US20120251093A1 - Camera with built-in projector and projector device - Google Patents
Camera with built-in projector and projector device Download PDFInfo
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- US20120251093A1 US20120251093A1 US13/494,979 US201213494979A US2012251093A1 US 20120251093 A1 US20120251093 A1 US 20120251093A1 US 201213494979 A US201213494979 A US 201213494979A US 2012251093 A1 US2012251093 A1 US 2012251093A1
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- Prior art keywords
- projector
- camera
- projector module
- disposed
- built
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- G03B17/00—Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor
- G03B17/48—Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor adapted for combination with other photographic or optical apparatus
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- G03B21/00—Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor
- G03B21/005—Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto
- G03B21/008—Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto using micromirror devices
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a camera and a projector device equipped with a projector module.
- Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. 2002-369050 discloses a digital camera equipped with a built-in projector module.
- a camera with a built-in projector includes: a camera unit equipped with photographing components including an optical system; and a projector module equipped with a projecting optical system, with an optical axis extending along a longer side of the projector module running substantially parallel to an optical axis of the camera unit extending along a longer side of the camera unit.
- the camera unit and the projector module are disposed such that the optical axis extending along the longer side of the camera unit and the optical axis extending along the longer side of the projector module run substantially perpendicular to a longer side of a main body of the camera with the built-in projector.
- the camera unit and the projector module may be disposed adjacent to each other.
- the camera with a built-in projector according to the 2nd aspect may further include a battery chamber in which a power source battery is housed, and the battery chamber, the projector module and the camera unit may be disposed in sequence from one end of the main body of the camera with the built-in projector along the longer side of the main body in an order of; the battery chamber, the projector module and the camera unit.
- the camera unit in the camera with a built-in projector according to the 4th aspect, it is preferable that the camera unit includes a protruding portion protruding along a direction perpendicular to the longer side of the camera unit; and that the protruding portion is disposed adjacent to the projector module.
- the camera with a built-in projector according to the 2nd aspect may further include a battery chamber in which a power source battery is housed, and the battery chamber, the camera unit and the projector module may be disposed in sequence from one end of the main body of the camera with the built-in projector along the longer side of the main body in an order of; the battery chamber, the camera unit and the projector module.
- the camera with a built-in projector according to the 1st aspect further includes an electronic flash device, and that a light emitting unit of the electronic flash device is disposed at a position adjacent to the camera unit along a direction perpendicular to the longer side of the camera unit and also adjacent to the projector module along a direction in which the longer side of the projector module extends.
- the projector module may include a bend portion that bends projection light, a first portion protruding from the bend portion along a predefined direction and a second portion protruding from the bend portion along a direction intersecting the predefined direction, and is an integrated unit constituted with the bend portion, the first portion and the second portion; and the camera with the built-in projector may further include a first component that is not a component constituting part of the projector module and is disposed at least in part in a space formed by the first portion and the second portion.
- the second portion protrudes from the bend portion by an extent greater than an extent to which the first portion protrudes from the bend portion; and the first component is disposed such that a longer side of the first component ranges substantially parallel to a direction along which the second portion protrudes from the bend portion.
- the camera with a built-in projector according to the 8th aspect may further include a second component and a third component, which are not components constituting the projector module, and the first component may be disposed in a space enclosed by the first portion and the second portion of the projector module, the second component and the third component.
- the camera with a built-in projector according to the 8th aspect may further include an electronic flash device, and the first component may be a capacitor that stores an electrical charge for the electronic flash device.
- a light emitting unit of the electronic flash device may be disposed at a position such that the capacitor is enclosed between the first portion of the projector module and the light emitting unit of the electronic flash device.
- the first component may be a battery chamber in which a power source battery is housed.
- the first component may be a loading unit at which a recording medium for recording image data is loaded.
- the projector module assumes a substantially L-shape formed with the first portion, the second portion and the bend portion.
- the projector module comprises a housing constituted with a first wall portion ranging along a first direction and a second wall portion continuous to the first wall portion and inclining relative to the first direction and assumes a structure in which light advancing along the first direction is bent at a reflecting surface located on an inside of the second wall portion; and that the camera with the built-in projector further includes a first component that is not a component constituting part of the projector module and is disposed along an outer surface of the second wall portion of the projector module.
- the first component in the camera with a built-in projector according to the 16th aspect, maybe disposed so as not to protrude beyond the first wall portion.
- the first component may be a motor.
- a projector device includes: a projector module that comprises a bend portion that bends projected light, a first portion protruding from the bend portion along a predefined direction and a second portion protruding from the bend portion along a direction intersecting the predefined direction, and is an integrated unit constituted with the bend portion, the first portion and the second portion; and a first component that is not a component constituting part of the projector module and is disposed at least in part in a space formed by the first portion and the second portion.
- the second portion protrudes from the bend portion by an extent greater than an extent to which the first portion protrudes from the bend portion; and that the first component is disposed such that a longer side of the first component ranges substantially parallel to a direction along which the second portion protrudes from the bend portion.
- the projector device may further include a second component and a third component, which are not components constituting the projector module, and the first component may be disposed in a space enclosed by the first portion and the second portion of the projector module, the second component and the third component.
- the projector device may further include: a photographic optical system; and an imaging unit that captures a subject image formed by the photographic optical system, and the projector module may generate an optical image to be projected based upon data of an image captured at the imaging unit.
- the projector device may further includes an electronic flash device that emits flash light during a photographing operation, and the first component may be a capacitor that stores an electrical charge for flash light emission at the electronic flash device.
- a light emitting unit of the electronic flash device may be disposed at a position such that the capacitor is enclosed between the first portion of the projector module and the light emitting unit of the electronic flash device.
- the first component may be a battery chamber in which a power source battery is housed.
- the first component may be a loading unit at which a recording medium for recording image data is loaded.
- the projector module may assume a substantially L-shape formed with the first portion, the second portion and the bend portion.
