Imaging apparatus

Abstract

To prevent unintended switching of an optical filter while reducing a size of an imaging apparatus.SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus comprises: a lens barrel unit that includes a lens barrel having at least one lens; a support part that rotatably supports the lens barrel unit in a tilt direction centered on a tilt axis; a base part that supports the support part; an optical filter that can be inserted into and withdrawn from an optical path of the lens of the lens barrel; an optical filter support member that supports the optical filter; and a drive lever that is connected with the optical filter support member to insert and withdraw the optical filter into and from the optical path. The drive lever is arranged on the back side in an optical axis direction of the lens barrel unit and closer to the base part within a predetermined range of rotation in the tilt direction of the lens barrel unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an imaging device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, imaging devices equipped with a filter switching mechanism for inserting and removing an optical filter such as an infrared cut filter or a neutral density (ND) filter into and from the optical path of a camera have been known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a mechanism for switching between a state in which an optical filter is inserted into the optical path and a state in which the optical filter is retracted from the optical path by an electric actuator. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-56859 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the imaging device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is equipped with an electric actuator, which increases the radial dimension around the optical axis of the camera unit. Also, when the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 is applied to an imaging device that allows the camera unit to rotate in the tilt direction, the radial dimension around the optical axis of the camera unit increases.

[0005] On the other hand, by adopting a manual switching mechanism used in handheld video cameras, etc., instead of the above-mentioned electric actuator, the imaging device can be made smaller. Since handheld video cameras are required to allow users to easily switch optical filters while shooting, an operation unit for switching optical filters protrudes from the exterior. In this case, the user's body, hand, etc. may come into contact with the operation unit while shooting, and the user may switch the optical filter unintentionally.

[0006] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device that can suppress unintended switching of optical filters while reducing the size of the imaging device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the imaging device of the present invention comprises a lens barrel unit including a lens barrel having at least one lens, a support portion that supports the lens barrel unit so that it can be rotated in a tilt direction around a tilt axis, a base portion that supports the support portion, an optical filter that can be inserted into or removed from the optical path of a lens of the lens barrel, an optical filter support member that supports the optical filter, and a drive lever connected to the optical filter support member for inserting or removing the optical filter into or from the optical path, wherein the drive lever is located on the rear side of the lens barrel unit in the optical axis direction and on the base side within a predetermined rotation range of the lens barrel unit in the tilt direction. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the size of the imaging device and prevent unintentional switching of the optical filters even when the means for switching the optical filters is a manual mechanism. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view of an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a support portion according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lens barrel unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an image sensor unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are partial front views of an embodiment of the present invention in which an optical filter is inserted into the optical path of a lens barrel and retracted out of the optical path by movement of a driven lever. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the drive lever unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 1 is a partial front view of a driven lever being moved by driving a driving lever according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 9] 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of an imaging device in a suspended position according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lower support part according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a partial front view seen from a direction substantially parallel to the pan axis. [Figure 11] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a drive lever and a switching guide are in contact with each other according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 12] 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams showing a relationship between a tilt rotation range and automatic filter switching according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 1 is a perspective view of an imaging device when a lens barrel unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is tilted within a tilt rotation range of +90 to +100 degrees. [Figure 14] 1 is a perspective view of an imaging device when a lens barrel unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is tilted within a tilt rotation range of +90 to +100 degrees. [Figure 15] 1 is a perspective view of an imaging device when a lens barrel unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is tilted within a tilt rotation range of +90 to +100 degrees. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. In the accompanying drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(A) shows the front side in the optical axis direction of the imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(B) shows the rear side in the optical axis direction of the imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The front side in the optical axis direction is the subject side with respect to the tilt axis S1 when viewed in the direction of the pan axis S2 of the lens barrel. The rear side in the optical axis direction is the opposite side to the front side in the optical axis direction. The imaging device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is installed, for example, on the ceiling of a live music venue or a photography studio as a fixed surface.

