Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera having an upper cover functioning as a cover for
the monitor and also attached to the basic body of the camera so
that it can freely be opened or closed, and exposing or incorporating
the monitor by opening or closing the upper cover, in which an upper
cover state detector detects whether the upper cover is opened or
closed, and a controller controls power supply to the basic body
of the camera and/or to monitor according to a result of the detection
by the upper cover state detector. Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A digital camera having an image pick up device for picking
up an object and outputting image information, a monitor for displaying
said image information for the imaged object or other information,
and an upper cover functioning as a cover for said monitor and also
attached to a basic body of the camera so that it can freely be
opened or closed, and exposing or incorporating said monitor by
opening or closing said upper cover, said digital camera comprising:
a correlatedly opening/closing means having an opening/closing
mechanism to operate opening/closing movement of a lens barrier
and said upper cover, and turning ON/OFF of power supply to the
basic body of the camera as well as to a monitoring correlation
to the opening or closing movement of said upper cover;
wherein said correlatedly opening/closing means has a breakage
preventing mechanism for preventing said opening/closing mechanism
from being broken due to opening or closing movement of said upper
cover in a state where said lens barrier is locked in a closed state
or an opened state because of any abnormal operation, and when it
is tried to open or close said upper cover.
2. A digital camera having an image pick up device for picking
up an object and outputting image information, a monitor for displaying
said image information for the imaged object or other information,
and an upper cover functioning as a cover for said monitor and also
attached to a basic body of the camera so that it can freely be
opened or closed, and exposing or incorporating said monitor by
opening or closing said upper cover, said digital camera comprising:
a correlatedly opening/closing means having an opening/closing
mechanism to operate opening/closing movement of a lens barrier
and said upper cover, and turning ON/OFF of power supply to the
basic body of the camera as well as to a monitoring correlation
to the opening or closing movement of said upper cover;
wherein said correlatedly opening/closing means has a reset mechanism
enabling selection of an operation mode of various types of mechanism
including manual macro in correlation to opening movement of said
upper cover and also resetting the operation mode of said reset
mechanism in correlation to closing movement of said upper cover;
and
wherein said correlatedly opening/closing means has a breakage
preventing mechanism for maintaining said operation mode of the
mechanism in an initial position and also for preventing said reset
mechanism from being broken by an external force due to any abnormal
operation when said upper cover has been closed.
3. A digital camera having an image pick up device for picking
up an object and outputting image information, a monitor for displaying
said image information for the imaged object or other information,
and an upper cover functioning as a cover for said monitor and also
attached to a basic body of the camera so that it can freely be
opened or closed, and exposing or incorporating said monitor by
opening or closing said upper cover, said digital camera comprising:
a correlatedly opening/closing means having an opening/closing
mechanism to operate opening/closing movement of a lens barrier
and said upper cover, and turning ON/OFF of power supply to the
basic body of the camera as well as to a monitoring correlation
to the opening or closing movement of said upper cover;
wherein said correlatedly opening/closing means has a reset mechanism
enabling selection of an operation mode of various types of mechanism
including manual macro in correlation to opening movement of said
upper cover and also resetting the operation mode of said reset
mechanism in correlation to closing movement of said upper cover;
and
wherein said correlatedly opening/closing means has a breakage
preventing mechanism for preventing said reset mechanism from being
broken due to closing movement of said upper cover when it is tried
to close said upper cover while said reset mechanism is kept locked
in a state where said upper cover is opened.
4. A digital camera having an image pick up device which picks
up an object and outputs image information, a monitor which displays
said image information for the imaged object or other information,
and an upper cover functioning as a cover for said monitor and also
attached to a basic body of the camera so that it can freely be
opened or closed, and exposing or incorporating said monitor by
opening or closing said upper cover, said digital camera comprising:
a correlatedly opening/closing unit having an opening/closing mechanism
to operate opening/closing movement of a lens barrier and said upper
cover, and turning ON/OFF of power supply to the basic body of the
camera as well as to a monitoring correlation to the opening or
closing movement of said upper cover;
wherein said correlatedly opening/closing unit has a breakage preventing
mechanism which prevents said opening/closing mechanism from being
broken due to opening or closing movement of said upper cover in
a state where said lens barrier is locked in a closed state or an
opened state because of any abnormal operation, and when it is tried
to open or close said upper cover.
5. A digital camera having an image pick tip device which picks
up an object and outputs image information, a monitor which displays
said image information for the imaged object or other information,
and an upper cover functioning as a cover for said monitor and also
attached to a basic body of the camera so that it can freely be
opened or closed, and exposing or incorporating said monitor by
opening or closing said upper cover, said digital camera comprising:
a correlatedly opening/closing unit having an opening/closing mechanism
to operate opening/closing movement of a lens barrier and said upper
cover, and turning ON/OFF of power supply to the basic body of the
camera as well as to a monitoring correlation to the opening or
closing movement of said upper cover;
wherein said correlatedly opening/closing unit has a reset mechanism
enabling selection of an operation mode of various types of mechanism
including manual macro in correlation to opening movement of said
upper cover and also resetting the operation mode of said reset
mechanism in correlation to closing movement of said upper cover;
and
wherein said correlatedly opening/closing unit has a breakage preventing
mechanism which maintains said operation mode of the mechanism in
an initial position and also which prevents said reset mechanism
from being broken by an external force due to any abnormal operation
when said upper cover has been closed.
6. A digital camera having an image pick up device which picks
up an object and outputs image information, a monitor which displays
said image information for the imaged object or other information,
and an upper cover functioning as a cover for said monitor and also
attached to a basic body of the camera so that it can freely he
opened or closed, and exposing or incorporating said monitor by
opening or closing said upper cover, said digital camera comprising:
a correlatedly opening/closing unit having an opening/closing mechanism
to operate opening/closing movement of a lens barrier and said upper
cover, and turning ON/OFF of power supply to the basic body of the
camera as well as to a monitoring correlation to the opening or
closing movement of said upper cover;
wherein said correlatedly opening/closing unit has a reset mechanism
enabling selection of an operation mode of various types of mechanism
including manual macro in correlation to opening movement of said
upper cover and also resetting the operation mode of said reset
mechanism in correlation to closing movement of said upper cover;
and
wherein said correlatedly opening/closing unit has a breakage preventing
mechanism which prevents said reset mechanism from being broken
due to closing movement of said upper cover when it is tried to
close said upper cover while said reset mechanism is kept locked
in a state where said upper cover is opened.
