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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A heat radiating structure of a digital camera includes an optical
system holder which holds an image-forming optical system; an image
pickup device supported by the optical system holder; an outer casing
which constitutes an external body of the digital camera which surrounds
the optical system holder, the outer casing having a through-hole
which communicatively connects the inside of the outer casing with
the outside thereof; an external radiating member installed in the
through-hole, being made of a material having a thermal conductivity
higher than that of the outer casing; a heat radiating plate, one
end of which is connected to the image pickup device and another
end of which extends into a space between the external radiating
member and the optical system holder; and a heat transfer member
via which the heat radiating plate and the external radiating member
are connected to each other.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A heat radiating structure of a digital camera, comprising:
an optical system holder which accommodates and holds an image-forming
optical system; an image pickup device supported by said optical
system holder at a position on a focal plane of said image-forming
optical system; an outer casing which constitutes an external body
of said digital camera which surrounds said optical system holder,
said outer casing having a through-hole which communicatively connects
the inside of said outer casing with the outside of said outer casing;
an external radiating member installed in said through-hole, said
external radiating member being made of a material having a thermal
conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of a material of
said outer casing; a heat radiating plate, one end of which is connected
to said image pickup device and another end of which extends into
a space between said external radiating member and said optical
system holder; and a heat transfer member via which said heat radiating
plate and said external radiating member are connected to each other
to transfer heat from said heat radiating plate to said external
radiating member.
2. The heat radiating structure according to claim 1, wherein said
heat transfer member is made of an elastic material having a high
thermal conductivity.
3. The heat radiating structure according to claim 1, further comprising
an intermediate heat-insulation frame positioned between said optical
system holder and said outer casing, wherein said heat radiating
plate and said intermediate heat-insulation frame are connected
to each other via a heat-insulation spacer.
4. The heat radiating structure according to claim 1, wherein said
outer casing comprises a plurality of flat portions positioned to
surround an optical axis of said image-forming optical system, wherein
said digital camera comprises a rotatable grip mounted to one of
said plurality of flat portions to be rotatable relative said one
of said plurality of flat portions, and wherein said through-hole,
in which said external radiating member is installed, is formed
on another of said plurality of flat portions.
5. The heat radiating structure according to claim 1, wherein said
heat radiating plate is made of metal.
6. The heat radiating structure according to claim 1, wherein said
heat radiating plate comprises: a first plate portion including
said one end of said heat radiating plate; and a second plate portion
including said another end of said heat radiating plate, said second
plate portion extending toward the front of said digital camera
from said first plate portion in said space between said external
radiating member and said optical system holder.
7. The heat radiating structure according to claim 1, wherein said
through-hole is formed as an elongated hole and said external radiating
member is correspondingly formed as an elongated member to be fitted
in said elongated hole.
8. The heat radiating structure according to claim 1, wherein at
least a part of said external radiating member is made of metal.
9. A heat radiating structure of a digital camera, comprising:
an optical system holder which holds an image-forming optical system,
an image pickup device being supported by said optical system holder
at a rear end thereof in an optical axis direction; a tubular outer
casing which constitutes an external body of said digital camera,
said tubular outer casing including a surrounding portion which
surrounds said optical system holder, and a rear end portion positioned
to face a rear portion of said image pickup device; an intermediate
heat-insulation frame provided inside said tubular outer casing
between said surrounding portion and said optical system holder;
a heat radiating plate, one end of which is connected to said image
pickup device, said heat radiating plate extending from a first
space between said rear end portion of said tubular outer casing
and said image pickup device to a second space between said surrounding
portion and said intermediate heat-insulation frame; an external
radiating member fixed to said surrounding portion to extend therethrough
to face said heat radiating plate and to be exposed to an external
portion of said digital camera, said external radiating member being
made of a material having a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal
conductivity of a material of said tubular outer casing; and a heat
transfer member via which said heat radiating plate and said external
radiating member are connected to each other to transfer heat from
said heat radiating plate to said external radiating member.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a heat radiating structure
of a digital camera for cooling a solid-state image pickup device
provided in the digital camera.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In conventional digital still/video cameras (hereinafter
referred to simply as digital cameras), the heat generated by a
solid-state image pickup device (e.g. a CCD or a CMOS image sensor)
serving as an element of an imaging device needs to be dissipated
with efficiency to prevent image data, which is output from the
imaging device, from including noise caused by the heat generated
by the solid-state image pickup device and to prevent the optical
accuracy of an optical unit from deteriorating due to an expansion
of the optical unit which is caused by the heat generated by the
solid-state image pickup device. For instance, many digital cameras
are provided with an LCD indicator on the back of the camera body,
so that the heat generated by the solid-state image pickup device
is difficult to be dissipated rearward.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a digital camera which has
excellent in heat radiation efficiency for the imaging device, and
has less possibility of the heat generated by the solid-state image
pickup device of the digital camera exerting adverse influence upon
an optical system provided in the digital camera.
[0006] According to an aspect of the present invention, a heat
radiating structure of a digital camera is provided, including an
optical system holder which accommodates and holds an image-forming
optical system; an image pickup device supported by the optical
system holder at a position on a focal plane of the image-forming
optical system; an outer casing which constitutes an external body
of the digital camera which surrounds the optical system holder,
the outer casing having a through-hole which communicatively connects
the inside of the outer casing with the outside of the outer casing;
an external radiating member installed in the through-hole, the
external radiating member being made of a material having a thermal
conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of a material of
the outer casing; a heat radiating plate, one end of which is connected
to the image pickup device and another end of which extends into
a space between the external radiating member and the optical system
holder; and a heat transfer member via which the heat radiating
plate and the external radiating member are connected to each other
to transfer heat from the heat radiating plate to the external radiating
member.
[0007] It is desirable for the heat transfer member to be made
of an elastic material having a high thermal conductivity.
[0008] The heat radiating structure can include an intermediate
heat-insulation frame positioned between the optical system holder
and the outer casing, wherein the heat radiating plate and the intermediate
heat-insulation frame are connected to each other via a heat-insulation
spacer.
[0009] It is desirable for the outer casing to include a plurality
of flat portions positioned to surround an optical axis of the image-forming
optical system, and for the digital camera to include a rotatable
grip mounted to one of the plurality of flat portions to be rotatable
relative the one of the plurality of flat portions. The through-hole,
in which the external radiating member is installed, is formed on
another of the plurality of flat portions.
[0010] It is desirable for the heat radiating plate to be made
of metal.
[0011] It is desirable for the heat radiating plate to include
a first plate portion including the one end of the heat radiating
plate, and a second plate portion including the another end of the
heat radiating plate, the second plate portion extending toward
the front of the digital camera from the first plate portion in
the space between the external radiating member and the optical
system holder.
