JP4488260B2 - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic camera having a bending optical system, and more particularly to an electronic camera with a built-in strobe.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In an electronic camera using a photoelectric conversion imaging device such as a CCD device, there is no film restriction unlike a silver salt film camera, so that it is easy to refract the imaging optical axis in the middle. In view of this, an electronic camera and a VTR have been proposed in which a bending optical system in which an optical axis conversion means such as a mirror is provided in the middle of the photographing lens optical system to reduce the thickness direction. For example, in a VTR disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 9-163206 and 9-281578, a photographic lens device constituting a bending optical system is arranged on the front surface of the VTR mechanism unit in order to reduce the size of the VTR. The
[0003]
[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]
The demand for miniaturization of electronic cameras has become stronger, and how to effectively use the limited space in the camera housing has become a challenge. In particular, in the case of an electronic camera having a bending optical system, the shape of the photographic lens device, which is the main mechanism, is significantly different from the shape of the photographic lens device that constitutes a linear optical system, so that more appropriate component placement is required. The Rukoto.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to effectively use the space in the camera housing in an electronic camera having a folding optical system and to further reduce the size of the camera.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An electronic camera according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a first optical unit that moves along a first optical axis, with a first lens group for capturing a light beam from a subject along the first optical axis fixed; An optical axis conversion unit equipped with an optical axis conversion means for bending a light beam that has passed through the first group lens along a second optical axis that intersects the first optical axis; and a second group lens that is fixed A photographic lens device comprising: a second optical unit configured to form an image on the imaging device by the second group lens; and a plurality of condensers for strobes; A circuit board; and a camera housing for housing the photographing lens device, the capacitor, and the plurality of circuit boards. In the camera casing, the photographing lens device is arranged in such a posture that the first optical axis faces the front surface of the camera casing and the second optical axis faces the bottom surface of the camera casing. The condenser has a vertically long shape, and in the camera casing, the condenser is arranged side by side with the photographing lens device as viewed from the subject so that the longitudinal direction is parallel to the second optical axis. A vertically long power supply section is further provided in the camera casing, and the power supply section in the camera casing has a longitudinal direction on the side opposite to the condenser with respect to the photographing lens device and the second optical axis. arranged and in parallel; in the camera housing, the first sheet and the second sheet of the circuit board of the plurality of circuit boards, the photographic lens unit and the front side of said capacitor Are arranged in parallel with the second optical axis of the photographic lens unit to the rear side sandwich the photographic lens unit and the capacitor, the circuit board of the first sheet that will be placed on the front side of the first optical unit The second circuit board disposed on the rear surface side correspondingly has a notch corresponding to a portion where the optical axis conversion unit protrudes in a contour ; among the plurality of circuit boards A third circuit board is disposed parallel to a plane orthogonal to the second optical axis of the photographing lens device between the photographing lens device and the condenser and the bottom surface of the camera housing ; Of the plurality of circuit boards, a fourth circuit board is parallel to the second optical axis of the photographic lens device and between the power supply unit and the photographic lens device, and the second circuit board. Placed in a right angle The photographic lens unit and the capacitor, in the interior of the camera housing, the front side, the rear surface side and the bottom side, and the power supply unit side is disposed so as to be surrounded by the circuit board of four above It is characterized by that.
[0007]
The electronic camera according to the second aspect of the present invention further includes a strobe in the camera casing, and the strobe is disposed above the condenser in the camera casing.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be given only when necessary.
[0014]
1 and 2 are a front view and a plan view, respectively, showing an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0015]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an operation ring 14 for setting a shooting mode is provided on the outer periphery of the shooting optical system on the front side of the casing 11 of the electronic camera, and a release button 16 is provided on the upper side. The In addition, a liquid crystal (LCD) panel 17 is disposed on the back side of the housing 11, and this is used for displaying a captured image and a reproduced image on the back surface of the housing 11. In addition, a tripod mounting hole 11 h is formed at the bottom of the housing 11.
[0016]
The taking lens device 12 is disposed in the housing 11 so that the optical axis for taking in the light flux from the subject is aligned at the center of the operation ring 14. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the relationship between the housing 11 and the optical system of the photographing lens device 12, and FIG. 4 is a side view showing the relationship between the housing 11 and the structure of the photographing lens device 12.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 3, the taking lens device 12 takes in the light flux from the subject along the horizontal first optical axis OA1 from the lenses 24a and 24b, and uses the second light that is vertical by the optical axis conversion means such as the mirror 33. After bending by 90 ° along the axis OA2, a bending optical system that forms an image on a photoelectric conversion image sensor such as the CCD 92 is configured by the lenses 84a to 84d. As shown in FIG. 4, the photographic lens device 12 is configured by assembling a first optical unit 20, an optical axis conversion unit 30, a light amount adjustment unit 50, and a second optical unit 80 that are created as separate units. .
