Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6641311
-
Patent Number
6,641,311
-
Date Filed
Thursday, August 29, 200221 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 4, 200320 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Adams; Russell
- Dalakis; Michael
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 396 448
- 396 535
- 396 543
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A camera includes a rigid cover formed by an integrated front cover and side cover, with the rigid cover being slidable in a transverse direction (a side direction). A lens aperture is formed in the rigid cover. A lens barrier that openings and closes the lens aperture due to the lens barrier being moved interlockingly with a sliding movement of the rigid cover is formed at a front side of a camera body. When the rigid cover is reciprocated in a state in which the lens aperture is closed, the lens aperture is opened by the lens barrier moving. When the rigid cover is reciprocated in a state in which the lens aperture is opened, the lens aperture is closed by the lens barrier moving.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera that opens and closes a lens aperture and a method of opening and closing a lens.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is an escalating trend to improve miniature cameras by, improving the ease with which they can be carried and operated for shooting. Barrier-free miniature cameras have thus been developed for the purpose of miniaturizing and lightening cameras.
At the same time, there has also been a demand for lens barriers to be disposed in miniature cameras in order to sufficiently protect the lens, and for the operation by which the lens barriers are opened and closed to be easy. Moreover, there has been the desire for such miniature cameras to also have an appealing design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In consideration of the above facts, it is an object of the present invention to provide a camera that opens and closes a lens aperture.
A first aspect of the invention is a camera comprising: a front cover that is disposed at a lens-mounted side of the camera, so as to be slidable with respect to a camera body mounted with the lens, and includes a lens aperture which exposes the lens; a lens barrier which opens and closes the lens aperture; and an opening/closing mechanism which moves the lens barrier interlockingly with a sliding movement of the front cover so that the lens aperture is opened and closed with the lens barrier due to the lens barrier being moved.
Thus, because the lens aperture can be opened and closed by sliding the front cover, it becomes unnecessary to dispose on the camera body switches or buttons for opening and closing the lens aperture. It should be noted that the diameter of the lens aperture is generally larger than the outside diameter of a lens barrel housed in the camera body.
In a second aspect of the invention, the mechanism comprises a switching mechanism which switches opening and closure of the lens aperture by the lens barrier per reciprocal movement of the front cover.
Thus, when the front cover is reciprocated in a state in which the lens aperture is closed, the lens aperture is opened by the lens barrier moving, and when the front cover is reciprocated in a state in which the lens aperture is opened, the lens aperture is closed by the lens barrier moving. Accordingly, it is possible to open and close the lens aperture in a state in which the front cover has returned to a constant position prior to being slid.
In a third aspect of the invention, the lens barrier is rotatably disposed at a front side of the camera body and rotates interlockingly with a sliding movement of the front cover in one direction.
Thus, it becomes possible to simplify the switching mechanism.
In a fourth aspect of the invention, an urging member which urges the front cover in a constant direction is disposed.
Thus, because the front cover returns of its own accord to its former position when the front cover is gripped, slid, and released, operation for reciprocating the front cover becomes remarkably simple.
In a fifth aspect of the invention, the diameter of the lens aperture is larger than an outside diameter of a lens barrel housed in the camera body.
Thus, it is possible to magnify a subject with a zoom or varifocal lens and shoot the subject.
In a sixth aspect of the invention, the front cover is slidable in a side direction relative to the camera body.
Thus, because it is easy to slide the front cover with a finger, the ease with which the camera can be operated is improved.
In a seventh aspect of the invention, a side cover having a side that is integrally formed with the front cover is disposed so as to form a substantially L-shaped cover when the camera is viewed from above.
Thus, the front cover can be slid by gripping the side cover and sliding the front cover. Moreover, the design of the camera remains aesthetically pleasing even when the front cover has been slid.
In an eighth aspect of the invention, a recess, into which a finger can be placed when the substantially L-shaped cover is slid, is formed in the camera body, and the finger catches the substantially L-shaped cover when the finger is placed in the recess.
Thus, the side cover is easy to grip when the front cover is to be slid.
