Digital Camera Patent AbstractA digital camera having a camera body includes a small memory card
receiving member, a large memory card receiving member having a
width larger than the width of the small memory card receiving member,
and a forward projecting portion having a inclined portion which
gradually protrudes in a forward direction toward a bottom portion
of the camera body, the forward projecting portion being located
below a lens barrel of the digital camera. The small and large memory
card receiving members are provided within the forward projecting
portion in the camera body, the small memory card receiving member
being located above the large memory card receiving member and located
within the inclined portion in the camera body. A front end of the
small memory card receiving member is located at a position more
rearward than a front end of the large memory card receiving member.
Digital Camera Patent ClaimsWhat is claimed is:
1. A digital camera comprising: a small memory card receiving member
configured to receive a small memory card; a large memory card receiving
member configured to receive a large memory card wherein a size
of said large memory card in a forward/rearward direction of the
digital camera body is larger than a size of said small memory card
in the forward/rearward direction; and a projecting portion having
an inclined portion which protrudes in a forward direction toward
a bottom portion of the digital camera body, said projecting portion
being located below a lens barrel of said digital camera and protruding
more in a forward direction than in a rearward direction; wherein
said small memory card receiving member and said large memory card
receiving member are provided within said projecting portion in
the digital camera body, said small memory card receiving member
being located above the large memory card receiving member and located
within the inclined portion in the digital camera body; and wherein
a front end of said small memory card receiving member is located
at a position more rearward than a front end of said large memory
card receiving member.
2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said large
memory card receiving member comprises a PC card receiving member,
and said small memory card receiving member comprises a CF card
receiving member.
3. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein a side surface
of the digital camera body is provided with an opening providing
access to said small and large memory card receiving members.
4. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said small memory
card receiving member and said large memory card receiving member
are provided in a housing which is a part of the camera body, wherein
a front portion of the housing extends beneath the camera lens and
a rear portion of the housing is substantially flush with the rear
portion of the camera body.
5. An ejection mechanism for a memory card in a mobile instrument,
comprising: a small memory card receiving member which is configured
to removably receive a small memory card; a large memory card receiving
member which is configured to removably receive a large memory card,
wherein a size of said large memory card receiving member in a direction
perpendicular to a memory card insertion direction thereof is larger
than a size of the small memory card receiving member in the direction
perpendicular to the insertion direction; an ejector button for
ejecting the large memory card that is received by the large memory
card receiving member; wherein said small memory card receiving
member extends in a plane parallel to a major plane of said large
memory card receiving member; and said ejector button is provided
in a space on at least one side of said small memory card receiving
member and disposed entirely within a major plane of the small memory
card receiving member, said ejector button remaining within the
major plane upon actuation of said ejector button.
6. The ejection mechanism for a memory card in a mobile instrument
according to claim 5, wherein said small memory card receiving member
is located above said large memory card receiving member.
7. The ejection mechanism for a memory card in a mobile instrument
according to claim 5, wherein said large memory card receiving member
comprises a PC card receiving member, and the small memory card
receiving member comprises a CF card receiving member.
8. The ejection mechanism for a memory card in a mobile instrument
according to claim 5, wherein a side surface of a mobile instrument
is provided with an opening providing access to said small and large
memory card receiving members.
9. The ejection mechanism for a memory card in a mobile instrument
according to claim 5, wherein the mobile instrument comprises a
digital camera.
10. The ejector mechanism for a memory card in a mobile instrument
according to claim 5, further comprising: a further ejector button
for ejecting the small memory card that is received by said small
memory card receiving member; wherein said ejector button is positioned
on substantially a same horizontally extending plane as said further
ejector button.
11. The ejector mechanism for a memory card in a mobile instrument
according to claim 5, further comprising: a further ejector button
for ejecting the small memory card that is received by said small
memory card receiving member.