[0012] It is desirable for the through-hole to be formed as an
elongated hole and the external radiating member to be correspondingly
formed as an elongated member to be fitted in the elongated hole.
[0013] It is desirable for at least a part of the external radiating
member to be made of metal.
[0014] In an embodiment, a heat radiating structure of a digital
camera is provided, including an optical system holder which holds
an image-forming optical system, an image pickup device being supported
by the optical system holder at a rear end thereof in an optical
axis direction; a tubular outer casing which constitutes an external
body of the digital camera, the tubular outer casing including a
surrounding portion which surrounds the optical system holder, and
a rear end portion positioned to face a rear portion of the image
pickup device; an intermediate heat-insulation frame provided inside
the tubular outer casing between the surrounding portion and the
optical system holder; a heat radiating plate, one end of which
is connected to the image pickup device, the heat radiating plate
extending from a first space between the rear end portion of the
tubular outer casing and the image pickup device to a second space
between the surrounding portion and the intermediate heat-insulation
frame; an external radiating member fixed to the surrounding portion
to extend therethrough to face the heat radiating plate and to be
exposed to an external portion of the digital camera, the external
radiating member being made of a material having a thermal conductivity
higher than a thermal conductivity of a material of the tubular
outer casing; and a heat transfer member via which the heat radiating
plate and the external radiating member are connected to each other
to transfer heat from the heat radiating plate to the external radiating
member.
[0015] According to the present invention, a digital camera which
is excellent in heat radiation efficiency of the imaging device,
and has less possibility of the heat generated by the solid-state
image pickup device of the digital camera exerting an influence
upon an optical system provided in the digital camera is achieved.
[0016] The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained
in Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-142888 (filed on May 12,
2004) which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The present invention will be described below in detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a digital
camera having a heat radiating structure according to the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the digital camera shown
in FIG. 1, viewed from a different angle;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the digital camera
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the digital camera
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, viewed from the grip side;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the digital camera
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing a state in which the grip is rotated
to extend rearwards from the camera body;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the digital camera
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing a state in which the grip is rotated
to extend obliquely downwards from the camera body;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the digital camera
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing a state in which the grip is rotated
to extend downwards from the camera body;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the digital camera
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing a state in which an LCD monitor
unit is in an upright position;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 and shows a state
in which the LCD monitor unit is reversed from the position shown
in FIG. 4;
[0027] FIG. 10 is a front view in perspective of the digital camera
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing a state in which the LCD monitor
unit is in an upright position;
[0028] FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the digital camera
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing a state in which the grip is positioned
closely to the camera body;
[0029] FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the digital camera
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing a state in which the grip is in
an extended positioned from the camera body;
[0030] FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of internal elements
of the digital camera shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing internal circuitry
of the camera body;
[0031] FIG. 14 is a plan view of the internal elements shown in
FIG. 13;
[0032] FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the internal elements
shown in FIG. 13;
[0033] FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the internal elements
shown in FIG. 13, viewed from the side opposite to the side shown
in FIG. 15;
[0034] FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view taken along XVII-XVII
line shown in FIG. 2, showing an internal structure of the digital
camera shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the vicinity of a CCD image sensor;
and
[0035] FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view taken along XVIII-XVIII
line shown in FIG. 17, showing an internal structure of the digital
camera shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the vicinity of the CCD image sensor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0036] FIGS. 1 through 12 show an embodiment of a digital camera
having a heat radiating structure according to the present invention.
The digital camera 10 is provided with a camera body (outer casing)
11 including a photographing optical system (image-forming optical
system) PY (see FIGS. 14 through 16). The camera body 11 is formed
as a substantially rectangular parallelepiped which is elongated
along an optical axis O of the photographing optical system PY.
The outer surface of the camera body 11 is composed of six surfaces
(flat portions): a front end surface 11a, a rear end surface 11b,
a top surface 11c, a bottom surface 11d, a right side surface 11e,
and a left side surface 11f. The top surface 11c, the bottom surface
11d, the right side surface 11e, and the left side surface 11f connect
the front end surface 11a with the rear end surface 11b, and surround
the optical axis O. In the present embodiment of the digital camera,
the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of FIGS. 3,
11 and 12 correspond to the vertical direction and the horizontal
direction of the digital camera 10, respectively. More specifically,
the right-hand side of the digital camera 10 with respect to the
rear side thereof (as viewed from the right-hand side shown in FIG.
3) is defined as the right-hand side of the digital camera 10, while
the left-hand side of the digital camera 10 with respect to the
rear side thereof is defined as the left-hand side of the digital
camera 10. In addition, a direction parallel to the optical axis
O is defined as a forward/rearward direction of the digital camera
10, the front end surface 11a is defined as the front side of the
digital camera 10, and the rear end surface 11b is defined as the
rear side of the digital camera 10.
[0037] The digital camera 10 is provided in the camera body 11
with a frontmost lens group LF of the photographing optical system
PY which is exposed to the outside of the camera body 10 from the
front end surface 11a. The frontmost lens group LF can be a lens
group consisting of a single lens element or a plurality of lens
elements (see FIGS. 14 through 16). The camera body 11 is provided,
on the front end surface 11a around the frontmost lens group LF,
with a filter mounting screw 12 by which an accessory such as a
filter can be attached to the front of the frontmost lens group
LF. The photographing optical system PY of the digital camera 10,
that is provided inside the camera body 11, is a zoom lens optical
system having more than one lens group in addition to the frontmost
lens group LF. Specifically, the photographing optical system PY
is an internal-focusing/zooming optical system in which the focus
or the focal length is altered by moving elements internally within
the lens barrel (i.e., the external lens barrel is not extended
or retracted). Accordingly, the frontmost lens group LF does not
move forward from the position thereof shown in the drawings.
[0038] The digital camera 10 is provided, on the top surface 11c
of the camera body 11 in an area thereon close to the rear end surface
11b, with a mode select dial 14 and various manual operational buttons
such as a power button 13, a playback button 15, a menu button 16
and a multi-direction button 17. The power button 13 serves as a
manual operational member for turning ON and OFF a main switch of
the digital camera 10. The mode select dial 14 serves as a manual
operational member for selecting a desired photographing mode from
among different photographing modes. The playback button 15 serves
as a manual operational member for reproducing stored images on
a liquid crystal display (LCD) portion 32. Upon an operation of
the menu button 16, the digital camera 10 enters a setting changing
mode in which various settings on the digital camera 10 can be changed
and set by operating the multi-direction button 17. The multi-direction
button 17 is also used to switch playback images to be displayed
on the LCD portion 32. Various settings which can be changed by
operating the menu button 16 include the settings of storing image
size, image quality, white balance and sensitivity, but are not
limited solely to theses specific settings. The multi-direction
button 17 is made of a momentary switch which can be operated to
move in different directions. For instance, the multi-direction
button 17 can be operated in biaxial directions orthogonal to each
other (four directions: forward, rearward, right and left), and
also in a press-down direction at an intersection of the aforementioned
biaxial directions, i.e., at the center thereof. The digital camera
10 is provided, on top of the camera body 11, in front of the various
manual operational buttons, with a pop-up flash 18. The pop-up flash
18 can be switched between a pop-up position in which a light emitting
portion of the pop-up flash 18 projects upwards from the top surface
11c of the camera body 11, and a retracted position in which the
light emitting portion of the pop-up flash 18 is retracted into
the top surface 11c of the camera body 11. In each of FIGS. 1 through
12, the pop-up flash 18 is in the retracted position, and accordingly,
the light emitting portion of the pop-up flash 18 is not shown.