[0018]
The first optical unit 20 has a ring-shaped front lens frame 22, and first group lenses 24a and 24b are fixed in the front lens frame 22 (see FIG. 3). The first group lenses 24a and 24b are arranged so as to capture the light flux from the subject along the first optical axis OA1 (oriented in the horizontal direction).
[0019]
Flange 26 and 27 are attached to both sides of the front lens frame 22 (see FIG. 2). The flange 26 is provided with a female screw portion and a bearing hole in the vertical direction, and the flange 27 is provided with a bearing hole. These flanges 26 and 27 are attached to a horizontal screw shaft 35 and two guide shafts 36 and 37 disposed in the optical axis conversion unit 30 (see FIG. 1), whereby the first optical unit 20 is mounted. The optical axis conversion unit 30 is movably held.
[0020]
The optical axis conversion unit 30 includes a mirror lens frame 32 that forms an inclined surface that forms an angle of 45 ° with respect to the first and second optical axes OA1 and OA2 of the photographic lens device 12, and the 45 ° A mirror 33 which is a reflecting means, that is, an optical axis converting means is mounted on the inclined surface (see FIG. 4). The light beam that has passed through the first group lenses 24a and 24b is reflected by the mirror 33 and bent by 90 ° along the second optical axis OA2 (orientated in the vertical direction).
[0021]
The optical axis conversion unit 30 is also provided with a rotation motor 34 for AF (autofocus) (see FIGS. 2 and 4). The screw shaft 35 of the AF motor 34 extends in parallel with the first optical axis OA1, and the male screw portion at the tip of the screw shaft 35 is disposed above the flange 26 of the front lens frame 22 of the first optical unit 20. Threaded onto. Accordingly, as the shaft 35 rotates, the front lens frame 22 is moved back and forth. The optical axis conversion unit 30 is provided with two guide shafts 36 and 37 parallel to the first optical axis OA1, and these are provided on the corresponding flanges 26 and 27 of the front lens frame 22. Are inserted into the respective bearing holes. That is, by driving the AF motor 34, the front lens frame 22 is moved in parallel with the first optical axis OA1 along the shafts 36 and 37 together with the first group lenses 24a and 24b, thereby adjusting the focus.
[0022]
Engaging means (not shown) for fixing the optical axis conversion unit 30 at a predetermined position on the second optical unit 80 is disposed below the optical axis conversion unit 30.
[0023]
The light amount adjustment unit 50 has a flat frame 52 in which an opening 53 for allowing a light beam bent along the second optical axis OA2 to pass by a mirror 33 is formed (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In order to open and close the opening 53 and adjust the opening area, a shutter means 54 and a diaphragm means 64 are disposed on the frame 52 facing the opening 53. A plunger 56 is disposed on the upper side of the frame 52 for driving the shutter means 54, and a stepping motor 66 is disposed on the lower side of the frame 52 for driving the aperture means 64.
[0024]
The shutter means 54 is configured to open and close with the rotation of an L-shaped rotary lever 62 pivotally supported by the frame 52 so as to be rotatable about a shaft 61 (see FIG. 2). One arm of the rotation lever 62 is connected to the shutter means 54, and the other arm is sandwiched between a pair of flanges 58 a and 58 b attached to the iron core 57 of the plunger 56. The plunger 56 of the shutter means 54 is composed of a solenoid coil that moves the iron core 57 back and forth at high speed. A coil spring 59 is attached to the iron core 57 between the motor and the flange 58b. Accordingly, the rotary lever 62 is rotated by the high-speed reciprocating motion of the iron core 57 of the plunger 56, whereby the shutter means 54 is opened and closed.
[0025]
Engaging means (not shown) for fixing the light amount adjustment unit 50 at a predetermined position on the second optical unit 80 is disposed on the frame 52 of the light amount adjustment unit 50.
[0026]
The second optical unit 80 has a cylindrical rear lens frame 82 attached to the camera housing 12, and second group lenses 84 a to 84 d are fixed in the rear lens frame 82 (see FIG. 3). The second group lenses 84 a to 84 d reflect the light beam reflected by the mirror 33 along the second optical axis OA <b> 2 (vertical direction) and passed through the opening 53 of the light amount adjustment unit 50 to the photoelectric conversion image sensor, that is, the CCD 92. It arrange | positions so that it may image-form.
