and the imaging optical system.

The prism may be a single wedge-shaped prism or may bend the beam downward and downward toward the optical axis of the imaging optical system as shown in FIGS. 53 (a), 53 (b) and 53 (c). It may be a convenient double wedged prism P1.

As shown in FIG. 53, the double wedge-shaped prism P1 extends when viewed from the top in the direction of arrow A (see also FIGS. 53 (a) and 53 (b)), and the photographing optical axis As shown by the arrow B when viewed from the front of the camera, the surface is further extended from left to right as shown in FIG. 53 (a) and 53 (c).

In the illustrated example, the angle θH is 2.8 °, the angle θV is 4.2 °, the angle θV 'is 4.2 °, and the angle θV'.

The wedge-shaped prism is rotatably inserted between the first single convex lens member L3 and the movable single lens member L5.

This allows the finder device to be made compact and the prism can be inserted between these two members.

The view distance and bright frames of the subject's virtual image remain constant over the zooming range of the photographing lens, and parallax correction is provided by moving the prism between the lenses in the macro or close-up mode.

The viewing magnification or size of the bright frame images is kept constant throughout the zoom operation range of the photographing lens as well as the macro setting due to the placement of the bright frames on the fixed lens member L4-2.

The distance between the photographer's eye and the image distance, i.e., the diopter of the finder, is virtually unchanged since the zoomed concave lens member moves beyond the 1x image magnification, i.e., the full size.

In macro or close-up shooting mode, parallax correction uses wedge-shaped prisms between lens members in addition to the use of the marking for the correction frame shown in Fig. 52 (which is a general parallax correction device in the close-focus control method of the viewfinder camera). By positioning.

The edges of the wedge-shaped prism are tinted green to emphasize the frame showing the shooting area in macro or close-up mode.

In theory, the prism may be located in front of the first lens group, but if the prism is so arranged, it may increase the overall size of the finder optical system.

However, the prism cannot be located between the second and third lens groups because when the prism is inserted between them, the position of the bright frame and the virtual image of the subject may change with the movement of the prism. to be.

However, when the prism is retractably inserted between the positive lens and the negative lens of the first lens group as in the case of the present invention, the prism is free from such problems, and the change of the diopter to the virtual image of the subject occurs essentially at all. I never do that.

Some examples of finder optical systems formed in accordance with the present invention will now be described:

Example 1

15 (a), 15 (b), 16 (a), 16 (b), 17 (a) and 17 (b) are views of the finder device formed according to the present invention. Various locations of one embodiment are shown.

Figure 15 (a) shows a finder optical system when a small magnification wide field of view is provided;

Figure 16 (a) shows a finder system when a large magnification narrow field of view is provided;

Figure 17 (a) shows a finder system when a large magnification narrow field of view is provided and in macro mode.

15 (b), 16 (b), and 17 (b) show finder lenses at respective positions of FIGS. 15 (a), 16 (a), and 17 (a), respectively. The aberrations of the system are shown.

The finder optical system includes a single positive lens L3 and a single sub lens L5 forming the first lens group; A single eyepiece lens L4-1 forming a second lens group; And a single eyepiece lens L4-2 forming a third lens group and a prism P1 that can be selectively positioned.

Between these optical members, only a single negative lens L5 is movable along the optical axis direction; Prism P1 is selectively movable to be aligned in alignment with this optical axis; All other lenses remain fixed.

Tables 3 and 4 below show the curvature r, the distance d, and the refractive index Nd of the opposing surfaces of each of the optical members L3, L5, L4-1, L4-2 and P1 (Table 4 only). And Abbe's number (vd).

As shown in Tables 3 and 4, each of the values r, d, Nd and νd is viewed from the side of the single positive lens L3 closest to the subject, i.e. from the left part of the figures or from the left side of the figures. Towards the right side of the field, one of the numbers 1 to 8 and 1 to 10 is designated, respectively.

TABLE 3

TABLE 4

Table 3 shows the lens position when in small magnification (0.38 ×), wide-field and large magnification (0.70 ×), and in narrow-field position, and Table 4 shows the lens position when in macro mode. It is shown.

The vertices of the prism P1 constituting the double wedge prisms used in this mode are, for example, 2.8 ° in the horizontal section and 4.2 ° in the vertical section.

The bright frame forming the photographing range is displayed on the surface A of the single positive lens L4-2 of the third lens group closest to the subject, and the bright frame of the second lens group closest to the photographer's eyes. The surface B of the single negative lens L4-1 is translucent.

As a result, the virtual image of the bright frame displayed on the surface A of the single positive lens L4-2 is formed and reflected on the surface B, and is then enlarged and viewed through the single positive lens L4-2.

Example 2

18 (a) shows a second embodiment of the finder optical system in the wide field of view, the small magnification position; Figure 19 (a) shows this embodiment in narrow field, large magnification position, and Figure 20 (a) shows finder optics assembly in narrow field, magnification, macro mode; 18 (b), 19 (b), and 20 (b) are respectively shown in FIG. 18 (a), 19 (a), and 20 (a), respectively. The aberrations of the finder lens system at different positions are shown.

In the second embodiment of the finder optics, the lens system is discussed in Example 1 as long as the third lens group consists of two lenses forming the positive lenses L4-2 and L4-3. Different from that of the first embodiment.

TABLE 5

TABLE 6

Tables 5 and 6 are diagrams similar to Tables 3 and 4 previously discussed with respect to the first embodiment of the finder optical system, with curvature r and distance d for all members of the second embodiment of the finder lens system. ), Refractive index (Nd), and Abbe's number (νd) are shown.

