Compact pop-up camera flashes

Example pop-up camera flashes are disclosed. A disclosed example pop-up flash of a camera includes a supporting unit; a rotating unit, which is rotatably connected to the supporting unit and is able to rotate between a first position, at which the rotating unit is adjacent to the supporting unit, and a second position, at which the rotating unit is apart from the supporting unit; a sliding unit, which is slidably combined with the rotating unit; a light emitting unit, which is arranged at the sliding unit; a connecting unit, of which a first end is rotatably connected to the sliding unit and a second end is rotatably connected to the supporting unit; and a driving unit, which is connected to the connecting unit and provides a driving force for rotation of the connecting unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0010303, filed on Feb. 1, 2011, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to pop-up camera flashes, and more particularly, to pop-up flashes suitable for compact, that is, small and thin cameras.

2. Description of the Related Art

A pop-up flash installed in a camera is a light emitting device that is accommodated in the main body of the camera and protrudes from the main body of the camera when it is necessary for the pop-up flash to emit light for a photographing operation.

Recently, cameras are designed to have smaller and thinner profiles. To install a pop-up flash in smaller and thinner cameras, it is necessary for the pop-up flash to have a simplified structure.

A pop-up flash helps to secure a necessary light intensity for a photographing operation. When a pop-up flash emits light toward an object, a path in which the light emitted by the pop-up flash travels may be interrupted by a structure, such as the main body of a camera, and thus a shadow may be formed. To prevent formation of a shadow, it is necessary to appropriately locate the pop-up flash.

SUMMARY

The present application discloses pop-up flashes having a compact configuration suitable for small and thin cameras.

The present application also discloses pop-up flashes that may be sufficiently separated from the main body of a camera so that a sufficient angle may be secured for emitting light toward an object.

The present application further discloses slim pop-up flashes that have a simplified mechanism and employ a relatively small number of parts.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a pop-up flash of a camera, including a supporting unit; a rotating unit, which is rotatably connected to the supporting unit and is able to rotate between a first position, at which the rotating unit is adjacent to the supporting unit, and a second position, at which the rotating unit is apart from the supporting unit; a sliding unit, which is slidably combined with the rotating unit; a light emitting unit, which is arranged at the sliding unit; a connecting unit, of which a first end is rotatably connected to the sliding unit and a second end is rotatably connected to the supporting unit; and a driving unit, which is connected to the connecting unit and provides a driving force for rotation of the connecting unit.

The driving unit may include an elastic member, which is arranged to interconnect the second end of the connecting unit and the supporting unit and provides elastic force to the second end of the connecting unit.

The driving unit may include a motor, which is connected to the second end of the connecting unit and provides the driving force.

The pop-up flash may further include a locking member, which is movably arranged at the supporting unit and is able to move between a locked position at which the locking member is engaged with the sliding unit, and a release position at which the locking member is separated from the sliding unit.

The pop-up flash may further include a button unit, which is arranged at the supporting unit to be connected with the locking member and is to provide a force for moving the locking member to the release position.

The pop-up flash may further include a switching unit, which is arranged at the supporting unit to be connected with the locking member, is operated by an external signal, and is to generate a force for moving the locking member to the release position.

The rotating unit may include a first guiding unit and a second guiding unit, which slidably support two opposite ends of the sliding unit, respectively, the sliding unit may include a first slider and a second slider at two opposite sides, respectively, such that the first slider and the second slider are slidably combined with the first guiding unit and the second guiding unit, respectively, and the sliding unit may slide between a first position at which the sliding unit is inserted into the rotating unit, and a second position at which a portion of the sliding unit protrudes from an end of the rotating unit.

The connecting unit may include a first link, of which a first end is rotatably combined with the first slider and a second end is rotatably combined with the supporting unit, and a second link, of which a first end is rotatably combined with the second slider and a second end is rotatably combined with the supporting unit, and the driving unit may include an elastic member, which interconnects the second end of the second link combined with the supporting unit and the supporting unit and provides a rotation force to the second end of the second link.

The rotating unit may include a housing groove, in which the sliding unit is housed, between the first guiding unit and the second guiding unit, and the sliding unit may be inserted to the housing groove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, the invention will be described in detail by explaining embodiments of the invention with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a pop-up flash of a camera, according to an embodiment of the invention, andFIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of components of the pop-up flash ofFIG. 1.

