JP4429077B2 - Camera system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera system such as a digital camera capable of exchanging lenses.

  In recent years, single-lens reflex digital cameras capable of exchanging lenses are becoming popular.

  In a single-lens reflex digital camera, an image pickup device built in the camera body is used, and therefore an appropriate image pickup device cannot be selected for each taking lens used by replacement. In addition, since the image pickup device built in the camera body is difficult to access, it is difficult to replace it with a higher-performance one, repair work, or the like.

  In addition, in conventional single-lens reflex cameras, the lens unit with a different center of gravity is attached to the lens mount on the front of the main unit. It may be a cause. In general, since a lens mount is provided near the center of the main body and the image pickup device is arranged on the rear side thereof, there is a great restriction on the structural design such as the arrangement of the electric substrate, and the space of the main body cannot be used effectively.

  The present invention provides a camera system in which a lens unit including an image sensor and a photographic lens is detachably attached to a camera body in order to enable selection of an image sensor according to the photographic lens and efficient utilization of space. The purpose is to provide.

  In the camera system of the present invention, a lens unit including a photographic lens and an image sensor unit including an image sensor that receives light transmitted through the photographic lens is detachably attached to the camera body. The lens unit has a lens unit side contact, the camera body has a body side contact, and when the lens unit is attached to the camera body, the lens unit side contact and the body side contact are electrically connected to each other. It is preferred that

  The center of gravity of the lens unit is preferably in the vicinity of the lens unit side contact.

  The main body side contact is preferably at the end of the camera main body.

  It is desirable that a plurality of lens units can be detachably attached to the camera body. In this case, it is more desirable that the photographing lenses included in each of the plurality of lens units have substantially the same diameter, and that the center of gravity of the camera body is constant when the plurality of lens units are attached.

  The photographing lens is, for example, a zoom lens. In this case, it is preferable that the lens unit further includes photographing lens driving means for driving the photographing lens.

  The lens unit is attached to the side wall surface of the camera body, for example. In this case, the camera body preferably has a recess for attaching the lens unit. For example, the lens unit has a cylindrical shape, and the recess has a semicylindrical shape.

  The camera body of the present invention is characterized in that a lens unit including a photographic lens and an image sensor unit including an image sensor that receives light transmitted through the photographic lens is detachably attached.

  The camera body has a plurality of main body side contact terminals for electrical connection with the lens unit, and the main body side contact terminals are photographed from the optical axis direction of the photographing lens when the lens unit is attached to the camera body. It is preferable that they are arranged so as to be aligned in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens.

  The lens unit of the present invention includes an imaging element including an imaging lens and an imaging element that receives light transmitted through the imaging lens, and is detachably attached to the camera body.

  The lens unit has a plurality of lens unit side contact terminals for electrical connection with the camera body, and the lens unit side contact terminals are in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the photographic lens rather than the optical axis direction of the photographic lens. It is preferable that they are arranged in a large number.

  It is preferable that the image sensor unit is detachably attached to the lens unit. In this case, it is more preferable that a plurality of image sensor units can be used for the lens unit, and that the image sensor unit is electrically connected to the camera body in a state where the image sensor unit is attached to the lens unit. .

  It is desirable that the image sensor unit further includes image signal processing means for processing an image signal generated by the image sensor. The format size of the image sensor is preferably different depending on the type of the taking lens, and more preferably as the angle of view of the taking lens is wider.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a camera system in which a lens unit including an imaging element and a photographing lens is detachably attached to a camera body.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a digital camera to which a first lens unit is attached as viewed from the front. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the digital camera to which the first lens unit is attached as viewed from the rear. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the digital camera with the lens unit removed.

  The digital camera 10 includes a camera body 12 provided with a release button 16, an LCD 45 for displaying a subject image, and the like, and a first lens unit 14 incorporating a photographing lens (not shown). The cylindrical first lens unit 14 is detachably attached to the camera body 12, and a plurality of different lens units can be used for the digital camera 10. The side surface 12S of the camera body 12 has a semi-cylindrical recess 12L corresponding to the shape of the first lens unit 14 for mounting the first lens unit 14, and a body-side contact 18 is provided on the wall surface of the recess 12L. Provided (see FIG. 3).