As described above, a miniature camera in which a lens aperture can be opened and closed by simply sliding a lens barrier and that has an excellent design is realized with the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A
is a front view of a camera according to a first embodiment of the invention, and
FIG. 1B
is a rear view of the camera;
FIG. 2
is a front view showing a lens barrier being opened by sliding a rigid cover from the state shown in
FIG. 1A
;
FIG. 3
is a front view showing the lens barrier moved to completely open a lens aperture by the rigid cover having been moved to an end;
FIG. 4
is a front view showing the rigid cover returned to its former position by the rigid cover being released from one's hand in the state shown in
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5A
is a front view of a zoom lens extending from the state shown in
FIG. 4
,
FIG. 5B
is a plan view seen from arrows B—B,
FIG. 5C
is a side view seen from arrows C—C, and
FIG. 5D
is a side view seen from arrows D—D;
FIG. 6
is a front view showing the rigid cover slid to the end from the state shown in
FIG. 5A
;
FIG. 7
is a front view showing the rigid cover returned to its former position by the rigid cover being released from one's hand in the state shown in
FIG. 6
, and the lens barrier having slid to close the lens aperture;
FIG. 8
is a perspective view showing an inner frame that structures a camera body;
FIG. 9
is a perspective view showing the inner frame that structures the camera body;
FIGS. 10A
to
10
C are schematic partial enlarged front views showing how the shape and position of a toggle spring change when the lens barrier is moved and the lens aperture is opened;
FIG. 11
is a perspective view showing the structure of a reverse surface of the rigid cover;
FIG. 12
is a schematic front view showing the lens barrier positioned in a closed state when the camera is ordinarily stored;
FIG. 13
is a schematic front view showing the lens aperture being opened by movement of a pin due to movement of the lens barrier;
FIG. 14
is a schematic front view showing the lens aperture having been completely opened by movement of the pin due to movement of the lens barrier;
FIG. 15
is a schematic front view showing the pin returned to its former position by the rigid cover returning to its former position from the state shown in
FIG. 14
;
FIG. 16
is a schematic front view showing a tip of the pin engaging with a base end of the lens barrier due to the rigid cover being moved to the end from the state shown in
FIG. 15
;
FIG. 17
is a schematic front view showing the lens barrier moving to a closed position by the rigid cover being released from one's hand in the state shown in
FIG. 16
;
FIG. 18
is a partial perspective view showing a state in which the rigid cover has been slid;
FIG. 19
is a rear view showing a state in which an open/close cover is closed in a second embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 20
is a rear view showing a state in which the open/close cover is opened in the second embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.
First Embodiment
FIGS. 1 through 7
illustrate a camera
10
according to a first embodiment of the invention. The camera
10
is disposed with a front cover
12
on a front of the camera
10
. The front cover
12
is slidable in a transverse direction (side direction) with respect to a camera body
11
. The front cover
12
is integrally manufactured with a side cover
14
disposed on a side of the camera
10
. Thus, a rigid cover
16
that has a substantial L-shape when seen from above the camera
10
is formed at the camera body
11
(see FIG.
5
B).
A lens aperture
20
for exposing a lens
19
is formed in the rigid cover
16
. The diameter of the lens aperture
20
is larger than the outside diameter of a lens barrel
24
housed in the camera body
11
(see
FIGS. 3
to
5
D).
A lens barrier
26
that interlocks with sliding of the rigid cover
16
to open and close the lens aperture
20
is disposed on the front of the camera body
11
.
In order to make it easy for a person's left hand to slide the side cover
14
, a curved recess
18
for finger placement on the rigid cover
16
is formed in an upper right portion of the camera body
11
when seen from the front (see FIGS.
5
B and
18
). It should be noted, however, that the position at which the curved recess is disposed is not limited to the upper right portion, and that the curved recess can be disposed in a lower right portion of the camera body
11
in addition to, or in place of, being disposed in the upper right portion.
A display panel
30
(see
FIG. 1B
) for displaying, as motion images, images to be shot and operational modes of the camera
10
is disposed at the back of the camera
10
. Moreover, a ring member
34
to which a strap
32
(see
FIG. 1A
) is attached is rotatably disposed on the side of the camera
10
not disposed with the side cover
14
. A shutter release button
36
is disposed at the top left of the camera body
11
when seen from the front.
(Opening/Closing of the Lens Aperture by Movement of the Rigid Cover)
Prior to the camera
10
being operated, the lens aperture
20
is closed by the lens barrier
26
(see FIG.
1
A). The diameter of a lens barrier cap
27
is quite larger than the diameter of the lens aperture
20
, and the lens barrier cap
27
is disc-shaped. The lens barrier cap
27
covers the lens aperture
20
when the lens barrier cap
27
is positioned in the position shown in FIG.
1
A.
When the rigid cover
16
is slid in a transverse direction (i.e., the direction indicated by L
1
), the lens barrier
26
interlocks with the movement of the rigid cover
16
and begins moving, whereby the lens aperture
20
begins to open (see FIG.