The pop-up flash of a camera according to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 and 2includes a supporting unit10, a rotating unit20rotatably connected to the supporting unit10, a sliding unit30slide-movably and combined with the rotating unit20, a connecting unit50connected between the sliding unit30and the supporting unit10, and a driving unit60that provides a driving force to the connecting unit50.

The supporting unit10is attached to the main body of a camera (not shown) to support components including the rotating unit20and the connecting unit50. However, embodiments of the invention are not limited to the shape of the supporting unit10shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, and a part of the main body of a camera may be used as the supporting unit10without need for a separate supporting unit10.

The rotating unit20is rotatably connected to the supporting unit10. The rotating unit20is rotatably connected to a pin11installed in a supporting hole11aof the supporting unit10, and thus the rotating unit20may rotate with respect to the supporting unit10.FIG. 1shows the state in which the rotating unit20is at a first position adjacent to the supporting unit10. When the rotating unit20at the first position rotates with respect to the supporting unit10, the rotating unit20may be moved to a second position apart from the supporting unit10as shown, for example, inFIG. 4.

In the pop-up flash having the structure as described above, the rotating unit20is held at the first position when a camera is not in use or it is not necessary for the pop-up flash to emit light. The first position corresponds to a housing position at which the pop-up flash is substantially housed in or becomes flush with a surface of the main body of a camera. When the camera is used for a night-time photographing operation or a backlit photographing operation, the rotating unit20may be moved to the second position at which the rotating unit20is apart from the supporting unit10and the pop-up flash may emit light. The second position corresponds to a light emitting position at which the pop-up flash may emit light.

The sliding unit30is slidably combined with the rotating unit20. At the first position shown inFIG. 1, the sliding unit30is positioned in a housing groove29of the rotating unit20.

The rotating unit20includes a first guiding unit21and a second guiding unit25, which slidably support two opposite ends of the sliding unit30. The sliding unit30includes a first slider31and a second slider35respectively at two opposite sides, such that the first slider31and the second slider35may be slidably attached to the first guiding unit21and the second guiding unit25, respectively. Therefore, the sliding unit30may slide between a position at which the sliding unit30is fully inserted to the housing groove29of the rotating unit20and another position at which the sliding unit30protrudes from an end of the rotating unit20.

A light emitting unit40is arranged on the sliding unit30. The sliding unit30includes a bottom cover30b, which supports the bottom of the light emitting unit40, and a top cover30a, which is combined with the bottom cover30bvia bolts38to support the top of the light emitting unit40. Guiding grooves35aare formed on two opposite sides of the bottom cover30b. The guiding grooves35amay be combined with guiding protrusions (not shown) formed on inner sides of the guiding units21and25of the rotating unit20.

The light emitting unit40may include a light emitting lamp, a light reflecting cover, a diffusion lens, a charging circuit, etc. Here, because the light emitting unit40, which is driven by a control signal and emits light, may be embodied with various modifications therein, detailed description of the configuration of the light emitting unit40will be omitted.

The connecting unit50is arranged between the sliding unit30and the supporting unit10. A first end of the connecting unit50is rotatably connected to the sliding unit30, whereas a second end of the connecting unit50is rotatably connected to the supporting unit10. The connecting unit50is connected to the supporting unit10at a location in front of a location at which the rotating unit20is connected to the supporting unit10.

Because the rotating unit20and the connecting unit50connected to the supporting unit10form a link assembly, the rotating unit20rotation is restricted by a motion range of the connecting unit50.

The connecting unit50includes a first link51and a second link55. A first end of the first link51is rotatably connected to the inner side of the first slider31via a connecting pin52, whereas a second end of the first link51is rotatably connected to the supporting unit10via a connecting shaft53. A first end of the second link55is rotatably connected to the inner side of the second slider35via a connecting pin56, whereas a second end of the second link55is rotatably connected to the supporting unit10via a connecting shaft57.

The driving unit60, which provides a driving force to rotate the connecting unit50, is connected to the connecting unit50. The driving unit60includes a lever62, which protrudes from the second end of the second link55, and an elastic member61, which connects the lever62to the supporting unit10.

Although a compression coil spring is used as the elastic member61inFIG. 2, embodiments of the invention are not limited thereto, and any of various components including a gas cylinder spring, an elastic cable, a leaf spring, etc. may be used.