[0012] The imaging device 1 has a lens barrel unit 2, a support portion 4, and a base portion 5. The lens barrel unit 2 includes a lens barrel 21 having at least one lens. The lens barrel 21 will be described in detail later. The support portion 4 supports the lens barrel unit 2 so that it can rotate in the tilt direction around a tilt axis S1. The base portion 5 supports the support portion 4. Furthermore, for example, the base portion 5 can rotate the lens barrel unit 2 and the support portion 4 in the pan direction around a pan axis S2. The lens barrel unit 2 has a lower exterior case 30 and a drive lever 353.

[0013] The driving lever 353 is connected to the optical filter support member 338, and is for inserting and removing the optical filter 337 into and from the optical path. For example, the driving lever 353 is connected to the driven lever 332 in such a manner that the optical filter 337 can be inserted and removed into and from the optical path of the lens by operating the driven lever 332. The driving lever 353 is disposed in the lower exterior case 30 on the rear side in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel unit 2. The driving lever 353 is also disposed at a position sandwiched between the rear side in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel unit 2 and the base part 5. The driving lever 353 is also disposed in a recess formed on the rear side in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel unit 2. The driving lever 353 is formed with an operating part 3532 for a user to operate the driving lever 353. The driving lever 353 inserts and removes the optical filter 337 into and from the optical path by rotating about a rotation axis parallel to the optical axis of the lens barrel unit 2. The operating part 3532 will be described in detail later.

[0014] 2 is an exploded perspective view of the imaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the support part 4 has a support part cover 41, a support base 42, a left support part 43, a right support part 44, and a lower support part 45.

[0015] The support table 42 can rotate about a pan axis relative to the base unit 5 by a pan motor, bearing, pan shaft, etc. (not shown).

[0016] The left support part 43 and the right support part 44 have a mechanism for rotating the lens barrel unit 2 around the tilt axis. This mechanism is arranged at a position of 40° in the depression angle direction with respect to the depression angle direction of 30° of the shooting range, and has a depression angle side mechanical end (not shown). This mechanism is also arranged at a position of 100° in the elevation angle direction with respect to the elevation angle direction of 90° of the shooting range, and has an elevation angle side mechanical end (not shown). This allows the lens barrel unit 2 to rotate around the tilt axis within a range defined by the depression angle side mechanical end and the elevation angle side mechanical end. The depression angle here means a downward angle with respect to the horizontal direction. The elevation angle here means an upward angle with respect to the horizontal direction.

[0017] Lower support portion 45 prevents wiring (not shown) and other members disposed on support base 42 from coming into contact with lens barrel unit 2 .

[0018] 3 is an exploded perspective view of the support part according to the embodiment of the present invention. The left support part 43 has a configuration in which a tilt motor 432, a shaft 435, a gear 436, and a belt 437 are attached to a left support member 431.

[0019] Tilt motor 432 is fastened to left support member 431 with screws 433, and has a motor shaft 4321 extending in a direction approximately parallel to tilt axis S1 (not shown). Bearing 434 is formed in left support member 431, and is inserted into a hole (not shown) from the side surface of lens barrel unit 2. Gear 436 has teeth of a shape (not shown), and is connected to motor shaft 4321 of tilt motor 432 via belt 437.

[0020] The shaft 435 and gear 436 are fastened to a side surface of the lens barrel unit 2 by a screw 438 in a direction substantially parallel to the tilt axis S1 (not shown). The shaft 435 is attached to a left support member 431 having a tilt motor 432 and a bearing 434 by an E-ring 439. As a result, the power generated by the tilt motor 432 is transmitted to the lens barrel unit 2 via the belt 437, the gear 436, and the shaft 435.

[0021] The tilt rotation method is not limited to the configuration via belt 437, and motor shaft 4321 may directly rotate lens barrel unit 2. In other words, as long as lens barrel unit 2 can rotate in the tilt direction around tilt axis S1, the configuration of left support part 43 is not particularly limited.

[0022] The right support part 44 has a right support member 441 and a bearing 442. Similar to the left support member 431, the right support member 441 has a hole formed therein capable of holding the bearing 442. After the bearing 442 is inserted into the right support member 441, a shaft 26 described below is inserted into the bearing 442, and the right support member 441 is fixed to the support base 42 with a screw 443. The lower support part 45 has a lower support member 451 and a screw 452. The lower support member 451 is fastened to the support base 42 with the screw 452.

