Camera apparatus

A camera apparatus comprising a disc compartment portion in which a DVD-R is accommodated so as to be loaded and unloaded, a disc rotating apparatus provided within the disc compartment portion and rotating the DVD-R which can be detachably loaded thereon, a lens apparatus for passing light from an object, a CCD for forming an image from light passed through the lens apparatus and outputting an image signal corresponding to the image, an optical pickup apparatus capable of recording image information on the DVD-R based on the image signal outputted from the CCD and a radiation plate provided within the disc compartment portion. The radiation plate and the CCD are constructed so as to transmit heat therebetween so that heat can be radiated from the CCD through the radiation plate to the disc compartment portion.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Application JP 2004-324173 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Nov. 8, 2004 and Japanese Patent Application JP 2004-333643 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Nov. 17, 2004 the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a camera apparatus using a disc-like recording medium as an information recording medium, and particularly to a camera apparatus in which a mechanical deck supporting thereon a disc rotating means is formed as substantially a D-like shape and in which a lens apparatus is located at the mechanical deck at its portion without an arc.

2. Description of the Related Art

Cited Patent Reference 1, for example, has described so far a camera apparatus according to the related art. The Cited Patent Reference 1 has described a still video camera using a hard disk apparatus of a suitable system, such as a magnetic recording system, as a recording medium to record and reproduce shooting information.

The still video camera described in this Cited Patent Reference 1 includes a camera body composed of a solid-state image pickup device for converting shot information obtained through a lens into an electric video signal and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter for converting a video signal read out from the solid-state image pickup device into a digital video signal wherein the output from the A/D converter is recorded on a recording medium. In this still video camera, the above-described recording medium is composed of a hard disk built-in the above-described camera body and a motor shaft for rotating the hard disk is placed in parallel to the optical axis of the above-described lens.

According to the still video camera having the above arrangement, there can be expected effects in which relatively inexpensive and high-density digital video recording which is excellent in mobility becomes possible and in which bad influences, such as vibration and shock, imposed on the HDD (hard disk drive) built-in the camera body can be reduced so that excellent pictures can be recorded and reproduced.

Cited Patent Reference 2, for example, has described so far another example of this kind of a camera apparatus according to the related art. The Cited Patent Reference 2 has described a recording and reproducing apparatus having a built-in camera for recording or reproducing video information on a disc-like recording and reproducing medium such as a digital video disc.

The recording and reproducing apparatus having a built-in camera described in the Cited Patent Reference 2 is composed of a camera unit including an image pickup device for converting image information such as still picture and/or moving picture into an electric signal, a disc-like recording medium, a drive means for holding and rotating the above-described recording medium at a predetermined speed, a recording and reproducing head unit for converting the above-described electric signal into a recording signal, recording the recording signal on the above-described recording medium spirally in a non-contact fashion, reproducing recorded information from the above-described recording medium and converting reproduced information into a reproduced signal, a control circuit unit for controlling the camera unit, the driving means and the recording and reproducing head unit and a display means for displaying the above-described recording signal or reproducing signal as image information.

According to the recording and reproducing apparatus having a built-in camera having the above-mentioned arrangement, there can be expected effects in which a convenient and stable recording and reproducing apparatus having a built-in camera can be provided by a simple arrangement so that the apparatus can be made inexpensive and small in size.

However, in the camera apparatus on the above-mentioned Cited Patent Reference 1, the lens apparatus and the hard disk drive (HDD) are overlapping each other in the front and back direction and the motor shaft for rotating the magnetic disc is located in parallel to the optical axis of the lens of the lens apparatus. Therefore, there is a problem in which the camera body is increased in length in the depth direction so that the whole of the apparatus becomes large in size unavoidably.

Also, in the camera apparatus on the above-mentioned Cited Patent Reference 2, the camera unit is located in parallel to the outside of the main body in which the recording and reproducing apparatus is accommodated and the optical axis of the lens of the camera unit is set to be the outside of the outer peripheral edge of the disc loaded on the recording and reproducing apparatus. Therefore, there is a problem in which the camera body is increased in length in the lateral direction so that the whole of the apparatus becomes large in size similarly.

Cited Patent Reference 1: Official Gazette of Japanese laid-open patent application No. 6-90426

Cited Patent Reference 2: Official Gazette of Japanese laid-open patent application No. 9-320170

As described above, in the camera apparatus of this kind according to the related art, since the lens apparatus is located on substantially the same axis relative to the disc drive apparatus in an overlapping fashion and it is located distant from the disc drive apparatus with a large distance kin the lateral direction, in either case, the whole of the camera apparatus becomes large in size and hence it is not possible to make the whole of the camera apparatus small in size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid aspects, the present invention intends to provide a camera apparatus whose reliability in operation can be improved.

The present invention intends to provide a camera apparatus which can be reduced in thickness and which can be made compact in size.

Further, the present invention intends to provide a camera apparatus in which image quality can be prevented from being deteriorated.

Furthermore, the present invention intends to provide a camera apparatus in which an image pickup device can be protected from being warped and deformed.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera apparatus which is comprised of a disc compartment portion into and from which a disc-like recording medium can be loaded and unloaded, a disc rotating means provided within the disc compartment portion and rotating the disc-like recording medium which can be detachably loaded thereon, a lens apparatus for passing light from an object, an image pickup device for forming an image from light supplied thereto from the lens apparatus and outputting an image signal corresponding to the image, a recording means capable of recording image information on the disc-like recording medium based on the image signal outputted from the image pickup device and a radiation plate provided within the disc compartment portion, wherein the radiation plate and the image pickup device are constructed so as to transmit heat therebetween so that heat can be transmitted from the image pickup device through the radiation plate to the disc compartment portion.

In the camera apparatus according to the present application, the disc compartment portion has located therein a mechanical deck to which the disc rotating means is attached, the mechanical deck is formed as substantially a D-like shape and the mechanical deck has located at its portion without an arc the lens apparatus in such a manner that an optical axis of a lens thereof is extended in the direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of a rotary shaft of the disc rotating means.

In the camera apparatus according to the present application, the disc-like recording medium loaded onto the disc rotating means has inside structures located within a projection surface.

