JP6929064B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging device including a light emitting unit.

If an image with unnatural brightness is obtained by irradiating the subject directly with the flash light, irradiate the subject with the flash light toward the wall or ceiling and irradiate the subject with the reflected indirect light. Bounce imaging is performed. Patent Document 1 discloses an imaging device having a built-in light emitting unit capable of such bounce imaging. In this imaging device, by applying a spring force (urging force) to the four-section link mechanism, the light emitting unit is popped (rotated) from the retracted position to the front light emitting position in which the light emitting portion faces the subject. Further, when the user applies an operating force to the light emitting unit in the front light emitting position with a finger or the like, the light emitting unit can be rotated to the bounce light emitting position in which the light emitting unit faces upward.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-006303

However, if an image pickup device that can select a plurality of bounce light emitting positions by the user's operation is configured to pop up the light emitting unit from the retracted position to the front light emitting position by a spring force, this spring force affects the bounce light emitting position selection operation. May give. That is, the required operating force increases when the spring force acts in the direction opposite to the user's operating direction, and the required operating force decreases when the spring force acts in the same direction as the operating direction. Becomes unstable.

The present invention provides an imaging device in which the spring force does not affect the selection operation between a plurality of bounce light emitting positions when the light emitting unit is popped up from the stored position by the spring force.

An image emitting device main body, a light emitting unit having a light emitting unit and capable of moving to a plurality of second light emitting positions having a storage position, a first light emitting position, and a direction of the light emitting unit different from those of the imaging device main body. A spring member is included, and the urging force generated by the spring member is used to rotate the light emitting unit around a predetermined axis to move the light emitting unit from the stored position to the first light emitting position, and further to the predetermined axial rotation. It has a drive mechanism that is rotated to move toward the plurality of second light emitting positions, and the drive mechanism is said to be used when the light emitting unit moves from the stored position to the first light emitting position. When the urging force generated by the spring member acts on the light emitting unit and moves from the first light emitting position to the position closest to the first light emitting position among the plurality of second light emitting positions, the spring member Is applied to the light emitting unit, and when the light emitting unit moves between the plurality of second light emitting positions, the urging force is not applied to the light emitting unit, and the spring member is fixed. It has a first member that holds the end and a second member that holds the movable end of the spring member and receives the urging force to move the light emitting unit from the stored position to the first light emitting position. The movable end is characterized in that, when the light emitting unit moves between the plurality of second light emitting positions, it is held by the first member without being held by the second member. do.

According to the present invention, in an image pickup apparatus in which a light emitting unit is moved to a first light emitting position by an urging force (spring force) of a spring member and further moved toward a plurality of second light emitting positions, a plurality of second light emitting positions are used. The urging force can be prevented from affecting the selection operation between the light emitting positions. This makes it possible to give the user a stable operation feeling.

A front perspective view and a rear perspective view showing the appearance of the digital single-lens reflex camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the electrical structure of the camera which is Example 1. FIG. The perspective view which shows the appearance at the front light emitting position and the bounce light emitting position of the camera which is Example 1. FIG. Exploded view of the flash unit in Example 1. Another exploded view of the flash unit according to the first embodiment. The perspective view which shows the appearance of the click board and the 2nd link member in Example 1. FIG. Exploded view of the second link member in Example 1. A front view and a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the flash unit at the storage position in the first embodiment. The front view, the BB sectional view, and the CC sectional view of the flash unit in the first embodiment at the front light emitting position. The front view, the DD sectional view, and the EE sectional view of the flash unit in the first embodiment at the bounce light emitting position. An enlarged view including the first and second link members in the first embodiment. A top view of the flash unit in the retracted position in the first embodiment, and an I-I cross-sectional view at the retracted position, the front light emitting position, and the bounce light emitting position. FIG. 5 is a side view when the flash unit in the camera of the first embodiment is in the retracted position, the front light emitting position, and the bounce light emitting position. The flowchart which shows the operation procedure of the flash imaging in Example 1. FIG. Top view of the flash unit according to the first embodiment. HH sectional view and GG sectional view from the storage position of the flash unit to the bounce light emitting position in the first embodiment. The figure which shows the click board in Example 2 of this invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line HH from the storage position of the flash unit to the front light emitting position in the second embodiment.

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

First, the configuration of a digital single-lens reflex camera as an imaging device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b). FIG. 1A shows a camera body 1 as an image pickup device body viewed from an oblique front. The image pickup lens unit 3 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is detachably attached to the camera body 1. FIG. 1B shows the camera body 1 as viewed from the diagonally rear surface.

