JPH11298770A - Camera and camera mounted with secondary battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera which does not require a conventional cable for power supply and signal transmission/reception between a lens barrel and a main body and which is free of troubles such as wire breaking by applying a secondary battery. SOLUTION: Wireless photography is enabled by pressing a release button 5 with a lens barrel part 2 directed to a subject (not shown), while the lens barrel part 2 is detached from a main body 1. At this time, image information generated in the lens barrel part 2 through the lens 6 is transmitted wireless to the main body 1 as shown by the arrow B. Furthermore, a fitting pin 2a is inserted in a fitting hole 1a and then the lens barrel part 2 can be fitted to the main body 1. The fitting pin 2a serves as an electrode, so that electric power can be supplied from the main body 1 to a secondary battery (not shown) in the lens barrel 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera having a function of wirelessly communicating data between a camera body and a lens barrel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, application of lithium ions or the like
The technological innovation of secondary batteries is remarkable, and miniaturization and high density are progressing. In recent years, polymer secondary batteries have been put to practical use, and card type secondary batteries have appeared, and the degree of freedom in shape has been increasing. Therefore, there is a possibility that the camera can be incorporated into the camera and effectively utilized even in a miniaturized camera.

On the other hand, in a conventional digital camera, a silver halide camera (for example, a lens shutter camera), and the like, it is common to use a wire or a flexible substrate as a means for transmitting image information or supplying power.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an external structure of an example of a conventional digital camera. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body, a release button 3 is provided on an upper surface of the main body 1, and a mounting hole 1 a for a lens barrel is provided on a side surface of the main body 1. Reference numeral 2 denotes a lens barrel, and an outer periphery of the lens barrel 2 is provided with an attachment pin 2a to the main body.
Is provided with a lens 6 and a CCD (not shown here) as an image sensor. The main body 1 and the lens barrel 2 are connected by a cable 4.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the lens barrel 2 is detached from the main body 1, and photographing can be performed by pressing the release button 3 with the lens barrel 2 facing an object (not shown). At this time, the CC in the lens barrel 2 is passed through the lens 6.
The image information formed on D is transmitted to the main unit 1 via the cable 4. Further, by fitting the mounting pin 2a into the mounting hole 1a, the lens barrel 2 can be mounted on the main body 1 as shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a side longitudinal sectional view of an example of a lens shutter camera which is a kind of a conventional silver halide camera. In the figure, reference numeral 7 denotes a lens barrel for housing a lens, 8 denotes a body on the camera body side, 9 denotes a substrate on which electric components are mounted, 10
Is a flexible substrate for electrically connecting the main body side and the lens barrel side, 11 is a rotating cylinder, 12 is a fixed cylinder, 13 is a group lens,
14 is a second group lens, 15 is a shutter, 16 is a first group frame, and 17 is a second group frame. Reference numeral 30 denotes a pressure plate for holding a film (not shown), and reference numeral 31 denotes a cover on the main body side.
Then, the camera body is set to 32.

In FIG. 1, when the rotating cylinder 11 is rotated around the optical axis X by a driving mechanism (not shown), the lens barrel 7 and the first group ball frame 16 and the second group ball frame 17 fixed therein are separated. , Respectively, can advance and retreat in the optical axis X direction to perform zooming and collapsing. This figure shows a case where the lens barrel 7 is located at the telephoto end. Although not shown, the drive mechanism for the first lens 13 and the drive mechanism for the shutter 15 are built in the first lens frame 16. The power supply to these and the transmission and reception of various signals between the main body side and the lens barrel side are performed via the flexible substrate 10.

For example, according to a command from the camera body 32,
When a current is passed through the flexible substrate 10, a focusing operation by opening and closing the shutter 15 and driving the first lens group 13 can be performed. Further, a signal used for control, for example, a shutter pinhole detection signal,
The extension lens initial position signal and the like are transmitted to the camera body 32 side.

[0009]

However, cables for exchanging signals and supplying power as described above,
Conventionally, flexible substrates and the like have been struggling due to problems such as securing storage space and disconnection. For example, the configuration of the conventional digital camera shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has an advantage that the lens barrel 2 can be freely aimed at a subject regardless of the orientation of the main body 1, but there is an advantage.
There is always a concern about disconnection of the cable 4,
Even when the lens barrel 2 is attached to the main body 1, it is difficult to store the cable 4, which tends to be an obstacle, and here, there is a risk of disconnection.