The camera body 11 is provided in the vicinity of the ridge (border)
between the upper surface 11c and the right side surface 11e with
a card slot lid 19 for covering a card slot (not shown) formed on
the camera body 11. This card slot is accessible from the outside
of the camera body 11 by opening the card slot lid 19. In a state
in which the cart slot lid 19 is open, a memory card in which image
data are stored can be inserted and removed into and from the memory
card slot.
[0039] The digital camera 10 is provided, on the left side surface
11f of the camera body 11 at regular intervals in the optical axis
direction, with a flash mode s-elect button 20, a drive mode select
button 21 and a focus mode select button 22. The flash mode select
button 20, the drive mode select button 21 and the focus mode select
button 22 are positioned in substantially the same range, in the
optical axis direction, as the aforementioned various manual operational
members (13 through 17) in the optical axis direction. The flash
mode select button 20 serves as a manual operational member for
controlling the operation of the light emitting portion of the pop-up
flash 18. By operating the flash mode select button 20, a desired
flash mode can be selected from among different flash modes such
as auto flash mode, compulsory flash mode, suppressed flash mode
and red-eye reduction mode. The drive mode select button 21 serves
as a manual operational button for selecting a drive mode at a shutter
release from among different drive modes such as normal drive mode
(single-frame mode), multi-frame consecutive photographing mode,
self-timer photographing mode and auto-bracketing photographing
mode. The focus mode select button 22 serves as a manual operational
member for selecting a focus mode from among different focus modes
such as normal auto focus mode, macro (close-up) photographing mode,
infinity photographing mode and manual focus mode. The digital camera
10 is provided, on the left side surface 11f of the camera body
11 slightly in front of the flash select button 20, with speaker
slits 23, and is further provided, on the camera body 11 below the
speaker slits 23, with an external connector cover 24. The external
connector cover 24 can be opened and closed (or detached and attached)
with respect to the left side surface 11f of the camera body 11.
[0040] The digital camera 10 is provided at the back of the camera
body 11 (on the rear end surface 11b) with an LCD monitor unit 25
which is mounted to the camera body 11 via a hinge portion 26 formed
along the ridge (border) between the rear end surface 11b and the
top surface 11c. The hinge portion 26 includes a pair of support
arms 27, a middle support arm 28 and a pair of pivot pins 29. The
pair of support arms 27 project from the camera body 11 at positions
thereon laterally apart from each other. The middle support arm
28 to which the LCD monitor unit 25 is fixed to be supported thereby
is held between the pair of support arms 27. The pair of pivot pins
29 project in opposite lateral directions away from each other from
opposite ends of the middle support arm 28 to be respectively inserted
into pin holes of the pair of support arms 27. Due to this structure
of the hinge portion 26, the pair of support arms 27 and the middle
support arm 28 can rotate relative to each other about the pair
of pivot pins 29. An axis X1 of the pair of pivot pins 29 extends
in a lateral direction of the digital camera 10 that is orthogonal
to the optical axis O. The LCD monitor unit 25 can be manually rotated
about the axis X1 between a retracted position (seated position;
the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 9) in which the LCD monitor unit
25 is positioned on the rear end surface 11b to sit on the optical
axis O, and a maximum rotated position (the position shown by two-dot
chain lines in FIG. 8) in which the LCD monitor unit 25 is fully
rotated forward (clockwise as viewed in FIG. 8) about the pair of
pivot pins 29 so that an edge of the LCD monitor unit 25 which is
on the opposite side of the LCD monitor unit 25 from the middle
support arm 28 is positioned above the hinge portion 26. When in
the retracted position, the LCD monitor unit 25 lies in a plane
substantially orthogonal to the optical axis O. It is desirable
that the range of rotation of the LCD monitor unit 25 between the
retracted position and the maximum rotated position be equal to
or greater than 180 degrees. In the present embodiment of the digital
camera, the range of rotation of the LCD monitor unit 25 is set
at about 210 degrees.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 10, the LCD monitor unit 25 is supported
by the middle support arm 28 to be rotatable on an axis X2 orthogonal
to the axis X1. More specifically, a rotational pin 30 projects
from a rectangular frame portion 25a of the LCD monitor unit 25
along the axis X2 thereon, while a pin-insertion hole in which the
rotational pin 30 is rotatably fitted is formed on the middle support
arm 28. Accordingly, the LCD monitor unit 25 is rotatable on both
of the axes X1 and X2.
[0042] Although the pair of pivot pins 29 project from the middle
support arm 28 to be respectively inserted into the pin holes formed
on the pair of support arms 27 in the hinge portion 26 in the above
illustrated embodiment of the digital camera 10, it is possible
for the pair of pivot pins 29 to project from the pair of support
arms 27 to be respectively inserted into pin holes formed on the
middle support arm 28.
[0043] Although the rotational pin 30 projects from the rectangular
frame portion 25a of the LCD monitor unit 25 to be rotatably fitted
into the pin-insertion hole formed on the middle support arm 28
in the above illustrated embodiment of the digital camera 10, it
is possible for the rotational pin 30 to project from the middle
support arm 28 to be rotatably fitted into a pin-insertion hole
formed on the rectangular frame portion 25a of the LCD monitor unit
25.
[0044] The frame portion 25a of the LCD monitor unit 25 is provided
with four edge portions surrounding the rectangular LCD portion
32. The shape and size of the LCD monitor unit 25 are determined
so that three of the four edge portions of the frame portion 25a,
except for one of the four edge portions which is adjacent to the
middle support portion 28, are substantially flush with the bottom
surface 11d, the right side surface 11e and the left side surface
11f, respectively, when the LCD monitor unit 25 is in the retracted
position, in which the LCD monitor unit 25 is positioned on the
rear end surface 11b of the camera body 11 as shown in FIGS. 4 and
9 (see FIGS. 3 through 9).