- a projector device include: a projector module that includes a wall portion ranging along a first direction and a second wall portion continuous to the first wall portion and inclining relative to the first direction, bends light advancing along the first direction at a reflecting surface located on an inside of the second wall portion and radiates the bent light outside; and a first component that is not a component constituting part of the projector module and is disposed along an outer surface of the second wall portion of the projector module.
- the first component may be disposed so as not to protrude beyond the first wall portion.
- the first component may be a motor.
- the projector device may further include: a photographic optical system; and an imaging unit that captures a subject image formed by the photographic optical system, and the projector module may generate an optical image to be projected based upon data of an image captured at the imaging unit.
- FIG. 1 is a front view showing the internal structure of a digital camera with a built-in projector achieved in a first embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 shows a projector module in FIG. 1 in an enlargement
- FIG. 4 is a front view showing the internal structure of the digital camera with a built-in projector achieved in a variation of the first embodiment
- FIG. 5 is a front view showing the internal structure of a digital camera with a built-in projector achieved in a second embodiment
- FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the internal structure of a digital camera with a built-in projector achieved in a third embodiment
- FIG. 7 schematically illustrates an alternative internal structure that may be adopted in the digital camera with a built-in projector in the third embodiment
- FIG. 8 is an enlargement of a T-shaped projector module
- FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a digital camera with a built-in projector achieved in a fourth embodiment.
- FIG. 10 illustrates a positional relationship that may be assumed by the projector module and the light emitting unit of the electronic flash device.
- FIGS. 1 through 3 A digital camera with a built-in projector as achieved in the first embodiment of the present invention is now explained in reference to FIGS. 1 through 3 .
- FIG. 1 is a front view of the internal structure of the digital camera achieved in the first embodiment and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1 .
- a camera body 100 which assumes a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front, a plurality of operation buttons 1 are disposed.
- a battery chamber 10 and a camera unit 20 are disposed respectively on the left side and on the right side in FIG. 1 , with a projector module 30 disposed between them.
- the camera unit 20 and the projector module 30 are disposed so that an optical axis 20 X extending along the longer side of the camera unit 20 and an optical axis 30 X extending along the longer side of the projector module 30 both run substantially perpendicular to the longer side of the camera body 100 , i.e. , perpendicular to the left-right direction in FIG. 1 .
- a power source battery can be loaded into the battery chamber 10 through, for instance, the bottom surface of the camera body 100 .
- the camera unit 20 is constituted with a bend photographic optical system 21 , a lens barrier 22 , an imaging unit 23 and the like.
- the photographic optical system 21 includes a plurality of lenses, a mirror which is a bend optical system, an optical image blur correction mechanism and the like, all disposed as built-in components thereof.
- a light flux originating from a photographic subject enters an objective lens 21 a exposed at the front of the camera body 100 and is then bent downward at the mirror. The light flux advancing downward is then transmitted through the lens group and enters the imaging unit 23 .
- the optical image blur correction mechanism is built into an image blur correction unit 21 b.
- the lens barrier 22 is caused to rotate around an axis X by a barrier drive motor 22 a (see FIG. 2 ) so as to assume a protective position at which it covers the front surface of the objective lens 21 a or a retracted position at which it is away from the objective lens 21 a.
- the barrier drive motor 22 a is controlled by a control circuit (not shown) .
- the control circuit controls the barrier drive motor 22 a so that the lens barrier 22 is moved from the protective position to the retracted position in response to an ON signal from a power switch, which is one of the operation switches 1 and that the lens barrier 22 is moved to the protective position in response to an OFF signal from the power switch.
- the imaging unit 23 includes an image sensor, an optical filter and the like.
- the light flux having passed through the photographic optical system 21 is received at the image sensor in the vicinity of the bottom of the camera body 100 and the received light undergoes photoelectric conversion.
- the output from the image sensor resulting from the photoelectric conversion then undergoes various types of processing and thus, image data are generated.
- the image data are recorded into a memory card loaded at a card slot 40 .
- the projector module 30 is described next.
- the projector module 30 is constituted with a light source 31 such as a high-brightness LED, a condenser lens 32 , a polarization beam splitter (hereafter referred to as a PBS) 33 , a reflective liquid crystal panel 34 such as a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS), a projecting lens 35 , a mirror 36 and a case 37 housing therein the components listed above.
- a light source 31 such as a high-brightness LED
- a condenser lens 32 a polarization beam splitter (hereafter referred to as a PBS) 33
- a reflective liquid crystal panel 34 such as a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS)
- LCOS liquid crystal on silicon
- the reflective liquid crystal panel 34 projects out from the case 37 toward the camera unit 20 .
- a transmission-type liquid crystal panel may be used.
- the projector module 30 includes a bend portion 30 A, a horizontal portion 30 B protruding sideways from the bend portion 30 A and a vertical portion 30 C protruding from the bend portion 30 A along the vertical direction.
- the projector module 30 is an integrated unit that includes the bend portion 30 A, the horizontal portion 30 B and the vertical portion 30 C and the case 37 is substantially L-shaped.
- the light source 31 and the condenser lens 32 are disposed at the horizontal portion 30 B, whereas the PBS 33 is disposed at the bend portion 30 A.
- the projecting lens 35 and the mirror 36 are disposed at the vertical portion 30 C.
- the projector module 30 is disposed inside the camera body 100 so that the horizontal portion 30 B protrudes from the bend portion 30 A to the left side, as shown in FIG.
- the projector module 30 is disposed so that the horizontal portion 30 B protrudes along the direction moving further away from the imaging unit 23 of the camera unit 20 , relative to the bend portion 30 A.
- the light source 31 which is a heat source, is set as far away from the imaging unit 23 as possible so as to minimize the adverse effect of the heat noise on images.
- an L-shaped heat radiating block (metal block) 38 is placed in tight contact with the light source 31 . With part of the heat radiating block 38 set in tight contact with a metal cover of the camera body 100 , the heat from the light source 31 can be released to the outside efficiently.
- a desired image recorded in the memory card loaded at the card slot 40 is projected to the outside via the projector module 30 adopting the structure described above.
