Shutter assembly and photographing apparatus including the same

A shutter assembly includes: a driver for generating a rotation force; an input gear unit rotated by the driver; a transmission gear unit rotated by the input gear unit; an output gear unit rotated by the transmission gear unit; and a rotation unit that is rotated by the output gear unit between a position for transmitting light and a position for blocking light, wherein the transmission gear unit at least partially corresponds to a rotation path of the rotation unit and is spaced apart from a surface containing the rotation path along a direction of a central axis of the transmission gear unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0034120, filed on Apr. 2, 2012, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

Various embodiments relate to a shutter assembly and a photographing apparatus including the same, and more particularly, to a shutter assembly that facilitates miniaturization and a photographing apparatus including the same.

Recently, image forming optical devices such as digital cameras or digital camcorders have been rapidly and widely used. A digital camera or the like includes an image device for converting incident light into an electrical signal, such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS).

In this case, a digital camera or the like includes a shutter for adjusting whether light is transmitted or not such that light incident on the digital camera from an external source may reach an imaging device for a predetermined period of time only.

The shutter may include a general shutter that is closest to an object to be photographed by a digital camera, and a focal plane shutter that is disposed in front of the imaging device and adjusts whether light incident through an optical system is transmitted toward the imaging device or not.

Each of the general shutter and the focal plane shutter includes a light blocking plate for blocking or transmitting light. The light blocking plate receives a driving force from a driver such as a motor or the like and is moved between a light blocking position and a light transmitting position.

In this case, a gear assembly for transferring the driving force to the light blocking plate from the driver is disposed between the driver and the light blocking plate and occupies a predetermined space in a digital camera or the like.

Thus, there is a need to ensure a space that is occupied by a light blocking plate, a driver, and a gear assembly in a digital camera or the like, and thus, it is difficult to miniaturize a digital camera or the like.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments provide a shutter assembly that facilitates miniaturization and a photographing apparatus including the same.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a shutter assembly including a driver that generates a rotation force; an input gear unit rotated by the driver; a transmission gear unit rotated by the input gear unit; an output gear unit rotated by the transmission gear unit; and a rotation unit that is rotated by the output gear unit between a position for transmitting light and a position for blocking light, wherein the transmission gear unit at least partially corresponds to a rotation path of the rotation unit and is spaced apart from a surface containing the rotation path along a direction of a central axis of the transmission gear unit.

The input gear unit may include a first input gear unit coupled to a driving gear coupled to a rotation axis of the driver and receives a rotation force from the driver, and a second input gear unit that transmits a rotation force to the transmission gear unit, and the first input gear unit and the second input gear unit may be disposed side by side along a direction of a central axis of the input gear unit.

The first input gear unit and the second input gear unit may include different numbers of teeth.

The driving gear may include a worm gear, the first input gear unit may include a helical gear, and the second input gear unit may include a spur gear.

The output gear unit may include a first output gear unit that receives a rotation force from the transmission gear unit, and a second output gear unit coupled to teeth included in the rotation unit and transmits a rotation force, and the first output gear unit and the second output gear unit may be disposed side by side along a direction of a central axis of the output gear unit.

The first output gear unit and the second output gear unit may include different numbers of teeth.

The shutter assembly may include a support member that rotatably supports the input gear unit, the transmission gear unit, and the output gear unit.

The input gear unit, the transmission gear unit, and the output gear unit may be disposed on one side surface of the support member.

The support member may include a first accommodating unit that accommodates an end portion of the input gear unit; a second accommodating unit that accommodates the transmission gear unit; a third accommodating unit that accommodates an end portion of the output gear unit; a first through hole disposed between the first accommodating unit and the second accommodating unit; and a second through hole disposed between the second accommodating unit and the third accommodating unit.

The first accommodating unit and the third accommodating unit may be disposed on a first side surface of the support member, the second accommodating unit may be disposed on a second side surface of the support member, the input gear unit and the transmission gear unit may be coupled to each other through the first through hole, and the transmission gear unit and the output gear unit may be coupled to each other through the second through hole.

The shutter assembly may further include a cover member disposed on the second side surface of the support member, wherein the transmission gear unit may be disposed between the support member and the cover member.

The transmission gear unit may include a plurality of gears.

The shutter assembly may further include a shutter plate including a through hole through which light is transmitted, wherein the rotation unit may include a blocking plate that opens or closes the through hole, and a lever that is coupled to the blocking plate and is rotated by the output gear unit, the transmission gear unit at least may partially correspond to a rotation path of the lever and is spaced apart from the surface containing the rotation path along the direction of the central axis of the transmission gear unit.

The blocking plate may include a first blocking plate and a second blocking plate that are spaced apart from each other when the through hole is opened and contact each other when the through hole is closed, and the lever may include a first lever and a second lever that respectively move the first blocking plate and the second blocking plate.

