JP5788045B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus having an operation ring that rotates around a lens barrel.

  Conventionally, a mechanism for adjusting the focus by operating an operation ring of a video camera has been proposed (Patent Document 1).

  In this proposal, an operation ring is rotatably arranged on the outer periphery of the lens barrel, and a pattern ring having a plurality of notches in the circumferential direction is attached to one end of the operation ring so as to be rotatable together with the operation ring. Yes.

  A motor that drives the lens barrel by identifying the rotation direction and the rotation angle of the operation ring by detecting the notch of the pattern ring with a photo interrupter attached to the lens barrel side during the rotation operation of the operation ring. The driving direction and the driving amount are determined.

JP-A-5-11163

  However, in Patent Document 1, since the pattern ring for detecting the rotation direction and the rotation angle of the operation ring is provided integrally with the operation ring in the optical axis direction, the size in the optical axis direction of the imaging device increases. It becomes the cause which prevents thinning.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the length of an imaging device in the optical axis direction and reduce the thickness without reducing the detection accuracy when the operation ring is rotated .

To achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus of the present invention is at least partly et provided outside the lens barrel, and rotating a rotatable operation member has a rotation direction and rotation amount of said rotary operation member Detecting means for detecting, and a click force generation mechanism for generating a click force when the rotation operation member is rotated, and the rotation operation member is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens barrel. a plurality of engaged portions and a plurality of detected portions on the surface and is made form, the click force generating mechanism engages which is arranged to engage one of the plurality of engaged portions and covering member, the engaging member has a biasing member for biasing said engaged portion, said detecting means and the clicking force generating mechanism, when viewed from the front Symbol optical axis direction, to each other non-overlapping is arranged so as, the detecting device, the engagement Said member is formed in a region within 90 ° along the circumferential direction of the rotation operating member about said optical axis from the position of the engaged portion engaged to detect the detected portion characterized by Tei Rukoto disposed.

According to the present invention, even if a rotation operation member capable of rotation operation is provided on the lens barrel, the length in the optical axis direction of the imaging device is reduced without reducing the detection accuracy when the operation ring is rotated. The thickness can be reduced by shortening.

It is the perspective view which looked at the digital camera which is an example of the embodiment of the imaging device of the present invention from the front side. It is the perspective view which looked at the digital camera shown in FIG. 1 from the back side. It is a rear view of a front cover unit. It is a disassembled perspective view of a front cover unit. It is the figure which expanded a part of the circumferential direction of the annular member. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the light beam reflection position of a photo reflector. It is a timing chart figure of the output signal of two photo reflectors. It is a figure which shows the state which rotated the annular member 0.5 degree centering on the steel ball.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a digital camera as an example of an embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention as seen from the front side, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the digital camera shown in FIG.

  1 and 2, in the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, an operation ring 2, a lens barrel 3 and an auxiliary light window 9 are arranged on the front side of the apparatus main body 1A, and a liquid crystal display unit 11 and A cross key 12 or the like is arranged. A mode dial 5, a release button 6, a switching button 7, a power button 8, a pop-up strobe 10, and a zoom dial 13 are disposed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1A.

  When the digital camera 1 is activated by pressing the power button 8, the lens barrel 3 is extended to the wide position. Next, the mode dial 5 is operated to adjust, for example, Tv: shutter speed priority AE mode.

  At this time, it is assumed that the set value of the shutter speed is 1/60. In this state, when the operation ring 2 rotatably attached to the lens barrel 3 is rotated by one click in the clockwise direction when viewed from the back side of the apparatus main body 1A via a click mechanism 41 described later, the shutter speed is The adjacent value set in advance, for example, 1/50 is set. Conversely, when the operation ring 2 is rotated by one click in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the back side of the apparatus main body 1A, the shutter speed is set to a value adjacent to the opposite side, for example, 1/80.

  The set value of the shutter speed is changed according to the rotation amount of the operation ring 2, and when the operation ring 2 is rotated three clicks clockwise when viewed from the back side of the apparatus main body 1A, the shutter speed is 1/50. , 1/40, 1/30, and 1/30. The set value of the shutter speed can be confirmed by the liquid crystal display unit 11 together with the through image at the time of shooting. The details of the click mechanism 41 that generates a click feeling in the operation ring 2 and the detection method of the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the operation ring 2 will be described later.

