JP7770853B2 - Optical device and mounting unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an optical device with a detachable mounting unit.

Camera and other devices have been proposed that are equipped with a detachable eyecup, the part that comes into contact with the user's eye made of a soft material or the like, which is attached to the viewfinder eyepiece frame to prevent light from entering the viewfinder through the gap between the eyepiece frame and the user.

In such cameras, the eyepiece frame may be used as a mounting location for various eyepiece accessory units, such as eyepiece caps and magnifiers, in addition to the eyecups mentioned above. Therefore, when attaching these eyepiece accessory units, it is necessary to remove the frequently used eyecups each time, and it is therefore desirable for the eyecups to be configured to be easily removable.

However, when taking a camera out of or putting it back into a camera bag, or when a user moves around with the camera attached to a strap and hanging it from their neck or shoulder, the camera often rubs against the camera bag or their body. This friction can apply force in the direction of removal, causing the camera to come off unintentionally.

To address this issue, typical eyecups prevent the eyecup from easily coming off by engaging the claws formed on the eyecup claws with a step formed in the eyepiece frame groove of the eyepiece frame. However, when a user intentionally removes the eyecup, they must elastically deform the eyecup claws to overcome the step and remove the eyecup, so if the degree of engagement with the step is increased excessively, it can become difficult to remove.

For example, in Patent Document 1, when a user intentionally removes the eyecup, they operate the left and right operating parts, causing the movable claws formed on the eyecup to disengage from the stepped parts formed in the eyepiece frame groove of the eyepiece frame, thereby removing the eyecup. This mechanism makes it possible to increase the degree of engagement between the claws and the stepped parts, making it difficult for the user to unintentionally remove the eyecup and allowing for easy removal.

As disclosed in Patent Document 2, cameras with gaze detection functions have been put into practical use, which detect the direction of the user's gaze and enable functions such as focus point selection. Cameras with such gaze detection functions have multiple infrared LEDs located outside the viewfinder opening of the eyepiece, and these infrared LEDs illuminate the user's eye as they look through the viewfinder. The gaze detection sensor then detects the image of the user's eye and the corneal reflection image of the infrared LEDs formed by specular reflection from the cornea, and the user's viewing position is determined by calculating the two images.

JP 2008-191314 A Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-130463 JP 2014-56089 A

The conventional technology disclosed in the aforementioned Patent Document 1 required the provision of an operating unit for operating the claws and a movable claw mechanism within the eyecup body, which resulted in the eyecup itself becoming larger in the left-right and thickness directions and increased the number of components. Furthermore, to remove the eyecup, the user had to perform two operations: press the operating unit and then pull up the eyecup in the direction of removal, making the attachment and removal process cumbersome.

Furthermore, in the conventional technology disclosed in Patent Document 2, the eyecup opening needs to be larger than a conventional viewfinder opening so as not to obstruct the light beam from the infrared LED located outside the viewfinder opening, which poses a problem in that the eyecup would become even larger if an operating unit for operating the claw or a movable claw mechanism were provided, which would result in the camera body also becoming larger.
Furthermore, in recent years, it has been considered to incorporate multiple wireless modules around the eyepiece of a camera, as in Patent Document 3, and there is a strong demand for making the eyepiece and its surrounding structure more compact. However, an appropriate solution has not yet been found.

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide an optical device with a compact eyepiece frame that is difficult for the attached attachment unit to come off unintentionally, and that, if desired, allows the attachment unit to be easily removed with a simple operation.

an eyepiece frame having a protrusion ;
an eyepiece frame groove provided at at least one end of the eyepiece frame;
an attachment unit that has an engagement portion that engages with the protrusion and is detachably attached to the eyepiece frame along the eyepiece frame groove;
In an engaged state in which the protrusion and the engaging portion are engaged with each other,
a first wall formed on the protrusion and a second wall formed on the engagement portion face each other at a substantially right angle to the direction in which the attachment unit is removed along the eyepiece frame groove;
An optical device characterized in that the attachment unit rotates around a rotation starting point provided on the eyepiece frame, thereby changing from the engaged state to a disengaged state in which the engagement portion disengages from the protrusion portion .

The optical device of one aspect of the present invention provides a compact eyepiece that makes it difficult for the attached attachment unit to come off unintentionally, and when it is desired to remove it, makes it easy to remove the attachment unit with a simple operation.

1 is an external view of a digital camera 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a digital camera 100. FIG. 2 is an external view of the top cover 300 of the digital camera 100. 3A and 3B are an external view and a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of wireless modules 304 and 306 according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an external view of a first wireless module 304. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the optical axis of the finder section for explaining the configuration of the EVF. FIG. 2 is a detailed diagram for explaining the configuration of the eyepiece window of the embodiment. 1A is a perspective view of an optical system including a line-of-sight detection mechanism according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the optical system including the line-of-sight detection mechanism according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram of an optical path when detecting a line of sight using the line of sight detection mechanism according to the embodiment. 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining the principle of a visual field detection method according to an embodiment. 10A is a schematic diagram of an eye image captured by the gaze detection sensor 630 (eyeball image projected onto the gaze detection sensor 630), and FIG. 10B is a diagram showing the output distribution in the gaze detection sensor 630. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a gaze detection operation according to an embodiment. 13A is a rear view of an eyepiece cover 800 to which an eyecup according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached, and FIGS. 13B and 13C are cross-sectional views taken along the lines MM and NN in FIG. 13A, respectively. 1A is a perspective view showing the main part of an eyecup according to an embodiment, FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the eyecup as seen from the back side, and FIG. 1C is an exploded perspective view of the eyecup. 8 is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the Z direction of the portion where the claw is engaged when the eyecup 802 of the embodiment is attached to the eyepiece frame 801. FIG. (A) is a cross-sectional view in the M-M direction of Figure 13(A) when the engagement between the eyepiece frame protrusion portion 801c and the eyecup groove portion 805b of the embodiment is released, and (B) is a cross-sectional view in the M-M direction of Figure 13(A) when the eyecup of the embodiment is attached. (A) is a cross-sectional view in the N-N direction of Figure 13(A) when the engagement between the eyepiece frame protrusion portion 801c and the eyecup groove portion 805b of the embodiment is released, and (B) is a cross-sectional view in the N-N direction of Figure 13(A) when the eyecup of the embodiment is attached.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each drawing, the same members or elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted or simplified.
The optical device in this embodiment includes any optical device that can detect the line of sight of a user viewing information displayed on a device that displays information such as images and characters.

Furthermore, the optical device having an eyepiece to which the eyecup 802 or the like can be detached in this embodiment may be, for example, a camera, monocular, binoculars, rangefinder, mobile phone, game console, tablet terminal, personal computer, head-mounted display, etc. Furthermore, the attachment unit detachable from the eyepiece may be, in addition to an eyecup, for example, a rain cover, magnifier, angle finder, etc.

1A and 1B are external views of a digital camera 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, with Fig. 1A being a front perspective view of the digital camera 100 and Fig. 1B being a rear perspective view of the digital camera 100. As mentioned above, the digital camera 100 is an example of an optical device.
1, the display unit 28 is provided on the rear surface of the camera and is used to display images and various pieces of information. The touch panel 70a can detect touch operations on the display surface (operation surface) of the display unit 28. The outside-finder display unit 43 is provided on the top surface of the camera and displays various camera settings such as shutter speed and aperture.

The shutter button 61 is an operation unit used to issue shooting instructions. The mode switch 60 is an operation unit used to switch between various modes. The terminal cover 40 is a cover that protects the connector (not shown) used to connect an external device to the digital camera 100 via a connection cable. The main electronic dials 71 are rotary operation members included in the operation unit 70 in Figure 2, and two are provided. By turning these main electronic dials 71, settings such as shutter speed and aperture can be changed.