- the operations of the digital camera are controlled by a control circuit mounted on a main substrate 56 (see FIG. 2 ).
- the control circuit transmits image data read out from the memory card to the liquid crystal panel 34 via a flexible printed circuit board 39 and displays, a projection image at the liquid crystal panel 34 based upon the image data.
- the light source 31 is turned on in this state, the light from the light source is transmitted through the condenser lens 32 and the PBS 33 and enters the reflective liquid crystal panel 34 .
- the optical image reflected at the reflective liquid crystal panel 34 is bent upward by 90° at the PBS 33 and is projected toward the front of the camera body 100 via the projecting lens 35 and the mirror 36 .
- the camera unit 20 is disposed so as to range along the vertical direction (up/down direction) when the camera body 100 assumes a lateral (sideways) orientation, as shown in FIG. 1 .
- the projector module 30 assuming a structure in which the condenser lens 32 , the PBS 33 and the liquid crystal panel 34 are disposed with short intervals from one another but the PBS 33 and the projecting lens 35 are set over a significant distance from each other so as to assure a sufficient optical path length
- the vertical, portion 30 C has a greater length than the horizontal portion 30 B.
- the projector module 30 is disposed so that the optical axis 30 X (see FIG.
- the battery chamber 10 located on the left side of the camera body 100 is allowed to take up ample space while minimizing the bulk of the camera.
- a light emitting unit 51 of an electronic flash device is disposed at a position on one side of the camera unit 20 , above the projector module 30 . Illuminating light from the light emitting unit 51 is radiated to the front through a light emission window located at the front surface of the camera body 100 .
- the space inside the camera body 100 is utilized more efficiently and since the light emission window is disposed in close proximity to a side of a lens window of the camera unit 20 , optimal lighting is assured.
- a capacitor 52 which stores an electrical charge for flash light emission, is disposed in the triangular space formed by the horizontal portion 30 B and the vertical portion 30 C of the projector module 30 .
- a side wall 11 of the battery chamber 10 is present to the left of the projector module 30 .
- the capacitor 52 is disposed in the longitudinally-elongated rectangular space enclosed by the horizontal portion 30 B, the vertical portion 30 C, the light emitting unit 51 and the battery chamber 10 .
- the capacitor 52 assumes a shape substantially identical to the shape of the rectangular space, assuring highly efficient utilization of the available space within the camera body 100 . This means that the digital camera can be miniaturized to a maximum extent.
- this structure allows the light emitting unit 51 and the capacitor 52 to be disposed in close proximity to each other, they can be wired easily and efficiently.
- the liquid crystal panel 34 of the projector module 30 protrudes slightly toward the camera unit 20 relative to the vertical portion 30 C. In the space formed between this protruding portion and the vertical portion 30 C, part of the image blur correction unit 21 b of the camera unit 20 is disposed. As a result, further efficiency is achieved in the utilization of the available space.
- the present invention is not limited to this example and it may be adopted in a structure that allows images recorded in an internal memory (not shown) or image data obtained from an external device via the terminal 54 to be projected via the projector module 30 .
- a camera unit 200 in a variation of the first embodiment includes a mechanical image blur correction mechanism 25 that corrects image blur by displacing the image sensor of the imaging unit 23 , in place of the optical image blur correction mechanism 21 b, as shown in FIG. 4 .
- the camera unit 200 includes a vertical portion ranging along the longer side of the camera unit 200 and a horizontal portion protruding along the direction perpendicular to the vertical portion, and assumes an overall L-shape. It is to be noted that the photographic optical system 21 and the imaging unit 23 are disposed at the vertical portion, whereas the mechanical image blur correction mechanism 25 is disposed at the horizontal portion.
- a projector module 300 is disposed so that its horizontal portion 30 B protrudes to the right in FIG. 4 from the bend portion 30 A.
- the light source 31 at the horizontal portion 30 B set further toward the camera unit 200 relative to the bend portion 30 A.
- the capacitor 52 which stores the electrical charge for the flash light emission, is disposed in the space enclosed by the camera unit 200 and the projector module 300 .
- the camera body 100 , the light emitting unit 51 and the capacitor 52 of the electronic flash device, the horizontal portion 30 B of the projector module 300 and the mechanical image blur correction mechanism 25 of the camera unit 200 are disposed in the order of; the light emitting portion 51 , the capacitor 52 , the horizontal portion 30 B and the mechanical image blur correction mechanism 25 .
- FIG. 5 the second embodiment of the present invention is explained. It is to be noted that in FIG. 5 , the same reference numerals are assigned to components similar to those in the first embodiment described above and that the following explanation focuses on differences from the first embodiment.
- a projector module 310 in the second embodiment assumes a structure in which the PBS 33 and the liquid crystal panel 34 are disposed over a significant distance from each other and the PBS 33 and the projecting lens 35 are set over a short distance from each other. As a result, the projector module 310 assumes a substantially T-shape overall.
- the projector module 310 is disposed at the right end of the camera body 100 , with a radiation window formed at the right side surface of the camera body 100 facing opposite the projecting lens 35 .
- Light transmitted through the projecting lens 35 is projected to the right in FIG. 5 via a transparent protective plate 60 fitted in the radiation window.
- the camera unit 20 is disposed between the projector module 310 and the battery chamber 10 .
- a light emitting unit 57 that emits AF auxiliary light is also disposed in the camera body 100 .
- the projector module 310 and the camera unit 20 are disposed so that the optical axis 20 X of the camera unit 20 and the optical axis 30 X of the projector module 310 run parallel to each other.
- advantages similar to those of the first embodiment are achieved.
- the capacitor 52 is disposed in the space defined by the vertical portion 30 C and the horizontal portion 30 B of the projector module 30 .
- a member other than the capacitor 52 may be disposed in this space.
- a component other than a component of the projector module 30 may be disposed in the space formed by the vertical portion 30 C and the horizontal portion 30 B.
- FIG. 6 presents an example in which part of a battery chamber 10 ′ is disposed in the space formed by the vertical portion 30 C and the horizontal portion 30 B.
