JPH0617963B2 - Built-in strobe mechanism of single-lens reflex camera - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a stroboscopic light emitting mechanism incorporated in a single-lens reflex camera.

[Prior Art] Some interchangeable-lens single-lens reflex cameras have a flash device embedded and integrated in the side surface of the front surface of the camera body, as in a small-lens-shutter camera. In addition, there is already a lens-fixed single-lens reflex camera to which a flash device having a pop-up strobe light emitting device is attached.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in a single-lens reflex camera, in particular, a single-lens reflex camera with interchangeable lenses, the lens to be used is set to capture an object from a subject very close to a subject far away. Often, it is replaced with a lens having a focal length suitable for the subject. Therefore, when the stroboscopic light emitting device is integrated with the single-lens reflex camera, it is necessary to prevent the stroboscopic light emission from being obstructed by the lens barrel to be replaced. In the conventional single-lens reflex camera with a stroboscopic light emitting device, the light emitting portion is located in the lateral vicinity of the photographing lens, so that the projection light may not illuminate the entire surface of the subject correctly depending on the lens used.

When shooting with a single-lens reflex camera, especially when using strobe lighting for close-up photography of flowers, insects, etc., it is preferable to illuminate the subject from the center, so strobe lighting provided at the upper rear position of the pentaprism of the camera Although a method of fixing the light emitting device above the pentaprism by a mounting member of the container has been adopted, this fixing portion is extremely weak in strength and is easily damaged. Normally, close-up shooting is not possible with a small lens shutter type camera, and it is preferable to be able to use the light emitting device more easily even in close-up shooting with a single-lens reflex camera.In addition, familiarity with single-lens reflex cameras is familiar. It is desired that even a photographer who does not have the light emitting device can use the light emitting device more easily.

On the other hand, as high-sensitivity films such as ISO400 and ISO1000 have been marketed in large quantities at low prices, a large amount of light-emitting device is no longer needed, and on the other hand, the weight of the camera itself is reduced, that is, its peripheral accessories. The demand for weight reduction and size reduction is also increasing.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to meet these demands, and an object thereof is to provide a built-in strobe mechanism that can be incorporated into a single-lens reflex camera with a simple structure.

[Means for Solving the Problem] The built-in strobe mechanism according to the present invention is provided with a storage chamber for housing the strobe mechanism in the upper front part of a penta house housing the penta prism, and the strobe housed therein. The light emitting member is projected from the storage chamber and brought to the light emitting position, and the light emitting member is stored in the storage chamber and returned to the non-light emitting position. At that time, the strobe light emitting member is provided with a support provided behind it. The stroboscopic light emitting member as a lid was concealed in the storage room. In addition, in order to move the strobe light emitting member up and down between the light emitting position and the non-light emitting position, a raising member by a link mechanism is used, which acts in a direction in which the strobe light emitting member always projects toward the light emitting position. A biasing member such as a spring is provided, and a member that locks the protrusion thereof and a lock release member that releases the locking action manually or automatically during light emission photography are incorporated into the storage chamber. At the same time, the elevating and lowering action of the stroboscopic light emitting member is regulated by a guide groove and a pin intervening in the guide groove via its support,
The attitude of the strobe light emitting member at the light emitting position is regulated. With this configuration, the stroboscopic light emitting device can be used in a single-lens reflex camera as easily as in the case of a lens shutter type camera or a compact camera.

Embodiments Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1A and 1B are external views of a single-lens reflex camera 10 incorporating a strobe mechanism according to the present invention.
The drawing shows a state in which the strobe light emitting tube 12 is housed above the pentaprism, and FIG. 1B shows a state in which the strobe light emitting tube 12 projects forward and upward to illuminate a subject. 14 is manually operated from the stowed state shown in FIG.
It is a push button for making the light emitting state in the figure. Details of the push button 14 will be described later.

