Filter device and imaging apparatus mounting the same

Abstract

To provide a filter device which is interposed between an imaging apparatus main body and an interchangeable lens device, can cope with various combinations of the imaging apparatus main bodies and the interchangeable lens devices, and has high versatility and to provide an imaging apparatus mounting the filter device.SOLUTION: The filter device interposed between the imaging apparatus main body and the interchangeable lens device includes a filter, a housing incorporating the filter, an imaging apparatus main body side adapter for detachably attaching the housing to the imaging apparatus main body side, and a lens device side adapter for detachably attaching the housing to the interchangeable lens device side. Each of the imaging apparatus main body side adapter and the lens device side adapter is configured so as to be detachably attached to the housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a filter device interposed between an image pickup device body and an interchangeable lens device, and to an image pickup device equipped with the filter device. [Background technology]

[0002] The filter device described in Patent Document 1, which is a filter device interposed between an imaging device body and an interchangeable lens device, includes a filter, a housing containing the filter, an imaging device body side adapter for detachably attaching the housing to the imaging device body side, and a lens device side adapter for detachably attaching the housing to the interchangeable lens device side, and an imaging device equipped with the filter device are previously known.

[0003] According to the filter device and the imaging device equipped with the same described in the above document, the filter device can be attached to the imaging device body and the interchangeable lens device as needed and used without having to incorporate the filter into the imaging device. However, since the imaging device body side adapter and the lens device side adapter are attached integrally to the body and difficult to freely attach and detach, a dedicated filter device is required for each combination of imaging device body and interchangeable lens device, which reduces versatility. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-243928 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention has an objective of providing a filter device that is interposed between an imaging device body and an interchangeable lens device, and an imaging device equipped with the same, which is compatible with various combinations of imaging device bodies and interchangeable lens devices, and is highly versatile, and an imaging device equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the filter device of the present invention is a filter device interposed between an imaging device body and an interchangeable lens device, and comprises a filter, a housing that incorporates the filter, an imaging device body side adapter that detachably attaches the housing to the imaging device body side, and a lens device side adapter that detachably attaches the housing to the interchangeable lens device side, and is characterized in that each of the imaging device body side adapter and the lens device side adapter are configured to be detachably attached to the housing.

[0007] The filter may be an ND filter that reduces the amount of light incident on an interchangeable lens and introduces the light into the imaging device body.

[0008] The ND filter may be configured to rotate, pivot, or slide linearly, and may have a gradation formed in the direction of movement.

[0009] The present invention may also be configured to include a position detection means for detecting the operating position of the ND filter, the ND filter having a scale marked or formed on it at predetermined intervals in its operating direction, and the position detection means for detecting the operating position of the ND filter by utilizing the scale.

[0010] The optical fiber may further include a transmittance detection means configured to detect the transmittance at a predetermined position of the ND filter.

[0011] On the other hand, the imaging device of the present invention comprises an imaging device body, an interchangeable lens device, and a filter device interposed between the imaging device body and the interchangeable lens device, and the filter device has a filter, a housing that incorporates the filter, an imaging device body side adapter that detachably attaches the housing to the imaging device body side, and a lens device side adapter that detachably attaches the housing to the interchangeable lens device side, and is characterized in that each of the imaging device body side adapter and the lens device side adapter are configured to be detachably attached to the housing. Effect of the Invention

[0012] The imaging device body side adapter and the lens device side adapter are each removably attached to the housing and can be made to match each imaging device body and interchangeable lens device, making it more versatile than a case in which it is necessary to provide a dedicated filter device for each combination of imaging device body and interchangeable lens device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a filter device to which the present invention is applied and an imaging device equipped with the filter device; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the filter device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1A is a front view showing a mount of an adapter on the imaging device body side, and FIG. 1B is a front view showing a mount of an adapter on the interchangeable lens device side. [Figure 4] 1A is a front view showing the mount of an imaging device body, and FIG. 1B is a front view showing the mount of an interchangeable lens device. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1A is a front view showing the configuration of an ND filter and a rotation sensor built into the housing, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of gradation printed on the ND filter. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit. [Figure 7] 13 is a schematic diagram of a filter device according to another embodiment of the present invention and an imaging device equipped with the filter device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a filter device to which the present invention is applied and an imaging device equipped with the same, and Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the filter device. The imaging device shown in the figure includes an interchangeable lens device 1 that takes in light from a subject and forms a subject image, an imaging device body 2 that captures the subject image formed by the interchangeable lens device 1, and a filter device 3 that is interposed between the interchangeable lens device 1 and the imaging device body 2. Note that in the following description, the side closer to the subject is referred to as the front, and the side closer to the photographer is referred to as the rear.