In Table 5, which shows the wide field of view of the system, the small magnification (0.35 ×) position, and the narrow field of view of the system, the large magnification (0.648 ×) position, and Table 6, which shows the system when in macro mode The vertex angle of the prism P1 is, for example, 3.0 ° in the horizontal direction and 5.0 ° in the vertical direction.

The bright frame defining the photographing range is also formed on the surface A of the third group of positive lenses L4-2, and the surface B of the second group of single negative lenses L4-2 is further defined by the first frame. It is translucent as in the finder system of one embodiment.

As shown in Fig. 17 (a), the finder optical system of the present invention preferably satisfies the following conditions:

(1) 0.3 <dP <0.5;

(2) f1 + <1.8; And

(3) 0.45 <f 3 /LD<0.7;

LD = total length of the finder;

dP = distance between the surface of lens L3 closest to P1 of prism and the surface of lens L5 closest to prism P1;

f1 + = focal length of the positive lens of the first lens group;

F3 = focal length of the third lens group.

These conditions are suitable for allowing the prism P1 to be rotatably inserted between the movable lens L3 of the first lens group and the negative lens L5 of the first lens group, and placed in alignment with the optical axis. It is convenient to minimize the effective diameter of the prism at the time.

Under the first condition, that is, 0.3 <dP <0.5, if the value of dP exceeds its upper limit, the effective diameter of the lens L3 becomes large, making it difficult to provide a compact camera as in the present invention, and vice versa. , if the value of dP is less than 0.3, it is extremely easy to smoothly and easily rotate the prism P1 in alignment with the optical axis at the position between the lenses L3 and L5, so that it can retreat away from the axis. It is based on the fact that it becomes difficult.

The second and third conditions, i.e., f1 + <1.8 and 0.45 <f3 <LD <0.7, are provided to minimize the effective diameter of the prism P1.

The second condition mentioned above generally corresponds to setting and positioning the focal length FR of the lens system which is located behind the prism P1 when the prism is aligned with the finder optical axis. That is, if f1 + exceeds the above-mentioned upper limit value, 1.8, the effective diameter of the prism becomes large, thereby causing difficulty in realizing a compact prism and a finder.

The third condition is basically equivalent to the requirement for the third lens group positioned behind the prism. In other words, if f3 / LD is smaller than the lower limit, 0.45, the tolerance of the system becomes very small.

On the contrary, if the value of f3 / LD exceeds the upper limit, 0.7, the effective diameter of the prism increases.

In the above first and second embodiments, the values of dP, f1 +, and f3 / LD are shown in the table below, and all these values satisfy the above-mentioned first, second and third conditions.

[D. Finder and Stroboscope Drive]

The drive for operating the finder optics assembly 8 and the strobe assembly 9 is best shown in FIGS. 21-30.

A mother plate 60 is attached to a finder block 54 mounted to the substrate 6 via a horizontal support plate extension 6b.

Guide pins 62 are integrally attached to the mother board and fitted into a generally straight guide groove 61 of the cam plate 53.

The cam plate 53 slides in the transverse direction with respect to the optical axis of the camera, and is constrained by the engagement between the guide grooves 61 and the guide pins 62; The guide protrusion or the flange 61a (shown in FIGS. 21 and 22) is integrally formed with the mother plate and the cam plate 53 is from the front of the mother plate, in particular of the cam plate 53 with which the flange engages the cam plate. At the front end, it prevents it from floating or moving away.

The finder base plate 60 includes a variable magnification lens guide groove 63, a refractive prism guide groove 64, and a strobe assembly guide groove 65.

Each of these guide grooves extends parallel to the photographing optical axis of the camera.

The guide protrusion 66A of the finder variable magnification lens frame 60 supporting the finder variable magnification lens group L5 is fitted in the variable magnification lens guide groove 63.

The guide protrusion 67a of the refractive prism operating plate 67 is slidably positioned or fitted in the refractive prism guide groove 64; The guide protrusion 68a of the strobe assembly case 68 to which the concave reflector 59 is attached is fitted in the strobe guide groove 65.

The variable magnification lens frame 66, the refractive prism operating plate 67, and the stroboscopic assembly case 68 move together along each guide groove in a direction parallel to the optical axis.

The guide protrusions 66a, 67a, and 68a are provided with driven pins 69, 70, and 71 fitted into the variable magnification cam groove 55, the parallax correction cam groove 56, and the strobe cam groove 57, respectively.

The sections of the variable magnification cam groove 55, the parallax correction cam groove 56, and the strobe cam groove 57 correspond to the sections of the zoom operation cam horns 20 and 21 of the cam ring 14 shown in FIG.

Specifically, the variable magnification cam groove 55 includes a wide-angle end fixed section 55a, a variable magnification section 55b, and a telephoto end fixed section 55c, each of which has an angle θ ₁ , θ ₂ , θ ₃ ) and the like coincide with similar angles in the cam ring of FIG. 7.

The parallax correction cam groove 56 includes a non-projection section 56a, a projecting movement section 56, that is, a forward transfer section used in the macro mode, and a projecting position fixing section 56c, that is, a macro-step fixing section.

The strobe cam groove 57 includes a wide-angle end fixed section 57a, a variable magnification section 57b, a telephoto end fixed section 57c, a macro feed section 57d, and a macro end fixed section 57e.

