JP2008227615A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure the sufficient strength of a frame against an external force to an LCD by ensuring the sufficient rigidity of an entire camera even if a thin metal plate is used for a steppedly-bent portion. <P>SOLUTION: In the digital camera, both ends of a frame 21 formed in substantially a U-shape by forming a metal plate into a convex shape are fixed on an intermediate cover 15. By this configuration, the rigidity of the entire camera can be ensured while using a frame having a thin thickness. As a result, an LCD display device can be prevented from being broken due to an applied excessive force and the digital camera can be miniaturized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mounting structure for a chassis, which is an internal structure of a digital camera, and a mounting structure for a display element such as a liquid crystal display incorporated therein.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 6, the LCD is housed by a resin intermediate cover and a frame integrated with the front and rear covers. Therefore, the thickness was thick and the space was required.

Here, in a display unit protection structure having a display unit that displays an image and a plate-like protection member that is disposed on the surface side of the display unit and protects the display surface of the display unit, the protection member is attached to the display unit. On the other hand, the liquid crystal protection panel with sufficient strength is arranged within the same thickness as the case without this liquid crystal protection panel to avoid various risks associated with the structure. A technique capable of providing a digital camera is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-234143 A

  In recent years, it has become necessary to make the frame thinner in order to reduce the size of the camera.

  However, if the conventional frame is made thin with the same shape, the rigidity (torsional rigidity, bending rigidity, etc.) of the entire camera is lowered. Furthermore, the frame is thin and the strength is insufficient. That is, when an external force is applied to the LCD, the contact portions of the upper and lower frames receive the external force, but the strength of the frame is insufficient.

  Therefore, in the present invention, by making a single sheet metal having a stepped portion for ensuring strength of the frame integrated with the resin intermediate cover into a convex shape, and fixing both ends to the intermediate cover An object of the present invention is to ensure sufficient rigidity of the entire camera even with a thin sheet metal without a stepped portion, and to ensure sufficient frame strength against an external force applied to the LCD.

  The invention described in claim 1 is a digital camera characterized in that both ends of a substantially U-shaped frame having a convex metal plate are fixed to an intermediate cover.

  The invention according to claim 2 has a frame having a substantially U-shape with a convex metal plate, and its upper and lower portions are positioned and fixed inside the intermediate cover sandwiched between the front and rear covers. The digital camera is characterized in that the upper part and the lower part of the frame are wider than the front and rear width of the intermediate cover, and the protruding part is disposed inside the front and rear cover.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to the first or second aspect, the frame is a metal plate having a thickness of 0.2 mm or less.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to any one of the first to third aspects, the upper and lower portions of the frame are arranged in close contact with each other along the inner shape of the front and rear covers. And

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the frame is positioned and fixed to the battery chamber at the upper and lower ends by screwing. It is characterized by.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the frame positions and fixes the display element.

  According to the present invention, by making a single sheet metal having a stepped portion for ensuring strength of a frame integrated with a resin intermediate cover into a convex shape, and fixing both ends to the intermediate cover Even a thin sheet metal without a step bend can secure sufficient rigidity of the entire camera, and can ensure sufficient frame strength against an external force applied to the LCD. Further, it is not necessary to make a plurality of step bent portions in the frame in order to ensure the strength.

  FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a digital camera (1) showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the same.

  The digital camera (1) includes a solid-state imaging device (not shown), an imaging unit including a lens, a signal processing unit, a power supply circuit unit, a battery storage unit, and a recording unit that records a captured image on a recording medium.

  The left side of the digital camera (1) when viewed from the front is the right-hand grip (2), and below it is provided a card slot for mounting a memory card and a battery, and a battery lid (3) covering the battery compartment. ing.

  An openable and closable terminal lid (not shown) is provided on the side surface to cover the external output terminal.

  A zoom photographing lens barrel (4) is attached to the right front side of the camera, and a strobe (5) for emitting auxiliary light in the case of photographing at low illuminance is provided obliquely above.

  On the top surface, a power switch (6) for turning on / off the camera, a shutter button (7), and a zoom lever (8) are provided.

  In addition, an LCD display device (9) for displaying a photographed image or displaying a photographing mode, a plurality of mode switches (10), and a mode switching slide switch (11) are provided on the rear surface.

  The cover structure has an intermediate cover (15) that is a resin band at the center and goes around the outer surface of the camera. A metal front cover (16) and a rear cover (17) are attached to the front and rear. A lens barrel ring (27) is provided on the front cover (16) around a portion where the zoom photographing lens barrel (4) protrudes from the front cover (16).

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of structural parts that ensure the rigidity of the casing other than the front and rear covers (16) and (17).

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the center of the zoom photographing lens barrel (4) in the front-rear direction, but the zoom photographing lens barrel (4) is omitted for easy understanding.

  Upper and lower right ends (22) and (23) of the frame (21) are positioned in the battery chamber (24) and fixed with screws. In the battery chamber (24), the intermediate cover (15) and the front and rear covers (16) and (17) are screwed on the side surface on the right grip (2) side. The lens barrel ring (27) is attached to the front cover (16) by adhesion.