[0027]
At the top of the rear mirror frame 82, a flat upper frame 83 in which an opening (not shown) for allowing the light beam bent along the second optical axis OA2 to pass by the mirror 33 is formed is disposed ( (See FIG. 4). Engaging means (not shown) for fixing the optical axis conversion unit 30 and the light amount adjustment unit 50 at predetermined positions on the second optical unit 80 is disposed on the upper surface of the upper frame 83.
[0028]
Various mechanisms and components (including a circuit board) are arranged in the following manner in the camera casing 11 so as to surround the photographing lens device 12 constituting the bending optical system as described above.
[0029]
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, a slot 13 for constituting a recording medium I / F (interface) is disposed on the left front side in the housing 11. A recording medium MC such as a memory card for recording image data is detachably mounted in the slot 13. Further, two batteries 18 serving as a power source for the internal system are disposed behind the slot 13 in the housing 11. The power supply unit including the two batteries 18 has a vertically long shape, that is, a shape in which the horizontal length is sufficiently smaller than the vertical direction, and the longitudinal direction thereof is parallel to the second optical axis OA2 of the photographing lens device 12. Placed in.
[0030]
On the other hand, a strobe 15 is disposed at a position opposite to the slot 13, that is, an upper right front side in the housing 11 with a plane including the first and second optical axes OA 1 and OA 2 of the photographing lens device 12 interposed therebetween. Is done. The strobe 15 can move between a storage position in the housing 11 and a use position protruding above the housing 11 according to the setting of the use mode. Further, a capacitor 19 for the strobe 15 is disposed below the strobe 15 in the housing 11. The condenser 19 has a vertically long shape, that is, a shape in which the length in the horizontal direction is sufficiently smaller than the vertical direction, and is arranged so that the longitudinal direction thereof is parallel to the second optical axis OA2 of the photographing lens device 12.
[0031]
Further, in the camera housing 11, three circuit boards 101 to 103 are arranged in the manner shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 so as to surround the photographing lens device 12 and the above-described mechanisms and components. .
[0032]
Specifically, a main substrate 101 on which circuits for performing memory control, various data processing, signal processing, and the like are mounted is disposed on the front side in the housing 11. The main substrate 101 is disposed so as to extend along a plane that is substantially parallel or acute with respect to a plane that includes the second optical axis OA2 of the photographic lens device 12 and the central axis in the longitudinal direction of the condenser 19.
[0033]
The main board 101 has substantially the same width as the casing 11, and has approximately the same height as the casing 11 on the slot 13 and battery 18 side, and about half of the casing 11 on the strobe 15 and capacitor 19 side. Has a height of Further, the main substrate 101 has a notch 101 a corresponding to a portion where the first optical axis OA <b> 1 of the photographic lens device 12 extends, that is, the first optical unit 20.
[0034]
A circuit for controlling and driving the power supply system including the strobe 15, the LCD panel 17, and the battery 18 is mounted between the photographing lens device 12 and the LCD panel 17 on the rear side of the photographing lens device 12. A power substrate 102 is provided. The power board 102 is also disposed so as to extend along a plane that is substantially parallel or acute with respect to a plane that includes the second optical axis OA2 of the photographic lens device 12 and the longitudinal central axis of the condenser 19.
[0035]
The power board 102 has a width extending from the end of the housing 11 on the strobe 15 side to the front of the battery 19, and has a height of about 2/3 of the housing 11 on the strobe 15 and the capacitor 19 side. Have. Furthermore, the power board 102 has a notch 102a corresponding to a portion where the optical axis conversion unit 30 and the light amount adjustment unit 50 of the photographing lens device 12 project in a contoured manner. That is, the main board 101 and the power board 102 face each other substantially in parallel with the second optical unit 80 and the condenser 19 of the photographic lens device 12 being sandwiched between them.
[0036]
A camera substrate 103 on which a circuit for controlling and driving the CCD 92 is mounted is disposed at the bottom of the housing 11. The camera substrate 103 is disposed so as to spread along a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the second optical axis OA2 of the photographic lens device 12 and the longitudinal center axis of the condenser 19. The camera substrate 103 has a width that extends from the end of the housing 11 on the strobe 15 side to the front of the battery 19, and a depth that substantially corresponds to the distance between the main substrate 101 and the power substrate 102. .
[0037]
As described above, various mechanisms and components (including a circuit board) arranged in the camera casing 11 are arranged in consideration of the structure of the photographing lens device 12 constituting the bending optical system. The overall configuration balance can be achieved. Therefore, it is possible to effectively use the space in the housing 11 and further reduce the size of the camera.