  The first lens unit 14 is provided with a lens unit side contact 20, and the first lens unit 14 is attached to the camera body 12 by connecting the main body side contact 18 and the lens unit side contact 20. Since the camera body 12 and the first lens unit 14 are connected only through the body side and the lens unit side contacts 18 and 20, the camera body 12 does not have a lens mount and has a sealed structure. is there. Thus, since the camera body 12 does not have an opening, the digital camera 10 is excellent in dust resistance.

  The main body side contact 18 has a plurality of main body side contact terminals (sockets) 11, and the lens unit side contact 20 has a plurality of lens unit side contact terminals (plugs) 19. The main body side contact terminals 11 are more arranged along the direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the photographic lens than the direction along the optical axis of the photographic lens, and the arrangement of the lens unit side contact terminals 19 also corresponds to this. . Thus, by arranging more contact terminals in the direction along the camera body side surface 12S than in the thickness direction of the digital camera 10, while increasing the connection strength between the camera body 12 and the first lens unit 14, The digital camera 10 can be thinned.

  The first lens unit 14 has a built-in CCD (not shown) that receives light from the subject that has passed through the photographing lens. The CCD is included in the image sensor unit 22, and the image sensor unit 22 is detachably attached to the first lens unit 14. When the user presses the attach / detach button 24, the image sensor unit 22 is detached from the first lens unit 14. When the user inserts the image sensor unit 22 into the first lens unit 14, the image sensor unit 22 is attached to the first lens unit 14, and the CCD is electrically connected to the camera body 12.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the digital camera 10.

  The camera body 12 includes a camera CPU 17 that is a control circuit that controls the digital camera 10. The first lens unit 14 includes first and second photographing lenses 13 and 15 that are zoom lenses, a ROM 37 that stores lens data, a zoom position detection unit 23 that detects a zoom position of the first photographing lens 13, and a zoom position detection. A lens CPU 25 that controls the unit 23 and the like is included. When the camera body 12 and the first lens unit 14 are electrically connected via the interface 21 formed by the body side contact 18 and the lens unit side contact 20, the camera CPU 17 and the lens CPU 25 are connected to each other. Further, the image sensor unit 22 is also connected to the camera CPU 17 via the CCD connector 33 and the interface 21. The first lens unit 14 includes lenses other than the first and second photographing lenses 13 and 15, but here, the first photographing lens 13 with a variable zoom position and the second photographing lens with a fixed zoom position. Only 15 are shown.

  The camera CPU 17 is a control circuit that controls the digital camera 10. A main switch SWMAIN is connected to the camera CPU 17. The main switch SWMAIN is a switch (not shown) of the digital camera 10 and is turned on when operated by the photographer, and the camera CPU 17 starts operating. The EEPROM 44 stores data for signal processing of the camera CPU 17 in advance.

  The photometry switch SWS connected to the camera CPU 17 is turned on by pressing the release button 16 halfway. When the digital camera 10 is set to a photographing mode for photographing a subject, when the photometry switch SWS is turned on, a distance measurement operation by the distance measurement processing unit 32 and a photometry of the subject by the photometry processing unit 34 are performed. . The distance measurement data and luminance data obtained in this way are transmitted to the camera CPU 17.

  In response to an instruction from the camera CPU 17 based on the distance measurement data, the lens CPU 25 adjusts the position of the first photographing lens 13 and controls the focus driving circuit 26 so as to be brought into focus. The focus drive circuit 26 controls the AF motor 27 to adjust the position of the first photographic lens 13. Then, the zoom position detection unit 23 detects the zoom position of the first photographing lens 13, and a signal indicating the zoom position is transmitted to the camera CPU 17 via the lens CPU 25.

  The release switch SWR is turned on by fully pressing the release button 16. When the release switch SWR is turned on, based on a control signal from the camera CPU 17, the diaphragm drive circuit 28 opens the diaphragm 46 by a predetermined amount, and the shutter drive circuit 29 opens the shutter 47 to a predetermined opening for a predetermined time. . The CCD 38 controlled by the CCD drive circuit 36 is exposed based on the instruction signal transmitted from the camera CPU 17 via the interface 21 and the CCD connector 33, and an image signal indicating a subject image is generated on the CCD 38. At this time, when the camera CPU 17 determines that it is necessary to illuminate the subject based on the distance measurement data and the luminance data, the camera CPU 17 outputs a control signal for illumination to the flash circuit 30 and the illumination device (not shown) illuminates. Irradiate light.