Although the lever62protruding from the second end of the second link55is provided to connect the elastic member61to the second end of the second link55, embodiments of the invention are not limited thereto, and, for example, a connecting groove to which the elastic member61is connected may be formed on an outer edge of the second end of the second link55. Alternatively, the driving unit60may not include the lever62at the second end of the second link55, and may include a compression coil spring which applies rotation force to the connecting shaft57of the second end of the second link55.

Due to the operation of the driving unit60as described above, rotation force is always applied to the second link55in one direction.

A locking member70and a button unit80, which transmits operating force of a user to the locking member70, are arranged at the bottom of the supporting unit10. The locking member70holds the pop-up flash at the first position by engaging with the sliding unit30.

FIG. 3is a cross-sectional view of the pop-up flash shown inFIG. 1, taken along a line III-III ofFIG. 1.FIG. 4is a lateral view showing of the pop-up flash shown inFIG. 1when popped up.FIG. 5is a perspective view of the pop-up flash shown inFIG. 4.FIG. 6is a perspective view of the pop-up flash shown inFIG. 4, seen at a different angle.

The locking member70includes a combining protrusion71at a leading end portion and is arranged to be able to move in the x-axis direction with respect to the supporting unit10. A locking protrusion37, which may be combined with the combining protrusion71, is installed at the bottom of the sliding unit30.

When the combining protrusion71of the locking member70is at a locked position at which the combining protrusion71of the locking member70is combined with the locking protrusion37of the sliding unit30, the rotating unit20may be held at the first position adjacent to the supporting unit10. When the combining protrusion71of the locking member70is moved at least temporarily to a release position at which the combining protrusion71of the locking member70is at least temporarily separated from the locking protrusion37of the sliding unit30, the rotating unit20may be moved to the second position, where the rotating unit20is rotated to be apart from the supporting unit10. As described above, the locking member70is arranged at the supporting unit10to be able to move between the locked position and the release position.

An end of the button unit80contacts a transmission unit73arranged behind the locking member70. The button unit80is arranged at the supporting unit10to be connected with the locking member70, and, when the locking member70is at the locked position, may be used to transmit force, such that the locking member70may be moved to the release position.

The button unit80is also arranged to be able to move in the x-axis direction from behind of the supporting unit10toward the front of the supporting unit10. Therefore, when a user presses the button unit80in the x-axis direction, the pressing force is transmitted to the locking member70via the button unit80and, thus, the locking member70moves forward in the x-axis direction.

Although it is configured that the button unit80is hand-operated by a user to move the locking member70in the above embodiment, embodiments of the invention are not limited thereto. For example, a switching unit (not shown), which is operated according to external signals, may be arranged at the supporting unit10. Accordingly, when it is necessary to operate a pop-up flash, the switching unit may generate force to move the locking member70to the released position, and thus the rotating unit20may be automatically rotated without a user operation.

FIG. 4shows the state in which the rotating unit20has rotated with respect to the supporting unit10via the pin11and has moved to the second position apart from the supporting unit10. While the rotating unit20is being moved to the second position, the sliding unit30connected to the connecting unit50moves in the direction indicated by the arrow A to protrude from an end of the rotating unit30.

In the state illustrated inFIG. 4, the light emitting unit40is located at a position upwardly apart from the supporting unit10in the y-axis direction and, thus, interference of light emitted by the light emitting unit40due to the main body of a camera may be significantly reduced.

Because elastic force is always applied to the lever62at the second end of the second link55by the elastic member61of the driving unit60as described above, when the locking member70at the locked position inFIG. 3moves in the x-axis direction and is separated from the locking protrusion37, the second link55rotates in the counterclockwise direction around the connecting shaft57. As a result, the sliding unit30connected to the first end of the connecting unit50is automatically moved in the direction indicated by the arrow A.

FIGS. 5 and 6respectively show guiding grooves31aand35athat are respectively formed in the first slider31and the second slider35at two opposite sides of the sliding unit30to guide sliding motion of the sliding unit30with respect to the rotating unit20.

To move the rotating unit20at the second position as shown inFIGS. 4 through 6to the first position as shown inFIG. 3, a user presses the rotating unit20in the direction indicated by the arrow C. Due to the pressing force transmitted to the rotating unit20, the connecting unit50is rotated in the clockwise direction with respect to the supporting unit10, and the sliding unit50connected to the first end of the connecting unit50is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow B.

