JP2001005047A - Camera equipment equipped with lens protecting mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce space between the inner wall of a protective barrel and the periphery of an aperture and to miniaturize an entire device. SOLUTION: The camera equipment is provided with the lens protecting mechanism 3 for switching the opening and the closing of the aperture 20 which allows the transmission of light to an image pickup lens 6 in a device main body 1 where the aperture 20 is formed, and the mechanism 3 is composed of plural barriers 30 turning on a plane nearly orthogonal to the optical axis L of the lens 6 and the aperture 20 is partially covered with the barrier 30. Each barrier 30 is composed of plural covering plates 4 and 5 superposed each other, and the plates 4 and 5 are arranged so that they can turn in the same direction in a state where their pivotally supporting parts come close to each other, and they can be transferred between a developing state where their superposed part is small and a housing state where the superposed part is large. The plural plates 4 and 5 are arranged at positions where they cover the aperture 20 in the developing state and get out to the side of the aperture 20 in the housing state in cooperation with each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a camera device provided with a mechanism for protecting an imaging lens.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a conventional camera device (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-34438). This relates to a video camera, and forms a protective tube (2) on the front of the device body (1),
An imaging lens (6) for photographing a subject is provided inside the protection tube (2). The front end of the protective cylinder (2) is covered with a cover (25), and the cover (25) has an opening (20) that allows light to pass to the imaging lens (6). Inside the opening (20), a lens protection mechanism for switching between opening and closing of the opening (20)
(3) is provided. The lens protection mechanism (3) includes two plate-like barriers (30) (30) that rotate in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis L of the imaging lens (6). Lens protection mechanism (3)
Accordingly, the imaging lens (6) is protected from foreign matter intrusion from outside. FIGS. 11A and 11B are front views of the lens protection mechanism (3), in which the protection cylinder (2) is broken. The barriers (30) and (30) are pivotally supported (26) and (26) at the base end by the cover (25). As shown in FIG. 11 (a), the barrier (30) covers approximately half of the opening (20). Covering, the barriers (30) abut each other to cover the opening (20).

At the back of the lens protection mechanism (3), a turning plate (7) is provided coaxially with the optical axis L, and the turning plate (7) transmits light to the imaging lens (6). A window (71) allowing transmission is provided. The rotating plate (7) is connected to a switch button (27) for switching between power supply to the device and power supply stop, and the switch button (27) is a protective cylinder.
It moves up and down along the slot (28) formed on the peripheral surface of (2). A cam groove (78) is formed near the pivot (26) of each barrier (30) on the rotating plate (7), and a shaft protruding from the barrier (30) is provided.
(37) fits into the cam groove (78). When the switch button (27) is turned upward, the device is energized. As shown in FIG. 11 (b), the rotating plate (7) connected to the switch button (27) rotates around the optical axis L, and the cam groove (78) connects the barrier (30) to the pivot (26). ) Around the opening direction. The opening (20) is opened,
You can shoot. With the opening (20) open, the barrier
(30) is located in a space H formed between the inner wall of the protective tube (2) and the periphery of the opening (20). Barrier (30) is open (20)
Of the protective cylinder (2), the length of the space H along the radial direction of the protective cylinder (2) is larger than the radial length of the opening (20).

[0004]

It is desired to reduce the size of such a device, and it is necessary to reduce the size of the protective cylinder (2). However, as described above, since the length of the space H along the radial direction of the protective cylinder (2) is longer than the radial length of the opening (20), the size of the protective cylinder (2) is increased, and Becomes larger. Here, the aperture (20) is restricted by the relationship of the amount of light to the imaging lens (6), and the aperture (20) cannot be reduced. An object of the present invention is to reduce only the space between the inner wall of the protective tube (2) and the periphery of the opening (20) while keeping the size of the opening (20) as it is, and to reduce the size of the entire device.

