Camera and image pickup device unit used therein

• US 20030202114A1
• Filed: 11/20/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OM Digital Solutions Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawai, Sumio, Takizawa, Hiroyuki, Kobayashi, Motoaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,324,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/335
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/12 Reflex cameras with single objective and a movable reflector or a partly-transmitting mirror
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/52 Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/81 for suppressing or minimising disturbance in the image signal generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/811 by dust removal, e.g. from surfaces of the image sensor or processing of the image signal output by the electronic image sensor

Abstract

A camera is provided that includes a dust-proofing member that has a substantially circular or polygonal plate-shape and that includes a transparent portion at an area having at least a predetermined length in a radial direction from the center thereof, and that is opposed to the front of an optical device at a predetermined interval. A member for vibration is arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member and applies vibrations to the dust-proofing member. A sealing structure is arranged outside a peripheral portion of the optical device or an adjacent portion thereof, and forms a substantially sealed space portion including an air gap portion formed by opposing the optical device and the dust-proofing member, and sealing the space portion at a peripheral side of the optical device and the dust-proofing member.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

an image pick-up device obtaining an image signal corresponding to beams irradiated onto a photoelectrically converting surface thereof;

an optical device arranged on the side of the photoelectrically converting surface of the image pick-up device;

a dust-proofing member with a circular or polygonal plate-shape as a whole, comprising a transparent portion at an area having at least a predetermined extensity in a radial direction from the center thereof, the transparent portion opposed to the front of the optical device at a predetermined interval;

a member for vibration arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member, which applies vibrations to the dust-proofing member;

a sealing structure arranged outside from a peripheral portion of the optical device or an adjacent portion thereof, the sealing structure forming a space portion, that is substantially sealed, including an air gap portion formed by opposing the optical device and the dust-proofing member, and sealing the space portion at a peripheral side of the optical device and the dust-proofing member; and

an image signal processing circuit converting an image signal obtained from the image pick-up device, corresponding to an image formed onto the photoelectrically converting surface of the image pick-up device, into a signal suitable to recording.

2. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising:

a photographing optical system mounting unit loading a photographing optical system for forming a subject image onto the photoelectrically converting surface of the image pick-up device,

wherein the image signal processing circuit converts the image signal obtained from the image pick-up device, corresponding to the image formed onto the photoelectrically converting surface of the image pick-up device by the photographing optical system loaded to the photographing optical system mounting unit, into a signal suitable to recording.

3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is an optical low-pass filter.

4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is an optical low-pass filter, and the sealing structure includes a first member which supports the dust-proofing member in contact with the peripheral portion or an adjacent portion thereof and a second member which supports the optical device in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and which is arranged closely in contact with the first member at a predetermined portion of the second member.

5. The camera according to claim 4, wherein the first member is airtightly jointed to the dust-proofing member by an adhesive at an annular area near the peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member.

6. The camera according to claim 4, wherein the first member is airtightly jointed to the dust-proofing member by pressing force caused by an elastic member.

7. The camera according to claim 4, wherein the first member and second member are airtightly fit to each other at an annular area on an outer peripheral side of the optical device.

8. The camera according to claim 4, wherein the second member airtightly comes into contact with the peripheral portion of the optical device at a predetermined step portion thereof so as to regulate the position of the optical device in the optical axis direction.

9. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the sealing structure includes a first portion for supporting the dust-proofing member in contact with the peripheral portion or an adjacent portion thereof and a second portion for supporting the optical device in contact with the peripheral portion or an adjacent portion thereof, and the first portion and second portion are integrally structured.

10. The camera according to claim 9, wherein the first portion is airtightly jointed to the dust-proofing member by an adhesive at an annular area near the peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member.

11. The camera according to claim 9, wherein the first portion is airtightly jointed to the dust-proofing member by pressing force caused by an elastic member.

