JP4248952B2 - Automatic controller for imaging equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic operation device for a photographing apparatus that automatically operates a button of a photographing apparatus such as a digital camera or a video camera. The present invention relates to an automatic controller for a photographing apparatus to be operated.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As an automatic operation device for this kind of photographing apparatus, an actuator means for operating a shutter button of the photographing apparatus, a driving power supply for the actuator means, a switch means for the driving power supply, and an actuator means are detachable at a predetermined position of the photographing apparatus. Mounting means for fixing, and the actuator means is an electromagnetic solenoid, an elastic pressing means that is attached to the tip of the plunger shaft of the electromagnetic solenoid and contacts the shutter button of the photographing apparatus, and a position where the elastic pressing means contacts the shutter button of the photographing apparatus There is a photographing auxiliary device composed of a supporting means for setting the actuator means (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
In Patent Document 1, as an embodiment, the elastic pressing means is a rubber cap attached to the tip of the plunger shaft, and the rubber cap presses the shutter button. Further, there is described a structure in which a supporting means is provided on the inner side of a belt as a mounting means so that the rubber cap is supported at a position in contact with the shutter button.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-148703
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the vicinity of the shutter button of a photographing device such as a digital camera or a video camera is rarely a flat surface, and there are usually large and small protrusions in addition to a convex curved surface and a concave curved surface. In addition, the stroke from when the shutter button is pressed to when the shutter button is turned on varies depending on each manufacturer and model.
[0006]
In order to surely press the shutter button, it is necessary to take appropriate measures. That is, if the stroke of the plunger shaft for operating the shutter button is short, the shutter button cannot be turned on. Conversely, if the stroke is too long, the shutter button is pushed excessively, and in some cases, the shutter button is repeatedly pressed. There is a risk of mechanical or electrical damage.
[0007]
However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, only a rubber cap is attached to the tip of the plunger shaft, the stroke of the plunger shaft is not disclosed at all, and no measures against the above-mentioned problems are taken.
[0008]
The present invention has been made paying attention to such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide an automatic operation device for an imaging apparatus capable of reliably operating buttons of any imaging apparatus.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an automatic operation device for a photographing apparatus according to the present invention is attached to an infrared detector and a predetermined position of the photographing apparatus, and operates a button of the photographing apparatus when the infrared detector detects infrared rays. An operating means, an infrared detector, and a power source for the operating means are provided, the operating means is an electromagnetic solenoid, a plunger disposed so as to be movable in the inner cavity of the electromagnetic solenoid, and one end side can be adjusted in position inside the plunger. Operation that is supported and the other end side that contacts the button of the photographing device protrudes from the tip of the plunger, and the length of the protruding portion on the other end side can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the one end side inside the plunger And a bar.
[0010]
In this automatic operation device, since the operation rod is adjustable the length of the projecting portion of the other end side by adjusting the position of one end side of the inside the plunger, the length of the operating rod (the other end The length of the protruding portion of the plunger ) , that is, the substantial stroke length of the plunger including the operation rod can be adjusted to be shorter or longer. Thereby, it can respond easily also to the button which has a stroke which changes with manufacturers and models, and can press-operate a button reliably.
[0011]
In the above configuration, more specifically, the operation rod is detachably attached to the plunger by screwing. Thereby, not only can the length of the operating rod (the length of the operating rod portion protruding from the tip of the plunger) be adjusted easily, but the operating rod can also be replaced.
[0012]
In this case, it is preferable that the plunger has a screw hole extending inward from the tip, and the operation rod is a screw that is screwed into the screw hole of the plunger.
[0013]
The operating means has a housing for accommodating an electromagnetic solenoid. The housing has an opening through which the operating rod enters and exits, and the tip of the plunger abuts the opening edge so that only the operating rod enters and exits from the opening. In this case, the length of the operation rod protruding from the opening of the housing becomes a substantial stroke, so that the stroke length can be adjusted more easily.
[0014]
Furthermore, if it is provided with mounting means for detachably fixing the operating means at a predetermined position of the photographing apparatus, the operating means can be easily attached to various photographing apparatuses (digital camera, video camera, single-lens reflex camera, etc.). . A general-purpose belt is suitable as the mounting means.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments.
[0016]
FIG. 1 shows a view when the operation means of the automatic operation device for a photographing apparatus according to an embodiment is attached to a digital camera as a photographing apparatus, and FIG. 2 shows a view when the operation means is attached to a video camera. The automatic operation device for the photographing device is mounted at a predetermined position of the infrared detector 1 and the photographing devices 70 and 71, and when the infrared detector 1 detects infrared rays, the buttons (shutter buttons) of the photographing devices 70 and 71 are used. The operation means 2 to operate, and the power source (not shown) of the infrared detector 1 and the operation means 2 are provided.