12. The ejector mechanism for a memory card in a mobile instrument
according to claim 5, further comprising: a further ejector button
for ejecting the small memory card that is received by said small
memory card receiving member; wherein said ejector button and said
further ejector button are positioned at opposite ends of the small
memory card receiving member. Digital Camera Patent DescriptionBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital camera having a large
memory capacity in which the operability of a lens barrel is enhanced,
and an ejection mechanism for a memory card used in a mobile instrument
such as a digital camera or a personal computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional digital camera which incorporates a substrate
having an electronic circuit thereon, a memory card receiving member
(receptacle), and a connector for the memory card, in a camera body
of an interchangeable lens type single lens reflex camera, the memory
card receiving member is, in general, provided in the camera body
and extends substantially horizontally in the vicinity of the bottom
of the camera body.
In such an arrangement, in order to increase the memory capacity
of the digital camera so as to take a large number of pictures without
exchanging the memory card, it is possible to provide two upper
and lower PC card receiving members, so that two PC cards can be
stored at one time.
However, the PC card is long (wide) in the forward/rearward direction
(i.e., in the optical axis direction of a camera lens of the camera)
and, hence, if the two PC card receiving members are horizontally
provided in the vicinity of the bottom of the camera body, it is
necessary to provide a bulged portion which protrudes forwardly
on a lower portion of the front surface of the camera body. Consequently,
the space between the bulged portion and the lens barrel is small,
so that it is difficult for an operator to operate the lens barrel
(e.g., focusing ring or stop ring, etc.). This problem is more serious
for a digital camera whose size in the upward/downward direction
is small.
In general, the PC card receiving member is mounted to a substrate
provided in the camera body. If other electrical elements are mounted
to the substrate, the substrate, and accordingly the camera body,
are increased in size.
Moreover, a memory card receiving member which receives a memory
card, which can store various data, can be arranged in a body of
a mobile instrument such as a digital camera. In known mobile instruments,
a plurality of card memory receiving members having different widths
are arranged therein.
Generally speaking, the memory card inserted in the memory card
receiving member is ejected therefrom by operating an ejector button
provided on the side of the memory card receiving member.
However, if the memory card is a PC card whose width is large,
the ejector button provided on the side of the memory card receiving
member increases the width of the mobile instrument. The increased
width of the mobile instrument is undesirable from the viewpoint
of function and design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a digital camera whose body is small
which has a large memory capacity, wherein a large space is formed
between a bulged portion protruding forwardly from a front surface
the camera body and a lens barrel, so that the operability of the
lens barrel can be enhanced.
The present invention also provides an ejection mechanism for a
memory card in a mobile instrument, wherein a large memory card
receiving member having a large width, a small memory card receiving
member having a small width, and an ejector button which is actuated
to eject the memory cards received in the large and small memory
card receiving members, can be arranged in the mobile instrument
without increasing the width of the mobile instrument.
For example, in an embodiment, a digital camera is provided, including
a small memory card receiving member in which a small memory card
can be inserted; a large memory card receiving member in which a
large memory card can be inserted, the width in a forward/rearward
direction of the digital camera body of the large memory card being
larger than the width of the small memory card; and a forward projecting
portion having a inclined portion which gradually protrudes in a
forward direction toward a bottom portion of the digital camera
body, the forward projecting portion being located below a lens
barrel of the digital camera. The small memory card receiving member
and the large memory card receiving member are provided within the
forward projecting portion in the digital camera body, the small
memory card receiving member being located above the large memory
card receiving member and located within the inclined portion in
the digital camera body. A front end of the small memory card receiving
member is located at a position more rearward than a front end of
the large memory card receiving member, with respect to the forward/rearward
direction.
The large memory card receiving member can be a PC card receiving
member, and the small memory card receiving member can be a CF card
receiving member.
It is desirable for the digital camera body to be provided on a
side surface thereof with an opening, through which the small and
large memory cards can be inserted in, and removed from, corresponding
small and large memory card receiving members.