- FIG. 7 presents an example in which part of a card slot 40 ′ is disposed in the space formed by the vertical portion 30 C and horizontal portion 30 B.
- part of or the entirety of the light emitting unit 51 of the electronic flash device or a motor may be disposed in the space formed by the vertical portion 30 C and the horizontal portion 30 B.
- the projector module 30 may assume a shape other than the L-shape and a projector module 30 ′ assuming a substantially T-shape, as shown in FIG. 8 , maybe used.
- a space is formed by the vertical portion ranging along the longer side of the projector module 30 ′ and the horizontal portion protruding sideways from the vertical portion.
- the member 61 disposed above the horizontal portion may be, for instance, a light emitting unit, which emits AF auxiliary light.
- the direction along which an image is projected by the projector module 30 i.e., the direction along which the optical axis of the light reflected at the mirror 36 extends, matches the horizontal direction along which the camera body 100 may be held in a lateral orientation.
- the direction of the optical axis of the light reflected at the mirror 36 with a slight upward offset relative to the horizontal direction, the eclipse of projected light at the surface where the camera is placed can be minimized.
- the mirror 36 is installed on the inside of the inclining wall 30 D.
- the barrier drive motor 22 a is disposed in close proximity along the outer surface of the inclining wall 30 D so as to minimize the extent to which the motor 22 a protrudes upward and rearward relative to the projector module 30 .
- the barrier drive motor 22 a and the light emitting unit 52 are disposed in this order above the projector module 30 , as shown in FIG. 1 .
- the barrier drive motor 22 a By disposing the barrier drive motor 22 a along the outer surface of the inclining wall 30 D, the extent to which the motor 22 a protrudes from the upper end of the projector module 30 can be minimized. This, in turn, makes it possible to minimize the distance between the light emitting unit 52 and the projector module 30 , thereby minimizing the height of the camera body 100 .
- the barrier drive motor 22 a does not protrude along the rearward direction from the projector module 30 at all.
- the barrier drive motor 22 a is disposed so that it does not project out beyond the rear surface of the projector module 30 .
- the distance between the main substrate 56 and the projector module 30 can be kept to a minimum so as to minimize the thickness of the camera body 100 .
- the barrier drive motor 22 a is disposed in close proximity to the inclining portion 30 D of the projector module 30 in the fourth embodiment.
- a zoom motor that drives the zoom lens included in the photographic optical system 21 or a focus motor that drives the focus lens in the photographic optical system 21 may be disposed in close proximity to the inclining portion 30 D.
- the capacitor 52 may be disposed in close proximity to the inclining portion 30 D.
- FIG. 10 illustrates how an image maybe projected through a side surface of the camera body 100 .
- a projector module 320 in this example is disposed over the area at the right end of the camera body 100 in FIG. 10 .
- a radiation window through which light transmitted through the projecting lens 35 is radiated to the outside of the camera body 100 is formed at the right side surface of the camera body 100 .
- the light emitting unit 51 of the electronic flash device is disposed at a position that is in close proximity to the outer surface of the inclining wall 30 D of the projector module 320 .
- a projector module is invariably installed in a digital camera.
- the present invention is not limited to this example and it may be adopted in a camera-equipped portable telephone that includes a projector module, another type of electronic device that includes a projector module or a device with a built-in projector that does not have a photographing function.
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Abstract
A camera with a built-in projector includes: a camera unit equipped with photographing components including an optical system; and a projector module equipped with a projecting optical system, with an optical axis extending along a longer side of the projector module running substantially parallel to an optical axis of the camera unit extending along a longer side of the camera unit.
Description
- The disclosures of the following priority applications are herein incorporated by reference:
- Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-052503 filed Mar. 2, 2007
- Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-090690 filed Mar. 30, 2007
- Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-090692 filed Mar. 30, 2007
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a camera and a projector device equipped with a projector module.
- 2. Description of Related Art
- Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. 2002-369050 discloses a digital camera equipped with a built-in projector module.
- The overall size of a camera with a built-in projector or a projector device that includes a projector module and other components, tends to be large.
- A camera with a built-in projector according to a 1st aspect of the present invention includes: a camera unit equipped with photographing components including an optical system; and a projector module equipped with a projecting optical system, with an optical axis extending along a longer side of the projector module running substantially parallel to an optical axis of the camera unit extending along a longer side of the camera unit.
- According to a 2nd aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a built-in projector according to the 1st aspect, it is preferable that the camera unit and the projector module are disposed such that the optical axis extending along the longer side of the camera unit and the optical axis extending along the longer side of the projector module run substantially perpendicular to a longer side of a main body of the camera with the built-in projector.
- According to a 3rd aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a built-in projector according to the 1st aspect the camera unit and the projector module may be disposed adjacent to each other.
- According to a 9th aspect of the present invention, the camera with a built-in projector according to the 2nd aspect may further include a battery chamber in which a power source battery is housed, and the battery chamber, the projector module and the camera unit may be disposed in sequence from one end of the main body of the camera with the built-in projector along the longer side of the main body in an order of; the battery chamber, the projector module and the camera unit.
- According to a 5th aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a built-in projector according to the 4th aspect, it is preferable that the camera unit includes a protruding portion protruding along a direction perpendicular to the longer side of the camera unit; and that the protruding portion is disposed adjacent to the projector module.
- According to a 6th aspect of the present invention, the camera with a built-in projector according to the 2nd aspect may further include a battery chamber in which a power source battery is housed, and the battery chamber, the camera unit and the projector module may be disposed in sequence from one end of the main body of the camera with the built-in projector along the longer side of the main body in an order of; the battery chamber, the camera unit and the projector module.
- According to a 7th aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the camera with a built-in projector according to the 1st aspect further includes an electronic flash device, and that a light emitting unit of the electronic flash device is disposed at a position adjacent to the camera unit along a direction perpendicular to the longer side of the camera unit and also adjacent to the projector module along a direction in which the longer side of the projector module extends.