2A, 2B and 2C show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are vertical cross-sectional views of the central portion of a single-lens reflex camera in a vertical plane including the photographing optical axis. FIG. 2C is a diagram of a main portion of the present invention viewed from the front of the camera, and is partially cut away for the sake of explanation.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a penta prism for the finder optical system, which is housed in the penta house housing 22. Penta prism
A storage chamber 26 for accommodating each part of the stroboscopic light emitting mechanism is provided so as to straddle the central ridgeline on the front upper surface of 20. 24 is a lamp support whose upper part serves as a lid for the storage chamber 26, and its front part has a xenon tube 28, a reflector 30, and a windshield / dustproof glass 32.
Is attached to the light source. The xenon tube 28 extends in the lateral direction of the camera (that is, in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIGS. 2A and 2B).

The lamp support 24 includes leg levers 34a, 34 located on both sides thereof.
It is supported by the side wall portion of the pentahouse housing 22 by b. That is, one ends of the leg levers 34a and 34b are rotatably supported behind the xenon tube 28 on the side surface of the lamp support 24 by the pins 36a and 36b. Further, the leg levers 34a, 34b are rotatably supported by the penta-house housing 22 by rotation support shafts 38a, 38b slightly inside the other ends. At least one of the two leg levers 34a, 34b has one end with the leg lever 34a.
The spring 40 that engages with the fixed pin 42 of a and the other end engages with the fixed pin 44 of the penta-house housing 22 corresponds to the rotation support shaft 38a.
The urging force for rotating the leg lever 34a in the clockwise direction is applied.

Guide plates 46a, 46b extending parallel to the front-rear direction of the camera are projected on the upper side surface of the penta house housing 22, and the guide plates 46a, 46b each have a guide hole (or groove) elongated in the front-rear direction of the camera. 48a and 48b are provided. This guide hole 48a, 48b
Corresponding to, the guide hole 48 is provided on the rear side of the lamp support 24.
Guide pins 50a and 50b that fit into a and 48b are projected.

The guide pins 50a, 50b are always fitted in the guide holes 48a, 48b, and the spring 40 rotates the leg lever 34a counterclockwise about the rotation support shafts 38a, 38b, so that the lamp support 24 is not moved. , A force to move from the stored state of FIG. 2A to the projected state of FIG. 2B is exerted.

A panel 52 is provided on the front surface of the storage chamber 26 to seal the storage chamber 26 in cooperation with the lamp support 24 in a state where the lamp support 24 is stored (FIG. 2A). Inside the panel 52, a member for maintaining the lamp support body 24 in the housed state against the force of the spring 40 in the housed state of the lamp support body 24 and manually or automatically releasing the lamp support body 24 as necessary. A stop mechanism is provided. That is, a rotary shaft 54 extending in the lateral direction of the camera is fixed to the panel 52 or the wall surface of the storage chamber 26, and a plate-like locking piece 56 is rotatably supported around the rotary shaft 54. I am doing it. Further, the return spring 58 applies a clockwise turning force to the locking piece 56 on the upper side of the rotary shaft 54 to horizontally bend the upper end 56a of the locking piece 56. And the leg lever 34a
A pin 60 is erected on the lower end side surface of the lamp. This pin 60 is a locking piece when the lamp support 24 is stored (FIG. 2A).
It is provided at a position where it frictionally engages with the upper tip surface 56a of 56, and thereby the lamp support 24 is maintained in the housed state.

A push button 62 is provided on the front panel 52 at a position corresponding to the lower side of the locking piece 56. When the push button 62 is pressed, the locking piece 56 is pressed.
Rotates counterclockwise about the rotary shaft 54, the frictional engagement between the upper tip surface 56a of the locking piece 56 and the pin 60 of the leg lever 34a is released, and the lamp support 24 is fixed to the xenon tube 28. With the light-emitting member including the above, the spring 40 projects from the storage chamber 26. An electromagnetic magnet 64 is arranged on the lower side of the locking piece 56 on the side opposite to the push button 62, and the locking piece 56 portion facing the electromagnetic magnet 64 is made of a magnetic material. With this, by operating the electromagnetic magnet 64, the lower end of the locking piece 56 can be pulled against the elastic force of the return spring 58, and the same unlocking action as pressing the push button 62 can be performed. . This mechanism is configured to automatically cause the light emitting member to project toward the light emitting position according to the amount of light in the field, and the details thereof will be described below.

