JP2007067717A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus which surely radiates heat from communication functions without enlarging it, and meets the communication function without attenuating communication characteristics. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus comprises a base 1, an antenna cover 2, an antenna module board 3, a board 4, a main frame 9, a space unit 12, a heat conductive member 13, a coupling upside 16 and a coupling underside 17. The imaging apparatus body unit is joined to a communication unit with the coupling upside and underside 16, 17 of the base 1, and the space unit 12 is disposed between both units and the heat conductive member 13 for radiating heat from a module 3b in a part of the space unit 12. The base 1 is fixed to the main frame 9 by screw fixtures 1b and fixed to the main frame 9 by claws 1a. The antenna cover 2 is fixed to the coupling upside 16 of the base 1 with claws 2a and fixed to the coupling underside 17 of the base 1 by screw fixtures 2b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus suitable for application to a case where heat generated from a communication function part is radiated in an imaging apparatus having a function of performing wireless communication with the outside.

  Conventionally, in order not to attenuate the communication function by the antenna, the communication function part is formed of a member other than metal with respect to the body part made of metal on the outside, and the communication function part is arranged on the grip part or the lens cap part. An imaging device has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, since the communication function by the antenna is greatly influenced by the human body, in order to avoid the influence of the human body, the communication device unit is arranged above the imaging device unit and spaced apart from the location where the shutter button of the imaging device unit is disposed. An imaging device has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2001-333307 A JP 2004-56711 A

  In recent years, in an imaging device having a communication function, the communication unit has been designed to operate the communication function while consuming a large amount of power in order to increase the communication function of the communication unit. . Therefore, there is a problem of how to satisfy the communication function without reducing the antenna characteristics by cooling the communication unit without increasing the size of the electronic device main body and without affecting the human body.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the antenna characteristics are not easily attenuated. However, when the communication function unit is arranged in the grip unit, a heat dissipation effect cannot be obtained because the human body is in direct contact with the antenna unit. Also, aggressive heat dissipation treatment is impossible. The technique described in Patent Document 2 also has a problem that the communication device unit cannot be cooled because there is no space between the imaging device unit and the communication device unit.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that can accurately dissipate a communication function part without increasing its size and can satisfy a communication function without attenuating communication characteristics.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a main body unit in which an imaging element that captures a subject image is disposed, and a communication unit in which a communication function part is disposed. The communication unit is connected to the communication unit through at least two or more connection parts, and an air-permeable gap is provided between the main unit and the communication unit.

  According to the present invention, the main body unit and the communication unit are connected via at least two connecting portions, and a gap portion that allows ventilation is provided between the two units. It is possible to accurately radiate the communication function part. Furthermore, it is possible to satisfy the communication function without attenuating the communication characteristics.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of each part of the imaging apparatus, and FIG. 3 shows the configuration and coordinate system of the imaging apparatus. It is a perspective view shown. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the base of the imaging device, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the antenna cover of the imaging device, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the antenna module substrate of the imaging device.

  1 to 6, the imaging device includes a base 1, an antenna cover 2, an antenna module substrate 3, a substrate 4, a top cover 7, a rear cover 8, a main frame 9, a front cover 10, a bottom cover 11, a space portion 12, and a heat. A conductive member 13, a lens barrel 14, a connecting upper part 16, and a connecting lower part 17 are provided.

  In the present embodiment, the imaging apparatus is equipped with a wireless communication function such as a wireless local area network (LAN) or a wireless USB (Universal Serial Bus), for example, and the imaging apparatus body unit and the communication unit are connected at two connecting portions ( The connecting upper portion 16 and the connecting lower portion 17) are connected. Further, in order to dissipate the communication unit while reducing the size of the image pickup apparatus, a space portion 12 that can be ventilated is provided between two connection portions of the image pickup apparatus main body unit and the communication unit. Have different fixing methods. Further, each cover constituting the housing of the image pickup apparatus uses a member other than a metal such as a synthetic resin so as to satisfy the communication function without attenuating the antenna characteristics.

  First, the configuration of each part of the imaging device main unit and the communication unit of the imaging device will be described in detail. The connection structure between the imaging device main unit and the communication unit and the space portion 12 will be described later.