[0015] The interchangeable lens device 1 has a lens barrel 4 formed into a cylindrical shape in the front-to-rear direction, an interchangeable lens 6 provided at the front end side of the lens barrel 4 and into which light from a subject is incident, and a lens mount 7 protruding rearward from the lens barrel 4.

[0016] The imaging device main body 2 has an imaging element 8 that captures an image of a subject, a housing 9 that houses various electronic components including the imaging element 8, and an imaging device mount 11 arranged on the front side of the housing 9.

[0017] The filter device 3 includes an ND filter (filter) 12 that reduces the amount of light incident on the interchangeable lens 6 and introduces it into the imaging device body 2, a box-shaped housing 13 that houses the ND filter 12, an imaging device body side adapter 14 that detachably attaches the housing 13 to the imaging device body 2, and a lens device side adapter 16 that detachably attaches the housing 13 to the interchangeable lens device 1. Inside the filter device 3, an optical path 17 is formed, which is the path of the light from the interchangeable lens device 1 to the imaging device body 2.

[0018] The image pickup device body side adapter 14 and the lens device side adapter 16 are provided separately from the housing 13 and are detachably attached to the housing 13.

[0019] Next, the configuration of each of the adapters 14, 16 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0020] The imaging device body side adapter 14 has an adapter base 18 formed in a circular shape and having an abutment surface that abuts against the back surface (rear surface) of the housing 13 when the imaging device body side adapter 14 is attached to the housing 13, an imaging device body side mount 19 that protrudes rearward from the adapter base 18 and corresponds to the mount standard of the imaging device mount 11, and attachment members 21, 21 that attach the adapter base 18 to the back surface side of the housing 13. In the example shown in the figure, a bolt-shaped one-touch type attachment member 21 is used.

[0021] The imaging device body side adapter 14 is detachably attached (mounted) to the back side of the housing 13 by inserting and fixing the mounting members 21, 21 into mounting holes drilled on the back side of the housing 13 with the center of the imaging device body side mount 19 positioned on an imaginary line L passing through the center of the optical path 17 of the housing 13 and with the abutment surfaces abutting the back side of the housing 13.

[0022] The lens device side adapter 16 has an adapter base 22 that is molded, for example, into a rectangular shape and has an abutment surface that abuts against the front surface (front face) of the housing 13 when the lens device side adapter 16 is attached to the housing 13, a lens device side mount 23 that protrudes forward from the adapter base 22 and corresponds to the mount standard of the lens mount 7, and attachment members 24, 24 that attach the adapter base 22 to the front side of the housing 13. In the example shown in the figure, a bolt-shaped one-touch type attachment member 24 is used.

[0023] The lens device side adapter 16 is detachably attached to the front side of the housing 13 by inserting and fixing the mounting members 24, 24 into mounting holes drilled in the front side of the housing 13 with the center of the lens device side mount 23 positioned on the imaginary line L and the abutment surface abutting the front surface of the housing 13.

[0024] Incidentally, the adapters 14, 16 are not limited to the above configuration as long as they can be detachably attached to the housing 13. For example, the adapters 14, 16 may be detachably attached to the housing 13 by a magnet.

[0025] Furthermore, the imaging device body side adapter 14 attaches and fixes the filter device 3 (housing 13) to the imaging device body 2 by releasably engaging the imaging device body side mount 19 with the imaging device mount 11 of the imaging device body 2. On the other hand, the lens device side adapter 16 attaches and fixes the filter device 3 (housing 13) to the interchangeable lens device 1 by releasably engaging the lens device side mount 23 with the lens mount 7. In other words, the imaging device body 2, the interchangeable lens device 1 and the filter device 3 are connected via these mounts 7, 11, 19, 23.

[0026] Next, the configuration of each of the mounts 7, 11, 19, and 23 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0027] Fig. 3(A) is a front view showing the mount of the adapter on the imaging device body side, (B) is a front view showing the mount of the adapter on the interchangeable lens device side, and Fig. 4(A) is a front view showing the mount of the imaging device body, and (B) is a front view showing the mount of the interchangeable lens device. Each of the mounts 7, 11, 19, and 23 is attached and detached by a bayonet-type attachment and detachment structure.

[0028] The imaging device body side mount 19 has a mount ring 26 formed in an annular shape, a bayonet claw 27 formed in an arc shape along the inner circumference of the mount ring 26 and protruding outward from the inner circumference, multiple terminal portions 28 arranged in a row on the circumference of the mount ring 26 when viewed from the front, and a rotation operating portion 29 that supports the mount ring 26 and the bayonet claw 27 so that they can rotate together.