FIG. 3 shows a circuit for controlling the electromagnetic magnet 64 so that the xenon tube 28 is automatically projected according to the amount of light in the field. The comparison circuit 66 compares the output voltage Vx of the TTL photometric element 68 with the reference voltage Vr, and outputs a low (L) output when Vx> Vr and a high (H) output when Vx ≦ Vr. Comparison circuit
The normally open switch 70 connecting the output of 66 to ground is for disabling this control circuit. The output of the comparison circuit 66 is connected to the base of the transistor 72, and the electromagnetic magnet 64 is connected to the collector of the transistor 72. Therefore, when the output Vx of the TTL photometric element 68 is Vr or less,
That is, when the amount of light in the field is below a certain level, a current flows through the electromagnetic magnet 64 and the locking piece 56 rotates counterclockwise,
The lamp support 24 projects upward and forward.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the flash circuit used in this embodiment. The flash circuit includes a booster circuit 74, a main capacitor 76, a charge completion display circuit 78 having a neon tube 77, a light emitting circuit 80, a xenon tube 28, and a light emission stopping circuit 82. The TRIG terminal of the light emitting circuit 80 is a light emission trigger signal input terminal, and the QUENCH terminal of the light emission stop circuit 82 is a light emission stop signal input terminal. This flash circuit itself is known. However, two normally open switches 84 and 86 are connected in parallel between the booster circuit 74 and the power source + V. Switch 8
Reference numeral 4 denotes a switch that is brought into a closed state in association with the protrusion of the lamp support 24, and switch 86 is a switch that manually activates the flash rotation. In the present invention,
Since there are not a few mechanical moving parts, the switch 84
Can be operated as intended by being installed near the movable part.

The wiring that electrically connects the light emitting circuit 80 and the xenon tube 28 is from the light emitting circuit 80 in the camera body to the penta house housing.
Returning to the xenon tube 28 through the hole 88 in the front upper surface portion of 22, the connection support hole 90 in the inner surface of the lamp support 24, and the hole 92 in the frame body supporting the reflecting mirror 30 and the xenon tube 28.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, when the subject light quantity is insufficient, the electromagnetic magnet 64
Is activated, the locking action of the locking piece 56 is released, and the lamp support 24 automatically protrudes forward and upward, that is, as it approaches the subject, upwards, and at the same time, the main capacitor 76 of the flash circuit also. It is charged so that it can emit light. If you want to use the strobe flash regardless of the amount of field light, such as during daytime synchro shooting, press the push button 62 on the front panel 52 to release the locking action of the locking piece 56, and release the lamp support 24,
Make it protrude. Then, the switch 84 is closed and the main capacitor 76 is charged. The flash circuit manual switch 86 is used when inspecting the flash circuit.

When the lamp support 24 protruding forward and upward is to be stored in the storage chamber 26, it is sufficient to push the upper surface of the lamp support 24 downward and rearward. Then, the guide pin 50a is moved backward while being guided by the guide hole 48a, and the pin 60 at the lower end of the leg lever 34a.
However, the sliding contact is made with the upper tip surface 56a of the locking piece 56, and both are frictionally engaged. As a result, the lamp support 24 is locked in the storage chamber 26 together with the light emitting member including the xenon tube 28, and the lamp support 24.
The upper surface of the box serves as a lid for the storage chamber 26 to hide the storage parts.

5A, 5B, 5C and 5D show another embodiment in which the link type raising mechanism is different. FIG. 5A shows a raising mechanism in a housed state of the lamp support seen from the side wall of the storage chamber, FIG. 5B shows a protruding state or raised state of the lamp support, and FIG. 5C shows 5A is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5D is a sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 5A.

In this embodiment, support plates 100a and 100b are fixed to the left and right of a storage chamber provided on the front upper surface of the penta house housing 22 with screws 101a and 101b. The support plates 100a, 100b are provided with L-shaped first leg levers 102a, 102b and second leg levers 104a, 104b on the left and right sides thereof.
And 104b. The first leg levers 102a, 102b and the second leg levers 104a, 104b are rotatably supported at the center thereof to form an X-shaped link mechanism.