  In the imaging apparatus, an exterior (outer casing) is configured by the front cover 10, the rear cover 8, the top cover 7, and the bottom cover 11. The main body unit of the image pickup apparatus is obtained by covering a main frame 9 that is a framework of the image pickup apparatus with a front cover 10, a rear cover 8, a top cover 7, and a bottom cover 11. The main frame 9 incorporates components such as the lens barrel 14, the substrate 4, the display unit, the battery storage unit, and an image sensor (not shown) that captures a subject image. In the communication unit, an antenna module substrate 3 is fixed to a base 1 and covered with an antenna cover 2. The base 1 and the antenna cover 2 are fixed to the image pickup apparatus main body by welding or adhesion, but fixing by a snap-fit structure can also be used.

  The base portion 1 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape that holds the antenna module substrate 3 and is combined with the antenna cover 2, and includes a claw portion 1 a disposed at one end portion (upper end portion) in the longitudinal direction and the other longitudinal portion. And a screw fixing portion 1b disposed at an end portion (lower end portion). Moreover, the upper end part and lower end part of the base 1 constitute a connection upper part 16 and a connection lower part 17 that connect the imaging apparatus main body unit and the communication unit. The base 1 is fixed to the main frame 9 by the screws 5 via the screw fixing portions 1b, and the lower connecting portion 17 is fixed to the main frame 9 by the engagement of the claw portions 1a.

  The antenna cover 2 is formed in a shape surrounding the base 1 that holds the antenna module substrate 3, and includes a claw portion 2 a disposed at one end (upper end) in the longitudinal direction and the other end (in the longitudinal direction ( And a screw fixing portion 2b disposed on the lower end portion. The antenna cover 2 is fixed to the upper connecting portion 16 of the base 1 by the claw portion 2a, and is fixed to the lower connecting portion 17 of the base 1 by the screw 6 via the screw fixing portion 2b. As a result, the antenna cover 2 is fixed to the imaging device body unit including the base 1, the top cover 7, the bottom cover 11, the main frame 9, and the like.

  The antenna module substrate 3 is mounted with an antenna portion 3a, a module portion 3b, and a connector portion 3c. The antenna unit 3a has a wireless communication function such as the wireless LAN or the wireless USB. The module part 3b is a board part that consumes a large amount of power and on which components responsible for the wireless communication function are mounted, and serves as a heat generating area of the antenna module board 3. For this reason, the back surface of the module part 3 b is brought into close contact with the base part 1, and heat is radiated to the heat conduction member 13 disposed in the space part 12 located outside the base part 1, thereby cooling by the outside air. The connector portion 3c is connected to the board 4 incorporated in the main frame 9.

  The substrate 4 electrically connects the imaging device main unit and the communication unit, and is in a state along the inner side of the lower connecting portion 17 of the base portion 1 and at a position connecting the base portion 1 and the main frame 9. It is arranged in the clearance part to be formed. The clearance portion is formed by engaging the lower side portion 17 of the base portion 1 with the main frame 9 by the claw portion 1a, not by fixing with screws. Due to the engagement structure between the base 1 and the main frame 9, it is possible to secure a clearance portion through which the substrate 4 is passed at a position connecting the base 1 and the main frame 9.

  Next, the connection structure between the imaging device main unit and the communication unit of the imaging device and the space portion 12 will be described.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, two portions of the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion of the imaging apparatus, that is, a joint upper portion 16 at the upper end portion in the longitudinal direction of the base portion 1 and a joint lower portion 17 at the lower end portion in the longitudinal direction. The structure is such that the imaging device main unit and the communication unit are connected (coupled) via each other. With this connection structure, a space portion 12 penetrating from the front side to the back side of the imaging device is formed between the imaging device main unit and the communication unit. The penetration direction of the space 12 in the imaging device is the Z direction of the coordinate system 15 shown in FIG. In addition, a heat conducting member 13 for dissipating heat from the module portion 3 b that is a heat source of the antenna module substrate 3 is disposed in a part of the space portion 12.

  At the time of assembling each part of the image pickup apparatus, an antenna cover having a screw fixing portion 1b having a large use space for fixing screws at the upper end portion and a screw fixing portion 2b having a large use space at the lower end portion. 2 combined.

