Assembling method for imaging apparatus and imaging apparatus

• US 8,564,717 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2011
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Itoh, Kaoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Daniels, Anthony J
• Application Number:
  US13/048,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20110228133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 348/374
• US Class Current: 348/374
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/002 for television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils

Abstract

A method for assembling an imaging apparatus includes steps of: preparing an external cover, an image pickup device, and a tilt detection unit configured to output a tilt signal of the imaging apparatus, setting an orientation of the external cover to be a predetermined orientation, matching an orientation of the image pickup device with the orientation of the external cover in the state where the orientation of the external cover is the predetermined orientation, fixing the image pickup device in the imaging apparatus in a state where the orientation of the image pickup device is matched with the orientation of the external cover, storing a tilt signal output by the tilt detection unit in a state where the orientation of the external cover is set to be the predetermined orientation.

Claims

1. A method for assembling an imaging apparatus, comprising the steps of:

preparing an external cover, an image pickup device, and a tilt detection unit configured to output a tilt signal of the imaging apparatus;

setting an orientation of the external cover to be a predetermined orientation;

matching an orientation of the image pickup device with the orientation of the external cover in the state where the orientation of the external cover is the predetermined orientation;

fixing the image pickup device in the imaging apparatus in a state where the orientation of the image pickup device is matched with the orientation of the external cover;

storing a tilt signal with respect to the image pickup device, which is output by the tilt detection unit in a state where the orientation of the external cover is set to be the predetermined orientation; and

rotatably attaching an image pickup device attachment plate to a base, the image pickup device attachment plate including a first hole, a second hole and a third hole provided therein to limit a range of rotation of the image pickup device attachment plate,

wherein the image pickup device has a rectangular shape, the first and second holes are located outside one side of the image pickup device and in the proximity of corners of the image pickup device, the third hole is located close to a central portion of a second side opposite to the first side of the image pickup device, and

wherein a rotational center of the image pickup device attachment plate is set close to a side of the second hole facing the first hole, and the first hole has an elongate shape which is long in a perpendicular direction to the first side of the image pickup device, and the third hole has an elongated shape which is long in a parallel direction with the second side of the image pickup device.

2. The method for assembling the imaging apparatus, according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

fixing the image pickup device to a barrel unit;

matching the orientation of the image pickup device fixed to the barrel unit with the orientation of the external cover in a state where the orientation of the external cover is set to be the predetermined orientation; and

attaching the barrel unit to the external cover in a state where the orientation of the image pickup device fixed to the barrel unit is matched with the orientation of the external cover.

3. The method for assembling the imaging apparatus, according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

fixing the barrel unit on the external cover;

matching an orientation of the image pickup device with the orientation of the external cover on which the barrel unit is fixed in the state where the orientation of the external cover is the predetermined orientation;

attaching the image pickup device to the barrel unit in a state where the orientation of the image pickup device is matched with an orientation of the barrel unit fixed on the external cover.

4. An imaging apparatus comprising:

an external cover;

an image pickup device;

a base;

a tilt detection unit configured to output a tilt signal of the imaging apparatus;

an image pickup device fixation unit configured to adjust an orientation of the image pickup device to be matched with an orientation of the external cover and fix the image pickup device in the imaging apparatus, the image pickup device fixation unit including an image pickup device attachment plate rotatably attached to the base, the image pickup device attachment plate including a first hole, a second hole and a third hole provided therein, which limit a range of rotation of the image pickup device attachment plate; and

a storage unit configured to store the tilt signal output by the tilt detection unit,

wherein the storage unit stores a tilt signal with respect to the image pickup device, which is output by the tilt detection unit in a state where the image pickup device is fixed by the image pickup device fixation unit such that the orientation of the image pickup device is matched with the orientation of the external cover and where the orientation of the external cover is set to be a predetermined orientation,

wherein the image pickup device has a rectangular shape, and the first and second holes are located outside a first side of the image pickup device and in the proximity of corners of the image pickup device, the third hole being located close to a central portion of a second side opposite to the first side of the image pickup device,

wherein a rotational center of the image pickup device attachment plate is set close to a side of the second hole and facing the first hole, and

wherein the first hole has an elongated shape which is long in a perpendicular direction to the first side of the image pickup device, and the third hole has an elongated shape which is long in a parallel direction with the second side of the image pickup device.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a barrel unit on which the image pickup device is fixed, wherein

the image pickup device fixation unit is an assembling unit configured to adjust the orientation of the image pickup device fixed on the barrel unit to be matched with the orientation of the external cover and assemble the barrel unit and the external cover;

and

the storage unit stores the tilt signal output by the tilt detection unit in a state where the image pickup device is fixed by the assembling unit such that the orientation of the image pickup device fixed on the barrel unit is matched with the orientation of the external cover and where the orientation of the external cover is set to be the predetermined orientation.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a barrel unit on which the image pickup device is to be fixed, wherein

the image pickup device fixation unit is configured to adjust the orientation of the image pickup device to be fixed to the barrel unit to be matched with the orientation of the external cover and fix the image pickup device to the barrel unit; and

the storage unit stores the tilt signal output by the tilt detection unit in a state where the image pickup device is fixed by the image pickup device fixation unit such that the orientation of the image pickup device fixed to the barrel unit is matched with the orientation of the external cover on which the barrel unit is fixed and where the orientation of the external cover is set to be the predetermined orientation.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image pickup device is attached to the barrel unit with the image pickup device attachment plate interposed therebetween.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image pickup device is attached to the barrel unit with the image pickup device attachment plate interposed therebetween.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the assembling unit includes a receiving hole provided in the external cover and a fixing frame provided in the barrel unit and fitted in the receiving hole.

10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the assembling unit includes a recessed portion provided in one of the barrel unit and the external cover and a protruding portion provided in the other of the barrel unit and the external cover and configured to be fitted in the recessed portion, the recessed and protruding portions being configured to allow the barrel unit to rotate about an optical axis thereof within a certain range.

11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the assembling unit includes a recessed portion provided in one of the barrel unit and the external cover and a protruding portion provided in the other of the barrel unit and the external cover and configured to be fitted in the recessed portion, the recessed and protruding portions being configured to allow the barrel unit to rotate about an optical axis thereof within a certain range.

12. The imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image pickup device fixation unit includes a boss about which the image pickup device rotates relative to the barrel unit.

13. The imaging apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the image pickup device attachment plate is interposed between the barrel unit and image pickup device, and

the image pickup device attachment plate is engaged with the boss about which the image pickup device rotates relative to the barrel unit.

14. The imaging apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the image pickup device fixation unit includes a plurality of screws configured to fix the image pickup device attachment plate to the barrel unit, and the plurality of elongated holes through which the respective screws pass so as to allow the image pickup device attachment plate to rotate about the boss relative to the barrel unit within a certain range.

15. The method for assembling the imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus includes a display unit configured to display an image captured by the image pickup device, a calculation unit configured to calculate a tilt of the imaging apparatus based on the tilt signal output by the tilt detection unit, and a display control unit configured to allow the display unit to display the tilt of the imaging apparatus calculated by the calculation unit.

16. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a display unit configured to display an image captured by the image pickup device, a calculation unit configured to calculate a tilt of the imaging apparatus based on the tilt signal output by the tilt detection unit, and a display control unit configured to allow the display unit to display the tilt of the imaging apparatus calculated by the calculation unit.