The power switch 72 is an operating member that switches the power of the digital camera 100 on and off. The sub electronic dial 73 is a rotary operating member included in the operating unit 70 that can be used to move the selection frame, advance images, etc. The multi-directional key 74 is included in the operating unit 70 and is a multi-directional key (eight-way key) that can be operated in eight directions: up, down, left, right, diagonally upper right, diagonally lower right, diagonally lower left, and diagonally upper left.

The SET button 75 is a push button included in the operation unit 70 and is mainly used to confirm selections. The video button 76 is used to start and stop video shooting (recording). The AE lock button 77 is included in the operation unit 70 and can be pressed in shooting standby mode to lock the exposure state. The enlarge button 78 is included in the operation unit 70 and is an operation button used to turn enlargement mode ON and OFF in the live view display in shooting mode.

After turning on the magnification mode, you can enlarge or reduce the LV (Live View) image by operating one of the two main electronic dials 71. In playback mode, it also functions as a magnification button for enlarging the playback image and increasing the magnification ratio. The playback button 79 is included in the operation unit 70 and is an operation button for switching between shooting mode and playback mode.

Pressing the playback button 79 while in shooting mode switches to playback mode, and the most recent image recorded on the recording medium 200 can be displayed on the display unit 28. The menu button 81 is included in the operation unit 70, and when the menu button 81 is pressed, a menu screen with various settings is displayed on the display unit 28.

The user can intuitively configure various settings using the menu screen displayed on the display unit 28, the multi-directional key 74, and the SET button 75. The camera-side communication terminal 10a provided in the lens mount is a communication terminal for communicating with the interchangeable lens, and comes into contact with the communication terminal 6 on the interchangeable lens when an interchangeable lens (lens unit 150) is attached to the lens mount unit of the digital camera 100.

The eyepiece 16 is an eyepiece of an eyepiece finder (a peer-type finder), and the user can view an image displayed on an internal EVF (Electronic View Finder) module 29 through the eyepiece 16 .
The eyepiece detector 57 is an eyepiece detection sensor that detects whether the user places his/her eye near the eyepiece 16 , and is disposed inside the eyepiece 16 .

The lid 202 is a lid for the slot that stores the recording medium 200. The grip section 90 is a holding section shaped to be easily gripped in the right hand when the user holds the digital camera 100. When the digital camera is held by gripping the grip section 90 with the little finger, ring finger, and middle finger of the right hand, the shutter button 61 and main electronic dial 71 are positioned so that they can be operated with the index finger of the right hand. In the same position, the multi-directional key 74 and sub electronic dial 73 are positioned so that they can be operated with the thumb of the right hand.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the digital camera 100 according to this embodiment.
2, reference numeral 150 denotes an interchangeable lens unit equipped with a photographic lens, etc. The lens 103 is usually composed of multiple lenses, but for simplicity, only one lens is shown here. The lens communication terminal 6 is a communication terminal that enables the lens unit 150 to communicate with the digital camera 100.

The lens system control circuit 4 in the lens unit 150 communicates with the system control unit 50 on the digital camera side via the lens side communication terminal 6 and the camera side communication terminal 10a. The lens system control circuit 4 also controls the aperture 1 via the aperture drive circuit 2, and adjusts the focus by displacing the position of the lens 103 in the optical axis direction via the AF drive circuit 3.

The AE sensor 17 measures the brightness of the subject through the lens unit 150. The focus detection unit 11 is configured as a dedicated phase difference sensor or an imaging surface phase difference sensor of the image sensor 22, and outputs defocus amount information to the system control unit 50. The system control unit 50 controls the lens unit 150 based on the defocus amount information and performs phase difference AF.

The shutter 101 is, for example, a focal plane shutter that controls the exposure time of the image sensor 22 under the control of the system control unit 50. The image sensor 22 is composed of a CCD, CMOS element, or the like that converts an optical image into an electrical signal. The A/D converter 23 converts the analog signal output from the image sensor 22 into a digital signal.

The image processing unit 24 performs predetermined pixel interpolation, resizing such as reduction, and color conversion processing on data from the A/D converter 23 or data from the memory control unit 15. The image processing unit 24 also performs predetermined calculations using the captured image data, and the system control unit 50 performs exposure control and distance measurement control based on the calculation results. This allows for TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, EF (pre-flash) processing, etc. to be performed.

The image processing unit 24 also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing using the captured image data. The output data from the A/D converter 23 is written directly to memory 32 via the memory control unit 15, or it is written to memory 32 via the image processing unit 24 and memory control unit 15. The memory 32 stores image data obtained by the image sensor 22 and converted into digital data by the A/D converter 23, as well as image data to be displayed on the display unit 28 and EVF 29.

Memory 32 has sufficient storage capacity to store a predetermined number of still images and a predetermined amount of moving images and audio. Memory 32 also serves as memory for image display (video memory). D/A converter 19 converts the image display data stored in memory 32 into an analog signal and supplies it to the display unit 28 and EVF 29, which then displays the image.

The display unit 28 and EVF 29 display information on an LCD, organic EL display, or other display device in response to the analog signal from the D/A converter 19. Various camera settings, such as shutter speed and aperture value, are displayed on the outside viewfinder display unit 43 via the outside viewfinder display unit drive circuit 44. The non-volatile memory 56 is an electrically erasable and recordable memory, such as an EEPROM. Constants, programs, and other data used for operating the system control unit 50 are stored in the non-volatile memory 56.

The system control unit 50 is a control unit consisting of at least one processor such as a CPU, and controls the entire digital camera 100. It executes the computer programs recorded in the non-volatile memory 56 mentioned above to realize the various processes of this embodiment, which will be described later. The system memory 52 uses, for example, RAM, and stores constants and variables for the operation of the system control unit 50, programs read from the non-volatile memory 56, and the like. The system control unit 50 also performs display control by controlling the memory 32, D/A converter 19, display unit 28, etc.

The system timer 53 is a timing unit that measures the time used for various controls and the time of the built-in clock. The mode selector switch 60, first shutter switch 62, second shutter switch 64, and operation unit 70 are operation means for inputting various operational instructions to the system control unit 50. The mode selector switch 60 switches the operation mode of the system control unit 50 to one of still image capture mode, video capture mode, playback mode, etc.

Modes included in the still image shooting modes include auto shooting mode, auto scene detection mode, manual mode, aperture priority mode (Av mode), shutter speed priority mode (Tv mode), and program AE mode (P mode). Additionally, there are various scene modes and custom modes that provide shooting settings for specific shooting scenes.

The user can directly switch to one of these modes using the mode selector switch 60. Alternatively, the user can first switch to a list screen of shooting modes using the mode selector switch 60, then select one of the displayed modes and use other operating members to switch between them. Similarly, the video shooting mode may also include multiple modes.

The first shutter switch 62 is turned ON when the shutter button 61 on the digital camera 100 is pressed halfway (a shooting preparation command) and generates a first shutter switch signal SW1. In response to the first shutter switch signal SW1, shooting preparation operations such as AF (autofocus) processing, AE (auto exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (pre-flash) processing are initiated.

The second shutter switch 64 turns ON when the shutter button 61 is fully pressed (a shooting instruction) and generates a second shutter switch signal SW2. When the system control unit 50 receives the second shutter switch signal SW2, it starts a series of shooting processing operations, from reading the signal from the image sensor 22 to writing the captured image to the recording medium 200 as an image file.