  That is, the base 1 is fixed to the main frame 9 by the screw fixing portion 1b, and is fixed to the main frame 9 by the claw portion 1a. Further, the antenna cover 2 is fixed to the upper connecting portion 16 of the base 1 by the claw portion 2a, and is fixed to the lower connecting portion 17 of the base 1 by the screw fixing portion 2b. The antenna cover 2 surrounds the base 1 that holds the antenna module substrate 3. As a result, the arrangement space and the use space of the antenna module substrate 3 can be reduced, and the entire imaging apparatus can be reduced in size.

  Next, arrangement | positioning of the heat conductive member 13 with respect to the space part 12 between the imaging device main body unit and communication unit of an imaging device is demonstrated.

  Corresponding to the module part 3b which is a heat generation source of the antenna module substrate 3, a heat conducting member 13 using aluminum or the like is disposed in a part of the space part 12 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the heat generated by the module part 3b of the antenna module substrate 3 can be dissipated to the space part 12 via the heat conducting member 13, and a more efficient heat dissipation effect can be obtained. In this case, the heat conducting member 13 can be disposed in an area where the human body is not touched by setting the heat conducting member 13 to 6 mm or less similarly to the width of the space portion 12, and safety is also ensured.

  Next, antenna characteristics of the antenna unit 3a of the antenna module substrate 3 of the imaging device will be described.

  In general, it is said that the antenna characteristics of a communication device usually have no functional influence if the distance between the antenna and the metal object is 6 mm or more. In the space 12 between the imaging device main unit and the communication unit of the imaging device, considering the cooling effect of gas such as air, the thickness of the base 1 and the thickness of the antenna module substrate 3 are not less than 1 mm. The width will be an appropriate number.

  In the present embodiment, the width of the space 12 is set to about 1 to 6 mm in consideration of the antenna characteristics and the cooling effect. As a result, when the imaging apparatus body unit and the communication unit are connected and connected by the upper side portion 16 and the connection lower side portion 17, the space portion 12 is enclosed while maintaining the strength of the connection portion of the communication unit with respect to the imaging device body unit. The configuration is realized. Along with this, a configuration is realized in which the human body is prevented from coming into contact with the space portion 12 which is a heat radiating portion of the module portion 3b of the antenna module substrate 3.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating antenna characteristics.

  In FIG. 7, the horizontal axis indicates the radio frequency (GHz), the vertical axis indicates the gain (radio strength) (dB), and the parameter d in the graph indicates the distance between the metal object and the antenna. Yes. As the gain value increases in the negative direction (difference value from 0), it means that the wireless strength increases, and the effects such as the increase of the wireless reach, the absence of wireless transmission / reception errors, and the loss of directivity, etc. It becomes the numerical value which shows. In this case, an area where the gain value is −10 dB or less is an operable area of the antenna.

  On the other hand, the characteristic in the absence of a metal object near the antenna is indicated by an arrow (no metal), and almost coincides with the diagram of d = 6. When d = 4.5 and d = 2, the gain is attenuated as the metal object approaches the antenna, indicating deterioration of the antenna characteristics. As described above, the antenna characteristics of the communication device usually have no functional influence if the distance between the antenna and the metal object is 6 mm or more.

  By the way, the communication function can be prevented from being attenuated by forming the casing of the communication device with a member other than metal. However, when the casing of a communication device is formed of a member other than metal, a synthetic resin material (PC (Polycarbonates), ABS resin, etc.) is usually used as the member other than metal, but the synthetic resin material has a thermal conductivity. It is difficult to obtain a low heat dissipation effect.

  In contrast, in the present embodiment, the housing of the imaging device is formed of a member other than a metal such as a synthetic resin, and a space that can be ventilated between two connecting portions of the imaging device body unit and the communication unit. 12 is disposed, and a heat conducting member 13 is disposed in a part of the space 12. Thereby, it becomes possible to cool by dissipating the heat generated from the three module portions 3 b of the antenna module substrate to the space portion 12 via the heat conducting member 13.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the imaging device body unit and the communication unit are connected via the connecting upper portion 16 and the connecting lower portion 17 of the base 1, and the imaging device body unit and the communication unit are connected. A space 12 that can be ventilated is disposed between the two. This makes it possible to accurately dissipate heat from the module portion 3b of the antenna module substrate 3 without increasing the size of the imaging device, and to satisfy the communication function without attenuating the antenna characteristics.