12. The camera according to claim 9, wherein the second portion airtightly comes into contact with the peripheral portion of the optical device at a predetermined step portion thereof so as to regulate the position of the optical device in the optical axis direction.

13. The camera according to claim 12, wherein the second portion regulates the position of the optical device against elastic force which displaces the optical device at the step portion in the optical axis direction.

14. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the sealing structure has a space wider than the air gap formed by opposing the dust-proofing member and the optical device as sealing space which extends toward outside of the optical device.

15. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the sealing structure has a relatively minute passage for connecting the inside to the outside of the space portion at a predetermined portion.

16. The camera according to claim 15, wherein a sealing auxiliary member whose inner volume is changed depending on an inner pressure is added so that the passage airtightly covers the opening side which is connected outside of the space portion.

17. The camera according to claim 16, wherein in the sealing auxiliary member, an elastic member is airtightly arranged at an annular area in the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion of the optical device in the sealing structure, excluding the passage.

18. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the sealing structure has a flow passage for reducing the resistance against air flow between a relative narrow space portion and a relatively large space portion in the space portion at a predetermined portion.

19. The camera according to claim 18, wherein the sealing structure comprises a first member which supports the dust-proofing member in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and a second member which supports the optical device in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and which is arranged closely in contact with the first member at a predetermined portion of the second member, and the flow passage has a notch at a part of a contact surface formed airtightly in contact with the peripheral portion of the optical device in the second member.

20. The camera according to claim 18, wherein the sealing structure includes a first portion which supports the dust-proofing member in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and a second portion which supports the optical device in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof, the first portion and the second portion are integrally structured, and the flow passage is formed by providing a notch at a part of a contact surface which is airtightly in contact with the peripheral portion of the optical device in the second portion.

21. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the sealing structure includes a first member which supports the dust-proofing member in contact with area of the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and a second member which supports the optical device in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and which is arranged closely in contact with the first member at a predetermined portion thereof, and the second member has a relatively minute passage for connecting the outside to the inside of the space portion at a predetermined portion thereof.

22. The camera according to claim 21, wherein the passage is formed as a hole which is pierced to an area extending to an outer peripheral side of the optical device in the second member.

23. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the sealing structure includes a first member which supports the dust-proofing member in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and a second member which supports the optical device in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion and which is arranged closely in contact with the first member at a predetermined portion thereof, and the second member has a relatively minute passage for connecting the outside to the inside of the space portion at a predetermined portion thereof.

24. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the member for vibration comprises an electromechanical transducer, and a predetermined vibration is generated in the dust-proofing member by externally applying a predetermined driving voltage to the electromechanical transducer.

25. The camera according to claim 24, wherein the electromechanical transducer is a piezoelectric element.

26. The camera according to claim 25, wherein the piezoelectric element is adhered to the dust-proofing member by an adhesive.

27. The camera according to claim 26, wherein the sealing structure includes a first portion which supports the dust-proofing member in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and a second portion which supports the optical device in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof, and the second portion has a relatively minute passage which connects the inside to the outside of the space portion at a predetermined portion thereof.

28. The camera according to claim 27, wherein the passage is formed as a hole which is pierced at an area extending to an outer peripheral side of the optical device in the second portion.

29. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the sealing structure includes a first portion which supports the dust-proofing member in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and a second portion which supports the optical device in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and which is formed integrally with the first portion at a predetermined portion thereof, and the first portion has a relatively minute passage which connects the inside to the outside of the space portion at a predetermined portion thereof.

