Imaging device

Abstract

To provide an imaging apparatus that can perform satisfactory heat dissipation while preventing attachment of dust to a driving unit.SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus comprises: a camera unit; a pair of support members that supports the camera unit while allowing tilt rotation; a stationary member that supports the pair of support members; a driving member that is arranged in one of the pair of support members and drives to rotate the camera unit in a tilt direction; a heating member that is arranged in the other of the pair of support members; a first cover member that covers the support member in which the driving member is arranged; and a second cover member that covers the support member in which the heating member is arranged. The second cover member has a first opening through which air from the outside flows in, and a second opening through which air inside the second cover member flows out to the outside. The stationary member has a third opening through which the air flowing out from the second opening flows in, and a fourth opening through which air inside the stationary member flows out to the outside. The heating member is arranged in the vicinity of a channel of air flowing from the first opening to the second opening.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling structure for an imaging device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there has been a growing demand for imaging devices with higher functionality and performance, and the devices' power consumption and heat generation are on the rise. Operation of the devices in a high-temperature environment can cause malfunctions and performance degradation of the mounted components inside the device, and ultimately cause the device to break down, so recent imaging devices are required to have high heat dissipation performance.

[0003] Therefore, the imaging device with the pan-tilt mechanism of Patent Document 1 is configured to circulate air throughout the entire imaging device in order to improve the internal temperature environment. Also, as shown in Patent Document 2, an imaging device is known in which a tilt drive unit that rotates the imaging unit in the tilt direction is disposed on a support that supports the imaging unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-85204 A [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 3906844 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In an imaging device having a configuration as in Patent Document 2, if a configuration as in Patent Document 1 is applied to improve heat dissipation performance, dust may also adhere to the tilt drive unit.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned points, and has an object to provide an imaging device that is capable of good heat dissipation while suppressing adhesion of dust to a drive unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, an imaging device of the present invention includes a camera unit, a pair of support members supporting the camera unit so as to be tilt rotatable, a fixed member supporting the pair of support members, a drive member arranged on one of the pair of support members and driving the camera unit to rotate in a tilt direction, a heat generating member arranged on the other of the pair of support members, and a cover member having a first cover portion covering the support member on which the drive member is arranged, and a second cover portion covering the support member on which the heat generating member is arranged, wherein the second cover portion has a first opening through which air from the outside flows in and a second opening through which air inside the second cover portion flows out to the outside, the fixed member has a third opening through which air flowing out from the second opening flows in and a fourth opening through which air inside the fixed member flows out to the outside, and the heat generating member is arranged near a flow path of air flowing from the first opening to the second opening. The inside of the first cover portion is prevented from receiving air from the inside of the fixing member. . Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging device capable of suppressing adhesion of dust to a drive unit and dissipating heat satisfactorily. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an imaging device according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an imaging device according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 3] 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an imaging device according to a first embodiment; [Figure 4] 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an imaging device according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an imaging device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an imaging device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an imaging device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8] 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an imaging device according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which parts not directly related to the present invention are omitted and not shown. EXAMPLES

[0011] 1 to 4 show an imaging device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1(A) is a perspective view of the front of the imaging device 1, and FIG. 1(B) is a perspective view of the back of the imaging device 1. FIG. 1(C) is a view showing a state in which the pan movable part 200 has been pan-rotated 90 degrees with respect to the base part 100 from FIG. 1(B). FIG. 2(A) is a cross-sectional view of the imaging device. FIG. 2(B) is a view of the imaging device 1 of FIG. 1(C) seen from the back side. Note that FIG. 2(A) is a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed line AA of FIG. 2(B). FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional perspective views of the imaging device 1.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1(A), the imaging device according to this embodiment comprises a base section 100 as a fixed member, a panning section 200, and a camera unit section 300.

[0013] The base unit 100 is a part that is placed on a floor, a desk, or the like. The base unit 100 houses electric components and the like inside. The panning movable unit 200 is capable of panning around a P axis relative to the base unit 100. The panning movable unit 200 is fixed to the base unit 100 via a bearing 401 so as to be rotatable. The camera unit unit 300 is capable of tilting around a T axis relative to the panning movable unit 200. The camera unit unit 300 includes a lens group, an imaging element, and the like, and can capture an image in a desired direction by panning and tilting.