The relationship between the cam grooves 55, 56 and 57 and the zoom actuating cam grooves 20 and 21 is best shown in the schematic or plan view of FIG.

Since the variable magnification lens frame 66 supporting the variable magnification lens group L5 is supported to be movable along the guide surface 54a of the finder block 54, the frame 66 is best shown in FIG. As it is hanging from it.

The frame may, for example, be formed of a resin that can slide substantially without friction with respect to the finder block.

When the variable magnification lens frame 66 moves along the variable magnification cam groove 55, the magnification of the finder optical system including the lens group L3, the eyepiece group L4, and the variable magnification lens group L5 is The photographing range over the range in which the lens barrel block 1 moves varies so as to substantially match the field of view of the finder.

Refractive prism operating plate 67 is shown in FIGS. 26-28, which is described in more detail below.

The refractive prism P1 formed of synthetic resin is rotatably supported by the finder block 54 through two opposing prism support pins 74 at the bottom of the prism.

These support pins include torsion springs 75 surrounding them, one end of each spring being supported by a respective position regulating piece 76 provided along the sides of the refraction prism P1, so that the refraction prism ( P1 is continuously pressed to the position where the prism P1 moves to align with the optical axes of the finder lenses L3 to L5 in a straight line.

The positioning piece 76 is located in the arcuate grooves 79 formed in the finder block 54 as best shown in FIGS. 26-28.

The refractive prism operating plate 67 is connected to the finder block 54 and the finder block so that the guide pin 81 positioned on the side of the finder block 54 fits in the linear guide groove 82 of the guide plate 80. It is hold | maintained between the guide plates 80 (refer FIG. 25).

The positioning rests 76 on the prism are constrained by the pivotal bottom 77 and the guide surface 78 of the refractive prism operating plate 67; Furthermore, the prism positioning pieces 76 may be brought into contact with the end face of the groove 79 of the plate 67.

The refraction prism actuating plate 67 is such that when the pin 79 is located in the non-projection section 56a of the parallax correction cam groove 56, the pivot base 77 of the plate is engaged with the position restricting piece 76. The refraction prism is retracted against the pressing of the spring 75 from the optical axis of the lenses L3 to L5 (see FIG. 26) until it is

When the pin 70 moves in the protruding movement section 56b, the guide surface 78 comes into contact with the positioning restraint 76, so that the refractive prism P1 is in a position where it is aligned with the optical axis of the finder optical system. It rotates with the help of the torsion spring 75.

During such operation, the positioning pieces 76 move along the surface on the surface 78 and the refractive prism P1 moves into the light path as shown in FIGS. It is refracted downward by prism P1 as shown by the arrow of FIG.

As a result of this operation, the subject which would have been positioned below the finder optical axis enters the field of view of the camera, and the parallax in the macro mode of the camera is reduced.

As described above, when the double wedge-shaped prism (Fig. 53 (a)) is used to deflect the finder optical system downward (to the right) to the optical axis of the photographing optical system, the parallax is further reduced.

The guide block 85 is provided along the side of the strobe case 68 and, as shown in FIG. 30, is fitted in a straight guide groove 84 parallel to the optical axis of the camera formed in the guide plate 80. have.

Furthermore, the height adjustment pins 86 (see FIGS. 23 and 29) are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the strobe case 68 and are designed to prevent the strobe case from falling downward. The strobe case 68 moves along the strobe cam groove 57 when the cam plate 53 moves in the lateral direction.

The variable magnification section 57b of the strobe cam groove 57 is configured to move the xenon lamp 58 rearward away from the Fresnel lens L6.

The rearward movement of the xenon lamp 58 reduces the irradiation angle of the light beam emitted from the Fresnel lens L6, increasing the guide number as the focal length increases.

On the contrary, in the macro conveyance section 57d, the irradiation angle is increased, and thus the guide number is decreased in the macro mode.

[E. Barrier, that is, lens cap device]

The barrier lens cap device of the present invention is best shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 31-34.

The barrier mechanism 30 of the present invention is a photographing opening with a pair of barriers 31 and 31 pivotally bonded to the pin 32 at the left and right symmetrical positions of the photographing opening 2 of the front lens group support frame 22. (2) to open and close. The pair of barriers 31 and 31 face each other in a symmetrical manner, and the drive arm portion extending to the opposite side of the barrier plate portion 31a in association with the pin 32 and the barrier plate portion 31a protruding on the optical axis. The operating arm portion 34a of the opening / closing spring 34 is engaged with the pin 33 planted with this drive arm portion 31b.

The opening / closing spring 34 is made of, for example, a molded product made of synthetic resin, and has a working arm portion 34a and a spring arm 34b and a driving arm portion 34c forming a Y-shape. It is pivotally joined with a pin 35. The spring arm 34b abuts against the inner wall of the front lens group support frame 22, and normally gives a biasing force in the direction in which the barrier plate portion 31a retracts from the optical path through the actuating arm portion 34a.

The drive arm portion 34c is engaged with the flange portion 36a of the opening / closing pin 36 fitted to the front lens group support frame 22 so as to be movable in the radial direction, and the head portion of the opening / closing pin 36 is And the free end of the operating lever 38 pivotally bonded to the front fixing plate 13 with the pin 37 through the operating hole 39 of the front lens group support frame 22. In the state where the opening / closing pin 36 and the external force are not applied, the spring plate 34b of the opening / closing spring 34 is positioned at the radially protruding end, and the barrier plate portion 31a is evacuated from the optical path. .