In the camera apparatus according to the present application, the disc compartment portion has located therein a panel which covers the mechanical deck at its portion without an arc, the panel being a radiation plate with excellent heat transmission property.

In the camera apparatus according to the present invention, the radiation plate is located close to or in contact with the image pickup device.

Further, in the camera apparatus according to the present invention, the radiation plate and the image pickup device have a sheet member having elasticity and heat transmission property interposed therebetween.

Furthermore, in the camera apparatus according to the present application, the camera apparatus is further comprised of a camera apparatus body having the disc rotating means, the lens apparatus and the recording means housed therein, the mechanical deck being located so as to divide the inside of the camera apparatus body into two chambers.

According to the camera apparatus of the present application, in the camera apparatus including the disc compartment portion, the disc rotating means, the lens apparatus, the image pickup device, the recording apparatus and the radiation plate, since the image pickup device and the radiation plate are constructed so as to transmit heat therebetween so that heat is radiated from the image pickup device through the radiation plate to the disc compartment portion, heat radiation efficiency of the image pickup device can be improved, influence of heat can be decreased by controlling rise of temperature of the disc drive apparatus, devices located around the disc drive apparatus, assemblies and the like and hence operations of the camera apparatus can be made more reliable.

According to the camera apparatus of the present application, since the mechanical deck is formed as substantially the D-like shape and it is located in the disc compartment portion and the lens apparatus is located at the mechanical deck at its portion without the arc in such a manner that the optical axis of the lens is extended in substantially parallel to the axial direction of the rotary shaft of the disc rotating means, a space can be formed under the disc-like recording medium loaded onto the disc rotating means and the lens apparatus can be located within such space. Hence, the camera apparatus including the camera portion can be decreased in thickness and it can be reduced in size by effectively using the empty space.

According to the camera apparatus of the present application, since the inside structures of the camera apparatus are located within the projection surface of the disc-like recording medium loaded onto the disc rotating means, the camera apparatus can be decreased in thickness and it can be reduced in size and hence it is possible to provide a small camera apparatus which is what might be called a “disc size”.

According to the camera apparatus of the present application, since the disc compartment portion has located therein the panel which covers the mechanical deck at its portion without the arc and the panel is formed of the radiation plate with excellent heat transmission property, a clearance around the mechanical deck can be filled with the radiation plate and hence the camera apparatus can be made attractive. Further, since the spindle motor, the image pickup device and assemblies located around the spindle motor and the image pickup device can be improved in heat radiation efficiency and influence of heat can be decreased by controlling rise of temperature of the camera apparatus, devices located around the camera apparatus, assemblies and the like and hence operations of the camera apparatus can be made more reliable.

According to the camera apparatus of the present application, since the radiation plate is located close to the image pickup device or the radiation plate is brought in contact with the image pickup device, the radiation plate can radiate heat from the image pickup device so that rise of temperature of the image pickup device can be controlled. Thus, it is possible to suppress temperature from being raised by heat generated from the image pickup device and hence it is possible to prevent deterioration of image quality due to rise of temperature such as white defect occurred on the light-receiving surface of the image pickup device.

Further, according to the camera apparatus of the present application, since the sheet member having elasticity and heat transmission property is interposed between the radiation plate and the image pickup device, it is possible to protect the image pickup device by suppressing the image pickup device from being warped and deformed due to urging external force.

Furthermore, according to the camera apparatus of the present application, since the mechanical deck is located so as to divide the inside of the camera apparatus body, in which the disc rotating means and the like are accommodated, into the two chambers, the empty within the camera apparatus body can be used effectively so that the camera apparatus including the camera portion can be decreased in thickness and reduced in size.

As described above, according to the present invention, heat radiation efficiency of the image pickup device can be improved, rise of temperature of the image pickup device, the devices, the assemblies and the like located around the image pickup device can be suppressed and heat influences imposed thereon can be decreased. Thus, it is possible to realize the camera apparatus whose reliability of operation can be improved by the simple structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 21show the embodiments of the present invention. Specifically,FIGS. 1 to 7show a disc type camera apparatus of a camera apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. That is,FIG. 1is a front view of a disc type camera apparatus;FIG. 2is a bottom view thereof;FIG. 3is a plan view thereof;FIG. 4is a rear view thereof;FIG. 5is a left-hand side elevational view thereof;FIG. 6is a right-hand side elevational view thereof; andFIG. 7is a perspective view of an outside appearance.FIG. 8is a perspective view showing a disc type camera apparatus according to the present invention from the front side with its buckle being opened;FIG. 9is a perspective view showing the disc type camera apparatus according to the present invention from the disc lid side with its disc lid and buckle both being opened;FIG. 10is a perspective view showing the disc type camera apparatus with the disc lid being opened;FIG. 11is an exploded perspective view showing the disc type camera apparatus with the disc lid being opened;FIG. 12is an explanatory diagram showing the central portion of the disc type camera apparatus in a cross-sectional fashion;FIG. 13is an explanatory diagram showing the central portion of the disc type camera apparatus in a cross-sectional fashion with the disc lid being opened;FIG. 14is a bottom view of a disc drive apparatus;FIG. 15is a side view thereof;FIG. 16is a perspective view thereof;FIG. 17is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the disc type camera apparatus is in use;FIG. 18is an exploded perspective view used to explain a touch panel apparatus;FIG. 19is a cross-sectional view of the touch panel apparatus;FIG. 20is a cross-sectional view of the camera apparatus according to the present invention; andFIG. 21is a partly-cross-sectional perspective view used to explain a main portion of a disc type camera apparatus of a camera apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