In FIGS. 1A and 1B, the camera body 1 has a grip portion 1a for a user who is a photographer to hold the camera body 1. A shutter button 14 which is a switch for the user to instruct the start of imaging is provided on the upper part of the grip portion 1a.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a lens mount portion, and the above-mentioned imaging lens unit 3 is detachably mounted. The mount contact 21 electrically connects the camera body 1 and the image pickup lens unit 3, supplies power from the camera body 1 to the image pickup lens unit 3, and provides control signals between the camera body 1 and the image pickup lens unit 3. Enables communication of data, etc. When the image pickup lens unit 3 is removed from the camera body 1, the user can release the attachment of the image pickup lens unit 3 to the camera body 1 by pressing the lens lock release button 12.

Light from the imaging area (subject included in) that has passed through the imaging optical system in the imaging lens unit 3 is guided to the mirror box 5. A mirror unit 51 is provided inside the mirror box 5.

Further, above the mount portion 2 of the camera body 1, a flash unit 4 as a built-in light emitting unit that can rotate (move) between the storage position shown in the figure and the light emitting position described later with respect to the camera body 1 is provided. It is provided. The configuration and movement of the flash unit 4 will be described later.

Further, an accessory shoe 6 is provided on the upper part of the camera body 1. Accessories such as an external flash unit and a microphone can be attached to the accessory shoe 6. The accessory shoe 6 is provided with an accessory contact 61 for making an electrical connection with the mounted accessory.

A power switch 11 for starting and shutting down the camera is provided on the back surface portion 1b of the camera body 1. Further, a finder 8 is provided below the accessory shoe 6 on the back surface portion 1b, and the subject in the imaging area can be observed through the finder eyepiece window 81.

Next, the electrical configuration of the camera of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the components shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. Reference numeral 100 denotes an MPU as an arithmetic processing unit built in the camera body 1. The MPU 100 performs various processes and controls related to the operation of the camera body 1. The MPU 100 has an EEPROM 100a and can store time information, various setting information, and the like by the time measurement circuit 108.

Further, the mirror drive circuit 101, the focus drive circuit 102, the shutter drive circuit 103, the switch sense circuit 104, the power supply circuit 105, the battery check circuit 106, and the time measurement circuit 108 described above are connected to the MPU 100. A video signal processing circuit 109 and a locking hook drive circuit 110 are also connected to the MPU 100. Further, the MPU 100 communicates with the lens control circuit 300 provided in the image pickup lens unit 3 via the mount contact 21. As a result, the MPU 100 can control the operation of the focus lens 31 and the electromagnetic aperture 32 via the AF drive circuit 301 and the aperture drive circuit 302. Although the focus lens 31 is schematically shown as one lens in FIG. 2, it is actually composed of a plurality of lenses. The imaging optical system is also composed of a plurality of lenses including the focus lens 31.

The AF drive circuit 301 drives an actuator such as a stepping motor (not shown) to move the focus lens 31 in the direction in which the lens optical axis 3a extends (lens optical axis direction), and causes a focused subject image on the image pickup element 91. To form. The diaphragm drive circuit 302 adjusts the amount of light by driving the electromagnetic diaphragm 32 and changing the diaphragm aperture diameter (aperture value).

A main mirror 51 and a sub mirror 52 are arranged inside the mirror box 5. The main mirror 51 reflects a part of the light from the image pickup lens unit 3 and guides it to the pentaprism 82, and at the same time, transmits the other part. The sub mirror 52 reflects the light transmitted through the main mirror 51 and guides it to the focus detection sensor unit 53. The focus detection unit 53 performs focus detection by a phase difference detection method. The main mirror 51 and the sub mirror 52 are arranged in the imaging optical path before imaging by a motor (not shown) controlled by a mirror drive circuit 101, and imaging is performed at the time of imaging. It is driven to evacuate from the optical path.

The focus detection unit 53 forms a pair of subject images with a pair of light passing through different pupil regions from the light from the submirror 52, and converts the pair of subject images into electric signals by a photoelectric conversion sensor (line sensor). By doing so, a pair of phase difference image signals is generated. The focus detection circuit 102 performs a correlation calculation on a pair of phase difference image signals to calculate these phase differences, and outputs the phase difference information to the MPU 100.

The MPU 100 calculates the defocus amount (focus state) of the imaging optical system with respect to the subject using the phase difference information from the focus detection circuit 102, and drives the focus lens 31 to obtain the focus state from the defocus amount. Calculate the amount (including the drive direction). The MPU 100 transmits a focus control signal including the calculated driving amount information of the focus lens 31 to the lens control circuit 300. Based on the received focus control signal, the lens control circuit 300 moves the focus lens 31 to a focusing position where the focusing state with respect to the subject can be obtained via the AF drive circuit 301.

Reference numeral 82 denotes a pentaprism, which converts the light reflected by the main mirror 51 into an erect image. The user can observe the subject image as an erect image through the finder 8 described above.