Then, when the cam ring 14 is rotated in the opening / closing section 20a of the zooming cam groove 20, the cam ring 14 presses the outer side of the operating lever 38 to move the opening pin 36 to the inner wall of the cam ring 14. Pressing position regulating piece or protrusion 40 is formed.

In the barrier mechanism of the above-described configuration, when the protrusion 40 is not engaged with the operation lever 38, the barrier 31 opens the imaging aperture 2. In other words, the barrier 31 is opened in the image-capable state in which the cam ring 14 positions the roller 17 in addition to the opening / closing section 20a of the zoom operation cam groove 20. On the other hand, by driving the zoom motor 5 by a lock switch (not shown) to rotate the cam ring 14, the roller 17 is opened and closed section 20a from the lens folding section 20b of the zoom operation cam groove 20. ), The projection 40 presses the opening / closing pin 36 radially inwardly through the actuating lever 38, so that the barrier 31 is actuated through the actuating arm portion 34c and the actuating arm portion 34a. It rotates and positions the barrier plate part 31a on an optical path. That is, the imaging aperture 2 is closed to protect the front lens L1. In other words, the front lens group support frame 22 is folded (contracted) at the end position capable of photographing, and then closes the barrier 31.

When shooting, the zoom motor 5 is reversed and the zoom operation cam groove 20 of the cam ring 14 is rotated from the open / close section 20a to the lens folding section 20b side. The lens group L1 moves to the imageable position.

33 and 34 show a second embodiment of the apparatus used for the lens shutter camera according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 33 and FIG. 34, this barrier device 30 is basically the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 31 and FIG.

Specifically, the barrier devices of FIGS. 33 and 34 also include a pair of barriers 31 and 31 which are positioned substantially symmetrically with respect to the photographing opening of the front lens group support frame 22.

The barriers 31 and 31 are pivoted relative to the frame 22 through the pins 32 to open and close the imaging opening 22b.

However, the detailed structure of the barrier device of this embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment.

The barriers 31 and 31 shown in FIGS. 33 and 34 are arranged symmetrically with respect to each other, and the barrier plate portions 31a and the barrier plate portions 31a which can protrude on the photographing optical axis are arranged. Drive arms 31b disposed on opposite sides.

The barriers are pivotally attached to the frame by pins 32.

The drive arms 31b include actuating pins 133 engaged with and in contact with the disconnection spring 134 having the elastic support portions 134a.

The free end of each of the elastic holding portions 134a is each pin 133 so that the barrier plate portion 31a is continuously pressed to an open position in which the photographing opening portion 22b is opened and the barriers are located far from the optical axis and the opening. ).

Thus, when no external force is acting on the barriers at all, they keep the imaging opening in the open position at all times.

The sun spring 134 is made of metal and has a central U-shaped portion 134b for pressing the support pin 135 provided on the front lens group support frame 22.

The sun spring 134 has a constant spring force that does not change with changes in temperature, humidity or other surrounding factors.

Therefore, as a result, it is possible to press the barriers 31 in the direction in which the imaging hole is held in the open position by a substantially constant spring force.

The actuating pins 133 are engaged by the driving free ends 136a of each of the pair of left and right drive arms 136, the arms being spaced apart from each other, the pressing force exerted by the line spring 134. The barriers 31 are opened by overcoming this.

The free ends 136a of the respective drive arms 136 press each inside of each actuating pin 133, which is located far from the outside of the angular pin pressed by one elastic support 134a.

The drive arms 136 are pivoted about the lens support frame 22 through the pins 137.

The drive arms include actuating arm portions 136b located on opposite sides of the drive arms from the free ends 136a and pins 137 provided therebetween to pivot the arms relative to the frame. Thus, the actuating arm portions 136b engage the flange portions 138a of the pin 138 that are radially movable within the openings 39 of the frame 22.

Pin 138 includes a head (not shown) adapted to press the free end of actuating lever 141; The lever is pivoted with respect to the front fixing plate 13 by the pin 140; When the head is pressed down, it may extend through the opening 39 of the frame 22.

The opening and closing pin 138 is maintained at a position protruding outward from the inner circumference of the frame 22 in the normal state, and the opening of the head of the pin 138 by the lever 141 while overcoming the influence of the sun spring 134 Radial movement is possible to the inwardly pressed position via 39.

Thus, when an external force acts on the pin 138, it moves radially inwards against the force of the spring 134 as shown in FIG. 34.

As in the first embodiment, when the cam ring 14 is rotated such that the roller 17 is positioned in the opening / closing section 20a of the zooming cam groove 20, the operating lever 141 (the pin flanges 138a) It is pushed inwardly to engage the working arm portions 136a, and the cam ring 14 has a narrow protrusion attached to the inner circumferential surface of the cam ring along its inner wall.

Other suitable operating structures may be used.

Using the barrier device of such a structure, the barriers 31 open the imaging hole when the positioning piece or the projection 40 is not engaged with the operation lever 141.

Specifically, the barriers 31 are opened when the roller 17 is located in a zooming cam groove section other than the opening and closing groove section 20a. On the contrary, after the roller 17 is positioned in the lens folding section 20b of the zooming cam groove 20 (through the rotational operation of the cam ring 14 operated by the zooming motor 5), the roller ( When the 17 is moved to engage the opening and closing section 20a, the protrusion 40 is moved through the operating lever 141 to rotate the barriers 31 through the driving arms 136 and the operating pins 133. Since the opening pin 138 is pushed in the radially inward direction, the barrier plate portions 31a enter the light path of the lens system.