- According to a 8th aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a built-in projector according to the 1st aspect, the projector module may include a bend portion that bends projection light, a first portion protruding from the bend portion along a predefined direction and a second portion protruding from the bend portion along a direction intersecting the predefined direction, and is an integrated unit constituted with the bend portion, the first portion and the second portion; and the camera with the built-in projector may further include a first component that is not a component constituting part of the projector module and is disposed at least in part in a space formed by the first portion and the second portion.
- According to a 9th aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a built-in projector according to the 8th aspect, it is preferable that the second portion protrudes from the bend portion by an extent greater than an extent to which the first portion protrudes from the bend portion; and the first component is disposed such that a longer side of the first component ranges substantially parallel to a direction along which the second portion protrudes from the bend portion.
- According to a 10th aspect of the present invention, the camera with a built-in projector according to the 8th aspect may further include a second component and a third component, which are not components constituting the projector module, and the first component may be disposed in a space enclosed by the first portion and the second portion of the projector module, the second component and the third component.
- According to a 11th aspect of the present invention, the camera with a built-in projector according to the 8th aspect may further include an electronic flash device, and the first component may be a capacitor that stores an electrical charge for the electronic flash device.
- According to a 12th aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a built-in projector according to the 11th aspect, a light emitting unit of the electronic flash device may be disposed at a position such that the capacitor is enclosed between the first portion of the projector module and the light emitting unit of the electronic flash device.
- According to a 13th aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a built-in projector according to the 8th aspect, the first component may be a battery chamber in which a power source battery is housed.
- According to a 14th aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a built-in projector according to the 8th aspect, the first component may be a loading unit at which a recording medium for recording image data is loaded.
- According to a 15th aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a built-in projector according to the 8th aspect, it is preferable that the projector module assumes a substantially L-shape formed with the first portion, the second portion and the bend portion.
- According to a 16th aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a built-in projector according to the 1st aspect, it is preferable that the projector module comprises a housing constituted with a first wall portion ranging along a first direction and a second wall portion continuous to the first wall portion and inclining relative to the first direction and assumes a structure in which light advancing along the first direction is bent at a reflecting surface located on an inside of the second wall portion; and that the camera with the built-in projector further includes a first component that is not a component constituting part of the projector module and is disposed along an outer surface of the second wall portion of the projector module.
- According to a 17th aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a built-in projector according to the 16th aspect, the first component maybe disposed so as not to protrude beyond the first wall portion.
- According to a 18th aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a built-in projector according to the 16th aspect, the first component may be a motor.
- A projector device according to a 19th aspect of the present invention includes: a projector module that comprises a bend portion that bends projected light, a first portion protruding from the bend portion along a predefined direction and a second portion protruding from the bend portion along a direction intersecting the predefined direction, and is an integrated unit constituted with the bend portion, the first portion and the second portion; and a first component that is not a component constituting part of the projector module and is disposed at least in part in a space formed by the first portion and the second portion.
- According to a 20th aspect of the present invention, in the projector device according to the 19th aspect, it is preferable that the second portion protrudes from the bend portion by an extent greater than an extent to which the first portion protrudes from the bend portion; and that the first component is disposed such that a longer side of the first component ranges substantially parallel to a direction along which the second portion protrudes from the bend portion.
- According to a 21st aspect of the present invention, the projector device according to the 19th aspect may further include a second component and a third component, which are not components constituting the projector module, and the first component may be disposed in a space enclosed by the first portion and the second portion of the projector module, the second component and the third component.
- According to a 22nd aspect of the present invention, the projector device according to the 19th aspect may further include: a photographic optical system; and an imaging unit that captures a subject image formed by the photographic optical system, and the projector module may generate an optical image to be projected based upon data of an image captured at the imaging unit.
- According to a 23rd aspect of the present invention, the projector device according to the 22nd aspect may further includes an electronic flash device that emits flash light during a photographing operation, and the first component may be a capacitor that stores an electrical charge for flash light emission at the electronic flash device.
- According to a 24th aspect of the present invention, in the projector device according to the 23rd aspect, a light emitting unit of the electronic flash device may be disposed at a position such that the capacitor is enclosed between the first portion of the projector module and the light emitting unit of the electronic flash device.
- According to 25th aspect of the present invention, in the projector device according to the 19th aspect, the first component may be a battery chamber in which a power source battery is housed.
- According to a 26th aspect of the present invention, in the projector device according to the 19th aspect, the first component may be a loading unit at which a recording medium for recording image data is loaded.
- According to a 27th aspect of the present invention, in the projector device according to the 19th aspect, the projector module may assume a substantially L-shape formed with the first portion, the second portion and the bend portion.
- A projector device according to a 28th aspect of the present invention include: a projector module that includes a wall portion ranging along a first direction and a second wall portion continuous to the first wall portion and inclining relative to the first direction, bends light advancing along the first direction at a reflecting surface located on an inside of the second wall portion and radiates the bent light outside; and a first component that is not a component constituting part of the projector module and is disposed along an outer surface of the second wall portion of the projector module.
- According to a 29th aspect of the present invention, in the projector device according to the 28th aspect, the first component may be disposed so as not to protrude beyond the first wall portion.
- According to 30th aspect of the present invention, in the projector device according to the 28th aspect, the first component may be a motor.
- According to a 31st aspect of the present invention, the projector device according to the 28th aspect may further include: a photographic optical system; and an imaging unit that captures a subject image formed by the photographic optical system, and the projector module may generate an optical image to be projected based upon data of an image captured at the imaging unit.