[0014] <Details of the base part 100> The base 100 is composed of a base lower plate 130 at the bottom, base side covers 120 at the sides, and a base upper plate 110 at the top.

[0015] The pedestal side cover 120 on the side is composed of a pedestal rear metal plate 122 on the rear side and a pedestal cover 121 other than the rear side. The pedestal rear metal plate 112 has connectors for a power source and various wiring, and is capable of supplying power and communicating with the outside.

[0016] The upper pedestal top plate 110 is composed of a top metal plate 112 and a top cover 111. Combining the top metal plate 112 and the top cover 111 increases strength and makes it possible to support the pan movable section 200 and the camera unit section 300. The pedestal top plate 110 also blocks an opening that communicates with the outside. If the opening is not blocked, air flowing inside the pedestal section 100 will leak to the outside, slowing down air circulation and reducing cooling performance.

[0017] Wiring paths not shown in the figure are prone to become paths for air leakage. For example, the inside of bearing 401 is hollow, and a wiring path 402 passes through it to connect base part 100 and pan movable part 200. Such openings can be blocked, for example, with tape or by using wiring holder 403 to hold down the wiring with a sponge or packing between them. Air leakage can also be reduced by blocking gaps in other wiring paths not shown as necessary.

[0018] A pan motor 251, a fan 151, a base circuit board A 142, and a base circuit board B 143 are housed inside the base 100. The pan motor 251 rotates the camera unit section 300 and the pan movable section 200 in the pan direction.

[0019] Pan motor 251 is isolated by fixed air passage 503 and pan drive unit cover 252. This can prevent dust from adhering to pan motor 251. Fan 151 is an axial fan. Pedestal electric parts 141 are mounted on pedestal circuit board A 142. Pedestal electric parts 141 are, for example, ICs and memories used for image processing. In recent years, the quality of captured images has improved and a large amount of calculation is required for image processing, so the amount of heat generated by these electric parts and circuit boards 141 and 142 tends to increase. It is an issue to efficiently cool such heat generating parts. Here, these electric parts and circuit boards 141 and 142 are referred to as first heat generating part 140 (fixed heat generating member).

[0020] In the imaging device of this embodiment, a pedestal heat dissipating metal plate A163 and a pedestal heat dissipating metal plate B164 are arranged above and below the first heat generating portion 140. The first heat generating portion 140 and the pedestal heat dissipating metal plate A163 are connected by a pedestal heat conductive member A161, and the first heat generating portion 140 and the pedestal heat dissipating metal plate B164 are connected by a pedestal heat conductive member B162. This allows the heat generated by the first heat generating portion 140 to be conducted and diffused over a wide area.

[0021] Additionally, cooling efficiency is further improved by having the air generated by the fan 151 hit the base heat dissipation metal plate A163 and base heat dissipation metal plate B164 that have been warmed by thermal conduction. The air flow inside the base 100 caused by the fan flows in from base opening A501 (third opening) and is exhausted from base opening B502 (fourth opening). The air passage through which the air flows in this manner is called fixed air passage 503. The overall air flow will be described later with reference to FIG. 3.

[0022] <Details of the pan movement part 200> The pan movable section 200 has a movable section support plate 210, a pair of camera unit support pillars 231 as support members, and a movable section exterior cover 220 as a cover member. The pair of camera unit support pillars 231 are fixed to the movable section support plate 210 so as to face each other about the pan rotation axis. The camera unit support pillars 231 support the camera unit section 300 so as to be tilt rotatable in the tilt direction.