  The image signal generated in the CCD 38 is reduced in noise in the CDS circuit 48 and converted from analog to digital by the A / D converter 40. Further, the digitized image signal is sent to the camera CPU 17 after being subjected to various signal processing such as white balance adjustment and gamma correction. Further, an image signal is sent from the camera CPU 17 to an LCD driver (not shown), the LCD 45 is driven based on this image signal, and a subject image is displayed on the LCD 45. Note that image data of the photographed subject image is recorded in the DRAM 42 or a memory card (not shown).

  FIG. 5 is a top view schematically showing the internal structure of the first lens unit 14 attached to the camera body 12.

  The first lens unit 14 includes a standard lens in which a plurality of lenses including the first and second photographing lenses 13 and 15 are combined. The first lens unit 14 is designed so that the center of gravity G of the first lens unit 14 is in the vicinity of the lens unit side contact 20. That is, the lens unit side contact 20 is located on a straight line O ′ that is perpendicular to the common optical axis O of the photographing lenses and passes through the center of gravity G. Furthermore, since the digital camera 10 is designed such that the center of gravity (not shown) of the entire digital camera 10 is substantially at the center of the digital camera 10 when the first lens unit 14 is attached, the operability is good. The CCD 38 has a format size suitable for a standard lens, but the user can select and attach another image sensor unit used for the first lens unit 14.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the digital camera with the second lens unit attached as viewed from the front. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the digital camera with the second lens unit attached as viewed from the rear. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the second lens unit.

  In addition to the first lens unit 14, the digital camera 10 can use a second lens unit 54 including a telephoto lens (not shown). The second lens unit 54 is detachably attached to the camera body 12, and has a lens unit side contact 20, an image sensor unit 22, and an attach / detach button 24 (see FIG. 8).

  FIG. 9 is a top view schematically showing the internal structure of the second lens unit 54 attached to the camera body 12.

  Similar to the first lens unit 14, the second lens unit 54 has a center of gravity G in the vicinity of the lens unit side contact 20, that is, perpendicular to the optical axis O of the telephoto lens including the first and second photographing lenses 13 and 15. And on the straight line O ′ passing through the center of gravity G. The distance between the center of gravity G and the lens unit side contact 20 is equal to the corresponding distance of the first lens unit 14. Since the telephoto lens has a narrower field angle than the standard lens, the CCD 38 having a smaller format size than the first lens unit 14 is provided in the image sensor unit 22 in the second lens unit 54.

  Thus, by adjusting the format size of the CCD 38 to an appropriate one in accordance with the angle of view of the photographing lens, the size of the photographing lens suitable for photographing is substantially the same as that of the first lens unit 14. That is, the diameter of the first photographing lens 13 that is the largest among the telephoto lenses is substantially equal to the maximum diameter of the standard lens of the first lens unit 14. For this reason, the weight of the second lens unit 54 is substantially equal to the weight of the first lens unit 14.

  Further, since the format size of the CCD 38 is small, the second lens unit 54 has a thin cylindrical shape on the imaging element unit 22 side, and the center of gravity G of the second lens unit 54 is closer to the subject side than that of the first lens unit 14. Is located. As described above, even when the second lens unit 54 having the position of the center of gravity G different from the first lens unit 14 is attached to the camera body 12, the weight of the lens unit and the distance between the center of gravity G of the lens unit and the body side contact 18 are both Since the first lens unit 14 is also the same, the center of gravity (not shown) of the entire digital camera 10 is substantially at the center of the digital camera 10.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the digital camera to which the third lens unit is attached as viewed from the front. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the digital camera to which the third lens unit is attached as viewed from the rear. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the third lens unit.

  In addition to the first and second lens units 14 and 54, the digital camera 10 can use a third lens unit 64 having a wide-angle lens (not shown). Similar to the first and second lens units 14 and 54, the third lens unit 64 is detachably attached to the camera body 12, and includes a lens unit side contact 20, an image sensor unit 22, and an attach / detach button 24 (FIG. 12).

