JP5366565B2 - binoculars - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the thickness of a binocular having an optical vibration isolation unit and a battery chamber. <P>SOLUTION: The binocular includes optical vibration isolation units 4L, 4R, 5, 14, 24, and 25 disposed between left and right objective optical systems 3L and 3R, and left and right erecting optical systems 10L and 10R for reducing image shake due to the shake of the binocular, and a battery chamber 28 that accommodates batteries 29a and 29b for supplying a power source for causing the optical vibration isolation units to operate. A boundary plane A represents the plane including optical axes of both the left and right objective optical systems, a central area F represents the area between two planes D and E perpendicular to the boundary plane including the respective optical axes 1L and 1R of the left and right objective optical systems, and a first area represents one area B of the two areas across the boundary plane in the central area. In the first area, the optical vibration isolation unit has first recessed portions 51 and 52 recessed in the direction perpendicular to the boundary plane, and the battery chamber is disposed so as to extend in the direction parallel to the optical axis through the inside of the first recessed portions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to binoculars (hereinafter also referred to as image stabilization binoculars) provided with an optical image stabilization unit that reduces image blur due to camera shake or the like.

  The anti-vibration binoculars as described above have left and right observation optical systems including left and right objective optical systems, left and right erecting optical systems, and left and right eyepiece optical systems. An optical anti-vibration unit is placed at that position. In addition, in the anti-vibration binoculars, an electric circuit board that operates an optical anti-vibration unit (drives an actuator that shifts the optical element in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis or changes the apex angle of the variable apex angle prism), A battery for supplying power to the substrate is accommodated. As the battery, a plurality of cylindrical batteries such as AA batteries are often used.

Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose examples of arrangement of an optical image stabilization unit, an electric circuit board, and a battery in such image stabilization binoculars.
JP 2002-98912 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-20213

  In the anti-vibration binoculars disclosed in Patent Document 1, two cylindrical batteries (that is, a battery chamber that accommodates the batteries) are arranged inside the optical anti-vibration unit in the central region between the left and right observation optical systems. The two are arranged side by side in the vertical direction facing the direction parallel to the optical axis.

  However, when such a layout is adopted, the thickness in the vertical direction of the central region increases. When the thickness of the central area is large, when the focus dial, which is an operating member for adjusting the focus, is arranged in the central area, it is necessary to project the focus dial upward or downward to avoid interference with the battery compartment. There is. Moreover, since it is difficult to provide a portion where the user puts his / her finger when holding the binoculars in the central region having such a large thickness, the ease of holding the binoculars (holding property) is lowered.

  On the other hand, the anti-vibration binoculars disclosed in Patent Document 2 employs a configuration in which two cylindrical batteries are arranged side by side on the outer side (lower side) of the optical anti-vibration unit in the central region.

  However, in the binoculars, the portion of the exterior member that covers the lower surface of the battery chamber has a shape that protrudes greatly downward by the volume of the battery chamber as compared to the portion that covers the lower surface of the observation optical system. For this reason, the thickness of the lower side of the central region is increased, and like the anti-vibration binoculars of Patent Document 1, it is difficult to provide a portion to put a finger on, and the holdability is not good.

  The present invention provides binoculars having an optical image stabilization unit and a battery chamber, and capable of reducing the thickness of the central region in which the battery chamber is provided.

Binoculars according to one aspect of the present invention, the left and right objective optical systems, and the left and right erecting optical system, disposed between the left and right objective optical system and the left and right erecting optical system, an image due to shake of the binoculars An optical image stabilization unit that reduces vibration, an electric circuit board that operates the optical image stabilization unit, a battery chamber that houses a battery that supplies power to the electric circuit board, and an operation member that performs focus adjustment Have

Here, a plane including both optical axes of the left and right objective optical systems is defined as a boundary surface, and a region between two planes including the respective optical axes of the left and right objective optical systems and orthogonal to the boundary surface is defined as a central region. Of the two regions sandwiching the boundary surface in the central region, one region is a first region and the other region is a second region .

At this time , the optical image stabilization unit has a first recess in the first region that is recessed from the opposite side to the second region in a direction orthogonal to the boundary surface . The battery chamber is disposed so as to extend in the direction parallel to the optical axis through the inside of the first recess in the first region without being located in the second region, and the operation member is disposed in the second region. It is arrange | positioned in the center of the left-right direction in.