Digital Camera Patent Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera with an upper
cover, which can freely be opened or closed, attached to a basic
body of the camera and a monitor buried in the upper cover, and
more specifically to a low power consumption digital camera which
allows reduction of the number of required switches, improvement
in operability, reduction of imaging mistakes, and elimination of
useless power consumption by correlating opening/closing movement
of the upper cover to opening/closing movement of a lens barrier,
power ON/OFF control, as well as to resetting of various types of
mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently in the field of digital cameras, those with an upper cover,
which can freely be opened or closed, born on a basic body of the
camera and also a monitor such as an LCD buried in the upper cover
have been introduced into the market and popularized among users.
In relation to electronic equipment such as digital cameras having
the construction as described above, for instance, Japanese Patent
Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 7-23259 discloses the "Electronic
Camera" which incorporates a monitor, detects whether the upper
cover has been opened or closed, and changes contents of a display
on the monitor according to a result of the detection. In this case,
a power switch is provided on a side surface of a basic body of
the camera.
Also Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 8-139981 discloses
the "Video Camera" which is a video camera having a monitor
with the upper cover capable of being freely opened or closed, and
in which the monitor is rotated and stopped at a position where
an operator can easily check the display when replaying image information.
By the way, in a portable type of electronic equipment such as
a digital camera, generally a battery is used as a power supply
source, and it is essential to suppress power consumption of the
electronic equipment in applications requiring long time use of
the equipment:.
However, in the conventional technology, a power switch is provided
on the side surface of the basic body of a camera or on the upper
cover and generally provides ON/OFF control to the power supply
source according to an intentional operation by a user, so that
power may wastefully be consumed because of user's careless mistakes
such as forgetting to turn OFF the power supply source or the like.
Also in the conventional technology, when the mechanism such as
manual macro is selected for image pickup, the mechanism is kept
switched on until the next image pickup is operated unless the user
resets the manual macro, so that the user images without realizing
the state of the mechanism, which causes imaging mistakes to occur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital camera,
with an upper cover attached to a basic body of the camera so that
it can freely be opened or closed as well as with a monitor buried
in the upper cover, which allows reduction of the number of required
switches and improvement in operability by correlating opening/closing
movement of the upper cover to ON/OFF control of a power supply
source.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a digital
camera, with an upper cover attached to a basic body of the camera
so that it can freely be opened or closed as well as with a monitor
buried in the upper cover, which allows reduction of the number
of required switches, improvement in operability, and reduction
of imaging mistakes by correlating opening/closing movement of the
upper cover to opening/closing movement of a lens barrier, ON/OFF
control of a power supply source, as well as to resetting of various
types of mechanisms.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a low
power consumption digital camera which accurately detects whether
the upper
cover is opened or closed and ON/OFF control is provided to the
power supply source so that power is not uselessly consumed when
a user forgets to turn OFF the power supply source and to close
the upper cover, or when the upper cover is accidentally opened.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, in
the digital camera having an upper cover functioning as a cover
for the monitor and also attached to a basic body of the camera
so that it can freely be opened or closed, and exposing or incorporating
the monitor by opening or closing the upper cover, an upper cover
state detector detects whether the upper cover has been opened or
closed, a controller controls power supply to the basic body of
the camera and/or to the monitor according to a result of detection
by the upper cover state detector, and opening or closing movement
of the upper cover is correlated to ON/OFF control of power supply
source, which allows reduction of a required switch for ON/OFF control
of power supply source, improvement in operability by reducing operational
sequences, and elimination of useless power consumption due to user's
careless mistakes such as forgetting to turn OFF the power supply
source, and for this reason it is possible to provide a low power
consumption digital camera.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
digital camera comprises an imaging device for imaging an object
and outputting the image information, a monitor for displaying the
image information for the imaged object or other information, and
an upper cover functioning as a cover for the monitor and also attached
to a basic body of the camera so that it can freely be opened or
closed, and exposes or incorporates the monitor by opening or closing
the upper cover, and also comprises a correlatedly opening/closing
unit having a opening/closing mechanism for turning ON/OFF power
supply to the basic body of the camera and monitor in correlation
to opening or closing movement of the upper cover, so that it is
possible to provide a digital camera which can reduce a required
switch, improve operability, and reduce imaging mistakes by correlating
opening or closing movement of the upper cover to ON/OFF control
of power supply source.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
digital camera comprises an imaging device for imaging an object
and outputting the image information, a monitor for displaying the
image information for the imaged object or other information, and
an upper cover functioning as a cover for the monitor and also attached
to a basic body of the camera so that it can freely be opened or
closed, and exposes or incorporates the monitor by opening or closing
the upper cover, and also comprises a correlatedly opening/closing
unit having an opening/closing mechanism to operate opening/closing
movement of a lens barrier and turning ON/OFF of power supply to
the basic body of the camera as well as to the monitor in correlation
to the opening or closing movement of the upper cover, so that it
is possible to provide a digital camera which can reduce a required
switch, improve operability, and reduce imaging mistakes by correlating
opening or closing movement of the upper cover to the opening or
closing movement of the lens barrier and ON/OFF control of power
supply.