A camera apparatus1shown inFIGS. 1 to 11is a camera apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a “disc type camera apparatus”) which uses a DVD-R (Digital Video Disc-Recordable), which shows a specific example of a disc-like recording medium, as information storage media and converts an optical image into an electric signal by a CCD (charge-coupled device), that is, a solid-state image pickup device so that the thus converted electric signal may be recorded on a DVD-R or that the thus converted electric signal may be displayed on a display apparatus formed of a suitable flat surface monitor such as an LCD (liquid-crystal display). However, the information storage media according to the camera apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the DVD-R. As the information storage media, there can be used other recordable optical discs such as a DVD-RW (Digital Video Disc Rewritable), disc-like recording mediums of other recording systems such as a magneto-optical disc and a magnetic disc.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 11, this disc type camera apparatus1is composed of a camera apparatus body2to which a plurality of openable and closable lid can be attached, a disc drive apparatus3for rotating a DVD-R, detachably attached thereto, to record (write) and reproduce (read) an information signal, a control apparatus (not shown) including a control circuit and the like to control driving of this disc drive apparatus3, a lens apparatus5for introducing an image of an object into a CCD (solid-state image pickup device) serving as an image pickup means, a touch panel apparatus7including a display means for displaying a picture based on a video signal outputted from the CCD6and which serves also as an input means of command signals, a storage device (not shown) for temporarily storing therein a video signal outputted from the CCD6and the like. These disc drive apparatus3, lens apparatus5and touch-panel apparatus7and the like are all housed within the camera apparatus body2.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 11, the camera apparatus body2is composed of a center frame body10located at the central portion, a lens-side outer case body11for covering one surface side of this center frame body10and a buckle12for covering an opening portion formed on this lens-side outer case body11so that the opening portion can be opened and closed. This center frame body10has a disc compartment portion formed at its side opposite to the lens-side outer case body11and a disc-like recording medium can be detachably accommodated into this disc compartment portion. The disc compartment portion is covered with a disc lid13which is rotatably attached to the center frame body10so that the disc compartment portion can be opened and closed.

The center frame body10has substantially a horseshoe-shaped flat surface and it is composed of a curved frame portion16of substantially U-like shape and a horizontal crosspiece portion15for joining the opening side of the curved frame portion16in substantially straight-line fashion. Although this center frame body10is high enough to house therein the disc drive apparatus3and the like, it is shaped so as to have an incline such that the side of the horizontal crosspiece portion15is set to be high and that the height of the curved frame portion16of the opposite side is progressively decreased in the center thereof. The disc drive apparatus3, the control apparatus, other apparatus and devices are located within this center frame body10. This center frame body10has the lens-side outer case body11secured on its surface opposite to the side of the disc lid13by a plurality of fixing screws.

The lens-side outer case body11has on its horizontal crosspiece portion15side formed an opening portion17and this opening portion17can be freely opened and closed by the buckle12. The buckle12is rotatably supported by a pair of hinge arms23,23rotatably supported to the center frame body10.

Based on rotation operations of the pair of hinge arms23,23, the buckle12can stop at the closed position shown inFIG. 7and the opened position shown inFIG. 8or the buckle12can be stopped at arbitrary positions between the closed position and the opened position.

A sealing member24is attached to the whole periphery of the outer peripheral edge of the inner surface of the buckle12. This sealing member24is adapted to maintain airtight property between the buckle12and the camera apparatus body2to thereby realize a waterproof (or water-resistant) structure in the inside of the buckle12. The sealing member24may be formed as one body with the buckle12by a dichromatic molding, for example. Alternatively, a string-like sealing member may be unitarily fixed to the buckle12by an adhesive.

This buckle12has not only a function as a lid to open and close the opening portion17including the battery compartment portion18but also a function as a fastening means for strongly fastening the disc lid13to the closed position. To this end, a fastening means29having a roller30rotatably supported thereon is provided at substantially the central portion of the tip end side of the buckle12. Concurrently therewith, an engagement protrusion31with which a roller20is detachably engaged is provided at substantially the central portion of the tip end side of the disc lid13. By engaging the fastening means29into this engagement protrusion31through the roller30, the disc lid13can be held at the position at which the disc lid13is strongly fastened and closed by the buckle12.

This fastening operation and the opposite operation are applied to the fastening means29and the roller30is rotated in the direction in which the fastening means29is disengaged from the engagement protrusion31and thereby the engagement state is released, whereby the buckle12can be opened to open the opening portion17. The battery compartment portion18and the three operation means are located within this opening portion17and the battery compartment portion18and the three operation means can be closed or opened by the buckle12. The three operation means are a recording stop switch21serving as the first operation means for stopping the recording means from recording the disc-like recording medium, a slide lever22serving as the second operation means and a restart switch27for restarting the disc type camera apparatus1which was de-energized by some trouble.

Thus, when the buckle12is located at the closed position shown inFIG. 7, since the opening portion17is closed by the buckle12, the battery compartment portion18and the three operation means are all hidden with the buckle12. In addition, since the sealing member24provided at the outer peripheral edge of the inner surface of the buckle12is closely contacted with the whole periphery of the lens-side outer case body11in an airtight fashion, it is possible to prevent dusts and smudges from entering from the contact portion into the camera apparatus body2and also it is possible to reliably prevent liquid such as water and moisture from entering the camera apparatus body2.

When on the other hand the buckle12is located at the opened position shown inFIG. 8, the battery compartment portion18, the recording stop button21, the slide lever22and the restart switch27are exposed, respectively. For this reason, in the state in which the buckle12is opened, a battery28, which shows a specific example of the power supply, can be unloaded from the battery compartment portion18and a new battery28can be loaded into the battery compartment portion18. Also, since the recording stop button21, the slide lever22and the restart switch27can be operated only when the buckle12is placed in the opened position, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of troubles in which the user makes an error to operate the slide lever22before the buckle12is opened and in which the disc lid13is inadvertently opened before the buckle12is opened so that necessary information is not recorded on the information recording medium.

The battery compartment portion18is composed of a battery holder19. The battery holder19is formed of a rectangular casing which is opened both in the top surface and the front surface. The battery holder19consists of a bottom surface portion, a back surface portion and left and right surface portions. The battery holder19has provided at its back surface portion19a terminal portion to which a body-side connection terminal connected to the terminal portion of the battery28is attached. Further, a switch holder95for holding the recording stop switch21is provided on the front portion of the left side surface portion of the battery holder19. Also, a moisture sensor (moisture sensor device), not shown, is attached to the right side surface portion of the battery holder19. This moisture sensor is adapted to detect moisture produced within the camera apparatus body1. When this moisture sensor detects moisture from the inside of the camera apparatus body2, operation of the disc drive apparatus3is stopped and writing of information may be inhibited.