In the structure of the conventional lens shutter camera shown in FIG. 8, the flexible substrate 10 is connected to the substrate 9 in front of the camera body 32, and the lens barrel 7 as shown in FIG. When the lens barrel 7 is retracted, the lens barrel 7 is stored along the inner surface of the fixed barrel 12. At this time, in particular, the flexible substrate 10
In the sagging state, care must be taken in the design to avoid exposure to light from the subject shown in A in the figure, and care must be taken not to break the wire due to excessive force due to the advance / retreat of the lens barrel 7. There must be.

As disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open Nos. 63-185356 and 63-185357, an electronic viewfinder that can be used by detaching it from a camera body is disclosed. No description is given of the method of supply.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and by applying the above-mentioned secondary battery, a conventional cable, flexible board, etc., which have been used to supply power between the lens barrel and the main body and to transmit and receive signals. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera which is abolished and does not cause problems such as securing of these storage spaces or troubles such as disconnection.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a lens barrel having a secondary battery and a camera body, and the secondary battery is supplied by supplying power from the camera body side. Is charged. Further, the secondary battery is provided in a substantially annular shape along the inner periphery of the lens barrel. Further, the lens barrel has a function of being retracted into the camera body, and the secondary battery is charged when the lens barrel is retracted.

Further, the lens barrel has a shutter, and the shutter is driven by power supply from the secondary battery. Alternatively, the lens barrel has a lens driving mechanism, and the lens driving mechanism is driven by power supply from the secondary battery. Further, the apparatus is provided with a light emitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving the control signal for driving between the lens barrel and the camera body.

Alternatively, as another configuration, the lens barrel has an image sensor, the image sensor is driven by power supply from the secondary battery, and an image signal from the image sensor is transmitted to the camera body side wirelessly. It is configured to be transmitted. The lens barrel is configured to be separable from the camera body.

Further, as a common configuration, the remaining capacity information of the secondary battery is transmitted to the camera body.

As a general configuration, a camera body, a functional unit relatively movable with respect to the camera body, and means for wirelessly transmitting information between the camera body and the functional unit are provided. Configuration. The functional unit is a lens barrel.
The lens barrel has a secondary battery and a function of collapsing into the camera body. At the time of collapsing, the secondary battery is charged by supplying power from the camera body side.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an example of a digital camera to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body, a release button 3 is provided on an upper surface of the main body 1, and a mounting hole 1 a for a lens barrel is provided on a side surface of the main body 1. Also, 2
Is a lens barrel portion, and on the outer periphery of the lens barrel portion 2, a mounting pin 2 a to the main body and a release button 5 are provided.
Is provided with a lens 6 and a CCD (not shown here) as an image sensor. Reference numeral 27 denotes a liquid crystal display unit provided on the front or back of the main unit 1.

FIG. 1 shows a state where the lens barrel 2 is detached from the main body 1 and shows a state at the time of wireless photographing, and the release button 5 is pressed by pointing the lens barrel 2 toward a subject (not shown). Depending on the situation, shooting can be performed. Alternatively, the release button 3 provided on the main body 1 may be pressed. At this time, the CCD in the lens barrel 2 is passed through the lens 6.
Is transmitted to the main body 1 wirelessly as shown by the arrow B. Further, by fitting the mounting pin 2a into the mounting hole 1a, as shown in FIG.
Can be attached to the main body 1. Here, the mounting pin 2a also serves as an electrode, and in the state of FIG.
Thus, power can be supplied to a secondary battery (not shown here) in the lens barrel 2. Note that the liquid crystal display unit 27 is omitted in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of the digital camera of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, this configuration is composed of a circuit block included in the main body 1 and a circuit block included in the lens barrel 2. In the figure,
40 on the side of the lens barrel 2 is a CCD as an image sensor, and 41 is an FM
A transmitting circuit; 42, a CPU constituted by a microcomputer, for example; 43, a power supply circuit for driving the CPU 42;
Reference numeral 4 denotes a secondary battery that supplies power to the power supply circuit 43. Further, 45 is a charging circuit on the main body 1 side, and 46 is a CPU described later.
A power supply circuit for driving 48, a main battery 47 for supplying power to the power supply circuit 46, a CPU 48 composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and 49 a receiving circuit. Incidentally, 27
Is a liquid crystal display section for displaying various information from the CPU 48, also shown in FIG.

