JP3733240B2 - Interchangeable lens electrical connector and contact pin assembly method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical connector for an interchangeable lens, and more particularly to an interchangeable lens barrel having a connector for connecting an electrical device on the interchangeable lens side and an electrical device on the camera body side.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a camera that performs automatic exposure control and automatic focus adjustment, it is necessary to transmit information such as an aperture value and a conversion coefficient of the photographing lens to the camera body side, and these pieces of information are electrically performed. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 58-63929 has been proposed as a connector using movable contact pins, and this applicant has also proposed as Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-122328. Along with the auto-focusing of cameras, single-lens reflex cameras with a motor or the like in the camera body or interchangeable lens barrel are on the market.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The contact pin shown in the conventional example is held by a conductive leaf spring or a conductive coil spring and pressed against the camera side contact. An electric signal or electric power is connected to the lens side electric circuit via the conductive leaf spring or the conductive coil spring. However, if a drive device such as a motor is provided in the interchangeable lens, the power supply current is supplied to the lens-side circuit via a conductive leaf spring or conductive coil spring. The spring property of the elastic spring is lost, the contact pressure of the contact pin is weakened, the continuity is poor, and malfunction or operation failure due to signal failure may occur. In order to avoid this, it is possible to prevent some of the springiness by increasing the width and thickness of the conductive spring, but it is difficult to cope with the increase in the number of contact points, and also increases the spring pressure. There were problems with durability, such as causing scratches on the contacts.
[0004]
The second problem to be solved by the present invention is that in the conventional example, the contact pin is pressed against the mating contact with the force of a spring, and further, a conductive material is used for the spring to conduct from the circuit inside the lens to the contact portion. Therefore, the number of springs required was the number of contacts. For example, in the connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-63929, a conductive material is used for the metal plate spring member, and the structure is such that the conductivity is used. Therefore, the spring members are independent from each other and insulated. There is a need. For this reason, the number of spring members is required as many as the number of contact points, and there are problems such as an increase in the number of parts and a complicated operation during assembly repair and disassembly. Further, the spring member generally has a problem that it is likely to be expensive due to the necessity of adjustment, and it is difficult to maintain the quality.
[0005]
The third problem to be solved by the present invention is that in a configuration in which contact pins are arranged in a large number of radial directions, as the number of arranged parts increases, the angle on the arranged arc increases, making assembly extremely difficult. Is to solve the problem.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is an interchangeable lens barrel having a rotatable lens barrel mount that can be coupled and detached by pivoting around the optical axis with respect to the camera body mount, and the movable contact piece when the lens barrel is mounted on the camera body. In the electrical connector that is pressed and conducted to the connector on the camera body side by the elasticity, the contact support member, the conducting member, and the elastic member are configured in this order so that no current flows through the elastic member, and the elastic force of the elastic member deteriorates. Prevented.
[0007]
Further, the contact support member of the electrical connector is formed in a comb-tooth shape, the contact pin is held in the comb-tooth portion, an independent conductive portion is provided on the flexible printed circuit board corresponding to the contact pin, and the end face is formed. A spring member and a conductive member are made independent by forming a comb-like spring member that presses the contact pin held on the contact support member with a necessary force to the contact portion of the camera-side connector. The number of points has been reduced, making assembly easier.
[0008]
Furthermore, a plurality of contact pins formed of a conductive material are held by a support on a contact support plate formed in a comb-like shape, and after pressing into the contact support plate, the support is cut and the contact support plate is bent. By doing so, a structure in which a large number of contact pins are arranged radially can be easily manufactured.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described according to examples. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an interchangeable lens having an electrical connector to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the inside of a contact cover.
[0010]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a mount for exchanging lenses, has a bayonet claw 11, and is fixed to a fixed cylinder 2. Further, the fixed cylinder 2 is provided with a distance adjusting ring 3 and a diaphragm adjusting ring 4 so as to be rotatable. When the distance adjusting ring 3 is rotated, the focusing lens group moves in the optical axis direction, thereby adjusting the focus. Done. A lens protection cylinder portion 7 is formed on the mount portion 1, and a part thereof protrudes from the end face of the bayonet claw 11 to form a protrusion 8, and a contact cover 10 is inserted into the protrusion 8. In the contact cover 10, a contact support plate having contact pins is housed in a state of sandwiching a flexible substrate having a conductive portion pushed up by a spring member.