Under these conditions, the imaging opening is closed to protect the front lens group L1.

That is, after the front lens group support frame 22 is folded from the rearmost position, that is, the wide-angle end position at which the photograph can be taken, the photographing hole is closed by the barriers 31.

When the picture is taken, the zoom-operated motor 5 moves from the position at which the opening / closing section 20a is engaged by the roller 17 so as to open the balance 31. Since it is reversed to rotate the cam ring 14 to the engaged position, the front lens group L1 moves into the position where the picture can be taken.

As described above, the barrier mechanism of the collapsible lens shutter camera of the present invention is provided with a lens opening ring (cam ring) for immersing the photographing lens and a barrier opening / closing section is provided in succession in the lens folding section. By rotating the lens, the lens is folded and the barrier is opened and closed. Thus, the barrier can be opened and closed automatically and the storage size can be reduced. Therefore, miniaturization and automation of the lens shutter camera can be achieved.

[F. Shading Device and Apparatus]

Light blocking devices are best shown in FIGS. 6 and 35-38.

In the lens shutter type camera as mentioned herein, the front and rear lens groups can be moved independently along the photographing optical axis to achieve the zoom operation of the lens.

There is a gap between the front lens group frame 16 and the rear lens group frame 18, and the cam ring 14 includes cam grooves 20 and 21 for activating the movement of the lens frames 16 and 18. Is located on the outer periphery of the lens frames, there is a possibility that undesirable rays enter the imaging optical system through the cam grooves 20 and 21 and the gap between the front and rear lens group frames.

Furthermore, since the front lens group frame 22 moves through the opening 201 (see FIG. 6) of the front lid 200, the light rays can also enter the camera through the opening 201.

The front cover 200 covers the bottom surface of the lens barrel block 1 and supports the strobe block 2 and the lenses L3 and L6 of the finder.

The opening 201 is an inner flange 202 of the front cover 200 such that the movable exterior frame 22 including the front lens group frame 16 can move through the opening 201 when the camera is in a zooming operation. It is formed along

An annular space 203 having a relatively small width W is provided between the inner flange 202 and the front fixing plate 13.

The front fixing plate 13 has a ring shape.

In order to block the light rays entering the camera as described above, a light shielding device is provided.

Specifically, the light shielding device 210, which is composed of a plurality of parts, is provided on the outer circumference of the cam ring 14, and the cam grooves 20 and 21 are blocked in order to block light rays coming into the lens barrel block 1. It is to be completely or continuously covered.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 35, the light shielding device 210 includes a gearing 15, a flexible code plate 90 adjacent to the gear member 15 along one side of the gear member, and a gear member 15. It consists of a light shielding tape 211 extending on the opposite side of the.

In other words, the ring-shaped gear member has a flexible cord plate 90 surrounding the lens barrel block 1 on the cam grooves 20 and 21, and also a flexible and lens barrel block 1 surrounding the cam groove ( It is located between the light-shielding tape 211 covering the 20 and 21.

The code plate 90 detects the angular position of the cam ring 14 so that the change in the focal length of the zoom lens, the change in the F number according to the change in the focal length of the zoom lens, the wide-angle end position of the zoom lens, the telephoto position of the zoom lens, the zoom lens With regard to the folding position, the device for automatically detecting the macro-end position of the zoom lens, that is, the device for detecting the position of the zoom lens, and the device for reading information relating to the position of the zoom lens, to achieve various controls to be described in detail below. Is provided.

The code plate 90 is formed of a flexible material having light blocking properties.

The light shielding tape 211 is also composed of a flexible material having such a property, for example, a dull-finish black paper.

The cord plate and the light shielding (paper) tape are attached to the cylindrical outer surface of the cam ring 14 along opposite sides of the gear member 15 to cover the main portions of the zooming cam grooves 20 and 21.

The gear 15 is superimposed or superimposed on the side edges of the code plate and the light shielding tape, as shown in FIG. 6, to ensure light blocking.

The ring-shaped shading member 220 forming an additional part of the shading device has a front fixing plate 13 and a front cover 200 which rotatably support the front part of the cam ring 14 as best shown in FIG. Is provided in the annular space 203 formed by the space therebetween.

The ring-shaped light shielding member 220 located in the ring-shaped space 203 is composed of a ring-shaped elastic body 221 such as rubber and a ring-shaped reinforcing plate 222, and the light shielding member 220 is It is in the form of a substantially flat ring-shaped ring, as best shown in FIGS. 36 and 37.

Since the thickness W of the light blocking member 220 is slightly smaller than the width W of the annular space 203, the light blocking member 220 moves in the space 203 by a small distance along the direction of the photographing optical axis. Can be.

The elastic body 221 of the light blocking member 220 includes a light blocking lip having a small width along the inner circumference thereof in sliding contact with the outer circumference of the outer frame 220.

The reinforcement plate 222 may be fixed to the elastic body 221, for example, the elastic body 221 is partially embedded in the connection recesses, holes or openings 224 formed in the reinforcing plate 222. By means of which the reinforcing plate is made of metal or synthetic resin, for example.

The inner lip 223 has considerable flexibility so that it can move in any direction in the axial direction of the lens barrel block 1 in which it is located.

Thus, the lip can play a small role in reducing the rebound of the barrier block after it stops moving in the first axial direction.

FIG. 38 shows a second embodiment of the annular ring shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, in which two spaced apart shading ribs 223 (not just one) increase the sunscreen effect. It is formed on the inner circumference of the ring-shaped light blocking member 220 to make.