Other objects and features of this invention will become understood
from the following description with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital camera according to
Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the digital camera according
to Embodiment 1;
FIG. 3 is a front view showing the digital camera according to
Embodiment 1 with the upper cover in the opened state viewed from
the front side;
FIG. 4 is a side view showing the digital camera according to Embodiment
1 with the upper cover in the opened state viewed from the side
surface;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining control of power supply when
the upper cover of the digital camera according to Embodiment 1
is opened;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining power supply control when
the upper cover of the digital camera according to Embodiment 1
is closed;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the digital camera according
to Embodiment 2;
FIGS. 8A and 8B are views showing opening/closing movement of the
lens barrier, turning ON/OFF of a main switch, and a manual macro
mechanism in correlation to opening or closing movement of an LCD
monitor according to Embodiment 2;
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a relation between each angle
of rotation of the LCD monitor (in other words, LCD cover) of the
digital camera according to Embodiment 2 and each timing when the
lens barrier is opened or closed as well as that when the main switch
is turned ON or OFF;
FIGS. 10A and 10B are explanatory views showing a state of the
lens barrier and of the main switch when the LCD cover according
to Embodiment 2 is closed (namely, an angle of rotation: 0.degree.);
FIGS. 11A and 11B are explanatory views showing state of the lens
barrier and of the main switch when the LCD cover according to Embodiment
2 is opened at an angle of 45.degree. (namely, an angle of rotation:
45.degree.);
FIGS. 12A and 12B are explanatory views showing state of the lens
barrier and of the main switch when the LCD cover according to Embodiment
2 is opened at an angle of 60.degree. (namely, an angle of rotation:
60.degree.);
FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the LCD
cover is opened with the lens barrier maintained in the closed state
in Embodiment 2;
FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the LCD
cover is closed with the lens barrier maintained in the opened state
in Embodiment 2;
FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing a state of a lens-barrel
including a imaging lens and a manual macro mechanism when the LCD
cover is opened and ordinary imaging is performed without using
the manual macro in Embodiment 2;
FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing a state of the lens-barrel
including the imaging lens and manual macro mechanism when the LCD
cover is opened and ordinary imaging is performed without using
the manual macro in Embodiment 2;
FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing a state of the lens-barrel
when the LCD cover is opened and the manual macro is used in Embodiment
2;
FIGS. 18A and 18B are explanatory views showing state of the lens-barrel
when the LCD cover is closed in Embodiment 2; and
FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the LCD
cover is rotated (closed) with an operational dial maintained in
a rotated state and a state in which an operational dial is rotated
when the LCD cover is closed in Embodiment 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Detailed description is made hereinafter for the digital camera
according to the present invention in the order of "Embodiment
1", and "Embodiment 2" with reference to the attached
drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital camera according to
Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, the digital
camera according to Embodiment 1 comprises a lens 101, a mechanism
102 including an automatic focus or the like, a CCD 103, a CDS circuit
104, an A/D converter 105, a digital signal processing section 106,
an image compressing/expanding section 107, a card interface 109,
a PC card interface 110, a CPU 121, a monitor 122, a control panel
section 123, a motor driver 125, a SG (control signal generating)
section 126, a hinge rotational angle detecting sensor 127, a buttery
128, a DC-DC converter 129, and an incorporated memory 131.
A lens unit comprises the lens 101 and the mechanism 102 including
an automatic focus (AF)/aperture/filter section, and a mechanical
shutter of the mechanism 102 executes simultaneous exposure for
two fields. The CCD (charge coupled device) 103 converts a picture
received through the lens unit to an electric signal (analog image
data). The CDS (correlation duplex sampling) circuit 104 is a circuit
for reducing noises in the CCD type of imaging element. The A/D
converter 105 converts the analog image data received from the CCD
103 though the CDS circuit 104 to digital image data. Namely, an
output signal from the CCD 103 is converted to a digital signal
at an optimal sampling frequency (e.g. an integral multiple of a
subcarrier frequency of an NTSC signal) by the A/D converter 105
through the CDS circuit 104.
The digital signal processing section 106 divides the digital image
data received from the A/D converter 105 according to color differences
(Cb, Cr) and brightness (Y) and subjects the divided data each to
various types of processing and to data processing for correction
and image compression/expansion. The image compressing/expanding
section 107 executes, for instance, orthogonal transformation which
is one of processes of operations for image compression/expansion
that follows JPEG, as well as Huffman coding/decoding which is one
of processes of operations for image compression/expansion that
also follows JPEG.
The incorporated memory 131 is connected to the CPU bus BUS and
is realized, for example, by a DRAM, a SRAM, or a flash-memory.
Namely, in the incorporated memory 131, image data imaged and subjected
to compression processing or image data received through a transmitting
section not shown in the figure or the like is stored. The compressed
image data stored in the incorporated memory 131 is read out through
the card interface 109 and is stored in a storage medium such as
the PC card 150 connected to the card interface 109 through the
PC card interface 110.
The CPU 121 controls all operations inside the digital camera according
to an instruction from the control panel section 123 or an operational
instruction from an external device such as a remote control not
shown in the figure. Also the control panel section 123 has, as
described later (Refer to FIG. 2), various types of switches used
for selecting a function, instructing an operation for imaging,
and setting some other modes from outside, and especially has a
self-timer switch, a release switch to turn ON power supply to the
monitor 122 when power supply to the basic body of the camera is
ON and that to the monitor 122 is OFF, or a mode select switch.
Power for the camera is received from the battery 128 such as a
NiCd, a nickel-metal-hydride, or a Lithium battery to the DC-DC
converter 129 to be supplied to the inside of the digital camera.
It should be noted that the power supply to the basic body of the
camera as well as to the monitor 122 is ON/OFF-controlled discretely
according to a control signal "con" from the CPU 121.
The monitor 122 is realized by a LCD, a LED, or LE or the like
and is embedded in the upper cover attached to the basic body of
the camera so that it can freely be opened or closed. Picked-up
digital image data and recorded image data subjected to expansion
processing are displayed on the monitor 122, and a state of the
digital camera or the like is displayed on a mode displayed section
of the screen.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, an imaging device is realized
by the lens 101, mechanism 102, CCD 103, CDS circuit 104 and A/D
converter 105, the upper cover state detector by the hinge rotational
angle detecting sensor 127, and the controller by the CPU 121 respectively.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the digital camera according
to Embodiment 1, and FIG. 3 is a front view showing the digital
camera with the upper cover in the opened state viewed from the
front side.
In the figure, designated at the reference numeral 122 is a monitor,
at 201 a basic body of a camera, at 202 an upper cover, at 203 a
hinge, at 212 a release switch, at 213 a frame-advance switch, at
214 a DATE switch, at 215 a flash switch, at 216 an image-quality
mode switch, at 217 a self-timer switch, at 218 a record mode select
switch, at 311 an imaging lens, and at 312 a flash. It should be
noted that the PC card 150 and the like are omitted to be shown
herein to make the description simple.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing the digital camera according to Embodiment
1 with the upper cover in the opened state viewed from the side
surface.
In the figure, the reference character .alpha. indicates an opening
angle which is a hinge rotational angle of the upper cover 202.
In the digital camera according to Embodiment 1, a rotational angle
of the hinge 203 is detected by the hinge rotational angle detecting
sensor 127, and when the opening angle .alpha. is detected as not
less than 45 degrees, power supply to the basic body of the camera
201 and to the monitor 122 are controlled by the CPU 121 so as to
be tuned ON.