[0017]
A partially omitted front view of the operating means 2 is shown in FIG. 3, a side view thereof is shown in FIG. 4, and a sectional view thereof is shown in FIG. The operating means 2 includes a prismatic housing 20 having one opening, an electromagnetic solenoid 30, a columnar plunger 40 movably disposed in the inner cavity of the electromagnetic solenoid 30, a detachable attachment to the tip of the plunger 40, and It has an operation rod 45 which is attached so as to be adjustable in length and abuts against the buttons of the photographing devices 70 and 71. An electromagnetic solenoid 30 and a plunger 40 are disposed in the housing 20. The housing 20 has a circular opening 21 through which the operation rod 45 enters and exits. Since the diameter of the tip of the plunger 40 is larger than the diameter of the opening 21, only the operation rod 45 enters and exits from the opening 21 by coming into contact with the edge of the opening 21. That is, the edge of the opening 21 of the housing 20 functions as a stopper for the plunger 40.
[0018]
Although the electromagnetic solenoid 30 has a well-known structure, generally speaking, a bobbin 34 around which a coil 35 is wound is disposed inside a steel plate 31 via a seat plate 33, and a lid plate 32 is attached to one side of the iron plate 31. It is a structure.
[0019]
The plunger 40 located in the inner cavity of the electromagnetic solenoid 30 has a screw hole 41 extending inward from the tip, as shown in an enlarged sectional view in FIG. Correspondingly, the operating rod 45 is a screw that is screwed into the screw hole 41 of the plunger 40. The screw portion 45b of the operation rod 45 is screwed into the screw hole 41, and the nut 42 is screwed into the screw portion 45b. The nut 42 is for fixing the position of the operation rod 45 and is adjacent to the tip of the plunger 40. Further, the columnar head portion 45 a of the operation rod 45 has the same diameter as the nut 42, and the operation rod 45 can be moved in and out of the opening 21 of the housing 20 together with the nut 42.
[0020]
Therefore, by rotating the operation rod 45, the length of the operation rod portion protruding from the tip of the plunger 40 (the length of the operation rod 45 protruding from the opening 21 of the housing 20) can be adjusted. Thereby, the substantial stroke length of the plunger 40 including the operation rod 45 can be adjusted to be short or long.
[0021]
Instead of the operation bar 45 in FIG. 6, an operation bar 46 as shown in FIG. 7 may be used. The operating rod 46 is the same in that the screw portion 46b is screwed into the screw hole 41 of the plunger 40, but the head portion 46a is hemispherical and the nut 42 is not used. In addition to adjusting the lengths of the operation bars 45 and 46 by turning the operation bars 45 and 46, a plurality of operation bars having various lengths and head shapes are prepared in advance, and the operation buttons 45 and 46 are selected. May be replaced.
[0022]
4 and 5, the housing 20 is formed with a pair of slit-shaped openings 22, and a belt 50 as a mounting means is inserted into the openings 22. A buckle 51 for tightening the belt 50 is attached to the belt 50 (FIG. 1). By tightening the belt 50 using the buckle 51, the operation means 2 can be fixed at predetermined positions of the photographing devices 70 and 71 having various sizes and shapes.
[0023]
On the other hand, FIG. 8 shows a side view of the infrared detector 1 and FIG. 9 shows a rear view thereof. The infrared detector 1 has a prismatic housing 10, and the housing 10 preferably has a waterproof structure assuming that it is installed outdoors. In the housing 10, a pyroelectric sensor as an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays from an infrared generator (such as animals such as humans), a sunshine sensor for detecting the degree of brightness of the surrounding environment, and the like are mounted. A circuit board or the like is arranged.
[0024]
The infrared detector 1 and the operating means 2 (coil 35) are connected by a cable 60, and an external power input terminal 61 is provided on the side surface of the housing 10 of the infrared detector 1 as a power source for the infrared detector 1 and the operating means 2. Connected to a connector (not shown) (FIG. 1). However, the power source (battery) may be built in the infrared detector 1.
[0025]
A detection unit 11 is provided on the front surface of the housing 10, and a power switch 12, a camera / video switch 13, a detection LED 14, a manual shooting button 15, an OFF / shooting time length setting knob 16, and an ON time length setting knob 17 on the back surface. Is provided. The power switch 12 is used to turn on / off the power of the automatic controller, and the camera / video switch 13 is used to select whether to shoot with a single-lens reflex camera or a digital camera, or with a video camera. belongs to. The detection LED 14 is turned on when the infrared sensor detects infrared rays. The manual photographing button 15 is for operating the operation means 2 regardless of infrared detection.
[0026]
The OFF / shooting time length setting knob 16 is for setting a shooting prohibition time from shooting to the next shooting, and is used for an interval for strobe charging at the time of flash shooting. The ON time length setting knob 17 is used to adjust the time during which the operation means 2 is operating, that is, the time during which the operation bar 45 is pressing the shutter button. The time is, for example, from 0.5 seconds to 1 second at the shortest. Up to.
[0027]
In the automatic operation device configured as described above, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation means 2 is fixed to a predetermined position (position where the shutter button can be pressed) of the photographing devices 70 and 71 by the belt 50, and the infrared detector 1. Is installed outdoors or indoors. At this time, as described above, the length of the operation rod 45 of the operation means 2 is adjusted so that the operation rod 45 can reliably press the shutter button.