  Further, even when the mode is Tv: shutter speed priority AE mode, various parameters can be changed by rotating the operation ring 2 by the switching button 7. For example, when the switching button 7 is pressed once, the setting parameter is changed from the shutter speed to the ISO sensitivity.

  At this time, when the operation ring 2 is rotated by three clicks in the clockwise direction when viewed from the back side of the apparatus main body 1A, the ISO sensitivity setting value transitions to 500, 640, 800 when the initial value is 400, The ISO sensitivity is set to 800. Conversely, when the operation ring 2 is rotated three clicks counterclockwise when viewed from the back side of the apparatus main body 1A, the ISO sensitivity setting value transitions to 320, 250, and 200 when the initial value is 400. .

  The parameters that can be set include, for example, the exposure value, aperture value, white balance, zoom position of the lens barrel 3, focus position in the manual focus mode, in addition to the shutter speed and ISO sensitivity.

  Also, in modes other than the shutter speed priority AE mode, the same setting as described above can be performed by operating the operation ring 2 only by changing the parameters that can be set. It is also possible to change the mode to the manual mode, change the shutter speed with the operation ring 2, and change the aperture value with the cross key 12. In the reproduction mode, it is also possible to perform image forwarding, enlargement / reduction, and the like by rotating the operation ring 2.

  Next, a configuration example of the front cover unit to which the operation ring 2 is assembled will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. 3 is a rear view of the front cover unit, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the front cover unit.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front cover unit includes an operation ring 2, a front cover 4, an auxiliary light window 9, a resin base 21, an annular member 22, a click mechanism 41, and detection means 42.

  On the resin base 21 which is an example of the base member of the present invention, the holding members 25 and 27 of the click mechanism 41 and the detection means 42 and the auxiliary light window 9 are positioned and fixed, and the operation ring 2 and the annular member 22 are rotatable. Attached to. In this embodiment, since the front cover 4 is made of metal, the front cover 4 and the resin base 21 are separated. However, when the front cover 4 is made of resin, the front cover 4 and the resin base 21 Can be formed as an integral molded product of resin.

  The click mechanism 41 includes a steel ball 23 as an example of a ball member of the present invention, a spring 24 as an urging member, a holding member 25 and a conductive member 26, and a resin with screws 29a and the like with the annular member 22 interposed therebetween. Fastened to the base 21. The operation ring 2 is electrically connected to a member having a ground potential (not shown) through the annular member 22, the steel ball 23, and the spring 24 by the conductive member 26. In this embodiment, since the operation ring 2 is made of metal, the conductive member 26 is provided. However, if the operation ring 2 is a non-conductive member such as resin, the conductive member 26 is omitted. Can do.

  The detecting means 42 includes a holding member 27 and a detecting flexible 28, and is fastened to the resin base 21 with screws 29 b or the like with the annular member 22 interposed therebetween. Two photo reflectors 31a and 31b (see FIG. 6) are mounted on the detection flex 28. The detection flex 28 is connected to a main body side connector (not shown), but is formed in a long shape as shown in the figure for easy assembly.

  Here, the click mechanism 41 is disposed in a substantially triangular space 51a formed between the lens barrel 3 and the bottom surface of the apparatus main body 1A, as shown in FIG. The detection means 42 is also disposed in a substantially triangular space 51b formed between the lens barrel 3 and the bottom surface of the apparatus main body 1A at a position symmetrical to the space 51a.

  In this way, by effectively utilizing the empty space formed between the lens barrel 3 and the bottom surface of the apparatus main body 1A, the click mechanism 41 and the detection means can be obtained without increasing the size of the digital camera 1 in the optical axis direction. 42 can be arranged. In the present embodiment, the click mechanism 41 and the detection means 42 are arranged in separate spaces, but both may be arranged in one space.

  The resin base 21 is fixed to the front cover 4 by fixing means such as double-sided tape or adhesive. The operation ring 2 is prevented from coming off in the optical axis direction by engaging with the annular member 22 with the front cover 4 and the resin base 21 sandwiched therebetween. Attached to the front cover 4 so as to be rotatable integrally with the annular member 22.

  Here, in the present embodiment, in order to reduce the size of the apparatus main body 1A, three convex portions 2a formed at 120 ° apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the operation ring 2 are annularly formed corresponding to the convex portions 2a. It engages with three holes 22 a formed in the member 22. However, this is not always necessary, and the operation ring 2 may be fixed to the annular member 22 with screws or the like.