Namely, in the digital camera according to Embodiment 1, the hinge
rotational angle detecting sensor 127 detects whether the upper
cover 202 is opened or closed, the CPU 121 controls power supply
to the basic body of the camera 201 and to the monitor 122 according
to a result of the detection by the hinge rotational angle detecting
sensor 127, and the opened/closed state of the upper cover 202 is
correlated to ON/OFF control to power supply, which allows reduction
of a switch for ON/OFF control for a power supply unit, improvement
in operability by reduction of operational sequences, elimination
of useless power consumption due to user's careless mistakes such
as forgetting to turn OFF the power, and realization of a low power
consumption digital camera.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining control of power supply when
the upper cover 202 of the digital camera according to Embodiment
1 is opened. The description herein assumes that a threshold value
of the opening angle .alpha. in the hinge rotational angle of the
upper cover 202 is 45 degrees when power supply to the basic body
of the camera 201 as well as to the monitor 122 is ON/OFF-controlled,
and that the utmost time to keep on a standby state for imaging
is three minutes.
When power supply to the basic body of the camera 201 as well as
to the monitor 122 is OFF, and if the upper cover is opened (step
S501), at first in step S502, an opening angle .alpha. in the hinge
rotational angle of the upper cover 202 is detected by the hinge
rotational angle detecting sensor 127.
At this point of time, the CPU 121 keeps the power supply still
in the OFF state when the opening angle .alpha. is less than 45
degrees, but at the point of time when the opening angle .alpha.
has surpassed 45 degrees, the CPU 121 turns ON the power supply
to the basic body of the camera 201 as well as to the monitor 122
according to the control signal "con" (step S503).
With this operation, the digital camera is ready to image an object
(barrier is opened, and a lens position or the like is ready to
be set), which allows the digital camera to be operated. In order
to keep the digital camera in the standby state, an opening angle
.alpha. in the hinge rotational angle of the upper cover 202 may
be 45 degrees or more, and the monitor 122 may be set at any angle.
Namely, the monitor 122 (upper cover 202) can be set according to
an angle for imaging.
When power supply to the basic body of the camera 201 is ON, various
types of modes and imaging conditions (e.g. an image mode, an image-quality
mode, with or without flash or the like) are set, and imaging can
be carried out by pressing down the release switch 212. An object
to be imaged is displayed on the monitor 122 before imaging, but
a picked-up image is displayed thereon after the imaging.
If the conventional type of camera is kept in the standby state
for imaging in which those various types of switches are not used
for a long period of time, power for display output on the monitor
122 is consumed, so that the power (battery) may disadvantageously
be exhausted even though there is only a small number of frames
actually imaged.
To prevent unnecessary power consumption, when the digital camera
according to Embodiment 1 is left in the standby state for imaging
for three minutes (step S504), the camera is designed so as to turn
OFF power supply only to the monitor 122 (step S505) for prevention
of unnecessary power consumption. It should be noted that the time
during the standby state for imaging is counted by a counter in
the CPU 121.
Also, after the power supply to the monitor 122 is turned OFF due
to passage of the time, if any of the switches, such as the release
switch
212 or the (image quality or record) mode select switch 216 or
218 is pressed down (step S506), the power supply to the monitor
122 is turned ON again (step S507).
If the self-timer switch 217 is pressed down during the standby
state for imaging, the power supply to the monitor 122 is turned
OFF, although it is not shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5.
That is because, when the self-timer is used for imaging, generally
a photographer itself is, in many cases, in the side of an object
to be imaged and for this reason, the monitor 122 is not required
to be ON in many cases.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining control of power supply when
the upper cover 202 of the digital camera according to Embodiment
1 is closed.
When the power supply to the basic body of the camera 201 as well
as to the monitor 122 is ON, and if the upper cover 202 is closed
(step S601), at first in step S602, an opening angle .alpha. in
the hinge rotational angle of the upper cover 202 is detected by
the hinge rotational angle detecting sensor 127.
At this point of time, the CPU 121 keeps the power supply still
in the ON state when the opening angle .alpha. is not less than
45 degrees, but at the point of time when the opening angle .alpha.
becomes 45 degrees or less, the CPU 121 turns OFF the power supply
to the basic body of the camera 201 as well as to the monitor 122
according to the control signal "con" (step S603).
With this operation, when an opening angle .alpha. in the hinge
rotational angle of the upper cover 202 is a small angle such as
in a case where the upper cover 202 is forgotten to be securely
closed or in a case where the upper cover 202 is accidentally opened
in a bag or the like during being carried, it is possible to eliminate
such disadvantage that power supply to the basic body of the camera
201 as well as to the monitor 122 is turned ON and power may be
uselessly consumed.
As described above, with Embodiment 1, in the digital camera having
an upper cover 202 functioning as a cover for the monitor 122 and
also attached to the basic body of the camera so that it can freely
be opened or closed and exposing or incorporating the monitor 122
by opening or closing the upper cover 202, the hinge rotational
angle detecting sensor (upper cover state detector) 127 detects
whether the upper cover 202 is opened or closed, and the CPU (controller)
121 controls power supply to the basic body of the camera and/or
monitor 122 according to a result of the detection by the hinge
rotational angle detecting sensor 127, which allows reduction of
a switch for ON/OFF control for the battery 128, improvement in
operability by reducing operational sequences, elimination of useless
power consumption due to user's careless mistakes such as forgetting
to turn OFF the power, and realization of a low power consumption
digital camera by correlating opening/closing movement of the upper
cover 202 to ON/OFF control of the battery (power supply source).
Also, the hinge rotational angle detecting sensor 127 detects an
angle indicating how the upper cover 202 is opened or closed, the
CPU 121 controls power supply to the basic body of the camera and/or
monitor 122 when it is detected by the hinge rotational angle detecting
sensor that the angle is not less than or not more than a specified
value, so that when the battery 128 is ON/OFF-controlled only by
opening or closing the upper cover 202, if the upper cover 202 is
forgotten to be closed or the upper cover 202 is accidentally opened
in a bag or the like during being carried, it is possible to prevent
the power from consumption due to an unexpected ON state of the
power supply to the basic body of the camera or to the monitor 122.
