Photography – Camera detail – Body structure or housing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-24
2001-06-19
Gray, David M. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Camera detail
Body structure or housing
C348S333060, C348S373000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249653
ABSTRACT:
This application is based on application No. Hei 9-71659 filed in Japan, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to an image recording device in which a taking lens unit is rotatably supported by a camera body.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, in this type of image recording device, in order to make the camera body and taking lens unit rotatable relative to each other, the two are normally connected electrically by means of a flexible circuit board. In other words, the flexible circuit board is placed in a linking space formed along the rotational axis inside the rotatable connecting unit connecting the camera body and the taking lens unit, and the ends of the flexible circuit board are fixed and electrically connected to circuit board fixed inside the camera body and taking lens unit, respectively.
However, in said conventional device, when the taking lens unit is made to rotate relative to the camera body, because both ends of the flexible circuit board are fixed to the other circuit boards, the area of the flexible circuit board near the rotatable connecting unit becomes twisted, so that the flat flexible circuit board becomes pulled along its lengthwise edges while the center part becomes compressed, which causes the printed circuitry and the substrate that supports it to become fatigued over time.
In view of this problem, the applicant formerly proposed a method to solve it by constructing the flexible circuit board that electrically connects the camera body and the taking lens unit such that it passes through a linking space that is created by means of the inside of the shaft member and the extension member and exits a notch member formed on the circumference of the extension member and linked to the linking space such that it then wraps around the circumference of the extension member.
In this case, when the taking lens unit is made to rotate, in order for the flexible circuit board to rotate together with the shaft member and the extension member inside the shaft member and the extension member without deforming so that the flexible circuit board that is wrapped around the circumference of the extension member tightens or loosens around said member, the flexible circuit board has some degree of extra length.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to obtain a further improved image recording device.
Another object of the present invention is to obtain an image recording device in which the electrical connection between the camera body and the taking lens unit can be maintained more effectively.
In order to achieve said objects, one aspect of the present invention is an image recording device equipped with a camera body and a taking lens unit that is rotatably supported on a side of said camera body, said camera body and taking lens unit being electrically connected by means of a flexible circuit board between them, wherein said camera body and taking lens unit are electrically connected by means of slidingly connected conductive members.
Using said construction, in an image recording device in which the camera body and the taking lens unit are electrically connected by means of a flexible circuit board, the camera body and taking lens unit are electrically connected by means of slidingly connected conductive members, as a result of which the grounding line may be strengthened without increasing the size of the device, and, e.g., the generation of electromagnetic waves may be reduced.
These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4596454 (1986-06-01), Kawai et al.
patent: 4682871 (1987-07-01), Metabi
patent: 4864348 (1989-09-01), Fujiwara et al.
patent: 4970558 (1990-11-01), Matsuda et al.
patent: 5442453 (1995-08-01), Takagi et al.
patent: 2-7593 (1990-01-01), None
Itoh Hisanori
Itoh Masatoshi
Sugita Mitsuhiro
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Gray David M.
Minolta Co. , Ltd.
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