These ribs are spaced parallel to each other and form a generally annular U-shaped flange which faces inwardly relative to the light shielding member.

The elastic body 221 is used to cover the outer periphery of the reinforcing plate 222 with such a structure.

Optionally, it is possible to replace the ring-shaped light blocking member 220 with a conventional O-ring structure, which is the simplest way to block incoming light into unwanted areas within the camera.

By using such a light shielding device, unnecessary light rays are transmitted through the periphery of the front lens group frame 16 and / or rear lens group frame 18 and also through the front ring-shaped opening between the lens barrel and the camera lid. It does not enter the lens system.

[G. FPC Board Guide and Anti-reflective Device]

FPC substrate guides and their associated antireflective devices are best shown in FIGS. 39-43.

In the lens shutter type camera as in the present invention, it is necessary to supply the operation signals from the body of the camera to the shutter block 23 on the lens barrel block 1.

The shutter block 23 is supported by the support frame 22 of the front lens group L1 and thus moves along the direction of the optical axis together with the front lens group L1.

In response to the outputs of the rangefinder, ie the range finder and, for example, the exposure control device on the camera body, in order to send actuation signals from the camera body to the shutter block 23 moving in the optical axis direction, a flexible print. Circuit boards (hereinafter referred to as FPC boards) are preferably used.

An apparatus for guiding the movement of the FPC substrate and the antireflective device used in connection with the substrate is described below in more detail with reference to FIGS. 39-43.

The FPC board 160 (see FIGS. 39 and 40) supplies operation signals from one side of the camera body to the shutter block 23.

The substrate is made of a flexible synthetic resin sheet having a predetermined printed circuit pattern. Generally, the FPC substrate is well known.

As shown in FIG. 39, the FPC board 160 includes a connection pattern 161 at the front end of the board to which the shutter block 23 is electrically connected, and a CPU (shown in the drawing) provided in the camera body. The central processing unit (not shown) is provided with a rear connection pattern 162 which can be electrically connected.

The FPC board guide plate 163 for guiding the FPC board 160 is fixed to the camera body at the substrate or the rear portion of the camera body, and has a lens barrel block 1 in the space between the cam ring 14 and the outer frame 22. Stretches forward.

The fixing clips 166 are provided to attach the FPC board 160 to the guide plate 163, and the fastening member 167 (see FIG. 41) is for example die-cast of the FPC board 160. It is provided for attachment to the front of the camera body frame or to the rear of the lens barrel frame (substrate 6).

Flexure guide 165 is provided on the front end of the FPC board guide plate 163; The bend guide has a pair of front and rear guide pins 168 and 169.

These guide pins are preferably fixed (though rollers can be used instead) to maintain the curvature of the FPC substrate 160 along the fixed bend 160a of the substrate, in which the substrate is a camera It extends from the body and is also bent forward in the opposite direction to extend toward the camera body.

The FPC board 160 bent around the guide pin 168 extends rearward in the gap between the guide pin 169 and the FPC board guide plate 163, and is bent freely forward again in the movable bend 160b.

It is apparent that the relative position between the guide pins 168 and 169 and the FPC substrate 160 is constant regardless of the forward and backward movement of the shutter block 23 in the axial direction.

Thus, the guide pins 168 and 169 are preferably fixed pins that are not rotatable.

Optionally, it is possible for these pins to be replaced by guide rods or axes to cause the FPC substrate to bend by them in the opposite direction.

As the shutter block 23 moves back and forth, the movable bending portion 160 of the FPC substrate also moves back and forth.

39 and 40, although the extension of the FPC substrate 160 extends rearward from the substrate guide plate 163, the rear extension of the FPC substrate 160 is actually directed toward the front of the camera. It can be bent along and by the bending guide 170 of the guide plate 163 to move it.

The inner surface of the FPC substrate 160 faces the gap between the front lens group frame 16 (as well as the outer frame 22) and the rear lens group frame 18, so that the light incident on the lens system There is a possibility of being reflected by the FPC substrate, causing undesirable internal reflection.

In order to prevent such internal reflection, an antireflective material or device is provided on the FPC substrate.

Several optional solutions may be used to provide antireflective devices on the FPC substrate 160. As one solution, the FPC substrate 160 may be formed of a matt black synthetic resin material.

Alternatively, the FPC substrate 160 may include an antireflective sheet 171 along the inner surface of the substrate, ie, adjacent to the optical axis of the camera, as shown in FIG. 43. Such a sheet may be composed of, for example, matte black paper or the like, and is intended to be placed on the FPC substrate 160.

Preferably, the antireflective sheet 171 is only loosely stacked on the FPC substrate without being attached to the substrate in order to provide flexibility against deformation due to expansion and contraction of the material.

The sheet 171 is positioned over the FPC substrate between the bends 160a and 160b of the FPC substrate 160.

As a third solution, at least the inner surface of the FPC substrate 160 is coated with an antireflection layer.

Using the guide device of the FPC substrate and the above-mentioned antireflection device, when the zoom operation motor 5 is driven to rotate the cam ring 14, the front lens group frame 16 and the rear lens group frame 18 Is moved in the direction along the cam grooves 20 and 21 on the cam ring 14 along the optical axis to perform the zooming operation, so that the camera can be moved to the position in the macro mode.

Since the movement of the front lens group frame 16 causes the shutter block 23 to move in the same direction, the FPC substrate 160 is extended in accordance with the movement of the shutter block 23.