Now, when the lens barrel 2 is mounted on the main body 1 as shown in FIG. 2, the mounting pins 2a pass through the mounting holes 1a and are mounted on a substrate (not shown) in the main body 1. As a result, as shown by the broken line 50 in FIG. 3, the secondary battery 44 and the charging circuit 45 are electrically connected. At this time, the secondary battery 44 mounted on the lens barrel 2 is supplied from the main battery 47 mounted on the main body 1 via the power supply circuit 46 and the charging circuit 45 via the connection state indicated by the broken line 50.
To the power supply.

At the time of photographing, as shown in FIG. 1, the lens barrel 2 may be separated from the main body 1, but at this time, the charged secondary battery 44 passes through the power supply circuit 43 through the CPU 42
To a state where power supply is possible. When photographing is performed, information of the image formed on the CCD 40 is transmitted to the CPU 4.
2, FM transmission is performed from the FM transmission circuit 41 to the reception circuit 49 of the main unit 1 as indicated by the arrow B. The received image information is processed by the CPU 48 of the main body 1.

Further, the capacity of the secondary battery 44 can be monitored by the CPU 42 on the lens barrel 2 side, and the information can be transmitted to the main body 1 side. Based on this information, for example, the main unit 1
The remaining capacity of the rechargeable battery can be displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 27 provided on the side, or a warning can be issued when the remaining capacity is low. Alternatively, specific operations such as release and zooming can be prohibited. FIG. 9 shows the liquid crystal display unit 2.
7 is an example of a warning display displayed on the display 7. Here, a display example is shown in which the remaining capacity on the main body side is not a problem, but the remaining capacity on the lens barrel side is small, which is represented by a large amount of solid black portions in the battery illustration.

FIG. 4 is a side longitudinal sectional view of an example of a lens shutter camera which is a kind of a silver halide camera to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 4 (a) shows a state where a lens barrel is located at a telephoto end. (B) is a collapsed state. In the figure, reference numeral 7 denotes a lens barrel for housing a lens, 8 denotes a body on the camera body side, 9 denotes a substrate provided on the body 8 and mounts electric components, 11
Is a rotary barrel provided around the optical axis X on the main body side, 12 is a fixed barrel that supports the same, 13 is a first group lens, 14 is a second group lens, 15 is a shutter, and 16 is fixed inside the lens barrel 7. , A first group frame holding the first group lens 13 and the shutter 15, and 17 is a second group frame holding the second group lens 14. Reference numeral 30 denotes a pressure plate which is provided at a rear portion in the main body side and presses a film (not shown), and 31 denotes a cover on the main body side. Then, the camera body is set to 32.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a substantially annular secondary battery provided around the first lens frame 16 along the inner periphery of the lens barrel 7.
9 is a contact pin projecting from the rear of the lens barrel 7, 20 is an infrared light emitting / receiving element provided behind the shutter 15,
21 is an infrared light emitting and receiving element provided on the camera body 32 side, 22 is a flexible substrate which is connected to the substrate 9 at one end thereof and holds the infrared light emitting and receiving element 21 near an opposite end portion 22a, and 24 is A circuit element 23 on the side of the lens barrel 7, a substrate 23 holding the infrared light emitting / receiving element 20 and the circuit element 24, and a coil spring 25 connecting the secondary battery 18 and the contact pins 19 are provided. The flexible substrate 22 is held in an S shape by a plate member 26 fixed to the body 8.

In FIG. 1, when the rotating barrel 11 rotates around the optical axis X by a drive mechanism (not shown), the lens barrel 7 and the first group frame 16 and the second group frame 17 fixed inside the barrel 7 are separated. , Respectively, can advance and retreat in the optical axis X direction to perform zooming and collapsing. Although not shown, the driving mechanism for the first group lens 13 and the shutter 15
Drive mechanism is built-in. The body side for these,
The transmission and reception of various signals between the lens barrels is performed by the infrared light emitting and receiving elements 20 and 2.
1 is performed. Incidentally, the infrared light emitting / receiving elements 20, 21
Is designed so as not to be exposed to light from the subject indicated by A in FIG.