The operation unit 70 is a variety of operating members that serve as an input unit that accepts operations from the user. The operation unit 70 of the imaging device in FIG. 1 includes at least one of the following: the shutter button 61, the main electronic dial 71, the power switch 72, the sub electronic dial 73, the multi-directional key 74, the SET button 75, the video button 76, the AE lock button 77, the enlarge button 78, the playback button 79, the menu button 81, etc.

The power supply control unit 80 is composed of a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches between powered blocks, and other components, and detects whether a battery is installed, the battery type, and the remaining battery charge. The power supply control unit 80 also controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection results and instructions from the system control unit 50, and supplies the required voltage for the required period to each component, including the recording medium 200. The power supply unit 30 consists of primary batteries such as alkaline batteries or lithium batteries, secondary batteries such as NiCd batteries, NiMH batteries, or Li batteries, an AC adapter, etc.

The recording medium I/F 18 is an interface with a recording medium 200 such as a memory card or hard disk. The recording medium 200 is a recording medium such as a memory card for recording captured images, and is composed of semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, etc. The communication unit 54 is connected wirelessly or via a wired cable, and transmits and receives video and audio signals. The communication unit 54 can also be connected to a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. The communication unit 54 can also communicate with external devices via Bluetooth (registered trademark) or BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy).

The communication unit 54 can transmit images (including LV images) captured by the image sensor 22 and images recorded on the recording medium 200 to the outside, and can also receive images and various other information from external devices. The orientation detection unit 55 detects the orientation of the digital camera 100 relative to the direction of gravity. Based on the orientation detected by the orientation detection unit 55, it is possible to determine whether an image captured by the image sensor 22 was captured with the digital camera 100 held horizontally or vertically.

The attitude detection unit 55 has an acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor, and is capable of detecting the movement of the digital camera 100 (panning, tilting, lifting, whether it is stationary, etc.). The eyepiece detection unit 57 is an eyepiece detection sensor that detects whether the eye (object) is approaching (eye-contact) or not (not in eye-contact) the viewfinder eyepiece 16.

The system control unit 50 switches the display unit 28 and EVF 29 between display (display state) and non-display (non-display state) depending on the detection result of the eyepiece detection unit 57. More specifically, at least in the shooting standby state and when the display destination switching is in automatic switching mode, when the eyepiece is not in contact with the subject, the display unit 28 is turned on as the display destination and the EVF module 29 is turned off. On the other hand, when the eyepiece is in contact with the subject, the EVF module 29 is turned on as the display destination and the display unit 28 is turned off.

The touch panel 70a and the display unit 28 can be configured as an integrated unit. For example, the touch panel 70a is configured so that the light transmittance does not interfere with the display of the display unit 28, and is attached to the upper layer of the display surface of the display unit 28. Then, input coordinates on the touch panel 70a are associated with display coordinates on the display screen of the display unit 28.
This makes it possible to provide a GUI (Graphical User Interface) that allows the user to directly operate the screen displayed on the display unit 28 .

The gaze detection unit 58 performs A/D conversion on the eyeball image (image of the eye) captured by the gaze detection sensor 630 (CCD-EYE) and sends the result to the system control unit 50. The system control unit 50 extracts feature points necessary for gaze detection from the eye image according to a predetermined algorithm described below, and calculates the user's gaze (the viewpoint in the viewing image) from the position of the feature points.

Next, the structure around the top cover of the digital camera 100 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
3A and 3B are external views of the top cover 300 of the digital camera 100, with Fig. 3A being an external view of the top cover 300 of the digital camera 100, and Fig. 3B being an external view in which the non-conductive exterior 301 of the top cover 300 of Fig. 3A is not shown. As shown in Fig. 3A, the top cover 300 is made up of a conductive exterior 302 that is electrically conductive.

The conductive exterior 302 may be made of a metal material such as magnesium or aluminum, or a conductive resin material containing carbon or other materials. Alternatively, the surface of the resin material may be painted or coated with a conductive material. Using the conductive exterior 302 provides excellent heat dissipation, as conductive materials generally have higher thermal conductivity than non-conductive materials, making it possible to diffuse heat throughout the entire top lid 300.

Furthermore, using a conductive exterior material provides a shielding effect, which is effective in preventing EMI (Electromagnetic Interference), which is the electromagnetic waves generated by the digital camera 100 that interfere with other electronic devices. Similarly, it is also effective in improving EMS (Electromagnetic Susceptibility), which is the digital camera 100's resistance to noise from external electronic devices.

The top cover 300 is located above and in front of the main body of the digital camera as an optical device, and above and in front of the eyepiece frame 801 (described below), with the central section partially composed of a non-conductive exterior 301. The non-conductive exterior 301 is a non-conductive material such as a resin material that does not conduct electricity, and covers directly above the first wireless module 304 and second wireless module 306. An accessory shoe 303 is located above the back side of the non-conductive exterior 301 on the top cover 300. The accessory shoe 303 is equipped with a communication contact in addition to an attachment/detachment mechanism. The accessory shoe 303 allows external accessories such as an external strobe or external microphone to be attached, detached, and used.

Figure 3(B) is an external view of the top cover 300 of the digital camera 100, with the non-conductive exterior casing 301 hidden. As shown in Figure 3(B), a first wireless module 304 and a second wireless module 306 are disposed directly below the non-conductive exterior 301. Furthermore, a gasket 308 seals the gap between the top cover 300 and the non-conductive exterior 301, making the interior of the digital camera 100, where the wireless modules are disposed, dust-proof and drip-proof.

The first wireless module 304 and the second wireless module 306 are examples of the communication unit 54 and are electrical components that communicate wirelessly with external devices. Here, the first wireless module 304 includes, for example, a Wi-Fi module, and the second wireless module 306 includes, for example, a GPS module. The conductive exterior 302 provides electromagnetic shielding against wireless, GPS, and Bluetooth, while the non-conductive exterior 301 does not provide electromagnetic shielding. Therefore, by covering the area directly above the first wireless module 304 and the second wireless module 306 with the non-conductive exterior 301, it is possible to improve wireless communication functionality while maintaining heat dissipation and EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) characteristics.

The first wireless module 304 is fixed to the conductive holding member 305 with screws, and the conductive holding member 305 is fastened to the conductive exterior 302 with screws. As a result, the ground of the first wireless module 304 is connected to the conductive exterior 302 via the conductive holding member 305.

That is, the first wireless module and the second wireless module are fixed to the top cover, and the grounds of the first wireless module and the second wireless module are connected to the conductive exterior part provided on the top cover.
In this embodiment, the conductive holding member 305 is an aluminum or stainless steel plate, but it may also be a conductive resin member. It may also be fixed directly to the conductive exterior 302 without using the conductive holding member 305.

The second wireless module 306 is fixed to the non-conductive exterior 301 with screws. The ground of the second wireless module 306 is connected to the conductive exterior 302 via the flexible wiring board 307.

FIG. 4 is an external view and a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the wireless modules 304 and 306 of the embodiment, and shows an example of the layout of the wireless modules in the top cover 300.
Fig. 4A is a top view of the upper cover 300. Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the upper cover 300 in the Y direction taken along the line AA in Fig. 3A.

As EVF modules become more sophisticated, they are becoming larger. It is necessary to arrange multiple modules with multiple functions in a way that satisfies each function, while minimizing the impact on the external dimensions of the digital camera 100. The arrangement of the first wireless module 304 and the second wireless module 306 will be explained using Figures 4(A) and 4(B).