The L-shaped first leg levers 102a and 102b are rotatably supported by the vertical protrusions 106a and 106b of the support plates 100a and 100b at the lower heels thereof, and the coil spring 108a is provided at the lower end thereof. , 108b, the first leg levers 102a, 102b are urged forward, that is, in the direction of clockwise rotation in FIGS. 5A and 5B.
Sliding pins 114a and 114b that fit into the refraction guide grooves 112a and 112b of the side plates 110a and 110b of the lamp support 24 are attached to the inner surfaces of the upper ends of the first leg levers 102a and 102b. 115a and 115b are lock washers. However, coil springs 108a, 108b
May be provided on only one side.

The upper end of the second leg lever 104a is rotatably provided with respect to the side plate 110a of the lamp support 24 by pins 111a and 111b. The support plate 10 is provided on the inner surface of the lower end of the second leg lever 104a.
A sliding pin 118a that fits in the V-shaped guide groove 116a of 0a is attached. 119a and 119b are lock washers.

The shapes of the guide grooves 112a, 112b and the guide grooves 116a, 116b are determined according to the actual shape and size of each part so that the link-type raising mechanism moves up and down smoothly. At the projecting rising position, it is useful for keeping the projection direction correctly.

Pins 118 are erected on the side surface of the lamp support 24, and the lamp support 24 is provided inside the front panel 52 of the storage chamber 26 at the rear side.
There is provided a hook 120 for locking the pin 118 in the stored state. The hook 120 is always biased by a spring 122 in a clockwise direction about a shaft 124. When the push button 62 of the front panel 52 is pressed, the hook 120 is rotated counterclockwise against the biasing force of the spring 122. The hook 120 and the pin 118 are released from the lock. Then, this raising mechanism causes the first leg lever 102 to move by the action of the coil springs 108a and 108b that are suspended.
The lamp support 24 is pushed up via a and 102b. In this case, as with the first embodiment, the electromagnetic magnet 64 is attached to this hook.
It is arranged in the vicinity of 120, and the push button 62 is pressed to perform the same operation as when the locking action is released. The control circuit and flash circuit of this electromagnetic magnet are the same as the circuits of FIGS. 3 and 4.

Although the electrical connection between the xenon tube 28 and the light emitting circuit 80 is not shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, this connection uses an appropriate portion that does not interfere with the operation of the link mechanism described above. Can be provided.

In this embodiment, the push button 62 is pressed or the electromagnetic magnet 64 is actuated because the amount of field light is insufficient, so that the hook 120 is disengaged from the pin 118, and the coil springs 108a and 108b are suspended. The lamp support 24 projects and ascends while supporting the light emitting member by the urging force of. When the lamp support 24 is manually pushed downward, the pin 118 again engages with the hook 120, and the lamp support 24 is housed in the housing chamber 26 and held in the housed state.

According to this embodiment, since the lamp support can be pushed up to a high position for the storage volume, even if a long lens such as a telephoto lens is attached, the projection light from the strobe flash is not blocked. None, more beneficial.

According to these embodiments, in order to bring the lamp support 24 in the protruding state into the stored state, it is sufficient to push the lamp support 24 toward the storage chamber 26, whereby the locking pin engages with the hook. , Even if the lamp support 24 is released in this state, the hooks are restrained by the locking pins by the respective spring forces, so the lamp support 24 is held at the position accommodated in the storage chamber 26. To be done.

[Effects of the Invention] As can be seen from the above description, in the present invention, the light emitting member required for the strobe mechanism and each member necessary for projecting the light emitting member to the light emitting position are the front upper part of the pentaprism of the single-lens reflex camera. Since it is self-contained in the storage room formed in the recessed part of the lens, the overall volume can be kept small when the camera is carried, and the thickness and length of the outer diameter of the lens barrel of the lens to be replaced can be reduced. It is easy to give an average illumination without a shadow to the object field without worrying about it. Therefore, flash photography and daytime synchronization photography can be performed with the same ease as in the case of the conventional compact camera.
Further, when a flash device separate from the camera is connected to the pentaprism, there is a defect that the connecting portion is mechanically extremely weak and easily damaged, but with the mechanism of the present invention,
Since the camera is built in a part of the same body, it is possible to secure sufficient strength.