In other words, in any case where the upper cover 202 is forgotten
to be closed or unexpectedly opens, power supply to the basic body
of the camera or to the monitor 122 is turned OFF, which allows
elimination of useless power consumption and realization of a low
power consumption digital camera.
For example, when the conventional type of camera is left in the
standby state for imaging for a long period of time, and if power
supply to the monitor 122 is ON, the power is consumed in spite
of no imaging carried out, and consequently the number of frames
available for one operation for imaging is disadvantageously reduced,
but in Embodiment 1, when the upper cover 202 is open and is left
as it is for a certain period of time, the CPU 121 automatically
turns OFF the power supply to the monitor 122, so that power consumption
can be reduced.
Also, in Embodiment 1, when the upper cover 202 is open and the
self-timer switch (provided on the control panel section 123) is
pressed down, the power supply to the monitor 122 is automatically
turned OFF. Namely, when the self timer is used for imaging, the
photographer is generally in the side of an object to be imaged,
and in this case, it is natural that nobody looks at the monitor
122. In this case, useless power consumption can be reduced by turning
OFF the power supply to the monitor 122. Turning OFF the power supply
thereto is also a notice to the photographer indicating that imaging
with the self timer has been started.
With any of the switches provided on the control panel section
123, power supply to the monitor 122 can be turned ON when the CPU
121 keeps the power supply to the basic body of the camera to be
ON and keeps the power supply to the monitor 122 to be OFF, in other
words, the power supply to the monitor 122 is automatically turned
ON again by pressing down any of the various types of switches,
which allows control of the power supply to the monitor 122 with
higher operability. When the power supply to the monitor 122 is
turned OFF because of being left in the ON state of the power supply
to the monitor, for example, and if the user wants to turn ON again
the power supply to the monitor 122, it is quite troublesome for
the user to open or close the upper cover 202 each time, which is
not poor in operability, but pressing down the various types of
switches allows the power supply to the monitor 122 to be turned
ON, which is convenient in use.
In Embodiment 1, as a switch (123) to turn ON power supply to the
monitor 122, the release switch 212 (or the mode select switches
216, 218) is used, so that, by using any of those switches used
with a high frequency to turn ON power supply to the monitor 122,
it is possible to improve operability by using the more practical
switch.
A digital camera according to Embodiment 2 comprises a correlatedly
opening/closing unit having an opening/closing mechanism for executing
opening or closing movement of a lens barrier and turning ON/OFF
power supply to the basic body of the camera or monitor in correlation
to opening or closing movement of the upper cover.
Detailed description is made hereinafter for configuration and
operations of the digital camera according to Embodiment 2 with
reference to FIG. 7 to FIG. 19. It should be noted that the basic
configuration of the digital camera according to Embodiment 2 is
the same as that of the ordinary digital camera, so description
is made herein only for some specific points to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the digital camera according
to Embodiment 2, and FIGS. 8A and 8B are views showing opening/closing
movement of the lens barrier in correlation to opening or closing
of an LCD monitor according to Embodiment 2, turning ON/OFF of a
main switch, and a manual macro mechanism.
In the figures, designated at the reference numeral 701 is an LCD
cover which is an upper cover including an LCD monitor (not shown),
at 702 a cam for opening/closing movement of the lens barrier and
turning ON/OFF the main switch, at 703 a cam for resetting the manual
macro mechanism, at 704 and 708 levers each for opening/closing
movement of the lens barrier respectively, at 705 the lens barrier,
at 706 a frame member for maintaining the lens barrier 705 and conveying
the lens barrier along a specified groove, at 707 a spring for closing
movement of the lens barrier, at 709 a charge spring for preventing
breakage of the lens barrier mechanism, at 710 a frame member for
rotatably supporting the levers 704 and 708 each for opening/closing
movement of the lens barrier, at 711 the main switch, at 712 a lens-barrel
including a imaging lens, at 713 an operating dial for manual macro,
and at 714 a frame member for maintaining the lens-barrel 712 and
the operating dial 713. It should be noted that the cams 702, 703
are integrally provided in a rotary shaft (not shown) of the LCD
cover 701 or provided therein so as to move together with the rotary
shaft.
FIG. 9 shows a relation between each angle of rotation of the LCD
monitor (in other words, LCD cover 701) of the digital camera according
to Embodiment 2 and each timing when the lens barrier is opened
or closed and when the main switch is turned ON or OFF, the lens
barrier 705 is opened or closed according to any rotational angle
of the LCD cover 701 in a range from 0.degree. to 45.degree., and
the main switch 711 is turned ON or OFF with any rotational angle
of the LCD cover 701 in a range from 45.degree. to 60.degree.. Also,
the LCD cover 701 can be rotated in a range from 0.degree. to 140.degree..
It should be noted that, although the detailed description is made
later, the mechanism shown in FIG. 7 and FIGS. 8A and 8B corresponds
to the opening/closing mechanism of the correlatedly opening/closing
unit according to the present invention, and actuates opening or
closing movement of the lens barrier 705 and operation for turning
ON/OFF the main switch (switch for supplying power to the basic
body of the camera and the monitor) 711 in correlation to the opening
or closing movement (namely rotating movement) of the LCD cover
701.
As clearly understood from FIG. 9, this opening/closing mechanism
(correlatedly opening/closing unit) is actuated when the LCD cover
701 is opened, and after the lens barrier is fully opened at any
rotational angle in a range from 0.degree. to 45.degree., main switch
711 is turned ON at any of the rotational angle in a range from
45.degree. to 60.degree..
Next description is made for opening or closing movement of the
lens barrier 705 and ON/OFF operation of the main switch 711 in
correlation to opening or closing movement (namely, rotational movement)
of the LCD cover 701 with reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B, FIGS.
11A and 11B, and FIGS. 12A and 12B.
FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are explanatory views each showing a state
of the lens barrier 705 and of the main switch 711 when the LCD
cover 701 is closed (namely, angle of rotation: 0.degree.), and
FIG. 10A shows a side view in the state described above, while FIG.
10B shows a front view in the state respectively. It should be noted
that the range by a dot-and-dashed line designated at the reference
numeral 715 is an aperture section of the photographing lens.
As shown in the figures, when the LCD cover 701 is closed (namely,
the angle of rotation is 0.degree.), the lens barrier 705 is stopped
at a position where an aperture section 715 is completely covered
thereby. Also, the main switch 711 is in the OFF state (namely,
in the state in which the main switch does not contact the lever
704 for opening/closing movement of the lens barrier), which shows
the state in which power is not supplied to the basic body of the
camera and the LCD monitor.