The shutter assembly may further include a cam gear rotated by the output gear unit, wherein the first lever and the second lever may be simultaneously rotated by the cam gear.

According to another embodiment, there is provided a photographing apparatus including a driver that generates a rotation force; an input gear unit rotated by the driver; a transmission gear unit rotated by the input gear unit; an output gear unit rotated by the transmission gear unit; a rotation unit that is rotated by the output gear unit between a position for transmitting light and a position for blocking light; and an imaging device that converts transmitted light into an electrical signal when the rotation unit is in a position for transmitting light, wherein the transmission gear unit at least partially corresponds to a rotation path of the rotation unit and is spaced apart from a surface containing the rotation path along a direction of a central axis of the transmission gear unit.

The photographing apparatus may further include a support member that rotatably supports the input gear unit, the transmission gear unit, and the output gear unit.

The support member may include a first accommodating unit that accommodates an end portion of the input gear unit; a second accommodating unit that accommodates the transmission gear unit; a third accommodating unit that accommodates an end portion of the output gear unit; a first through hole disposed between the first accommodating unit and the second accommodating unit; and a second through hole disposed between the second accommodating unit and the third accommodating unit.

The first accommodating unit and the third accommodating unit may be disposed on a first side surface of the support member, the second accommodating unit may be disposed on a second side surface of the support member, the input gear unit and the transmission gear unit may be coupled to each other through the first through hole, and the transmission gear unit and the output gear unit may be coupled to each other through the second through hole.

The photographing apparatus may further include a cover member disposed on the second side surface of the support member, wherein the transmission gear unit may be disposed between the support member and the cover member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

FIG. 1is a plan view of a shutter assembly100, according to an embodiment.FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view of the shutter assembly100taken along a line II-II ofFIG. 1, according to an embodiment.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the shutter assembly100includes a driver110for generating a rotation force, an input gear unit120that is rotated by the driver110, transmission gear units130that are rotated by the input gear unit120, an output gear unit140that is rotated by the transmission gear units130, and a rotation unit150that is rotated by the output gear unit140between a position ‘A’ for transmitting light and a position ‘B’ for blocking light. The transmission gear units130may at least partially correspond to a rotation path of the rotation unit150and may be spaced apart from a surface ‘S’ containing a rotation path along a direction of each of central axes131of the transmission gear units130.

The driver110may include a motor body unit111, a motor rotation axis112, and a driving gear113coupled to the motor rotation axis112. The driving gear113may be a worm gear including one or more screw threads. The input gear unit120may be coupled to the driving gear113of the driver110and may be rotated by the driver110. In this case, the input gear unit120may include a first input gear unit121that is a type of helical gear and is coupled to the worm gear, and a second input gear unit122that is a type of spur gear.

In this case, a central axis123of the input gear unit120may be perpendicular to the motor rotation axis112.

A driving force may be transmitted between the driver110and the input gear unit120, which have central axes perpendicular to each other, by the driving gear113including the worm gear and the first input gear unit121having a helical shape. During the transmission of the driving force, a high reduction ratio may be obtained. In addition, the first input gear unit121and the second input gear unit122may be disposed side by side along a direction of the central axis123of the input gear unit120. Additional reduction of speed may be performed by adjusting a teeth ratio between the first input gear unit121and the second input gear unit122.

According to the present embodiment, the motor rotation axis112and the central axis123of the input gear unit120are disposed perpendicular to each other.

The driving gear113includes a worm gear, and the first input gear unit121is a type of helical gear corresponding to the worm gear. However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto.

That is, the motor rotation axis112may be inserted directly into a rotation central portion of the input gear unit120and may rotate the input gear unit120.

The transmission gear unit130is coupled to the second input gear unit122and is rotated by the input gear unit120. According to the present embodiment, the transmission gear unit130includes two gears but the invention is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the transmission gear unit130may include one or three or more gears according to a distance between the input gear unit120and the output gear unit140.

The output gear unit140is coupled to the transmission gear unit130and is rotated by the transmission gear unit130. In this case, the output gear unit140may include a first output gear unit141for receiving a rotation force from the transmission gear unit130and a second output gear unit142that is coupled to teeth152included in the rotation unit150and transmits a rotation force to the rotation unit150.

The first output gear unit141and the second output gear unit142may be disposed side by side along a direction of a central axis143of the output gear unit140. Additional reduction of speed may be performed by adjusting a teeth ratio between the first output gear unit141and the second output gear unit142.

The rotation unit150is rotated by the output gear unit140between the position ‘A’ for transmitting light and the position ‘B’ for blocking light. The position ‘B’ for blocking light may be a region corresponding to, for example, an optical system and/or an imaging device of a photographing apparatus.

