IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THEREOF

Abstract

An image pickup apparatus of the present invention is a portion of the image pickup portion 51 is exposed on a first surface of the casing. The apparatus includes: a holding frame 40 disposed on a second surface, which is the rear surface of the first surface of the casing, wherein the image pickup portion 51 is held by the holding frame 40, and the holding frame 40 is fixed to a third surface adjacent to the second surface. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the number of components, and to eliminate the need for the step of attaching the double-faced tape, and the step of attaching the cover ring to the front panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of an image pickup apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the image pickup apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing the front panel.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view showing the front panel.

FIG. 3C is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the front panel.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the holding frame.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the assembling process of the image pickup apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the front panel and the holding frame.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the front panel to which the holding frame is attached.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the image pickup portion and the frame.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the body unit.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the body unit.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the body unit and the front unit.

FIG. 12 is a top view showing the body unit.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional image pickup apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the conventional image pickup apparatus.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional trim ring

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the assembling process of the conventional image pickup apparatus.

Claims

1. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a casing; andan image pickup portion comprising a lens and an image pickup element, and contained in the casing, so that a portion of the image pickup portion is exposed from a first surface of a panel constituting the casing,wherein a holding frame is disposed on a second surface, which is the rear surface of the first surface of the panel, the holding frame being fixed to a third surface of the panel adjacent to the second surface, andthe image pickup portion is held by the holding frame.

2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding frame comprises a projection capable of being engaged with a recess formed on the third surface.

3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cover portion covering the periphery of the image pickup portion and protruding in an optical axis direction is provided integrally with the panel on the first surface of the panel.

4. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a light-emitting member that is disposed in the casing, and that emits light in a direction of the optical axis of the lens; andan auxiliary light cover disposed on the optical axis of the light-emitting member,wherein the auxiliary light cover is sandwiched by the second surface and the holding frame.

5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image pickup portion is fixed with screws from the second surface side of the panel.

6. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a top cover capable of covering at least a fourth surface, which is the rear surface of the third surface.

7. A method for assembling an image pickup apparatus that comprises a casing; and an image pickup portion comprising a lens and an image pickup element, and contained in the casing, so that a portion of the image pickup portion is exposed from a first surface of a panel constituting the casing,wherein a holding frame is disposed on a second surface, which is the rear surface of the first surface of the panel, the holding frame being fixed to a third surface of the panel adjacent to the second surface, andthe image pickup portion is held by the holding frame, the method comprising the steps of(A) preparing a front panel on which at least the image pickup portion is exposed, a rear panel disposed facing the front panel, and a top panel comprising a release switch, andfixing the top panel to the image pickup portion;(B) fixing the holding frame to the front panel; and(C) fixing the front panel and the rear panel assembled in step (B) to a unit assembled in step (A).