Further, a part of the light reflected by the main mirror 51 is also guided to the photometric sensor 83. The photometric circuit 84 generates luminance information in the imaging area based on the output value from the photometric sensor 83 and outputs it to the MPU 100. The MPU 100 calculates an exposure value based on the luminance information, and drives the electromagnetic diaphragm 32 according to the exposure setting to set the diaphragm value.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a focal plane shutter, which is driven by the shutter drive circuit 103. The shutter drive circuit 103 closes the shutter 92 when the user is observing the subject through the finder 8. On the other hand, the shutter drive circuit 103 opens the shutter opening by traveling the front curtain of the focal plane shutter 10 (not shown) in response to the user pressing the shutter button 14, and the shutter opening is not shown as the predetermined exposure time elapses. Run the rear curtain and close the shutter opening. In this way, the exposure time of the image pickup element 91 is controlled.

The image pickup device 91 is a light source conversion element that is composed of a CMOS sensor, a CCD sensor, or the like and converts a subject image into an electric signal. Reference numeral 92 denotes an infrared cut filter, which removes unnecessary infrared light components from the light directed to the image sensor 91. Reference numeral 109 denotes a video signal processing circuit, which performs video signal processing such as filter processing and data compression processing on the electric signal (imaging signal) output from the image sensor 91.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a switch sense circuit, which acquires the operation status of various operation interfaces that can be operated by the user and outputs the information to the MPU 100. Reference numeral 105 denotes a power supply circuit, which supplies power from the power supply 107 to each component in the camera body 1 and the image pickup lens unit 3. A battery check circuit 106 is connected to the power supply 107, and has a function of transmitting information such as the remaining amount of the power supply 107 to the MPU 100.

The flash unit 4 can rotate (pop-up) to a light emitting position to emit a flash when it is desired to add a light amount to the imaging environment for imaging. Reference numeral 401 denotes a light source, and a light emitting element such as a xenon tube or an LED is used. The charging circuit 112 stores an electric charge in the light emitting capacitor (main capacitor) 113, and when the light emitting circuit 111 applies a voltage to the light source 401, the electric charge of the capacitor 113 is released and the light source 401 emits light. In order to perform accurate dimming, it is also possible to perform preliminary light emission called pre-light emission before imaging and control the amount of light emission of the main light emission at the time of shooting. When the user presses the FE lock button 16 during the pop-up, the flash unit 4 performs pre-flash. At this time, the photometric circuit 84 measures the light through the photometric sensor 83, and the amount of light emitted in the main light emission is set according to the light measurement result.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a locking hook, which can be rotated by a motor (not shown). The locking hook 15 is urged by a spring (not shown) to lock the flash unit 4 in the retracted position. When the flash is fired, the MPU 100 drives the motor via the locking hook drive circuit 110 in response to the user pressing the flash button 13, and the locking hook 15 is rotated against the spring-loaded force to cause the flash. The lock at the storage position of the unit 4 is released. The released flash unit 4 pops up at the light emitting position by the urging force of the pop-up spring described later. Even if the user does not press the flash button 13, the MPU 100 that detects insufficient light intensity in the imaging environment may automatically drive the motor to pop up the flash unit 4 to emit light.

The light emitting position of the flash unit 4 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the flash unit 4 pops out from the storage position shown in FIG. 1A to a position where the light emitting surface 403 faces the front surface (lens optical axis direction), which is the direction of the subject. In the following description, this position is referred to as a front light emitting position (first light emitting position). In FIG. 3B, the flash unit 4 faces upward from the front light emitting position with the light emitting surface 403 facing upward with respect to the lens optical axis 3a (direction different from the subject), that is, the front light emitting position is the direction of the light emitting unit 40. Indicates a state in which is rotated to a different position. In the following description, this position is referred to as a bounce light emitting position (second light emitting position).

FIG. 3B shows one of the bounce light emitting positions. In reality, the light emitting surfaces 403 of the flash unit 4 face different directions (bounce angles) upward, that is, the directions of the light emitting units 40 are different from each other. It can be rotated and held at multiple bounce flash positions.

Next, a pop-up mechanism for popping up the flash unit 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 (a) to 9 (c). FIG. 9A shows the flash unit 4, the first link member 410, and the second link member 420 at the front light emitting position when viewed from the front. 9 (b) shows a BB cross section of FIG. 9 (a), and FIG. 9 (c) shows a CC cross section of FIG. 9 (a).

The flash unit 4 is connected to the camera body 1 via the first link member 410 and the second link member 420. The first link member 410 is rotatably connected to the flash unit 4 by the first rotation shaft 410a, and the second link member 420 is rotatably connected to the flash unit 4 by the second rotation shaft 420a. Further, the first link member 410 is rotatably connected to the camera body 1 by the first fixed shaft 410b, and the second link member 420 is rotatably connected to the camera body 1 by the second fixed shaft 420b.