In another embodiment, an ejection mechanism for a memory card
in a mobile instrument is provided, including a small memory card
receiving member which can removably receive a small memory card;
a large memory card receiving member which can removably receive
a large memory card, wherein the width of the large memory card
receiving member in a direction perpendicular to a memory card insertion
direction thereof is larger than a width of the small memory card
receiving member; and an ejector button for ejecting at least one
of the small and large memory cards inserted in respective the small
and large memory card receiving members. The small memory card receiving
member lies on a plane parallel to the large memory card receiving
member. The ejector button is arranged in a space on at least one
side of the small memory card receiving member.
It is desirable for the small memory card receiving member to be
located above the large memory card receiving member.
The large memory card receiving member can be a PC card receiving
member, and the small memory card receiving member can be a CF card
receiving member.
It is desirable for the mobile instrument to be provided on a side
surface thereof with an opening, through which the small and large
memory cards can be inserted in, and removed from, corresponding
the small and large memory card receiving members.
The mobile instrument can be a digital camera.
The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese
Patent Application Nos. 2001-77116 and 2001-77118 (both filed on
Mar. 16, 2001) which are expressly incorporated herein by reference
in their entireties.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be discussed below with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a digital camera according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a partially broken side view of a digital camera shown
in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of a CF card receiving
member, a PC card receiving member, and an ejection mechanism, etc.,
connected to each other through a plurality of substrates, according
to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an ejector, an ejector
lever base-plate, and a second power supply circuit board, according
to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line
V--V in FIG. 2, showing a connection between a PC card and a PC
card connector, according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view similar to FIG. 5, showing
a PC card disconnected from a PC card connector and ejected from
a PC card receiving member, according to the present invention;
and
FIG. 7 is an enlarged bottom view taken along the line VII--VII
in FIG. 2, with a camera body removed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Note that in the following description, the forward/rearward direction
refers to the optical axis direction of a camera lens of a digital
camera 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the upward/downward direction refers
to the vertical direction with respect to the digital camera 1 shown
in FIG. 1, and the lateral direction refers to a direction perpendicular
to the forward/rearward direction and perpendicular to the upward/downward
of the digital camera 1.
The digital camera (mobile instrument) 1 has a camera body 2 which
is provided therein with a support member 3 (FIG. 2) which is in
turn provided on its lower surface with a mount frame 4 having a
front surface inclined forwardly. Upper, intermediate and lower
substrates 5, 6 and 7 which lie in substantially horizontal planes,
with respect to the digital camera 1 shown in FIG. 1, are secured
to the mount frame 4. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the widths of the
three substrates 5, 6 and 7 in the forward/rearward direction are
increasingly larger from the upper substrate 5 toward the lower
substrate 7.
A video output terminal 8 and a connector 9 for communication with
an external device are mounted to the upper surface of the intermediate
substrate 6. A pair of front and rear CF card guides 10a and 10b,
along which a CF card (Compact Flash sized I/O card) "A"
can be inserted, and a CF card connector (not shown) are mounted
to the lower surface of the lower substrate 7. The front and rear
CF card guides 10a and 10b constitute a CF card receiving member
(small memory card receiving member) 11.
The CF card connector is electrically connected to the lower substrate
7. An ejector button 12 is provided in rear portion of the rear
CF card guide 10b. A CF card ejection mechanism including the ejector
button 12 is per se known, wherein when the ejector button 12 is
depressed in the left direction as shown in FIG. 1 (into the camera
body), the CF card "A" inserted in the CF card receiving
member 11 is disconnected from the CF card connector, so that the
CF card "A" can be ejected from the CF card receiving
member 11.
Front and rear securing members 13 are secured to the front and
rear ends of the lower surface of the substrate 7. A first power
supply circuit board 14 which is electrically connected to a power
supply source (dry cell) is secured to the lower surfaces of the
front and rear securing members 13. The first power supply circuit
board 14 is provided on the lower surface thereof with a pair of
front and rear PC card guides 15a and 15b, the length thereof being
greater than that of the front and rear CF card guides 10a and 10b
(see FIG. 1), and a PC card connector 16 which is electrically connected
to the first power supply circuit board 14. A PC card "B"
can be inserted into the digital camera 1 via the front and rear
PC card guides 15a and 15b, as shown in FIG. 2.