In recent years, in a single-lens reflex camera, a large LCD display panel has been placed on the upper surface of the camera. However, according to the present invention, the upper surface of the penta house is necessarily flat in design, and thus such a large LCD is used. There is also an advantage that the degree of freedom in setting the position of the panel is increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are external views of one embodiment of a single-lens reflex camera incorporating a strobe mechanism according to the present invention.
FIGS. A, 2B and 2C are longitudinal sectional views showing the first embodiment, FIG. 3 is a control circuit diagram of an electromagnetic magnet, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a strobe flash circuit, and FIG. 5A. ,
5B, 5C and 5D are longitudinal sectional views for explaining the second embodiment. 10 …… single-lens reflex camera, 12 …… flash tube, 14 …… push button, 20 …… penta prism, 22 …… penta house housing, 24 …… lamp support, 26 …… storage room, 28
…… Xenon tube, 32 …… Windshield / dustproof glass, 34a, 34b…
… Leg levers, 36a, 36b …… Pins, 38a, 38b …… Rotating spindles,
40 …… spring, 42 …… fixing pin, 44 …… fixing pin,
46a, 46b …… Guide plate, 48 …… Guide hole, 50 …… Guide pin, 5
2 …… Panel, 54 …… Rotary axis, 56 …… Locking piece, 58 …… Return spring, 60 …… Pin, 62 …… Push button, 64 …… Electromagnetic magnet, 66 …… Comparison circuit, 68 …… TTL metering element, 70 ...
Switch, 72 ... Transistor, 74 ... Booster circuit, 76 ...
… Main capacitor, 77 …… Neon tube, 78 …… Charging completion display circuit, 80 …… Light emission circuit, 82 …… Light emission stop circuit, 84 …… Switch, 86 …… Switch, 88 …… Hole, 90 …… Wiring Support holes, 92 ... holes, 100a, 100b ... support plates, 101a, 101b ... screws, 102a, 102b ... first leg levers, 104a, 104b ... second
Leg lever, 106a ... Vertical protrusion, 108a, 108b ... Coil spring, 110a ... Side plate, 112a, 112b ... Guide groove, 114a, 11
4b …… Sliding pin, 116a, 116b …… Guide groove, 118a, 118b ……
Sliding pin, 120 …… Hook

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Toshinoma Yamanaka 2-39-9 Maenocho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takashi Sato 2-36-9 Maenocho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akihiro Arai 2-36-9 Maeno-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-58-208735 (JP, A) JP Sho 55-2271 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A storage chamber provided in front of an upper part of a penta house housing a pentaprism, and a storage chamber which can be stored in the storage chamber and a light emitting position protruding from the storage chamber. A light emitting means occupying two positions, a non-light emitting position, and a support provided behind the light emitting means and serving as a lid for the storage chamber at the non-light emitting position to conceal the light emitting means in the storage chamber. A raising means incorporated in the storage chamber for raising and lowering the light emitting means between the light emitting position and the non-light emitting position by a link mechanism, and a light emitting means always attached in the direction of the light emitting position protruding from the storage chamber. A biasing unit that is biased and mounted in the storage chamber, and a member provided in the storage chamber that locks the movement of the light emitting unit to the light emitting position and holds the light emitting unit in the non-light emitting position by the biasing unit. Stopping means, manual Alternatively, the locking means is automatically released, and the locking means is provided in the storage chamber for causing the light emitting means to project to the light emitting position by the biasing means, and the light emitting means by the biasing of the biasing means. Restricting the protruding movement of the light emitting means and restricting the attitude of the light emitting means at the light emitting position. A strobe mechanism incorporated in a single-lens reflex camera, characterized in that an operating pin of the support is restricted by an intervening pin. 2. When the amount of light received by the photometric element is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the locking means is released and the raising means is actuated, and the light emitting means takes a restricted protruding position. The built-in flash mechanism of the single-lens reflex camera according to the item (1).