[0023] A tilt motor 250 is disposed on one of the pair of camera unit support columns 231 as a driving member, and a movable part circuit board 242 and a movable part electric component 241 are supported on the other of the pair of camera unit support columns 231. The tilt motor 250 drives the camera unit section 300 to tilt via gears, belts, etc. The exterior cover of the imaging device of the present invention is divided into the base section 100 and the panning movable section 200, so that heat generated in the base section 100 is not easily transmitted to the exterior cover of the panning movable section 200. Therefore, it is more effective to dispose a heat source in the panning movable section 200 as well and dissipate heat from the exterior cover of the panning movable section 200 in a dispersed manner, rather than disposing all heat sources in the base section 100. For this reason, the imaging device of the present invention is structured such that a movable part circuit board 242 and a movable part electric component 241 are disposed in the panning movable section 200 as well. Here, the movable part circuit board 242 and the movable part electric component 241 are regarded as a second heat generating section 240 (heat generating member).

[0024] The second heat generating unit 240 and tilt motor 250 mounted on the panning movable unit 200 are covered by a movable unit exterior cover 220. In this embodiment, the movable unit exterior cover 220 is divided into a movable unit outer surface exterior cover 221 that covers the outer periphery of the panning movable unit 200 and a movable unit inner surface exterior cover 222 below the camera unit 300, but the division position does not necessarily have to be at this position. It may be divided into more parts.

[0025] The movable part exterior cover 220 covers the pair of camera unit support columns 231 separately. The partition structure 230 is attached to the two camera unit support columns 231 and blocks the air flow between the second heat generating part 240 and the tilt motor 250. In this embodiment, the partition structure 230 is formed by the camera unit support column 231 and the movable part support plate 210. Of the space formed by the movable part exterior cover 220 and the partition structure 230, the space that accommodates the second heat generating part 240 is formed by the movable part exterior cover 220 (second cover member). In addition, the movable part exterior cover 220 has a movable part opening A601 (first opening), and the movable part support plate 210 has a movable part opening B602 (second opening). In addition, the air flows between them to form a movable air passage 603. In other words, the second heat generating part 240 is disposed near (on) the flow path of the air flowing from the movable part opening A601 to the movable part opening B602.

[0026] Moreover, the space that houses the tilt motor 250 does not have an opening like the space that houses the second heat generating unit 240. That is, there are no openings in the movable part exterior cover 220 and the movable part support plate 210 on the side where the tilt motor 250 is arranged. In other words, the inside of the movable part exterior cover 220 and the movable part support plate 210 (first cover member) is prevented from receiving air from the outside, such as the base part. This makes it possible to prevent air from flowing in from the base part 100 and causing dust to adhere to the tilt motor 250.

[0027] In addition, the second heat generating part 240 is connected to the movable part heat dissipation plate 262 via the movable part heat conductive member 261. This allows the heat generated in the second heat generating part 240 to be spread over a wide range by thermal conduction. In addition, the air flowing in from the movable part opening A601 hits the movable part heat dissipation plate 262, so that the second heat dissipation part 240 can be efficiently cooled.

[0028] <Air circulation details> Next, the overall air flow in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3. Inside the base 100, a fixed air passage 503 is formed that connects the base opening A501 and the base opening B502. A fan 151 is disposed in the base opening B502. The fan 151 exhausts the air in the fixed air passage 503 to the outside through the base opening B502. In addition, the fixed air passage 503 is under negative pressure, so air flows in through the base opening A501. A connection space 700 is provided between the base 100 and the pan movable part 200. Since air flows out from the connection space 700 to the base opening A501, the connection space 700 is under negative pressure, and air flows in through the movable part opening B602. When air flows in through the movable part opening B602, the inside of the movable air passage 603 is under negative pressure, so that outside air flows in through the movable part opening A601.

[0029] Moreover, the first heat generating portion 140 such as the electric components and the circuit boards 141, 142 and the second heat generating portion 240 such as the movable circuit board 242 and the movable electric components 241 are cooled by the air flow described above.

[0030] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to take in outside air into the imaging device to efficiently cool heat-generating parts, and also to prevent dust from adhering to the tilt motor 250. EXAMPLES

[0031] An imaging device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the second embodiment.

[0032] In the first embodiment, the entire inside of the housing is used as an air passage to cool the heat generating parts inside the air passage, but in the second embodiment, a duct-like air passage is provided inside the housing, and the first heat generating part 140 and the second heat generating part 240 are brought into contact with the outside of the duct-like air passage. This makes it possible to efficiently cool the heat generating parts while preventing dust from adhering to the first heat generating part 140 and the second heat generating part 240.