[0005]

According to the camera device having the above-mentioned construction, the barrier (30) is composed of a plurality of cover plates (4) and (5) overlapping each other. ) (5) are pivoted (86) (87) close to the apparatus body (1). The respective cover plates (4) and (5) are connected to each other and are configured to be rotatable in the same direction, and are provided so as to be movable between a small deployed state where the overlapping part is small and a large stored state where the overlapping part is large. . A plurality of cover plates (4) and (5) are opened (20)
And is disposed at a position to escape to the side of the opening (20) in the housed state.

[0006]

[Operation and Effect] The closing position covering plates (4) and (5) cover the opening (20) in a state where the overlapping portions are small in a developed state. The imaging lens (6) is a cover plate (4) (5)
This protects against intrusion of foreign matter from outside. The open position cover plates (4) and (5) are arranged on the side of the opening (20) in a state where the overlapping portions are largely housed. At this time, the opening (2
0) is open. Cover plates (4) and (5) overlap and open (20)
Therefore, the space H required for housing the barrier (30) can be smaller than before, and the size of the entire device can be reduced while keeping the size of the opening (20).

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (Overall Configuration) An example of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In this example, a digital still camera is exemplified as the camera device. Figure 1 shows the main body of the device
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of (1), and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same. The device body (1) protrudes a protection tube (2) from the front surface of a box (10) in which batteries and the like are stored, and an opening (20) is formed at the front end of the protection tube (2).
Has been established. A lens protection mechanism (3) for switching between opening and closing of the opening (20) is provided inside the opening (20). The lens protection mechanism (3) is composed of a pair of barriers (30) and (30) which abut each other, and each barrier (30) is formed by two first and second cover plates (4) and (5) overlapping each other. Be composed. Each barrier (30) covers about half of the opening (20) and is motor-driven to open and close as described below. To energize the motor, a power button (11) provided on the upper surface of the box (10) is operated. As shown in FIG. 2, a lens barrel (60) including an imaging lens (6) is provided inside the lens protection mechanism (3), and each barrier (30) is provided with an optical axis L of the imaging lens (6). It opens and closes by rotating in a plane perpendicular to. The lens barrel (60) projects from the opening (20) where the barriers (30) and (30) are opened and exposed. In particular, during zoom photographing, the lens barrel (60) projects outward from the opening (20).

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration inside the protective cylinder (2), and the apparatus main body (1) is viewed from behind. Protection tube
(2) A support frame (35) in which barriers (30) and (30) are mounted, and a rack (70) on a surface facing the box body (10) with the optical axis L as the center of rotation.
And a holding cover (8) to which the rotating plate (7) is attached is housed. Two barriers (30) (30)
Are mounted symmetrically with respect to the optical axis L, and as described below,
The rotating plate (7) is connected to the barriers (30) and opens and closes the same. The protective cylinder (2) has a large opening (1) opened in front of the box (10).
2), and inside the large aperture (12), the imaging lens
(6) (see FIG. 5) is deployed. On the side of the large opening (12),
A motor (M) is attached, and the motor (M)
5), it is connected to the rack (70) on the rotating plate (7) via the intermediate gear (16).

The holding cover (8) shown in FIG. 3 has a mounting ring (80) at the center, a support frame (35), a rotating plate (7), and a mounting ring (8).
In each central part of (0), a through hole (36) that allows light to pass through, and a window (7
1) A transparent window (81) has been opened. On the holding cover (8), a small arc hole (82) is opened to the left of the mounting ring (80), and a large arc hole (83) is opened to the right. A small projection (72) and a large projection (73) project from the rotating plate (7) toward the holding cover (8). The small projection (72) and the large projection (73) are small arc holes (8
2), and both projections (72) (73) inside the holding cover (8)
The first and second detection switches (SW1) (SW1)
2) is provided.