  FIG. 13 is a top view schematically showing the internal structure of the third lens unit 64 attached to the camera body 12.

  Similarly to the first and second lens units 14 and 54, the third lens unit 64 has a center of gravity G in the vicinity of the lens unit side contact 20, that is, light of a wide-angle lens including the first and second photographing lenses 13 and 15. It is designed to lie on a straight line O ′ perpendicular to the axis O and passing through the center of gravity G. Further, the distance between the center of gravity G and the lens unit side contact 20 is equal to the corresponding distance between the first and second lens units 14 and 54. Since the wide-angle lens has a wider field angle than the standard lens, the CCD 38 having a format size larger than that of the first lens unit 14 is provided in the imaging element unit 22 in the third lens unit 64. Since the format size is large according to the angle of view of the photographing lens, the size of the photographing lens suitable for photographing is almost the same as that of the first and second lens units 14 and 54. In other words, the diameter of the first photographing lens 13 that is the largest among the wide-angle lenses is approximately equal to the diameter of the largest photographing lens among the first and second lens units 14 and 54, and thus the third lens unit 64. Is also approximately equal to the weight of the first and second lens units 14, 54.

  Since the format size of the CCD 38 is large, the third lens unit 64 is thick on the image sensor unit 22 side, and the center of gravity G is located on the CCD 38 side. As described above, even when the third lens unit 64 having a shape different from that of the first and second lens units 14 and 54 is used, the weight of the lens unit and the distance between the center of gravity G of the lens unit and the main body side contact 18 are all. Since it is equal to the first and second lens units 14 and 54, the center of gravity (not shown) of the entire digital camera 10 is substantially at the center of the digital camera 10.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the digital camera 10 can use various lens units. Furthermore, since the image sensor unit 22 is detachably attached to each lens unit, the user can select and use an appropriate CCD (image sensor) according to the photographing lens, the zoom position at the time of photographing, and the like. In addition, since each lens unit is attached to the end of the camera body 12, there are few restrictions on the design of the internal structure of the camera body 12, and space can be used effectively. Furthermore, since the center of gravity balance when each lens unit is mounted is good, the digital camera 10 has good operability.

  The digital camera 10 can be used not only for capturing still images but also for capturing moving images. Further, the camera is not limited to the digital camera 10 and may be a video camera.

  The position at which the lens unit is attached is not limited to the side surface of the camera body 12 and may be attached to the side wall surface including the upper surface and the bottom surface of the camera body 12. Accordingly, the position of the main body side contact 18 is not limited to this embodiment as long as it is provided at the end of the camera main body 12, and may be provided on the upper surface or the bottom surface of the camera main body 12, for example.

  The position of the center of gravity G of the lens unit is not limited to this embodiment as long as it is in the vicinity of the lens unit side contact 20. For example, the lens unit may be designed such that the center of gravity G is positioned on the camera body 12 side on the straight line O ′ passing through the lens unit side contact 20 and perpendicular to the optical axis O of each photographing lens.

  The photographing lens is not limited to a zoom lens, and may be a single focus lens, for example.

It is the perspective view which looked at the digital camera with which the 1st lens unit was attached from the front. It is the perspective view which looked at the digital camera with which the 1st lens unit was attached from back. It is a figure which shows the digital camera of the state from which the 1st lens unit was removed. It is a block diagram of a digital camera. It is a top view which shows roughly the internal structure of the 1st lens unit of the state attached to the camera main body. It is the perspective view which looked at the digital camera with which the 2nd lens unit was attached from the front. It is the perspective view which looked at the digital camera with which the 2nd lens unit was attached from back. It is a figure which shows a 2nd lens unit. It is a top view which shows roughly the internal structure of the 2nd lens unit of the state attached to the camera main body. It is the perspective view which looked at the digital camera with which the 3rd lens unit was attached from the front. It is the perspective view which looked at the digital camera with which the 3rd lens unit was attached from back. It is a figure which shows a 3rd lens unit. It is a top view which shows roughly the internal structure of the 3rd lens unit of the state attached to the camera main body.