[0023] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a lens barrel unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 4, lens barrel unit 2 has lens barrel 21, lens support member 22, lens barrel cover 24, shaft 26, and upper exterior case 28. Also, as shown in Fig. 4, lens barrel unit 2 has lower exterior case 30, front exterior case 32, imaging element unit 33, drive lever unit 35, and heat dissipation member 36.

[0024] Lens support member 22 has a U-shaped cross section in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. Lens barrel 21 is fixed to lens support member 22 with screws 23. Lens barrel cover 24 can be combined with lens support member 22 to cover the surfaces of lens barrel 21 except for the front and rear in the optical axis direction, and is fastened to lens support member 22 with screws 25. Shaft 26 is fixed with screws 27 from a direction approximately parallel to tilt axis S1 (not shown) to the side of the lens barrel unit 2 on which shaft 435 is not attached.

[0025] The image sensor unit 33 is fixed to the rear side of the lens barrel 21 in the optical axis direction with screws (not shown). The drive lever unit 35 is fixed to the rear side of the lens support member 22 in the optical axis direction with screws (not shown). The image sensor unit 33 and the drive lever unit 35 will be described in detail later. The upper exterior case 28 is fixed to the lens support member 22 with screws 29. The lower exterior case 30 is fixed to the lens support member 22 with screws 31. The front exterior case 32 is fixed to the upper exterior case 28 and the lower exterior case 30.

[0026] As described above, the lower exterior case 30 has recesses on the rear side in the optical axis direction and on the side toward the base part 5, and the surface of the recess that is perpendicular to the direction approximately parallel to the pan axis direction is penetrated. As a result, when the lower exterior case 30 is attached to the lens support member 22, a part of the drive lever 353 attached to the drive lever unit 35 is disposed in the recess of the lower exterior case 30, as shown in FIG. 1(B).

[0027] 5 is an exploded perspective view of an image sensor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Sensor holder 331 has a switching mechanism for optical filter 337 and image sensor 335 composed of a photoelectric conversion element that photoelectrically converts an optical image that has passed through the lens. Sensor holder 331 is fixed to lens barrel 21 with screws 341.

[0028] The imaging element metal plate 334 is fastened to the imaging element 335 with screws (not shown), and is fixed with screws 336 while sandwiching the sensor holder 331 and the rubber sealing member 333. The switching mechanism for the optical filter 337 has a driven lever 332, an optical filter support member 338, a filter base 339, and a torsion coil spring 340. The switching mechanism for the optical filter 337 can insert the filter 337 into the optical path and retract the filter 337 from the optical path. The switching mechanism for the optical filter 337 will now be described with reference to FIG. 6.

[0029] Fig. 6 is a partial front view showing a case where an optical filter is inserted into the optical path of the lens barrel by the movement of the driven lever according to the embodiment of the present invention, and a case where the optical filter is retracted out of the optical path. Fig. 6(A) is a partial front view showing a case where an optical filter 337 is inserted into the optical path of the lens barrel by the movement of the driven lever 332. Fig. 6(B) is a partial front view showing a case where an optical filter 337 is retracted out of the optical path of the lens barrel by the movement of the driven lever 332.

[0030] The optical filter support member 338 supports the optical filter 337. The optical filter 337 is, for example, an infrared cut filter for blocking infrared rays. The optical filter 337 is supported in such a manner that it can be inserted into and removed from the optical path of the lens barrel 21 by the above-mentioned switching mechanism. The sensor holder 331 is integrally formed with a rotation shaft 3311 extending substantially parallel to the optical axis direction. The optical filter support member 338 can rotate around the rotation shaft 3311 and is sandwiched between the filter base 339 and the sensor holder 331. The optical filter support member 338 is biased by a torsion coil spring 340 in a direction to insert the optical filter into the optical path and in a direction to retract the optical filter from the optical path. The torsion coil spring 340 is supported by being hung on the optical filter support member 338 and the sensor holder 331.