For example, when a command from the camera body 32 is transmitted through the infrared light emitting and receiving elements 20 and 21, the shutter 1
The focusing operation by opening and closing the lens 5 and driving the group lens 13 can be performed. From the lens barrel 7 side, signals used for control, for example, a shutter pinhole detection signal, an extension lens initial position signal, and the like are transmitted to the infrared light emitting / receiving elements 20 and 2.
1 is transmitted to the camera body 32 side.

As shown in FIG. 2B, when the lens barrel 7 is collapsed, the contact pins 19 simultaneously move rearward and come into contact with the distal end portion 22a of the flexible substrate 22.
At this time, the flexible substrate 22 and the substrate 23 on the lens barrel 7 side
Are connected via the coil spring 25, and the secondary battery 18 on the lens barrel 7 side can be charged from the camera body 32 side.

FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram of the lens shutter camera of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, this configuration is composed of a circuit block included in the camera body 32 and a circuit block included in the lens barrel 7. In the figure, 51 is a transmission / reception circuit on the lens barrel 7 side, 52 is a CPU constituted by a microcomputer, for example, and 53 is
A power supply circuit for driving the PU 52, and the secondary battery 18 for supplying power to the power supply circuit 53. Also, 5 on the main body 1 side
5 is a charging circuit, 56 is a power supply circuit for driving a CPU 58 described later, 57 is a main battery for supplying power to the power supply circuit 56,
58 is a CP constituted by a microcomputer, for example.
U and 59 are transmission / reception circuits.

A shutter driver 61 drives the shutter 15 in response to a command from the CPU 52.
Also receives the instruction from the CPU 52,
A focus driver 63 drives the rotary cylinder 11 and the like in response to a command from the CPU 58. In addition, M is a motor as each drive source. Further, a circuit such as the CPU 52 is mounted on the circuit element 24 shown in FIG.

As described above, when the lens barrel 7 is collapsed as shown in FIG. 4B, the contact pins 19 move rearward, and the leading end 2 of the flexible substrate 22 is moved.
2a. At this time, the flexible substrate 22 and the substrate 23 on the lens barrel 7 side are connected via the coil spring 25, and as shown by a broken line 60 in FIG.
And the charging circuit 55 are electrically connected. At this time, the main battery 57 mounted on the camera body 32 side
Thus, power can be supplied to the secondary battery 18 mounted on the lens barrel 7 via the charging circuit 55 and the connection state indicated by the broken line 60.

At the time of photographing, the lens barrel 7 is electrically disconnected from the camera body 32. At this time, the charged secondary battery 18 passes through the power supply circuit 53 to the CPU 52.
To a state where power supply is possible. Then, when a release button (not shown) is pressed, distance measurement and photometry are performed on the camera body 32 side, and information on the amount of extension of the lens and the shutter time is indicated by an arrow C '. The transmission / reception circuit 52 is transmitted from the transmission / reception circuit 59 via the transmission / reception circuits 20 and 21.
Sent to

In response, the power supply circuit 53 in the lens barrel 7
A shutter driver 61 and a focus driver 62 operate by the CPU 52 to perform a series of operations such as opening and closing and extending the shutter. Further, as described above, signals used for control, such as a shutter pinhole detection signal and an extension lens initial position signal, are transmitted from the lens barrel 7 side as shown by the arrow C in FIG. The data is transmitted from the transmission / reception circuit 52 to the transmission / reception circuit 59 to the camera body 32 via the transmission lines 20 and 21.

The CPU 52 on the lens barrel 7 side operates the secondary battery 1
8 and the information is sent to the camera body 32 side as indicated by the arrow C in FIG.
Data can also be transmitted from the transmission / reception circuit 52 to the transmission / reception circuit 59 via 0 and 21. Based on this information, for example, the remaining capacity of the secondary battery can be displayed on the camera body 32 side, or a warning can be issued when the remaining capacity is low. Alternatively, specific operations such as release and zooming can be prohibited. Further, when the remaining capacity is small, the lens barrel 7 may be forcibly retracted and the secondary battery 18 may be charged.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Conventional cables and flexible printed circuit boards that have been used to supply power between the lens barrel and the main body and exchange signals have been abolished, and a camera that does not cause problems such as securing storage space or disconnection will be provided. it can.