Explanation of symbols

10 Digital camera (camera)
11 Main Body Side Contact Terminal 12 Camera Main Body 12L Dimple 12S Camera Main Body Side (End of Camera Main Body)
13 First photographing lens 14 First lens unit (lens unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 2nd taking lens 18 Main body side contact 19 Lens unit side contact terminal 20 Lens unit side contact 22 Image sensor unit 26 Focus drive circuit (shooting lens drive means)
27 AF motor (photographing lens driving means)
38 CCD (imaging device)
40 A / D converter (image signal processing means)
48 CDS circuit (image signal processing means)
54 Second lens unit (lens unit)
64 Third lens unit (lens unit)

Claims (23)

A photographing lens, an imaging element unit including an image pickup element for receiving light transmitted through the photographing lens, the lens unit side contact and the lens unit having a for connecting to the camera body, detachably attached to said camera body It is,
Camera system wherein the lens unit side contact, characterized that you have been placed on a straight line passing through the center of gravity of the lens unit be perpendicular to the optical axis of the taking lens. The camera body has a main body side contact, and when the lens unit is attached to the camera main body, the lens unit side contact and the main body side contact are electrically connected to each other. Item 2. The camera system according to Item 1. The camera system of claim 1 in which the center of gravity of said lens unit, characterized in that in the vicinity of the lens unit side contact.   The camera system according to claim 2, wherein the main body side contact is at an end of the camera main body. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of lens units are detachably and selectively attachable to the camera body.   The camera system according to claim 5, wherein the photographing lenses included in the plurality of lens units have substantially the same diameter. The camera system of claim 5, the center of gravity of the camera system, characterized in that Oite is also constant when fitted with any of the plurality of lens units.   The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the photographing lens is a zoom lens, and the lens unit further includes photographing lens driving means for driving the photographing lens.   The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the lens unit is attached to a side wall surface of the camera body. The camera system according to claim 1 , wherein the camera body has a recess for mounting the lens unit. In the recess, the camera system according to claim 10, characterized that you have provided body-side contact to be connected to the lens unit side contacts. A photographing lens, wherein the imaging device unit including an image pickup element for receiving light transmitted through the photographing lens, a lens unit and a lens unit side contact to be connected to the camera body, a camera body that is mounted detachably Because
The lens unit side contact is disposed on a straight line that is perpendicular to the optical axis of the photographing lens and passes through the center of gravity of the lens unit,
Said camera body, a camera body, wherein Rukoto which have a recess for mounting the lens unit. The camera body according to claim 12, wherein a body-side contact connected to the lens unit-side contact is provided in the recess. The main body side contact of the camera main body connected to the lens unit side contact has a plurality of main body side contact terminals, and the main body side contact terminal is mounted when the lens unit is attached to the camera main body. The camera body according to claim 12, wherein the camera body is arranged so as to be more aligned in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the photographing lens than in the optical axis direction of the lens. A photographing lens, an imaging element unit including an image pickup element for receiving light transmitted through the photographing lens, a lens unit and a lens unit side contact to be connected to the camera body, detachably attached to said camera body Mounted on and
The lens unit side contact, the lens unit, characterized that you have been placed on a straight line passing through the center of gravity of the lens unit be perpendicular to the optical axis of the taking lens. The lens unit according to claim 15, wherein the lens unit side contact is connected to a body side contact provided in a recess of the camera body. The lens unit side contact has a plurality of lens unit side contact terminals, and the lens unit side contact terminals are arranged more in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the photographing lens than in the optical axis direction of the photographing lens. The lens unit according to claim 15 , wherein the lens unit is arranged. The lens unit according to claim 15 , wherein the image sensor unit is detachably attached to the lens unit. The lens unit according to claim 18 , wherein a plurality of the image sensor units can be selectively used with respect to the lens unit. The lens unit according to claim 18 , wherein the image sensor unit is electrically connected to the camera body when attached to the lens unit. The lens unit according to claim 15 , wherein the image sensor unit further includes image signal processing means for processing an image signal generated by the image sensor. The lens unit according to claim 15 , wherein a format size of the image pickup device varies depending on a type of the photographing lens. 23. The lens unit according to claim 22 , wherein the format size of the image sensor is larger as the angle of view of the photographing lens is wider.

Images