As shown inFIGS. 9,11and12, the disc drive apparatus3includes a mechanical deck35, a disc rotating apparatus36, which shows a specific example of a disc rotating means, an optical pickup apparatus37, a pickup moving apparatus and the like. As shown inFIGS. 14 to 16, the mechanical deck35is formed of a frame member of substantially a D-like shape having substantially the same size as that of the DVD-R8. This mechanical deck35is resiliently supported to the center frame body10through a plurality of mount members43(four mount members43in this embodiment). Specifically, the mechanical deck35is composed of an arc portion35ashaped like an arc with a radius of curvature substantially the same as the radius of the DVD-R8and a U-like portion35bhaving substantially U-like shape continuously formed from this arc portion35a.

The U-like portion35bof the mechanical deck35is composed of a chord portion35b1formed on the opposite side of the arc portion35ain an opposing fashion and a pair of joint portions35b2,35b3continued to both ends of this chord portion35b1and which are extended in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the chord portion35b1is extended. Both ends of the arc portion35aare continued from the respective ends of a pair of joint portions35b2,35b3. Mount receiving portion35cto which mount members43made of rubber-like elastic members are detachably attached are provided both ends of the chord portion35bin the longitudinal direction and respective end portions of the pair of joint portions35b2,35b3. The mechanical deck35is elastically supported to the center frame body10through the mount member43attached to these mount receiving portions35c.

A motor base46is fixed to the mechanical deck35at its position displaced to one direction from the center thereof, that is, at substantially the central portion of the chord portion35b1of the mechanical deck35by screws. The disc rotating apparatus36is fixed to the motor base46by a suitable fixing means such as fixing screws. As shown in FIGS.12and13, this disc rotating apparatus36is composed of a spindle motor40fixed to the motor base46, a turntable41fixed to the rotary portion of this spindle motor40and the like.

As shown inFIG. 9, the turntable41is composed of a disc engagement portion41awith which the central hole of the DVD-R8is fitted and a disc loading portion41bon which the peripheral edge portion of the center hole is loaded. Further, the engagement portion41aincludes a plurality of clamp pawls42(three clamp pawls42in this embodiment) provided along the circumferential direction with an equal interval and these clamp pawls42are engaged with the peripheral edge portion of the center hole of the DVD-R8to thereby hold the DVD-R8. The clamp pawls42are spring-biased in the outside of the radius direction by coil springs, respectively. The DVD-R8is centered at the center of the turntable41and held at constant holding force by holding force of the clamp pawls42under spring forces of the coil springs. By moving the clamp pawls42in the backward against the spring force of the coil spring, it becomes possible to load the DVD-R8onto the turntable41and to unload the DVD-R8from the turntable41.

In the lateral direction of this disc rotating apparatus36, the optical pickup apparatus37, which shows a specific example of the recording means, is disposed within a space encircled by the arc portion35aand the U-like portion35bof the mechanical deck35. The optical pickup apparatus37is composed of a biaxial actuator including a pickup lens44opposed to the information recording surface of the DVD-R8, a slide member45having this biaxial actuator mounted thereon and the like. As shown inFIGS. 14 and 16, the slide member45can be freely reciprocated by the pickup moving apparatus49and it can become close to and come away from the disc rotating apparatus36.

The pickup moving apparatus49is composed of two guide shafts51a,51blocated parallel to each other, a feed screw shaft provided in parallel to these guide shafts51a,51b, a feed motor for rotating this feed screw shaft and the like. The two guide shafts51a,51bof the pickup moving apparatus49are extended in the front and back direction of the disc type camera apparatus1across the spindle motor40. The slide member45is slidably held on the two guide shafts51a,51band a nut member attached to the slide member45is engaged with the screw portion of the feed screw shaft. Thus, when the feed motor of the pickup moving apparatus49is rotated, the optical pickup apparatus37can be selectively moved in the direction in which it becomes close to the turntable41and in the direction in which it comes away from the turntable41in response to the rotating direction of the feed screw shaft.

The disc drive apparatus3having the above-mentioned arrangement is attached to the center frame body10in the state in which the turntable41is located on the side of the disc lid13. The disc compartment portion47on which the disc-like recording medium such as the DVD-R8is detachably loaded is set on the side of the turntable41of this disc drive apparatus3. This disc drive apparatus3divides the inside space of the camera apparatus body2into a first chamber97including the disc compartment portion47and a second chamber98including the opening portion17made openable and closable by the buckle12as shown inFIG. 12. The first and second chambers97and98may be communicated with each other by air holes bored on the battery holder19, a clearance between the assemblies, a clearance between the apparatus and the like so that the air can be circulated between the first and second chambers97and98.

Further, as shown inFIG. 12, a space portion for use with the lens apparatus is set at the outside of the U-like portion35bserving as the portion without arc of the mechanical deck35which is the inner part of the disc drive apparatus3within the camera apparatus body2and the lens apparatus5is disposed within such space portion. The lens apparatus5includes a lens barrel53formed of a combination of a plurality of cylindrical bodies and a lens unit held on this lens barrel53and which is formed of a combination of a plurality of lenses containing a camera lens62. The CCD6, which shows a specific example of the image pickup means, is located behind an optical axis CL of the lens unit. The CCD6is fixed to the lens barrel53and the optical axis CL of the lens unit is located at substantially the central portion of its light-receiving surface.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 7and the like, the lens apparatus5is disposed at the end portion opposite to the buckle12of the lens-side outer case body11located at the front of the disc type camera apparatus1in the state in which the camera lens62is exposed to the front surface. In order to dispose this lens apparatus5, the lens-side outer case body11is provided with a lens thick portion, not shown, protruded toward the front surface side and a lens cover65is attached to the lens thick portion. A lens waterproofing device including a lens protecting glass for protecting the camera lens62is provided in the concave portion formed on this lens thick portion.

The lens apparatus5has its camera lens62set on the side of the lens-side outer case body11opposite to the disc compartment portion47and it is located in such a manner that substantially the whole thereof may be located within the area (projection surface) projected on the plane of the DVD-R8loaded on the turntable41. Further, the optical axis CL of the lens unit of the lens apparatus5is extended in the direction nearly perpendicular to the plane of the DVD-R8, in other words, in the direction nearly parallel to the rotary shaft of the turntable41of the table rotating apparatus36.

