JP2002350950A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera capable of realizing the further compactness of the camera contrived to effectively utilize dead space in a camera main body and thinned by mounting an optical axis folding type photographic optical system in the camera on which the optical axis folding type photographic optical system is mounted. SOLUTION: The electronic camera is equipped with the camera main body 10, the optical axis folding type photographic optical system 14 equipped with a reflection surface M and arranged to be inclined to an incident optical axis OA so that an optical axis OB after reflection may turn to the width direction of the main body 10 near the light incident part of the main body 10, and a stroboscope capacitor 15 arranged so that its longitudinal direction may be aligned with a direction perpendicular to the base of the main body 10 in a state where a part of its outer peripheral surface is proximate to the back surface of the reflection surface M in the optical system 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera having an optical axis-bending type optical system in which a reflecting surface is provided inside a photographing optical system and the photographing optical axis is bent by the reflecting surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a photographing optical system of a camera is provided such that a photographing optical axis coincides with a front-rear direction (thickness direction) of a camera body. Therefore, the overall length of the photographing optical system is a main factor that determines the thickness of the camera body. That is, the longer the entire length of the photographing optical system, the larger the thickness of the camera body. Especially in a zoom camera, the number of lenses used is large, so the length of the shooting optical system is also long,
The thickness of the camera body must be large.

Therefore, the present inventors have proposed that the camera body be mounted with a so-called optical axis bending type photographing optical system to reduce the thickness of the camera. As shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-196303, this optical axis bending type photographing optical system is provided with a reflecting surface inside the photographing optical system,
The entire length of the photographing optical system is shortened by bending the photographing optical axis on the reflecting surface.

[0004]

By mounting the above-mentioned optical axis bending type photographing optical system, the thickness of the camera body can be reduced. However, simply reducing the thickness cannot reduce the size of the entire camera. In order to reduce the size of the entire camera, it is necessary to simultaneously reduce not only the thickness but also the width, height, and the like. For that purpose, it is required that other built-in components existing around the above-mentioned optical axis bending type photographing optical system, for example, a strobe condenser having a relatively large volume, be arranged in the camera body as efficiently as possible. .

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic camera having the following advantages.

(A) In a camera equipped with an optical axis bending type photographing optical system, the dead space in the camera body can be effectively used.

(B) It is possible to further reduce the size of a thinned camera by mounting an optical axis bending type photographing optical system.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, an electronic camera of the present invention has the following characteristic configuration. Note that characteristic configurations other than the following will be clarified in the embodiment.

An electronic camera according to the present invention has a camera main body and an optical axis tilted with respect to an incident optical axis near a light incident portion of the camera main body such that an optical axis after reflection is directed in a width direction of the camera main body. An optical axis bending type photographing optical system having a reflecting surface disposed in a longitudinal direction of the camera body, with a part of the outer peripheral surface being close to the back surface of the reflecting surface in the photographing optical system. A strobe condenser arranged so as to coincide with a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface.

In the above electronic camera, among the components housed in the camera body, the strobe condenser having a relatively large volume is arranged in a manner utilizing the dead space on the back surface of the reflection surface. Effective use of the installation space is achieved. Built-in components such as the strobe condenser around the optical axis bending type optical system can be efficiently laid out in the camera body. It is possible to further reduce the size of the camera that has been designed.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a view showing a schematic configuration of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 3B is a schematic sectional view showing the positional relationship between the optical system and the strobe condenser, with the cover on the top of the camera broken, and FIG. 2C is a schematic sectional view with the cover on the front of the camera broken.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are views showing a schematic configuration of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a schematic sectional view showing a front cover of the camera cut away, and FIG. And FIG. 3C is a schematic sectional view of the camera bottom surface with the cover being cut away.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a camera body, and various components described below are laid out in a predetermined state and housed in an outer cover divided into two parts. A main board 11 is arranged in the camera body 10 in such a manner as to divide the space inside the body into front and rear parts. In addition, a bottom substrate 12 is disposed close to and parallel to the bottom surface of the camera body 10. Further, an imaging substrate 13 is arranged in parallel with one side surface of the camera body 10.