The device 400 may be an orientation detection unit 55 made up of an acceleration sensor and gyro sensor that detects the orientation of the camera and camera shake, or a short-range wireless communication unit that communicates with external devices. Alternatively, the device 400 may be a mechanical component such as a fan that cools the interior of the digital camera 100 by forced air cooling, or a heat dissipation fin that cools by increasing the surface area.

The first wireless module 304 and second wireless module 306 are located inside the top cover 300, and are located between the accessory shoe 303 and the lens mount 10 in the thickness direction of the digital camera 100 (Z direction in the figure). If the first wireless module 304 is covered by the user's hand or other object, it may be affected by the human body, resulting in a decrease in wireless characteristics, such as a shorter communication distance or slower communication speed.

Furthermore, if the first wireless module 304 is placed near the eyepiece 16, it may be affected by the user's face when using the EVF 29, which could result in degraded wireless characteristics. For this reason, it is desirable to place the first wireless module 304 on the front of the digital camera 100, away from the eyepiece 16. The first wireless module 304 is placed so that its antenna pattern 500 (described below) is oriented at an angle A relative to the second wireless module 306. In this embodiment, angle A is 45°.

Angle A is set so that the second wireless module 306 does not overlap the approximate extension of the antenna pattern 500 surface of the first wireless module 304. Furthermore, the first wireless module is positioned so that the approximate extension of the antenna pattern surface of the first wireless module is tilted relative to the front-to-back and side-to-side directions of the digital camera.

By positioning the first wireless module and the second wireless module in this angular relationship, the metal components of the top cover 300 and the second wireless module 306 do not interfere with the high-gain areas of the antenna pattern 500. This makes it less likely that radio waves transmitted and received by the antenna pattern 500 will be obstructed, and allows for a compact placement.

In this embodiment, SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) is also taken into consideration. That is, taking into account the impact on the human body of radio waves emitted from the antenna surface, a spatial distance is maintained between the exterior surface that the user can touch and the antenna pattern 500 according to the electric field strength. Because the electric field strength is distributed radially from the surface of the antenna pattern 500, for example, if the exterior is flat, the spatial distance on a vertical line to the surface of the antenna pattern 500 is smallest, and the impact on the human body due to SAR will be greatest.

In this embodiment, the convex shape of the non-conductive exterior 301 is oriented in the generally vertical direction of the surface of the antenna pattern 500 and in the generally same direction. In other words, the non-conductive exterior 301 has a convex shape in the generally vertical direction of the surface of the antenna pattern 500, and is configured to ensure a sufficient spatial distance between the surface of the antenna pattern 500 and the non-conductive exterior 301. Therefore, this embodiment makes it possible to increase the electric field strength to ensure communication performance while taking SAR into consideration.

In this embodiment, the first wireless module 304 is located on the grip side of the digital camera 100 relative to the second wireless module 306. However, depending on the external design shape of the top cover 300 and the non-conductive exterior casing 301 and the placement constraints imposed by the device 400, it is also possible to place them on the opposite side of the center of the optical axis of the digital camera 100 while maintaining the above angle.

The second wireless module 306 is used as a GPS to determine the position of the digital camera 100, and is positioned between the accessory shoe 303 and the lens mount 10 at an angle B relative to the imaging surface 220 of the digital camera 100, as shown in Figure 4(B). In this embodiment, angle B is 25°.

Angle B is the angle at which the approximate extension direction of the antenna pattern surface of the second wireless module 306, i.e., the dashed line in Figure 4(B), does not overlap with the exterior side of the accessory shoe 303. Furthermore, the second wireless module is positioned at an angle relative to the front-to-back and upward directions of the digital camera, at which the approximate extension direction of the antenna pattern surface of the second wireless module does not overlap with any part of the accessory shoe.

This is because, as a radio characteristic of GPS, there is a possibility that the reception sensitivity may be reduced due to surrounding metal parts. That is, in this embodiment, the second wireless module 306 is positioned so that it protrudes from the opening in the top cover 300. Furthermore, the second wireless module 306 is positioned at an angle such that the extension direction of the antenna pattern surface of the second wireless module 306, i.e., the dashed line in Figure 4(B), does not overlap with the exterior side of the accessory shoe 303.

In this way, angle B reduces the influence of the metal components of the accessory shoe while ensuring sensitivity in the zenith direction, which is the Y direction of the digital camera 100. Furthermore, even if the EVF module 29 is enlarged, the two modules, the first wireless module 304 and the second wireless module 306, can be efficiently arranged between the accessory shoe 303 and the lens mount 10 without increasing the external size of the digital camera 100.

In this embodiment, the second wireless module 306 is angled only with respect to the imaging surface 220 in the Y direction of the digital camera 100. However, depending on the external design shape of the top cover 300 and the non-conductive exterior casing 301 and the placement constraints of the device 400, the second wireless module 306 may be placed at an angle with respect to the Y axis and Z axis of the digital camera 100 while maintaining angle B. The second wireless module 306 may be a satellite positioning system other than GPS, or may be a system such as GLONASS that can determine the position of the digital camera 100.

Here, the first wireless module 304, the second wireless module 306, the device 400, the accessory shoe 303, and the EVF module 29 do not all have to overlap in the Z or Y direction. For example, a configuration without the device 400 is also possible. In that case, by overlapping the EVF module 29 with the imaging unit including the image sensor 22 in the Y direction, the external dimensions of the digital camera 100 can be further reduced.

In this way, the first wireless module 304 and the second wireless module 306 are positioned in a position where they do not overlap between the accessory shoe 303 and the lens mount 10 in the front-to-rear direction (optical axis direction, Z direction) of the digital camera 100. This makes it possible to minimize the increase in size of the digital camera 100.

Figure 5 is an external view of the first wireless module 304. Figure 5(A) shows an example in which the first wireless module 304 has an antenna pattern 500 but does not have a signal processing unit 501, which will be described later. Figure 5(B) shows an example in which the first wireless module 304 has an antenna pattern 500 and a signal processing unit 501.

Hereinafter, a case will be described with reference to FIG. 5A in which the wireless module 304 includes an antenna pattern 500 but does not include a signal processing unit 501, which will be described later.
The first wireless module 304 is a printed wiring board, and the antenna pattern 500 is formed of a conductive material such as copper. The first wireless module 304 is not limited to a printed circuit board, and may be a flexible printed wiring board.

The antenna pattern 500 is not limited to this shape, and the pattern may be modified as long as efficient wireless characteristics are obtained. The first wireless module 304 has a fixing portion 502 that is fixed to the aforementioned conductive holding member 305, and the fixing portion 502 electrically connects the conductive holding member 305 to ground.

In this embodiment, the fixing portion 502 is a round hole and is fastened to the conductive holding member 305 with a screw, but this is not limited to screws and may also be fixed with conductive double-sided tape or a conductive adhesive. The first wireless module 304 is equipped with a transmission portion 503 made up of a thin coaxial cable, and the signal obtained by the antenna pattern 500 is transmitted to a circuit board (not shown).

The side of the transmission unit 503 that faces the first wireless module 304 is the module-side connection unit 503a, which electrically connects the transmission unit 503 to the first wireless module 304 via solder. The opposite side of the transmission unit 503 is the destination connection unit 503b, which is made up of a connector and is connected to a circuit board (not shown) via the connector.

The module side connection part 503a and the destination connection part 503b may both be connector connections, or both may be solder connections. The cable of the transmission part 503 is constructed from a fine coaxial wire, so not only external noise but also noise emitted from the transmission part 503 is blocked. Note that the transmission part 503 is not limited to a fine coaxial wire cable, and may be a general wire or connected via a flexible printed wiring board.

