Television – Camera – system and detail – Support or housing
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-06
2001-01-30
Garber, Wendy (Department: 2712)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Support or housing
C348S376000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181380
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic image pickup apparatus.
Conventionally, an electronic image pickup apparatus for picking up an image, formed on a charge coupled device by a lens unit, through the charge coupled device has been well known. In the electronic image pickup apparatus field, it is always desired to provide a smaller and lighter apparatus and to facilitate assembly.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in the above-described circumstances. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electronic image pickup apparatus which is smaller and lighter than the conventional apparatus and which can be easily assembled.
To attain the above-described object, the electronic image pickup apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a housing which houses a lens unit for electronically picking up an image, and which has a lens opening for introducing light into the lens unit; a pair of guide grooves extending parallel with each other while putting the lens opening between the guide grooves on an outer surface of the housing; and a lens barrier having both end portions engaged with the paired guide grooves and being movably guided by the paired guide grooves between a close position for closing the lens opening and an open position for opening the lens opening. One of the paired guide grooves opens in a cross direction crossing a front direction to which a front surface area, in which the lens opening is formed on the outer surface of the housing, is directed, and the other of the paired guide grooves opens in the front direction on the outer surface of the housing. One end portion of the both end portions of the lens barrier corresponding to the one guide groove is inserted into and engaged with the one guide groove to be slidable along the one guide groove. The other end portion of the both end portions of the lens barrier corresponding to the other guide groove is inserted into and engaged with the other guide groove to be slidable along the other guide groove. A separation protection member engages with the other end portion of the lens barrier in the front direction and prevents the other end portion of the lens barrier from separating from the opening of the other guide groove. The separation protection member is fixed on the outer surface of the housing to cover at least part of the opening of the other guide groove after the other end portion of the lens barrier has been inserted into the other guide groove.
In the electronic image pickup apparatus according to the present invention and having such a structure, to slidably engage the both end portions of the lens barrier with the pair of guide grooves on the outer surface of the housing, prior to fixing the separation protection member to the outer surface of the housing, one of the end portions of the lens barrier corresponding to one guide groove is inserted into the one guide groove in the cross direction crossing the front direction, to which the front surface area in which the lens opening is formed on the outer surface of the housing, is directed. And the other end portion of the lens barrier corresponding to the other guide groove is inserted into the other guide groove in a direction opposite to the front direction. Thereafter, the separation protection member is fixed to the outer surface of the housing.
Thus, there is no need to apply strong force to the assembly (which means engaging the both end portions of the lens barrier with the pair of guide grooves on the outer surface of the housing in the electronic image pickup apparatus according to the present invention). The fact that no strong force is applied to the both end portions of the lens barrier during assembly can not only facilitate the assembly but also make simple the structure of the lens barrier. As a result, the present invention can provide a simpler, lighter electronic image pickup apparatus than the conventional apparatus.
In the electronic image pickup apparatus according to the present invention and having the above-described structure, it is preferable that the one guide groove is formed in a lower surface area located below the front surface area on the outer surface of the housing and extending in a direction crossing the front surface area, and that the other guide groove is formed in the front surface area on the outer surface of the housing.
With such a structure, when observing the housing of the electronic image pickup apparatus while facing the lens opening in the front surface area, that is, observing the housing in the opposite direction, the one guide groove cannot be seen and also the other guide groove cannot be seen due to the presence of the separation protection member and a decorative sheet fixed on the outer surface of the housing. Thus, the housing of the electronic image pickup apparatus presents a streamlined appearance.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5159372 (1992-10-01), Nomura et al.
patent: 5406413 (1995-04-01), Mogamiya
patent: 5434714 (1995-07-01), Kohmoto et al.
patent: 5608478 (1997-03-01), Kamoda
patent: 5774748 (1998-06-01), Ito et al.
Inoue Takashi
Kaneko Kaoru
Onda Hiroki
Sato Yu
Toyofuku Toshiyuki
Frishauf, Holtz Goodman, Langer & Chick, P.C.
Garber Wendy
Olympus Optical Co,. Ltd.
White Mitchell
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