2
). When the rigid cover
16
is further moved as far as a position to which it can be slid in the direction of L
1
(i.e., to an end), the rigid cover
16
is positioned into a position at which the lens aperture
20
is completely opened (see FIG.
3
).
The camera
10
is disposed with an inner frame
40
that is disposed at the inner side of the rigid cover
16
and structures the camera body
11
. A support
42
for supporting the lens barrier cap
27
when the lens barrier
26
rotates is disposed at the inner frame
40
. The support
42
includes a surface
42
S that is formed so that the lens barrier cap
27
rotates smoothly.
A protrusion
17
is formed on the inner side of the rigid cover
16
(see FIG.
11
). As shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9
, a groove
46
disposed with a compression coil spring
44
is formed in the inner frame
40
. The inner side of the rigid cover
16
faces the front (surface) of the inner frame
40
. The position of the protrusion
17
corresponds to the position of the compression coil spring
44
mounted in the groove
46
, and the compression coil spring
44
exerts an urging force on the protrusion
17
. Thus, the rigid cover
16
is always urged to return to its former position by the compression coil spring
44
when the rigid cover
16
is slid.
Accordingly, when the rigid cover
16
is released from one's hand in the state shown in
FIG. 3
, the rigid cover
16
slides in the direction of L
2
and returns to its former position, as shown in FIG.
4
. At this time, the lens barrier
26
does not move and the lens aperture
20
remains open.
Next, the lens barrel
24
is made to extend from the camera body
11
by an unillustrated extension mechanism and, as shown in
FIG. 5A
, it becomes possible for the camera
10
to shoot.
When a push-button
13
(see
FIG. 1B
) disposed on the back of the camera
10
is pushed after shooting has been concluded, the lens barrel
24
is accommodated in the camera body
11
by the extension mechanism.
It should be noted that the shape of the lens aperture
20
can also be a long oval in the camera side direction, so that when the rigid cover
16
is slid in a state in which the lens barrel
24
has emerged from the lens aperture
20
, a switch is actuated and the lens barrel
24
is automatically accommodated. In this case, it becomes unnecessary to dispose the push-button
13
on the back of the camera
10
, whereby the ease with which the camera can be operated is further improved.
When the rigid cover
16
is again slid in the direction of L
1
(see
FIG. 6
) and released from one's hand after the lens barrel
24
has been completely accommodated, the rigid cover
16
returns to its former position, whereby the lens barrier
26
is moved and the lens aperture
20
is closed (see FIG.
7
).
(Lens Barrier Opening/Closing Switching Mechanism)
Description will now be given of a mechanism by which the lens barrier
26
opens and closes the lens aperture
20
. As shown in
FIG. 8
, the lens barrier
26
is rotatably mounted on the front of the inner frame
40
.
The lens barrier
26
comprises the lens barrier cap
27
and a transmitting member
28
through which rotational force is transmitted. The transmitting member
28
extends from the lens barrier cap
27
and is rotatably held at a rotating shaft
47
.
A receiving portion
52
for receiving a moving force from a flexible pin
50
attached to the inner side of the rigid cover
16
is formed in the transmitting member
28
.
A projection
52
P, against which a pin tip
50
T collides when the pin
50
is moved, is formed at the receiving portion
52
. One end of a toggle spring
48
is attached to a receiving tip
52
T which composes a tip side that is disposed more distally than the projection
52
P. The other end of the toggle spring
48
is attached to the front surface of the inner frame
40
.
As shown in
FIGS. 12 through 14
, when the pin tip
50
T moves along the receiving tip
52
T and collides with the projection
52
P, the lens barrier
26
rotates and the lens aperture
20
opens. As shown in
FIGS. 15 through 17
, when the pin tip
50
T enters a receiving base end
52
B that is nearer a base end (i.e., the rotating shaft
47
) than the projection
52
P, the lens barrier
26
moves and the lens aperture
20
closes.
A recess
58
into which the pin
50
fits is formed in the inner side of the rigid cover
16
. The pin tip
50
T is slightly bent in a substantial L-shape and serves as an engaging portion that engages with the receiving portion
52
. Moreover, a pin base end
50
B is processed into a general U-shape so as to be fitted into the recess
58
. As shown in
FIG. 11
, it is also possible to bend the portion extending from the pin base end
50
B towards the top of the camera, i.e., in the direction of V
1
(see FIG.
1
), and towards the bottom of the camera, i.e., in the direction of V
2
.
By sliding the rigid cover
16
in the direction of L
1
(see FIG.