A signal processing unit 501 that processes the signal output from the antenna pattern 500 is mounted on the circuit board to which the destination connection unit 503b is connected. The signal processing unit 501 is composed of an IC such as an integrated circuit, and the signal processing unit 501 and the aforementioned system control unit 50 enable communication between the digital camera 100 and external devices. By separating the signal processing unit 501 from the first wireless module 304 as shown in Figure 5(A), the wireless module itself can be made smaller. This makes it possible to place the wireless module in places within the digital camera 100 that were previously impossible to place.

In Figure 5(A), electrical components such as resistors, inductors, and capacitors are mounted on the component mounting section 504. This allows tuning of the antenna characteristics. In other words, even when the same first wireless module 304 is used with different digital cameras 100, wireless communication can be performed under optimal conditions even with different digital cameras 100 by changing and tuning the electrical components in the component mounting section 504.

As shown in Figure 5(A), in the first wireless module 304, the fixed section 502, transmission section 503, component mounting section 504, and antenna pattern 500 are arranged in this order and on approximately the same straight line. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the first wireless module 304. It is desirable that the transmission section 503 be drawn out at a 45° angle rather than as an extension of the antenna pattern 500. This is also to make the wireless module 304 as small as possible in the short side direction.

Antenna pattern 500 has an open end 505 at one end, which is located on the non-conductive exterior 301 side within top cover 300. This is because the open end 505, which is the end of antenna pattern 500, has the strongest radio characteristics, and so placing the open end 505 as close as possible to the non-conductive exterior 301 improves reception efficiency. In addition to the conductive holding member 305, a separate fine-coaxial cable processing section made of a resin material or the like may be provided around the first wireless module 304 to process the fine-coaxial cable of transmission section 503.

Next, a case where the first wireless module 304 includes both an antenna pattern 500 and a signal processing unit 501 will be described with reference to FIG. 5B.
The first wireless module 304 includes a signal processing unit 501 that processes a signal output from the antenna pattern 500, and a transmission unit 503 that connects the signal processing unit 501 to a circuit board on which the system control unit 50 is mounted. In this embodiment, the transmission unit 503 is a flexible connector, but the connection may also be made by a cable such as a thin coaxial cable.

The signal processing unit 501 is composed of an IC such as an integrated circuit, and the signal output from the antenna pattern 500 is processed by the signal processing unit 501. The transmission unit 503 of the first wireless module 304 connects the system control unit 50 on the circuit board to the signal processing unit 501 of the first wireless module 304, and communication between them enables wireless communication with external devices.

<Explanation about EVF (eye gaze input)>
6 is a cross-sectional view of the optical axis of the finder unit for explaining the configuration of the EVF. The EVF provided in the digital camera 100 in this embodiment is configured not only to display menus and images like the display panel 5, but also to detect the line of sight of the user looking into the EVF and reflect the detection result in the control of the digital camera 100.

In other words, like the display panel 5, the EVF module 29 is used to display menus and images for operating the digital camera 100 and viewing and editing images captured by the digital camera 100 when the user is looking through the viewfinder. The EVF module 29 is composed of a backlit LCD panel, an organic EL panel, or the like.

7 denotes a panel holder that holds the EVF module 29; the EVF module 29 and panel holder 7 are fixed together with adhesive to form the display panel unit 8. The first optical path splitting prism 9 and second optical path splitting prism 610 are attached and glued together to form the optical path splitting prism unit 611 (optical path splitting member).

The optical-path splitting prism unit 611 guides the light beam from the second display panel to an eyepiece window 617 provided in the user's viewing hole, and conversely guides reflected light from the eye (pupil) guided through the eyepiece window 617 to a line-of-sight detection sensor 630 shown in Fig. 7. The display panel unit 8 and the optical-path splitting prism unit 611 are fixed with a mask 12 sandwiched between them and are integrally formed.
The mask 12 may be formed directly on the surface of the optical-path splitting prism 9 by sputtering, printing, etc. The optical-path splitting prism unit 611, G1 lens 613, G2 lens 614, G3 lens 615, eyepiece window 617, etc. form an EVF lens group 616.

FIG. 7 is a detailed diagram for explaining the configuration of the eyepiece window.
The eyepiece window 617 is a transparent member that transmits visible light. An image displayed on the display panel unit 8 is observed through an EVF lens group 616 that includes the optical path splitting prism unit 611 and the eyepiece window 617. The hatched portion 617a of the eyepiece window 617 is a mask that is printed on the surface facing the infrared LEDs with ink or the like that absorbs visible light and transmits infrared light, so that the infrared LEDs 618, 619, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, and 627 are not visible to the user. The viewfinder opening 617b is an opening for observing an optical image.

Figure 8(A) is a perspective view showing the configuration of the EVF portion of this embodiment, and Figure 8(B) is a cross-sectional view of the optical axis of the EVF portion. Infrared LEDs 618, 619, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, and 627 are each installed in different positions and orientations, and are arranged to emit infrared light toward the user's eyeball. Infrared LEDs 618, 619, 623, and 625 are infrared LEDs for short-distance illumination. Infrared LEDs 622, 624, 626, and 627 are infrared LEDs for long-distance illumination. The gaze detection optical system, which includes diaphragm 628 and gaze imaging lens 629, further guides the infrared reflected light guided from the eyepiece window 617 by optical path splitting prism unit 611, which is composed of first optical path splitting prism 9 and second optical path splitting prism 610, to gaze detection sensor 630.

In Figure 8 (B), an image of the user's eyeball, illuminated by an infrared LED, passes through the eyepiece window 617, G3 lens 615, G2 lens 614, and G1 lens 613 and enters the entrance surface (second surface) 610a of the second optical path splitting prism 610. This optical path is indicated by 31a. A dichroic film that reflects infrared light is formed on the first surface 610b of the second optical path splitting prism.

8A is reflected by the first surface 610b and then reflected toward the second surface 610a. This reflected light path is indicated by 31b. The reflected light path 31b is totally reflected by the second surface 610a, passes through the aperture 628 as an imaging light path 31c, and is imaged on the line-of-sight detection sensor 630 by the line-of-sight imaging lens 629.
To detect the line of sight, an image of the eyeball generated by illumination and an image of the cornea reflected by specular reflection of infrared LED light from the cornea are used.

Figure 9 is a diagram of the optical path when detecting the gaze using the gaze detection mechanism of the embodiment, showing an example of the optical path of light emitted from the infrared LEDs 618, 619, 623, and 625 for short-distance illumination, reflected by the cornea 142 of the eyeball, and then focused on the gaze detection sensor 630. Parts in the same figure that correspond to those in Figure 8 are numbered the same.

<Description of gaze detection operation>
The gaze detection method will be described with reference to FIGS.
Fig. 10 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the gaze detection method, and is a schematic diagram of an optical system for performing gaze detection. As shown in Fig. 10, light sources 13a and 13b are arranged approximately symmetrically with respect to the optical axis of a gaze imaging lens 629, and illuminate the user's eyeball 14. A portion of the light emitted from light sources 13a and 13b and reflected by the eyeball 14 is focused by the gaze imaging lens 629 onto a gaze detection sensor 630.

Figure 11 shows eye images according to the embodiment. Figure 11(A) is a schematic diagram of the eye image captured by the gaze detection sensor 630 (eyeball image projected onto the gaze detection sensor 630), and Figure 11(B) is a diagram showing the output distribution of the gaze detection sensor 630.