  The frame (21) made of a thin steel plate having a thickness t = 0.2 mm is substantially U-shaped, and the upper and lower portions are located inside the intermediate cover (15) sandwiched between the front and rear covers (16) and (17). Positioned and glued. (25) and (26) shown in FIG. 3 are lower positioning protrusions and holes, but there are similar protrusions and holes in the upper part.

  The upper and lower portions of the frame (21) are wider than the front and rear widths of the intermediate cover (15), and the protruding portions (30), (31), (32), and (33) are the front and rear covers (16) and (17). ) Are arranged in close contact with each other along the inner shape.

  On the rear surface of the chassis (21), the LCD display device (9) is positioned by a plurality of protrusions (36) and fixed by a double-sided tape (35). The rear surface outside is covered with a rear cover (17), and the display portion (41) of the LCD display device (9) can be seen from the opening (40).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the frame and the intermediate cover according to the present embodiment.

  Here, FIG. 6 shows an AA cross-sectional view in FIG. Referring to FIG. 6, conventionally, an LCD is housed in a resin intermediate cover, a frame integral with a front cover and a front cover. Therefore, the thickness was thick and the space was required.

  In order to reduce the size of the camera, it is necessary to make the frame thin. However, if the frame is made thin with the same shape as the conventional one, the rigidity (torsional rigidity, bending rigidity, etc.) of the entire camera is lowered. Further, the frame becomes thin and the strength is insufficient, and when an external force is applied to the LCD, the contact portions of the upper and lower frames receive the external force, but the strength of the frame is insufficient.

  Therefore, a sheet metal plate is formed in a convex shape with a frame integrated with the resin intermediate cover, and both ends are fixed to the intermediate cover. Note that the convex frame does not have a step bending portion for ensuring strength. As a result, even with a thin sheet metal having no stepped portion, sufficient rigidity of the entire camera can be ensured, and sufficient frame strength can be ensured even with respect to an external force applied to the LCD.

The effects of each claim will be described below.
In the digital camera according to claim 2, the upper and lower portions of the substantially U-shaped frame are positioned and bonded and fixed inside the intermediate cover that goes around the outer surface of the camera in the center with a resin band, Further, the upper and lower parts of the frame are wider than the front and rear width of the intermediate cover, and the protruding part is arranged inside the front and rear cover, and the inside of the intermediate cover is connected vertically and sandwiched between the front and rear covers. Therefore, the rigidity of the entire digital camera can be increased.

  Since the digital camera according to the third aspect uses a thin steel plate having a thickness of 0.2 mm or less, the frame can be made thin.

  In the digital camera according to claim 4, since the upper and lower portions of the frame are arranged in close contact with each other along the inner surface shape of the front and rear cover, the degree of freedom in designing the outer shape of the digital camera is widened, and unnecessary space is saved. Since it does not occur, the digital camera can be miniaturized.

  Since the digital camera (1) according to claim 5 is positioned and screwed to the battery chamber at the right end of the upper part and the lower part of the frame, it has sufficient rigidity even when a thin steel plate is used. Can be secured.

  In the digital camera according to claim 6, since the LCD display element is positioned and fixed using a thin steel plate, the frame bends when a force is applied to the outer surface of the digital camera or the LCD display element itself. Since the force is absorbed by this, it is effective to prevent the LCD display element from being damaged by applying an excessive force.

  Each of the above-described embodiments is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a front perspective view of the digital camera of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a back perspective view of the digital camera of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the assembly state of the structure component which ensures the rigidity of the housing | casing of embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected perpendicularly | vertically in the front-back direction along the center of the zoom photographing lens barrel of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the positional relationship of the flame | frame and intermediate | middle cover of embodiment of this invention. It is a contrast diagram with the prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 2 Right hand grip part 3 Battery cover 4 Zoom photography lens barrel 5 Strobe 6 Power switch 7 Shutter button 8 Zoom lever 9 LCD display device 10 Mode switch 11 Mode change slide switch 15 Intermediate cover 16 Front cover 17 Rear cover 21 Frame 22, 23 Right end portion 24 Battery compartment 25, 26 Positioning protrusion and hole 27 Lens barrel ring 35 Double-sided tape 36 Protruding portion 40 Opening portion 41 Display portion

Claims (6)

  A digital camera characterized in that a metal plate is convex and both ends of a substantially U-shaped frame are fixed to an intermediate cover. It has a frame that has a substantially U-shaped metal plate with a convex shape, and its upper and lower portions are positioned and bonded and fixed inside the intermediate cover sandwiched between the front and rear covers,
An upper part and a lower part of the frame are wider than the front-rear width of the intermediate cover, and the protruding part is disposed inside the front-rear cover.   3. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the frame is a metal plate having a thickness of 0.2 mm or less.   4. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein upper and lower portions of the frame are arranged in close contact with each other along the inner surface shape of the front and rear covers.   5. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the frame is positioned and fixed to the battery chamber by screws at upper and lower ends thereof. 6.   The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the frame is positioned and fixed to a display element.

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