An optical axis bending type photographing optical system 1 is provided in the right half area when viewed from the front of the camera on the front side of the main board 11.
4 are arranged. As shown in FIG. 1B, the photographing optical system 14 is located near the light incident portion (the photographing lens 14).
(a position behind a), a prism 14b having a reflection surface M inclined at approximately 45 ° with respect to the incident optical axis OA is arranged, and the incident light is reflected by the reflection surface M, whereby the reflected optical axis O is reflected.
The photographing optical axis is bent so that B faces the width direction of the camera body 10. Thus the camera body 1
The subject light image incident through the photographing lens 14a located substantially at the front center of the camera body 10 is reflected by the reflection surface M of the photographing optical system 14, and is arranged at the right end when viewed from the front of the camera body 10. CCD imaging device 14 on substrate 13
c. The back surface of the prism 14b is an inclined surface N substantially parallel to the reflection surface M.

A strobe condenser 15 having a columnar shape is
The entire length is formed to occupy substantially the entire area in the height direction of the camera body 10, and the longitudinal direction of the camera body 10 is set in a state where a part of the outer peripheral surface is close to the back surface of the prism 14b, that is, the inclined surface N. 10 is mounted on the bottom substrate 12 so as to coincide with a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the bottom substrate 10.

The battery pack 16 has a configuration in which, for example, two AA batteries are integrated, and a camera body 10 is provided in an area adjacent to the strobe condenser 15 (an area on the left as viewed from the front of the camera). Are loaded from the bottom as shown by the arrows.

At a position on the right side of the rear side of the main board 11 when viewed from the front of the camera (at a position behind the photographing optical system 14), a photographed image display LCD 17 has a display surface exposed to the rear surface of the camera body 10. It is arranged in. A media connector 18 is disposed parallel to the substrate 11 at a position on the left side of the rear surface of the main substrate 11 when viewed from the front of the camera (at a position behind the strobe condenser 15 and the battery pack 16). A recording medium in the form of a card, that is, a smart media 18a is removably loaded into the media connector 18 from the left side of the camera body 10 as indicated by an arrow.

At the rear position of the media connector 18, an operation switch 19 is disposed with its operation button exposed on the rear surface of the camera body 10. A release button 20 is disposed above the battery pack 16 with its upper end exposed outside from the upper surface of the camera body 10.

An optical viewfinder 21 is arranged in an area above the optical axis bending type photographing optical system 14 and adjacent to the strobe condenser 15. The optical viewfinder 21 has a front viewfinder window 21a on the front surface of the camera body 10 and a viewfinder eyepiece window 21b on the rear surface of the camera body 10.

In the vicinity of the optical viewfinder 21, a strobe light emitting device 22 is arranged with its light emitting window facing the front of the camera body 10.

A plurality of (three in this embodiment) jacks 31, 32, and 33 for electrically connecting to an external device (not shown) are provided below the optical axis bending type photographing optical system 14.
33 are arranged.

A jack 31 is an external power supply jack, a jack 32 is a video output jack, and a jack 33 is a serial bus jack (for example, USB) as a signal communication jack. Two adjacent jacks of the external power supply jack 31 and the video output jack 32 have a plug insertion opening facing the right side of the camera body 10 and a bottom board 12 installed in parallel with the bottom surface of the camera body 10. They are arranged side by side on the lower surface.

The two adjacent jacks 31 and 32
The two jacks 31, 32 can be inserted into the two jacks 31, 32 so that the two plugs 41, 42 can be inserted into the two jacks 31, 32 at different azimuth angles.
Are arranged with a predetermined angle difference α so that the axis AX2 of the other jack 32 is inclined with respect to the axis AX1 of the one jack 31. 43
Is a plug to be inserted into the jack 33, and 45 is a tripod mounting hole.

In the electronic camera of the present embodiment, as described above, of the built-in components housed in the camera body 10, the strobe condenser 15 having a relatively large volume is used.
The prism 14b is arranged in a manner utilizing a dead space on the back surface. For this reason, the effective use efficiency of the installation space in the camera body 10 can be increased. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the size of a camera which has been reduced in thickness by mounting the optical axis bending type imaging optical system 14.

(Features of the Embodiment) [1] The electronic camera shown in the embodiment has a camera body 1
0, a reflection surface M that is arranged in the vicinity of the light incident portion of the camera body 10 so as to be inclined with respect to the incident optical axis OA so that the reflected optical axis OB is oriented in the width direction of the camera body 10.
An optical axis bending type photographing optical system 14 having: a longitudinal direction of the camera body 10 in a state where a part of an outer peripheral surface is close to a back surface of the reflection surface M in the photographing optical system 14.
And a strobe condenser 15 arranged so as to coincide with a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the electronic device.