The elongation of the substrate is made possible by the displacement of the movable flexible substrate portion 160b.

Specifically, the FPC board 160 is integrally connected to the CPU in the camera body in the rear end connection pattern or portion 162 (see FIG. 39), and the middle portion of the FPC board is connected by the FPC board guide plate 163. You are guided.

The fixed bend portion 160a of the FPC board 160 is guided by the guide pins 168 and 169. Therefore, the tip connection pattern 161 of the FPC board 160 is moved to the movement of the shutter block 23. Thus, when moving in response to or in response thereto, as shown in FIGS. 40 and 42, only the movable flexure board portion 160b is displaced forward and backward to absorb the movement of the shutter block 23.

In this way, the FPC substrate 160 can be reliably guided in the annular space 164 located between the cam ring 14 and the outer frame 22 (see FIG. 4).

Since the FPC substrate 160 has the antireflection structure as described above, no internal reflection occurs that causes undesirable phenomena, such as flare or ghosts.

[H. Zoom lens position information detection device]

As mentioned above, in the lens shutter type camera formed according to the present invention, since the photographing optical system is moved along the optical axis by the rotation of the cam ring 14, the focal length of the photographing optical system is changed, so that the optical system is Move from one extreme angular position to the macro setting position and from the other angular position of the cam ring to the (complete) fold position of the lens.

In such a lens shutter type camera including a zoom lens, for example, the focal point of the photographing optical system is used to display the focal length, to control the exposure varying with the F number, and to control the rotational direction of the motor driving the cam ring. It is necessary to detect the distance, macro setting position, and two extreme positions of the cam ring.

In the present invention, the information, that is, the focal length of the zoom lens and the two extreme positions, can be easily detected by the code signals on the single flexible code plate 90 provided in the cam ring 14. have.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 44, the code plate 90 is provided in the cam ring 14 (shown in FIG. 1), and is fixed to the fixing frame 91 located outside the cam ring 14. ) Is in sliding contact with the brush 92 (see FIG. 44) fixed at the substrate end. This is illustrated well in FIG.

FIG. 44 shows an improved code plate 90 in an unfolded state, the upper half of the figure showing zoom actuating cam grooves 20 and 21 of the cam ring 14 and cam grooves 55, 56 and 57 of the cam plate 53. Each cam shape is shown. The brush 92 includes common terminals C and bristle terminals T0, T1, T2, and T3.

Each terminal T0 to T3 has a signal "0" when it is electrically connected to a conductive land 93 of the code plate 90, and a signal "1" when it is not electrically connected. .

The angular position of the cam ring 14 can be detected by the combination of the signals "0" and "1".

A plurality of dummy terminals 94 are formed in the conductive lands 93.

The purpose of the dummy terminals 94, which are formed of the same material as the conductive lands 93, is to be bent around the flexible cord plate cam ring, and the dummy terminals are provided to provide an area that is not electrically contacted while improving the strength of the plate. It is so positioned that it preserves strength while increasing flexibility.

These dummy terminals also provide land portions on which the terminals T0 to T3 of the brush ride (non-conductive) as the cam ring is rotated.

The 4-bit information received from the terminals T0 to T3 is provided as zoom code data ZP0, ZP1, ZP2 and ZP3 of the zoom code encoder, as shown in FIG.

This figure consists of a combination table of signals "0" and "1", where the angular position of the cam ring 14, i.e., POS is "0" and "9" and the hexadecimal "A", "B", and It is divided into 13 steps of "C".

The number "0" represents the locked position, and the "C" position represents the position where the camera is in macro mode.

There are nine focal length positions f0 to f7 'between the lock position and the macro position.

The lock position and macro position correspond to the two extreme angular positions of the cam ring 14.

The zoom motor 5 is controlled so that the cam ring 14 does not rotate beyond the range of the two extreme positions. These angular or rotational positions are shown on the code plate of FIG.

The rotation of the cam ring 14 depends on the position information of the cam ring 14 determined by the code plate 90 by the mode switching switch 101 and the zoom switch 102 shown in FIGS. 47 to 50. Controlled.

The arrangement of the mode switching switch 101 and the zoom switch 102 on the camera body is shown in FIGS. 46-48.

A release button 99 is provided on the top surface of the camera, which can be pressed in one step to switch the metering switch to the ON position, and in two steps to switch the release switch to the on position. (However, neither of these two switches is shown in the figure).

The mode switching switch 101 is a switching switch which can occupy three positions, namely, a lock position LOCK, a zoom operation position ZOOM, and a macro position MACRO.

As shown in FIG. 49 and FIG. 50, when the macro button 101a is not pressed, the switch lever 101b can move between the LOCK and ZOOM positions.

However, when the macro button 101a is pressed, when the switch lever 101b slides over the upper surface of the macro button 101a, the macro mode of the camera is set.

49 and 50 are cross-sectional views of the MACRO and ZOOM-LOCK switches, respectively.

When in the LOCK position, neither release nor zoom operation of the zoom lens can be performed.

However, in the zoom position, the release operation and the zoom operation operation can be performed.

In the MACRO position, the release operation can be performed, but the zoom operation cannot.

Fig. 51 shows another arrangement of the zoom switch, wherein when the telephoto button T is pressed, the zoom lens is moved toward the telephoto position, and when the wide angle W is pressed, it is moved toward the wide angle position.