[0045] If the LCD monitor unit 25 is rotated about the axis X1
to stand vertically as shown in FIG. 8 (from the state shown in
FIG. 4 in which the LCD portion 32 faces the rear end surface 11b
of the camera body 11), the LCD portion 32 faces rearwards (usually
toward the user of the digital camera) so that the LCD portion 32
can be used as a monitor for showing the view through the photographing
optical system or displaying stored images during playback. Although
FIG. 8 shows only two states of the LCD monitor unit 25: a state
of the LCD monitor unit 25 that is rotated by approximately 180
degrees from the retracted state thereof to stand vertically (the
LCD monitor unit 25 shown by solid lines in FIG. 8), and a state
of the LCD monitor unit 25 that is positioned in the aforementioned
maximum rotated position (the position shown by two-dot chain lines
in FIG. 8), the hinge portion 26 is provided with a frictional mechanism
(or a click mechanism) by which the LCD monitor unit 25 can be stopped
at other angular positions between the retracted position and the
maximum rotated position.
[0046] The LCD portion 32 in an upright position can be made to
face toward the front of the digital camera 10 by rotating the LCD
monitor unit 25 about the axis X2 as shown in FIG. 10. Orientating
the LCD portion 32 so as to face the front of the digital camera
10 is suitable for the case where the user photographs himself/herself
(self portrait) while holding the digital camera 10. From this position,
if the LCD monitor unit 25 is rotated about the axis X1 toward the
retracted position to a degree that the LCD portion 32 lies in a
plane substantially parallel to the top surface 11c of the camera
body 11, the LCD portion 32 becomes suitable as a waist-level monitor.
Additionally, from this position, if the LCD monitor unit 25 is
further rotated about the axis X1 to the rear end surface 11b, the
LCD portion 32 faces toward the rear of the digital camera 10 as
shown in FIG. 9, not facing the rear end surface 11b. In this position
shown in FIG. 9, the LCD portion 32 can be viewed without the LCD
monitor unit 25 projecting (standing up) from the camera body 11.
Although the vertical position of the LCD portion 32 is reversed
if the LCD monitor unit 25 is rotated from the position shown in
FIG. 8 to the position shown in FIG. 9, or from the position shown
in FIG. 9 to the position shown in FIG. 8, the digital camera 10
is provided with a detector which detects a variation in orientation
of the LCD monitor unit 25 with respect to the camera body 11, and
a display image controller so that the LCD portion 32 displays an
image in an upright position when viewed by the user. When the digital
camera 10 is carried, it is desirable that the LCD monitor unit
25 be in the retracted position with the LCD portion 32 facing the
rear end surface 11b as shown in FIG. 4 to prevent the LCD portion
32 from being damaged.
[0047] The digital camera 10 is provided on the right side surface
11e with a grip 40. The grip 40 is formed in a substantially rectangular
parallelepiped similar to the camera body 11. The outer surface
of the grip 40 includes opposite end surfaces (grip end surfaces)
40a and 40b, and four longitudinal side surfaces 40c, 40d, 40e and
40f which are elongated in a direction orthogonal to both of the
grip end surfaces 40a and 40b. The grip end surfaces 40a and 40b
are substantially parallel to each other, the longitudinal side
surfaces 40c and 40d are substantially parallel to each other, and
the longitudinal side surfaces 40e and 40f are substantially parallel
to each other. The grip 40 is provided inside thereof with a battery
chamber in which a battery pack 42 (shown by broken lines in FIG.
1) serving as a power source for driving the digital camera 10 is
accommodated. The grip 40 is provided thereon with a battery chamber
lid 43, an outer surface of which forms a major portion of the grip
end surface 40a.
[0048] The grip 40 is pivoted (rotatable) on the camera body 11
about a pivot shaft 41. The pivot shaft 41 connects the grip 40
to the camera body 11 so that the right side surface 11e of the
camera body 11 and the longitudinal side surface 40f of the grip
40 are connected to each other via the pivot shaft 41. An axis X3
of the pivot shaft 41 is substantially parallel to the axis X1 of
the pair of pivot pins 29 of the hinge portion 26. The position
of the pivot shaft 41 (the axis X3) is in the vicinity of the grip
end surface 40b, thus being eccentrically positioned from a center
of the grip 40 with respect to the lengthwise direction of the grip
40. Accordingly, the grip 40 can be rotated about the axis X3 while
the free end of the grip 40 on the grip end surface 40a (the battery
chamber lid 43) moves along an arc about the axis X3.
[0049] FIG. 4 shows a state in which the grip 40 is positioned
at one end (retracted position) in the range of rotation of the
grip 40, and FIG. 5 shows a state in which the grip 40 is at the
other end (rearward-extending position) of the range of rotation
of the grip 40. Although the lengthwise direction of the grip 40
is substantially parallel to the lengthwise direction of the camera
body 11 at each of the retracted position and the rearward-extending
position, the positions of the opposite ends 40a and 40b of the
grip are reversed between the grip 40 shown in FIG. 4 and the grip
40 shown in FIG. 5. When the grip 40 is positioned in the retracted
end position as shown in FIG. 4, the grip end surface 40a of the
grip 40 (the battery chamber lid 43) faces toward the front of the
digital camera 10, and the periphery of the grip 40 is enclosed
by the periphery of the right side surface 11e as viewed from the
right side of the digital camera 10. In other words, in the state
shown in FIG. 4, the entire length of the grip 40 in the lengthwise
direction thereof (horizontal direction as viewed in FIG. 4) is
included within the length of the camera body 11 in the optical
axis direction, while the entire width of the grip 40 in a direction
orthogonal to the two longitudinal side surfaces 40c and 40d (in
the vertical direction as viewed in FIG. 4) is included within the
height of the camera body 11 in the vertical direction of the digital
camera 10. Therefore, no part of the grip 40 juts outside the periphery
of the camera body 11 in either the forward/rearward direction or
the vertical direction of the digital camera 10. Accordingly, in
the state shown in FIG. 4, the grip 40 and the camera body 11 appear
as a single box unit, so that the digital camera 10 is easy to carry.
Moreover, in the state shown in FIG. 4, the digital camera 10 can
be placed on a floor or a desk stably because the grip 40 does not
project downwards. Accordingly, the digital camera 10 is suitable
for taking pictures with the camera body placed on such a flat location
without the use of a tripod. When the grip 40 is in the retracted
position as shown in FIG. 4, the longitudinal side surface 40d of
the grip 40 (the bottom surface of the grip 40 as viewed in FIG.
4) is substantially flush with the bottom surface lid of the camera
body 11 (see FIGS. 3 and 11). This structure improves the stability
of the digital camera 10 in the case where the digital camera 10
is placed on a flat location such as a floor or a desk with the
bottom surface 11d facing downwards.