In the above electronic camera, the camera body 1
Since the strobe condenser 15 having a relatively large volume among the components housed in the camera body 0 is disposed in a manner utilizing the dead space on the back surface of the reflection surface M, the effective use of the installation space in the camera body 10 is difficult. Get off. Also, since it is possible to efficiently lay out built-in components centering on the strobe condenser 15 existing around the optical axis bending type imaging optical system 14 in the camera body 10, the optical axis bending type imaging optical system 14 It is possible to further reduce the size of a camera whose thickness has been reduced by mounting the camera.

[2] The electronic camera shown in the embodiment is
The camera according to [1], wherein the reflection surface M is
It is a reflecting surface of a prism 14b provided in the optical axis bending type photographing optical system 14.

[3] The electronic camera described in the embodiment is
The camera according to [1], wherein the reflection surface M is
It is characterized in that it is a reflecting surface of a reflecting mirror provided in the optical axis bending type photographing optical system 14.

[4] The electronic camera described in the embodiment is
The camera according to [1], wherein the reflection surface M is
It is characterized in that it is arranged so as to be located substantially at the center of the camera body 10 in the width direction.

[5] The electronic camera shown in the embodiment is
The camera according to [2], wherein the strobe condenser 15 is formed to have a length that occupies substantially the entire area in the height direction of the camera body 10 and is disposed in parallel close to the camera bottom. It is characterized by being implemented above.

In the above-mentioned electronic camera, the strobe condenser 15 having a relatively large volume and weight is stably and securely fixed to the central portion in the camera body 10.
The center of gravity is closer to the center of the camera, and the overall balance of the camera is good.

[6] The electronic camera shown in the embodiment is
The camera according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein an optical finder 21 is arranged in a region above the photographing optical system 14 and adjacent to the strobe condenser 15. I have.

(Modifications) The electronic camera shown in the above embodiment includes the following modifications.

The one using a reflecting mirror instead of the prism 14b having the reflecting surface M.

[0035]

According to the present invention, an electronic camera having the following functions and effects can be provided.

(A) Since the strobe condenser having a relatively large volume is arranged in a manner utilizing a dead space existing on the back surface of the reflection surface, a camera body equipped with an optical axis bending type photographing optical system is used. The effective use of the installation space inside is achieved.

(B) Built-in components centering on a strobe condenser existing around the optical axis bending type photographing optical system are as follows:
Since the layout can be efficiently performed in the camera body, it is possible to further reduce the size of the camera, which is thinned by mounting the optical axis bending type imaging optical system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a schematic configuration of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a camera top cover cut away, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a positional relationship between a broken and bent optical system and a strobe condenser, and FIG.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a schematic configuration of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a front cover of the camera cut away, and FIG. FIG. 3C is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the camera bottom surface, and FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Camera main body 11 ... Main board 12 ... Bottom board 13 ... Imaging board 14 ... Optical axis bending-type imaging | photography optical system 15 ... Strobe condenser 16 ... Battery pack 17 ... LCD for photographed image display 18 ... Media connector 19 ... Operation switch 20 ... Release button 21 ... Optical viewfinder 22 ... Strobe light emitter 31-33 ... Jack 41-43 ... Plug 45 ... Tripod mounting hole

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H04N 5/225 H04N 5/225 D 5C022 Z // H04N 101: 00 101: 00 (72) Inventor Dai Abe Shibuya, Tokyo 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Ward F-term (reference) in Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. 2H018 AA01 BE01 2H053 CA45 2H054 AA01 2H100 BB07 BB09 2H101 FF05 FF08 5C022 AA13 AB45 AC42 AC54 AC78

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A camera body, and a reflection surface disposed in the vicinity of a light incident portion of the camera body and inclined with respect to an incident optical axis such that an optical axis after reflection is directed in a width direction of the camera body. An optical axis bending type photographing optical system comprising: a longitudinal direction perpendicular to a bottom surface of the camera body in a state where a part of an outer peripheral surface is close to a back surface of the reflection surface in the photographing optical system; An electronic camera, comprising: a strobe condenser arranged so as to coincide with the electronic camera. 2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting surface is a reflecting surface of a prism provided in the optical axis bending type photographing optical system. 3. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting surface is a reflecting surface of a reflecting mirror provided in the optical axis bending type photographing optical system. 4. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the reflection surface is disposed so as to be located substantially at the center in the width direction of the camera body. 5. The strobe condenser according to claim 1, wherein the strobe condenser has a length occupying substantially the entire area in the height direction of the camera body, and is mounted on a substrate arranged in parallel close to the bottom of the camera. The electronic camera according to claim 2. 6. The optical finder according to claim 1, wherein an optical finder is arranged in a region above the photographing optical system and adjacent to the strobe condenser. Electronic camera.