Each of the levers 704, 708 for opening or closing movement of
the lens barrier is rotatably attached to the frame 710 respectively,
and one edge of the lever 704 for opening or closing movement of
the lens barrier is engaged with an edge of the cam 702 for opening
or closing movement of the lens barrier and turning ON/OFF the main
switch, and the other edge of the lever 704 is coupled to the lever
708 for opening or closing movement of the lens barrier through
the charge spring 709 for preventing breakage of the lens barrier
mechanism.
On the other hand, the lever 708 for opening or closing movement
of the lens barrier is connected to the lens barrier 705 at one
edge of the lever 708, and the charge spring 709 for preventing
breakage of the lens barrier mechanism and the spring 707 for closing
movement of the lens barrier are attached to the other edge thereof.
When the LCD cover 701 is opened from the state in which the LCD
cover 701 is closed (namely, the state in which the angle of rotation
is 0.degree.), the cam 702 attached to the rotary shaft of the LCD
cover 701 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in
the figures, whereby one edge of the lever 704 for opening or closing
movement of the lens barrier is pushed out in the direction indicated
by the arrow, with which the levers 704, 708 each for opening or
closing movement of the lens barrier are rotated and moved in the
direction indicated by the arrow.
FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are explanatory views each showing a state
of the lens barrier 705 and of the main switch 711 when the LCD
cover 701 is opened at an angle of 45.degree. (namely, an angle
of rotation is 45.degree.), and FIG. 11A shows a side view of the
states, while FIG. 11B shows a front view of the states respectively.
As shown in the figures, when the LCD cover 701 is opened by being
rotated by an angle of 45.degree., the lens barrier 705 is moved
to below the aperture section 715 in accordance with the rotation
and movement of the cam 702 as well as the levers 704, 708 for opening
or closing movement of the lens barrier, whereby the aperture section
715 is completely opened. In this case, one edge of the lever 704
for opening or closing movement of the lens barrier which has bean
rotated and moved is stopped by contacting the edge section of the
main switch 711 (or is stopped at a position adjacent to the edge
section with non-contact). In other words, when the LCD lever 701
is opened at an angle of 45.degree., the lens barrier 705 is fully
opened and an ON operation of the main switch 711 is ready to be
started.
It should be noted that the lens barrier 705 moves, as shown in
FIGS. 8A and 8B, downward along the groove of the frame 706, and
reaches the lowest edge of the groove thereof when having been fully
opened, whereby the movement of the barrier further downward is
prevented. Also, the spring 707 is pulled by the movement of the
lever 708 for opening or closing movement of the lens barrier.
FIG. 12A and FIG. 11B are explanatory views each showing a state
of the lens barrier 705 and of the main switch 711 when the LCD
cover 701 is opened at an angle of 60.degree. (namely, an angle
of rotation: 60.degree.), and FIG. 12A shows a side view of the
states, while FIG. 12B shows a front view of the states respectively.
As shown in the figures, when the LCD cover 701 is opened by rotating
by an angle of 60.degree., the edge section of the main switch 711
is pressed down by the lever 704 for opening or closing movement
of the lens barrier in accordance with the rotation and movement
of the cam 702 as well as the levers 704 for opening or closing
movement of the lens barrier, whereby the main switch 711 is turned
ON. It should be noted that, in this case, as the lever 708 for
opening or closing movement of the lens barrier is prevented from
being moved downward by the lowest edge of the groove of the frame
706, the charge spring 709 is pulled by the movement of the lever
704 for opening or closing movement of the lens barrier.
Next description is made for a state when the LCD cover is opened
with the lens barrier 705 maintained in the closed state with reference
to FIG. 13. It is assumed herein that the lens barrier 705 is fixed
in the closed state as in a case where the lens barrier 705 is pressed
with a finger in an abnormal operation when the LCD cover 701 is
closed (namely, an angle of rotation: 0.degree.) shown in FIGS.
10A and 10B. When the LCD cover 701 is rotated and opened in this
state, the lever 704 for opening or closing movement of the lens
barrier moves in association with rotation of the cam 702, and the
lever 708 for opening or closing movement of the lens barrier is
pulled in the direction in which the lens barrier 705 is opened
through the charge spring 709. However, as the lens barrier 705
is fixed, the movement of the lever 708 for opening or closing movement
of the lens barrier is prevented, so that the moving rate of the
lever 704 for opening or closing movement of the lens barrier is
absorbed by extension of the charge spring 709.
In other words, even when the movement of the lever 708 for opening
or closing movement of the lens barrier is prevented by fixing the
lens barrier 705, only the lever 704 for opening or closing movement
of the lens barrier can be moved without breaking a coupling state
between the levers 704, 708 for opening or closing movement of the
lens barrier because of the charge spring 709. Accordingly, as shown
in FIG. 13, when the lens barrier 705 is closed and even locked,
and even if the LCD cover 701 is tried to be opened, the mechanism
of the device will never be broken.
Similarly it is assumed herein that, in the state where the LCD
cover 701 is open, the lens barrier 705 is opened and is fixed in
any abnormal operation such as pressing down of the lens barrier
705 with a finger. When the LCD cover 701 is rotated and closed
in this state, the cam 702 also returns to the initial position
as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B with its rotation. With this operation,
the force to move the lever 704 for opening or closing movement
of the lens barrier in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIGS.
10A and 10B is lost, so that the lever 704 for opening or closing
movement of the lens barrier tries to return to the initial position
according to a shrinking force of the charge spring 709. And at
the same time, the force loaded to the lever 708 for opening or
closing movement of the lens barrier is only the shrinking force
of the spring 707 because the charge spring 709 has been shrunk,
and for this reason the lever 708 for opening or closing movement
of the lens barrier is pulled in the direction in which the lens
barrier 705 is closed. However, as the lens barrier 705 has been
fixed, the lever 708 for opening or closing movement of the lens
barrier is prevented from being moved, so that the LCD cover 701
is closed in a state shown in FIG. 14. In other words, when the
lens barrier 705 is opened and even locked, and even if the LCD
cover 701 is to be closed, it can be done without breaking the mechanism
of the device.