In this embodiment, the camera body 1 is a fixed node, the first link member 410 is a driving node, the flash unit 4 is a first driven node, and the second link member 420 is a second driven node. The node link mechanism 7 is used as the moving mechanism of the flash unit 4. The flash unit 4 is rotated by the movement of the four-node link mechanism 7 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a four-node link). In addition, another member integrally provided in the camera body 1 and the flash unit 4 may be used as a fixed node or a first driven node, and such a configuration is described in "the camera body 1 is a fixed node" and "the flash unit". Let 4 be the first driven clause. " The four-section link 7 is urged in the direction in which the flash unit 4 rotates from the retracted position to the front light emitting position by the pop-up spring 43 described later via the first link member 410.

The configuration of the flash unit 4 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows the flash unit 4 in an exploded manner. The flash unit 4 includes a light emitting unit 40, a flash case 41, a flash cover 42, a pop-up spring (spring member) 43, and a click mechanism 44.

The flash case 41 includes a hook hook portion 41a shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a stopper receiving portion 41b, a first bearing 41c for holding the first rotation shaft 410a, and a first bearing 41c. A second bearing 41d for holding the rotating shaft 420a of 2 is provided.

The light emitting unit 40 has a light source 401, a reflecting member 402, and a light emitting surface 403. At the time of flash emission, the light emitted from the light source 401 is reflected by the reflecting member 402 and collected toward the light emitting surface 403.

The pop-up spring 43 is arranged on (around) the first rotation shaft 410a. The fixed end of the pop-up spring 43 is hung on the flush case 41, and the movable end is hung on the first link member 410. In the drive mechanism configured by using the 4-section link 7 and the pop-up spring 43 in this way, the pop-up spring 43 generates an urging force that urges the first link member 410 in the direction from the retracted position to the front light emitting position. do.

The click mechanism 44 is composed of a click board (fixing member) 441, a click pin (movable member) 442, a click urging spring (urging member) 443, and a click pin holder 444. The click board 441 is arranged around the first rotation shaft 410a and fixed to the first link member 410. The click pin 442 and the click urging spring 443 are held by the click pin holder 444 and attached to the flash case 41. The click pin 442 is movable with respect to the flash case 41 and is urged by the click urging spring 443 toward the center of the click board 441.

FIG. 5 shows the shape of the click board 441. The click board 441 has a free running portion 441a, a plurality of convex portions 441b, and a plurality of concave portions 441c in the circumferential direction thereof. The idle portion 441a has no unevenness in the radial direction and has a radius that does not come into contact with the click pin 442 urged toward the idling portion 441a. On the other hand, the plurality of convex portions 441b generate a click feeling due to the rotation of the flash unit 4 when the urged click pin 442 comes into contact with the urged click pin 442 and overcomes the urged click pin 443 while compressing the click urging spring 443. By inserting (fitting) the click pin 442 into the plurality of concave portions 441c formed between the plurality of convex portions 441b, the flash unit 4 can be stopped at a plurality of bounce light emitting positions having different bounce angles.

In this embodiment, the angle intervals θ1 to θ4 between the recesses 441b corresponding to the bounce angle change pitch are set so that the change pitch obtained by the movement of the 4-section link 7 is constant (not necessarily θ1 to θ4). Are not the same as each other). For example, θ1 to θ4 are calculated by adjusting the radius R2 of the inscribed circle of the concave portion 441c while keeping the radius R1 of the circumscribed circle of the convex portion 441b and the angle φ of the slope of the convex portion 441b constant.

The click mechanism 44 of this embodiment is an example of a configuration for improving operability when changing the bounce angle, and does not limit the stop position of the flash unit 4.

Next, a detailed configuration of the second link member 420 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 shows the appearance of the second link member 420. The second link member 420 has a function of stopping the pop-up flash unit 4 at the front light emitting position in addition to the function of the section 4 link 7 as a link element, and has a bounce button 421 which is a member for that purpose. FIG. 6A shows a state before the bounce button 421 is pressed, and FIG. 6B shows a state where the bounce button 421 is pressed. FIG. 7 shows the second link member 420 in an exploded manner.

The second link member 420 is provided with a second rotating shaft 420a and a second fixed shaft 420b. The second link member 420 also includes a bounce button 421, a link cover 422, a link case 423, a shaft 424, and a bounce button urging spring 425. The bounce button 421 includes a stopper portion 421a and a pushing portion 421b as an operating portion, and the bounce button urging spring 425 exposes the pushing portion 421b to the outside of the link cover 422 as shown in FIG. 6A. Be urged to. When the user pushes the pushing portion 421b, the stopper portion 421a can be slid from the state shown in FIG. 6A to the state shown in FIG. 6B.

Further, the link case 423 has a link hollow portion 423a for passing a cable for electrically connecting the light emitting portion 40 of the flash unit 4 and the camera body 1 in the direction of the arrow in the drawing.

In this embodiment, a release mechanism for releasing the stop at the front light emitting position of the flash unit 4 by pushing the bounce button 421 provided on the second link member 420 is adopted. However, this is only an example, and other configurations such as providing a stopper mechanism inside the camera body 1 and the flash unit 4 may be adopted.