FIG. 12 is a schematic flowchart of the gaze detection operation, showing the processing performed by the system control unit 50 executing a computer program stored in memory.
12, when the gaze detection operation in the system control unit 50 starts, the light sources 13a and 13b emit infrared light toward the user's eyeball 14. An image of the user's eyeball illuminated by the infrared light is formed on the gaze detection sensor 630 through the gaze imaging lens 629 and is photoelectrically converted by the gaze detection sensor 630. As a result, an electrical signal of the eye image that can be processed is obtained.

In step S802, the gaze detection circuit 201 sends the eye image (eye image signal; electrical signal of the eye image) obtained from the gaze detection sensor 630 to the system control unit 50. In step S803, the system control unit 50 obtains the coordinates of points corresponding to the corneal reflection images Pd' and Pe' and the pupil center image c' of the light sources 13a and 13b shown in Figure 11 from the eye image obtained in step S802.

As shown in Figure 10, infrared light emitted from light sources 13a and 13b illuminates the cornea 142 of the user's eyeball 14. At this time, corneal reflection images Pd and Pe formed by a portion of the infrared light reflected from the surface of the cornea 142 are focused by the line-of-sight imaging lens 629 and focused on the line-of-sight detection sensor 630, becoming corneal reflection images Pd' and Pe' in the eye image of Figure 11. Similarly, light beams from the ends a and b of the pupil 141 are also focused on the line-of-sight detection sensor 630, becoming pupil edge images a' and b' in the eye image, as shown in Figure 11.

Figure 11(B) shows the luminance information (luminance distribution) of region α' in the eye image of Figure 11(A). In Figure 11(B), the horizontal direction of the eye image is the X-axis direction and the vertical direction is the Y-axis direction, and the luminance distribution in the X-axis direction is shown. In this embodiment, the X-axis (horizontal) coordinates of the corneal reflection images Pd' and Pe' are Xd and Xe, and the X-axis coordinates of the pupil edge images a' and b' are Xa and Xb. As shown in Figure 11(B), an extremely high level of luminance is obtained at the Xd and Xe coordinates of the corneal reflection images Pd' and Pe'.

In the area from coordinate Xa to coordinate Xb, which corresponds to the area of the pupil 141 (the area of the pupil image obtained when the light beam from the pupil 141 is focused on the gaze detection sensor 630), an extremely low level of brightness is obtained, except for coordinates Xd and Xe. In the area of the iris 143 outside the pupil 141 (the area of the iris image outside the pupil image obtained when the light beam from the iris 143 is focused), a brightness intermediate between the two types of brightness mentioned above is obtained. Specifically, a brightness intermediate between the two types of brightness mentioned above is obtained in the area where the X coordinate (coordinate in the X-axis direction) is smaller than coordinate Xa and the area where the X coordinate is larger than coordinate Xb.

From the brightness distribution shown in Figure 11 (B), the X coordinates Xd and Xe of the corneal reflection images Pd' and Pe' and the X coordinates Xa and Xb of the pupil edge images a' and b' can be obtained. Specifically, the coordinates of extremely high brightness can be obtained as the coordinates of the corneal reflection images Pd' and Pe', and the coordinates of the edge portions with medium brightness and extremely low brightness can be obtained as the coordinates of the pupil edge images a' and b'.

When the rotation angle θx of the optical axis of the eyeball 14 relative to the optical axis of the line-of-sight imaging lens 629 is small, the coordinate Xc of the pupil-centered image c' (center of the pupil image) obtained when a light beam from the pupil center c is imaged on the line-of-sight detection sensor 630 can be expressed as Xc ≈ (Xa + Xb)/2. In other words, the coordinate Xc of the pupil-centered image c' can be calculated from the X-coordinates Xa and Xb of the pupil edge images a' and b'.
In this way, the coordinates of the corneal reflection images Pd' and Pe' and the coordinates of the pupil center image c' can be obtained.

In step S804, the system control unit 50 calculates the imaging magnification β of the eyeball image. The imaging magnification β is determined by the position of the eyeball 14 relative to the line of sight imaging lens 629, and can be calculated using a function of the distance (Xe-Xd) between the corneal reflection images Pd' and Pe'.
In step S805, the system control unit 50 calculates the rotation angle of the optical axis of the eyeball 14 relative to the optical axis of the line-of-sight imaging lens 629.

The X coordinate of the midpoint between the corneal reflection images Pd and Pe is approximately the same as the X coordinate of the center of curvature O of the cornea 142. Therefore, if the standard distance from the center of curvature O of the cornea 142 to the center c of the pupil 141 is Oc, the rotation angle θX of the eyeball 14 in the Z-X plane (plane perpendicular to the Y axis) can be calculated by the following equation 1.
β×Oc×SINθX≒{(Xd+Xe)/2}−Xc...(Formula 1)
The rotation angle θy of the eyeball 14 in the ZY plane (plane perpendicular to the X axis) can be calculated in the same manner as the rotation angle θx.

In step S806, the system control unit 50 uses the rotation angles θx and θy calculated in step S805 to determine (estimate) the user's viewpoint (the position where the line of sight is fixed; the position where the user is looking) in the viewing image displayed on the display unit. If the coordinates of the viewpoint (Hx, Hy) correspond to the pupil center c, the coordinates of the viewpoint (Hx, Hy) can be calculated using the following equations 2 and 3.
Hx=m×(Ax×θx+Bx)...(Formula 2)
Hy=m×(Ay×θy+By)...(Formula 3)

The parameter m in Equations 2 and 3 is a constant determined by the configuration of the viewfinder optical system (line-of-sight imaging lens 629, etc.) of the digital camera 100, and is a conversion coefficient that converts the rotation angles θx and θy into coordinates corresponding to the pupil center c in the visual image. The parameter m is determined in advance and stored in the non-volatile memory 56.

The parameters Ax, Bx, Ay, and By are gaze correction parameters that correct for individual differences in gaze, and are obtained by performing the calibration work described below for each individual, and are stored in non-volatile memory 56 before the gaze detection operation begins.
In step S807, the system control unit 50 stores the coordinates (Hx, Hy) of the viewpoint in the nonvolatile memory 56, and ends the line-of-sight detection operation.

<Configuration of eyecup etc.>
Figure 13(A) is a rear view of eyepiece cover 800 to which an eyecup according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached, while Figures 13(B) and 13(C) are cross-sectional views taken along the lines M-M and N-N in Figure 13(A), respectively. Both views show the state in which eyecup 802 shown in Figure 14(A) has been removed. An eyepiece frame 801 is integrally formed with this eyepiece cover 800. Opening 801g of eyepiece frame 801 is wider than viewfinder opening 617b, which is required without the line-of-sight detection function, by the shaded portion, so as not to obstruct the light beams from infrared LEDs 618, 619, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, and 627 used for line-of-sight detection.

Furthermore, eyepiece frame grooves 801a are provided on both sides of the eyepiece frame 801 for attaching various eyepiece accessories, including the eyecup 802 of this embodiment. The eyecup 802 can be attached and detached to the eyepiece frame by sliding along the eyepiece frame grooves. Note that, although eyepiece frame grooves 801a are provided on both sides of the eyepiece frame 801 in this embodiment, it is sufficient that they are provided on at least one end.

In addition to being able to attach and detach the eyecup 802 as an attachment unit to the eyepiece of this embodiment, it is also possible to attach, for example, a magnifier, angle finder, etc. In other words, the attachment unit includes at least one of an eyecup, magnifier, and angle finder.

An eyepiece frame step 801b is formed at each lower end of the inner side of the eyepiece frame groove 801a. An eyepiece frame protrusion 801c, as shown in Figure 13, is provided above the viewfinder opening 617b of the eyepiece frame to prevent the eyecup from unintentionally removing. Furthermore, as shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 13(B), the underside of the eyepiece frame protrusion 801c forms an eyepiece frame perpendicular wall (first wall) 801d that is approximately perpendicular to the direction in which the eyecup 802 is removed (Y direction).