As shown inFIGS. 10 and 11, a panel57is provided on the disc compartment portion47so as to hide the lens apparatus3and an empty space formed around the disc drive apparatus3. The panel57is formed of a flat plate member having a suitable shape such that it may hide the mechanical deck35at its portion without arc, that is, the remaining portion obtained by removing the D-like portion from the circle. This panel57is made of a metal material having excellent heat transmission property and large heat radiation effect, such as aluminum alloy, iron and copper. However, the panel57is not limited to the metal material and it is needless to say that the panel57may be formed of engineering plastic, composite material and various kinds of other material insofar as those materials are excellent in heat transmission property.

The panel57serving as the radiation plate is detachably attached to the center frame body10by a plurality of fixing screws, not shown. As shown inFIG. 12, the CCD6attached to the lens barrel53is opposed to the back surface of the panel57in the state in which they are extremely close to each other. As a result, most of heat generated from the CCD6may be transmitted to the panel57and heat may be radiated at the wide space portion, which is the disc compartment portion47within the camera apparatus body2, and rise of temperature in the CCD6can be suppressed. At the same time, it is possible to prevent temperature around the CCD6from being raised locally.

While the panel57is located near the CCD6in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto and the CCD6may be brought in direct contact with the CCD6. In such a case, heat transmission efficiency of heat transmitted from the CCD6to the panel57can be improved and hence the rise of temperature in the CCD6can be suppressed more effectively. Also, a sheet member (for example, silicon rubber having heat transmission property and other rubber-like elastic members, etc.) having both of elasticity and heat transmission property may be sandwiched between the panel57and the CCD6. In such a case, in addition to the effect for suppressing the rise of temperature in the CCD6, urging external force given to the CCD6can be absorbed by the above sheet member and hence it is possible to prevent the CCD6from being warped due to such external force.

When light of object passed through the lens unit of the thus disposed lens apparatus5is received by the CCD6, a video signal formed of an electric signal corresponding to the object is outputted from the CCD6to a suitable apparatus such as a control apparatus and a display apparatus. In order to cover the side of the camera lens62of this lens apparatus5, as shown inFIG. 12, a lens cover65is attached to the lens thick portion11a. The lens cover65is shaped so as to match with the lens thick portion11aand an opening hole78is bored through both of the lens cover65and the lens thick portion11ain order to expose the camera lens62of the lens barrel54. The lens cover65is detachably attached to the lens-side outer case body11by a plurality of fixing screws. A fixing member67for fixing the lens protecting glass is detachably screwed into and attached to the opening hole78of the lens cover65as shown inFIG. 7and the like.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 9, a circularly-projected thick portion13ais provided on the disc lid13. This thick portion13ais of the size corresponding to the size of a disc-like recording medium (for example, DVD-R having a diameter of 8 cm, etc.) loaded on the turntable41. A rectangular opening window48is set substantially at the central portion of the thick portion13aof this disc lid13. A touch panel apparatus7, which shows a specific example of a display apparatus, is attached to the opening window48.

Also, a change-over switch50and the like are disposed on the lower portion of the touch panel apparatus7of the thick portion13aof the disc lid13. Further, a first finger hook portion52aconstructing a part of a grip portion52to grip the camera apparatus body2is provided on the upper right portion outside the thick portion13aof the disc lid13. A thumb of right hand is contacted with this first finger hook portion52a.

The touch panel apparatus7is provided with a display means for displaying a recording signal or a reproduced signal as image information, an input means for carrying out various operations and the like. As shown inFIGS. 12 and 18, the touch panel apparatus7includes a touch panel81, a display panel82, a backlight panel83, a cushion member84, a holder85, a sealing member86, a pressing plate87and the like. The display panel82is bonded to one surface of the touch panel81by a suitable means such as adhesive and the backlight panel83is disposed on the other surface of the display panel82. The display panel82and the backlight panel83are surrounded by the holder85formed of a rectangular frame body and this holder85is sandwiched by the touch panel81and the backlight panel83, whereby the touch panel apparatus7forming one assembly body on the whole is constructed.

The display panel82is a display apparatus having an oblong rectangular flat plate-like shape. Although an LCD (liquid-crystal display) for changing the directions of liquid-crystal molecules with application of a voltage to amplify light transmittance to display image is used as the display panel82in this embodiment, an EL (electroluminescence) panel and other flat surface monitors can be used as the display panel82. The touch panel81is closely contacted with the display surface of this display panel82and its display surface is exposed from the opening window48.

The touch panel81is formed of an oblong rectangular plate member of which size is larger than the display panel82and it is an input apparatus having a function as an electric button. When the cameraman touches the display surface of the display panel82through this touch panel81with a suitable means such as fingers and exclusively-designed stylus, the sensor can sense this touching and the cameraman can carry out desired operations. A film-glass touch panel consisting of a film and glass, for example, is suitable for the application to the touch panel81. However, the touch panel81is not limited to the film-glass touch panel and it is needless to say that not only a resistance film type touch panel such as a film-plastic touch panel and a glass-glass touch panel but also various kinds of touch panels such as an electrostatic capacity type touch panel and an ultrasonic type touch panel can be used as the touch panel81.

The backlight panel83is formed as an oblong rectangular flat plate and it is a light source disposed at the back surface of the display panel82. When the backlight panel83serving as the light source illuminates the back surface of the display panel82, the cameraman is able to see image displayed on the display panel82. Although an LED (light-emitting diode), for example, is suitable as the application to the light source of the backlight panel83, the present invention is not limited thereto and EL (electroluminescence lamp), a CFL (cathode fluorescent lamp) and the like can be used as the light source of the backlight panel83.

The cushion member84is formed of an oblong rectangular resilient member and it is a shock-absorbing member disposed at the rear surface of the backlight panel83. Specifically, the cushion member84has a function to absorb loads applied to the display panel82and the backlight panel83when external force is applied to the touch panel81and the disc lid13. Although rubber sponge, for example, can be used as the material of the cushion member84, it is needless to say that various kinds of materials for use with this kind of cushion member can be used as the material of the cushion member84.

