JP2005284091A - Flash device installation mechanism and imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flash unit installation mechanism that can prevent the continuity of photographing work from being lost, and an imaging apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The mechanism comprises: a flash unit 10 that is arranged so as to enable pop-up operation on a case body; a first protrusion 22 that is integrally arranged at a strobe case 18; a drive means 20 for driving the pop-up operation of the flash unit 10; a protrusion locking part 24a locked at the first protrusion 22 so as to prohibit the pop-up operation of the flash unit 10; and a pop-up starting part 24b for starting the pop-up operation of the flash unit 10 by unlocking a locking state of the protrusion locking part 24a and the first protrusion 22. The pop-up starting part 24b is integrally constituted with the protrusion locking part 24a, and also the pop-up starting part 24b is arranged at the photographer side of the case body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a flash device installation mechanism and an imaging device for providing a case main body with a flash device that emits light toward a subject in order to compensate for a lack of light intensity of the subject imaged by the imaging device.

As a conventional camera of an imaging device provided with a flash device such as a strobe device, for example, there are those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below. These conventional cameras have a pop-up operation that raises the flash device when it is used, and can lay it down when the flash device is not used.
JP-A-5-2212 JP-A-9-050066

  However, in the conventional technique according to Patent Document 1, since the button b for starting the pop-up operation of the flash device is provided on the upper surface of the camera, the upper surface of the camera is used for the pop-up operation of the flash device. While looking at the button b, the user must search for the button b and then press the button b.

  For this reason, in order for the flash device to pop up, if the photographer had previously looked into the viewfinder window, the photographer had to look away from the viewfinder window and look at the top of the camera. The continuity of the shooting operation is lost, and there are problems such as missing a photo opportunity and degrading the operability of the camera.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a flash device installation mechanism and an imaging device that can prevent the continuity of photographing work from being lost.

In order to solve the above problems, the flash device installation mechanism of the present invention is:
A pop-up light emitting section that is provided on the case main body so as to be able to perform a pop-up operation, generates a flash, a pop-up rotating shaft that serves as a fulcrum of the pop-up operation, and is provided so as to expose the flash light emitting section to the outside. A flash device having a strobe case covering the part;
A first protrusion provided integrally with the strobe case;
Driving means for driving the pop-up operation of the flash device;
A protrusion locking portion locked to the first protrusion so as to prohibit the pop-up operation of the flash device;
A pop-up activation part for releasing the engagement state between the protrusion engaging part and the first protrusion and starting the pop-up operation of the flash device;
The pop-up activation part is configured integrally with the protrusion locking part, or is configured by a member connected to the protrusion locking part,
The pop-up activation unit is provided on the photographer side of the case body.

In order to solve the above problems, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes:
A pop-up light emitting section that is provided on the case main body so as to be able to perform a pop-up operation, generates a flash, a pop-up rotating shaft that serves as a fulcrum of the pop-up operation, and is provided so as to expose the flash light emitting section to the outside. A flash device having a strobe case covering the part;
A first protrusion provided integrally with the strobe case;
Driving means for driving the pop-up operation of the flash device;
A protrusion locking portion locked to the first protrusion so as to prohibit the pop-up operation of the flash device;
A pop-up activation part for releasing the engagement state between the protrusion engaging part and the first protrusion and starting the pop-up operation of the flash device;
The pop-up activation part is configured integrally with the protrusion locking part, or is configured by a member connected to the protrusion locking part,
The pop-up activation unit includes a flash device installation mechanism provided on the photographer side of the case body.

  According to the flash device installation mechanism and the imaging device configured as described above, the pop-up activation unit that activates the pop-up operation of the flash device is provided so as to be operable from the photographer side opposite to the subject side of the case body. Therefore, since the photographer can operate the pop-up activation unit while looking through the viewfinder window, it is possible to prevent the continuity of the photographing work from being lost.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 to FIG. 8 are diagrams which are referred to for describing an embodiment of a flash device installation mechanism and an imaging device according to the present invention.

  FIGS. 1 and 2 are views showing a strobe device 10 (flash device) provided on an upper portion of a case main body 42 of a camera 40 (imaging device, see FIGS. 5 to 8). FIG. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the strobe device 10 is lifted up and finished in a pop-up operation.

  The pop-up operation of the strobe device 10 is performed by rotating the strobe device 10 around the rotation shaft 14 (pop-up rotation shaft). Even when the strobe device 10 is laid down and stored, the pop-up operation is performed around the rotation shaft 14. This is performed by rotating the strobe device 10.

  A flash light emitting unit 16 that generates flash light is provided at the end of the strobe device 10 opposite to the rotation shaft 14. The flash light emitting unit 16 is controlled by a wiring and a control circuit (not shown) connected to the flash light emitting unit 16, and then flashes are not generated.

  The external appearance of the strobe device 10 is formed by a strobe case 18. A pop-up spring 20 (driving means, see FIGS. 3 and 4) for driving the pop-up operation of the strobe device 10 is provided between the strobe case 18 and the rotating shaft 14. The pop-up spring 20 always applies an elastic driving force to the strobe case 18 so that the strobe case 18 is rotated (pop-up operation) from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the rotation shaft 14 (pop-up rotation shaft) of the strobe device 10 is covered with a strobe case 18 in a curved shape.

