Operation device and imaging device

Abstract

To reduce the thickness of a dial in an operating device equipped with an alternate mechanism. [Solution] The operating device 20 has a dial 22 and a dial lock member 24 with a recess 24b. The dial 22 is movable in the extension direction of a rotation center line CL of the dial 22, and includes a lock lever member 44 having a button portion 44b pressed down by a user and a protrusion portion 44c that engages with the recess 24b of the dial lock member 24 when the button portion 44b is pressed down to lock the dial 22 so that it cannot rotate, and an alternate mechanism that, when the button portion 44b is pressed down by the user in the locked state, moves the lock lever member 44 to release the engagement between the protrusion portion 44c and the recess 24b, thereby setting the dial 22 to an unlocked state in which it can rotate.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an operation device and an imaging device including the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, operating devices equipped with an alternate mechanism have been known. For example, an operating device described in Patent Document 1 is configured to be capable of locking a dial so that it cannot be rotated. Specifically, when a user presses down a lock button provided on the dial once, the dial is locked and becomes unrotatable, and when the user presses down the lock button again, the dial returns to a rotatable state. In other words, the alternate mechanism allows the dial to transition from a locked state to an unlocked state or vice versa with a common operation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-125307 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the case of the operating device described in Patent Document 1, when the user presses down the lock button, the lock pin comes out of the dial and engages with the lock hole of the case that rotatably supports the dial. This locks the dial so that it cannot rotate. When the user presses down the lock button again, the lock pin comes out of the lock hole and returns into the dial. This unlocks the dial so that it can rotate. For this reason, in the case of the operating device described in Patent Document 1, the lock button and the lock pin are detachably connected in the direction of the rotation center line of the dial. That is, the lock button must move away from the lock pin once. As a result of ensuring the stroke required for this movement, the thickness of the dial (the size in the direction in which the rotation center line extends) becomes large.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to reduce the thickness of a dial in an operating device equipped with an alternate mechanism. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, The dial and A dial lock member having a recess, The dial is a lock lever member that is movable in a direction in which a rotation center line of the dial extends and that includes a button portion that is pressed down by a user, and a protrusion that engages with the recess of the dial lock member when the button portion is pressed down to lock the dial so that it cannot rotate; An operating device is provided that includes an alternate mechanism that, when in the locked state, moves the lock lever member after the button portion is pressed down by a user, thereby releasing the engagement between the convex portion and the concave portion of the dial, thereby placing the dial in a rotatable unlocked state.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, There is provided an imaging device including the above-mentioned operation device. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, in an operating device having a dial equipped with an alternate mechanism, the thickness of the dial can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an operating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; [Diagram 3] Exploded perspective view of the operating device [Figure 4] 1 is a bottom perspective view of a dial in an operating device; [Diagram 5] Cross-section of the dial in the unlocked state [Figure 6A] Upper exploded perspective view of the dial [Figure 6B] Lower perspective exploded view of the dial [Figure 7A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an operating device showing an unlocked state in which a dial can be rotated relative to a dial lock member; [Figure 7B] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the operating device showing a locked state in which the dial cannot be rotated relative to the dial lock member; [Figure 8] A perspective view of a rotating body included in an alternate mechanism. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the lock lever member showing an engagement portion that engages with a rotating body. [Figure 10A] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a rotating body support member included in an alternate mechanism; [Figure 10B] 1 is a bottom perspective view of a rotating body support member; [Figure 10C] Top view of the rotor support member [Figure 10D] Bottom view of the rotor support member [Figure 11A] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a rotor support member supporting a rotor; [Figure 11B] FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the rotor support member supporting the rotor; [Figure 11C] FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a rotor support member supporting a rotor; [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the movement of the second cam follower portion of the rotating body when the dial state changes from an unlocked state to a locked state and back to an unlocked state in that order. [Figure 13A] A cross-sectional view of the dial when the lock lever member is pushed down to the maximum from the unlocked state. [Figure 13B] 13A and a bottom view of the rotor and the rotor support member. [Figure 14A] Cross-section of the dial in the locked state [Figure 14B] 14A and 14B are bottom views of the rotor and the rotor support member. [Figure 15A]A cross-sectional view of the dial when the lock lever member is pushed down to the maximum from the locked state. [Figure 15B] 15A and a bottom view of the rotor and the rotor support member. [Figure 16] A diagram for explaining the assembly of the first sub-assembly in the dial [Figure 17] 1 is a perspective view of a first subassembly; [Figure 18] A diagram for explaining the assembly of the second subassembly in the dial [Figure 19] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining assembly of a first subassembly and a second subassembly; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanation of already well-known matters or duplicate explanation of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid the following explanation becoming unnecessarily redundant and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0011] The inventor(s) provide the accompanying drawings and the following description so that those skilled in the art can fully understand the present disclosure, and do not intend for them to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0012] Hereinafter, an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] 1 is a perspective view of an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The XYZ Cartesian coordinate system shown in the figure is for facilitating understanding of the embodiment of the present disclosure and does not limit the embodiment of the present disclosure. The X-axis direction is the front-rear direction of the imaging device, the Y-axis direction is the left-right direction, and the Z-axis direction is the height direction. In this specification, the side of the imaging device where a subject exists is referred to as the "front side", and the side where the imaging device exists is referred to as the "rear side".