(Close and open position detecting mechanism) FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b)
Is a lens protection mechanism (3), a rotating plate (7), a holding cover (8)
FIG. 5 is a rear view of the protection cylinder (2) with
FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view as viewed from the right side. Both detection switches (SW
1) (SW2) is mounted on the circuit board (17) and the motor
(M). As shown in FIG. 5, the rack (70) on the rotating plate (7) passes through the large arc hole (83) and meshes with the intermediate gear (16). A cam wall (74) projects forward from the rotating plate (7),
The cam wall (74) communicates with the barrier (30). As shown in FIG. 4 (a), in the closed position where the barriers (30) and (30) cover the opening (20), the small projection (72) pushes the first detection switch (SW1) to turn it on. As shown in FIG. 4 (b), in the open position where the rotating plate (7) is rotated from the closed position and the barriers (30) and (30) are opened, the large projection (73) is set to the second detection switch (SW2). Press) to turn it on.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the rotating plate (7) and the holding cover (8), as viewed from the side of the support frame (35) in FIG. The two cam walls (74) and (74) are provided on the rotating plate (7), and are arranged at positions symmetrical to each other with the optical axis L interposed therebetween. Cut out (7) from the periphery of the window hole (71) of the rotating plate (7).
5) (75) is overhanging. Mounting ring for holding cover (8)
From (80), two holding projections (84) and (84) protrude outward, and the notches (75) and (75) of the rotating plate (7) correspond to the holding projections (84) and (8).
Overlap with 4). FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the left pressing projection (84) in FIG. 6 as viewed from obliquely above. The holding protrusion (84) is a mounting ring
An annular receiving plate (85) is provided on the distal end side of the (80), and projects outward from the root of the mounting ring (80).

In order to attach the rotating plate (7) to the holding cover (8), the notches (75) and (75) of the rotating plate (7) are held down by the holding projections (84) and (84).
And the rotary plate (7) is brought into contact with the annular receiving plate (85). Next, the rotating plate (7) in FIG. 7 is slightly rotated counterclockwise. The holding projection (84) of the holding cover (8) covers the periphery of the window hole (71), and the rotating plate (7) is prevented from falling off from the holding cover (8). In this state, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the small projection (72) of the rotating plate (7) is moved to the first detection switch (SW).
1) is pushed in, and the barriers (30) and (30) cover the opening (20).

(Construction of Barrier) FIG. 8 is a front view of the first and second cover plates (4) and (5) constituting the barrier (30). For convenience of explanation, only one barrier (30) is used. Show. First cover plate (4)
Has a fitting tube (40) at the base end thereof, and protrudes the first projection (41) upward and the second projection (42) downward from the vicinity of the fitting cylinder (40). On the back surface of the support frame (35), a first cover plate (4)
A pivot (86) into which the fitting cylinder (40) is fitted is provided, and the pivot (8)
6) is fitted with a torsion spring (9). Torsion spring (9)
One leg piece is fitted into the support frame (35), and the other leg piece is in contact with the second projection (42) of the first cover plate (4), and the first cover plate (4)
Is urged in a counterclockwise direction. The second cover plate (5) overlaps the first cover plate (4) and has a fitting hole (50) at the base end. In the vicinity of the fitting hole (50), an elongated hole (51) that fits into the first projection (41) of the first cover plate (4) is opened. A fitting shaft (87) protrudes near the pivot (86) on the support frame (35), and a fitting hole (50) of the second cover plate (5) fits into the fitting shaft (87).

(Rotation from Closed Position to Opened Position) Closed Position FIG. 9 is a rear view of the support frame (35) and shows the closed position of the barrier (30). For convenience of explanation, only one barrier (30) is shown. The two cover plates (4) and (5) are in an unfolded state in which the overlapping portion is small, and cover the opening (20). As described above, the barrier (3
When (0) is in the closed position, the first detection switch (SW1) is ON as shown in FIG. Rotating plate
The cam wall (74) of (7) is in contact with the first projection (41) penetrating the long hole (51) of the second cover plate (5). The rotation plate (7) is driven by the motor (M) when the rack (70) shown in FIG. 5 meshes with the motor (M).