The front and rear PC card guides 15a and 15b constitute a PC card
receiving member (large memory card receiving member) 17 whose width
in the forward/rearward direction is greater than that of the CF
card receiving member 11. The front end of the PC card receiving
member 17 is located in front of the front end of the CF card receiving
member 11. The right end, with respect to FIG. 1, of the PC card
receiving member 17 is flush with the right end of the CF card receiving
member 11. Furthermore, the CF card receiving member 11 lies on
a plane positioned above and parallel to the PC card receiving member
17. Namely, the CF card "A" is inserted in the CF card
receiving member 11 along a plane which lies above and parallel
to a plane along which the PC card "B" lies during insertion
thereof into the PC card receiving member 17.
An ejector lever base-plate 18 is laid on top of a second power
supply circuit board 19 having a coil (not shown) thereon and are
secured to the lower surfaces of the front and rear PC card guides
15a and 15b with screws 20 (see FIGS. 3 and 7). As shown in FIG.
4, the ejector lever base-plate 18, which is magnetically shielded,
is provided on its center portion with a pair of right and left
mount holes 18a in which pins 21 are fitted. The pins 21 are fitted
in elongated holes 22a formed in an ejector plate 22 which has a
substantially T-shaped construction in a plan view. The ejector
plate 22 is provided on its left end (with respect to FIG. 4) with
a pair of front and rear receiving portions 22d having downwardly
extending vertical portions 22b and leftwardly extending (with respect
to FIG. 4) horizontal portions 22c, and a pair of front and rear
projecting portions 22e. The ejector plate 22 is movable in the
lateral directions between a retracted position shown in FIG. 5
and a protruded position shown in FIG. 6.
As shown in FIG. 4, the ejector lever base-plate 18 is provided
on its left end (with respect to FIG. 4) with a supporting hole
18b and an arched guide hole 18c whose center is located on the
axis of the supporting hole 18b. An ejector lever 23 is rotatably
attached at its center portion to the supporting hole 18b through
a pin 24 fitted therein. The ejector lever 23 is provided, on its
rear portion (with respect to the forward/rearward direction of
the digital camera 1), with a pair of pressing portions 23a and
23b, and on the front end portion thereof, with a downwardly extending
engagement pin 23c that is inserted in the guide hole 18c.
The ejector lever 23 abuts at the front pressing portion 23a against
the vertical portion 22b of the front receiving portion 22d and
is rotatable between a non-biasing position (FIG. 5) in which the
ejector plate 22 is not biased and a biasing position (FIG. 6) in
which the rear pressing portion 23b abuts against the rear vertical
portion 22b to bias the ejector plate 22 toward the biasing position.
The front PC card guide 15a is provided on its front surface with
a pair of right and left threaded holes (not shown) in which screws
25 are screw-engaged. The screws 25 are fitted in elongated holes
26a of a push rod 26 extending in the lateral direction. The push
rod 26 is provided on its left end (with respect to FIG. 4) with
an engagement portion 26b which is engaged by the engagement pin
23c, as shown in FIG. 7. The push rod 26 is linearly movable in
the lateral direction between an inoperative position (FIGS. 5 and
7), in which the ejector lever 23 is moved to the non-biasing position,
and an operative position (FIG. 6), in which the ejector lever 23
is moved to the biasing position.
The push rod 26 is provided on its right end with an ejector-button
protrusion 26c which is bent to extend above the first power supply
circuit board 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the ejector-button protrusion
26c is located at the front of the CF card receiving member 11.
The ejector-button protrusion 26c is provided on the right end thereof
(with respect to FIG. 4) with an ejector-button attachment 27 secured
thereto, which is provided with an ejector button (rotatable operation
member) 27a which normally extends perpendicularly to the ejector-button
protrusion 26c when the ejector button 27a is not in use, and extends
in the same direction as the ejector-button protrusion 26c when
the ejector button 27a is in use.
The ejector lever base-plate 18, the ejector plate 22, and the
ejector lever 23 constitute an ejector 28, and the ejector 28 together
with the push rod 26 and the ejector-button attachment 27 constitute
an ejection mechanism 29 for the PC card "B".