[0014] 1, an imaging device 10 according to the present embodiment has a housing 12 and a lens mount 14 provided on a front surface 12a of the housing 12 to which a lens barrel (not shown) is detachably attached. The imaging device 10 also has a number of operation devices such as buttons for user operation. For example, when a user operates a shutter button 16 provided on a top surface 12b of the housing 12, operation devices 18 and 20, a touch display and buttons provided on a rear surface 12c of the housing 12, and the like, the imaging device 10 executes various functions corresponding to the user's operation.

[0015] From here on, further features of the operation devices 18, 20 in the imaging device 10 according to this embodiment will be described. Note that since the operation devices 18, 20 have substantially the same structure, only the operation device 20 will be described.

[0016] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an operating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the operating device, Fig. 4 is a bottom perspective view of a dial in the operating device, and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the dial in an unlocked state.

[0017] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the operating device 20 includes a dial 22 that is rotated by a user, a dial lock member 24 that selectively limits the rotation of the dial 22, a bracket member 26 to which the dial lock member 24 is fixed, a contact rotor 28 that has a contact brush (not shown) and detects the rotational angle position of the dial 22, and a circuit board 30 on which is mounted an electrode portion in which a gold-plated copper foil portion on a printed wiring is mounted.

[0018] The dial 22 is supported by a bracket member 26 so as to be rotatable about a rotation center line CL extending in the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the imaging device 10. Although details will be described later, the dial 22 is made up of a plurality of components as shown in Fig. 5. Details of the dial 22 will be described later.

[0019] In this embodiment, the dial lock member 24 is an annular member and is provided with a plurality of lock wall portions 24a on its outer circumferential edge, each of which protrudes in the extension direction (Z-axis direction) of the rotation center line CL of the dial 22. The plurality of lock wall portions 24a are arranged at intervals in the rotation direction R1 of the dial 22. The dial lock member 24 is fixed to the bracket member 26 via a fixing screw 32.

[0020] The bracket member 26 includes a cylindrical portion 26a that passes through a through hole (not shown) formed in the housing 12, and a fixing portion 26b that is fixed to the inner surface of the housing 12 on the opposite side to the upper surface 12b of the housing 12. A cylindrical dial support portion 26d that rotatably supports the shaft portion 40b of the dial 22 shown in Fig. 4 is provided inside the cylindrical portion 26a. The dial lock member 24 is fixed to a boss portion 26e inside the cylindrical portion 26a of the bracket member 26 by a fixing screw 32.

[0021] The contact rotor 28 is a so-called rotary switch, and includes a screw portion 28a connected to the dial 22. Specifically, the screw portion 28a engages with an internally threaded hole formed in the shaft portion 40b of the dial 22 shown in FIG. 4. The contact rotor 28 is mounted on the circuit board 30 so as to be rotatable about a rotation center line CL with respect to the circuit board 30. A contact brush is provided on the surface of the contact rotor 28 facing the circuit board 30, and the circuit board 30 is provided with a plurality of electrode portions that are selectively electrically connected by the contact brush. When the contact rotor 28 rotates, the contact brush goes around the rotation center line CL and electrically connects two electrode portions among the plurality of electrode portions. The electrode portions electrically connected by the contact brush differ depending on the rotation angle position of the contact rotor 28. The rotation angle position of the contact rotor 28 can be detected based on the current flowing through the two electrode portions electrically connected by the contact brush. The circuit board 30 outputs a signal corresponding to the rotation angle position to a controller including a processor such as a CPU in the imaging device 10. Based on a signal from the circuit board 30, the controller obtains the rotational angle position of the dial 22 connected to the contact rotor 28 via the screw portion 28a thereof, and executes an operation corresponding to the rotational angle position of the dial 22. That is, a different operation of the imaging device 10 is assigned to each of a plurality of predetermined rotational angle positions of the dial 22.

[0022] In this embodiment, the dial 22 is biased by a plurality of ball plungers 34 so as to be positioned at each of a plurality of predetermined rotational angle positions. The ball plunger 34 includes a ball 34a that contacts the dial 22 and a spring 34b that biases the ball 34a toward the dial 22. The ball 34a and the spring 34b are housed in a pocket 26c formed in the cylindrical portion 26a of the bracket member 26. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of recesses 40c into which a portion of the ball 34a of the ball plunger 34 fits are provided on the back side of the dial 22, aligned in the rotational direction R1 of the dial 22. The ball 34a of the ball plunger 34 selectively fits into the plurality of recesses 40c, so that the dial 22 is positioned at one of a plurality of predetermined rotational angle positions.

[0023] As described above, the dial 22 can be positioned at each of a plurality of predetermined rotational angle positions via the ball plunger 34. The dial 22 is also configured so that it can be fixed (locked) in a state where it is positioned at any one of the plurality of predetermined rotational angle positions. In other words, the dial 22 is configured so that it cannot be rotated in a positioned state.

[0024] Specifically, the dial 22 is configured to be switched between an unlocked state (rotatable state) and a locked state (non-rotatable state) by a user's operation. The configuration of the dial 22 will now be described.

[0025] 6A and 6B are exploded perspective views of the dial from above and below.

[0026] As shown in Figures 5, 6A, and 6B, the dial 22 includes a dial base 40, a dial cap 42 that is rotated by the user, and a lock lever member 44 for fixing the dial 22 to the dial lock member 24.

[0027] The dial base 40 includes a disk-shaped main body portion 40a, a shaft portion 40b extending from the center of the main body portion 40a in the extension direction of the rotation center line CL (Z-axis direction) and connecting to the screw portion 28a of the contact rotor 28, and a plurality of recesses 40c that engage with the balls 34a of the ball plunger 34.