-
FIG. 1 is a front view showing the internal structure of a digital camera with a built-in projector achieved in a first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 shows a projector module inFIG. 1 in an enlargement; -
FIG. 4 is a front view showing the internal structure of the digital camera with a built-in projector achieved in a variation of the first embodiment; -
FIG. 5 is a front view showing the internal structure of a digital camera with a built-in projector achieved in a second embodiment; -
FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the internal structure of a digital camera with a built-in projector achieved in a third embodiment; -
FIG. 7 schematically illustrates an alternative internal structure that may be adopted in the digital camera with a built-in projector in the third embodiment; -
FIG. 8 is an enlargement of a T-shaped projector module; -
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a digital camera with a built-in projector achieved in a fourth embodiment; and -
FIG. 10 illustrates a positional relationship that may be assumed by the projector module and the light emitting unit of the electronic flash device. - A digital camera with a built-in projector as achieved in the first embodiment of the present invention is now explained in reference to
FIGS. 1 through 3 . -
FIG. 1 is a front view of the internal structure of the digital camera achieved in the first embodiment andFIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II inFIG. 1 . At the upper surface of acamera body 100 which assumes a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front, a plurality ofoperation buttons 1 are disposed. Inside thecamera body 100, abattery chamber 10 and acamera unit 20 are disposed respectively on the left side and on the right side inFIG. 1 , with aprojector module 30 disposed between them. Thecamera unit 20 and theprojector module 30 are disposed so that anoptical axis 20X extending along the longer side of thecamera unit 20 and anoptical axis 30X extending along the longer side of theprojector module 30 both run substantially perpendicular to the longer side of thecamera body 100, i.e. , perpendicular to the left-right direction inFIG. 1 . A power source battery can be loaded into thebattery chamber 10 through, for instance, the bottom surface of thecamera body 100. - The
camera unit 20 is constituted with a bend photographicoptical system 21, alens barrier 22, animaging unit 23 and the like. The photographicoptical system 21 includes a plurality of lenses, a mirror which is a bend optical system, an optical image blur correction mechanism and the like, all disposed as built-in components thereof. A light flux originating from a photographic subject enters anobjective lens 21 a exposed at the front of thecamera body 100 and is then bent downward at the mirror. The light flux advancing downward is then transmitted through the lens group and enters theimaging unit 23. The optical image blur correction mechanism is built into an imageblur correction unit 21 b. - The
lens barrier 22 is caused to rotate around an axis X by abarrier drive motor 22 a (seeFIG. 2 ) so as to assume a protective position at which it covers the front surface of theobjective lens 21 a or a retracted position at which it is away from theobjective lens 21 a. Thebarrier drive motor 22 a is controlled by a control circuit (not shown) . The control circuit controls thebarrier drive motor 22 a so that thelens barrier 22 is moved from the protective position to the retracted position in response to an ON signal from a power switch, which is one of the operation switches 1 and that thelens barrier 22 is moved to the protective position in response to an OFF signal from the power switch. - The
imaging unit 23 includes an image sensor, an optical filter and the like. The light flux having passed through the photographicoptical system 21 is received at the image sensor in the vicinity of the bottom of thecamera body 100 and the received light undergoes photoelectric conversion. The output from the image sensor resulting from the photoelectric conversion then undergoes various types of processing and thus, image data are generated. The image data are recorded into a memory card loaded at acard slot 40. - The
projector module 30 is described next. - As shown in the enlargement in
FIG. 3 , theprojector module 30 is constituted with alight source 31 such as a high-brightness LED, acondenser lens 32, a polarization beam splitter (hereafter referred to as a PBS) 33, a reflectiveliquid crystal panel 34 such as a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS), a projectinglens 35, amirror 36 and acase 37 housing therein the components listed above. It is to be noted that the reflectiveliquid crystal panel 34 projects out from thecase 37 toward thecamera unit 20. Instead of the reflectiveliquid crystal panel 34, a transmission-type liquid crystal panel may be used. - The
projector module 30 includes abend portion 30A, ahorizontal portion 30B protruding sideways from thebend portion 30A and avertical portion 30C protruding from thebend portion 30A along the vertical direction. Theprojector module 30 is an integrated unit that includes thebend portion 30A, thehorizontal portion 30B and thevertical portion 30C and thecase 37 is substantially L-shaped. Thelight source 31 and thecondenser lens 32 are disposed at thehorizontal portion 30B, whereas thePBS 33 is disposed at thebend portion 30A. The projectinglens 35 and themirror 36 are disposed at thevertical portion 30C. In the first embodiment, theprojector module 30 is disposed inside thecamera body 100 so that thehorizontal portion 30B protrudes from thebend portion 30A to the left side, as shown inFIG. 1 . Namely, theprojector module 30 is disposed so that thehorizontal portion 30B protrudes along the direction moving further away from theimaging unit 23 of thecamera unit 20, relative to thebend portion 30A. Thus, thelight source 31, which is a heat source, is set as far away from theimaging unit 23 as possible so as to minimize the adverse effect of the heat noise on images. - It is to be noted that an L-shaped heat radiating block (metal block) 38 is placed in tight contact with the
light source 31. With part of theheat radiating block 38 set in tight contact with a metal cover of thecamera body 100, the heat from thelight source 31 can be released to the outside efficiently. - A desired image recorded in the memory card loaded at the
card slot 40 is projected to the outside via theprojector module 30 adopting the structure described above. - The operations of the digital camera are controlled by a control circuit mounted on a main substrate 56 (see
FIG. 2 ). The control circuit transmits image data read out from the memory card to theliquid crystal panel 34 via a flexible printedcircuit board 39 and displays, a projection image at theliquid crystal panel 34 based upon the image data. As thelight source 31 is turned on in this state, the light from the light source is transmitted through thecondenser lens 32 and thePBS 33 and enters the reflectiveliquid crystal panel 34. The optical image reflected at the reflectiveliquid crystal panel 34 is bent upward by 90° at thePBS 33 and is projected toward the front of thecamera body 100 via the projectinglens 35 and themirror 36. - In the first embodiment, the
