Digital camera with rotary switch

• US 9,264,614 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HS Asset and Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hidehiko Nakajima
• Inventors: Nakajima, Hidehiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Velez, Roberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Quan
• Application Number:
  US14/599,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20150124116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/002 Details of arrangement of components in or on camera body
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/03 Means for limiting the angle of rotation of the operating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/54 the operating part having at least five or an unspecified number of operative positions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/06 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/50 with indexing or locating means, e.g. indexing by ball and spring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00397 Switches, knobs or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

A digital camera includes a rotary switch, a switching unit, and a switching unit. The switching unit switches between two states independently of a function other than functions assigned to the respective states of the rotary switch, the two states including a restricted state where rotation of the rotary switch is restricted with a clicking feel and a function of at least one of a shutter speed and an aperture as a function with discrete output values is related to the rotating operation of the rotary switch and a non-restricted state where rotation of the rotary switch is not restricted and a function of at least one of focusing, and a zoom magnification of a lens, and similar function as a function with continuous output values is related to the rotating operation of the rotary switch.

Claims

1. A digital camera, comprising:

a rotary switch,

a state changing switch, and

a restricting member,

wherein;

the rotary switch has a surface with a plurality of depressed portions or trough portions, and the restricting member engages with the depressed portion or the trough portion of the rotary switch in a case where a restricted state is set by the state changing switch so as to restrict rotation of the rotary switch, such that engagement and disengagement of the restricting member with the depressed portion or the trough portion of the rotary switch mechanically generate a clicking feel;

a rotating operation of the rotary switch causes a control corresponding to first and second functions respectively assigned to two states selected by the state changing switch;

the state changing switch is configured to switch between two states, independently of a third function other than the first and second functions assigned to the respective states of the rotary switch, the two states including the restricted state and a non-restricted state;

in the restricted state,

the rotation of the rotary switch is restricted with the clicking feel, and

a function of at least one of a shutter speed and an aperture as the first function with discrete output values is related to the rotating operation of the rotary switch;

in the non-restricted state,

the rotation of the rotary switch is not restricted and does not generate the clicking feel, and

a function of at least one of focusing, and a zoom magnification of a lens, as the second function with continuous output values, is related to the rotating operation of the rotary switch; and

the restricting member comprises a mechanical structure that restricts rotation of the rotary switch in a case where the restricted state is set by the state changing switch.

2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein

when the non-restricted state and the restricted state are switched by the state changing switch, the digital camera holds a last output value in an original state before the switching.

3. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the state changing switch is configured to electrically control the restricting member.

4. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the rotary switch is disposed in a peripheral area of a lens-barrel while having a rotary ring shape.

5. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the state changing switch enables switching from an operation setting screen.

6. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the state changing switch is configured to perform switching by an operation of pressing the rotary switch into a chassis side or pulling the rotary switch.

7. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein

The depressed portion or the trough portion is disposed at least in a vicinity of an end portion of an outer periphery or an inner periphery of the rotary switch.

8. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising:

a selector switch disposed in a portion close to a shutter with respect to a lens center on a surface of the digital camera;

a fixed portion disposed inside the digital camera, the fixed portion being configured to move the restricting member in a direction to engage with the depressed portion or the trough portion in conjunction with a switching operation of the selector switch; and

a spring that is pressed by the fixed portion such that the restricting member engages with the depressed portion or the trough portion in the restricted state.

9. A digital camera, comprising:

a rotary switch,

a state changing switch, and

a restricting member,

wherein;

the rotary switch has a surface with a plurality of depressed portions or trough portions, and the restricting member engages with the depressed portion or the trough portion of the rotary switch in a case where a restricted state is set by the state changing switch so as to restrict rotation of the rotary switch, such that engagement and disengagement of the restricting member with the depressed portion or the trough portion of the rotary switch mechanically generate a clicking feel;

a rotating operation of the rotary switch causes a control corresponding to first and second functions respectively assigned to two states alternatively selected by the state changing switch;

the state changing switch is configured to switch two states independently of a third function other than the first and second functions assigned to the rotary switch;

the two states include

the restricted state where the rotation of the rotary switch is restricted with the clicking feel and a function of at least one of a shutter speed and an aperture as the first function with discrete output values is related to the rotating operation of the rotary switch, and

a non-restricted state where rotation of the rotary switch is not restricted and does not generate the clicking feel; and

the restricting member comprises a mechanical structure that restricts rotation of the rotary switch in a case where the restricted state is set by the state changing switch.