[0028] The dial cap 42 includes a top plate 42a and a cylindrical side wall portion 42b that protrudes from the outer periphery of the top plate 42a in the direction of the rotation center line CL. A through hole 42c is formed in the center of the top plate 42a, as will be described in detail later. In addition, in the present embodiment, the outer periphery of the side wall portion 42b is knurled. The user grips the outer periphery of the side wall portion 42b of the dial cap 42 and rotates the dial 22 around the rotation center line CL.

[0029] 6A and 6B, the dial cap 42 is also attached to the dial base 40 via a plurality of fixing screws 46. In other words, the dial base 40 and the dial cap 42 are fixed to each other so that they cannot be displaced or rotated relative to each other.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 5, the lock lever member 44 includes a main body portion 44a that is stored in the space between the dial base 40 and the dial cap 42, a button portion 44b that protrudes from the main body portion 44a and passes through the through hole 42c of the dial cap 42, and a plurality of protrusions 44c that engage with the dial lock member 24 to lock the dial 22 against rotation.

[0031] In the dial 22, the lock lever member 44 is provided so as to be movable in the extension direction of the rotation center line CL (Z-axis direction). Specifically, a main body portion 44a of the lock lever member 44 is provided between the dial base 40 and the dial cap 42 so as to be movable in the extension direction of the rotation center line CL.

[0032] In the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6B, a back surface 42d of a top plate 42a of the dial cap 42 is provided with a plurality of guide pins 42e protruding in the extending direction of the rotation center line CL (Z-axis direction). A plurality of guide holes 44d guided by the plurality of guide pins 42e are formed in a main body portion 44a of the lock lever member 44. When the guide pins 42e enter the guide holes 44d, the lock lever member 44 is provided on the dial 22 so as to be movable in the extending direction of the rotation center line CL while the rotation around the rotation center line CL is restricted. In the present embodiment, the lock lever member 44 is engaged with a notch portion 40f formed on the outer circumferential edge of the dial base 40 so as to be movable in the extending direction of the rotation center line CL, as shown in Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B, and the rotation is restricted by the notch portion 40f.

[0033] The button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44 is exposed to the outside through a through hole 42c of the dial cap 42. The button portion 44b is pressed down by the user. When the button portion 44b is pressed down by the user, the entire lock lever member 44 is pressed down.

[0034] The multiple protrusions 44 c of the lock lever member 44 selectively limit the rotation of the dial 22 relative to the dial lock member 24 .

[0035] Fig. 7A is a perspective view of the operating device showing an unlocked state in which the dial can be rotated relative to the dial lock member. Fig. 7B is a perspective view of the operating device showing a locked state in which the dial cannot be rotated relative to the dial lock member. In Figs. 7A and 7B, the dial cap 42 is shown by a two-dot chain line so that the inside of the dial 22 can be seen.

[0036] 7A and 7B, the multiple protrusions 44c of the lock lever member 44 selectively engage with the multiple recesses 24b of the dial lock member 24. In the present embodiment, the multiple recesses 24b of the dial lock member 24 are gaps between two lock wall portions 24a adjacent to each other in the rotation direction R1 of the dial 22.

[0037] 7A, in the unlocked state, the multiple convex portions 44c of the lock lever member 44 do not enter the multiple concave portions 24b of the dial lock member 24. Therefore, the dial 22 is capable of rotating relative to the dial lock member 24 about the rotation center line CL.

[0038] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 7B, in the locked state, the multiple protrusions 44c of the lock lever member 44 enter the multiple recesses 24b. That is, the movement of each of the multiple protrusions 44c in the rotation direction R1 is restricted by the multiple lock walls 24a. Therefore, the dial 22 cannot rotate relative to the dial lock member 24 around the rotation center line CL.

[0039] The dial 22 is configured so that each time the user presses down the button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44, the dial 22 alternates between an unlocked state shown in FIG. 7A and a locked state shown in FIG. 7B.

[0040] First, when a user presses down the button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44 of the dial 22 in the unlocked state shown in Fig. 7A, the entire lock lever member 44 moves downward, and as shown in Fig. 7B, the multiple convex portions 44c of the lock lever member 44 engage with the multiple concave portions 24b of the dial lock member 24. As a result, the dial 22 transitions from the unlocked state to the locked state.

[0041] When the user presses down the button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44 of the dial 22 in the locked state shown in Fig. 7B, the entire lock lever member 44 moves upward, and as shown in Fig. 7A, the multiple convex portions 44c of the lock lever member 44 move away from the multiple concave portions 24b of the dial lock member 24. As a result, the dial 22 transitions from the locked state to the unlocked state.

[0042] The trigger, which is the user's pressing down of the button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44, is the same, but the direction of movement of the lock lever member 44 when transitioning from the unlocked state to the locked state (i.e., downward) is different from the direction of movement of the lock lever member 44 when transitioning from the locked state to the unlocked state (i.e., upward). To realize such behavior of the lock lever member 44, the dial 22 includes an alternate mechanism.

[0043] The "alternate mechanism" refers to a mechanism that transitions the state of the device from a first state to a second state or vice versa, for example, by the same user operation on a button. That is, if the state of the device is the first state when the user operates, the device transitions from the first state to the second state. Also, if the state of the device is the second state when the user operates, the device transitions from the second state to the first state. In the case of this embodiment, if the dial 22 is in an unlocked state when the user presses down the button portion 44b, the dial 22 transitions from the unlocked state to the locked state. Also, if the dial 22 is in a locked state when the user presses down the button portion 44b, the dial 22 transitions from the locked state to the unlocked state.