As a result, even if a force in the Y direction is applied to the eyecup 802 while it is engaged with the eyepiece frame protrusion 801c, it is difficult for it to come off. It is also desirable that the top surface of the eyepiece frame protrusion 801c is not perpendicular to the Y direction but is inclined.

The eyepiece frame 801 has an eyepiece frame inclined portion 801f starting from an eyepiece frame inclination starting point 801e, and the eyepiece cover 800 similarly has an eyepiece cover inclined portion 800c starting from an eyepiece cover inclination starting point 800b. In other words, as shown in Figure 13(B), the lower surface of the eyepiece frame 801 is inclined relative to the upper surface in the figure, with the eyepiece frame inclination starting point 801e as the boundary.

By tilting the upper and lower surfaces of eyepiece frame tilt starting point 801e and eyepiece cover tilt starting point 800b relative to each other in this way, 801e and 800b form relatively convex portions. Note that the upper and lower surfaces of eyepiece frame tilt starting point 801e and eyepiece cover tilt starting point 800b do not need to be relatively tilted, as long as eyepiece frame tilt starting point 801e and eyepiece cover tilt starting point 800b form convex portions.
The outer peripheral edge 800d of the eyepiece cover 800 is not beveled. When the attachment unit is attached, the entire edge 803a (see FIG. 14B) of the eyecup rubber 803 (described later) abuts against the outer peripheral edge 800d of the eyepiece cover 800.

This allows the eyecup body 805 to be tilted while maintaining elastic contact between the outer peripheral edge 800d of the eyepiece cover 800 and the edge 803a of the elastic eyecup rubber 803. In other words, by applying force to the eyecup body 805, the eyecup bottom 805d (FIG. 14B) can be tilted to a position substantially parallel to the eyepiece frame inclined portion 801f and the eyepiece cover inclined portion 800c.
Therefore, the elasticity of the edge 803a of the eyecup rubber 803 allows the eyecup 802 to be held in the correct position without any rattle when attached.

Next, the configuration of the eyecup 802 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
Fig. 14(A) is a perspective view showing the main parts of an eyecup 802 according to this embodiment, Fig. 14(B) is a perspective view of the eyecup from the back, and Fig. 14(C) is an exploded perspective view of the eyecup. All of these figures show the eyecup not attached to the camera body. As shown in Fig. 14(C), the eyecup of this embodiment is composed of an eyecup rubber 803, an eyecup cover 804 having an eyepiece field frame 804c, and an eyecup body 805.

As described above, the eyepiece field frame 804c is configured to be wider than the viewfinder opening 617b required when there is no line of sight detection function, so as not to obstruct the light beams from the infrared LEDs 618, 619, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, and 627 for line of sight detection.
The eyecup body 805 includes an eyecup claw 805a, an eyecup groove 805b, and an eyecup bottom surface 805d. When the eyecup 802 is attached to the eyepiece frame 801, the eyecup claw 805a catches on the lower end of the eyepiece frame step 801b, preventing unintentional removal.

Here, the eyecup claw 805a functions as a claw that can engage with the step when the attachment unit is attached along the eyepiece frame groove, and the eyecup groove 805b functions as a recess that engages with the eyepiece frame protrusion 801c when the attachment unit is attached to the eyepiece frame.
The eyecup rubber 803 is configured to protrude from the eyecup body 805. This is to improve the feel when the user looks through the viewfinder and to block light from entering the viewfinder through the gap between the eyecup and the user's eyes. The inside of the protruding part of the eyecup rubber 803 is hollow, which makes it feel softer.

The eyecup cover 804 is provided with an indicator portion 804a that acts as a pressing portion for the user to press when intentionally removing the eyecup 802 from the eyepiece frame 801. A sloped surface 804b is provided so that when the user presses this indicator portion 804a, a force is applied in the Z and Y directions in Figure 16(B).

The eyecup cover 804 is adhesively fixed to the eyecup body 805 together with the eyecup rubber 803, and as shown in Figure 14(B), when viewed from the back, the outer edge 803a of the eyecup rubber 803 is exposed at the outer periphery of the eyepiece. When the eyecup is attached to the eyepiece frame 801, the eyepiece frame protrusion 801c at the top of the eyepiece frame 801 is inserted into the eyecup groove 805b of the eyecup.

Furthermore, when force is applied in a direction that causes the eyecup to detach from the eyepiece frame (the upward direction opposite to the downward arrow R in Figure 15), the eyepiece frame right-angle wall (first wall) 801d of the eyepiece frame protrusion 801c catches on the inner wall 805c below the eyecup groove (recess) 805b. This further prevents the eyecup from detaching unintentionally from the user. Here, the inner wall 805c is provided in the recess and functions as a second wall that comes into contact with the first wall when force is applied to the attachment unit in the direction of removal.

<Attaching the eyecup>
Next, the operation when attaching the eyecup 802 to the eyepiece frame 801 formed on the camera body will be described with reference to FIGS.
Figures 15, 16(A), (B), 17(A), and (B) are cross-sectional views showing the detailed configuration of the eyecup and eyepiece frame in the embodiment, and all show the state in which the eyecup 802 is attached to the eyepiece frame 801.

More specifically, FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the Z direction of the portion where the claws are hooked when the eyecup 802 is attached to the eyepiece frame 801.
Figure 16(A) is a cross-sectional view in the M-M direction of Figure 13(A) when the engagement between the eyepiece frame protrusion portion 801c and the eyecup groove portion 805b of the embodiment is released, and Figure 16(B) is a cross-sectional view in the M-M direction of Figure 13(A) when the eyecup of the embodiment is attached.
Figure 17(A) is a cross-sectional view in the N-N direction of Figure 13(A) when the eyepiece frame protrusion 801c and the eyecup groove 805b are disengaged, and Figure 17(B) is a cross-sectional view in the N-N direction of Figure 13(A) when the eyecup is attached.

The user inserts the eyecup tab 805a in the direction of arrow R in Figure 15, aligning it with the eyepiece frame groove 801a formed in the eyepiece frame 801. At this time, the eyecup tab 805a is inserted in a state where it is elastically deformed and pushed outward. The eyecup tab 805a then falls into the eyepiece frame step 801b of the eyepiece frame 801, locking it in place.

In addition to the above, as the insertion operation proceeds in the direction of arrow R in Figure 15, the eyecup body 805 is lifted by the protruding slope 801h of the eyepiece frame protrusion 801c, as shown in Figure 16 (A), and the eyepiece frame protrusion 801c and the eyecup groove 805b become caught and not engaged with each other.

At this time, as shown in part S in Figure 17(A), the eyecup rubber 803, which is an elastic member in contact with the edge 800d of the inclined portion 800c of the eyepiece cover 800, is pressed in the Z direction, elastically deforming and compressing. As a result, in Figure 16(A), the eyecup bottom portion 805d tilts in the Z direction to a position where it is approximately parallel to the eyepiece frame inclined portion 801f and the eyepiece cover inclined portion 800c. As a result, it is able to climb over the eyepiece frame protrusion 801c, and the eyepiece frame protrusion 801c falls into and engages with the eyecup groove 805b. In other words, the state shown in Figure 16(A) changes to the state shown in Figure 16(B).