Next, the locking of the flash unit 4 at the storage position will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8C. FIG. 8A shows the flash unit 4 located at the storage position as viewed from the front. FIG. 8B shows a cross section taken along the line AA of the flash unit 4 shown in FIG. 8A. Further, FIG. 8C shows a cross section taken along the line AA when the flash unit 4 is unlocked at the retracted position by the locking hook 15.

When flash imaging is not performed, the user can store the flash unit 4 in the camera body 1 as shown in FIG. 1 (a). At this time, as shown in FIG. 8B, the locking hook 15 provided on the camera body 1 engages with the hook hook portion 41a provided on the flash unit 4, so that the pop-up spring shown in FIG. 4 is engaged. The flash unit 4 urged to 43 is locked (held) at the storage position.

The states of the pop-up spring 43 and the click mechanism 44 at the storage position will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16 (a) to 16 (j). FIG. 15 shows the strobe unit 4 as viewed from above. 16 (a) to 16 (e) are cross sections including the periphery of the first rotation shaft 410a, and the GG cross section shown in FIG. 15 is enlarged and shown. 16 (a) shows a storage position, FIG. 16 (b) shows a front light emitting position, and FIG. 16 (c) shows a GG cross section at the first bounce light emitting position among a plurality of bounce light emitting positions. Further, FIG. 16 (d) shows the second bounce light emitting position among the plurality of bounce light emitting positions, and FIG. 16 (e) shows the GG cross section at the fifth (last) bounce light emitting position. On the other hand, FIGS. 16 (f) to 16 (j) are cross sections including the periphery of the first rotation shaft 410a, and are shown by enlarging the HH cross section shown in FIG. 16 (f), (g), (h), (i), and (j) are at the same positions as in FIGS. 16 (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e), respectively. The HH cross section is shown. As shown in FIG. 16A, the flash case 41 is provided with a spring stopper portion (movable end holding portion) 41e and a bounce stopper portion 41f.

As shown in FIG. 16A, at the retracted position, the fixed end 43a of the pop-up spring 43 is a spring hooking portion (not shown) provided on the flash box case 41 (that is, the flash unit 4) as the first member. It is hung on and held. On the other hand, the movable end 43b of the pop-up spring 43 is hung and held by the spring hooking portion 410c provided on the first link member 410 as the second member. As a result, the first link member 410 is urged in the direction of the arrow in the drawing by the urging force generated in the pop-up spring 43. Further, as shown in FIG. 16 (f), the click pin 442 is urged toward the click board 441 by the click urging spring 443, but the click pin 442 faces the idle portion 441 a of the click board 441. Does not touch the click board 441.

FIG. 14 shows the flow of operations by the user, the operation of the flash unit 4, and the operation of the camera body 1 when performing flash imaging. S means a step. Further, FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b) show an enlarged view of the four-section link 7 including the first link member 410 and the second link member 420 shown in FIG. 9 (b). FIG. 11A shows a state in which a pop-up is in progress from the stored position to the front light emitting position, FIG. 11B shows a state in the front light emitting position, and FIG. 11C shows a state in which the bounce button 421 is pressed. FIG. 11D shows the state at the bounce light emitting position.

The user who turns on the power switch 11 of the camera body 1 in S11 and determines that the flash imaging is performed in S12 presses the flash button 13 shown in FIG. 1A in S13. Upon receiving a signal from the switch sense circuit 104 indicating that the flash button 13 has been pressed, the MPU 100 drives a motor (not shown) in S14 and engages with the locking hook 15 as shown in FIG. 8C. Rotate in the stop release direction. As shown in FIG. 16B, the flash unit 4 released from the lock pops up at the front light emitting position when the urging force of the pop-up spring 43 is applied. That is, while the movable end 43b of the pop-up spring 43 is held by the spring hooking portion 410c of the first link member 410, the first link member 410 continues to be urged in the direction of the arrow in the drawing. At this time, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 11A, the stopper portion 421a provided on the bounce button 421 and the stopper receiving portion 41b provided on the flash case 41 approach each other around the second rotation shaft 420a. Rotate in the direction.

After that, as shown in FIG. 11B, the stopper portion 421a comes into contact with the stopper receiving portion 41b (the contact portion is indicated by a thick line in the drawing), so that the flash unit 4 stops popping up. As a result, the flash unit 4 stops at the front light emitting position shown in FIG. 3A.

As described above, in this embodiment, the flash unit 4 is stopped at the front light emitting position by contact with the stopper portion 421a, and the flash unit 4 is allowed to rotate to the bounce light emitting position by the user operation of the bounce button 421. And adopt a release mechanism. With this configuration, it is possible to stop at the front light emitting position with high position accuracy.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, since the push-in portion 421b of the bounce button 421 is covered with the flash cover 42 and is not exposed at the retracted position, the user cannot push the push-in portion 421b. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9A, since the push-in portion 421b of the bounce button 421 is exposed at the front light emitting position, the user can push the push-in portion 421b. The bounce button 421 has a role after the flash unit 4 pops up and is not required at the storage position. Therefore, by adopting a configuration in which the bounce button 421 is exposed so that the user can operate by pop-up of the flash unit 4, it is possible to prevent the user from being confused.

