Imaging apparatus, imaging method, and waterproof housing

• US 7,653,292 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kusayanagi, Kazunori, Fukumoto, Tetsuro, Takagi, Kazunori, Amano, Ryoko, Yamaguchi, Mitsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Koval; Melissa J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang; Fang-Chi
• Application Number:
  US11/514,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20070110416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 396/199, 396/200, 396/28, 348/81
• US Class Current: 396/28
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings

Abstract

A photographing apparatus that performs photographing with a camera main body accommodated in a waterproof housing includes a touch panel disposed in overlapping relationship with a display unit of the camera main body. The camera main body is operated by the touch panel, and, when photographing is performed with the camera main body accommodated in the waterproof housing, the operation of operation buttons of the waterproof housing operate corresponding operation buttons of the camera main body.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

a waterproof housing having operation buttons and a reflecting frame;

a camera main body accommodated in the waterproof housing, the camera main body having a display unit and operation buttons for performing imaging functions, the camera main body further having a flash device; and

a touch panel for operating the camera main body, the touch panel being disposed on the camera main body in overlapping relationship with the display unit,

the reflecting frame of the waterproof housing having a downward protruding member with a first reflecting surface and an upward protruding member with a second reflecting surface, wherein, in an assembled condition of the waterproof housing, the reflecting frame is fixed in position and arranged such that, when the camera main body is accommodated in the waterproof housing and when a flash operation is performed, light emitted from the flash device of the camera main body is received therein and reflected on the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface before being provided from the reflecting frame, and

wherein when imaging is performed with the camera main body accommodated in the waterproof housing, the operation of the operation buttons of the waterproof housing operate corresponding operation buttons of the camera main body.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the camera main body includes a control unit having mode switching means, and

with the camera main body accommodated in the waterproof housing and a mode switched to a housing mode by the mode switching means, the operation buttons of the camera main body perform functions of imaging.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein when imaging is performed with the camera main body accommodated in the waterproof housing, functions performed by the operation buttons of the camera main body are equal to functions performed by the operation buttons of the camera main body when imaging is performed with the camera main body not accommodated in the waterproof housing.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein when imaging is performed with the camera main body accommodated in the waterproof housing, functions performed by the operation buttons of the camera main body are different from functions performed by the operation buttons of the camera main body when imaging is performed with the camera main body not accommodated in the waterproof housing.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein a zoom operation of the camera main body is interlocked with the operations of the operation buttons of the waterproof housing.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein a flash switching operation of the camera main body is interlocked with the operations of the operation buttons of the waterproof housing.

7. A method of performing imaging when a camera main body is accommodated in a waterproof housing, the method comprising:

providing the camera main body with a touch panel in overlapping relationship with a display unit of the camera main body so that the camera main body is operated by the touch panel;

interlocking the operation of operation buttons of the camera main body with the operation of operation buttons provided in the waterproof housing; and

operating the operation buttons of the waterproof housing to perform imaging by the camera main body,

the camera main body having a flash device and the waterproof housing having a reflecting frame, and

the reflecting frame of the wateproof housing having a downward protruding member with a first reflecting surface and an upward protruding member with a second reflecting surface, wherein, in an assembled condition of the waterproof housing, the reflecting frame is fixed in position and arranged such that, when the camera main body is accommodated in the waterproof housing and when a flash operation is performed, light emitted from the flash device of the camera main body is received therein and reflected on the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface before being provided from the reflecting frame.

8. The method of performing imaging according to claim 7,

wherein the camera main body includes a control unit having mode switching means, the method further comprising:

operating the mode switching means to switch a mode of the camera main body to a housing mode, whereby, with the camera main body accommodated in the waterproof housing, operation of the operation buttons of the camera main body performs imaging by the camera main body.

9. The method of performing imaging according to claim 8,

wherein the switching of the mode by the mode switching means is performed by operating the touch panel of the camera main body.

10. The method of performing imaging according to claim 8,

wherein, when the mode is switched to the housing mode by the mode switching means, an ON-OFF operation button of a light source of the display unit of the camera main body functions as an ON-OFF operation button of the flash device of the camera main body.

11. The method of performing imaging according to claim 7,

wherein the camera main body includes a control unit having mode switching means, the method further comprising:

operating the mode switching means to switch a mode of the camera main body to a housing mode, and

switching the housing mode to an imaging mode and a play mode, wherein

the same operation button of the camera main body performs a different function in each of the imaging mode and the play mode.

12. The method of performing imaging according to claim 11, wherein

a zoom button of the camera main body functions as a zoom button in the imaging mode, and

the zoom button of the camera main body performs a screen sending function and a screen returning function in the play mode.

13. A waterproof housing in which a camera main body is accommodatable, such that imaging is performable while maintaining the camera main body in a waterproof state, the camera main body having a flash device, the waterproof housing comprising:

operation buttons that correspond to operation buttons of the camera main body, and

a reflecting frame,

the reflecting frame having a downward protruding member with a first reflecting surface and an upward protruding member with a second reflecting surface, wherein, in an assembled condition of the waterproof housing, the reflecting frame is fixed in position and arranged such that, when the camera main body is accommodated in the waterproof housing and when a flash operation is performed, light emitted from the flash device of the camera main body is received therein and reflected on the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface before being provided from the reflecting frame, and

wherein when a mode of the camera main body is switched to a housing mode, the operation buttons of the camera main body are operated through the operation buttons of the waterproof housing to perform imaging.