In this case, the transmission gear unit130may at least partially correspond to a rotation path of the rotation unit150and may be spaced apart from the surface ‘S’ containing a rotation path along the direction of each of the central axes131of the transmission gear units130.

That is, a rotation path of the transmission gear unit130and the rotation path of the rotation unit150may at least partially overlap with each other, which may be observed from above. Thus, an additional planar space for the transmission gear unit130does not have to be ensured, thereby facilitating miniaturization of the shutter assembly100.

According to the present embodiment, the shutter assembly100may further include a support member160for supporting the driver110, the input gear unit120, the transmission gear unit130, the output gear unit140, and the rotation unit150. The driver110, the input gear unit120, the transmission gear unit130, the output gear unit140, and the rotation unit150are disposed on one side surface161of the support member160.

In this case, the support member160may include central axes123,131,143, and151that respectively correspond to rotation centers of the input gear unit120, the transmission gear unit130, the output gear unit140, and the rotation unit150.

However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto and the driver110and the rotation unit150may be supported by separate respective members.

FIG. 3is an exploded perspective view of a shutter assembly200, according to another embodiment.FIG. 4is a plan view showing an arrangement relationship between gears included in the shutter assembly200ofFIG. 3, andFIG. 5is a cross-sectional view of the shutter assembly200taken along a line V-V ofFIG. 4.

Referring toFIGS. 3,4, and5, the shutter assembly200includes a shutter plate270including a through hole271, and a rotation unit250including blocking plates253for opening or closing the through hole271and levers256connected to the blocking plates253.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the shutter assembly200includes a driver210for generating a rotation force, an input gear unit220rotated by the driver210, transmission gear units230rotated by the input gear unit220, and an output gear unit240rotated by the transmission gear units230, in order to rotate the rotation unit250.

The driver210may include a motor body unit211, a motor rotation axis212, and a driving gear213coupled to the motor rotation axis112. The driving gear213may be a worm gear including one or more screw threads.

The shutter plate270includes the through hole271that corresponds to, for example, an optical system and/or an imaging device of a photographing apparatus.

The blocking plates253may include a first blocking plate254and a second blocking plate255that are spaced apart from each other when the through hole271is opened and contact each other when the through hole271is closed.

The levers256may include a first lever257and a second lever258that respectively rotate the first blocking plate254and the second blocking plate255. The first lever257and the second lever258may be rotated by the output gear unit240.

A cam gear280may be disposed between the levers256and the output gear unit240. The first lever257and the second lever258may be coupled to the cam gear280and may be simultaneously rotated by the cam gear280receiving a rotation force from the output gear unit240.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, the levers256are rotated by the output gear unit240and the cam gear280. The transmission gear units230may at least partially correspond to a rotation path (indicated by an arrow ofFIG. 4) and may be spaced apart from the surface ‘S’ containing a rotation path along a direction of each of central axes231of the transmission gear units230.

According to the present embodiment, the shutter assembly200may further include a support member260for supporting the driver210, the input gear unit220, the transmission gear units230, the output gear unit240, the levers256, and the cam gear280, and a gear cover292for covering the input gear unit220and the output gear unit240that are disposed on the support member260. In this case, the support member260and the shutter plate270may be integrally formed. According to the present embodiment, the levers256and the cam gear280are supported by the support member260but the present embodiment is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the levers256and the cam gear280may be supported by separate respective members.

The blocking plates253and the levers256may be disposed on different surface of the support member260. The support member260may connect the levers256and the blocking plates253to each other and may include third through holes269so as to transfer a rotation force of the levers256to the blocking plates253.

Referring toFIG. 5, the support member260may include a first accommodating unit263for accommodating an end portion of the input gear unit220, a second accommodating unit264for accommodating the transmission gear units230, and a third accommodating unit265for accommodating an end portion of the output gear unit240.

In this case, the first accommodating unit263and the third accommodating unit265may be disposed on one side surface261of the support member260and the second accommodating unit264may be disposed on the other side surface262of the support member260.

A central axis223of the input gear unit220is disposed to correspond to a rotation center of the input gear unit220of the first accommodating unit263. The central axes231of the transmission gear unit230are disposed to correspond to a rotational center of the transmission gear unit230of the second accommodating unit264. A central axis243of the output gear unit240is disposed to correspond to a rotation axis of the output gear unit240of the third accommodating unit265.

The support member260includes a first through hole266formed between the first accommodating unit263and the second accommodating unit264, and a second through hole267formed between the second accommodating unit264and the third accommodating unit265. The first through hole266and the second through hole267are formed so as to connect the input gear unit220and the transmission gear unit230to each other, and to connect the transmission gear unit230and the output gear unit to each other. The input gear unit220and the transmission gear unit230are disposed on different surfaces of the support member260. The transmission gear unit230and the output gear unit240are disposed on different surfaces of the support member260.