In the present invention, the first region of the two regions sandwiching the central region and the boundary surface, Ri through the inside of the recess formed in the optical image stabilizer unit, a battery compartment arranged so as not located in the second region ing. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a small binocular that has an optical image stabilization unit but does not increase the thickness of the central region in which the battery chamber is arranged or that the battery chamber protrudes greatly. it can. And since the thickness of a center area | region is small, the operation member for performing focus adjustment can be arrange | positioned in the center of the left-right direction in which natural operation is possible irrespective of the right and left of a user's dominant hand.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1, 2 and 3 show the configuration of binoculars which are embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part when viewed from above the entire binoculars, and the objective optical system and the eyepiece optical system are cross-sectional views cut along a plane including the left and right objective optical axes and the eyepiece optical axes. Further, it is not a partial sectional view for explanation.
FIG. 2 shows a cut surface of the binoculars cut along line II-II in FIG. FIG. 3 shows the cut surface of the binoculars cut along the line III-III in FIG. 1 as viewed from the objective optical system side.

  In these drawings, reference numerals 3L and 3R denote left and right objective optical systems, which are held in objective barrels 3L 'and 3R', respectively. Reference numerals 1L and 1R denote optical axes of the left and right objective optical systems 3L and 3R (hereinafter referred to as objective optical axes). Reference numeral 2 denotes a main body casing that houses and holds the objective lens barrels 3L ′ and 3R ′.

  4L and 4R are left and right anti-vibration optical elements (lens in the present embodiment), and are shifted in the direction (pitch direction and yaw direction) orthogonal to the objective optical axes 1L and 1R, so that the binoculars shake. Reduces image blur caused by this. In this embodiment, the left and right image stabilizing optical elements 4L and 4R are held and integrated by a common shift lens holding member 14 supported by the shift base member 5 so as to be movable in the pitch direction and the yaw direction. The shift base member 5 is fixed to the rear ends (ends opposite to the object side) of the objective barrels 3L ′ and 3R ′.

  When the shift lens holding member 14 is driven in the pitch direction and the yaw direction with respect to the shift base member 5 by a pitch actuator and a yaw actuator, which will be described later, the left and right image stabilizing optical elements 4L and 4R shift in the same direction. The left and right image stabilizing optical elements 4L and 4R, the shift lens holding member 14, the shift base member 5, the pitch actuator and the yaw actuator constitute a shift type optical image stabilizing unit.

  The left and right image stabilization optical elements 4L and 4R actually form part of the left and right objective optical systems. In this embodiment, the left and right image stabilization optical elements 4L and 4R and the left and right object optical systems 3L and 3R are included. And will be described separately. The optical image stabilization unit of this embodiment and an electric circuit board 9 to be described later are disposed between the left and right objective optical systems 3L and 3R and the left and right erecting prisms 10L and 10R to be described later.

  Instead of the shift type image stabilization optical unit, a VAP type image stabilization unit that reduces image blur by changing the vertical angle of the left and right variable angle prisms (VAP) (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-83007). May be used.

  The left and right objective barrels 3L ′ and 3R ′ are movable in the direction in which the objective optical axes 1L and 1R extend by the left and right cylindrical support portions 30L and 30R provided in the main body casing 2 (hereinafter referred to as the objective optical axis direction). Retained. Reference numeral 6 denotes a focus nut, which is fixed to the shift base member 5. A focus screw 7 is screwed to the focus nut 6. Reference numeral 8 denotes a focus dial as an operation member, which is attached to the rear end of the focus screw 7. The focus dial 8 and the focus screw 7 are rotatably held at a fixed position in the objective optical axis direction by a hole (not shown) provided in the main body casing 2.

  Here, a plane including both optical axes (objective optical axes) 1L and 1R of the left and right objective optical systems 3L and 3R shown in FIG. Further, a region between two planes D and E including the respective optical axes (objective optical axes) 1L and 1R of the left and right objective optical systems and orthogonal to the boundary surface A is defined as a central region F. In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, one of the two regions B and C sandwiching the boundary surface A in the central region F (lower side) is defined as the first lower region in the following description. It is called an area. Further, the other (upper) region C of the two regions B and C sandwiching the boundary surface A in the central region F is referred to as a central upper region as a second region.

