Imaging apparatus and imaging unit

Abstract

There is disclosed an imaging apparatus including an image pickup device, a dust proof member provided in front of the image pickup device, and a fluid pump having a piezoelectric element as a drive source to generate a flow of air toward the front surface of the dust proof member. The flow of air is used to remove dust adhering on the surface of the dust proof member. For example, the dust proof member can be configured as a low-pass filter or a transparent glass member arranged on an imaging optical path.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus and methods of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the general structure of a single-lens reflex digital camera according to each of embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of an image pickup device unit and a piezoelectric pump in a first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a “power-on reset” routine of the single-lens reflex digital camera in each of the embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an “imaging operation” subroutine in the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of a shutter in a charged state, a piezoelectric pump, and an image pickup device in a second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of the shutter in an open state, the piezoelectric pump, and the image pickup device in the second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of the shutter in such a state that a rear curtain is closed after the shutter is driven, the piezoelectric pump, and the image pickup device in the second embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an “imaging operation” subroutine in the second embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a “dust removal operation” subroutine in the second embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a modification of the arrangement of the image pickup device unit and the piezoelectric pump of the first embodiment; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a modification of the arrangement of the image pickup device unit and the piezoelectric pump of the second embodiment.

Claims

1. An imaging unit provided with a dust reduction device comprising: an image pickup device;a dust proof member provided in front of the image pickup device; anda fluid pump having a piezoelectric element as a drive source to generate a flow of air toward the front surface of the dust proof member.

2. The imaging unit according to claim 1 wherein the dust proof member is a low-pass filter.

3. The imaging unit according to claim 1 wherein the dust proof member is a transparent glass member.

4. An imaging unit provided with a dust reduction device for an imaging apparatus, comprising: an image pickup device;a dust proof member provided in front of the image pickup device; anda fluid pump having a piezoelectric element as a drive source to generate a flow of air toward the front surface of the dust proof member.

5. The imaging unit according to claim 4 wherein the dust proof member is a low-pass filter.

6. The imaging unit according to claim 4 wherein the dust proof member is a transparent glass member.

7. An imaging apparatus comprising: an image pickup device;a dust proof member provided in front of the image pickup device; anda fluid pump having a piezoelectric element as a drive source to generate a flow of air toward the front surface of the dust proof member.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the dust proof member is a low-pass filter.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the dust proof member is a transparent glass member.

10. A dust reduction device comprising: a dust proof member through which a light flux passes to form an image;a fluid pump having a piezoelectric element as a drive source to generate a flow of air toward the front surface of this optical member; anda control part for controlling the fluid pump to remove dust adhering on the dust proof member using the flow of air.

11. The dust reduction device according to claim 10 wherein the dust proof member is a low-pass filter.

12. The dust reduction device according to claim 10 wherein the dust proof member is a transparent glass member.

13. The dust reduction device according to claim 10 further comprising a vibrating plate for driving a fluid, wherein the piezoelectric element of the fluid pump resonates at a natural frequency of the vibrating plate.

14. The dust reduction device according to claim 10 wherein the fluid pump includes a vibrating plate internally mounted to connect therewith through the piezoelectric element and an elastic member.

15. The dust reduction device according to claim 10 wherein the fluid pump internally includes an air reservoir chamber and a nozzle communicating with the air reservoir chamber.

16. The dust reduction device according to claim 15 wherein an air inlet is provided in the air reservoir chamber of the fluid pump and an outflow preventing valve is provided to prevent leakage of air from the air inlet.

17. The dust reduction device according to claim 15 wherein an inflow preventing valve is provided in the nozzle of the fluid pump to prevent the entry of air from the nozzle.

18. An imaging apparatus comprising: a lens for forming an image of a subject;an image pickup device for photoelectrically converting the image formed through the lens;a dust proof member through which a light flux passes to form the image;a fluid pump having a piezoelectric element as a drive source to generate a flow of air toward the front surface of the dust proof member; anda control part for controlling the fluid pump to remove dust adhering on the dust proof member using the flow of air.

19. The imaging apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the dust proof member is a low-pass filter.

20. The imaging apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the dust proof member is a transparent glass member.

21. The imaging apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the control part performs dust removal using the flow of air when a power switch of the imaging apparatus is turned on.

22. The imaging apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the control part performs dust removal using the flow of air prior to an imaging operation.

23. The imaging apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the lens of the imaging apparatus is of an interchangeable type, and the control part performs dust removal using the flow of air when the lens is mounted on a body of the imaging apparatus.

24. An imaging apparatus comprising: an image pickup device for acquiring an image signal corresponding to light irradiated on a photoelectric conversion surface thereof;a dust proof member arranged to face the image pickup device with a predetermined space therebetween;a fluid pump for generating a flow of air toward the surface of the dust proof member;a shutter for opening and closing a shooting opening toward the image pickup device; anda control part for controlling the fluid pump to generate the flow of air at least when the shutter is in a closed state.

25. The imaging apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the dust proof member is a low-pass filter.

26. The imaging apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the dust proof member is a transparent glass member.

27. The imaging apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the shutter is a focal-plane shutter having a front curtain formed by laminating a plurality of blades and a rear curtain formed by laminating a plurality of blades, the shutter arranged in the vicinity of the dust proof member with a predetermined space therebetween.

28. The imaging apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the control part controls the fluid pump to generate the flow of air when the front curtain or the rear curtain is located in such a closed position to close the shooting opening.

29. The imaging apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the fluid pump generates the flow of air from a side of the position of a blade most close to the image pickup device side in the plurality of blades in such a condition that the front curtain or the rear curtain is located in the closed position.

30. The imaging apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the control part starts actuation of the fluid pump at least when the shutter is in the closed state, and after that, controls the fluid pump to continuously generate the flow of air during driving of the shutter.

31. The imaging apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the control part repeatedly performs the air-flow generating operation of the fluid pump and the shutter driving operation in an initial state of the imaging apparatus.

32. The imaging apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the control part actuates the fluid pump prior to an imaging operation of the imaging apparatus, and stops the fluid pump after completion of the imaging operation.

33. An imaging apparatus comprising: a dust proof member through which a light flux from a subject incoming through a photographing lens passes to form an image;an image pickup device for receiving the subject light flux and photoelectrically converting the subject image;a shutter arranged between the photographing lens and the dust proof member;a fluid pump arranged between the shutter and the dust proof member to generate a flow of air; anda control part for controlling the fluid pump to remove dust adhering on the dust proof member using the flow of air.

34. The imaging apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the dust proof member is a low-pass filter.

35. The imaging apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the dust proof member is a transparent glass member.

36. The imaging apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the control part actuates the fluid pump to remove the dust while the shutter is being closed.

37. The imaging apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the control part actuates the fluid pump to remove the dust after the shutter is operated.

38. The imaging apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the imaging apparatus includes an outlet arranged in a position opposite to the fluid pump and capable of letting the air flow out.

39. An imaging unit comprising: a dust proof member through which a light flux passes to form an image;an image pickup device for receiving the light flux and photoelectrically converting an image formed based on the light flux;a shutter for opening and closing an opening through which the light flux enters toward the image pickup device; anda fluid pump arranged between the shutter and the dust proof member to generate a flow of air.

40. The imaging unit according to claim 39 wherein the dust proof member is a low-pass filter.

41. The imaging unit according to claim 39 wherein the dust proof member is a transparent glass member.