[0038]
6 and 7 are a front view and a plan view, respectively, showing an electronic camera according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0039]
The electronic camera according to the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the electronic camera shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, but the power board is a circuit for controlling and driving the power supply system including the strobe 15 and the battery 18. Is divided into a first power board 106 on which is mounted and a second power board 107 on which only a circuit for controlling and driving the LCD panel 17 is mounted. Different from the camera.
[0040]
The first power board 106 has a substantially parallel or acute angle between the photographic lens device 12 and the LCD panel 17 with respect to a plane including the second optical axis OA2 of the photographic lens device 12 and the longitudinal central axis of the condenser 19. It is arranged so as to spread along the plane formed. On the other hand, the second power board 107 is disposed so as to form an angle close to 90 degrees with respect to the first power board 106 between the photographing lens device 12 and the slot 13 and the battery 18. Even in such a configuration, it is possible to improve the overall configuration balance in the housing 11 and to effectively use the space in the housing 11.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, in an electronic camera having a folding optical system, since the components in the camera casing are arranged in consideration of the structure of the bending optical system, the space in the casing is effectively used, and the camera is further downsized. It becomes possible to do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a plan view showing the electronic camera shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
3 is a side view showing a relationship between a housing and an optical system of a photographing lens device in the electronic camera shown in FIG. 1;
4 is a side view showing a relationship between a housing and a structure of a photographing lens device in the electronic camera shown in FIG. 1;
5 is a side view showing a relationship between a housing, a strobe capacitor, and a circuit board in the electronic camera shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a front view showing an electronic camera according to another embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a plan view showing the electronic camera shown in FIG. 6. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
11: camera housing 12: taking lens device 13: memory card slot 15: strobe 17: liquid crystal (LCD) panel 18: battery 19: strobe condenser 20: first optical unit 24a, 24b: first group lens 30: Optical axis conversion unit 33: mirror 50: light amount adjustment unit 54: shutter means 64: diaphragm means 80: second optical units 84a to 84d: second group lens 92: CCD
101-103, 106, 107: Circuit board

Claims (2)

A first optical unit that moves along the first optical axis, and a first optical unit that captures the light beam from the subject along the first optical axis; An optical axis conversion unit equipped with an optical axis conversion means for bending along a second optical axis that intersects with one optical axis, and a second group lens fixed to the optical axis conversion means along the second optical axis. A photographic lens device comprising: a second optical unit that forms an image on the image pickup element by the second group lens with the light beam bent in this manner;
A strobe capacitor,
A plurality of circuit boards;
A camera housing that houses the photographing lens device, the capacitor, and the plurality of circuit boards;
Comprising
In the camera casing, the photographing lens device is arranged in such a posture that the first optical axis faces the front surface of the camera casing and the second optical axis faces the bottom surface of the camera casing,
The capacitor has a vertically long shape, and in the camera casing, the capacitor is arranged side by side with the photographing lens device as viewed from the subject so that the longitudinal direction is parallel to the second optical axis,
The camera case further includes a vertically long power supply unit, and the power supply unit in the camera case is parallel to the second optical axis in the longitudinal direction on the side opposite to the condenser with respect to the photographing lens device. Are arranged so that
In the camera casing, the first and second circuit boards of the plurality of circuit boards sandwich the photographic lens device and the capacitor between the front side and the rear side of the photographic lens device and the capacitor. wherein arranged in parallel with respect to the second optical axis of the photographic lens unit, the circuit board of the first sheet that will be placed on the front side has a notch corresponding to the first optical unit, disposed on the rear surface side The second circuit board to be formed has a notch corresponding to the portion where the optical axis conversion unit protrudes in a contoured manner,
A third circuit board of the plurality of circuit boards is parallel to a plane orthogonal to the second optical axis of the photographing lens device between the photographing lens device and the condenser and the bottom surface of the camera housing. It is located in,
Furthermore, a fourth circuit board among the plurality of circuit boards is parallel to the second optical axis of the photographic lens device between the power supply unit and the photographic lens device, and the second circuit board. Placed in a direction perpendicular to the substrate,
The photographing lens device and the condenser are arranged in the camera casing so that the front side, the rear side, the bottom side, and the power supply side are surrounded by the four circuit boards.
An electronic camera characterized by that. The camera housing further includes a strobe, and the strobe is disposed above the condenser in the camera housing.
The electronic camera according to claim 1.

Images