  Next, a method for detecting the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the click mechanism 41 and the operation ring 2 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a part of the annular member 22 in the circumferential direction.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the annular member 22 that rotates integrally with the operation ring 2 has a plurality of openings 22 b formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on a surface orthogonal to the optical axis direction of the digital camera 1. (In the figure, 36 places are formed at intervals of 10 ° in the circumferential direction).

  The opening 22b is located on the outer peripheral side of the annular member 22 and has a wide circumferential portion 22y having a long circumferential dimension and a radially inner side of the wide portion 22y. The opening 22b has a narrower circumferential length than the wide portion 22y. Part 22x. Of the opening 22b, the narrow portion 22x is used for the click mechanism 41, and the wide portion 22y is used for detecting the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the operation ring 2.

  Among the narrow portions 22x of the plurality of openings 22b, the steel balls 23 are disposed in one narrow portion 22x in a state of being biased toward the annular member 22 by the spring 24. At this time, the steel ball 23 is disposed so that the center thereof is located at the center in the circumferential direction of the narrow portion 22x.

  When the operation ring 2 is rotated, the annular member 22 rotates integrally with the operation ring 2, and the steel ball 23 that can be engaged with the opening 22b is engaged with the narrow portion 22x of the annular member 22. Or by sliding on the surface between the openings 22b of the annular member 22, a click feeling is generated. In addition, a desired click force can be obtained by adjusting the circumferential width dimension X of the narrow portion 22x of the opening 22b according to the diameter of the steel ball 23 or adjusting the biasing force of the spring 24. Can do.

  For detection of the rotation direction and amount of rotation of the operation ring 2, two photo reflectors 31a and 31b mounted on the detection flex 28 of the detection means 42 for optically detecting the opening 22b are used.

The photo reflectors 31a and 31b are on a pitch circle passing through the center in the radial direction of the wide portion 22y of the opening 22b of the annular member 22, and when the click operation is stopped, 1/4 of the angle 5 ° in the circumferential direction of the wide portion 22y. It is arranged so that the light reflection position coincides with the position of (5/4 °). In Figure 5, two photo-reflectors 31a, 31b light reflection position of is located 5/4 ° apart from each other in the circumferential direction.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the light reflection positions of the photo reflectors 31 a and 31 b are orthogonal to the optical axis direction of the digital camera 1 of the annular member 22 when the light beams emitted from the light emitting portions of the photo reflectors 31 a and 31 b are used. The position that hits the surface. When the click operation is stopped, the light beams emitted from the light emitting portions of the two photo reflectors 31a and 31b do not hit the surface of the annular member 22 and are not reflected, so both output signals are Low. When the light is reflected by the surface of the annular member 22 emitted from the light emitting portions of the two photo reflectors 31a and 31b and received by the light receiving portion, the output signal becomes High.

  FIG. 7 is a timing chart of output signals from the two photo reflectors 31a and 31b. In the figure, L represents Low and H represents High.

  As described above, when the click operation is stopped, the outputs of the two photo reflectors 31a and 31b are both low, and the click position is at the center of a section where the outputs of the two photo reflectors 31a and 31b are both low. This is to stabilize the output signals of the two photo reflectors 31a and 31b when the click operation is stopped.

  Further, in order to detect the rotation direction of the operation ring 2, the two photo reflectors 31a and 31b are arranged such that the other output signal is shifted by a quarter period with respect to the one output signal. In this embodiment, in order to reduce the size of the detection flex 28, when the click operation is stopped, the two photo reflectors 31a and 31b are arranged in the wide portion 22y of the opening 22b adjacent to each other (adjacent). You may arrange | position other than the opening part 22b on the condition that a signal shift | displaces 1/4 period.

  Although the method for detecting the rotation direction and the amount of rotation of the operation ring 2 has been described above, the annular member 22 needs to be rotated without being deviated from the detection means 42 in order to increase the detection accuracy.

  If the tightness of the fitting between the annular member 22 and the resin base 21 is reduced, rattling during rotation of the annular member 22 can be suppressed. However, in this case, sliding resistance during rotation increases, and the operation There is a possibility of impairing the operational feeling of the ring 2.