  In addition, a heat conducting member 13 is disposed in a part of the space 12 between the imaging device main unit and the communication unit. Thereby, the heat generated by the module part 3b of the antenna module substrate 3 can be dissipated to the space part 12 via the heat conducting member 13, and a more efficient heat dissipation effect can be obtained.

  Further, the width of the space 12 between the imaging device main unit and the communication unit is set to about 1 to 6 mm in consideration of the antenna characteristics and the cooling effect. Accordingly, it is possible to realize a configuration that surrounds the space portion 12 while maintaining the strength of the connection portion of the communication unit with respect to the imaging apparatus main body unit. At the same time, it is possible to realize a configuration that prevents the human body from contacting the space 12 that is the heat dissipation portion.

  In addition, when assembling each part of the imaging apparatus, an antenna cover having a base 1 having a screw fixing portion 1b having a large use space for fixing screws at its upper end and a screw fixing portion 2b having a large use space at its lower end. 2 is combined. Along with this, it is possible to secure a clearance portion through which the substrate 4 is passed at a location where the base portion 1 and the main frame 9 are connected, and it is possible to reduce the arrangement space and use space of the antenna module substrate 3. As a result, the entire imaging apparatus can be reduced in size.

[Other embodiments]
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the heat conducting member 13 is disposed in the space 12 between the imaging device main unit and the communication unit has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of arranging the heat conducting member 13 in the space portion 12, a transparent light guide member made of a resin material such as PC may be arranged. When the light guide member is arranged, an operation during wireless communication of the communication unit (the antenna unit 3a and the module unit 3b of the antenna module substrate 3) of the imaging device is displayed, whether the communication status is good, This is suitable for displaying an abnormal state.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the imaging apparatus main body unit and the communication unit are connected to each other at two locations, that is, the upper end portion and the lower end portion is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. There may be at least two or more connection points between the imaging device main unit and the communication unit. For example, the imaging apparatus main body unit and the communication unit may be connected at three locations, that is, an upper end portion, a lower end portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween. Further, a heat conducting member may be disposed in the intermediate portion that is the connecting portion, and the connecting portion and the heat radiating portion may be used together.

  In the above-described embodiment, the imaging apparatus with a communication function is given as an example of the electronic apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to devices with various communication functions other than the imaging device.

It is a front view which shows the structure of the imaging device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of each component of an imaging device. It is a perspective view which shows the structure and coordinate system of an imaging device. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the base part of an imaging device. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the antenna cover of an imaging device. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the antenna module board | substrate of an imaging device. It is a figure which shows an antenna characteristic.

Explanation of symbols

1 base (communication unit)
1a claw part 1b screw fixing part 2 antenna cover (communication unit, cover member)
2a Claw part 2b Screw fixing part 3 Antenna module substrate (communication unit, communication substrate)
3a Antenna part (communication function part)
3b Module part (communication function part)
3c Connector section 4 Substrate 7 Top cover (main unit)
8 Rear cover (main unit)
9 Main frame (main unit)
10 Front cover (main unit)
11 Bottom cover (Main unit)
12 Space (gap)
13 Thermally conductive member (member with high thermal conductivity)
14 Lens tube (equipment body)
16 Connecting upper part (connecting part)
17 Lower part of connection (connecting part)

Claims (8)

A main unit in which an image sensor for capturing a subject image is disposed;
A communication unit in which a communication function part is disposed,
An imaging apparatus characterized in that the main body unit and the communication unit are connected via at least two or more connecting portions, and a gas permeable gap is provided between the main body unit and the communication unit. .   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a member having high thermal conductivity is disposed in a part of the gap between the main body unit and the communication unit.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a light guide member is disposed in a part of the gap between the main body unit and the communication unit. A board for electrically connecting the main unit and the communication unit;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is disposed in a state along the connection portion between the main body unit and the communication unit. A base part constituting the connecting part between the main unit and the communication unit;
A communication board on which the communication function part is disposed;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication substrate is held by the base and heat generated from the communication substrate is radiated to the gap portion. A cover member fixed to the base and covering the communication substrate;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base and the cover member are fixed at least at two locations, and at least one of the fixed locations is an engagement structure.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a width of the gap between the main body unit and the communication unit is set to a width in consideration of communication characteristics and a cooling effect.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is selected from a group including an imaging apparatus having a communication function.

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