1
), the pin
50
moves in the direction of L
1
as shown in
FIG. 12
, and by returning the rigid cover
16
to its former position, the pin
50
moves in the direction of L
2
. Namely, by reciprocating the rigid cover
16
, the pin
50
is also reciprocated.
When the rigid cover
16
is moved in the direction of L
1
from a state in which the lens aperture
20
is closed by the lens barrier
26
(i.e., from the state shown in FIG.
12
), the pin tip SOT moves along the receiving tip
52
T and collides with the projection
52
P. When the rigid cover
16
is further moved in the direction of L
1
, the pin tip
50
T pushes the projection
52
P. As a result, the lens barrier
26
rotates in the direction of R
1
as shown in FIG.
13
.
When the rigid cover
16
is further moved in the direction of L
1
, the lens barrier
26
is further rotated in the direction of R
1
, as indicated by the broken line in
FIG. 14
, and the lens barrier
26
begins to be urged in the direction of R
1
by the toggle spring
48
. As a result, the receiving portion
52
moves away from the pin tip
50
T and the lens barrier
26
rotates as far as a position to which it is rotatable, whereby the rotation stops, as indicated by the solid line in FIG.
14
. In this state, the lens aperture
20
is completely opened.
FIGS. 10A through 10C
illustrate how the shape and position of the toggle spring
48
change when the lens barrier
26
is moved and the lens aperture
20
is opened.
When the rigid cover
16
is released from one's hand, the rigid cover
16
moves in the direction of L
2
and returns to its former position. Because the pin tip
50
T is not engaged with the receiving portion
52
of the lens barrier
26
, the pin
50
returns to its former position while the lens aperture
20
is maintained in an open state, as shown in FIG.
15
.
In order to move the lens barrier
26
to close the lens aperture
20
when shooting has been concluded, the rigid cover
16
is again slid in the direction of L
1
. As a result, the pin tip
50
T crosses over a catch
52
H that forms the receiving base end
52
B, as shown in FIG.
16
.
When the rigid cover
16
is released from one's hand, the rigid cover
16
begins to return to its former position. As a result, because the pin
50
moves in the direction of L
2
and begins to return to its former position, the pin tip
50
T is caught on the catch
52
H as shown in FIG.
17
. Thus, because the receiving portion
52
is pulled in the direction of L
2
, the lens barrier
26
rotates in the direction of R
2
.
When the rigid cover
16
is further moved in the direction of L
2
, the lens barrier
26
is further rotated in the direction of R
2
and begins to be urged in the direction of R
2
by the toggle spring
48
. Further, the pin tip
50
T moves away from the catch
52
H and the lens barrier
26
rotates as far as an end position to which it is rotatable, whereby the rotation stops, as shown in FIG.
12
. In this state, the lens aperture
20
is completely closed by the lens barrier
26
.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the lens barrier
26
can be made to open and close by sliding the rigid cover
16
.
Moreover, the lens barrier
26
is rotatably supported at the rotating shaft
47
, and the lens barrier cap
27
is moved a lot by the transmitting member
28
of the lens barrier
26
moving a little, whereby the lens aperture
20
is opened and closed. Accordingly, it is possible to sufficiently move the lens barrier
26
by slightly sliding the rigid cover
16
for opening/closing.
Additionally, because the front cover
12
can easily be slid while holding the camera
10
in one hand, the operation by which the lens aperture
20
is opened and closed by the lens barrier
26
is remarkably easy.
It should be noted that, as shown in
FIG. 18
, LEDs
64
can be arranged on a side
11
S of the camera body
11
facing the inner side of the side cover
14
, so that the LEDs
64
emits light when the rigid cover
16
is slid and the side cover
14
is moved away from the side
11
S. In this case, it is possible for an operator to be easily notified that the rigid cover
16
has been moved, even when it is dark (e.g., at night). A camera that also has an appealing design is also realized.
Second Embodiment
A second embodiment of the invention will now be described. In the second embodiment, constituent elements that are the same as those described in the first embodiment will be indicated by the same reference numerals and described thereof will be omitted.
As shown in
FIGS. 19 and 20
, in a camera
70
according to the second embodiment, the lens barrier
26
interlocks with the sliding of the rigid cover
16
to open and close the lens aperture
20
. Additionally, a display panel
80
is opened and closed by sliding an open/close cover
72
disposed at the back surface.
Thus, because it is possible to protect the display panel
80
with the open/close cover
72
, there is no potential for the display panel
80
to sustain impact when the camera
70
is carried around. Accordingly, the display panel
80
can be protected without having to raise the durability of the display panel
80
.