[0031] The filter base 339 is fixed to the sensor holder 331 with a screw. The driven lever 332 is connected to the optical filter support member 338 in such a manner that the optical filter 337 can be inserted into and removed from the optical path by rotating the optical filter support member 338. The driven lever 332 is sandwiched between the filter base 339 and the sensor holder 331 in such a manner that the driven lever 332 can rotate about a rotation shaft 3332 formed integrally with the sensor holder 331. The rotation shaft 3332 extends approximately parallel to the optical axis direction.

[0032] The driven lever 332 has a pin-shaped transmission part 3321 (not shown) that drives the optical filter support member 338. The optical filter support member 338 has an elongated hole-shaped transmission part 3381 that abuts against the transmission part 3321 of the driven lever 332. When the driven lever 332 rotates, a force is applied to the transmission part 3381 of the optical filter support member 338, and the optical filter support member 338 rotates. When the optical filter support member 338 rotates, the optical filter 337 moves between the position shown in FIG. 6(A) and the position shown in FIG. 6(B). That is, when the optical filter support member 338 rotates, the optical filter 337 moves between a position where the optical filter 337 is inserted into the optical path of the lens barrel 21 and a position where the optical filter 337 is retracted from the optical path of the lens barrel 21. The driven lever 332 rotates due to the rotation of the drive lever 353 described later.

[0033] 7 is an exploded perspective view of the driving lever unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. The driving lever unit 35 has a lever base 351, a shaft 352, a driving lever 353, a spring 354, and a shaft screw 355t, and is fixed to the lens support member 22 with a screw 356.

[0034] The lever base 351 has a first mechanical end 3511 and a second mechanical end 3512 formed by bending a metal plate. The shaft 352 is attached to the lever base 351 and extends in a direction substantially parallel to the optical axis. The drive lever 353, the spring 354, and the shaft screw 355 are arranged in this order in the optical axis direction so as to cover the shaft 352.

[0035] The driving lever 353 has a first contact portion 3531, an operating portion 3532, and a second contact portion 3533. A part of the cross section of the driving lever 353 in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis is formed in a square shape, with the inner surface of the square being the first contact portion 3531 and the outer surface of the square being the second contact portion 3533. The longitudinal length of the operating portion 3532 is set so that it does not protrude from the recess of the lower exterior case 30.

[0036] Next, a manner in which the driven lever 332 is driven by the driving lever unit 35 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a partial front view of the case in which the driven lever is moved by driving the driving lever according to the embodiment of the present invention. When a user applies force to the operation portion 3532 in the direction A or direction B as shown in Fig. 8, the driving lever 353 rotates about the shaft 352 until the second contact portion 3533 comes into contact with the first mechanical end 3511 or the second mechanical end 3512.

[0037] The first contact portion 3531 comes into contact with the contact portion 3322 of the driven lever 332 by the rotational drive of the driving lever 353. Since the driven lever 332 can rotate about the rotation shaft 3332 formed integrally with the sensor holder 331 as described above, the driven lever 332 also rotates by the rotation of the driving lever 353. In other words, the rotation of the driving lever 353 makes it possible to switch between a state in which the optical filter 337 is inserted into the optical path and a state in which the filter 337 is retracted from the optical path.

[0038] Fig. 9 is a three-dimensional diagram of an imaging device in a suspended position according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 9, imaging device 1 assumes a suspended position when installed on a ceiling. In this case, when the center of gravity of lens barrel unit 2 is located forward of the tilt axis in the optical axis direction, lens barrel unit 2 rotates about the tilt axis to maintain balance of the center of gravity as shown in Fig. 9 if imaging device 1 is not powered on. Then, due to the above-mentioned arrangement of drive lever 353, support part 4 covers drive lever 353, making it possible to prevent the user's body or hand from unintentionally coming into contact with drive lever 353.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 9B, the driving lever 353 is disposed on the rear side of the lens barrel unit 2 in the optical axis direction and on the base part 5 side within a predetermined rotation range in the tilt direction of the lens barrel unit 2. Here, the predetermined rotation range refers to a range from a state in which the lens barrel unit 2 faces downward from the state in FIG. 1 (tilt 0 degrees) to a state in which the lens barrel unit 2 has rotated 90 degrees. The predetermined rotation range includes a first rotation range used during shooting. The "state in which the lens barrel unit 2 faces downward from the state in FIG. 1 (tilt 0 degrees)" is, in other words, a "state in which the tip of the lens barrel unit 2 abuts against a part of the support part 4". The "state in which the lens barrel unit 2 has rotated 90 degrees" is, in other words, a "state in which the optical axis of the lens of the lens barrel unit 2 is disposed so as to substantially coincide with the pan axis S2". This configuration makes it possible to prevent the user's body or hand from unintentionally coming into contact with the driving lever 353.