[0029] The imaging device mount 11 has a mount ring 31 formed in an annular shape, bayonet claws 32 formed in an arc shape along the inner circumference of the mount ring 31 and engaging with bayonet claws 27 of the imaging device body side mount 19, a rotation restriction portion 33 that restricts the movement of the bayonet claws 27 at a position where engagement of the bayonet claws 27, 32 is completed, and multiple terminal portions 34 arranged in a row around the circumference of the mount ring 31 when viewed from the front.

[0030] With the mount ring 26 of the imaging device body side mount 19 in contact with the mount ring 31 of the imaging device mount 11, the mount ring 26 and the bayonet claws 27 are rotated by the rotation operating unit 29 to a position where the rotation restricting unit 33 operates, whereby the bayonet claws 27, 32 engage with each other and the imaging device body 2 is detachably mounted. This also brings the two terminal units 28, 34 into contact with each other, electrically connecting the filter device 3 and the imaging device body 2.

[0031] The lens mount 7 has a mount ring 36 formed in an annular shape, a bayonet claw 37 formed in an arc shape along the inner circumference of the mount ring 36 and protruding outward from the inner circumference, and multiple terminal portions 38 arranged in a row on the circumference of the mount ring 36 when viewed from the front.

[0032] The lens device side mount 23 has a mount ring 39 formed in an annular shape, bayonet claws 41 formed in an arc shape along the inner circumference of the mount ring 39 and engaging with the bayonet claws 37 of the lens mount 7, a rotation control portion 42 that controls the movement of the bayonet claws 37 at the position where engagement of the bayonet claws 37, 41 is completed, and multiple terminal portions 43 arranged in a row around the circumference of the mount ring 39 when viewed from the front.

[0033] With the mount ring 39 of the lens device side mount 23 in contact with the mount ring 36 of the lens mount 7, the interchangeable lens device 1 is rotated to a position where the rotation restricting portion 42 operates, whereby the bayonet claws 37, 41 engage with each other, and the lens device side mount 23 is detachably attached to the interchangeable lens device 1. This also brings the two terminal portions 38, 43 into contact with each other, electrically connecting the interchangeable lens device 1 and the filter device 3.

[0034] As described above, by configuring the imaging device body side adapter 14 to be detachable from the housing 13 and the imaging device body 2, and by configuring the lens device side adapter 16 to be detachable from the housing 13 and the interchangeable lens device 1, even if the combination of the imaging device body 2 and the interchangeable lens device 1 does not have a compatible mount standard, the adapters 14, 16 can be removed from the housing and replaced with other adapters that have a compatible mount standard, making them compatible with the imaging device body 2 and the interchangeable lens device 1.

[0035] Next, the configurations of the ND filter 12 and the housing 13 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0036] FIG. 5(A) is a front view showing the configuration of an ND filter unit and a rotation sensor built into the housing, and (B) is a diagram showing an example of gradation printed on the ND filter.

[0037] The ND filter 12 has a transparent body 12a formed in a disk shape and a dimming film 12b formed on the surface of the transparent body 12a. The dimming film 12b is formed so as to have a gradation in which the optical density increases in one direction in the circumferential direction of the transparent body 12a. Furthermore, on the surface side of the ND filter 12, a scale is displayed or formed at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction. Note that the dimming film 12b is not limited to being formed on the surface of the transparent body 12a, and may be a gradation pattern formed inside the transparent body 12a.

[0038] The housing 13 is formed into a box shape that is long in the vertical direction. The housing 13 has therein the above-mentioned ND filter 12, a filter shaft 44 that is a rotation shaft in the front-rear direction that supports the ND filter 12 so that it can rotate or turn, an operating mechanism 46 that rotates or turns the ND filter 12 about the filter shaft 44, and a rotation sensor (position detection means) 47 that detects the operating position of the ND filter 12 by using a scale displayed or formed on the ND filter 12.

[0039] The operating mechanism 46 has a motor 49 having a drive shaft 48 in the front-rear direction, a drive gear 51 fixedly mounted on the outside of the drive shaft 48, and a driven gear 52 formed in an annular shape so as to surround the outer periphery of the ND filter 12. The motor 49 is an electric motor 49 powered by electric power supplied from a battery included in the imaging device body 2. The operating mechanism 46 is configured to transmit the power of the motor 49 to the drive shaft 48 → drive gear 51 → driven gear 52 → ND filter 12 in this order, thereby rotating or pivoting the ND filter 12.