Although the invention has been described with reference to the preceding embodiments, the scope of the invention is not limited to the preceding embodiments.
Claims
- 1. A camera comprising:a front cover that is disposed at a lens-mounted side of the camera, so as to be slidable with respect to a camera body mounted with the lens, and includes a lens aperture which exposes the lens; a movable lens barrier that can be moved between a cover position in which lens barrier covers the lens aperture and an uncover position in which the lens barrier exposes the lens aperture; and an opening/closing mechanism which moves the lens barrier interlockingly with a sliding movement of the front cover so that a reciprocal movement of the front cover away from a first position and back to the first position initiated while the lens barrier is in the cover position will perform opening of the lens aperture by moving the lens barrier to the uncover position and leaving the lens barrier in the uncover position, and wherein the reciprocal movement of the front cover initiated while the lens barrier is in the uncover position will perform closure of the lens aperture by moving the lens barrier to the cover position and leaving the lens barrier in the cover position.
- 2. The camera of claim 1, wherein the opening/closing mechanism comprises a switching mechanism which switches between said opening and closure of the lens aperture by the lens barrier for successive said reciprocal movements of the front cover.
- 3. The camera of claim 2, wherein the switching mechanism retains the lens barrier at a position in which the lens barrier is left at a conclusion of the reciprocal movement.
- 4. The camera of claim 1, wherein the lens barrier is rotatably disposed at a front side of the camera body and rotates interlockingly with a sliding movement of the front cover in one direction.
- 5. The camera of claim 1, further including an urging member which urges the front cover in a constant direction.
- 6. The camera of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the lens aperture is larger than an outside diameter of a lens barrel housed in the camera body.
- 7. The camera of claim 6, further including an extension mechanism which extends the lens barrel from the camera body.
- 8. The camera of claim 1, wherein the front cover is slidable in a side direction relative to the camera body.
- 9. The camera of claim 8, further including a side cover having a side that is integrally formed with the front cover so as to form a substantially L-shaped cover when the camera is viewed from above.
- 10. The camera of claim 9, wherein a recess, into which a finger can be placed when the substantially L-shaped cover is slid, is formed in the camera body, and the finger catches the substantially L-shaped cover when the finger is placed in the recess.
- 11. The camera of claim 9, wherein the camera has a shape in which a step is formed at a portion between the substantially L-shaped cover and the camera body.
- 12. The camera of claim 11, wherein the shape is a recess formed in the camera body.
- 13. The camera of claim 1, further comprising:a display device disposed at a back surface of the camera body; and an open/close cover which opens and closes the display device interlockingly with a sliding movement of the front cover.
- 14. A method for opening and closing a lens mounted in a camera, the method comprising:disposing a front cover, in which a lens aperture which exposes the lens is formed, at the lens-mounted side of the camera so as to be slidable with respect to a camera body; and opening the lens aperture with a lens barrier by moving the lens barrier interlockingly with a reciprocal sliding movement of the front cover by sliding the front cover away from a first position and then back to the first position; and closing the lens aperture with the lens barrier by again moving the lens barrier interlockingly with the reciprocal sliding movement of the front cover by sliding the front cover away from the first position and then back to the first position.
- 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the lens barrier is retained at the position at which the lens aperture is opened after the opening step until the closing step.
- 16. A camera comprising:a front cover that is disposed at a lens-mounted side of the camera, so as to be slidable with respect to a camera body mounted with the lens, and includes a lens aperture which exposes the lens; a movable member that can be moved between a cover position in which the member covers the lens aperture and an uncover position in which the member exposes the lens aperture; and an opening/closing mechanism which moves the member interlockingly with a sliding movement of the front cover so that a reciprocal movement of the front cover away from a first position and back to the first position initiated while the member is in the cover position will perform opening of the lens aperture by moving the member to the uncover position and leaving the member in the uncover position, and wherein the reciprocal movement of the front cover initiated while the member is in the uncover position will perform closure of the lens aperture by moving the member to the cover position and leaving the member in the cover position.
- 17. The camera of claim 16, wherein the opening/closing mechanism comprises a switching mechanism which switches between said opening and closure of the lens aperture by the member for successive said reciprocal movements of the front cover.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2001-265784 |
Sep 2001 |
JP |
|
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A |
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Jun 1999 |
A |
6322259 |
Miyamoto et al. |
Nov 2001 |
B1 |
6347893 |
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Feb 2002 |
B1 |
6491448 |
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Dec 2002 |
B2 |