[0050] During a photographing operation, the grip 40 is rotated
clockwise from the retracted position as viewed in FIG. 4 by the
user's hand so that the user can thereafter hold the digital camera
10 by holding the grip 40. The pivot shaft 41 is provided with a
holding mechanism by which the grip 40 can be stopped at various
angular positions between the retracted position (the position shown
in FIG. 4) and the rearward-extending position (the position shown
in FIG. 5). According to this holding mechanism, the angular position
of the grip 40 relative to the camera body 10 can be freely selected
by the user. The angular position of the LCD monitor unit 25 with
respect to the camera body 11 can be freely adjusted by rotating
the LCD monitor unit 25 about the axis X1 or on the axis X2 as described
above. By rotating the grip 40 about the axis X3 for adjustment,
independently of the above described positional adjustment of the
LCD monitor unit 25, a high degree of flexibility in photographing
posture can be achieved. Specifically, the structure wherein the
axis of rotation (the axis X1) of the LCD monitor unit 25 and the
axis of rotation (the axis X3) of the grip 40 are parallel to each
other and extend in the lateral direction (horizontal direction
as viewed in FIG. 3) of the digital camera 10 makes it possible
to change both the vertical position and the vertical angle of the
digital camera 10 at will, without loss of ability of the digital
camera 10 to be held by hand and without loss of viewability of
the LCD portion 32.
[0051] The pivot shaft 41 is constructed to allow the grip 40 to
be positioned on and jutted away from the right side surface 11e
of the camera body 11 in a direction along the axis X3 (the lateral
direction of the digital camera 10) as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.
This operation of positioning the grip 40 on and jutted away from
the right side surface 11e of the camera body 11 can be performed
independently of the above described operation of rotating the grip
40 about the axis X3. For instance, the digital camera 10 can be
made compact with the grip 40 jutting from the periphery of the
camera body 11 by a minimum amount by positioning the grip 40 close
to the camera body 11 when the grip 40 is positioned in the retracted
position (the position shown in FIG. 4) as shown in FIG. 11. On
the other hand, during a photographing operation, wherein the user
holds the grip 40, the camera body 11 (specifically the right side
surface 11e thereof) and the user's hand which holds the grip 40
are prevented from interfering with each other by pulling the grip
40 outward (leftward as viewed in FIG. 11) to position where the
grip 40 juts away from the camera body 11 by a predetermined distance
as shown in FIG. 12, which improves the ability of the grip 40 to
be held by hand. Although FIG. 12 shows a state in which the lengthwise
direction of the grip 40 is substantially parallel to the lengthwise
direction of the camera body 11, from this state the grip 40 can
be rotated about the axis X3 to be freely set at any angular position
relative to the camera body 11.
[0052] As described above, the grip 40 is formed in a substantially
box shape (rectangular parallelepiped), and the outer surface of
the grip 40 is provided with three pairs of flat surfaces (the two
grip end surfaces 40a and 40b, the two longitudinal side surfaces
40c and 40d, and the two longitudinal side surfaces 40e and 40f).
The outer surface of the grip 40 is further provided in the vicinity
of the grip end surface 40b with an inclined surface 40g which connects
the grip end surface 40b with the longitudinal side surface 40c,
and a curved surface 40h which constitutes a chamfered portion of
the grip end surface 40b at the portion thereof which extends to
the longitudinal side surface 40d. The inclined surface 40g, the
grip end surfaces 40a and 40b, the curved surface 40h and the longitudinal
side surfaces 40c and 40d constitute a surrounding surface which
is substantially parallel to the axis X3 and surrounds the axis
X3. The inclined surface 40g is formed as a surface non-parallel
to any other external surface of the grip 40. The grip 40 is provided
on the inclined surface 40g with a release button 45 and a ring-shaped
zoom switch 46 which surrounds the release button 45. The curved
surface 40h of the grip end surface 40b is formed to have an external
positive curvature. The grip 40 is provided on the curved surface
40h with a moving-image recording button 47. The release button
45 serves as a manual operational member for photographing still
images. A photometering operation and a distance measuring operation
are carried out when the release button 45 is depressed halfway
down, and a shutter is released when the release button 45 is fully
depressed. A photographing mode and other settings are set with
the above described various manual operational members as appropriate.
On the other hand, the moving-image recording button 47 serves as
a manual operational member for recording moving images. An operation
of recording moving images commences immediately after the moving-image
recording button 47 is depressed once, and thereafter stops immediately
after the moving-image recording button 47 is depressed once again.
The still images and moving images are processed via an image processor
to be stored in a memory card as electronic image data.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 4, the inclined surface 40g is formed on
the camera body 11 so as to be neither parallel nor orthogonal to
a straight line S which extends in a lengthwise direction of the
grip 40 between the longitudinal side surfaces 40c and 40d. It is
desirable that an angle of inclination K1 of the inclined surface
40g relative to the straight line S be set at an angle between 15
to 75 degrees, more desirably between 30 to 60 degrees. The release
button 45 on the inclined surface 40g faces toward the front of
the digital camera 10 when the grip 40 is positioned so that the
grip end surface 40a (the battery chamber lid 43) faces obliquely
rearward and in a downward direction as shown in FIG. 6. In an ordinary
photographing posture in which the user holds the digital camera
10 at eye-level or in the vicinity thereof, it is assumed that the
grip 40 is positioned within a angular range thereof with the angle
of the grip 40 shown in FIG. 6 at a central angle of the angular
range. Considering the shape of a human hand, the release button
45 can be easily operated by an index finger (forefinger) if the
grip 40 extends obliquely rearward, in a downward direction so that
the release button 45 faces substantially toward the front of the
digital camera 10 as shown in FIG. 6.
[0054] When the grip 40 is in the angular position shown in FIG.
6, the moving-image recording button 47 faces a substantially upward
direction of the digital camera 10 so that the position of the moving-image
recording button 47 naturally corresponds to the position of the
thumb of the user's hand (right hand in the present embodiment of
the digital camera) which holds the grip 40 when the index finger
is put on the release button 45, due to the moving-image recording
button 47 being provided on the grip end surface 40b that is adjacent
to the inclined surface 40g and non-orthogonal to the inclined surface
40g. The moving-image recording button 47 is positioned on the curved
surface 40h, which is chamfered so as to have an external positive
curvature, and also the moving-image recording button 47 projects
obliquely outwards in an inclination direction substantially opposite
(symmetrical) to the axis of the release button 45 with respect
to the straight line S (which extends in a lengthwise direction
of the grip 40 between the longitudinal side surfaces 40c and 40d,
as shown in FIG. 4). With this positional relationship between the
moving-image recording button 47 and the release button 45, in which
the pressing direction of the moving-image recording button 47 is
inclined with respect to the pressing direction of the release button
45, the thumb of the user's hand (right hand in the present embodiment
of the digital camera) holding the grip 40 can be put on the moving-image
recording button 47 more naturally, which further improves the operability
of the digital camera 10. It is desirable that an angle of inclination
K2 of the moving-image recording button 47 relative to the straight
line S be set at an angle substantially equal to the angle K1 of
the inclined surface 40g (i.e., an angle of the release button 45
relative to the straight line S).