Further, in the click mechanism 44, as shown in FIGS. 9 (c) and 16 (f) and 16 (g), the click board 441 and the click pin 442 do not come into contact with each other at the front light emitting position on the click board 441. A free running portion 441a is provided. No click feeling is required during the pop-up from the storage position to the front light emitting position. Therefore, by providing the idle running portion 441a, it is possible to prevent resistance due to the contact between the click pin 442 and the convex portion 441b with respect to the pop-up drive by the urging force of the pop-up spring 43. Thereby, the spring force of the pop-up spring 43 can be set to an optimum value for pop-up driving the flash unit 4 without considering the influence of the click mechanism 44.

Subsequently, the operation by the user and the operation of the flash unit 4 when performing bounce imaging will be described. FIG. 10A shows the flash unit 4, the first link member 410, and the second link member 420 at the bounce light emitting position when viewed from the front. 10 (b) shows the DD cross section of FIG. 10 (a), and FIG. 10 (c) shows the EE cross section of FIG. 10 (a).

After the flash unit 4 pops up to the front light emitting position, the user who determines that the bounce image is to be taken in S15 presses the push-in portion 421b of the bounce button 421 in S21. As a result, in S22, as shown in FIG. 11C, the stopper portion 421a slides in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, and the stopper portion 421a and the stopper receiving portion 41b come into contact with each other (at the front light emitting position of the flash unit 4). Stop) is released. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 10 (c) and 11 (d), the flash unit 4 can be rotated in the direction of the bounce light emitting position. The flash unit 4 is rotated in the direction of the bounce light emitting position (that is, toward a plurality of bounce light emitting positions) by the urging force of the pop-up spring 43.

After that, as shown in FIG. 16H, when the click pin 442 comes into contact with the side surface of the convex portion 441b closest to the idle portion 441a among the plurality of convex portions 441b of the click board 441 at the first bounce light emitting position. , The rotation of the flash unit 4 is stopped.

When rotating the flash unit 4 between a plurality of bounce light emitting positions including the position of FIG. 16 (h), as shown in FIG. 16 (d), the movable end 43b of the pop-up spring 43 is the flash case 41. Of these, the spring stopper portion 41e provided around the first rotation shaft 410a is hooked. That is, the movable end 43b of the pop-up spring 43 is held by the spring stopper portion 41e instead of the spring hook portion 410c of the first link member 410. As a result, both the fixed end 43a and the movable end 43b of the pop-up spring 43 are held by the flush case 41. Therefore, when the flash unit 4 is rotated between the plurality of bounce light emitting positions (the bounce angle is changed), the urging force of the pop-up spring 43 does not act on the first link member 410 and the flash unit 4.

Subsequently, the operation for changing the bounce angle in S23 and the operation of the flash unit 4 will be described. When adjusting the bounce angle from the state in which the flash unit 4 is stopped at any of the bounce light emitting positions among the plurality of bounce light emitting positions, the user indicates with arrows in FIGS. 10 (c) and 16 (i). The flash unit 4 is manually rotated as described above. As a result, the click pin 442 overcomes the convex portion 441b adjacent to the concave portion 441c that has entered so far while compressing the click urging spring 443 and enters the next concave portion 441c, and the flash unit 4 moves to the next bounce light emitting position. Be retained. Every time the click pin 442 gets over the convex portion 441b, a click feeling is generated. In this way, when the user changes the bounce angle, the flash unit 4 can be stopped at the bounce light emitting position by manually operating the flash unit 4 so as to rotate it to an arbitrary bounce light emitting position while receiving a click feeling. can.

Further, as described above, the urging force of the pop-up spring 43 does not act on the flash unit 4 while the bounce light emitting position is changed. However, the repulsion of the click urging spring 44, which is compressed when the click pin 442 gets over the convex portion 441b, becomes a resistance to the rotation of the flash unit 4, and a user's operating force exceeding this resistance is required. That is, the user who rotates the flash unit 4 to change the bounce light emitting position is not affected by the urging force of the pop-up spring 43, but is operated to counter the resistance generated by the click mechanism 44 as the resistance applying mechanism. Only power is required. As a result, it is possible to provide the user with a stable operation feeling.

As shown in FIG. 16E, when the flash unit 4 rotates to the final bounce light emitting position, the spring hook portion 410c of the first link member 410 comes into contact with the bounce stopper portion 41f provided on the flash case 41. As a result, further rotation to the back side is prevented. Even at this position, as shown in FIG. 16J, the flash unit 4 is held at the last bounce light emitting position by the click pin 442 entering the last recess 441c of the click board 441.