[0033] In addition, in the first embodiment, the fan 151 is an axial fan and is arranged in front of the base opening B502, but in the second embodiment, a centrifugal fan is used and is arranged inside the base opening A501. In addition, in the first embodiment, the movable part opening A601 is provided between the camera unit 300 and the pan movable part 200, but in the second embodiment, it is provided in the exterior case 221 of the pan movable part 200.

[0034] As described above, in the second embodiment, a duct is provided so that air flows from the base opening A501 to the base opening B502, and the first heat generating unit 140 is disposed outside the duct so as to be in contact with the duct. Similarly, in the second embodiment, a duct is provided so that air flows from the movable part opening A601 to the movable part opening B602, and the second heat generating unit 240 is disposed outside the duct so as to be in contact with the duct.

[0035] According to this embodiment, it is possible to take in outside air into the imaging device to efficiently cool heat-generating parts, and also to prevent dust from adhering to the tilt motor 250. EXAMPLES

[0036] An imaging device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the pan movable section 200 has the same configuration as in the first embodiment, and the base section 100 has the same configuration as in the second embodiment.

[0037] That is, the movable part opening A601 is provided between the camera unit 300 and the pan movable part 200. In addition, a centrifugal fan is used as the fan, and is disposed inside the base part opening A501.

[0038] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to take in outside air into the imaging device to efficiently cool heat-generating parts, and also to prevent dust from adhering to the tilt motor 250. EXAMPLES

[0039] An imaging device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the fourth embodiment.

[0040] In the fourth embodiment, the pan movable part 200 has the same configuration as in the second embodiment, and the base part 100 has the same configuration as in the first embodiment. A movable part opening A601 is provided in an exterior case 221 of the pan movable part 200. A fan 151 is an axial fan, and is disposed in front of a base opening B502.

[0041] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to take in outside air into the imaging device to efficiently cool heat-generating parts, and also to prevent dust from adhering to the tilt motor 250.

[0042] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described by way of example, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and changes and modifications can be made according to the purpose within the scope of the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1. Imaging device 100 Pedestal 140 First heating element 151 Fans 200 Pan moving part 210 Movable part support plate 220 Movable exterior cover 231 Camera unit support column 240 Second Heating Unit 250 Tilt Motor 300 Camera unit 501 Pedestal opening A 502 Pedestal opening B 503 Fixed air path 601 Movable part opening A 602 Movable part opening B 603 Movable air path

Claims

1. A camera unit; A pair of support members that support the camera unit so as to be tiltable and rotatable; A fixing member for supporting the pair of support members; a driving member disposed on one of the pair of support members and configured to rotate the camera unit in a tilt direction; a heat generating member disposed on the other of the pair of support members; a cover member having a first cover portion that covers the support member on which the driving member is arranged, and a second cover portion that covers the support member on which the heat generating member is arranged, the second cover portion has a first opening through which air from the outside flows in and a second opening through which air inside the second cover portion flows out to the outside, the fixing member has a third opening through which the air flowing out from the second opening flows in, and a fourth opening through which the air inside the fixing member flows out to the outside, the heat generating member is disposed near a flow path of air flowing from the first opening to the second opening, An imaging device, characterized in that an inside of the first cover portion is prevented from allowing air inside the fixing member to flow into the inside of the first cover portion.

2. 2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the heat generating member is disposed on a flow path of air flowing from the first opening to the second opening.

3. A duct is further provided so that air can flow from the first opening to the second opening, The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the heat generating member is disposed outside the duct so as to be in contact with the duct.

4. The heat generating device further includes a fixed heat generating member disposed inside the fixed member, 2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the fixed heat generating member is disposed on a flow path of air flowing from the third opening to the fourth opening.

5. a fixed heat generating member disposed inside the fixed member; A duct formed so that air flows from the third opening to the fourth opening, The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the fixed heat generating member is disposed outside the duct so as to be in contact with the duct.

6. 6. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein a fan is disposed inside the fixing member.

7. 7. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat generating member is an electric component or a circuit board.

8. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the fixed member supports the support member so as to be capable of panning rotation.

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