As shown inFIG. 19, the holder85is a member for accommodating and holding the display panel82, the backlight panel83an d the cushion member84. This holder85is formed as an oblong rectangular frame body including an opening portion to expose the display area of the display panel82. A plurality of engagement members85a(four engagement members85ain this embodiment) projecting toward the opening portion in the vertical direction is provided on one surface of both sides of the longitudinal direction of this holder85. An ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin, for example, is suitable as the material of the holder85. However, the material of the holder85is not limited to the ABS resin and it is needless to say that other engineering plastics can be applied to the material of the holder85. Further, in addition to synthetic resins, metals such as aluminum alloy also can be used as the material of the holder85.

Also, it is suitable that the holder85is formed of one frame body as shown in this embodiment but the shape of the holder85is not limited to one frame body. For example, one frame body may be divided into two frame bodies and the holder85may be composed of two U-like divided members. Also, one frame body may be divided into four frame bodies and the holder85may be composed of these four L-like or I-like divided members. Further, one frame body may be formed of a suitable combinations of these divided members.

The sealing member76is formed of a frame-like elastic member and it is held and fixed between the touch panel81and the peripheral edge portion of the opening window48of the disc lid13. While the sealing member76may be made of silicon rubber, for example, the present invention is not limited thereto and it is needless to say that various kinds of materials for use with this kind of sealing member such as neoprene rubber and fluorine rubber can be used as the material of the sealing member76.

The pressing plate87is able to press the cushion member84and the holder85at the same time and it is fastened to and fixed to the inside of the disc lid13by a plurality of fixing screws88(four fixing screws88in this embodiment). This pressing plate87is formed of a substantially circular thin plate and it has positioning holes87aof the same number as that of engagement members85a(four positioning holes87ain this embodiment) formed at the position opposing the engagement members85aof the holder85. The pressing plate87may be suitably made of metal such as aluminum alloy and stainless steel. However, the material of the pressing plate87is not limited to the plate made of metal and it is needless to say that materials other than metals, such as engineering plastic can be used as the material of the pressing plate87.

The touch panel apparatus7having the above-mentioned arrangement can be assembled with ease as follows, for example (seeFIG. 12). First, the display surface of the display panel82is closely contacted with substantially the central portion of the touch panel81of the shape larger than that of the display panel82. Then, a frame-like projected portion89is formed around the display panel82and the touch panel81is fixed to the display surface of the display panel82by adhesive. As a result, the display panel82and the touch panel81are joined together by adhesive and can be handled as one assembly body, which can simplify the assembly work. In addition, a risk in which a positional displacement between the display panel82and the touch panel81will occur can be removed by the adhesive and it is possible to prevent dusts and smudges from entering the clearance between the display panel82and the touch panel81.

Next, the sealing member86is located at the inner peripheral edge of the opening window48of the disc lid13. Subsequently, the assembly body in which the above-mentioned display panel82and touch panel81are laminated with each other is located in such a manner that the touch panel81of the assembly body may be opposed to the sealing member86. As a consequence, the sealing member86is sandwiched between the touch panel81and the surrounding of the opening window48of the disc lid13. Then, when suitable pressure is applied to the sealing member86with application of suitable force to the touch panel81, the sealing member86can be closely attached to the touch panel81and the disc lid13and thereby airtight property can be maintained. As a result, it is possible to obtain high reliability for waterproof property and water-resistant property.

Thereafter, the holder85is located at the projected portion89of the touch panel81formed on the outside of the display panel82. At that time, the surface in which the holder85comes in contact with the projected portion89is the surface of the opposite side of the surface in which the engagement members85aare provided. Thus, the display panel82is accommodated within the frame of the holder85. Subsequently, the backlight panel83and the cushion member84are located at the back surface of the display panel82, in that order, and they are housed within the frame of the holder85similarly to the display panel82.

Next, a plurality of engagement members85aof the holder85is fitted into a plurality of positioning holes87aof the pressing plate87, whereby the pressing plate87is properly positioned in the horizontal direction. Finally, the cushion member84and the holder85are pressed simultaneously by the pressing plate87and the pressing plate87is fastened to and fixed to the inside of the disc lid13by a plurality of fixing screws88. Thus, the pressing plate87can be properly positioned in the height direction, whereby the touch panel81is pressed by the holder85pressed by the pressing plate87and thereby the touch panel81can be fixed to the disc lid13strongly.

On the other hand, the display panel82and the backlight panel83housed within the holder85are fixed with elasticity through the cushion member84. At that time, since not only the touch panel81and the display panel82are closely contacted with each other but also the backlight panel83and the cushion member84also are laminated close to each other, it is possible to decrease the thickness of the touch panel apparatus7. In consequence, after all assembly processes were completed, the touch panel apparatus7is attached to the inside of the disc lid13.

FIG. 20is a cross-sectional view showing layout and arrangement of the touch panel apparatus7from the whole of the disc type camera apparatus1. The camera apparatus body2has the disc drive apparatus13located so as to partition the inside space surrounded by the lens-side outer case body11and the disc lid13. This disc drive apparatus3has the lens apparatus5located on its side opposite to the buckle12. Then, the disc lid13including the touch panel apparatus7is opposed so as to surround the disc loading portion47on the side of the turntable41mounted on the disc drive apparatus3.

When the cameraman touches the surface, serving as the operation surface, of the touch panel8with a suitable means such as the fingers and the exclusively-designed stylus, the touch panel apparatus7which has been assembled and attached to the camera apparatus body2in this manner can be operated as a switch and the like so that the cameraman can switch display and select modes.

During the cameraman touches the touch panel apparatus7, even when large force is applied to the touch panel81, since such large force is transmitted from the touch panel81through the holder85to the pressing plate87, the display panel82and the backlight panel83housed within the holder85can be protected from large load. Also, even when external force which is strong enough to affect the display panel82and the backlight panel83is applied to the touch panel81, such external force can be absorbed by the cushion member84and hence influences imposed on the display panel82and the backlight panel83can be alleviated or removed.

The touch panel apparatus according to the related art has encountered with the following problems with respect to these points. That is, the related-art touch panel apparatus has a structure in which external force is transmitted to the display panel and load is therefore applied to the display panel when external force is applied to the touch panel. As a result, it is unavoidable that glass, which is weak in strength, of the display panel is easily broken. Also, there is a problem in which a suitable means such as a spacer disposed to alleviate the influence of external force will hinder the touch panel apparatus from being reduced in thickness.