In this state, when the flash unit 4 is stopped at the front flash position or an arbitrary bounce flash position, the user who determines that the flash unit 4 is to perform the pre-flash in S16 is the FE shown in FIG. 1 (b) in S24. Press the lock button 16. In response to this, the MPU 100 causes the flash unit 4 to perform pre-flash in S25, and causes the photometric sensor 83 and the photometric circuit 84 to perform photometric measurement. Then, the MPU 100 calculates the emission amount of the main emission based on the photometric result for the pre-emission.

A user who determines that flash imaging is not performed in S12, a user who determines that pre-flash is not performed in S16, or a user who determines that pre-flash is performed in S16 and waits for pre-flash in S25 is set to S30. And press the shutter button 14. When the MPU 100 receives a signal from the switch sense circuit 104 indicating that the shutter button 14 has been pressed, the MPU 100 performs imaging in S31. At this time, the MPU 100 causes the flash unit 4 to perform the main light emission at the same time as the image pickup, except when the user determines that the flash image is not performed in S12.

With reference to FIGS. 12 (a) to 12 (d) and 13 (a) to 13 (c), the positional relationship between the flash unit 4 and the first rotation shaft 410a at the storage position, the front light emitting position and the bounce light emitting position. Will be described. In FIGS. 12 (a) to 12 (d) and 13 (a) to 13 (c), the front side (hereinafter referred to as the front side) in which the lens mount portion 2 is provided in the camera body 1 is indicated by F, and the back portion 1b is The rear side (back side) provided is indicated by R.

FIG. 12A shows the flash unit 4 located at the storage position as viewed from above. FIG. 12 (b) represents an I-I cross section in FIG. 12 (a). 12 (c) and 12 (d) show the I-I cross sections of the flash units 4 located at the front light emitting position and the bounce light emitting position, respectively. Further, P1, P2, and P3 in the drawing indicate changes in the position of the first rotation shaft 410a in the lens optical axis direction (front-back direction). S1 in the figure indicates the position of the first fixed shaft 410b which is the rotation center of the first link member 410. 13 (a) shows the camera body 1 when the flash unit 4 is located at the retracted position as shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b) when viewed from the side surface. 13 (b) shows the camera body 1 when the flash unit 4 is located at the front light emitting position as shown in FIG. 12 (c) when viewed from the side surface. FIG. 13 (c) shows the camera body 1 when the flash unit 4 is located at the bounce light emitting position as shown in FIG. 12 (d) when viewed from the side surface.

As shown in FIGS. 12 (a), 12 (b) and 13 (a), when the flash unit 4 is in the retracted position, the light emitting surface 403 faces diagonally downward on the front side and is from the first rotation shaft 410a. Is also located on the front side F. The position of the first rotation shaft 410a at this time is P1.

As shown in FIGS. 12 (c) and 13 (b), when the flash unit 4 pops up at the front light emitting position, the light emitting surface 403 faces the lens optical axis direction. At this time, the first link member 410 rotates about the first fixed shaft 410b, so that the first rotating shaft 410a moves from P1 to P2 to the front side F with respect to the camera body 1. As a result, the light emitting surface 403 moves to the front side F as compared with the case where the flash unit 4 is popped up without moving the first rotation shaft 410a with respect to the camera body 1. Therefore, the light emitted toward the subject is less likely to be blocked by the image pickup lens unit 3.

As shown in FIGS. 12 (d) and 13 (c), when the flash unit 4 rotates to the bounce light emitting position, the first link member 410 further rotates from the position at the front light emitting position. As a result, the first rotation shaft 410a moves from P2 to P3 on the front side F. Due to this movement, at the bounce light emitting position, the first rotating shaft 410a is located on the front side F of the light emitting surface 403. The tip of the flash unit 4 including the light emitting surface 403 rotates to the rear side R, and the first rotation shaft 410a moves to the front side F, so that the rear side of the tip of the flash unit 4 with respect to the camera body 1 The amount of movement to R can be reduced.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 13 (a) to 13 (c), the flash unit 4 is located at the rearmost end of the back surface portion 1b of the camera body 1 not only at the stored storage position and the front light emitting position but also at the bounce light emitting position. It can be located on the front side F of the finder (eyepiece window) 8. Therefore, when the user brings the camera body 1 close to the face and looks into the viewfinder 8, the flash unit 4 is positioned at the bounce light emitting position to prevent the flash unit 4 from interfering with (contacting) the user's face. Can be done.

In this embodiment, a pop-up spring 43 and a click mechanism 44 are provided around the first rotation shaft 410a of the 4-section link 7 that rotates the flash unit 4 from the retracted position to the bounce light emitting position. However, it may be provided around other shafts such as the second rotating shaft 420a, the first fixed shaft 410b and the second fixed shaft 420b. Also, the pop-up spring 43 and the click mechanism 44 do not necessarily have to be arranged around the same axis.