The second power supply circuit board 19 is electrically connected
to the first power supply circuit board 14, and is provided with
three square cut-away portions (openings) 19a, in which electric
double layer condensers 30 are fitted, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7.
Terminals 31 of the electric double layer condensers 30 are soldered
to connector terminals (not shown) of the second power supply circuit
board 19. The second power supply circuit board 19 is electrically
connected to the substrates 5, 6 and 7, so that the electricity
supplied to the electric double layer condensers 30 can be supplied
thereto.
The electric double layer condensers 30 which project upward slightly
from the second power supply circuit board 19 are fitted in three
corresponding recesses 18d formed in the ejector lever base-plate
18 and are adhered to the lower surfaces of the recesses 18d by
double-sided adhesive tape (not shown). The lower portions of the
electric double layer condensers 30 project downwardly from the
second power supply circuit board 19 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).
The camera body 2 is provided with a strong main base-plate 32a
to which a tripod threaded-hole 32 is firmly connected. As shown
in FIG. 7, the tripod threaded-hole 32 is located in a space defined
between the lower portions of the electric double layer condensers
30.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the camera body 2 is provided
with a forwardly protruding grip portion 2a on the left side portion
(with respect to FIG. 1) of the front surface of the camera body.
The camera body 2 is also provided, on the lower portion of the
front surface thereof, in addition to the grip portion 2a, with
a inclined portion 2b which is inclined so that the amount of forward
projection is gradually increased toward the bottom of the camera
body. The bottom portion of the camera body forms a projecting portion
2c which is flush with the grip portion 2a. The inclined portion
2b and the projecting portion 2c constitute a forward projection
2d. As shown in FIG. 2, the CF card receiving member 11 is located
in the inclined portion 2b and the PC card receiving member 17 is
located in the projecting portion 2c.
A lens barrel 35 having a focusing ring 33 and a stop ring 34 is
provided on the front surface of the camera body 2 and is located
above the CF card receiving member 11.
The camera body 2 is provided, on the right and lower side portion
thereof with respect to FIG. 1, with an opening 2e which is covered
by a lid 36. The lid 36 can be closed to cover the opening 2e, and
opened to expose the opening 2e.
When the lid 36 is open, not only can the PC card (large memory
card) "B" and the CF card "A" be inserted therein
and connected to the PC card connector 16 and the CF card connector,
respectively, but also cables (not shown) can be connected to the
video output terminal 8 and the external communication connector
9, as shown in FIG. 2.
When the ejector button 12 is depressed after the lid 36 is opened,
the CF card connector is disconnected from the CF card "A",
so that the CF card "A" can be removed from the CF card
receiving member 11.
If the lid 36 is opened when the PC card "B" is connected
to the PC card connector 16, and if the operation member 27a is
depressed in the lateral direction (in the left direction with respect
to FIG. 1) upon the operation member 27a being moved so as to extend
in the same direction as the ejector-button protrusion 26c, the
ejector lever 23 is moved from the non-biasing position shown in
FIG. 5, to the biasing position shown in FIG. 6. Consequently, the
pressing portion 23b of the ejector lever 23 presses against the
vertical portion 22b of the rear receiving portion 22d of the ejector
plate 22 to thereby move the ejector plate 22 from the retracted
position, shown in FIG. 5, to the protruded position shown in FIG.
6. Thus, the PC card "B" is disconnected from the PC card
connector 16, so that the PC card "B" can be removed from
the PC card receiving member 17.
In the digital camera 1 constructed as above, since the CF card
"A" can be used together with the PC card "B"
which has a large memory capacity, the storage capacity can be considerably
increased, so that a large number of pictures can be taken without
exchanging the PC card "B" or CF card "A".
Moreover, in the above-mentioned structure in which the projecting
portion 2c and the inclined portion 2b are provided on the lower
portion of the camera body 2, the PC card receiving member 17 is
provided in the projecting portion 2c, and the CF card receiving
member 11 is provided in the inclined portion 2b, so that the front
end of the CF card receiving member 11 extends shorter than the
front end of the PC card receiving member 17, a large space S in
which an operator's hand is accessible is formed between the lens
barrel 35 and the projecting portion 2c. Consequently, the focusing
ring 33 or the stop ring 34 provided on the lens barrel 35 can be
easily operated utilizing the space S.