The input gear unit220and the transmission gear unit230may be coupled to each other through the first through hole266. The transmission gear unit230and the output gear unit240may be coupled to each other through the second through hole267.

According to the present embodiment, the shutter assembly200is configured such that the transmission gear unit230is disposed on an opposite surface of the support member260to a surface on which the levers256are disposed, and a rotation path of the levers256corresponds to a position of the transmission gear unit230, thereby obtaining miniaturization of the shutter assembly200.

A cover member291may be further disposed on the opposite surface of the support member260on which the transmission gear unit230is disposed. In this case, the transmission gear unit230may be disposed between the support member260and the cover member291.

FIG. 6is a perspective view showing an arrangement relationship between gears included in the shutter assembly200ofFIG. 3, according to another embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 6, the transmission gear unit230may be disposed on an opposite surface of the support member260on which the input gear unit220and the output gear unit240are disposed.

In addition, a direction (indicated by arrows) in which the central axes231of the transmission gear unit230protrude from the support member260may be opposite to a direction (indicated by arrows) in which the central axis223of the input gear unit220and the central axis243of the output gear unit240protrude from the support member260.

FIG. 7is a schematic perspective view of a photographing apparatus10including the shutter assembly200ofFIG. 3, according to another embodiment.

The photographing apparatus10includes a barrel unit1, which includes an optical system11, and a body unit2. The shutter assembly200ofFIG. 2and an imaging device21are disposed in the body unit2, wherein the imaging device21converts transmitted light into an electrical signal when the rotation unit250(seeFIG. 3) included in the shutter assembly200is in a position for transmitting light.

According to the present embodiment, the shutter assembly200included in the photographing apparatus10is disposed in front of the imaging device21and functions as a focal plane shutter. However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto.

The imaging device21may be a solid imaging device such as a charge coupled device (CCD), a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS), or the like.

A shutter release button22, a power switch23, and so on may be disposed on the body unit2, wherein the shutter release button22opens or closes a shutter in order to expose light to the imaging device21for a predetermined period of time and the power switch23shuts power on/off.

According to the present embodiment, the photographing apparatus10includes the shutter assembly200ofFIG. 3, and the transmission gear units230(seeFIG. 3) included in the shutter assembly200are disposed to correspond to the rotation path of the rotation unit250so as to save space, thereby facilitating miniaturization of the photographing apparatus10.

As described above, according to the one or more embodiments, a shutter assembly and a photographing apparatus are configured such that a rotation unit and a transmission gear unit are disposed in the same space to save space, thereby facilitating miniaturization of the shutter assembly and the photographing apparatus.

The digital photographing apparatus described herein may include a processor, a memory for storing and executing program data, a permanent storage unit such as a disk drive, a communication port for handling communications with external devices, and a user interface device such as a touch panel, keys, and buttons. The methods may be implemented as software modules or algorithms, and may be stored as program instructions or computer-readable codes executable on the processor on a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium. Here, examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a magnetic storage medium (e.g., a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a floppy disk, or a hard disk), and optical reading medium (e.g., a compact disk (CD)-ROM or a digital versatile disk (DVD)). The computer-readable recording medium may be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer-readable code may be stored and executed in a distributed fashion. The computer-readable recording medium may be read by the computer, stored in the memory, and executed by the processor.

The invention may be described in terms of functional blocks and various processing steps. Such functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardware or/and software components configured to perform specific functions. For example, the invention may employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements, processing elements, logic elements, and look-up tables, and the like, which may carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices. Similarly, where the elements of the invention are implemented using software programming or software elements, the invention may be implemented with any programming or scripting language, such as C, C++, Java, or assembler, with various algorithms being implemented with any combination of data structures, objects, processes, routines, or other programming elements. Functional aspects may be implemented in algorithms that execute on one or more processors. Furthermore, the invention could employ any number of conventional techniques for electronics configuration, signal processing and/or control, data processing, and the like. The terms “mechanism”, “element”, “means”, and “configuration” are broadly used, and are not limited to mechanical and physical embodiments, but can include software routines in connection with processors, etc.

The particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative examples of the invention and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the invention in any way. For the sake of brevity, conventional electronics, control systems, software development and other functional aspects of the systems (and components of the individual operating components of the systems) may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines, or connectors shown in the various figures presented are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical or logical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships, physical connections or logical connections, may be present in a practical device. Moreover, no item or component is essential to the practice of the invention unless the element is specifically described as “essential” or “critical”. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and the like used herein are used as terms of an open-type preamble of technologies.