[0055] Accordingly, when the grip 40 is in the angular position
shown in FIG. 6, in which the grip 40 is orientated to extend obliquely
downwards, or in an angular position in the vicinity thereof, the
release button 45 substantially faces an upward direction of the
digital camera 10, the moving-image recording button 47 substantially
faces a frontward direction of the digital camera 10, and the position
of the moving-image recording button 47 naturally corresponds to
the position of the thumb of the user's hand when the user holds
the grip 40 with the index finger placed on the release button 45.
Namely, the release button 45 and the moving-image recording button
47 are disposed on the grip 40 at positions so as to allow the user
to operate the release button 45 and the moving-image recording
button 47 easily and naturally when the grip 40 is rotated to be
set in an operating position (ready-to-photograph position) as shown
in FIG. 6.
[0056] The angle of the grip 40 relative to the camera body 11
in a ready-to-photograph state is not limited solely to those shown
in FIGS. 5 and 6. For instance, when the user takes still or moving
images while holding the digital camera 10 above their head, the
grip 40 may be positioned at a substantially right-angle relative
to the camera body 11 so that the grip end surface 40a (the battery
chamber lid 43) faces vertically downwards. In this case, it is
conceivable that the user holds the grip 40 with their hand while
straightening the arm vertically upwards so that the arm extends
in a direction substantially parallel to the lengthwise direction
of the grip 40, and accordingly, the index finger and the thumb
of the hand holding the grip 40 can be naturally placed on the release
button 45 and the moving-image recording button 47, respectively,
similar to the case shown in FIG. 6, which allows the user to operate
the release button 45 and the moving-image recording button 47 comfortably.
[0057] The grip 40 is supported on the pivot shaft 41 at a position
on the grip 40 which is eccentric to a center of the grip 40 in
the lengthwise direction thereof to be positioned in the vicinity
of the grip end surface 40b, and the release button 45 and the moving-image
recording button 47 are disposed at positions on the grip 40 in
radially outward directions from the pivot shaft 41 (the axis X3)
in the relatively close vicinity of the pivot shaft 41. Accordingly,
the positions of the release button 45 and the moving-image recording
button 47 are not displaced largely with respect to the camera body
11 when the grip 40 is rotated relative to the camera body 11, which
does not easily deteriorate the operability of each of the release
button 45 and the moving-image recording button 47. Additionally,
the release button 45 and the moving-image recording button 47 are
positioned substantially on an imaginary cylindrical surface about
the pivot shaft 41 (the axis X3), so that neither the distance from
the pivot shaft 41 to the release button 45 nor the distance from
pivot shaft 41 to the moving-image recording button 47 changes even
if the grip 40 is rotated. This arrangement also facilitates the
operability of the release button 45 and the moving-image recording
button 47.
[0058] As can be understood from the above description, the positions
of the release button 45 and the moving-image recording button 47
are determined so that the user can easily operate the release button
45 and the moving-image recording button 47 regardless of the angle
of the grip 40 relative to the camera body 11.
[0059] The camera body 11 is provided on the bottom surface 11d
with a tripod socket (female screw hole) 48 which is open downwards
from the camera body 10 (see FIG. 4). Since the LCD monitor unit
25 and the grip 40 are supported on the rear end surface 11b and
the right side surface 11e, respectively, neither the LCD monitor
unit 25 nor the grip 40 overlap the bottom surface 11d of the camera
body 11 even if rotated. Therefore, the tripod socket 48 is never
covered by either of the LCD monitor unit 25 or the grip 40. Accordingly,
even though the digital camera 10 is provided on the camera body
with two independent rotatable members: the grip 40 and the LCD
monitor unit 25, a photographing operation using a tripod can be
carried out regardless of the of the positions of the LCD monitor
unit 25 and the grip 40. Moreover, the digital camera 10 can be
stably put on a floor or the like without the use of a tripod if
the grip 40 is rotated to the retracted position. Namely, the digital
camera 10 can be used not only in an ordinary situation in which
the user takes still or moving images while holding the digital
camera 10 with their hand but also in other photographing positions.
[0060] In a photographing operation, with the user holding the
digital camera 10, it is generally the case that the user holds
the digital camera 10 with their right hand gripping the grip 40
and with their left hand holding the camera body 11. Furthermore,
it is normally the case that the palm of the left hand supports
the camera body 11 from the bottom surface 11d while the thumb of
the left hand is laid on the left side surface 11f, and accordingly,
there is little possibility of performing an unintentional operation
due to no manual operational members being provided on the bottom
surface 11d. The bottom surface 11d comes in contact with the left
hand by an area larger than any other external surface portions
of the digital camera 10. Moreover, the photographing mode and other
settings can be set without changing the user's photographing posture
because the manual operational members which are frequently used
during photographing, such as the flash mode select button 20, the
drive mode select button 21 and the focus mode select button 22,
are positioned on the left side surface 11f, on which the thumb
of the left hand is placed.
[0061] During playback of recorded still and/or moving images on
the LCD portion 32, it is assumed that the user holds the digital
camera 10 with the fingers placed on the upper surface 11c of the
camera body 11. Accordingly, manual operational members used for
playback images are positioned on the top surface 11c, so that the
user can easily operate these manual operational members without
changing the above described photographing posture. During playback
of recorded still and/or moving images, the user can hold the digital
camera 10 with both hands holding the camera body 11 with the grip
40 positioned in the retracted position.
[0062] FIGS. 13 through 16 show the internal circuitry of the camera
body 11, viewed from different angles. The digital camera 10 is
provided in the camera body 11 with a hollow-cylindrical optical
system holder 50 which holds and accommodates the photographing
optical system PY of the digital camera 10. The optical system holder
50 holds the photographing optical system PY so that the axis of
the optical system holder 50 extends in the optical axis direction.
The optical system holder 50 is provided at the front end thereof
with an aperture 50a (see FIG. 13) for holding the frontmost lens
group LF therein. The digital camera 10 is provided in the camera
body 11 with a CCD image sensor (image pickup device) 51 mounted
to a CCD fixing plate 52. The CCD image sensor 51 is fixed at the
rear end of the optical system holder 50 via the CCD fixing plate
52. Although the optical system holder 50 that serves as a holding
member for holding the photographing optical system PY is formed
as a single member for the purpose of making the location of the
photographing optical system PY easier to recognize, the holding
member does not have to be formed as a single member like the optical
system holder 50.