[0040] Note that if the center of gravity of lens barrel unit 2 is located on the rear side in the optical axis direction rather than the tilt axis, the rotation direction will be reversed. In this case, before installation, lens barrel unit 2 may be manually rotated in the direction shown in FIG. 9, and, for example, a cylindrical pin (not shown) may be inserted into support part 4 and lens barrel unit 2. This stops lens barrel unit 2 from rotating, preventing the user's body or hand from coming into contact with drive lever 353.

[0041] As a result of the above, the imaging device can be made compact while making it difficult for the user's body or hand to come into contact with the drive lever, thereby making it possible to achieve a configuration that reduces the possibility of unintentionally switching between a state in which the optical filter 337 is inserted into the optical path and a state in which the filter 337 is retracted from the optical path.

[0042] However, for example, if the optical filter 337 is installed without noticing that it has already been switched when the image capture device is shipped or removed from the packaging box, it is difficult to prevent the two states from being switched with the above-mentioned configuration. Therefore, in this embodiment, a configuration will be described next that allows the optical filter 337 to be returned to a desired position even if the two states are unintentionally switched during a process other than the installation of the image capture device.

[0043] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the lower support part according to the embodiment of the present invention and a partial front view seen from a direction substantially parallel to the pan axis. FIG. 10(A) is an exploded perspective view of the lower support part 45. FIG. 10(B) is a partial front view seen from a direction substantially parallel to the pan axis. The lower support part 45 has a switching guide 453. The switching guide 453 is disposed in a range obtained by projecting a trajectory of a contact part 3534 extending from an operating part 3532 of the drive lever 353 in the optical axis direction when the contact part 3534 rotates from 90 degrees to 100 degrees around the tilt axis onto the lower support member 451 from a direction substantially parallel to the pan axis. The dashed line shown in FIG. 10(B) is a trajectory of the contact part 3534 of the drive lever 353 when it rotates around the tilt axis. The details of the contact part 3534 will be described later.

[0044] The switching guide 453 has two convex contact portions extending in the pan axis direction, and the first contact portion 4531 and the second contact portion 4532 are formed into a quadrangle with a hypotenuse in a cross section on a plane perpendicular to the pan axis. The hypotenuse of the quadrangle is disposed on the side of a recess 4511 of the lower support member 451, which will be described later. The first contact portion 4531 and the second contact portion 4532 are examples of support portion contact portions formed on the support portion 4.

[0045] The cross section of the first contact portion 4531 and the second contact portion 4532 in a plane perpendicular to the pan axis is not limited to a rectangle, and the hypotenuse of the rectangle may be an arc. In other words, the shape of the cross section is not particularly important as long as the drive lever 353 can move when the contact portion 3534 of the drive lever 353 comes into contact with the first contact portion 4531 or the second contact portion 4532. The lower support member 451 has a recess 4511, which can prevent the contact portion 3534 of the drive lever 353 from coming into contact with the lower support member 451 even when the lens barrel unit 2 rotates around the tilt axis.

[0046] 11 is a perspective view of the case where the drive lever and the switching guide are in contact with each other according to the embodiment of the present invention. The drive lever 353 has an abutment portion 3534 extending from the operation portion 3532 in the optical axis direction so that the drive lever 353 can come into contact with the abutment portion of the switching guide 453 when the drive lever 353 rotates around the tilt axis. The abutment portion 3534 is an example of the drive lever abutment portion formed on the drive lever 353.

[0047] Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the tilt rotation range and automatic filter switching according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 12, the imaging device 1 of this embodiment has a tilt rotation range of -30 degrees to +90 degrees preset by software (not shown), and a tilt rotation range of -40 degrees to +100 degrees by a mechanical end (not shown). The range used for shooting is only the rotation range of -30 degrees to +90 degrees preset by the software.