30. A camera comprising:

an image pick-up device obtaining an image signal corresponding to beams irradiated onto a photoelectrically converting surface thereof;

a dust-proofing member with a circular or polygonal plate-shape as a whole, comprising a transparent portion at an area having at least a predetermined extensity in a radial direction from the center thereof, the transparent portion opposed to the front of the optical device at a predetermined interval;

a member for vibration arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member, which applies vibrations to the dust-proofing member;

a sealing structure arranged outside a peripheral portion of the photoelectrically converting surface of the image pick-up device or an adjacent portion thereof, the sealing structure forming a space portion, that is substantially sealed, including an air gap portion formed by opposing the optical device and the dust-proofing member, and sealing the space portion at a peripheral side of the optical device and the dust-proofing member; and

an image signal processing circuit converting an image signal obtained from the image pick-up device, corresponding to an image formed onto the photoelectrically converting surface of the image pick-up device, into a signal suitable to recording.

31. The camera according to claim 30, wherein the sealing structure includes a first member which supports the dust-proofing member in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and a second member which supports the image pick-up device in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion of the photoelectrically converting device thereof.

32. The camera according to claim 31, wherein the first member is airtightly jointed to the dust-proofing member by an adhesive in an annular area near the peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member.

33. The camera according to claim 31, wherein the first member is airtightly jointed to the dust-proofing member by pressing force caused by an elastic member.

34. The camera according to claim 31, wherein the first member and the second member are airtightly fit to each other at an annular area on an outer peripheral side of the photoelectrically converting surface of the image pick-up device.

35. The camera according to claim 31, wherein the second member regulates the position of the optical device in the optical axis direction, airtightly in contact with the peripheral portion of the optical device at a predetermined step portion of the second member.

36. The camera according to claim 35, wherein the second member regulates the position of the optical device against elastic force which displaces the optical device in the optical axis direction at the step portion.

37. The camera according to claim 30, wherein the sealing structure comprises a first portion for supporting the dust-proofing member in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and a second portion for supporting the image pick-up device in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion of the photoelectrically converting portion thereof, and the first portion and the second portion are integrally structured.

38. The camera according to claim 37, wherein the first portion is airtightly jointed to the dust-proofing member by an adhesive in an annular area near the peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member.

39. The camera according to claim 37, wherein the first portion is airtightly jointed to the dust-proofing member by pressing force caused by an elastic member.

40. The camera according to claim 37, wherein the second portion airtightly comes into contact with the peripheral portion of the optical device at a predetermined step portion thereof and regulates the position of the optical device in the optical axis direction.

41. The camera according to claim 40, wherein the second portion regulates the position of the optical device against elastic force which displaces the optical device in the optical axis direction at the step portion.

42. The camera according to claim 30, wherein the sealing structure is formed as a sealing space wider than an air gap formed by opposing the dust-proofing member and the photoelectrically converting surface of the image pick-up device, which extends toward the outside of the photoelectrically converting surface.

43. The camera according to claim 30, wherein the sealing structure has a relatively minute passage for connecting the inside to the outside of the space portion at a predetermined portion.

44. The camera according to claim 30, wherein the member for vibration comprises an electromechanical transducer, and predetermined vibrations are applied to the dust-proofing member by externally applying a predetermined driving voltage to the electromechanical transducer.

45. The camera according to claim 44, wherein the electromechanical transducer is a piezoelectric element.

46. The camera according to claim 45, wherein the piezoelectric element is adhered to the dust-proofing member by an adhesive.

47. The camera according to claim 30, wherein the sealing structure comprises a first member which supports the dust-proofing member in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and a second member which supports the image pick-up device in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion of the photoelectrically converting surface thereof, and the second member has a relatively minute passage for connecting the inside to the outside of the space portion at a predetermined portion thereof.

48. The camera according to claim 47, wherein the passage is formed as a hole pierced at an area extending to an outer peripheral side of the photoelectrically converting portion of the image pick-up device in the second member.

49. The camera according to claim 30, wherein the sealing structure comprises a first member which supports the dust-proofing member in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and a second member which supports the image pick-up device in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion of the photoelectrically converting surface thereof, and the first member has a relatively minute passage for connecting the inside to the outside of the space portion at a predetermined portion thereof.