In the first embodiment, the configuration in which the click pin 442 is not brought into contact with the click board 441 during the pop-up from the storage position of the flash unit 4 to the front light emitting position does not cause resistance to the pop-up. On the other hand, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the click pin 442 is brought into contact with the click board 441 in front of the front light emitting position in the pop-up of the flash unit 4, thereby causing a braking action against the pop-up. In this embodiment, the components common to those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment and replaced with the description.

FIG. 17 shows the shape of the click board 441B in this embodiment. The click board 441B is provided with a free running portion 441a and an uneven portion including a plurality of convex portions 441b and concave portions 441c as in the first embodiment, and further, a speed reducing portion 441f is provided between the free running portion 441a and the uneven portion. Is provided. The speed reduction portion 441f has a shape in which the outer diameter continuously increases (approaches the click pin 442) from the tip on the free running portion 441a side to the end on the recess 441c side. The shape of the deceleration portion 441f shown in FIG. 17 is an example, and another shape, for example, a shape in which a deceleration convex portion is provided and temporarily brought into contact with the click pin 442 may be used.

18 (a) to 18 (c) are cross sections around the first rotation shaft 410a, and are shown by enlarging the HH cross section in FIG. FIG. 18 (a) shows a storage position, FIG. 18 (b) shows a position in the middle of pop-up, and FIG. 18 (c) shows an HH cross section at a position immediately before the front light emitting position.

In the first pop-up section from the storage position shown in FIG. 18A to the position in the middle of pop-up in FIG. 18B, the click pin 442 faces the idle portion 441a of the click board 441B and therefore contacts the click board 441B. do not. Therefore, in the first pop-up section, the click mechanism 44 does not serve as a pop-up resistance of the flash unit 4.

On the other hand, in the second pop-up section from the position in the middle of the pop-up shown in FIG. 18 (b) to the front light emitting position shown in FIG. As a result, the click pin 442 compresses the click urging spring 443 in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, and as a result, the urging force of the click urging spring 443 increases and the friction between the click pin 442 and the deceleration portion 441f is increased. growing. This friction acts as a resistance (brake) to the pop-up.

Immediately before the front emission position in FIG. 18 (c), the click urging spring 443 is further compressed to act a stronger brake on the pop-up. As a result, the flash unit 4 can be sufficiently decelerated just before the front light emitting position. Therefore, the impact when the flash unit 4 reaches the front light emitting position can be reduced, and the bounce of the flash unit 4 at the front light emitting position is reduced until the flash unit 4 stabilizes at the front light emitting position. You can save time.

The operation after the flash unit 4 is rotated to the first bounce light emitting position is the same as that in the first embodiment.

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

1 Camera body 4 Flash unit 40 Light emitting unit 43 Pop-up spring

Claims (6)

The main body of the image pickup device and
A light emitting unit having a light emitting unit and capable of moving to a plurality of second light emitting positions in which a storage position, a first light emitting position, and the orientation of the light emitting unit are different from each other with respect to the image pickup apparatus main body.
A spring member is included, and the urging force generated by the spring member is used to rotate the light emitting unit around a predetermined axis to move the light emitting unit from the stored position to the first light emitting position, and further to the predetermined axial rotation. It has a drive mechanism that is rotated to move toward the plurality of second light emitting positions.
The drive mechanism causes the light emitting unit to exert an urging force generated by the spring member when the light emitting unit moves from the stored position to the first light emitting position, and the plurality of light emitting units are applied from the first light emitting position. The urging force generated by the spring member when moving to the position closest to the first light emitting position among the second light emitting positions is applied to the light emitting unit, and the light emitting unit causes the plurality of second light emitting positions. As a configuration in which the urging force is not applied to the light emitting unit when moving between, the first member holding the fixed end of the spring member and the movable end of the spring member are held and the urging force is received. With a second member that moves the light emitting unit from the stored position to the first light emitting position.
The movable end is not held by the second member but is held by the first member when the light emitting unit moves between the plurality of second light emitting positions. Device. The first member is a member constituting the light emitting unit, and is a member.
The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the second member is a link member connected to the imaging device main body and the light emitting unit. The imaging device according to claim 2 , wherein the spring member is arranged around an axis that rotatably connects the link member to the imaging device main body. Any of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the light emitting unit has a resistance imparting mechanism that generates resistance to the movement of the light emitting unit when the light emitting unit moves between the plurality of second light emitting positions. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1. The resistance applying mechanism is
A movable member provided so as to be movable with respect to the light emitting unit, and
A fixing member having a plurality of convex portions with which the movable member abuts,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising an urging member that generates an urging force that causes the movable member to abut against the plurality of convex portions. The fixing member, when the light emitting unit is moved to the first light emitting position from the storage position, claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a deceleration section for decelerating the light emitting unit in contact with said movable member The imaging apparatus according to.

Images