[0040] By rotating or pivoting the ND filter 12 with the operating mechanism 46, the ND filter 12 is configured to be able to continuously adjust the amount of light attenuation of incident light in a light attenuation region X, which is a region overlapping with the optical path 17 in a front view.

[0041] The rotation sensor 47 has a light-emitting element 47a arranged in front of the ND filter 12, and a light-receiving element 47b arranged to face the light-emitting element 47a across the ND filter 12. The rotation sensor 47 is configured to detect the operating position of the ND filter 12 when the scale of the ND filter 12 passes between the light-emitting element 47a and the light-receiving element 47b.

[0042] Incidentally, as long as the ND filter 12 can continuously adjust the amount of light attenuation of incident light, the ND filter 12 is not limited to being rotated or turned. For example, the ND filter 12 may be configured by forming the transparent body 12a into a rectangular shape and forming the light-reducing film 12b so as to have a gradation in which the optical density increases in one direction of the overall length of the transparent body 12a, and a slide mechanism may be provided as the operating mechanism 46 to linearly slide the ND filter 12 in the vertical or horizontal directions. In this case, the filter shaft 44 is not provided, and a linear encoder or the like is used instead of the rotation sensor 47.

[0043] Incidentally, whether or not the motor 49 is driven and the amount of rotation thereof are controlled by a control unit 53 (see FIG. 6) to which detection signals from the rotation sensor 47 are input. The control unit 53 includes a storage unit 54 such as a CPU, RAM, and ROM, which are unitized.

[0044] In this example, the control unit 53 is disposed on the imaging device body 2 side, while the rotation sensor 47 and the motor 49 are disposed on the filter device 3 side. Correspondingly, the filter device 3 is provided with a filter side circuit (not shown) which is an electric circuit including the rotation sensor 47 and the motor 49, and the imaging device body 2 is provided with a body side circuit (not shown) which is an imaging device electric circuit including the control unit 53. These two electric circuits are electrically connected by mounting the filter device 3 on the imaging device body 2 side by the imaging device body side adapter 14.

[0045] Next, the configuration of the control unit 53 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0046] 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 53. The control unit 53 is composed of a CPU, a RAM, etc., and is connected to a storage unit 54 in which a predetermined control program to be executed by the control unit 53 is stored in advance.

[0047] The control unit 53 is connected to an operation unit 56, a rotation sensor 47, etc. as an input side, and to a motor 49, a display unit 57, etc. as an output side. The operation unit 56 and the display unit 57 may be integrally configured in part or in whole, and may be a touch panel capable of inputting and outputting.

[0048] The operation unit 56 is a button, a volume, or a panel provided on the imaging device body 2. The operation unit 56 includes a button for adjusting the amount of light attenuation by the ND filter 12, a volume or a display on the panel, and buttons, volumes, or displays on the panel for performing various operations related to shooting, such as adjusting the enlargement and reduction of the subject image. When a button is pressed, a volume is turned, or a display on the panel is touched, the operation unit 56 inputs an output signal according to the operation to the control unit 53.

[0049] The control unit 53 executes various processes by outputting control signals according to output signals input from the operation unit 56 based on a control program, etc. For example, when an operation is performed to adjust the amount of light reduction by the ND filter 12, the control unit 53 executes a process of driving the motor 49 to rotate or turn the ND filter 12 so as to achieve a target amount of light reduction.

[0050] When the ND filter 12 rotates or turns, the rotation sensor 47 detects its operating position from the number of times the ND filter 12 passes a scale provided on the ND filter 12 , and inputs a detection signal to the control unit 53 .

[0051] The control unit 53 calculates the amount of light attenuation in the light attenuation region X from the operating position of the ND filter 12 based on the detection signal, the control program, and the like, and executes a process of displaying the information on the display unit 57.

[0052] The display unit 57 is a monitor provided on the imaging device body 2, and is configured to display various information such as the amount of light attenuated by the above-mentioned ND filter 12, as well as the subject image or zoom magnification, so that the photographer can check it.

[0053] With the filter device 3 configured as described above, the imaging device body side adapter 14 and the lens device side adapter 16 are each removably attached to the housing 13 and can be made to correspond to each of the imaging device body 2 and the interchangeable lens device 1, so that it is highly versatile compared to the case where it is necessary to provide a dedicated filter device 3 for each combination of imaging device body 2 and interchangeable lens device 1.