[0044] In the present embodiment, as shown in Figs. 5, 6A, and 6B, the dial 22 includes a coil spring (first biasing member) 48 that biases the lock lever member 44. Specifically, the coil spring 48 biases the lock lever member 44 in a direction (first direction) in which the multiple convex portions 44c of the lock lever member 44 engage with the multiple concave portions 24b of the dial lock member 24, that is, in a direction in which the lock lever member 44 approaches the dial base 40. In the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the coil spring 48 is disposed between the top plate 42a of the dial cap 42 and the lock lever member 44. Furthermore, the coil spring 48 is inserted into and supported by the guide pin 42e of the dial cap 42.

[0045] Therefore, in the case of this embodiment, the alternate mechanism of the dial 22 is configured to, in the unlocked state, continue to urge the lock lever member 44 in the opposite direction (second direction) to the urging direction of the coil spring 48 with a urging force larger than the urging force of the coil spring 48. Also, the alternate mechanism is configured to release the urging force applied to the lock lever member 44 in the locked state.

[0046] In this embodiment, the alternate mechanism of the dial 22 includes a rotating body 50 provided between the lock lever member 44 and the dial base 40, a coil spring 52 that biases the rotating body 50, and a rotating body support member 54 that supports the rotating body 50, as shown in Figures 5, 6A, and 6B.

[0047] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a rotating body included in the alternate mechanism, and Fig. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the lock lever member showing an engagement portion that engages with the rotating body.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, the rotating body 50 is a cylindrical member. The rotating body 50 has a crown gear-shaped first cam follower portion 50a on an end surface facing the lock lever member 44. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 9, a crown gear-shaped cam portion 44e that can mesh with the first cam follower portion 50a of the rotating body 50 is formed on a portion of the lock lever member 44 facing the first cam follower portion 50a of the rotating body 50. In the present embodiment, the button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44 is cylindrical with a bottom, and the cam portion 44e is formed on its inner bottom surface. Therefore, at least a portion of the rotating body 50 is accommodated in the button portion 44b. As a result, the size of the dial 22 in the extension direction (Z-axis direction) of the rotation center line CL is reduced compared to a case where at least a portion of the rotating body 50 is not accommodated in the button portion 44b (for example, compared to a case where the button portion 44b is solid). FIG. 5 shows a state in which the first cam follower portion 50a of the rotating body 50 and the cam portion 44e of the lock lever member 44 are not engaged with each other.

[0049] The rotor 50 also includes a plurality of second cam follower portions 50b each having a convex shape that protrudes outward in a direction intersecting with the extension direction of the rotation center line CL (the Z-axis direction). The second cam follower portions 50b will be described in detail later.

[0050] The coil spring 52 of the alternate mechanism biases the rotating body 50 toward the lock lever member 44. As shown in FIG. 5, at least a portion of the coil spring 52 is housed in the cylindrical rotating body 50. As a result, the size of the dial 22 in the extension direction of the rotation center line CL (Z-axis direction) is reduced compared to a case where at least a portion of the coil spring 52 is not housed in the rotating body 50 (for example, compared to a case where the rotating body 50 is solid). Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the coil spring 52 is inserted into and supported by a support pin 40d that is provided in the main body 40a of the dial base 40 and extends in the extension direction of the rotation center line CL (Z-axis direction).

[0051] As shown in Fig. 5, the coil spring 52 also biases the rotating body 50 toward the lock lever member 44 with a biasing force larger than that of the coil spring 48 which biases the lock lever member 44 toward the rotating body 50. This causes the lock lever member 44 to come into contact with the back surface 42d of the top plate 42a of the dial cap 42. As a result, the button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44 protrudes to the maximum extent from the through hole 42c of the dial cap 42, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7A. The biasing forces of the coil springs 48 and 52 are set to biasing forces that move the lock lever member 44 when the user presses down the button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44 with the fingertip.

[0052] The rotating body support member 54 of the alternate mechanism supports the rotating body 50 so as to be movable in the extension direction of the rotation center line CL (Z-axis direction) and rotatable about the rotation center line CL.

[0053] 10A to 10D are an upper perspective view, a lower perspective view, a top view, and a bottom view of a rotating body support member included in the alternate mechanism. In addition, in Fig. 10C and Fig. 10D, the rotating body 50 is shown by a two-dot chain line. In addition, Fig. 11A to Fig. 11C are an upper perspective view, a lower perspective view, and a bottom view of the rotating body support member in a state in which the rotating body is supported. In addition, Fig. 11A to Fig. 11C correspond to Fig. 5 and Fig. 7A, and show the rotating body 50 and the rotating body support member 54 when the dial 22 is in an unlocked state.

[0054] 10A to 10D, the rotating body support member 54 includes a cylindrical portion 54a that supports the outer circumferential surface 50c of the rotating body 50 shown in Fig. 8 so that the rotating body 50 can move in the extension direction of the rotation center line CL (Z-axis direction). A plurality of guide grooves 54b that extend in the extension direction of the rotation center line CL and guide a plurality of second cam follower portions 50b of the rotating body 50 are formed in the cylindrical portion 54a.

[0055] 11A and 11B, while the second cam follower portion 50b is present in the guide groove 54b, the rotating body 50 cannot rotate in the cylindrical portion 54a of the rotating body support member 54. When the rotating body 50 moves in the extension direction of the rotation center line CL (Z-axis direction) and the second cam follower portion 50b comes out of the guide groove 54b, the rotating body 50 becomes rotatable in a rotation direction R2 about the rotation center line CL as shown in FIG. 11C. The rotation direction R2 will be described in detail later.