camera unit 20 is disposed so as to range along the vertical direction (up/down direction) when thecamera body 100 assumes a lateral (sideways) orientation, as shown inFIG. 1 . In theprojector module 30 assuming a structure in which thecondenser lens 32, thePBS 33 and theliquid crystal panel 34 are disposed with short intervals from one another but thePBS 33 and the projectinglens 35 are set over a significant distance from each other so as to assure a sufficient optical path length, the vertical,portion 30C has a greater length than thehorizontal portion 30B. Namely, theprojector module 30 is disposed so that theoptical axis 30X (seeFIG. 3 ) extending along the longer side of the projector module runs parallel to theoptical axis 20X (seeFIG. 1 ) extending along the longer side of thecamera unit 20. By disposing theprojector module 30 and thecamera unit 20 toward the right side of thecamera body 100, as shown in the figures, with theoptical axes battery chamber 10 located on the left side of thecamera body 100 is allowed to take up ample space while minimizing the bulk of the camera. - In addition, a
light emitting unit 51 of an electronic flash device is disposed at a position on one side of thecamera unit 20, above theprojector module 30. Illuminating light from thelight emitting unit 51 is radiated to the front through a light emission window located at the front surface of thecamera body 100. With thelight emitting unit 51 disposed in the space formed by theprojector module 30 and thecamera unit 20 as described above, the space inside thecamera body 100 is utilized more efficiently and since the light emission window is disposed in close proximity to a side of a lens window of thecamera unit 20, optimal lighting is assured. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , acapacitor 52, which stores an electrical charge for flash light emission, is disposed in the triangular space formed by thehorizontal portion 30B and thevertical portion 30C of theprojector module 30. Aside wall 11 of thebattery chamber 10 is present to the left of theprojector module 30. Thecapacitor 52 is disposed in the longitudinally-elongated rectangular space enclosed by thehorizontal portion 30B, thevertical portion 30C, thelight emitting unit 51 and thebattery chamber 10. As shown in the figure, thecapacitor 52 assumes a shape substantially identical to the shape of the rectangular space, assuring highly efficient utilization of the available space within thecamera body 100. This means that the digital camera can be miniaturized to a maximum extent. Furthermore, since this structure allows thelight emitting unit 51 and thecapacitor 52 to be disposed in close proximity to each other, they can be wired easily and efficiently. - The
liquid crystal panel 34 of theprojector module 30 protrudes slightly toward thecamera unit 20 relative to thevertical portion 30C. In the space formed between this protruding portion and thevertical portion 30C, part of the imageblur correction unit 21 b of thecamera unit 20 is disposed. As a result, further efficiency is achieved in the utilization of the available space. - It is to be noted that, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 , atripod seat 53 located at the bottom of theprojector module 30, a terminal 54 through which an external device is connected, a liquid crystal monitor 55 at which images and the like are displayed toward the outside and the like are also disposed inside thecamera body 100. - An explanation has been given above in reference to the first embodiment on an example in which an image recorded in the memory card loaded at the
card slot 40 is projected via theprojector module 30. However, the present invention is not limited to this example and it may be adopted in a structure that allows images recorded in an internal memory (not shown) or image data obtained from an external device via the terminal 54 to be projected via theprojector module 30. - Variation of the First Embodiment
- A
camera unit 200 in a variation of the first embodiment includes a mechanical imageblur correction mechanism 25 that corrects image blur by displacing the image sensor of theimaging unit 23, in place of the optical imageblur correction mechanism 21 b, as shown inFIG. 4 . Thecamera unit 200 includes a vertical portion ranging along the longer side of thecamera unit 200 and a horizontal portion protruding along the direction perpendicular to the vertical portion, and assumes an overall L-shape. It is to be noted that the photographicoptical system 21 and theimaging unit 23 are disposed at the vertical portion, whereas the mechanical imageblur correction mechanism 25 is disposed at the horizontal portion. - In addition, a
projector module 300 is disposed so that itshorizontal portion 30B protrudes to the right inFIG. 4 from thebend portion 30A. Thus, thelight source 31 at thehorizontal portion 30B set further toward thecamera unit 200 relative to thebend portion 30A. - The
capacitor 52, which stores the electrical charge for the flash light emission, is disposed in the space enclosed by thecamera unit 200 and theprojector module 300. Viewed from above, thecamera body 100, thelight emitting unit 51 and thecapacitor 52 of the electronic flash device, thehorizontal portion 30B of theprojector module 300 and the mechanical imageblur correction mechanism 25 of thecamera unit 200 are disposed in the order of; thelight emitting portion 51, thecapacitor 52, thehorizontal portion 30B and the mechanical imageblur correction mechanism 25. - In reference to
FIG. 5 , the second embodiment of the present invention is explained. It is to be noted that inFIG. 5 , the same reference numerals are assigned to components similar to those in the first embodiment described above and that the following explanation focuses on differences from the first embodiment. - In contrast with the projector module in the first embodiment, a
projector module 310 in the second embodiment assumes a structure in which thePBS 33 and theliquid crystal panel 34 are disposed over a significant distance from each other and thePBS 33 and the projectinglens 35 are set over a short distance from each other. As a result, theprojector module 310 assumes a substantially T-shape overall. - As shown in
FIG. 5 , theprojector module 310 is disposed at the right end of thecamera body 100, with a radiation window formed at the right side surface of thecamera body 100 facing opposite the projectinglens 35. Light transmitted through the projectinglens 35 is projected to the right inFIG. 5 via a transparentprotective plate 60 fitted in the radiation window. Thecamera unit 20 is disposed between theprojector module 310 and thebattery chamber 10. - It is to be noted that a
light emitting unit 57 that emits AF auxiliary light is also disposed in thecamera body 100. - In the second embodiment described above, too, the
projector module 310 and thecamera unit 20 are disposed so that theoptical axis 20X of thecamera unit 20 and theoptical axis 30X of theprojector module 310 run parallel to each other. As a result, advantages similar to those of the first embodiment are achieved. - The following is an explanation of a digital camera with a built-in projector achieved in the third embodiment of the present invention. Since the basic structure of the digital camera achieved in the third embodiment is similar to that of the digital camera in the first embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 1 through 3 , its explanation is omitted. The following explanation focuses on differences from the first embodiment. - In the first embodiment, the