50. The camera according to claim 30, wherein the sealing structure comprises a first portion which supports the dust-proofing member in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and a second portion which supports the image pick-up device in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion of the photoelectrically converting surface thereof, the first portion and the second portion are integrally formed, and the second portion has a relatively minute passage for connecting the inside to the outside of the space portion at a predetermined portion thereof.

51. The camera according to claim 50, wherein the passage is formed as a hole pierced at an area extending to an outer peripheral side of the photoelectrically converting portion of the image pick-up device in the second portion.

52. The camera according to claim 30, wherein the sealing structure comprises a first portion which supports the dust-proofing member in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and a second portion which supports the image pick-up device in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion of the photoelectrically converting surface thereof, the first portion and the second portion are integrally formed, the first portion has a relatively minute passage for connecting the inside to the outside of the space portion at a predetermined portion thereof.

53. The camera according to claim 30, wherein the sealing structure has a flow passage for reducing the resistance against air flow between a relatively small space portion and a relatively large space portion in the space portion at a predetermined portion.

54. The camera according to claim 53, wherein the sealing structure comprises a first member which supports the dust-proofing member in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and a second member arranged for supporting the image pick-up device in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion of the photoelectrically converting surface thereof, and the flow passage is formed by providing a notch at a part of a contact surface portion formed airtightly in contact with the peripheral portion of the photoelectrically converting surface of the image pick-up device in the second member.

55. The camera according to claim 54, wherein the sealing structure comprises a first portion which supports the dust-proofing member in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion thereof and a second portion arranged for supporting the image pick-up device in contact with the peripheral portion or the adjacent portion of the photoelectrically converting surface thereof, the first portion and the second portion are integrally formed, and the flow passage is formed by providing a notch at a part of a contact surface portion formed airtightly in contact with the peripheral portion of the photoelectrically converting surface of the image pick-up device in the second portion.

56. The camera according to claim 30, wherein the dust-proofing member further has a holding structure which presses the peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member so as to press and fix the dust-proofing member to the sealing structure.

57. The camera according to claim 56, wherein the holding mechanical portion has a stop function for shutting off harmful light.

58. The camera according to claim 56, wherein the holding structure is circular.

59. The camera according to claim 56, wherein the holding mechanical portion presses the dust-proofing member at a plurality of portions.

60. The camera according to claim 56, wherein the holding structure is fastened to the sealing structure by a screw.

61. The camera according to claim 56, wherein the holding structure is fit and fixed to the sealing structure.

62. The camera according to claim 56, wherein the holding structure presses the peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member with point contact or with line contact so that the dust-proofing member is pressed and fixed to the sealing structure.

63. The camera according to claim 56, wherein at least a portion in contact with the dust-proofing member in the holding structure is made of a member for absorbing vibrations.

64. The camera according to claim 30, further comprising:

a photographing optical system mounting unit loading a photographing optical system for forming a subject image onto the photoelectrically converting surface of the image pick-up device,

wherein the image signal processing circuit converts into a signal in a format matching a recording one, an image signal obtained from the image pick-up device corresponding to the image formed onto the photoelectrically converting surface of the image pick-up device by the photographing optical system loaded to the photographing optical system mounting unit.

65. The camera according to claim 30, wherein the dust-proofing member is adhered and fixed to the sealing structure.

66. The camera according to claim 65, wherein the dust-proofing member is adhered and fixed to the sealing structure all over the peripheral portion thereof.

67. The camera according to claim 65, wherein the dust-proofing member is adhered and fixed to the sealing structure at a plurality of portions of the peripheral portion thereof.

68. The camera according to claim 65, further comprising:

a photographing lens mounting unit for mounting the photographing lens,

wherein the photographing lens is detachable in the photographing lens mounting unit.

69. The camera according to claim 65, wherein the surface of the dust-proofing member has a thin-film forming portion and a thin-film non-forming portion and the sealing structure is adhered and fixed to the thin-film non-forming portion.