[0056] In the present embodiment, a plurality of rib portions 44f protruding in the extension direction (Z-axis direction) of the rotation center line CL of the lock lever member 44 shown in Fig. 6B enter some of the guide grooves 54b. This limits the rotation of the lock lever member 44 around the rotation center line CL.

[0057] As shown in Figs. 10B, 10D, 11B, and 11C, the rotor support member 54 includes a cam surface 54c on which the second cam follower portions 50b of the rotor 50 coming out of the guide groove 54b are driven. The cam surface 54c is formed on an end surface of the cylindrical portion 54a (the end surface farther from the lock lever member 44). The cam surface 54c includes an inclined surface that extends between the guide grooves 54b in the rotation direction R2 of the rotor 50. The second cam follower portions 50b coming out of the guide grooves 54b are pressed against the cam surface 54c by the biasing force of the coil spring 52 after moving to a position facing the cam surface 54c, as will be described in detail later. The pressed second cam follower portions 50b slide on the cam surface 54c in the rotation direction R2 due to the inclination of the cam surface 54c. As a result, the entire rotor 50 rotates about the rotation center line CL. In this embodiment, a stepped stopper portion 54d for limiting the movement of the second cam follower portion 50b is provided at approximately the center of the inclined surface of the cam surface 54c.

[0058] From here, the movements of the components of the dial 22 when transitioning from the locked state to the unlocked state and from the unlocked state to the locked state will be described. The explanation will be based on the movement of the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50.

[0059] 12 is a diagram showing the movement of the second cam follower part of the rotating body when the dial state changes from the unlocked state to the locked state and back to the unlocked state in that order. That is, the movement of the second cam follower part 50b of the rotating body 50 is shown when the cylindrical part 54a of the rotating body support member 54 is viewed from the rotation center line CL.

[0060] First, when the dial 22 is in an unlocked state, as shown in FIG. 5, the main body 44a of the lock lever member 44 contacts the back surface 42d of the top plate 42a of the dial cap 42, and is farthest from the dial base 40. As a result, the button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44 protrudes from the through hole 42c of the dial cap 42 by a maximum protrusion amount. The rotating body 50 is also farthest from the dial base 40 by a maximum amount. At this time, as shown in FIG. 12, the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50 is located at a position P0 in the guide groove 54b of the rotating body support member 54. When the second cam follower portion 50b is located at the position P0, the rotating body 50 cannot rotate around the rotation center line CL. That is, as shown in Fig. 11A, the cylindrical portion 54a of the rotating body support part 54 has a height (size in the extending direction of the rotation center line CL (Z-axis direction)) that prevents the rotating body 50 from slipping out of the cylindrical portion 54a when the rotating body 50 is at its maximum distance from the dial base 40. As shown in Fig. 7A, the convex portion 44c of the dial cap 42 does not enter the concave portion 24b of the dial lock member 24. The cam portion 44e of the lock lever member 44 and the first cam follower portion 50a of the rotating body 50 do not mesh with each other.

[0061] When the user presses down the button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44 in the dial 22 in the unlocked state shown in Fig. 5, the lock lever member 44 presses down the rotating body 50. This causes the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50 to move toward the dial base 40 within the guide groove 54b of the rotating body support member 54, as shown in Fig. 12. Note that in Fig. 12, the movement path of the second cam follower portion 50b is indicated by a solid line arrow and a dashed line arrow. The solid line arrow indicates the movement path when a pressing force (pressing force from the user's finger) is acting on the button portion 44b, and the dashed line arrow indicates the movement path when no pressing force is acting on the button portion 44b.

[0062] 12, when the user continues to press down the button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44, the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50 reaches a position P1 outside the guide groove 54b of the rotating body support member 54. This makes the rotating body 50 rotatable about the rotation center line CL.

[0063] When the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50 reaches the position P1, the cam portion 44e of the lock lever member 44 and the first cam follower portion 50a of the rotating body 50, which are not engaged as shown in FIG. 5, begin to engage with each other. Specifically, in order to engage with each other, the rotating body 50 begins to rotate in the rotation direction R2. At this time, since the button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44 is continuously pressed down by the user, the lock lever member 44 and the rotating body 50 both move toward the dial base 40 while the rotating body 50 rotates in the rotation direction R2. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50 moves to a position P2 between the cam surface 54c of the rotating body support member 54 and the dial base 40 (however, it does not contact the cam surface 54c). The tooth shapes of the cam portion 44e of the lock lever member 44 and the first cam follower portion 50a of the rotating body 50 are designed so that the rotating body 50 rotates in the rotational direction R2 when they mesh with each other.

[0064] Fig. 13A is a cross-sectional view of the dial when the lock lever member is pushed down to the maximum from the unlocked state, and Fig. 13B is a bottom view of the rotor and the rotor support member corresponding to Fig. 13A.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 13A, when the lock lever member 44 is pushed down to the maximum by the pressing force F from the user, that is, when the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50 is located at the position P2 as shown in FIG. 12, the cam portion 44e of the lock lever member 44 and the first cam follower portion 50a of the rotating body 50 are in meshed state. At this time, the lock lever member 44 comes into contact with the dial base 40, so that the user is restricted from pushing down the lock lever member 44 further (note that the contact between the lock lever member 44 and the dial base 40 is not shown in the cross section shown in FIG. 13A). Furthermore, the cylindrical portion 54a of the rotating body support member 54 enters the recess 44g formed in the lock lever member 44. That is, when the lock lever member 44 and the rotating body support member 54 approach each other most closely, they partially overlap each other. As a result, the thickness of the dial 22 (the size in the extension direction (Z-axis direction) of the rotation center line CL) can be reduced without reducing the stroke of the lock lever member 44. Furthermore, the coil spring 52 is maximally compressed. Then, as shown in Fig. 13B, when viewed in the extending direction of the rotation center line CL (the Z-axis direction), each of the multiple second cam follower portions 50b of the rotating body 50 faces the cam surface 54c of the rotating body support member 54.