[0063] The CCD image sensor 51 is positioned so that an imaging
surface (sensitive surface) thereof lies in a focal plane of the
photographing optical system PY. The CCD fixing plate 52 is positioned
between the rear end of the optical system holder 50 and the rear
end surface 11b of the camera body 11 to lie in a plane substantially
orthogonal to the optical axis O. In addition to the CCD fixing
plate 52, the digital camera 10 is provided in the camera body 11
with a first switch substrate 53, a second switch substrate 54,
a jack substrate 55 and a main substrate 58. The first switch substrate
53 is formed as a flat board, and is positioned between the optical
system holder 50 and the top surface 11c of the camera body 11 to
be substantially parallel to the top surface 11c. The power button
13, the mode select dial 14, the playback button 15, the menu button
16 and the multi-direction button 17 are mounted to the first switch
substrate 53. The second switch substrate 54 is formed as a flat
board, and is positioned between the optical system holder 50 and
the left side surface 11f of the camera body 11 to be substantially
parallel to the left side surface 11f. The flash mode select button
20, the drive mode select button 21 and the focus mode select button
22 are mounted to the second switch substrate 54. The jack substrate
55 is formed as a flat board, and is positioned between the optical
system holder 50 and the bottom surface 11d of the camera body 11
to be substantially parallel to the bottom surface 11d. A PC jack
56 for connection to a personal computer and an adapter jack 57
for power adapter (e.g., AC adapter) are mounted to the jack substrate
55. The PC jack 56 and the adapter jack 57 are positioned on the
left side surface 11f to be accessible from the outside of the camera
body 11 if the external connector cover 24 is opened. The main substrate
58 is formed as a flat board, and is positioned between the optical
system holder 50 and the right side surface 11e of the camera body
11 to be substantially parallel to the right side surface 11e. Various
components such as a microcomputer for controlling the overall operation
of the digital camera 10 and a circuit for processing image data
are mounted to the main substrate 58. The main substrate 58 is greater
in length than the first switch substrate 53, the second switch
54 and the jack substrate 55 in the optical axis direction (forward/rearward
direction of the digital camera 10). The CCD fixing plate 52 and
the first switch substrate 53 are connected to the main substrate
58 via a flexible PWB 59a and a flexible PWB 59b, respectively.
The second switch substrate 54 is connected to the first switch
substrate 53 via a flexible PWB 59c to send signals to the main
substrate 58 via the first switch substrate 53. The jack substrate
55 is connected to the main substrate 58 via a connector 55a.
[0064] As can be seen from FIGS. 13 through 16, the photographing
optical system PY (the optical system holder 50) of the digital
camera 10 is positioned in an internal space thereof which is surrounded
by a circuit board consisting of the CCD fixing plate 52, the first
switch substrate 53, the jack substrate 55 and the main substrate
58. Specifically, the photographing optical system PY that is provided
in the present embodiment of the digital camera is an internal-focusing/zooming
optical system, in which the focus or the focal length is altered
by moving elements internally within the lens barrel as mentioned
above, and accordingly, no portion of the photographing optical
system PY projects forward from the front of the camera body 11,
and therefore remains within the camera body 11 at all times. Additionally,
the CCD fixing plate 52, the first switch substrate 53, the jack
substrate 55 and the main substrate 58 are positioned in the camera
body 11 to surround the photographing optical system PY. This circuit
arrangement saves space for electrical components in the camera
body 11, thus contributing to improvement in degree of freedom in
miniaturization and design of the digital camera 10. The camera
body 11 is formed as a substantially rectangular parallelepiped
which is elongated along the optical axis O specifically in the
illustrated embodiment of the digital camera as mentioned above,
and this shape of the camera body 11 is advantageous for installing
the first switch substrate 53, the second switch substrate 54, the
jack substrate 55 and the main substrate 58 along an inner surface
of the camera body 11 which extends in the lengthwise direction
of the camera body 11.
[0065] In the present embodiment of the digital camera, the rotatable
grip 40 is mounted to the right side surface 11e of the camera body
11. It is desirable that no elements such as operational switches
or terminals (jacks) be provided on a surface of the camera body
to which a rotatable member such as the grip 40 is mounted in order
to prevent the rotatable member from interfering with such elements.
Accordingly, the first switch substrate 53 and the second switch
substrate 54, which include switch contacts, and the jack substrate
55, which includes electrical terminals, are installed along three
inner surfaces of the camera body 11 which correspond to the top
surface 11c, the bottom surface 11d and the left side surface 11f,
respectively, and no substrate is installed along an inner surface
of the camera body 11 which corresponds to the right side surface
11e. By taking advantage of this structure in which no elements
such as switches or terminals are installed (cannot be installed)
to the right side surface 11e of the camera body 11, the main substrate
58, which does not have to be connected to any external parts or
devices, is installed in the immediate area of the inner surface
of the camera body 11 which corresponds to the right side surface
11e. As can be seen from FIGS. 14 and 15, the internal space of
the camera body 11 on the right side surface 11e is exclusively
assigned to the installation of the main substrate 58, which makes
it possible to adopt the large main substrate 58 that is shaped
to have a length close to the length of the optical system holder
50 in the optical axis direction.
[0066] Likewise, no elements such as switches or terminals are
installed on the rear end surface 11b of the camera body 11, which
supports the movable LCD monitor unit 25 (a movable member like
the grip 40), while the CCD fixing plate 52, which does not have
to be connected to any external parts or devices similar to the
main substrate 58, is installed in the immediate area of an inner
surface of the camera body 11 which corresponds to the rear end
surface 11b. In terms of the efficiency of saving space and simplifying
the circuitry, it is desirable that the CCD fixing plate 52, on
which the CCD image sensor 51 is mounted, be positioned in the internal
space of the camera body 11 in the vicinity of the rear end surface
11b since the internal space of the camera body 11 in the vicinity
of the rear end surface 11b is adjacent to the rear end of the photographing
optical system PY.
[0067] FIGS. 17 and 18 show a heat radiating structure of the digital
camera 10 in the vicinity of the CCD image sensor 51. As mentioned
above, the photographing optical system PY is held and accommodated
by the optical system holder 50, and the top surface 11c, the bottom
surface 11d, the right side surface 11e and the left side surface
11f of the camera body 11 are positioned outside of the photographing
optical system PY to surround the photographing optical system PY.
The rear end surface 11b of the camera body 11 is positioned to
face the rear end of the optical system holder 50 in the optical
axis direction. The digital camera 10 is provided therein, between
an exterior part of the camera body 11 (the top surface 11c, the
bottom surface 11d, the right side surface 11e and the left side
surface 11f) and the optical system holder 50 in radial directions
of the optical axis O, with an intermediate heat-insulation frame
63 which surrounds the left, top and bottom sides of the optical
system holder 50. The intermediate heat-insulation frame 63 serves
as a fixing member for fixing the optical system holder 50 to the
camera body 11.