<Removing the eyecup>
Next, the case where the eyecup 802 is removed from the eyepiece frame 801 will be described.
The following occurs when removing the eyecup 802 from the eyepiece frame 801. By pressing the eyecup cover indicator portion 804a shown in Figure 14A, forces are applied to the eyecup 802 in the Z and Y directions by the slope 804b. The force in the Z direction elastically deforms and compresses the eyecup rubber 803 that contacts the edge 800d of the slope 800c of the eyepiece cover 800, as shown in Figure 17A.

As a result, the eyecup bottom portion 805d rotates in the Z direction until it is approximately parallel to the eyepiece cover inclined portion 800c and the eyepiece frame inclined portion 801f, disengaging the eyecup frame protrusion 801c from the eyecup groove 805b. In other words, the state changes from that shown in Figures 16(B) and 17(B) to that shown in Figures 16(A) and 17(A). Then, the force in the Y direction generated by pressing the eyecup cover indicator portion 804a elastically deforms the eyecup claw 805a toward the outside of Figure 15, disengaging the eyecup claw 805a from the eyepiece frame step portion 801b.

In this way, the eyepiece frame tilt starting point 801e and the eyepiece cover tilt starting point 800b function as convex portions that allow the attachment unit to rotate when the attachment unit is pressed against the eyepiece frame.
When the attachment unit rotates in the Z direction with this convex portion as a fulcrum, the eyecup groove portion 805b as a concave portion is disengaged from the eyepiece frame protrusion portion 801c.

With the eyecup claw 805a and the eyepiece frame step portion 801b disengaged, the user can easily remove the eyecup 802 by further pushing the eyecup 802 up in the Y direction.
As described above, in this embodiment, the eyecup cover indicator portion 804a has a slope 804b so that forces act in both the Z and Y directions simultaneously, allowing the user to easily remove the eyecup 802 with a single action.

<If unintentional force is applied in the direction of removal>
Next, a case will be described in which an unintended force is applied to the eyecup in the removal direction without operating the eyecup cover indicator portion 804a.
For example, when storing the camera body in a camera bag, the user may unintentionally apply force to the eyecup in the direction of removal. However, when the eyecup is attached (as shown in FIG. 16(B)), the eyepiece frame right-angle wall 801d in the Z direction of the eyepiece frame protrusion 801c and the lower inner wall 805c of the eyecup groove 805b engage, preventing the eyecup from coming off unintentionally.

In this embodiment, to remove the eyecup, it is necessary to press the eyecup cover indicator portion 804a to compress and deform the eyecup rubber 803. Then, it is necessary to rotate the eyecup bottom portion 805d in the Z direction until it is roughly parallel to the eyepiece cover inclined portion 800c and the eyepiece frame inclined portion 801f, thereby removing the eyepiece frame protrusion portion 801c from the eyecup groove portion 805b.

As a result, the eyecup 802 will not come off when the camera is put in or taken out of a camera bag, or when the user moves around with the camera attached to a strap and hanging it from their neck or shoulder. Furthermore, the eyecup rubber 803 protrudes further than the eyecup body 805, and the inside of the protruding part is hollow and soft, so even if the eyecup rubber 803 is pressed in the Z direction, the force is not easily transmitted to the eyecup body 805. In other words, even if force is applied to the eyecup rubber 803, the force is not easily transmitted in the direction that would cause the eyepiece frame protrusion 801c to come out of the eyecup groove 805b.

Furthermore, in order to apply force in a direction that disengages the eyepiece frame protrusion 801c from the eyecup groove 805b, the area near the index portion 804a of the eyecup cover 804 must be pressed. If force is applied elsewhere, the force is applied in a direction that makes it difficult for the eyepiece frame protrusion 801c to disengage from the eyecup groove 805b, making it even more difficult to disengage.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the user needs to press the eyecup cover indicator portion 804a to remove the eyecup 802 from the eyepiece frame 801 formed on the camera body. This causes the eyecup rubber 803 to elastically deform, rotating the eyecup bottom portion 805d in the Z direction to a position where it is approximately parallel to the eyepiece cover inclined portion 800c and the eyepiece frame inclined portion 801f, and disengaging the eyecup frame protrusion portion 801c from the eyecup groove portion 805b. The eyecup claw 805a then elastically deforms and retracts from the eyepiece frame step portion 801b, allowing the user to easily remove the eyecup 802.

On the other hand, if the eyecup cover indicator 804a is not operated and an unintended force is applied in the direction of removing the eyecup 802 from the eyepiece frame 801, the eyepiece frame right-angle wall 801d of the eyepiece frame protrusion 801c will catch on the lower inner wall 805c of the eyecup groove 805b. Therefore, the eyecup will not come off unintentionally by the user.

Furthermore, there is no need for an operating unit for moving the claws inside the eyecup body, nor for a movable claw mechanism, making it possible to make the eyecup more compact. Furthermore, because the direction in which the indicator portion 804a is operated and the removal direction are the same, there is no need for two or more steps, such as operating the operating unit and then pulling up in the removal direction. Therefore, the user can easily remove the eyecup 802 with a single action of pressing the eyecup cover indicator portion 804a.

The present invention has been described in detail above based on preferred embodiments thereof, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various modifications are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these modifications are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

800 Eyepiece cover 800a Eyepiece cover groove 800b Eyepiece cover inclination starting point 800c Eyepiece cover inclined portion 800d Eyepiece cover inclined portion edge 801 Eyepiece frame 801a Eyepiece frame groove 801b Eyepiece frame step portion 801c Eyepiece frame protrusion 801d Eyepiece frame right-angle wall 801e Eyepiece frame inclination starting point 801f Eyepiece frame inclined portion 801g Eyepiece frame opening 801h Eyepiece frame protrusion inclined surface 802 Eyecup 803 Eyecup rubber 804 Eyecup cover 804a Eyecup cover index portion 804b Inclined surface 804c Eyepiece field frame 805 Eyecup body 805a Eyecup claw 805b Eyecup groove portion 805c Eyecup inner wall 805d Bottom of eyecup

Claims (10)

an eyepiece frame having a protrusion ;
an eyepiece frame groove provided at at least one end of the eyepiece frame;
an attachment unit that includes an engagement portion that engages with the protrusion and is detachably attached to the eyepiece frame along the eyepiece frame groove;
In an engaged state in which the protrusion and the engaging portion are engaged with each other,
a first wall formed on the protrusion and a second wall formed on the engagement portion face each other at a substantially right angle to the direction in which the attachment unit is removed along the eyepiece frame groove;
An optical device characterized in that the attachment unit rotates around a rotation starting point provided on the eyepiece frame, thereby changing from the engaged state to a disengaged state in which the engagement portion disengages from the protrusion portion . The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the eyepiece frame has an inclined surface extending from the rotation starting point. 2. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein when a force is applied to the eyepiece frame to which the attachment unit is attached in a direction in which the attachment unit is removed, the first wall and the second wall come into contact with each other. 2. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion and the engagement portion are engaged when the mounting unit is mounted, and the protrusion is disengaged from the engagement portion when the mounting unit is removed. the eyepiece frame has a step portion provided inside the eyepiece frame groove,
2. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment unit has a claw portion that can be engaged with the step portion. 2. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting unit has an elastic member, and when the mounting unit rotates, the elastic member elastically deforms. 7. The optical device according to claim 6 , wherein in the engaged state, the elastic member abuts against the edge of the eyepiece frame. 2. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the eyepiece frame has a finder opening for observing an optical image, and the protrusion is provided above the finder opening. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting unit has a pressing portion, and the mounting unit rotates around the rotation starting point when the pressing portion is pressed . 2. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting unit includes at least one of an eyecup, a magnifier, and an angle finder.