[0066] 13A, when the lock lever member 44 is pressed down to the maximum by the pressing force F from the user and then the pressing force F is released (for example, when the user's finger is released from the button portion 44b), the rotating body 50 and the lock lever member 44 move in a direction away from the dial base 40 due to the biasing force of the coil spring 52. As a result, as shown in FIG 12, the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50 comes into contact with the cam surface 54c of the rotating body support member 54 (position P3).

[0067] As shown in FIG. 12, the second cam follower portion 50b in contact with the cam surface 54c of the rotating body support member 54 (at position P3) is biased toward the cam surface 54c by the coil spring 52, and therefore slides on the inclined cam surface 54c. This causes the rotating body 50 to rotate about the rotation center line CL, and the engagement between the cam portion 44e of the lock lever member 44 and the first cam follower portion 50a of the rotating body 50 is released. Then, when the second cam follower portion 50b comes into contact with the stopper portion 54d on the cam surface 54c, the sliding of the second cam follower portion 50b on the cam surface 54c stops, that is, the rotation of the rotating body 50 stops (position P4). When the second cam follower portion 50b is located at position P4, the dial 22 is in a locked state.

[0068] Fig. 14A is a cross-sectional view of the dial in a locked state, and Fig. 14B is a bottom view of the rotor and the rotor support member corresponding to Fig. 14A.

[0069] When the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50 contacts the stopper portion 54d on the cam surface 54c (position P4) as shown in FIG. 12, the cam portion 44e of the lock lever member 44 and the first cam follower portion 50a of the rotating body 50 are not engaged with each other as shown in FIG. 14A. The button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44 is lower than the position of the button portion 44b in the unlocked state (position shown by the two-dot chain line). The convex portion 44c of the lock lever member 44 is lower than the position of the convex portion 44c in the unlocked state (position shown by the two-dot chain line). This is because, as shown in FIG. 14B, the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50 is caught by the cam surface 54c and the stopper portion 54d of the rotating body support member 54, and the rotating body 50 cannot be pushed up or rotated by the coil spring 50. As a result, the rotating body 50 cannot push the lock lever member 44 forward until the main body 44a of the lock lever member 44 comes into contact with the back surface 42d of the top plate 42a of the dial cap 42. In other words, the urging force of the coil spring 52 on the lock lever member 44 via the rotating body 50 is released. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7B, the tip of the convex portion 44c of the lock lever member 44 is located within the concave portion 24b of the dial lock member 24. This locks the dial 22 so that it cannot rotate.

[0070] As shown in Fig. 14A, the main body 44a of the lock lever member 44 is not in contact with the back surface 42d of the top plate 42a of the dial cap 42. However, the biasing force of the coil spring 48 maintains contact between the lock lever member 44 and the rotating body 50. Even if the imaging device 10 is turned upside down, the coil spring 48 is not substantially compressed and deformed by the weight of the lock lever member 44. In other words, the total load of the multiple coil springs 48 is greater than the weight of the lock lever member 44. As a result, in the locked state, the lock lever member 44 cannot move freely.

[0071] 5, in the unlocked state, the main body 44a of the lock lever member 44 is pressed by the rotating body 50 biased by the coil spring 52 and continues to contact the back surface 42d of the top plate 42a of the dial cap 42. As a result, in the unlocked state, the lock lever member 44 cannot move freely.

[0072] In this way, the lock lever member 44 cannot move freely in both the locked and unlocked states. Therefore, even if the posture of the image capture device 10 changes in various ways, the lock lever member 44 does not move by its own weight. This prevents unintended unlocking and the generation of rattling noises that may occur when the lock lever member 44 moves freely in response to various changes in the posture of the image capture device 10.

[0073] Also, as shown in FIG. 14A, the amount of protrusion of the button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44 from the through hole 42c of the dial cap 42 differs between the locked state and the unlocked state, so the user can know whether the dial 22 is in the locked state or the unlocked state from the amount of protrusion of the button portion 44b.

[0074] When the user presses down the button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44 in the dial 22 in the locked state shown in Fig. 14A, the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50 moves from position P4 as shown in Fig. 12. When the second cam follower portion 50b moves away from the stopper portion 54d (position P5), the rotating body 50 becomes rotatable in the rotation direction R2 about the rotation center line CL.

[0075] When the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50 reaches the position P5, the cam portion 44e of the lock lever member 44 and the first cam follower portion 50a of the rotating body 50, which are not engaged as shown in FIG. 14A, start to engage with each other. Specifically, in order to engage with each other, the rotating body 50 starts to rotate in the rotation direction R2. At this time, since the button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44 is continuously pressed down by the user, the lock lever member 44 and the rotating body 50 both move toward the dial base 40 while the rotating body 50 rotates in the rotation direction R2. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50 moves to a position P6 between the cam surface 54c of the rotating body support member 54 and the dial base 40 (however, it does not contact the cam surface 54c).