  The end of the strobe case 18 opposite to the flash light emitting portion 16 protrudes in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long axis direction of the strobe case 18 and extends in the substantially radial direction of the rotary shaft 14 (first protrusion). Is formed integrally with the strobe case 18. The rotation of the strobe device 10 in the pop-up operation direction is stopped when the abutting portion 22a of the protrusion 22 abuts against the rotation stopper portion 12a (pop-up stop portion) of the storage case 12.

  Conversely, the rotation of the strobe device 10 in the storage direction to the storage case 12 stops when the lower surface of the strobe case 18 contacts the inner surface of the storage case 12. At this time, the projecting portion 22 is engaged with an engaging portion 24 a (projection engaging portion) of an engaging lever member 24 described later, so that the strobe case 18 is again moved in the pop-up operation direction by the elastic driving force of the pop-up spring 20. Rotation can be prohibited.

  Here, the rotation of the strobe device 10 in the storage direction to the storage case 12 can be stopped not only by the lower surface of the strobe case 18 coming into contact with the inner surface of the storage case 12, but also the later-described relationship of the protrusion 22. The stopping portion 22b (see FIG. 3) may be stopped when it is locked to the locking portion 24a of the locking lever member 24.

3 and 4 are perspective views showing a state when the strobe device 10 is rotated in the pop-up operation direction.
A locking lever member 24 is provided below the rotation shaft 14 of the strobe device 10 so as to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 26.

  A driving spring 28 is provided between the locking lever member 24 and the rotary shaft 26, and this driving spring 28 is always directed in the direction of pushing down the tip 24b of the locking lever member 24 downward, that is, An elastic driving force is applied so as to rotate in a direction away from the rotation shaft 14 of the strobe device 10.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the protrusion 22 is formed at a substantially central portion in the width direction of the strobe case 18 in the figure, and the locking lever member 24 is disposed on the right side of the protrusion 22 in the figure. . A locking portion 22b is formed on the right side of the projection 22 in the same figure so as to protrude with a narrower width than the contact portion 22a. On the left side of the locking lever member 24, as shown in FIGS. A locking portion 24a having a simple cross section is formed to protrude toward the contact portion 22a.

  When the strobe device 10 rotates in the direction opposite to the pop-up operation direction to change from the state shown in FIG. 2 to the state shown in FIG. 1, the locking portion 22 b of the protrusion 22 is locked to the locking portion 24 a of the locking lever member 24. When the locking portion 22b passes through the position of the locking portion 24a, the locking portion 24a is slightly lowered and stopped by the elastic driving force of the driving spring 28.

  Therefore, the locking portion 22b of the protrusion 22 is locked to the locking portion 24a of the locking lever member 24, and the strobe case 18 is popped up by the elastic driving force of the pop-up spring 20 as shown in FIG. Since it cannot rotate in the operating direction, the strobe case 18 is maintained in the state shown in FIG.

  When the strobe device 10 is to be rotated from the state shown in FIG. 1 to the state shown in FIG. 2, that is, when the strobe case 18 is rotated in the pop-up operation direction, the distal end portion corresponding to the right end portion in FIG. By operating 24b (pop-up activation part) with a fingertip or by operating a member (not shown) connected to the locking part 24a of the locking lever member 24, a little against the elastic driving force of the drive spring 28 is obtained. lift.

  Then, since the locking part 24a of the locking lever member 24 is removed from the rotation locus of the locking part 22b of the protrusion 22, the locking part 22b becomes rotatable. For this reason, since the strobe case 18 can rotate in the pop-up operation direction, the strobe device 10 can rotate from the state shown in FIG. 1 to the state shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the distal end portion 24b of the locking lever member 24 protrudes on the opposite side of the flash light emitting portion 16 of the strobe device 10. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. Projects to the photographer side opposite to the subject side of the camera.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, a state detection switch 30 is provided at a position below the rotary shaft 14 of the strobe device 10 in the drawing. Further, a switch pressing portion 32 that protrudes in a direction different from the protruding portion 22 and presses the pressing detection portion 30a (detecting portion) of the state detection switch 30 is formed on one side of the protruding portion 22 of the strobe case 18. Has been.

  For this reason, when the strobe case 18 rotates in the pop-up operation direction from the position shown in FIG. 1 and reaches the position shown in FIG. 2, the switch pressing portion 32 presses the press detecting portion 30 a of the state detection switch 30. The switch pressing unit 32 can detect that the strobe device 10 is in a pop-up operation.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, the distal end portion 24b of the locking lever member 24 that activates the pop-up operation of the strobe device 10 is provided on the photographer side opposite to the subject side of the case body 42 of the camera 40. Therefore, the photographer can operate the distal end portion 24b of the locking lever member 24 while looking through the viewfinder window, thereby preventing the continuity of the photographing operation from being lost and missing a photo opportunity. Or problems such as degrading the operability of the camera can be prevented.