On the other hand, as shown by the touch panel apparatus7according to this embodiment, in the touch panel apparatus7includes the disc lid (housing)13having the opening portion48formed thereon, the touch panel81attached to the disc lid13so as to close the opening portion48, the display panel82located at the rear surface of the touch panel81, the backlight panel83located at the rear surface of the display panel82and the pressing plate87located at the back surface of the backlight panel83, since the touch panel81is formed to be larger than the display panel82, the holder85is interposed between the projected portion89of the touch panel81projected from this display panel82and the pressing plate87wherein the display panel81and the backlight panel83are sandwiched between the touch panel81and the pressing plate87through the holder85, the above-mentioned problems can be solved.

Also, in the touch panel apparatus7, the holder85may be formed of a continuing frame member that can cover the whole surrounding of the display panel82.

Further, in the touch panel apparatus7, the cushion member84may be disposed at the back surface of the display panel82or the backlight panel83.

Then, the touch panel apparatus7may have an airtight arrangement obtained by interposing the sealing member86between the disc lid (housing)13and the touch panel81.

Further, in the touch panel apparatus7, it is preferable that the touch panel81and the display panel82should be closely bonded together.

Since the touch panel apparatus7has the arrangement in which the touch panel81is formed to be larger than the display panel82, the holder85is interposed between the projected portion89of the touch panel81projected from the display panel82and the pressing plate87and the display panel82and the backlight panel83are sandwiched between the touch panel81and the pressing plate87through this holder85, in the state in which the display panel82and the backlight panel83are housed within the holder85, the touch panel81can be fixed to the disc lid13. Thus, when external force is applied to the touch panel81, the external force is transmitted from the touch panel81to the holder85. Therefore, since the display panel82and the backlight panel83housed within the holder85can be prevented from being applied with the load by the external force applied to the touch panel81, it is possible to make the glass of the display panel81become difficult to break.

Also, according to the touch panel apparatus of this embodiment, the holder85is composed of the continuing frame body which thoroughly surrounds the circumference of the display panel82, whereby the whole periphery of the touch panel82can be uniformly fastened with force of substantially the same. In addition, since the assembly work of the touch panel apparatus7becomes easy, the assembly process can be simplified and productivity can be improved.

Further, according to the touch panel apparatus7of this embodiment, since the cushion member84is located at the back surface of the display panel82or the backlight panel83, the load applied to the display panel82and the backlight panel83based on the external force applied to the touch panel81can be absorbed by the cushion member84. Therefore, the glass of the display panel82can be made difficult to break and it is possible to reduce the amount in which image is distorted when the load is applied to the display panel81. Also, when the central portion of the touch panel81is pressed, although the display panel82is pressed by deformation of the touch panel81, since the cushion member84is dented to reduce pressure applied to the display panel82, it is possible to make the glass of the display panel82become difficult to break.

Further, according to the touch apparatus7of this embodiment, since the sealing member86is interposed between the disc lid (housing)13and the touch panel81, it is possible to prevent water or moisture from entering the inside of the disc lid13. Therefore, the waterproof function or water-resistant function of the touch panel apparatus7can be improved and hence it becomes possible to use the camera apparatus in the rain or water.

Also, according to the touch panel apparatus7of this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the touch panel apparatus7by closely bonding the touch panel81and the display panel82, which can contribute to reduction of the thickness of the camera apparatus such as the disc type camera apparatus1and other electronic device. In addition, the positional displacement between the touch panel81and the display panel82can be prevented and dusts and smudges can be prevented from entering the space between the touch panel81and the display panel82, thereby making it possible to suppress the occurrence rate of yield. Further, since the touch panel81and the display panel82can be handled as one assembly body after the touch panel81and the display panel82were bonded to each other, the assembly process can be simplified and the productivity can be improved.

Since the external force applied to the touch panel81can be prevented from being transmitted to the display panel82or the above external force is made difficult to be transmitted to the display panel82, it is possible to make the glass of the display panel82become difficult to break. Further, it is possible to realize the thin touch panel apparatus7which is highly reliable in waterproof or water-resistant function and which can be assembled with ease by a simple structure.

Specifically, it is possible to improve shock resistance, waterproof (water-resistant) property and the like by using the above-mentioned touch panel apparatus7.

The disc lid13is rotatably supported to the center frame body10by a hinge mechanism69. A change-over switch50for turning the power supply ON and OFF and the like are disposed on the lower portion of the touch panel apparatus7of the thick portion13aof the disc lid13. The first finger hook portion52aconstructing a part of the grip portion52to grip the camera apparatus body2is provided on the upper right portion outside the thick portion13aof this disc lid13. A thumb of right hand is brought in contact with the first finger hook portion52a.

The change-over switch50is a switch for turning the power supply ON and OFF. This change-over switch50can be slid in an arc fashion and it can be depressed at predetermined positions. Specifically, when the change-over switch50is slid, the power supply can be turned ON and OFF. Also, when the change-over switch50is depressed at the position in which the power supply is turned ON, shooting modes (for example, still picture shooting, motion shooting, playback display, etc.) can be switched.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 9, a recording button54for starting and ending shooting and a pair of zoom buttons are located at one end portion of the side of the horizontal crosspiece portion15in the curved frame portion16of the center frame body10. The pair of zoom buttons is composed of a wide angle button55for moving the lens apparatus5to the wide angle (wide angle) side and a telephoto button56for moving the lens apparatus5to the telephoto (telephoto) side. When the wide angle button55or the telephoto button56is being continuously pressed within a predetermined range, a picture may be continuously enlarged or reduced. When the wide angle button55or the telephoto button56is placed at the end, the movement of the lens apparatus5to the wide angle side or the telephoto side is stopped.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 7, a tripod fixing metal fittings58for attaching this disc type camera apparatus1to a tripod (not shown) is buried into the other end portion of the side of the horizontal crosspiece portion15in the curved frame portion16of the center frame body10. The tripod fixing metal fittings58can be detachably attached to the other end portion of the side of the crosspiece portion15by a plurality of fixing screws59. The tripod fixing metal fittings58is formed of substantially an elliptic member with different radiuses of curvature of arc portions at both ends in the longitudinal direction and a screw hole58ato which a tripod fixing screw is fitted is formed on the large-diameter side.