The zoom switch 102 is in a neutral position, that is, in an OFF position when no external force is applied to the switch. Then, it can be moved manually by the wide angle position, that is, the WIDE position, and the telephoto position, that is, the TELE position, which is located on the opposite side of the neutral "OFF" position.

The zoom operation motor 5 can be rotated in the forward and backward directions by switching the position of the zoom switch 102 between the WIDE and TELE positions.

The mode switching switch 101 and the zoom switch 102 operate the camera of the present invention as described below.

In practical use, positional information on the position of the cam ring 14 indicated by the code plate 90 is used.

1. Following the LOCK position of the mode switching switch 101, the zoom operation motor 5 is rotated in reverse to rotate the cam ring 14. When the angular position POS of the cam ring 14 becomes "0" as detected by the code plate 90 and the brush 92 (see FIGS. 44 and 45), the zoom motor 5 Stops rotating.

2. In the MACRO position of the mode switching switch 101, the zoom operation motor 5 rotates in the forward direction and stops rotating when the POS reaches the "C" position.

3. In the ZOOM position of the mode switching switch 101, the zoom operation motor 5 rotates in reverse when the zoom switch 102 is in the WIDE position and in the forward direction when the zoom operation switch is in the TELE position.

The zoom motor 5 stops rotating when the POS reaches the "A" position and the zoom switch is in the TELE position.

When the zoom switch is in the WIDE position, the zoom operation motor 5 continues the reverse rotation for a predetermined short time after the POS reaches the &quot; 1 &quot; position.

After this time, the zooming motor 5 starts rotating in the forward direction and stops rotating when the POS reaches the "2" position.

When the zoom switch 102 is turned "OFF", i.e., the neutral position, when the zoom switch is in the TELE position during the rotation of the zoom operation motor 5, the zoom operation motor 5 immediately stops rotating, and the zoom switch Is in the WIDE position, it stops after rotating forward for a predetermined short period.

Several detailed locations will now be described.

POS 1: Because these code signals change at the LOCK position and at the WIDE unit value, these extreme positions are detected. More precisely, the LOCK position is not “POS 0” but instead is at a point located between POS 0 and POS 1.

However, when the camera is in the LOCK position, the brush is at POS 0, which is very close to POS 1.

Similarly, the WIDE unit value is a point between POS 1 and POS 2.

However, when the camera is at WIDE unit value (it is not wide area), the brush 92 is at POS 2 which is very close to POS 1.

Accordingly, POS 1 indicates the range in which the cam ring 14 moves from the WIDE unit value to the LOCK position or vice versa.

POS f7 ': This area is provided for absorbing backlash of the cam ring 14 (i.e. absorbing backlash from movement of the lens system). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 45, while the cam ring 14 rotates from POS 0 to POS C, the cam ring immediately stops when a stop signal is given, that is, when the zoom switch is switched to the OFF position. On the contrary, the rotation towards POS 0 at POS C of the cam ring causes the cam ring 14 to turn slightly back after it has passed the required position by a given displacement, and then stops the cam ring at the first conversion POS point. Let's do it.

OS f7 'is a TELE unit value, so when the cam ring is at the TELE unit value (the TELE area is the area where the cam ring operates in TELE exposure), the brush is located at position POS A, which is very close to POS 9.

The point distance information or the F number information is transmitted to the shutter by the code plate and the brush.

Therefore, the same focal length information is transmitted in the TELE area and the TELE unit value.

This is why POS 9 is represented by f7 and POS A is represented by f7 'to distinguish it from f7.

The area f7 'is very small, and therefore, the area f7' is considered to be essentially the same as the TELE unit value.

Similar to POS B: POS 1, this field is provided to distinguish between MACRO stage and TELE unit values. POS 1 differs from POS 1 in that the WIDE unit value changes between POS 1 and WIDE unit values, while POS B is a TELE unit value indicating the point of change between POS 9 and POS A.

POS 2ω POS A: These are intermediate focal lengths consisting of a plurality of nine steps in the illustrated embodiment.

So the CPU checks code information and setting positions for several switches when they are switched to the ON position.

If the mode switching switch is in the zoom position, no zooming operation is necessary at all when the cam ring is in any position between POS 2 and POS A.

However, when the mode switching switch is in any position other than the zoom position, that is, the LOCK position, the intermediate position between LOCK and WIDE, the intermediate position between TELE and MACRO, or the MACRO position, the zoom operation operation of the lens is performed immediately.

This also applies when the switch is in the zoom position while the zoom motor is rotating in the forward direction and when the switch is in the zoom position while the zoom motor is in reverse rotation.

Specifically, when in the zoom position, the CPU checks whether or not the zoom code is within the area between the area including POS 2 and POS A (in the area where the zoom operation is performed). If the zoom code is outside that area, no picture can be taken, and therefore the cam ring is moved to the zoom operation position.

In other words, POS 1 and POS B are areas in which the cam ring is forbidden to stop and a picture cannot be taken.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments nor limited to those shown in the drawings, and various modifications or changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. will be.

Claims (1)

A support frame having an opening for photographing on its front surface is supported to be moved in a straight forward direction to a storage position further rearward than the last photographable position, and is driven by a motor to the outer periphery of the support frame and accompanied by the rotation of the lens folding section. A cam ring for moving the support frame between the last photographable position and the storage position; and a barrier for opening and closing the shooting opening portion at a front end of the support frame, wherein the barrier is folded in the lens of the cam ring. A barrier mechanism for an invasive lens shutter camera, characterized in that the opening and closing is performed in association with the rotational operation of the opening and closing section following the section.