To open the transition state opening (20), the power button (11) (see FIG. 1) is operated. The motor (M) is energized, and the rotating plate (7) rotates clockwise from the position shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10 (a), the cam wall (74) is the first projection (41) of the first cover plate (4).
Press outward. The first cover plate (4) rotates clockwise about the pivot (86) against the torsion spring (9). The second cover plate connected to the first cover plate (4) through the long hole (51)
(5) rotates around the fitting shaft (87) in the same direction as the first cover plate (4). Opening position As shown in FIG. 10 (b), when the opening (20) is completely opened,
The two cover plates (4) and (5) reach a storage state in which the overlapped portion is enlarged, and are located on the side of the opening (20). FIG. 10 (b)
Here, the cam wall (74) is not shown for convenience of illustration. Fig. 4 (b)
The second detection switch (SW2) shown in Fig.
Power supply to (M) is stopped. The lens barrel (60) of FIG. 5 can be protruded and retracted through the opening (20). Since the cover plates (4) and (5) overlap and are located in the space between the periphery of the opening (20) and the protective tube (2), the space required for storing the barrier (30) is larger than in the past. It is small and the whole device can be miniaturized. In addition, barrier (3
When closing (0), the operation reverse to the above may be performed.

In the above example, two cover plates (4) and (5) are used, but three or more cover plates (4) and (5) may be used as long as they overlap each other. Although the lens protection mechanism (3) is used for a digital still camera, it can be applied not only to a video camera but also to a film-mounted camera device. However, in a digital still camera, a shutter mechanism for determining an exposure time is a so-called electronic shutter, and specifically, a CCD.
The input timing of light to the imaging lens (6) is determined based on the frequency supplied to an imaging element (not shown) such as.
In a film-mounted camera device, the shutter mechanism also serves to protect the imaging lens (6). However, in a camera device using an electronic shutter, an imaging lens is used.
(6) Lens protection mechanism to protect foreign objects from entering from outside
(3) is required separately.

The description of the above embodiments is for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof. Further, the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus main body.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an apparatus main body.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration inside a protection cylinder.

FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are rear views of a holding cylinder to which a lens protection mechanism, a rotating plate, and a holding cover are attached. FIG. 4 (a) shows a closed position of a barrier, and FIG. Is shown.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a rotating plate and a holding cover.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the left pressing projection of FIG. 5 as viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 8 is a front view of first and second cover plates.

FIG. 9 is a back view of the support frame, showing a closed position of the barrier.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are rear views of the holding cover, and FIG.
Indicates the middle of the opening of the barrier, and (b) indicates the opening position.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are front views of a lens protection mechanism, wherein FIG. 11A shows a closed position of a barrier, and FIG. 11B shows an opened position of the barrier.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a conventional camera device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Main unit (3) Lens protection mechanism (4) First cover plate (5) Second cover plate (6) Imaging lens (7) Rotating plate (20) Opening (30) Barrier (86) Axis (87) ) Fitting shaft

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An aperture which allows light to pass through an imaging lens (6).
A lens protection mechanism (3) for switching between opening and closing of the opening (20) is provided in the apparatus main body (1) having the (20) formed therein, and the lens protection mechanism (3) is attached to the optical axis L of the imaging lens (6). A plurality of barriers (30) (30) rotating in a plane substantially orthogonal to each other,
In a camera device in which the opening (20) is rotated to cover the opening (20), or is disengaged from the opening (20) to open the opening (20), the barrier (30) comprises a plurality of covering plates ( 4) and (5), each covering plate (4) (5) is pivoted (86) (87) in close proximity to the apparatus body (1), and each covering plate (4) (5) is A plurality of covering plates (4) and (5) are provided so as to be movable between an unfolded state in which the overlapping part is small and a stowed state in which the overlapping part is large. A camera device which is arranged at a position which covers the opening (20) in the unfolded state and escapes to the side of the opening (20) in the stored state. 2. A rotation plate (7) whose rotation center is located on the optical axis L of the imaging lens (6) faces the barriers (30) (30).
Between the rotating plate (7) and the cover plates (4) and (5), the cover plates (4) and (5)
The camera device according to claim 1, further comprising a cam mechanism configured to rotate the camera. 3. The cam mechanism is connected to one of the plurality of cover plates (4) and (5), and the other cover plate (5) is connected to the first cover plate (4).
The camera device according to claim 2, wherein the camera device is interlocked with the plurality of cover plates (4).