[0054] The interchangeable lens device 1 may also be provided with a motor 49 and a rotation sensor 47, and the magnification and the like may be controlled by the control unit 53. In this case, an interchangeable lens device side circuit (not shown), which is an electric circuit, is also provided in the interchangeable lens device 1. When the interchangeable lens device 1 is attached to the filter device 3 attached to the imaging device body 2, the interchangeable lens device side circuit is electrically connected to the body side circuit via the filter side circuit.

[0055] Next, differences between another embodiment of the present invention and the above-mentioned embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a filter device according to another embodiment of the present invention and an imaging device equipped with the filter device.

[0056] The imaging device in the above-described embodiment is equipped with a single filter device 3, and the filter device 3 has an imaging device body side adapter 14 and a lens device side adapter 16, and is configured to be connected to the imaging device body 2 and the interchangeable lens device 1 via these two adapters 14, 16 in total. However, the imaging device in this embodiment is further configured to be equipped with a plurality of filter devices 3, 3, and a filter device adapter 58 that detachably connects the filter devices 3, 3 to each other.

[0057] According to the imaging device configured as described above, since the imaging device includes a plurality of detachable filter devices 3, 3, it is possible to mount additional filter devices 3 as necessary and obtain a light reduction effect suited to the shooting environment.

[0058] In the above example, the ND filter 12 is configured to be rotated or pivoted or linearly slid by the operating mechanism 46, but it may also be configured to have a manually operated ND filter operating unit (not shown) that rotates or pivots or linearly slides the ND filter 12.

[0059] The above-mentioned embodiment is a specific example, and is not limited by this description. It includes, for example, the following embodiments that a person skilled in the art can easily conceive. For example, the filter device 3 may be configured to include one or more lenses having various functions related to photography, such as changing the imaging magnification or moving the imaging position. In addition, the ND filter 12 may be a pair of gradation ND filters 12 that are stacked in opposite phases to make the optical density uniform over the entire dimming region X.

[0060] Furthermore, the rotation sensor 47 may be a drive position detection means such as a potentiometer or a transmittance detection means such as a photointerrupter. When a transmittance detection means is applied, the rotation sensor 47 is configured to detect the transmittance at a predetermined position of the ND filter 12 and input a detection signal to the control unit 53. The control unit 53 is configured to execute a process of calculating the transmittance (amount of light reduction) in the light reduction region X based on the detection signal and a control program, and displaying the information on the display unit 57.

[0061] Furthermore, motor 49 may be a stepping motor 49 or the like capable of counting its actuation amount. Stepping motor 49 is connected to control unit 53 as an output side, and is also connected as an input side that inputs an actuation signal corresponding to its actuation amount to control unit 53. Control unit 53 is configured to execute a process of calculating the amount of dimming in dimming region X based on the actuation signal and a control program, etc., and displaying the information on display unit 57. This makes it possible to omit the configuration of rotation sensor 47. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1. Interchangeable lens device 2. Imaging device body 3. Filter device 6 Interchangeable Lenses 12 ND Filter (Filter) 13. Cabinet 14 Imaging device body side adapter 16 Lens device side adapter 47 Rotation sensor (position detection means)

Claims

1. A filter device interposed between an imaging device body and an interchangeable lens device, A filter, A housing that houses the filter; an image pickup device body side adapter for detachably attaching the housing to the image pickup device body side; a lens device side adapter for detachably attaching the housing to the interchangeable lens device side, The imaging device body side adapter and the lens device side adapter are each configured to be detachably attached to the housing. A filter device comprising:

2. The filter is an ND filter that reduces the amount of light incident on the interchangeable lens and introduces the light into the main body of the imaging device. The filter device according to claim 1 .

3. The ND filter is configured to rotate, pivot, or slide linearly, and a gradation is formed in the direction of the movement.

3. The filter device according to claim 2.

4. a position detection means for detecting an operating position of the ND filter; The ND filter has a scale marked or formed at predetermined intervals in its operating direction, The position detection means is configured to detect the operating position of the ND filter by utilizing the scale. The filter device according to claim 1 .

5. A transmittance detection means configured to detect the transmittance at a predetermined position of the ND filter is provided. The filter device according to claim 1 .

6. An imaging device body; An interchangeable lens device; a filter device interposed between the imaging device body and the interchangeable lens device, the filter device includes a filter, a housing containing the filter, an imaging device body side adapter for detachably mounting the housing to the imaging device body side, and a lens device side adapter for detachably mounting the housing to the interchangeable lens device side, The imaging device body side adapter and the lens device side adapter are each configured to be detachably attached to the housing.

1. An imaging device comprising:

Images