[0048] However, the imaging device 1 has a rotation range for the lens barrel unit 2 that is preset in the tilt direction and is used during shooting, and when the lens barrel unit 2 rotates beyond the first rotation range, the optical filter 337 can be inserted or removed from the optical path. For example, the imaging device 1 allows the lens barrel unit 2 to rotate even in a rotation range that exceeds the drive range preset by software, that is, +90 degrees to +100 degrees, in order to automatically switch the optical filter 337. In the imaging device 1, for example, the tilt rotation range of +90 degrees to +95 degrees is set as the filter OUT mode, and the tilt rotation range of +95 degrees to +100 degrees is set as the filter IN mode. In this case, the position of the filter 337 is automatically switched by the user sending a mode instruction using a controller not shown. The filter OUT mode is a mode in which the optical filter 337 is retracted from inside the optical path to outside the optical path. The filter IN mode is a mode in which the optical filter 337 is inserted into the optical path from outside the optical path.

[0049] 13, 14, and 15 are perspective views of the imaging device when the lens barrel unit according to the embodiment of the present invention is tilted within a tilt rotation range of +90 to +100 degrees. The filter OUT mode and the filter IN mode will be described with reference to Figs. 13, 14, and 15. In the following example, drive lever 353 switches between a state in which optical filter 337 is inserted into the optical path and a state in which optical filter 337 is retracted from the optical path by the drive lever abutment portion abutting against the support portion abutment outside the first rotation range.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 13, when the user instructs the filter-out mode using a controller (not shown), the lens barrel unit 2 first rotates in the tilt direction to a position of +90 degrees around the tilt axis. As shown in FIG. 14, when the lens barrel unit 2 rotates in the tilt direction to +95 degrees after the contact portion 3534 of the driving lever 353 comes into contact with the first contact portion 4531 of the switching guide 453, the contact portion 3534 moves along the oblique side of the first contact portion 4531. The movement of the contact portion 3534 rotates the driving lever 353, the driven lever 332, and the optical filter support member 338, respectively, and the optical filter 337 retreats from the optical path. After that, the lens barrel unit 2 rotates again in the tilt direction to a position of +90 degrees around the tilt axis, and returns to the position when the filter-out mode was instructed, if necessary.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 14, when the user instructs the filter-IN mode using a controller (not shown), first, lens barrel unit 2 rotates in the tilt direction to a position of +95 degrees around the tilt axis. As shown in Fig. 15, after abutment portion 3534 of drive lever 353 comes into contact with second abutment portion 4532 of switching guide 453, when lens barrel unit 2 rotates to +100 degrees in the tilt direction, abutment portion 3534 moves along the oblique side of second abutment portion 4532.

[0052] The movement of abutment portion 3534 rotates driving lever 353, driven lever 332, and optical filter support member 338, respectively, and optical filter 337 is inserted into the optical path. Thereafter, lens barrel unit 2 rotates in the tilt direction around the tilt axis to a position of +90 degrees, and returns to the rotation position when filter-IN mode was instructed, if necessary. When lens barrel unit 2 tilts from +100 degrees to +90 degrees, spring 354 of drive lever unit 35 allows abutment portion 3534 to climb over first abutment portion 4531 while retreating to the front side in a direction substantially parallel to the optical axis.

[0053] With the above configuration, for example, even after the imaging device is installed on the ceiling, the user can switch the optical filter at any time, thereby preventing unintentional switching of the optical filter.

[0054] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, a rotation range of -40 degrees to -30 degrees in the tilt direction may be used to automatically switch between a state in which the optical filter 337 is inserted into the optical path and a state in which the optical filter 337 is retracted from the optical path. In addition, both the tilt rotation ranges of -40 degrees to -30 degrees and +90 degrees to +100 degrees may be combined. Furthermore, although the switching guide is disposed in the lower support part 45, it may be disposed in any part of the support part 4 as long as it is possible to automatically switch between the two states.

[0055] The present invention includes the following inventions that appropriately combine the above-mentioned features.