Moreover, since the lengths of the CF card receiving member 11
in the forward/rearward direction and the lateral direction are
smaller than the corresponding lengths of the PC card receiving
member 17, the lower substrate 7, to which the CF card receiving
member 11 and the CF card connector are mounted, can be made smaller
than the first power supply circuit board 14 to which the PC card
receiving member 17 is mounted, even if other electrical elements
(not shown) are mounted to the lower substrate 7. Consequently,
the camera body 2 can be made small.
Furthermore, since the three electric double layer condensers 30
are mounted to the second power supply circuit board 19, it is possible
to accumulate a large quantity of electricity at one time. Consequently,
a flash (not shown) can be repeatedly operated.
The electric double layer condensers 30 are thick in the upward/downward
direction. However, since the electric double layer condensers 30
are fitted in the cut-away portions 19a formed in the second power
supply circuit board 19, the thickness of the second power supply
circuit board 19 has no influence on the size of the camera body
2 in the upward/downward direction. Consequently, the size of the
camera body 2 in the upward/downward direction can be reduced.
Since the tripod threaded-hole 32 is provided in a space surrounded
by the electric double layer condensers 30, the size of the camera
body 2 in the upward/downward direction can be reduced in comparison
with an arrangement in which the tripod threaded-hole is located
below or above the electric double layer condensers 30.
Furthermore, since the electric double layer condensers 30 are
located as close to each other as possible on the second power supply
circuit board 19 while not interfering with the tripod threaded-hole
32, the second power supply circuit board 19 can be made small,
and hence, the size of the bottom of the camera body 2 can be reduced
in the horizontal direction.
Moreover, the second power supply circuit board 19, on which a
coil which produces noise is provided, is provided in bottom portion
of the camera body 2, and the upper surface of the second power
supply circuit board 19 is covered by the magnetically shielded
ejector lever base-plate 18. Therefore, electric devices mounted
on the upper, intermediate and lower substrates 5, 6 and 7, and
the first power supply circuit board 14 are free from the noise
produced by the coil.
Note that instead of a PC card, a PCT smart medium or the like
can be used as a large memory card, a memory stick can be used as
a small memory card, instead of a CF card.
Since the ejector-button protrusion 26c, and hence the ejector
button 27a, of the push rod 26 to eject the PC card "B"
from the PC card receiving member 17, having a large width in the
forward/rearward direction, is provided in front of the CF card
receiving member 11, and the ejector button 12 for the CF card "A"
is provided behind the CF card receiving member 11, having a small
width in the forward/rearward direction, the width of the camera
body in the same direction can be reduced.
Moreover, the ejection mechanism 29 for the PC card is simply constructed
from ejector lever base-plate 18, the ejector plate 22, the ejector
lever 23, the push rod 26, and the ejector-button attachment 27,
the ejection mechanism 29 can be manufactured less expensively.
As can be understood from the above discussion, according to the
present invention, not only can the memory capacity for the digital
camera 1 be increased but also the operability of the lens barrel
35 can be enhanced by forming a large space S between the lens barrel
35 and the projecting portion 2c of the camera body 2. In addition,
since the size of the CF card receiving member 11 is smaller than
the size of the PC card receiving member 17, the camera body can
be made small.
Moreover according to the present invention, in an mobile instrument
in which a small memory card receiving member having a small width
lies above a large memory card receiving member having a large width,
on a plane parallel thereto, the ejector button to eject the memory
card inserted in at least one memory card receiving member is provided
on at least one side of the memory card receiving member having
a small width. Consequently, the width of mobile instrument can
be made small.
Obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiments of the
present invention described herein, such modifications being within
the spirit and scope of the invention claimed. It is indicated that
all matter contained herein is illustrative and does not limit the
scope of the present invention.
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