[0076] Fig. 15A is a cross-sectional view of the dial when the lock lever member is pressed down to the maximum from the locked state, and Fig. 15B is a bottom view of the rotor and the rotor support member corresponding to Fig. 15A.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 15A, when the lock lever member 44 is pushed down to the maximum by the pressing force F from the user, that is, when the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50 is located at the position P6 as shown in FIG. 12, the cam portion 44e of the lock lever member 44 and the first cam follower portion 50a of the rotating body 50 are engaged with each other. At this time, the lock lever member 44 comes into contact with the dial base 40, so that further pushing down of the lock lever member 44 by the user is restricted (note that the contact between the lock lever member 44 and the dial base 40 is not seen in the cross section shown in FIG. 15A). Furthermore, the coil spring 52 is compressed to the maximum. Then, as shown in FIG. 15B, when viewed in the extending direction of the rotation center line CL (Z-axis direction), each of the second cam follower portions 50b of the rotating body 50 faces the cam surface 54c of the rotating body support member 54 beyond the stopper portion 54d in the rotation direction R2.

[0078] 15A, when the lock lever member 44 is pressed down to the maximum by the pressing force F from the user and then the pressing force F is released, the rotating body 50 and the lock lever member 44 move in a direction away from the dial base 40 due to the biasing force of the coil spring 52. This causes the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50 to come into contact with the cam surface 54c of the rotating body support member 54 (position P7), as shown in FIG.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 12, the second cam follower portion 50b in contact with the cam surface 54c of the rotating body support member 54 (at position P7) is biased toward the cam surface 54c by the coil spring 52, and therefore slides on the inclined cam surface 54c. This causes the rotating body 50 to rotate about the rotation center line CL, and the meshing between the cam portion 44e of the lock lever member 44 and the first cam follower portion 50a of the rotating body 50 is released. Then, finally, the second cam follower portion 50b leaves the cam surface 54c and enters the guide groove 54b (position P8) (see FIG. 11A). As a result, the dial 22 is in an unlocked state as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7A.

[0080] That is, when the user presses down the button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44 twice, the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50 moves from one guide groove 54b of the rotating body support member 54 to the adjacent guide groove 54b.

[0081] From here, the assembly of the dial 22 will be explained.

[0082] Fig. 16 is a diagram for explaining the assembly of a first subassembly in the dial. Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the first subassembly. Fig. 18 is a diagram for explaining the assembly of a second subassembly in the dial. And Fig. 19 is a diagram for explaining the assembly of the first subassembly and the second subassembly.

[0083] First, as shown in Fig. 16 and Fig. 17, in order to prepare the first subassembly 60 of the dial 22, the rotating body 50, the coil spring 52, and the rotating body support member 54 are assembled to the dial base 40. Specifically, first, the rotating body support member 54 is attached to the dial base 40 by snap engagement. For this purpose, the dial base 40 is provided with a snap claw 40e that is hooked onto the dial base 40 so that the rotating body support member 54 does not come off the dial base 40. When the rotating body support member 54 is attached and fixed to the dial base 40, the support pin 40d of the dial base 40 is housed in the cylindrical portion 54a of the rotating body support member 54.

[0084] Next, the coil spring 52 is set in the cylindrical portion 54a of the rotor support member 54. Then, the rotor 50 is set so as to cover the tip of the coil spring 52. At this time, the rotor 50 and the coil spring 52 are inserted and supported by the support pin 40d of the dial base 40. In addition, the cam follower portion 50b of the rotor 50 is inserted from the guide groove 54b of the rotor support member 54 and rotated until it engages with the stopper portion 54d, thereby temporarily assembling it in the cylindrical portion 54a.

[0085] Then, the rotating body 50 is pushed toward the dial base 40 against the biasing force of the coil spring 52. At this time, the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50 moves in the guide groove 54b of the cylindrical portion 54a of the rotating body support member 54. When the second cam follower portion 50b passes through the guide groove 54b, the rotating body 50 rotates and the second cam follower portion 50b is caught by the cam surface 54c of the rotating body support member 54. Thereafter, since the rotating body 50 is biased by the coil spring 52, the second cam follower portion 50b of the rotating body 50 slides on the cam surface 54c and is finally caught by the stopper portion 54d. As a result, the first subassembly 60 shown in FIG. 17 is completed.

[0086] As shown in Figs. 18 and 19, in order to prepare a second subassembly 62 for the dial 22, the coil spring 48 and the lock lever member 44 are assembled to the dial cap 42. First, the dial cap 42 is set with the guide pin 42e facing upward. Next, the coil spring 48 is set on the back surface 42d of the dial cap 42 so as to be inserted into the guide pin 42e. Then, the lock lever member 44 is set on the dial cap 42 so that the guide pin 42e with the coil spring 48 inserted therethrough enters the guide hole 44d. At this time, the lock lever member 44 is supported from below by the coil spring 48. As a result, the second subassembly 62 is completed.

[0087] As shown in Fig. 19, the first subassembly 60 is attached to the second subassembly 62. That is, the first subassembly 60 is set in a state where the shaft portion 40b of the dial base 40 faces upward, on the second subassembly 62 in a state where the guide pin 42e of the dial cap 42 faces upward. Then, the first subassembly 60 is fixed to the second subassembly 62 via the fixing screw 46. As a result, the dial 22 is completed.

[0088] According to the present embodiment as described above, in the operating device 20 including the dial 22 equipped with an alternate mechanism, the thickness of the dial 22 can be reduced. Specifically, the button portion 44b that the user presses down to switch the state of the dial from an unlocked state to a locked state or vice versa, and the convex portion 44c for selectively fixing the dial 22 to the dial lock member 24 are different parts of the lock lever member 44, which is a single component. Therefore, the button portion 44b does not separate from the convex portion 44c. As a result, the stroke of the button portion 44b for the separation is not required, and the thickness of the dial 22 (the size in the extension direction of the rotation center line CL (Z-axis direction)) is reduced.

