Photography – Camera detail – Having printed circuit detail
Reexamination Certificate
1997-07-01
2001-04-17
Gray, David M. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Camera detail
Having printed circuit detail
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219495
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera with improved arrangements for electric energy storage devices such as flash-activating main capacitors or batteries and electric parts thereof.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, lens-shutter cameras having a compact-sized body used one cylindrical capacitor as a main capacitor for storing flash-activating charge, disposed along the internal circumferential surface at one end of the camera body in the direction of the height of the camera.
The diameter of the capacitor is inevitably determined by the electrical capacity required for flashlight photographing and the limits on the camera height. A camera with reduced camera height requires a greater diameter capacitor. The diameter of the capacitor would not affect the camera thickness to cause a problem due to the diameter being small enough to be contained within the camera thickness. On the other hand, the camera width (lateral length) depends on the diameter of the capacitor. Therefore, the diameter of the capacitors is desirable to be as small as possible for the purpose of making the camera compact-sized. To solve the problem, an attempt is known to make a camera compact-sized by using a capacitor having a rectangular section with a shorter dimension in the direction of the camera width and a longer dimension in the direction of the camera thickness. This attempt, however, results in an increased cost due to the uniqueness of such an irregular-shaped capacitor.
Thus, the applicant of the present invention previously proposed a camera employing two capacitors having a smaller diameter (accordingly a smaller capacity) than the ordinary capacitor, wherein the capacitors are disposed in parallel in the direction of the camera thickness along the internal circumferential surface at one end of the camera body (Japanese laid-open patent application No.5-158114). According to such a camera, the lateral dimension (width) of the camera can be shortened without decreasing the capacity required for flashing.
The above-mentioned reference, however, only discloses the arrangement for the main capacitors but does not refer to the arrangement for flash-activating electric parts for flash lighting, such as a voltage step-up transformer and a trigger capacitor. An inappropriate arrangement for such electric parts could result in a camera being hindered from getting compact-sized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a camera using a pair of electric energy storage devices with a compact size by efficiently arranging the electric parts.
To achieve the above object and other objects, a camera according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a pair of electric energy storage devices located within the camera body and being spaced from each other in the direction of the thickness of the camera so as to extend in the direction perpendicular to the film winding direction. A circuit board is positioned between the pair of electric energy storage devices. A plurality of electric parts mounted on the circuit board so as to be disposed between the pair of electric energy storage devices.
With this arrangement, the space between the pair of electric energy storage devices can be efficiently utilized, resulting in a compact-sized camera.
The camera according to one embodiment of the present invention has a circuit board with a first part disposed along the longitudinal direction of the pair of electric energy storage devices and a second part integrally formed therewith located above the pair of electric energy storage devices. A photographing control circuit board is positioned within the camera body so as to extend from the vicinity of the upper end of the second part in the direction substantially perpendicular to the circuit board. Small-sized electric parts are mounted on the first part of the circuit board. The small-sized electric parts are located between the pair of electric energy storage devices. Large-sized electric parts are mounted on the second part of the circuit board. The large-sized electric parts are located between the photographing control circuit board and the upper end face of the pair of electric energy storage devices.
With this arrangement, to the space between the pair of electric energy storage devices and the space above the electric energy storage devices can be efficiently utilized. Furthermore, the large-sized electric parts can be efficiently arranged without interfering with the photographing control circuit board.
The camera according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises two electric energy storage devices located within the camera body, each having a different length spaced from each other in the direction of the thickness of said camera so as to extend in the direction perpendicular to the film winding direction. An electric part is positioned in the space above and/or below one of said electric energy storage devices and on the side of the other of said electric energy storage devices.
With this particular arrangement, the space above one of the two electric energy storage devices can be used efficiently utilized, thus contributing to promotion of compact-sizedness in a camera.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4711548 (1987-12-01), Arakawa et al.
patent: 4853734 (1989-08-01), Tokura et al.
patent: 4926207 (1990-05-01), Eguchi et al.
patent: 5001505 (1991-03-01), Tosaka et al.
patent: 5150140 (1992-09-01), Kitazawa
patent: 5255034 (1993-10-01), Shimada et al.
patent: 5-158114 (1993-06-01), None
Miyamoto Hidenori
Soshi Isao
Gray David M.
Nikon Corporation
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
LandOfFree
Arrangement of structure in a camera for reduced thickness does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Arrangement of structure in a camera for reduced thickness, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Arrangement of structure in a camera for reduced thickness will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2546777