[0068] The CCD image sensor 51 that is mounted on the CCD fixing
plate 52 is positioned to face the photographing optical system
PY through a rear end opening 50b formed at the rear end of the
optical system holder 50. The CCD fixing plate 52 is fixed to the
rear end of the optical system holder 50 by two set screws 60. A
heat radiating plate 62 is fixed to the CCD fixing plate 52 by another
two set screws 61. The heat radiating plate 62 has an L-shaped cross
section as shown in FIG. 17 and is composed of a heat-transfer plate
portion 62a and a heat radiating plate portion 62b. The heat-transfer
plate portion 62a extends in a direction approaching the left side
surface 11f in a first space SP1 formed between the rear end surface
11b and the rear end of the optical system holder 50, while the
heat radiating plate portion 62b is bent relative to the heat-transfer
plate portion 62a at a substantially right angle to extend toward
the front of the digital camera 10 from the left end of the heat-transfer
plate portion 62a in a second space SP2 formed between the left
side surface 11f and the intermediate heat-insulation frame 63.
The heat radiating plate portion 62b is formed to have a wider width
than the heat-transfer plate portion 62a (see FIG. 18). A portion
of the heat radiating plate portion 62b in the vicinity of the front
end thereof is supported by the intermediate heat-insulation frame
63 via a heat-insulation spacer 66.
[0069] The camera body 11 is provided with a radiating elongated
hole (through-hole) 11f1, which extends through the left side surface
11f so as to communicatively connect the second space SP2 with the
outside of the digital camera 10, and a molding (external radiating
member) 65 (see FIG. 2) is fitted into the elongated hole 11f1.
The molding 65 forms a part of the exterior of the digital camera
10, and is elongated in the lengthwise direction of the camera body
11 to have a predetermined length in the same direction. The molding
65 and the heat radiating plate 62 are connected to each other via
an elastic heat transfer member 64.
[0070] In the above described structure in the vicinity of the
CCD image sensor 51, the camera body 11, the intermediate heat-insulation
frame 63 and the heat-insulation spacer 66 are each made of a material
having a low thermal conductivity such as a synthetic resin. On
the other hand, the set screws 60, the set screws 61, the CCD fixing
plate 52, the heat radiating plate 62, the elastic heat transfer
member 64 and the molding 65 are each made of a material having
a high thermal conductivity. Specifically, each of the set screws
60 and 61 is desirably made of metal such as copper, the CCD fixing
plate 52 and the heat radiating plate 62 are desirably made of metal
such as copper or aluminum, and the elastic heat transfer member
64 is desirably made of a heat conduction rubber or a heat conduction
silicon. The molding 65 is made of a material having a higher thermal
conductivity than the thermal conductivity of at least the camera
body 11. It is desirable that the entirety of the molding 65 be
made of metal or that at least the outer surface of the molding
65 be plated with metal.
[0071] According to the above described heat radiating structure
of the digital camera 10, the heat generated by the CCD image sensor
51 is dissipated into the atmosphere outside of the camera body
11 via the CCD fixing plate 52, the heat radiating plate 62, the
elastic heat transfer member 64 and the molding 65 in that order.
In addition, it is difficult for heat to transfer from the heat
radiating plate 62 to the optical system holder 50 since the intermediate
heat-insulation frame 63 that has a low thermal conductivity is
positioned between the heat radiating plate portion 62b of the heat
radiating plate 62 and the optical system holder 50. Specifically,
the heat generated by the CCD image sensor 51 can be prevented from
being transferred from the heat radiating plate 62 to the intermediate
heat-insulation frame 63 and even to the optical system holder 50
that is positioned inside of the intermediate heat-insulation frame
63 with an improved stability of support of the heat radiating plate
62 because the heat radiating plate portion 62b of the heat radiating
plate 62 is supported by the intermediate heat-insulation frame
63 via the heat-insulation spacer 66 that has a low thermal conductivity.
[0072] It is possible that an additional heat insulator (not shown)
be installed between the heat radiating plate 62 and the intermediate
heat-insulation frame 63 or between the intermediate heat-insulation
frame 63 and the optical system holder 50 to achieve a further improvement
in thermal insulation effect to the optical system holder 50 and
the photographing optical system PY that is positioned inside the
optical system holder 50.
[0073] On the other hand, the elastic heat transfer member 64 contacts
an outer surface of the heat radiating plate portion 62b of the
heat radiating plate 62 to actively dissipate heat to the molding
65 via the elastic heat transfer member 64. The molding 65 has a
high heat radiation efficiently because the molding 65 is exposed
to the exterior of the digital camera 10 and because at least the
outer surface of the molding 65 is made of metal. Moreover, the
heat radiation efficiency is further enhanced by forming the radiating
elongated hole 11f1, that communicatively connects the inside of
the camera body 11 to the outside thereof, as a heat radiating path
to an external radiating member such as the molding 65 with the
heat radiating plate 62 and the molding 65 being connected to each
other with a minimum distance therebetween. The heat radiation efficiency
of the molding 65 is not prevented by the grip 40 because the molding
65 is mounted to the left side surface 11f that is disposed on the
opposite side of the camera body 11 from the right side surface
11e.
[0074] The degree of intimate contact of the elastic heat transfer
member 64 with respect to each of the heat radiating plate 62 and
the molding 65 is high because the elastic heat transfer member
64 is in elastic contact with each of the heat radiating plate 62
and the molding 65, which achieves a further improvement of the
heat conductive efficiency and the heat radiation efficiency.
[0075] In the present embodiment of the digital camera 10, the
camera body 11 is formed as a tubular body which is elongated in
the optical axis direction, while the distance between the optical
system holder 50 and an exterior part of the camera body 11 (the
top surface 11c, the bottom surface 11d, the right side surface
11e and the left side surface 11f) is small. Therefore, the heat
radiating path from the CCD image sensor 51 to the outside of the
digital camera 10 can be shortened, which contributes to an improvement
in the heat radiation efficiency. Accordingly, it is desirable that
the heat be dissipated to the left side surface 11f rather than
the rear end surface 11b because the LCD monitor unit 25 is supported
on the rear end surface 11b though the rear end surface 11b is closer
to the CCD image sensor 51 than the left side surface 11f.
[0076] Due to the above described heat radiating structure of the
digital camera 10, in the present embodiment of the digital camera
10, the heat generated by the CCD image sensor 51 can be efficiently
dissipated into the atmosphere outside the digital camera 10, and
can also be made difficult to transfer to the photographing optical
system PY (the optical system holder 50). Therefore, image data
which is output from the CCD image sensor 51 can be prevented from
including noise caused by the heat generated by the CCD image sensor
51. Additionally, the optical accuracy of a photographing unit (the
photographing optical system PY and the optical system holder 50)
can be efficiently prevented from deteriorating.
[0077] Obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiment 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. |