[0056] (Configuration 1) an imaging device comprising: a lens barrel unit including a lens barrel having at least one lens; a support portion that supports the lens barrel unit so that it can rotate in a tilt direction around a tilt axis; a base portion that supports the support portion; an optical filter that can be inserted into or removed from an optical path of a lens in the lens barrel; an optical filter support member that supports the optical filter; and a drive lever connected to the optical filter support member for inserting or removing the optical filter into or from the optical path, wherein the drive lever is located on the rear side of the lens barrel unit in the optical axis direction and on the side of the base portion within a predetermined rotation range of the lens barrel unit in the tilt direction.

[0057] (Configuration 2) The imaging device described in configuration 1, characterized in that the lens barrel unit has a recess formed on its rear side in the optical axis direction, and at least a portion of the drive lever is disposed in the recess.

[0058] (Configuration 3) 3. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the drive lever rotates about a rotation axis parallel to an optical axis of the lens barrel unit to insert or remove the optical filter into or from the optical path.

[0059] (Configuration 4) 4. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing means for biasing the optical filter support member in a direction to insert the optical filter into the optical path and in a direction to retract the optical filter from the optical path.

[0060] (Configuration 5) The imaging device described in any one of configurations 1 to 4, characterized in that the specified rotation range includes a first rotation range used during shooting, and the optical filter is inserted into or removed from the optical path when the lens barrel unit is rotated outside the first rotation range.

[0061] (Configuration 6) The imaging device described in configuration 5, further comprising a drive lever abutment portion formed on the drive lever and a support portion abutment portion formed on the support portion, wherein the drive lever switches between a state in which the optical filter is inserted into the optical path and a state in which the optical filter is retracted from the optical path by the drive lever abutment portion and the support portion abutment portion outside the first rotation range.

[0062] (Configuration 7) 7. The imaging device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, wherein the optical filter is an infrared cut filter.

[0063] The above describes preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. In other words, the present invention includes embodiments in which various modifications have been made based on the gist of the present invention, and these embodiments are not excluded from the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1: Imaging device 2: Lens barrel unit 4: Support part 5: Base section 21: Lens barrel 30: Lower outer case 45: Lower support part 332: Driven lever 337: Optical filters 338: Filter support member 340: Torsion coil spring 353: Drive lever 453: Switching Guide 3534: Drive lever contact part S1: Tilt axis S2: Pan axis

Claims

1. a lens barrel unit including a lens barrel having at least one lens; a support portion that supports the lens barrel unit so as to be rotatable in a tilt direction about a tilt axis; A base portion supporting the support portion; an optical filter that can be inserted into and removed from an optical path of a lens of the lens barrel; an optical filter support member for supporting the optical filter; a drive lever connected to the optical filter support member for inserting and removing the optical filter into and from the optical path, the drive lever is disposed on the rear side of the lens barrel unit in the optical axis direction and on the base side within a predetermined rotation range in the tilt direction of the lens barrel unit.

1. An imaging device comprising:

2. the lens barrel unit has a recess formed on a rear side in an optical axis direction, At least a portion of the drive lever is disposed in the recess.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1 .

3. the drive lever rotates about a rotation axis parallel to an optical axis of the lens barrel unit to insert and remove the optical filter into and from the optical path.

3. The imaging device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a biasing means for biasing the optical filter support member in a direction for inserting the optical filter into the optical path and in a direction for retracting the optical filter from the optical path, 4. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second lenses are arranged in a first direction.

5. the predetermined rotation range includes a first rotation range used during imaging, the optical filter is inserted into or removed from the optical path when the lens barrel unit is rotated outside the first rotation range.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second lenses are arranged in a first direction.

6. a drive lever abutment portion formed on the drive lever; A support portion abutment portion formed on the support portion; Further comprising: the drive lever switches between a state in which the optical filter is inserted into the optical path and a state in which the optical filter is retracted from the optical path by the drive lever abutment portion and the support portion abutment portion outside the first rotation range.

6. The imaging device according to claim 5.

7. The optical filter is an infrared cut filter.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second lenses are arranged in a first direction.

Images