Focusing dial 8 and the focus screw 7 is disposed in a central upper side region. More specifically, the focus dial 8 and the focus screw 7 have their rotation center axes positioned on a plane orthogonal to the boundary surface A through the center between the left and right objective optical axes 1L and 1R. Has been placed. By disposing the focus dial 8 at this position, a favorable operation can be performed regardless of the left or right hand of the user's dominant hand. When the focus dial 8 is rotated, the left and right objective lens barrels 3L 'and 3R' and the shift base member 5 move in the objective optical axis direction, and focus adjustment can be performed.

  9 is mounted with an electric circuit necessary for operating the optical image stabilization unit, including a shake sensor (for example, a gyro sensor) and a microcomputer for controlling the driving of the pitch and yaw actuator based on the output from the shake sensor. Electric circuit board. The electric circuit board 9 is disposed such that its mounting surface (board surface) is orthogonal to the objective optical axes 1L and 1R, and is fixed to the shift base member 5 with screws 40R and 40L.

  FIG. 4 shows the electric circuit board 9 described above. Reference numerals 71 and 72 denote light passage openings for allowing the light beams from the left and right objective optical systems 3L and 3R and the left and right vibration isolation optical elements 4L and 4R to pass therethrough. 73 is a microcomputer, and 74 is a driver for driving the pitch and yaw actuator. Reference numeral 75 denotes a shake sensor that detects shake in the pitch direction and yaw direction.

  Reference numeral 77 is a wiring for receiving power from a battery, which will be described later, or for receiving a signal from a switch (not shown) for turning on / off the vibration isolating function or a position sensor for detecting the position of the vibration isolating optical elements 4L, 4R. It is a connector. 79 and 80 are board mounting holes into which screws 40L and 40R are inserted. 1 and 2, the positions of the board mounting holes 79 and 80 shown in FIG. 4 (that is, the positions of the screws 40L and 40R) are shifted in the vertical direction. Reference numeral 81 denotes a wiring connector to the pitch and yaw actuator.

  The microcomputer 73 to the wiring connector 81 constitute a drive control circuit for the optical image stabilization unit. Based on the output from the shake sensor 75 and the signal from the position sensor, the microcomputer 73 calculates the amount and direction of movement of the left and right image stabilizing optical elements 4L and 4R for reducing image shake. Then, the microcomputer 73 drives the pitch and yaw actuator through the driver 74 based on the calculation result.

  Reference numerals 10L and 10R denote erecting prisms constituting left and right erecting optical systems, which are housed and held in left and right prism boxes 10L 'and 10R', respectively. Reference numerals 11L and 11R denote left and right eyepiece optical systems, and 11L ′ and 11R ′ denote optical axes of the left and right eyepiece optical systems 11L and 11R. The left and right eyepiece optical systems 11L and 11R are housed and held in an eyepiece tube integrally formed with the prism boxes 10L ′ and 10R ′.

  The prism boxes 10L ′ and 10R ′ are attached to the main casing 2 so as to be rotatable about the objective optical axes 1L and 1R. By rotating the prism boxes 10L ′ and 10R ′ around the objective optical axes 1L and 1R, it is possible to adjust the eye width for adjusting the distance between the left and right eyepiece optical systems 11L and 11R to the eye width of the user.

  In this embodiment, Polo II prisms are used as the erecting prisms 10L and 10R. However, a Polo I prism or roof prism may be used. Further, as the erecting optical system, an optical system using a plurality of mirrors may be used instead of the optical system using a prism.

  The left and right object images (inverted images) formed by the left and right objective optical systems 3L and 3R are inverted to the left and right erect images by the erecting prisms 10L and 10R. The left and right erect images are observed by both eyes of the user through the left and right eyepiece optical systems 11L and 11R.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the shift base member 5 has a concave portion (first shape) that is recessed in the direction orthogonal to the boundary surface A (from the lower side to the upper side). 1 recess) 51 is formed.

  Further, the shift lens holding member 14 described above holds the left and right anti-vibration optical elements 4L and 4R at the left and right portions thereof. As shown in FIG. 3, a recessed portion (first recessed portion) 52 having a shape recessed in a direction perpendicular to the boundary surface A is also formed in the lower central region of the shift lens holding member 14. Yes.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a recessed portion (second recessed portion) 50 having a shape recessed in a direction orthogonal to the boundary surface A also in the central lower region of the electric circuit board 9. Is formed.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the optical image stabilization unit and the electric circuit board 9 have a shape in which the left and right portions are connected in the central region to the objective optical systems 3L and 3R formed separately on the left and right. It is provided as one unit and one substrate. And the recessed part 51,52,50 is provided in the part of the center lower side area | region in the optical vibration-proof unit and the electric circuit board | substrate 9. As shown in FIG.