In particular, according to the first aspect, by using a secondary battery, it is possible to eliminate the conventional cable, flexible board, and the like which supply power between the lens barrel and the main body.

Further, according to the second aspect, the secondary battery can be arranged by effectively utilizing the space in the lens barrel.

Further, according to the third aspect, the secondary battery can be charged using the collapsible function of the camera.

According to the fourth or fifth aspect, the mechanism in the lens barrel can be driven without supplying power from the main body.

Further, according to the sixth aspect, the conventional cable, flexible board, and the like which exchange signals between the lens barrel and the main body can be eliminated.

According to the seventh or eighth aspect, wireless photographing by a digital camera becomes possible.

Further, according to the ninth aspect, it is possible to prevent a trouble due to the exhaustion of the secondary battery.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an example of a digital camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance in which a lens barrel is attached to a main body.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of a digital camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a side longitudinal sectional view of an example of a lens shutter camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram of a lens shutter camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an example of a conventional digital camera.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an appearance in which a lens barrel is attached to a main body.

FIG. 8 is a side longitudinal sectional view of an example of a conventional lens shutter camera.

FIG. 9 is an example of a warning display displayed on a liquid crystal display unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body part 1a Mounting hole 2 Lens barrel part 2a Mounting pin 3, 5 Release button 6 Lens 7 Lens barrel 8 Body 9 Substrate 11 Rotating cylinder 12 Fixed cylinder 13 First group lens 14 Second group lens 15 Shutter 16 First group ball frame 17 Second group ball Frame 18 Secondary battery 19 Contact pin 20, 21 Infrared light emitting / receiving element 22 Flexible substrate 23 Substrate 24 Circuit element 25 Coil spring 26 Plate member 27 Liquid crystal display unit 30 Pressure plate 31 Cover 32 Camera body 40 CCD 41 FM transmission circuit 42, 48 CPU 43, 46 power supply circuit 44 secondary battery 45 charging circuit 47 main battery 49 reception circuit 51, 59 transmission / reception circuit 52, 58 CPU 53, 56 power supply circuit 55 charging circuit 57 main battery 61 shutter driver 62 focus driver 63 zoom driver M motor X light axis

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI G03B 17/04 G03B 17/04 H04N 5/335 H04N 5/335 V (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Mizumo 2-chome Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi No. 3-13 Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kenshi Nakamura 2-3-1 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd.

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A camera comprising: a lens barrel having a secondary battery; and a camera body, wherein power is supplied from the camera body side.
A camera equipped with a secondary battery, wherein the secondary battery is charged. 2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the secondary battery is provided in a substantially annular shape along an inner periphery of the lens barrel.
A camera equipped with the secondary battery according to 1. 3. The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the lens barrel has a function of being retracted into the camera body, and the secondary battery is charged during the collapse. Camera with. 4. The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the lens barrel has a shutter, and the shutter is driven by power supply from the secondary battery. Camera with. 5. The lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein the lens barrel has a lens driving mechanism, and the lens driving mechanism is driven by power supply from the secondary battery. A camera equipped with a secondary battery. 6. The secondary battery according to claim 4, further comprising light emitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving the control signal for driving between the lens barrel and the camera body. Camera with. 7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lens barrel has an image sensor, the image sensor is driven by power supply from the secondary battery, and an image signal from the image sensor is wirelessly transmitted to the camera body. A camera equipped with the secondary battery according to claim 1. 8. The camera according to claim 7, wherein the lens barrel is separable from the camera body. 9. The camera according to claim 6, wherein remaining battery capacity information of the secondary battery is transmitted to the camera body.
A camera equipped with the secondary battery according to any one of the above. 10. A camera body, a functional unit relatively movable with respect to the camera body, and means for wirelessly transmitting information between the camera body and the functional unit. camera. 11. The camera according to claim 10, wherein the functional unit is a lens barrel. 12. The lens barrel has a secondary battery and a function of being retracted into the camera body. When the lens barrel is retracted, power is supplied from the camera body to charge the secondary battery. The camera according to claim 11, characterized in that: