JPH0728151A - Camera dial operation device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] An object of the present invention is to provide a dial operation device for a camera in which a click mechanism is compact and inexpensive. A friction sliding portion having a periodic phase for each predetermined angle is formed on an inner peripheral surface of a rotary dial 1 as an operating member, and a click which is an arc-shaped leaf spring is formed on the external member 2 side of the camera body. The spring 3 is arranged so that the frictional sliding portions 3a and 3b formed on both sides of the spring 3 are click-engaged at a position approximately 180 ° symmetrical to the frictional sliding portion of the rotary dial 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of an operating device for inputting information to a camera with a rotary dial.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a rotary dial used for inputting information of a camera is provided with a click generator, and a dial member 11 which can be operated by a photographer is provided as in the conventional example 1 shown in FIG. A pair of fixed sliding members 13 and a movable sliding member 14 having a spring property, which are separately configured, are provided on the side opposite to the side where the dial member 11 is attached to the external appearance member 12 of the camera body. A general structure is one in which a click is generated by obtaining a spring force and a frictional force between the pair of fixed sliding members 13 and the movable sliding member 14 having a spring property.

Further, in the conventional example 2 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the click generating device in which the friction sliding member 21a for generating one friction force is integrally formed with the dial member 21 is also provided. A coil spring 24 is used as a spring member that generates force.
a, 24b, the other sliding member 23a, 23
In b, a component separate from the coil spring is used.

[0004]

However, in the prior art example 1 shown in FIG. 5, since the location 13a where the sliding frictional force is generated is one point, in order to obtain a strong click feeling (friction force), the spring is used. It is necessary to prevent the decrease of force and the occurrence of wear, and there is a drawback that the number of parts and the cost of parts are increased by using the metal members for the members 13 and 14 of the respective sliding parts. The sliding members 13 and 14 are
Since the external member or the base 12 is disposed on the opposite side of the dial so as to sandwich the external member or the base 12, the miniaturization of the dial device portion is also hindered.

The conventional example 2 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has a structure in which the sliding force is reduced to two points to reduce the frictional force per one point. Although the problems such as decrease in wear and occurrence of wear have been solved, two sets of sliding members and spring members are required, so the number of parts increases and workability is poor in assembly.
It was a cause of an increase in manufacturing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems of the prior art and to provide a small-sized and inexpensive camera dial operating device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, one friction slide having a periodic phase at every predetermined angle on the inner peripheral surface of a rotary dial as an operating member. The moving part is integrally formed, and as a member of the other frictional sliding part, a plate-like member having a spring property is used to form approximately 180
By integrally forming the sliding portions that project at symmetrical positions, it is possible to generate a click force each time the dial is rotated by the predetermined angle.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is a sectional view of a dial operating device for a camera showing an embodiment to which the present invention is applied, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the dial operating device for the camera of FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the dial operating device of the camera of FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is an overall view of a camera including the dial operating device of FIG. In this embodiment, the mode selection dial 30 shown in FIG. 8 will be described.

1 to 4, 1 is a dial that can be rotated by a photographer, 2 is an external member (base) of the camera body to which the dial 1 is attached, and 3 is a click spring that generates a click force when the dial 1 rotates. Reference numeral 4 is a holding lever for holding the dial 1 on the exterior member 2 so that the dial 1 can rotate.
Are screws for fixing the holding lever 4 to the dial 1.

The dial 1 is a mode selection dial for the photographer to arbitrarily select from a plurality of photographing modes (for example: Av photographing mode, Tv photographing mode, manual photographing mode, etc.) provided in the camera. This dial has an appropriate thickness so that the photographer can easily rotate it with his fingertips, and the outer peripheral portion is knurled.
Further, the photographing mode that can be selectively set by the photographer is marked on the surface portion by printing or the like for each predetermined rotation angle, and 6 is an index displayed on the substrate 2 indicating the photographing mode currently set. FIG. 4 shows that the Av shooting mode is set.

Reference numeral 1a is a frictional sliding portion formed in a phase shape on the inner peripheral surface of the dial 1, and is smooth so that the radial distance becomes one cycle with respect to the rotation center of the dial 1 for the predetermined rotation angle. It has a changing wavy shape. Reference numeral 2a is a rib integrally formed with the external appearance member 2, and the friction sliding portion 1
Two portions 2b and 2c, which are arranged closer to the center than a and have no ribs, are symmetrically located at 180 °.
The click spring 3 is a plate-like member having a spring property, and an R-shaped protruding friction sliding portion 3a is integrally formed at one end portion thereof, and the other end portion substantially symmetrical by 180 °. Also has a friction sliding portion 3b having a similar shape. The click spring 3 is arranged inside so as to be positionally regulated by the rib 2a, and the frictional sliding portions 3a and 3b project from the ribless portions 2b and 2c of the rib 2a to the outside of the rib. In this state, the elasticity of the click spring 3 is adjusted by the ribs 2a even when the dial 1 is rotating, so that the frictional sliding portions 3a and 3 can be prevented.
A force is always generated in a direction in which b comes into contact with the frictional sliding portion 1a of the dial 1. The click spring 3 is arranged so as to be included between the dial 1 and the external member 2.

The holding lever 4 is arranged on the side opposite to the direction in which the dial 1 is attached to the external member 2.
Has the function of being rotatable on the external member and holding it so as not to fall off, and is fixed to the center of the dial by the screw 5. In addition to the above-mentioned functions, the holding lever 4 of this embodiment has an electric contact and a printed wiring board (not shown) arranged below the holding lever to input the photographing mode selected and set by the photographer to the microcomputer of the camera. It becomes possible to do.

By adopting the above-mentioned structure, the dial 1 reaches the target setting position so that the photographer can select one from a plurality of photographing modes marked at a predetermined angle on the dial 1. With respect to the rotation angles up to, it is possible to give a click feeling every time the rotation is performed by the predetermined angle.

In FIG. 8, reference numeral 31 is an electronic dial according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view thereof.

In FIG. 9, 41 is a dial that can be rotated by the photographer, 42 is a base member to which the dial 41 is attached, 43 is a click spring that generates a click force when the dial 41 rotates, and 44 is a base member 42 for the dial 41.
A holding substrate for holding the holding substrate 44 rotatably above, a screw 45 for fixing the holding substrate 44 to the dial 41, a sliding contact piece 46 for converting the rotation of the holding substrate 44 into an electric signal, and 47. Are exterior parts of the camera.

The dial 41 is used to set and input more detailed shooting conditions (for example: shutter speed in Tv shooting mode) to the camera in the shooting mode selected by the mode selection dial described in the embodiment of FIGS. This electronic dial 41 has an appropriate thickness so that the photographer can easily rotate it with his fingertips, and the outer peripheral portion is knurled.

Hereinafter, the structure in which the electronic dial 41 generates a click is similar to that of the mode selection dial of the above-mentioned embodiment.

A printed wiring board made of glass epoxy resin is used as the holding board 44, and the dial 41 is arranged on the side opposite to the direction in which it is attached to the base member 42.
The dial 41 has a function of being rotatable on the base member and holding it so as not to fall off, and is fixed to the center of the dial by a screw 45. Further, the holding substrate 44 and the sliding contact piece 4
By combining with 6, it becomes possible to replace the rotation amount of the dial 41 with an electric signal, and the photographer can detailed shooting conditions (shutter time in Tv shooting mode, etc.).
It becomes possible to input the setting value of (3) into a microcomputer (not shown) of the camera.

With the above-described structure, the dial 41 is moved to the target setting position so that the photographer can select one of the set values that changes each time the dial 41 rotates by a predetermined angle. It is possible to give a feeling of clicking each time the object is rotated by a predetermined angle with respect to the rotation angle.

[0020]

As described above, in the dial operating device according to the present invention, the spring member that generates a click each time the dial is rotated by a predetermined amount, and the sliding member that replaces the spring force generated by the spring member with the friction force. The number of parts and the assembly work can be reduced by configuring the
The effect of cost reduction of parts can be obtained.

Further, by disposing the spring member within the dial thickness in consideration of improving the operability of the dial portion, that is, within the existing space, a new space for laying out the click generating device is secured. No need to
This leads to downsizing of the dial section.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a dial operation device of a camera, showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a dial operation device of the camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a dial operating device of the camera shown in FIG.

4 is a partially cutaway plan view of the dial operating device of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a dial operation device of a camera showing a first conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a dial operation device of a camera showing a second conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway plan view of a dial operating device for a camera showing a second conventional example.

FIG. 8 is an overall view of a camera including a dial operation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an electronic dial operating device for a camera showing another embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Dial 2 ... Appearance member 3 ... Click spring 4 ... Holding lever 5 ... Screw

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A rotary dial which is attached to a camera body so as to be selectively operable, and a click engaging member which is substantially axially symmetrical with respect to an uneven friction sliding portion formed on an inner peripheral surface of the rotary dial. A dial operation device for a camera, comprising: a spring member having an engaging portion that fits the engagement member. 2. The dial operating device for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the spring member is arranged inside the rotary dial.