FIG. 17is a perspective view showing an example of the state in which the disc type camera apparatus1according to this embodiment is in use. The cameraman holds the grip portion52of the camera apparatus body2with right hand and grips the portion near the lens apparatus5of the camera apparatus body2with left hand. Accordingly, as shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, a second finger hook portion52bconstructing a part of the grip portion52of the camera apparatus body2is provided at the end portion of the opposite side of the lens apparatus5of the lens-side outer case body11.

The middle finger and the third finger of the right hand are contacted with the second finger hook portion52bof the grip portion52of the disc type waterproof camera apparatus1. The cameraman grips the grip portion52with the middle finger of the right hand and the like hooked to this second finger hook portion52band the thumb of the right hand hooked to the first finger hook portion52a. Then, the cameraman turns the index finger of the right hand around above the camera apparatus body2to operate the three operation buttons54to56of the recording button54, the wide angle button55and the telephoto button56. In this manner, the cameraman can hold the disc type camera apparatus1and can take a picture of a desired object with a desired composition, a size and the like after the cameraman has operated the three operation buttons54to56with the index finger.

According to the disc type camera apparatus1having the above-mentioned arrangement, since the mechanical deck35of the disc drive apparatus3is formed as substantially the D-like shape to form a space under the disc-like recording medium and the camera unit is located within the above space in such a manner that the optical axis of the lens thereof may be extended in the direction substantially parallel to the direction nearly perpendicular to the plane of the disc (axial direction of the rotary shaft of the disc rotating means), the whole of the disc type camera apparatus1can be made compact in size and thin in thickness and hence a video camera which might be called a “disc-size video camera” can be realized. Also, since the U-like portion formed at the outside of the mechanical deck35is surrounded by the panel57and the panel57is formed of the radiation plate having excellent heat transmission property, heat can be effectively radiated from the CCD6. As a result, rise of temperature in the CCD6and in the assemblies existing around the CCD6can be controlled and satisfactory shooting operations can be carried out. At the same time, the inside of the disc type camera apparatus1can be inconspicuous and hence visual effects of the disc type camera apparatus1can be improved.

FIG. 21is a partly-cross-sectional perspective view showing a disc type camera apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 21, a disc type camera apparatus301according to this embodiment includes a camera apparatus body302formed of a housing extended in the front and back direction. The camera apparatus body302has a lens apparatus305provided on the upper portion of the front thereof.

A disc compartment portion307is set on one side surface of the camera apparatus body302and the disc compartment portion307can be opened and closed by a disc lid303. The disc lid303is rotatably supported by a hinge mechanism308provided at the rear portion of the camera apparatus body301, whereby the disc lid303can be rotated in the lateral direction at the hinge mechanism308. Thus, the disc lid303is constructed as a so-called front opening type lid.

The lens apparatus305is composed of a combination of a camera lens311opposed to the object and a lens group312consisting of a plurality of lenses located behind the camera lens311. These lens apparatus305and CCD306are housed within a lens housing portion310projected forward from the front surface of the camera apparatus body302. Then, an optical axis CL of the lens unit is made coincident with substantially the central portion of the light-receiving surface of the CCD306.

A radiation plate317is located behind the CCD306. The radiation plate317is composed of a radiation portion317adeveloped in the disc compartment portion307and a heat transmission portion317blocated at the back surface of the CCD306. These radiation portion317aand heat transmission portion317bare made of a material having excellent heat transmission property to transmit heat effectively and the radiation portion317aand the heat transmission portion317bare formed as one body. The heat transmission portion317bof the radiation plate317may be brought in contact with the back surface of the CCD306or the heat transmission portion317bof the radiation plate317may be opposed to the back surface of the CCD306with a proper clearance. The radiation portion317aof the radiation plate317may be so shaped as to enter the space portion of the disc compartment portion307(arc-like radiation portion in this embodiment). Heat radiated from the CCD306is transmitted from the heat transmission portion317bto the radiation plate317and thereby radiated from the radiation portion317ato the disc compartment portion307.

A rest of the arrangement of the disc type camera apparatus301is similar to that of the disc type camera apparatus1according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The disc type camera apparatus including the radiation plate317having the above-mentioned arrangement and the like can achieve effects similar to those of the above-described first embodiment.

While the present invention has been described so far, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the following variants are also possible. For example, while the lens apparatus5is fixed to the camera apparatus body2as described hereinbefore by way of example, the present invention is not limited thereto and it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a camera apparatus in which the lens apparatus5can be constructed so as to become rotatable relative to the camera apparatus body2so that shooting angles may be varied. Also, the mechanical deck may be shaped in accordance with the shape of a block required by the camera apparatus so that the mechanical deck may be substantially housed within the projection surface of the disc-like recording medium.

Also, according to the touch panel apparatus7of the camera apparatus of the present invention, even when external force, which is larger than is necessary, is applied to the touch panel81, force transmitted to the display panel82can be alleviated and thereby the display panel82can be protected from being affected. Accordingly, distortion of the image on the display screen can be decreased and hence it is possible to realize the touch panel apparatus7in which the glass of the display panel82is difficult to break. Further, the touch panel81is urged against the circumference of the opening window48bypassing the display panel82and the like, whereby pressure of proper strength can be applied to the sealing member86. Then, when the touch panel81and the peripheral edge portion of the opening window48of the disc lid13are closely contacted with each other by the sealing member86, airtight property of the joint portion can be maintained. Thus, it is possible to realize the touch panel apparatus7which is highly reliable in waterproof or water-resistant function.

Furthermore, since the display panel82and the touch panel81are closely contacted with each other by bonding, the assembly work of the touch panel apparatus7can be simplified and a positional displacement between the display panel82and the touch panel81can be prevented and dusts and smudges can be prevented from entering the space between the display panel82and the touch panel81. Also, since the touch panel81, the display panel82, the backlight panel83, the cushion member84and the like are closely laminated in an opposing fashion, it is possible to realize the thin touch panel apparatus7. Accordingly, it is possible to realize the touch panel apparatus7which is suitable for use with miniaturized electronic devices.

Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to other camera apparatus than the disc type camera apparatus such as electronic still cameras, video cameras, personal computers with camera functions, mobile phones with camera functions, PHS (personal handyphone system) with camera functions and various kinds of camera apparatus.