capacitor 52 is disposed in the space defined by thevertical portion 30C and thehorizontal portion 30B of theprojector module 30. However, a member other than thecapacitor 52 may be disposed in this space. In other words, a component other than a component of theprojector module 30 may be disposed in the space formed by thevertical portion 30C and thehorizontal portion 30B. -
FIG. 6 presents an example in which part of abattery chamber 10′ is disposed in the space formed by thevertical portion 30C and thehorizontal portion 30B.FIG. 7 presents an example in which part of acard slot 40′ is disposed in the space formed by thevertical portion 30C andhorizontal portion 30B. Alternatively, part of or the entirety of thelight emitting unit 51 of the electronic flash device or a motor may be disposed in the space formed by thevertical portion 30C and thehorizontal portion 30B. - In addition, the
projector module 30 may assume a shape other than the L-shape and aprojector module 30′ assuming a substantially T-shape, as shown inFIG. 8 , maybe used. In this case, too, a space is formed by the vertical portion ranging along the longer side of theprojector module 30′ and the horizontal portion protruding sideways from the vertical portion. By disposingappropriate members member 61 disposed above the horizontal portion may be, for instance, a light emitting unit, which emits AF auxiliary light. - The following is an explanation of a digital camera with a built-in projector achieved in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Since the basic structure of the digital camera achieved in the fourth embodiment is similar to that of the digital camera in the first embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 1 through 3 , its explanation is omitted. The following explanation focuses on differences from the first embodiment. - The direction along which an image is projected by the
projector module 30, i.e., the direction along which the optical axis of the light reflected at themirror 36 extends, matches the horizontal direction along which thecamera body 100 may be held in a lateral orientation. However, by setting the direction of the optical axis of the light reflected at themirror 36 with a slight upward offset relative to the horizontal direction, the eclipse of projected light at the surface where the camera is placed can be minimized. - Now, a positional relationship that may be assumed by the
projector module 30 and thebarrier drive motor 22 a, which rotates thelens barrier 22, is explained. - As shown in
FIG. 9 , aninclining wall 30D inclining toward the front of thecamera body 100, i.e., toward the subject, is formed at thevertical portion 30C of theprojector module 30. Themirror 36 is installed on the inside of theinclining wall 30D. In the fourth embodiment, thebarrier drive motor 22 a is disposed in close proximity along the outer surface of theinclining wall 30D so as to minimize the extent to which themotor 22 a protrudes upward and rearward relative to theprojector module 30. - The
barrier drive motor 22 a and thelight emitting unit 52 are disposed in this order above theprojector module 30, as shown inFIG. 1 . By disposing thebarrier drive motor 22 a along the outer surface of theinclining wall 30D, the extent to which themotor 22 a protrudes from the upper end of theprojector module 30 can be minimized. This, in turn, makes it possible to minimize the distance between thelight emitting unit 52 and theprojector module 30, thereby minimizing the height of thecamera body 100. In addition, as shown inFIG. 9 , thebarrier drive motor 22 a does not protrude along the rearward direction from theprojector module 30 at all. Namely, thebarrier drive motor 22 a is disposed so that it does not project out beyond the rear surface of theprojector module 30. As a result, the distance between themain substrate 56 and theprojector module 30 can be kept to a minimum so as to minimize the thickness of thecamera body 100. - As described above, the
barrier drive motor 22 a is disposed in close proximity to the incliningportion 30D of theprojector module 30 in the fourth embodiment. Instead of thebarrier drive motor 22 a, a zoom motor that drives the zoom lens included in the photographicoptical system 21 or a focus motor that drives the focus lens in the photographicoptical system 21 may be disposed in close proximity to the incliningportion 30D. Alternatively, thecapacitor 52 may be disposed in close proximity to the incliningportion 30D. -
FIG. 10 illustrates how an image maybe projected through a side surface of thecamera body 100. Aprojector module 320 in this example is disposed over the area at the right end of thecamera body 100 inFIG. 10 . A radiation window through which light transmitted through the projectinglens 35 is radiated to the outside of thecamera body 100 is formed at the right side surface of thecamera body 100. Thelight emitting unit 51 of the electronic flash device is disposed at a position that is in close proximity to the outer surface of theinclining wall 30D of theprojector module 320. - In the first through fourth embodiments described above, a projector module is invariably installed in a digital camera. However, the present invention is not limited to this example and it may be adopted in a camera-equipped portable telephone that includes a projector module, another type of electronic device that includes a projector module or a device with a built-in projector that does not have a photographing function.
- The above described embodiments are examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of invention.
Claims (2)
1. A camera with a built-in projector, comprising:
a camera unit equipped with photographing components including an optical system; and
a projector module equipped with a projecting optical system, with an optical axis extending along a longer side of the projector module running substantially parallel to an optical axis of the camera unit extending along a longer side of the camera unit.
2-31. (canceled)
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US12/073,004 US7881605B2 (en) | 2007-03-02 | 2008-02-28 | Camera with built-in projector and projector device |
US12/860,889 US8213789B2 (en) | 2007-03-02 | 2010-08-21 | Camera with built-in projector and projector device |
US13/494,979 US20120251093A1 (en) | 2007-03-02 | 2012-06-12 | Camera with built-in projector and projector device |
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US13/494,979 Abandoned US20120251093A1 (en) | 2007-03-02 | 2012-06-12 | Camera with built-in projector and projector device |
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2010
- 2010-08-21 US US12/860,889 patent/US8213789B2/en active Active
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2012
- 2012-06-12 US US13/494,979 patent/US20120251093A1/en not_active Abandoned
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US20080001916A1 (en) * | 2004-10-05 | 2008-01-03 | Nikon Corporation | Electronic Device |
US20080024738A1 (en) * | 2004-11-19 | 2008-01-31 | Nikon Corporation | Projector Device and Portable Telephone |
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US20070126997A1 (en) * | 2005-12-05 | 2007-06-07 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Digital micro-mirror device assembly and optical projection system using the same |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US7881605B2 (en) | 2011-02-01 |
US20080212957A1 (en) | 2008-09-04 |
US8213789B2 (en) | 2012-07-03 |
US20100316370A1 (en) | 2010-12-16 |
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Legal Events
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