  Further, when the distal end portion 24b of the locking lever member 24 is disposed in the vicinity of the strobe device 10, the continuity of the photographing operation is further improved, and the strobe device 10 can be easily popped up while operating the shutter. The continuity and operability of the photographing operation of the camera 40 are also improved by disposing the distal end portion 24b of the locking lever member 24 at the position.

  In addition, the strobe device 10 is configured to stop rotation after the pop-up operation, engage the strobe device 10 before the pop-up rotation, and turn on the state detection switch 30 by using a single strobe case 18. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an increase in the number of parts.

  For this reason, it is possible to prevent problems such as assembly accuracy being lowered by assembling a large number of parts, and an increase in cost due to an increase in the number of steps for assembling a large number of parts.

  In the above-described embodiment, the flash device installation mechanism provided with the rotary locking lever member 24 having the locking portion 24a has been described. However, the locking mechanism can be locked or released with the locking portion 22b of the protrusion 22. As long as it has a stop part, you may use the member of what kind of other structures, such as a structure different from the rotation type locking lever member 24, for example, a sliding type locking member.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the pop-up activation part 24b is formed integrally with the locking part 24a has been described. However, the pop-up activation part is configured by a member connected to the locking part 24a. Also good.

1 is a side sectional view showing a state in which a strobe device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is housed in a housing case 12. FIG. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the state which the flash apparatus 10 which concerns on one embodiment of this invention performed the pop-up operation | movement. It is the perspective view which looked at the state which the flash apparatus 10 which concerns on one embodiment of this invention performed the pop-up operation from the flash light emission part 16 side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a state in which the strobe device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is popped up as viewed from the rear side of the strobe case 18. It is a front view of the camera 40 which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the camera 40 which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a rear view of the camera 40 which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the camera 40 which concerns on one embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Strobe device 12 Storage case 12a Rotation stopper part 14 Rotating shaft 16 Flash light emitting part 18 Strobe case 20 Pop-up spring 22 Projection part 22a Contact part 22b Locking part 24 Locking lever member 24a Locking part 24b Tip part 26 Rotating shaft 28 Drive spring 30 State detection switch 30a Press detection part 32 Switch press part

Claims (7)

A pop-up light emitting section that is provided on the case main body so as to be able to perform a pop-up operation, generates a flash, a pop-up rotating shaft that serves as a fulcrum of the pop-up operation, and is provided so as to expose the flash light emitting section to the outside. A flash device having a strobe case covering the part;
A first protrusion provided integrally with the strobe case;
Driving means for driving the pop-up operation of the flash device;
A protrusion locking portion locked to the first protrusion so as to prohibit the pop-up operation of the flash device;
A pop-up activation part for releasing the engagement state between the protrusion engaging part and the first protrusion and starting the pop-up operation of the flash device;
The pop-up activation part is configured integrally with the protrusion locking part, or is configured by a member connected to the protrusion locking part,
The flash device installation mechanism, wherein the pop-up activation part is provided on the photographer side of the case body. The flash device installation mechanism according to claim 1,
The stationary portion on the case body side is provided with a pop-up stop portion that stops the further rotation of the flash device and keeps the flash device in that state by contacting the first protrusion during the pop-up operation of the flash device. Features a flash device installation mechanism. The flash device installation mechanism according to claim 1,
A state detection switch that is provided in a stationary part on the case body side and detects that the flashing device has been popped up to be usable;
A switch pressing unit that presses the detection unit of the state detection switch during the pop-up operation of the flash device;
The flash device installation mechanism, wherein the switch pressing portion is integrally formed as a second protrusion on the strobe case. The flash device installation mechanism according to claim 2,
A storage case for storing the flash device in a state where the flash device is laid down on the lower side of the flash device,
The flash device installation mechanism, wherein the pop-up stop is formed in a part of the storage case. A pop-up light emitting section that is provided on the case main body so as to be able to perform a pop-up operation, generates a flash, a pop-up rotating shaft that serves as a fulcrum of the pop-up operation, and is provided so as to expose the flash light emitting section to the outside. A flash device having a strobe case covering the part;
A first protrusion provided integrally with the strobe case;
Driving means for driving the pop-up operation of the flash device;
A protrusion locking portion locked to the first protrusion so as to prohibit the pop-up operation of the flash device;
A pop-up activation part for releasing the engagement state between the protrusion engaging part and the first protrusion and starting the pop-up operation of the flash device;
The pop-up activation part is configured integrally with the protrusion locking part, or is configured by a member connected to the protrusion locking part,
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a flash device installation mechanism in which the pop-up activation unit is provided on a photographer side of the case body. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5,
When the flash device is not in use, the flash device is laid down and stored in the storage case.
When using the flash device, the flash device pops up to get up by operating the pop-up activation part,
The image pickup apparatus, wherein the pop-up activation unit is provided on a photographer side of the case body. The imaging apparatus according to claim 6,
The image pickup apparatus, wherein the pop-up activation unit is provided in the vicinity of the flash device.

Images