It should be noted that each state of the levers 704, 708 for opening
or closing movement of the lens barrier as well as of the main switch
711 when the lens barrier 705 is fully opened and fixed as shown
in FIG. 14 is the same as the state when the LCD cover 701 is opened
at an angle of 45.degree. (an angle of rotation of 45.degree.) as
shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B. In other words, the lever 704 for opening
or closing movement of the lens barrier is stopped in the state
in which the main switch 711 is released from the ON state (namely
an OFF state). Accordingly, even when the lens barrier 705 is opened
and locked, the OFF operation of the main switch 711 can be carried
out in correlation to closing of the LCD cover 701.
By the way, in Embodiment 2, various types of the operation mode
of the mechanism including manual macro are available in the state
where the LCD cover 701 has been opened, and a reset mechanism for
resetting the operation mode of the mechanism in correlation to
closing movement of the LCD cover 701 is provided. The device has
a breakage preventing mechanism for maintaining the operation mode
of the mechanism in the initial position and also for preventing
the reset mechanism from being broken by an external force due to
an abnormal operation when the LCD cover 701 has been closed. Similarly
the device has also a breakage preventing mechanism for preventing
the reset mechanism from being broken because of the closing movement
of the LCD cover 701, when closing movement of the LCD cover 701
is carried out while it is opened and the operation mode of the
mechanism is kept locked. Also, the manual macro according to Embodiment
2 is based on a dial system (operating dial 713) and can adjust
a macro distance within a preset range in a stepless and linear
way, and the reset mechanism returns manual macro for the operating
dial 713 to the initial position in correlation to closing movement
of the LCD cover 701.
Next description is made for the reset mechanism of the manual
macro and the breakage preventing mechanism according to Embodiment
2 with reference to FIG. 15 to FIG. 19.
FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 are explanatory views each showing a state
of a lens-barrel 712 including an imaging lens and a manual macro
mechanism when the LCD cover 701 is opened and ordinary imaging
is performed without using the manual macro. In the figures, designated
at the reference numeral 720 is a sensor for detecting a position
of the imaging lens (lens-barrel 712), at 716 a blade for conveying
a position of the imaging lens to a position detecting sensor 720,
at 717 and 718 a lever for resetting a manual macro mechanism (corresponding
to the reset mechanism) respectively, at 719 a charge spring for
preventing breakage of the manual macro mechanism (corresponding
to the breakage preventing mechanism), and at 721 a charge spring
(described by a dotted line in the figure). It should be noted that
the levers 717, 718 and the charge spring 719 are integrated and
are energized by the charge spring 721 in the direction indicated
by the arrow in the figure, and a range shown in FIG. 15 and FIG.
16 can be rotated with a light load. A fixed lens feed-out cam (not
shown) is attached to a receiving base of this lens-barrel 712,
and macro imaging can be performed by rotating the lens-barrel 712.
FIG. 17 shows a state of the lens-barrel when the LCD cover 701
is opened and the manual macro is used, and when the operating dial
713 is rotated in association with use of the manual macro, the
blade 716 is rotated and moved, and the levers 717, 718 and the
charge spring 719 are also moved together. During the movement,
the sensor 720 is blocked by the blade 716. With this blockage it
can be detected that the mode is a macro mode.
FIGS. 18A and 18B show a state of the lens-barrel 712 when the
LCD cover is closed, and the levers 717, 718 and the charge spring
719 are returned together to the initial positions respectively
by the cam 703 of the LCD cover 701, and with this movement, the
lens-barrel 712 including the imaging lens is also returned to an
ordinary imaging position as the initial position.
FIG. 19 shows a state in which the LCD cover 701 is rotated (closed)
with the operational dial 713 maintained in a rotated state or a
state in which the operational dial 713 is rotated when the LCD
cover 701 is closed, and the reset mechanism (levers 717, 718) is
prevented from being broken by the charge spring 719 arranged in
between the levers 717 and 718.
For example, when the LCD cover 701 is rotated (closed) with the
operating dial 713 maintained in the rotated state shown in FIG.
19, the lens-barrel 712 can be returned to the initial position
by the charge spring 719 from this state if the operating dial 713
of the manual macro is released from maintaining the rotation.
When the operating dial 713 is also rotated with the LCD cover
701 in the closed state shown in FIG. 19, the lens-barrel 712 can
also be returned to the initial position by the charge spring 719
if the operating dial 713 of the manual macro is released from maintaining
the rotation.
In Embodiment 2 as described above, the levers 704, 708 for opening
or closing movement of the lens barrier, or the levers 717, 718
and the charge spring 719 (reset mechanism and breakage preventing
mechanism) are operated by using the cam 702 or the cam 703 having
an uneven form provided in the rotary shaft for opening or closing
movement of the LCD cover 701. It should be noted that the cam 702
is a cam to generate displacement in a direction perpendicular to
the direction of the rotary shaft, and the cam 703 is a cam to generate
displacement of the rotary shaft of the LCD cover 701 in a direction
parallel to the direction of the rotary shaft. Also, it is desirable
that the cam 702 and cam 703 are integrated with the rotary shaft.
In Embodiment 2 as described above, opening or closing movement
of the LCD cover 701 is correlated to opening or closing movement
of the lens barrier 705, ON/OFF control of the main switch 711 and
to resetting of various types of mechanism, so that it is possible
to provide a digital camera which can reduce the number of required
switches and also improve the operability, and in addition, achieve
reduction in imaging mistakes.