  Therefore, it is preferable to rotate the annular member 22 without shifting with respect to the detection means 42 while giving the annular member 22 a certain amount of rattling.

  In the present embodiment, by using the steel ball 23 and the spring 24 for the click mechanism 41, the annular member 22 is centered on the steel ball 23 by the biasing force of the spring 24 even if the annular member 22 has some backlash. It can be biased to the normal position. However, rattling during rotation of the annular member 22 around the steel ball 23 cannot be suppressed. In this case, the rotation mechanism of the annular member 22 can be improved by disposing the click mechanisms 41 at two positions apart from each other by 180 ° in the circumferential direction of the annular member 22, but the cost increases and the space is increased. It is also difficult.

  FIG. 8 is a view showing a state in which the annular member 22 is rotated by 0.5 ° around the steel ball 23.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the vicinity of the steel ball 23, the deviation of the opening 22 b of the annular member 22 used for detecting the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the operation ring 2 is small. Deviation increases. Therefore, in order to improve the detection accuracy, it is preferable to arrange the photo reflectors 31a and 31b of the detection means 42 in the vicinity of the steel ball 23.

  In the present embodiment, in consideration of the connection of the detection flexible 28 to the main body side connector and the space for arranging the detection means 42, the detection means is located at a position approximately 90 ° away from the steel ball 23 in the circumferential direction of the annular member 22. 42 photo reflectors 31a and 31b are arranged. As described above, by arranging the photo reflectors 31a and 31b of the detecting means 42 in a region within about 90 ° in the circumferential direction of the annular member 22 from the steel ball 23, rattling during rotation of the annular member 22 is detected with accuracy. Can be reduced.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, since the click mechanism 41 and the detection means 42 are arranged in the space formed between the lens barrel 3 and the bottom surface of the apparatus main body 1A, the operation ring 2 is provided. A reduction in thickness can be achieved by shortening the length of the digital camera 1 in the optical axis direction.

  In addition, since the click mechanism 41 can generate a click feeling when the operation ring 2 is rotated, the parameter can be easily set to a desired value.

  Furthermore, the photoreflectors 31a and 31b of the detecting means 42 are arranged in a region within about 90 ° in the circumferential direction of the annular member 22 from the steel ball 23, and the influence of the rattling during rotation of the annular member 22 on the detection accuracy. Therefore, the detection accuracy by the detection means 42 can be increased.

  The configuration of the present invention is not limited to that exemplified in the above embodiment, and the material, shape, dimensions, form, number, arrangement location, and the like can be changed as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is.

2 Operation ring 3 Lens barrel 21 Resin base 22 Annular member 22b Opening 23 Steel ball 41 Click mechanism 42 Detection means

Claims (5)

At least a part is found provided outside the lens barrel, and rotating rotatable operation member is,
Detecting means for detecting a rotation direction and a rotation amount of the rotation operation member;
A click force generation mechanism that generates a click force when the rotation operation member is rotated;
Wherein the rotation operating member is made more engaged portions and a plurality of detected portions that form on the surface substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens barrel,
The click force generation mechanism includes an engagement member arranged to engage with any of the plurality of engaged portions, and an urging force that urges the engagement member toward the engaged portion . A member, and
It said detecting means and the clicking force generating mechanism, before Symbol viewed from the optical axis direction, are arranged so as not to overlap each other,
The detection means is formed in a region within 90 ° from the position of the engaged portion with which the engagement member is engaged , along the circumferential direction of the rotation operation member with the optical axis as a center . to detect the detected portion, disposed imaging apparatus according to claim Tei Rukoto. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects a rotation direction and a rotation amount of the rotation operation member by optically detecting the detected portion . Width in the circumferential direction of the rotation operating member in which one of the detected part is occupied, to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that greater than the width of the circumferential direction of the rotation operating member in which one of the engaged portion occupies The imaging device described. The width in the circumferential direction of the rotation operating member in which one of the detected portion occupied periphery of the rotation operating member, wherein the one end of the detection portion to the other end of another of the detection portion adjacent to the portion to be detected occupies The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the detected parts are formed so that a width in a direction matches. The lens barrel is disposed in the imaging device such that a substantially triangular space is formed between the lens barrel and the bottom surface of the imaging device,
5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit and the click force generation mechanism are disposed in the substantially triangular space. 6.