A pop-up flash of a camera having the configuration as described above operates the driving unit60, the connecting unit50, the rotating unit20, and the sliding unit30, which are connected to each other and form a link assembly, in connection with each others. In other words, because pop-up operation of the pop-up flash, that is, motion of the rotating unit20to the second position is automatically performed by a driving force of the driving unit60, the pop-up flash may be quickly prepared to emit light.

Furthermore, as shown in the attached drawings, a pop-up flash integrated in the main body of a camera has an overall compact and thin configuration and, thus, the pop-up flash is suitable for a compact camera. Furthermore, since the light emitting unit40protrudes from the rotating unit20, an operating mechanism of the light emitting unit40that is sufficiently separated from the main body of a camera may be embodied without using additional components and, thus, a number of necessary components may be reduced.

FIG. 7is a perspective view of a pop-up flash of a camera, according to another embodiment of the invention.

The pop-up flash of a camera according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 7includes the supporting unit10, the rotating unit20that is rotatably connected to the supporting unit10and may rotate between the first position and the second position, the sliding unit30which is slidably combined with the rotating unit20, the connecting unit50connected to the sliding unit30and the supporting unit10, a driving unit160which provides driving force to the connecting unit50, and the locking member70which may hold the sliding unit30at the first position.

Since the pop-up flash shown inFIG. 7is overall similar to the pop-up flash according to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 through 6, like reference numerals denote like elements, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

In the pop-up flash of a camera according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 7, the driving unit160has a different configuration as compared to the driving unit60ofFIGS. 1 through 6. The driving unit160includes a motor161which provides driving force and a decelerating unit162which interconnects a rotating shaft161aof the motor161and a second end156of the second link55, decelerates driving force of the motor161, and transmits the decelerated driving force.

The motor161may be operated by an external signal and may generate a driving force for rotating the second link55. Therefore, when it is necessary to operate the pop-up flash, a control unit (not shown) of a camera may operate the motor161and, thus, the rotating unit20may be automatically moved to the second position shown inFIG. 7. Furthermore, when it is not necessary to operate the pop-up flash, the rotating unit20may be automatically moved to the first position adjacent to the supporting unit10by the driving force of the motor161.

In a pop-up flash of a camera according to embodiments as described above, a rotating unit may rotate between a first position and second position, and a sliding unit supporting a light emitting unit may slide with respect to the rotating unit due to operations of a connecting unit and a driving unit. Therefore, a sufficient light emitting angle may be secured, and interference of light emitted by the light emitting unit due to the main body of a camera may be significantly reduced.

Furthermore, the driving unit, the connecting unit, the rotating unit, and the sliding unit, which form a link assembly by being connected to each other, operate in connection with each other. Pop-up operation of the pop-up flash, that is, motions including rotation of the rotating unit to the second position and sliding of the sliding unit are automatically performed by a driving force of the driving unit and, thus, the pop-up flash may be quickly prepared to emit light.

Furthermore, a pop-up flash integrated in the main body of a camera has an overall compact and thin configuration and, thus, the pop-up flash is suitable for a compact camera. Furthermore, since the light emitting unit protrudes from the rotating unit, an operating mechanism of the light emitting unit that is sufficiently separated from the main body of a camera may be embodied without using additional components.

The embodiments described herein may comprise a memory for storing program data, a processor for executing the program data, a permanent storage such as a disk drive, a communications port for handling communications with external devices, and user interface devices, including a display, keys, etc. When software modules are involved, these software modules may be stored as program instructions or computer-readable codes, which are executable by the processor, on a non-transitory or tangible computer-readable media such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, an electronic storage media (e.g., an integrated circuit (IC), an electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and/or a flash memory), a quantum storage device, a cache, and/or any other storage media in which information may be stored for any duration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, brief instances, for temporarily buffering, and/or for caching of the information). The computer-readable recording medium can also be distributed over network-coupled computer systems (e.g., a network-attached storage device, a server-based storage device, and/or a shared network storage device) so that the computer-readable code may be stored and executed in a distributed fashion. This media can be read by the computer, stored in the memory, and executed by the processor. As used herein, a computer-readable storage medium excludes any computer-readable media on which signals may be propagated. However, a computer-readable storage medium may include internal signal traces and/or internal signal paths carrying electrical signals therein