  Reference numerals 12 and 13 denote U-shaped guide bars, which are arranged so that yaw guide portions 12a, 12b, 13a, and 13b, which are two U-shaped arm portions, extend in the horizontal direction above and below the boundary surface A. ing. These yaw guide portions 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b are inserted into guide groove portions 15, 16, 17, 18 that are formed to extend in the left-right direction at the vertical positions at the left and right ends of the shift lens holding member 14. . The guide bars 12 and 13 have pitch guide portions 12c and 13c extending in the vertical direction between the yaw guide portions 12a, 12b, 13a and 13b. The pitch guide portions 12c and 13c are held by guide bar holding portions 19 and 20 provided on the shift base member 5 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. Thereby, the shift lens holding member 14 can be shifted in the left and right direction (yaw direction) and the up and down direction (pitch direction) with respect to the shift base member 5 by the shift base member 5 via the guide bars 12 and 13. Retained.

  22, 23, and 24 are coil springs disposed on the outer periphery of the guide bars 12 and 13, and bias the shift lens holding member 14 downward in the pitch direction and leftward in the yaw direction.

  Reference numerals 24 and 25 respectively denote a pitch actuator and a yaw actuator as linear stepping actuators. The yaw actuator 24 includes a stepping motor 24 a and a lead screw 24 b, and the stepping motor 24 a is fixed to the lower part of the shift base member 5. The lead screw 24b moves to the right and left in FIG. 3 according to the rotation direction of the stepping motor 24a. The projection 26 provided on the shift lens holding member 14 is pressed against the right surface of the lead screw 24b by the biasing force of the coil spring 23 described above.

  When the lead screw 24b advances in the right direction due to the rotation of the stepping motor 24a, the shift lens holding member 14 is shifted in the right direction against the urging force of the coil spring 23 via the protrusion 26. When the lead screw 24b advances to the left, the shift lens holding member 14 shifts to the left while the protrusion 26 is pressed against the lead screw 24b by the biasing force of the coil spring 23.

  The pitch actuator 25 includes a stepping motor 25 a and a lead screw 25 b, and the stepping motor 25 a is fixed to a central region of the shift base member 5. The lead screw 25b moves downward and upward in FIG. 3 according to the rotation direction of the stepping motor 25a. The protrusion 27 provided on the shift lens holding member 14 is pressed against the upper surface of the lead screw 25b by the biasing force of the coil springs 22 and 24 described above.

  When the lead screw 25b advances downward due to the rotation of the stepping motor 25a, the shift lens holding member 14 shifts downward against the urging force of the coil springs 22 and 24 via the protrusion 27. When the lead screw 25b moves upward, the shift lens holding member 14 shifts upward while the projection 27 is pressed against the lead screw 25b by the urging force of the coil springs 22 and 24.

  A battery chamber 28 is formed as a part of the main casing 2. The battery chamber 28 passes through a region 60 inside concave portions (first and second concave portions) 51, 52, and 53 provided in the optical image stabilization unit and the electric circuit board 9 in the central lower region, and passes through the objective 60. They are arranged so as to extend in a direction parallel to the optical axes 1L, 1R.

  In the battery chamber 28, two batteries 29a and 29b for supplying power to the electric circuit board 9 are accommodated. In this embodiment, AA batteries, which are cylindrical batteries, are used as the batteries 29a and 29b. The batteries 29a and 29b are accommodated in the battery chamber 28 so that their longitudinal directions extend in parallel to the objective optical axes 1L and 1R. A battery chamber lid (not shown) is attached to the lower surface of the battery chamber 28 so as to be openable and closable.

  The body casing 2 also serving as an exterior member includes a portion 2a that covers the outer periphery of the region B side (one region side) of the left and right objective lens barrels 3L 'and 3R' (left and right objective optical systems 3L and 3R); The battery chamber 28 has a bottom surface portion including a portion (battery chamber lid) 2b covering the outer periphery on the region B side. The bottom surface has a shape in which the portion 2b covering the battery chamber 28 does not protrude downward with respect to the portion 2a covering the objective lens barrels 3L ′ and 3R ′. In particular, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the portion 2b covering the battery chamber 28 is formed substantially on the same plane as the portion 2a covering the objective barrels 3L ′ and 3R ′.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the battery chamber 28 is disposed in the lower central region so as to pass inside the recesses 51, 52, and 50 provided in the optical image stabilization unit and the electric circuit board 9. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the thickness of the central region F in which the battery chamber 28 is disposed does not increase or the battery chamber 28 does not protrude greatly on the bottom surface side even though the optical image stabilization unit is provided. Small binoculars can be realized.