[0028]
When the infrared detector 1 detects an infrared ray from an infrared ray generator such as a human being or an animal other than a human being, the coil 35 of the operating means 2 is excited using this as a trigger, and the operating rod 45 moves the shutter button as the plunger 40 moves. Press operation. Thus, the photographing devices 70 and 71 automatically photograph the infrared ray generator that is the subject.
[0029]
In the above embodiment, the belt 50 is exemplified as the mounting means, but bars 81, 82, 83 as shown in FIG. 10 may be used. In FIG. 10, the photographing device 70 is attached to the linear bar 81 together with the infrared detector 1 by screws 91, the bar 81 has an L-shaped bar 82, and the bar 82 has an L-shaped bar 83. Are attached by screws 91, respectively. Since the bar 81 has two elongated openings 81a as shown in FIG. 11, the photographing device 70 and the infrared detector 1 can be fixed at an arbitrary position. Similarly, although not shown in the drawing, the bars 82 and 83 have an elongated opening through which the screw 91 is passed, and can be fixed at an arbitrary position.
[0030]
On the other hand, the housing 20 of the operating means 2 has, for example, a cover that can be opened and closed at the top, and a screw hole is formed in the cover (the upper wall of the housing 20 or, in some cases, the side wall of the housing 20). Using the bars 81, 82, 83, the operating means 2 is fixed at a position where the operating bar 45 of the operating means 2 can press the shutter button. That is, the fixing position of the bar 82 with respect to the bar 81 and the fixing position of the bar 83 with respect to the bar 82 are adjusted, and the screw 91 is passed through the opening of the bar 83 and screwed into the screw hole.
[0031]
However, in FIG. 10, the bars 82 and 83 are separate, but may be an integrated type having a U-shape as viewed from the side. However, it is preferable that the bars 82 and 83 are separated because the vertical height can be adjusted.
[0032]
In the above embodiment, the button pressed by the operation bars 45 and 46 of the operation means 2 is a shutter button. However, a button other than the shutter button can also be applied.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the length of the protruding portion on the other end side can be adjusted by adjusting the position on the one end side inside the plunger. Since the substantial stroke length of the included plunger can be adjusted to be shorter or longer, it can be easily applied to buttons having different strokes depending on the manufacturer and model, and the button can be pressed reliably.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram when an operation unit of an automatic operation device for a photographing apparatus according to an embodiment is attached to a digital camera as a photographing apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a diagram when the operation means of the automatic controller for the photographing apparatus is attached to a video camera as a photographing apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a partially omitted front view of the operation means in the automatic controller for the photographing apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a side view of operation means in the automatic operation device for the photographing apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of operation means in the automatic operation device for the photographing apparatus.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an example of a mounting form of a plunger and an operation rod of an operation means in the automatic operation device for the photographing apparatus.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing another example of the attachment form of the plunger and the operation rod of the operation means in the automatic operation device for the photographing apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a side view of an infrared detector in the automatic controller for the photographing apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a rear view of the infrared detector in the automatic controller for the photographing apparatus.
FIG. 10 is a schematic view when the operation means of the automatic operation device for the image capturing apparatus is mounted on a digital camera as the image capturing apparatus by another form of mounting means.
FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an example of a form of the mounting means shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Infrared detector 2 Operation means 10 and 20 Housing 11 Detection part 21 Opening 30 Electromagnetic solenoid 34 Bobbin 35 Coil 40 Plunger 41 Screw hole 45, 46 Operation rod 50 Belt (mounting means)
70, 71 Photography devices 81-83 bar (mounting means)

Claims (6)

An infrared detector, an operating means that is mounted at a predetermined position of the imaging device and operates the button of the imaging device when the infrared detector detects infrared; and a power source for the infrared detector and the operating means,
The operating means includes an electromagnetic solenoid, a plunger movably disposed in the inner cavity of the electromagnetic solenoid, and one end side supported inside the plunger so that the position of the plunger can be adjusted, and the other end contacting the button of the photographing device is the plunger. An automatic operating device for a photographing apparatus, characterized in that it has an operating rod that protrudes from the tip and can adjust the length of the protruding portion on the other end side by adjusting the position on the one end side inside the plunger .   The automatic operation device for a photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation rod is detachably attached to the plunger by screwing.   3. The automatic operation device for a photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plunger has a screw hole extending inward from the tip, and the operation rod is a screw that is screwed into the screw hole of the plunger.   The operating means has a housing for accommodating an electromagnetic solenoid, the housing has an opening through which the operating rod enters and exits, and only the operating rod enters and exits from the opening by contacting the opening edge of the plunger with the opening edge. The automatic operation device for an imaging device according to claim 1, 2 or 3.   5. An automatic operation device for a photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising mounting means for detachably fixing the operating means to a predetermined position of the photographing apparatus.   6. The automatic operation device for a photographing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the operation means has a housing for accommodating the electromagnetic solenoid, and the housing has a screw hole for attaching the mounting means.

Images