As described above, with the digital camera according to the present
invention (claim 1), in the digital camera having an upper cover
functioning as a cover for the monitor and also attached to a basic
body of the camera so that it can freely be opened or closed, and
exposing or incorporating the monitor by opening or closing the
upper cover, an upper cover state detector detects whether the upper
cover has been opened or closed, a controller controls power supply
to the basic body of the camera and/or to the monitor according
to a result of detection by the upper cover state detector, and
opening or closing movement of the upper cover is correlated to
ON/OFF control of power supply source, which allows reduction of
a required switch for ON/OFF control of power supply source, improvement
in operability by reducing operational sequences, and elimination
of useless power consumption due to user's careless mistakes such
as forgetting to turn OFF the power supply source, and for this
reason it is possible to provide a low power consumption digital
camera.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
upper cover state detector detects an opening or a closing angle
of the upper cover, and the controller controls power supply to
the basic body of the camera and/or to the monitor when a result
of detection by the upper cover state detector indicates that the
detected angle of the upper cover is more than or less than a specified
value, which allows turning OFF of power supply to the basic body
of the camera or to the monitor when the upper cover is forgot to
be closed or is accidentally opened and elimination of useless power
consumption, and for this reason it is possible to provide a low
power consumption digital camera.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
controller turns OFF power supply to the monitor when the upper
cover is kept open for a preset period of time, which allows reduction
of useless power consumption, and for this reason it is possible
to provide a lower power consumption digital camera.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
controller turns OFF power supply to the monitor when the upper
cover is kept open and a self-timer switch is pressed down, which
allows reduction of useless power consumption, and for this reason
it is possible to provide a low power consumption digital camera.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
switch provided in the control panel section turns ON power supply
to the monitor when the controller has turned ON power supply to
the basic body of the camera and has turned OFF power supply to
the monitor, so that it is possible to provide a low power consumption
digital camera which can control power supply to the monitor with
high operability.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
switch to turn ON power supply to the monitor is a release switch
or a mode select switch, which allows improvement in operability,
and for this reason it is possible to provide a practically constructed
digital camera.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
digital camera comprises an imaging device for imaging an object
and outputting the image information, a monitor for displaying the
image information for the imaged object or other information, and
an upper cover functioning as a cover for the monitor and also attached
to a basic body of the camera so that it can freely be opened or
closed, and exposes or incorporates the monitor by opening or closing
the upper cover, and also comprises a correlatedly opening/closing
unit having a opening/closing mechanism for turning ON/OFF power
supply to the basic body of the camera and monitor in correlation
to opening or closing movement of the upper cover, so that it is
possible to provide a digital camera which can reduce a required
switch, improve operability, and reduce imaging mistakes by correlating
opening or closing movement of the upper cover to ON/OFF control
of power supply source.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
digital camera comprises an imaging device for imaging an object
and outputting the image information, a monitor for displaying the
image information for the imaged object or other information, and
an upper cover functioning as a cover for the monitor and also attached
to a basic body of the camera so that it can freely be opened or
closed, and exposes or incorporates the monitor by opening or closing
the upper cover, and also comprises a correlatedly opening/closing
unit having an opening/closing mechanism to operate opening/closing
movement of a lens barrier and turning ON/OFF of power supply to
the basic body of the camera as well as to the monitor in correlation
to the opening or closing movement of the upper cover, so that it
is possible to provide a digital camera which can reduce a required
switch, improve operability, and reduce imaging mistakes by correlating
opening or closing movement of the upper cover to the opening or
closing movement of the lens barrier and ON/OFF control of power
supply.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
correlatedly opening/closing unit correlates opening/closing movement
of the upper cover to opening/closing movement of the lens barrier
and turning ON/OFF of power supply to the basic body of the camera
as well as to the monitor with at least one coupling member, which
allows opening or closing movement of the upper cover to be correlated
to opening or closing of the lens barrier and ON/OFF control of
power supply.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
correlatedly opening/closing unit operates so that power supply
to the basic body of the camera as well as to the monitor is turned
ON, after the lens barrier has fully been opened, when the upper
cover is opened, which allows improvement in operability as well
as in convenience in use.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
correlatedly opening/closing unit has a breakage preventing mechanism
for preventing the opening/closing mechanism from being broken due
to opening or closing movement of the upper cover in the state where
the lens barrier is locked in the closed state or the opened state
because of any abnormal operation, and when it is tried to open
or close the upper cover, so that even if there occurs a state where
opening or closing movement of the lens barrier can not temporarily
be correlated to opening or (losing movement of the upper cover
due to any abnormal operation, the means can be used as usual without
being stuck when the abnormal operation is released.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
correlatedly opening/closing unit has a reset mechanism enabling
selection of an operation mode of various types of mechanism including
manual macro in correlation to opening movement of the upper cover
and also resetting the operation mode of the mechanism in correlation
to closing movement of the upper cover, so that it is possible to
provide a digital camera which can reduce the number of required
switches, improvement operability, and reduce imaging mistakes by
correlating opening or closing movement of the upper cover to opening
or closing movement of a lens barrier, ON/OFF control of power source,
and to resetting of the various types of mechanism.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
correlatedly opening/closing unit has a breakage preventing mechanism
for maintaining the operation mode of the mechanism in the initial
one and also for preventing the reset mechanism from being broken
by an external force due to any abnormal operation when the upper
cover has been closed, which allows improvement in operability as
well as in convenience in use.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
correlatedly opening/closing unit has a breakage preventing mechanism
for preventing the reset mechanism from being broken due to closing
movement of the upper cover when it is tried to close the upper
cover while the mechanism mode is kept locked in the state where
the upper cover is opened, which allows improvement in operability
as well as in convenience in use.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
correlatedly opening/closing unit has a cam member having an uneven
form and provided in a rotary shaft for opening or closing the upper
cover and makes the coupling member, the reset mechanism or the
breakage preventing mechanism operate using the cam member, so that
operation of the coupling member, the reset mechanism and the breakage
preventing mechanism can easily be controlled by adjusting a form
of the cam member.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
cam member includes a cam oriented in the vertical direction to
the rotary shaft, so that the operation of the coupling member,
the reset mechanism and the breakage preventing mechanism can further
be controlled in various manners.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, in
the correlatedly opening/closing unit, the opening/closing mechanism,
reset mechanism and/or the breakage preventing mechanism are provided
independently from each other, which allows the opening/closing
mechanism, reset mechanism and the breakage preventing mechanism
to operate regardless of each of the states respectively.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
cam member
is integrated with the rotary shaft, which allows the cam member
with simple construction to be rotated without fail in correlation
to rotation of the upper cover.
With the digital camera according to the present invention, the
manual macro is based on a dial system and can adjust a macro distance
within a preset range in a stepless and linear manner, and the reset
mechanism returns manual macro adjusted in the digital system to
the initial position in correlation to closing movement of the upper
cover, which allows improvement in operability as well as in convenience
in use when the manual macro is used.
This application is based on Japanese patent application Nos. HEI
8-257146 and HEI 9-246333 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on
Sep. 27, 1996, and Sep. 11, 1997, respectively the entire contents
of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Although the invention has been described with respect to a specific
embodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims
are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying
all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to
one skilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching
herein set forth. |