70. The camera according to claim 69, wherein the thin film is any of an infrared cut-off film, ultraviolet cut-off film, reflection preventing film, and electrostatic charge preventing film.

71. The camera according to claim 30, wherein a portion in contact with the dust-proofing member or the member for vibration is made of a soft material in the sealing structure.

72. The camera according to claim 71, wherein the soft material is rubber.

73. The camera according to claim 72, wherein the rubber is arranged between a main body unit of the sealing structure and the dust-proofing member or the member for vibration.

74. The camera according to claim 73, wherein the soft material is hard rubber.

75. The camera according to claim 73, wherein the soft material forms a part of the main body unit of the sealing structure.

76. The camera according to claim 73, wherein the sealing structure includes a member for pressing the peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member so as to press and fix the dust-proofing member to the main body unit of the sealing structure.

77. The camera according to claim 76, wherein the pressing member is a plate spring.

78. The camera according to claim 76, wherein at least a contact portion with the dust-proofing member or the member for vibration is made of a soft material in the pressing member.

79. The camera according to claim 30, further comprising:

dust collecting means at an outer-peripheral portion of a surface of the dust-proofing member or at an adjacent portion thereof.

80. The camera according to claim 79, wherein the dust collecting means includes an adhesive member.

81. The camera according to claim 80, wherein the adhering member is an adhesive tape.

82. The camera according to claim 79, wherein the dust collecting means is electrical dust collecting means including a needle-shaped electrode for ionizing dusts and a dust collecting electrode for absorbing and collecting the ionized dusts.

83. The camera according to claim 30, wherein a dust-receiver for receiving dusts is arranged near the peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member.

84. The camera according to claim 83, wherein the dust-receiver includes an adhesive.

85. The camera according to claim 83, wherein the dust-receiver is arranged at a portion near the bottom of the camera.

86. The camera according to claim 30, wherein a part of the sealing structure is formed with conductivity and the conductive portion of the sealing structure is abutted onto the conductive member which is formed onto the surface of the electromechanical transducer.

87. The camera according to claim 86, wherein the conductive member includes a first conductive member which is formed along a surface and a side surface of the dust-proofing member in the electromechanical transducer and a second conductive member which is formed to a surface opposed to the surface of the dust-proofing member in the electromechanical transducer, and

the first conductive member is formed extending to the surface opposed to that of the dust-proofing member in the electromechanical transducer and has an insulating portion between the first conductive member and the second conductive member on the opposed surface.

88. An image pick-up device unit comprising:

an image pick-up device obtaining an image signal corresponding to beams irradiated onto a photoelectrically converting surface thereof;

an optical member opposed to the image pick-up device in front thereof at a predetermined interval;

a member for vibration arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member, which applies vibrations to the optical member;

a sealing structure arranged outside from a peripheral portion of the optical device to an adjacent portion thereof, the sealing structure sealing a space portion that is substantially sealed at a portion formed by opposing the optical member and the image pick-up device, on a peripheral side of the optical device and the optical member; and

a holding structure pressing a peripheral portion of the optical member so as to press and fix the optical member to the sealing structure.

89. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 88, further comprising:

a holding structure pressing a peripheral portion of the optical member so as to press and fix the optical member to the sealing structure.

90. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 89, wherein the optical member is adhered and fixed to the sealing structure.

91. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 88, wherein a contact portion with the optical member or the member for vibration in the sealing structure is made of a soft material.

92. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 88, wherein the optical member or the member for vibration is softly supported to the sealing structure.

93. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 88, wherein dust collecting means is arranged at outer peripheral portion or at adjacent thereof on an opposed surface facing the image pick-up device of the optical member.

94. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 88, further comprising:

a dust-receiver receiving dusts, arranged near the peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member.

95. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 88, wherein a part of the sealing structure is formed with conductivity and the conductive portion of the sealing structure is abutted onto the conductive member that is formed to the surface of the electromechanical transducer.