  Because the thickness of the central region F is small, binoculars that are easy to hold can be realized, and the focus dial can be arranged at a position where natural operation is possible.

  Further, by arranging the battery chamber 28 so as to pass inside the recesses 51, 52, 50, the optical image stabilization unit is assembled to the main casing 2 provided with the battery chamber 28, or these are disassembled. It becomes easy. Therefore, it is possible to improve the assemblability and maintainability of the binoculars.

  Each embodiment described above is only a representative example, and various modifications and changes can be made to each embodiment in carrying out the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the battery chamber is disposed so as to pass through the inside of the optical vibration isolation unit and the concave portion provided in the electric circuit board 9 has been described. You may arrange | position a battery chamber so that the inner side of the recessed part provided in the unit may be passed.

  In the above embodiment, the case where two AA batteries 29a and 29b are accommodated in the battery chamber 28 so that the longitudinal direction thereof extends in parallel with the objective optical axes 1L and 1R has been described. However, the batteries used may be AAA batteries or AAA batteries, and may be batteries that are not cylindrical batteries (button batteries, quadrangular prism type or flat plate type batteries). Further, the number (number) of batteries used is not limited to two.

  Furthermore, although the case where the battery chamber lid is provided on the bottom surface of the binoculars has been described in the above embodiment, it may be provided on the front end surface or the rear end surface of the binoculars.

  In the above embodiment, the battery chamber is disposed in the lower central region and the focus dial is disposed in the upper central region. However, the battery chamber and the focus dial may be turned upside down.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part when viewed from the upper surface of the binoculars that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Sectional view of binoculars cut along line II-II in FIG. Sectional view of binoculars cut along line III-III in FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view of an electric circuit board provided in the binoculars according to the first embodiment.

1L, 1R Objective optical axis 2 Main body casing 3L, 3R Objective optical system 3L ', 3R' Objective barrel 4L, 4R Anti-vibration optical element 5 Shift base member 8 Focus dial 9 Electric circuit board 10L, 10R Erecting prism
11L, 11R Eyepiece optical system 12, 13 Guide bar 14 Shift lens holding member 24, 25 Actuator 28 Battery chamber 29a, 29b Battery 73 Microcomputer 74 Driver 75 Vibration sensor

Claims (3)

Binoculars having left and right objective optical systems and left and right erecting optical systems ,
Wherein disposed between the left and right objective optical systems and said right and left erecting optical system, the optical image stabilization unit for reducing image blur due to shake of the binoculars,
A battery chamber in which a battery for supplying power for operating the optical image stabilization unit is accommodated;
An operation member for performing focus adjustment,
A plane including both optical axes of the left and right objective optical systems is defined as a boundary surface, and a region between two planes including the respective optical axes of the left and right objective optical systems and orthogonal to the boundary surface is defined as a central region. When one region of the two regions sandwiching the boundary surface in the central region is a first region and the other region is a second region ,
The optical image stabilization unit, in the first region has a first recess and the second region in the direction recessed toward the side opposite to the area of the second perpendicular to the boundary surface ,
The battery chamber is disposed so as to extend in a direction parallel to the optical axis through the inside of the first recess in the first region without being located in the second region ,
The binoculars characterized in that the operation member is arranged at the center in the left-right direction in the second region . An electric circuit board that is disposed between the left and right objective optical systems and the left and right erecting optical systems and operates the optical image stabilization unit by receiving power from the battery;
Said electric circuit board, in the first region, having a second recess which is recessed toward the side opposite to the region of the second and the second region in the direction perpendicular to the boundary surface,
The said battery chamber is arrange | positioned so that it may extend in the direction parallel to the said optical axis through the inner side of the said 1st and 2nd recessed part in a said 1st area | region. binoculars. An exterior member that covers an outer periphery on the first region side of the left and right objective optical systems and the battery chamber;
The said exterior member has a shape in which the part which covers the said battery chamber does not protrude toward the opposite side to the said 2nd area | region with respect to the part which covers the said left-right objective optical system, or characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. Binoculars according to 2.