[0011]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a contact cover, and a plurality of holes 10 a to 10 j are provided so that contact pins 21 a to 21 j fixed to the contact support plate 20 protrude. Further, three positioning pins (not shown) are provided on the back surface of the contact cover 10, and positioning holes 22a and 22b provided in the contact support plate 20, the conductor support plate 30, the contact pressing spring 40, and the stop plate 50, respectively. c, 32a, b, c, 42a, b, c, 52a, b, c are engaged and caulked.
[0012]
The conductor support plate 30 is provided with conducting portions 31a to 31j from end portions formed in a comb-like shape so as to correspond to the contact pins 21a to 21j provided on the contact support plate 20.
[0013]
The contact pressing spring 40 is provided with spring portions 41 a to 41 j that pressurize the contacts corresponding to the number of contacts, and contact pins 21 a provided with conductive portions 31 a to 31 j provided on the conductor support plate 30 on the contact support plate 20. To 21j, and further press-contacted so as to protrude from the holes 10a to 10j of the contact cover 10. Contact pins 21 a to 21 j provided on the contact support plate 20 are embedded in the through holes and crimped, and are electrically connected from the upper surface to the lower surface of the contact support plate 20. Thereby, an electric signal and a power supply current can be supplied from the connector of the camera body to the lens side circuit.
[0014]
Next, a method for assembling the contact pins on the contact support plate will be described. FIG. 3 is a contact pin assembly process diagram. In FIG. 3a, reference numeral 25 denotes a support having contact pins 21a to 21j formed of a conductive material. The contact support plate 20 has through holes 23a to 23j at positions corresponding to the contact pins 21a to 21j. The contact pins 21a-21j are press-fit as shown in FIG. 3b. Then, as shown in FIG. 3c, the support 25 is cut from the end of the contact pin, whereby the assembly of the contact pins 21a to 21j to the contact support plate 20 is completed. Finally, as shown in FIG. 3d, bending is performed into a shape corresponding to the contact cover. Further, the support body 25 may be cut after the contact support plate 20 is bent.
[0015]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another contact pressing spring. FIG. 4A is a bending spring corresponding to a contact pin and is provided with spring portions 61a to 61j for pressurization. FIG. Corresponding to the pins, contact portions 71a to 71j for pressing are provided.
[0016]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view using the contact pressing spring 60 shown in FIG. 4a, in which 11 is a lens bayonet, 12 is a contact of a camera side connector, and a contact cover 10, contact pin 21a, conductor support plate 30, contact The presser springs 60 are arranged in this order. FIG. 6 uses the elastic rubber 70 shown in FIG. 4B. Any of the contact pressing springs is composed of one component for a plurality of contact pins.
[0017]
In this embodiment, ten contact pins are provided. However, the number of contact pins is not limited, and the number of contact pins may be one or two. However, the larger the number, the more effective the assembly work is. Further, in this embodiment, the lens mount connector that protrudes in an arc shape has been described, but it can also be applied to a connector that protrudes in the optical axis direction from the mount surface, and can also be applied to a connector on the camera mount side. Needless to say.
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
In the present invention, since the spring material is not energized, it is independent of each other and does not need to be insulated. Therefore, the spring material can be integrally formed in a shape connected by a fixed end.
[0019]
Moreover, the number of spring members can be reduced by integrally forming the spring members. This can reduce the cost. Further, the spring member can be easily assembled.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an interchangeable lens having an electrical connector.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the inside of a contact cover.
FIG. 3 is a contact pin assembly process diagram.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another contact pressing spring.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lens bayonet part 2 Fixed cylinder 3 Distance adjustment ring 4 Aperture adjustment ring 7 Lens protection cylinder part 8 Projection part 10 Contact cover 11 Contact support plate 11a-11j Contact pin 10a-10j Hole part 11 Lens bayonet 12 Contact 20 of a camera side connector Contact support plates 21a-21j Contact pins 22a, b, c Positioning holes 23a-23j Through holes 25 Support body 30 Conductor support plates 31a-31j Conductive portions 32a, b, c Positioning holes 40 Contact pressing springs 41a-41j Spring portions 42a, b, c Positioning hole 50 Stop plate 52a, b, c Positioning hole 60 Contact pressing springs 61a-61j Spring part 70 Elastic rubber 71a-71j Contact part

Claims (2)

 An interchangeable lens barrel that has a detachable lens barrel mount that can be connected and disconnected by pivoting around the optical axis with respect to the camera body mount, and the movable contact pin has its elasticity when the lens barrel is attached to the camera body. In the electrical connector that is pressed and conducted to the connector on the camera body side, the electrical connector is a contact cover, a contact support plate provided with a contact pin, a conductor support plate having a conduction portion, and a contact pin provided with a conduction portion on the contact support plate An electrical connector for an interchangeable lens, comprising: an elastic member that is press-contacted with the contact member; and a contact cover, a contact support plate, a conductor support plate, and an elastic member.  In the electrical connector composed of the contact cover, contact support plate with contact pins individually provided, conductor support plate, and elastic member in this order, the end surfaces of the contact support plate, conductor support plate, and elastic member are each formed in a comb shape. An electrical connector for an interchangeable lens, characterized in that a contact pin is individually provided at each comb tooth portion of the contact support member, and a conductive portion is provided from the end surface of each comb tooth portion of the conductor support plate toward the opposite end surface.

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