[0089] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to these.

[0090] For example, in the case of the above-described embodiment, the alternate mechanism of the dial 22 is composed of the rotating body 50, the coil spring 52, and the rotating body support member 54. However, the alternate mechanism is not limited to this. The structure of the alternate mechanism is not limited as long as it can move the lock lever member 44 in a direction to release the engagement between the convex portion 44c of the lock lever member 44 and the concave portion 24b of the dial lock member 24 after the button portion 44b of the lock lever member 44 is pressed down by the user in the locked state.

[0091] That is, an operating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in a broad sense, has a dial and a dial lock member having a recess, the dial being movable in the direction of extension of the center line of rotation of the dial, a button portion which is pressed down by a user, and a lock lever member having a convex portion which engages with the recess of the dial lock member when the button portion is pressed down to lock the dial so that it cannot be rotated, and an alternate mechanism which, when the button portion is pressed down by the user in the locked state, moves the lock lever member and then releases the engagement between the convex portion and the recess, thereby placing the dial in an unlocked state in which it can be rotated.

[0092] As described above, the above-mentioned embodiment has been described as an example of the technology in the present disclosure. For this purpose, drawings and detailed description are provided. Therefore, among the components described in the drawings and detailed description, not only components essential for solving the problem but also components that are not essential for solving the problem in order to illustrate the above-mentioned technology may be included. Therefore, the fact that these non-essential components are described in the drawings or detailed description should not be used to immediately determine that these non-essential components are essential.

[0093] Furthermore, since the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the technology in the present disclosure, various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, and the like can be made within the scope of the claims or their equivalents. [Industrial Applicability]

[0094] The present disclosure is applicable to imaging devices that include a dial. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 20 Operating device 22 Dial 24 Dial lock component 24b Recess 44 Lock lever member 44b Button section 44c Convex

Claims

1. The dial and A dial lock member having a recess, The dial is a lock lever member that is movable in a direction in which a rotation center line of the dial extends and that includes a button portion that is pressed down by a user, and a protrusion that engages with the recess of the dial lock member when the button portion is pressed down to lock the dial so that it cannot rotate; an alternate mechanism that, when in the locked state, moves the lock lever member after the button portion is pressed down by a user, thereby releasing the engagement between the convex portion and the concave portion of the dial to bring the dial into an unlocked state in which the dial can be rotated; The button portion and the protrusion are different parts of the lock lever member.

2. the dial includes a first biasing member that biases the lock lever member in a first direction in which the protrusion engages with the recess, the alternate mechanism biases the lock lever member in a second direction opposite to the first direction with a biasing force larger than the biasing force of the first biasing member in the unlocked state, and releases the biasing force on the lock lever member in the locked state. The operating device according to claim 1 .

3. The alternate mechanism includes: A rotating body; a rotor support member that supports the rotor so that the rotor can move in the direction in which the rotation center line extends and can rotate about the rotation center line; a second biasing member that biases the rotating body toward the lock lever member, the rotating body includes a crown gear-shaped first cam follower portion provided on an end surface facing the lock lever member, and a convex second cam follower portion protruding in a direction intersecting with an extension direction of the rotation center line, the lock lever member includes a crown gear-shaped cam portion that can mesh with the first cam follower portion of the rotating body, the rotating body support member comprises: a cylindrical portion that supports an outer circumferential surface of the rotating body movably in the extension direction of the rotation center line; a guide groove that is formed in the cylindrical portion so as to extend in the extension direction of the rotation center line and that guides the second cam follower portion of the rotating body; and a cam surface that is formed on an end surface of the cylindrical portion and on which the second cam follower portion of the rotating body follows; The operating device according to claim 2 , wherein the cam surface of the rotating body support member includes an inclined surface that is inclined while extending in the rotational direction of the rotating body.

4. The button portion of the lock lever member is cylindrical with a bottom, The operating device according to claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the rotating body is housed within the button portion.

5. The rotor is cylindrical, The operating device according to claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the second biasing member is housed within the rotating body.

6. The dial is a dial base rotatably supported by the dial lock member; a dial cap that is fixed to the dial base, has a through hole through which the button portion of the lock lever member passes, and is rotated by a user; The operating device according to claim 3 , wherein the dial base includes a support pin extending in a direction in which the rotation center line extends and supporting the second biasing member.

7. The dial cap includes a guide pin extending in a direction in which the rotation center line extends, the lock lever member has a guide hole into which the guide pin is inserted, The operating device according to claim 6 , wherein the first biasing member is supported by the guide pin.

8. The operating device according to claim 6 , wherein the rotating body support member is fixed to the dial base by snap engagement.

9. The second biasing member is a coil spring, The operating device according to claim 6 , wherein the support pin of the dial base is inserted into the coil spring and the rotating body.

10. The operating device according to claim 3 , wherein the lock lever member has a recess into which the cylindrical portion of the rotating body support member enters when the button portion is pressed down.

11. The operating device according to claim 3 , wherein a biasing force of the second biasing member against the rotating body is greater than a biasing force of the first biasing member against the lock lever member.

12. The operating device according to claim 3 , wherein the load of the first biasing member is greater than a weight of the lock lever member.

13. An imaging device comprising the operation device according to claim 1 .

Images