Image pickup apparatus capable of improving heat dissipation

An image pickup apparatus that is capable of improving heat dissipation while reducing a cost and securing reliability of flange back. The image pickup apparatus includes a lens mount to which a lens unit is attachable, and a housing that is formed by inserting a metal member into a resin member and that has a mount portion to which the lens mount is attached. The metal member has a first planar portion that is perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens unit and a second planar portion including at least one planar plate that is bent in an optical axis direction from the first planar portion. The at least one planar plate is inserted into the mount portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus that is capable of improving heat dissipation.

Description of the Related Art

In a field of an image pickup apparatus, such as a digital camera having an exchangeable lens, a conventional apparatus that employs a component formed by inserting a metal plate into a resin member as an inner housing is known (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2014-178565 (JP 2014-178565A)). However, when external force is applied to a component formed by inserting a metal plate into a resin member, the component may deform. Moreover, the component may deform due to exfoliation caused by external force at an interface between resin and metal. The above-mentioned publication discloses a technique that forms a mirror box from single material so as to prevent change of flange back (distance between a mount and an image pickup surface) due to a deformation of the component.

When the components in connection with the flange back are formed from metal, although rigidity against external force, such as vibration and impact, and heat dissipation are improved, its cost increases. In the meantime, when the above components are formed from resin, the heat dissipation is lowered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an image pickup apparatus that is capable of improving heat dissipation while reducing a cost and securing reliability of flange back.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides an image pickup apparatus including a lens mount to which a lens unit is attachable, and a housing that is formed by inserting a metal member into a resin member and that has a mount portion to which the lens mount is attached, wherein the metal member has a first planar portion that is perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens unit and a second planar portion including at least one planar plate that is bent in an optical axis direction from the first planar portion, and wherein the at least one planar plate is inserted into the mount portion.

According to the present invention, the heat dissipation is improved while reducing the cost and securing the reliability of the flange back.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail by referring to the drawings.

FIG.1is a view schematically showing a camera system including an image pickup apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention This camera system is constituted as a digital camera system as an example. This camera system consists of a camera body1000that is the image pickup apparatus and an image pickup lens1001that is detachable from the camera body1000.

In the image pickup lens1001, a diaphragm1102for adjusting an exposure amount is provided in addition to an image pickup optical system1101. Although the image pickup optical system1101is illustrated as one lens, it is an optical system that actually consists of a plurality of lens groups. A lens mount1002can be equipped with a lens unit. For example, the image pickup lens1001is connected to the camera body1000electrically and mechanically through the lens mount1002. The image pickup lens1001adjusts focus of the image pickup optical system1101by moving a focusing lens as a component of the image pickup optical system1101by a drive mechanism (not shown) in a direction of an optical axis1003of the image pickup optical system1101.

An image pickup unit1004is provided with an image sensor1201and an optical low-pass filter1202. The image sensor1201consists of a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor. The image pickup unit1004converts an optical image of an object formed through the image pickup lens1001into an electrical signal by driving the image sensor1201sporadically or continuously and obtains an image signal of a still image or a moving image. The optical low-pass filter1202is constituted so as not to transmit a component more than a predetermined cutoff frequency of the object image to the image sensor1201.

A focal-plane shutter1005that adjusts a light amount that enters into the image sensor1201is arranged at the object side (the left side inFIG.1) of the image pickup unit1004. A control substrate1006is a printed wired board (PWB). The control substrate1006is provided with a power supply circuit, an image processing unit, a controller of various systems, etc., and controls operations of the entire camera body1000.

FIG.2is a perspective view showing the camera body1000. Hereinafter, a direction of each part will be called on the basis of X, Y, and Z coordinate axes shown inFIG.2etc. In the following description, an object side in a direction parallel to an optical axis direction is called a front. The side of the control substrate1006viewed from the lens mount1002is called a back. InFIG.2, a Y-direction is a vertical direction, a Z-direction is a front-back direction and an X-direction is a lateral direction. Particularly, a +Y-direction is an up direction and a +Z-direction is a front direction. A +X-direction is a right direction when viewed from the object side.

The camera body1000is provided with an exterior cover1007as an exterior member. The exterior cover1007has a first grip portion1301that is grasped by a user in order to hold the camera body1000. Moreover, the exterior cover1007has a second grip portion3002in the opposite side of the first grip portion1301in the lateral direction.

The camera body1000is provided with a pop-up built-in flash2001in a front part at a center in the lateral direction of a top surface. Moreover, the camera body1000is provided with an accessory shoe2002, to which an external accessory can be attached, behind the built-in flash2001. A pair of first sound holes2011are provided in the exterior cover1007between the built-in flash2001and the accessory shoe2002in the front-and-back direction. The first sound holes2011are openings for built-in microphones (a left microphone2021and a right microphone2022shown inFIG.5A) mentioned later that obtain stereo sound.

FIG.3is an exploded perspective view showing an internal structure of the camera body1000. A housing1008is a component that is formed by insert molding of a metal plate (metal member)1402to a resin member1401. The lens mount1002is fixed to a mount portion1403of the resin member1401. A lens energization spring1009is a plate spring for drawing a mount of the image pickup lens1001into the lens mount1002of the camera body1000, and is arranged between the lens mount1002and the mount portion1403. A tripod seat1010is a metal plate that has a tripod attachment part, and is fixed to the bottom side of the housing1008. The image pickup unit1004, focal-plane shutter1005(FIG.1), and control substrate1006are fixed to the housing1008from the back side.

FIG.4is a perspective view showing a metal plate1402that will be inserted into the resin member1401. First, rigidity of the camera body1000is described by referring toFIG.4.

The metal plate1402has a first planar portion1501that is approximately perpendicular to the optical axis1003and a second planar portion1502that is bent in the direction of the optical axis1003(+Z-direction) from the first planar portion1501. The second planar portion1502has at least one planar plate that is approximately parallel to the optical axis1003. In the example shown inFIG.4, the second planar portion1502consists of a plurality of planar plates including a first planar plate1503, second planar plate1504, third planar plate1505, and fourth planar plate1506. The planar plates of the second planar portion1502are inserted into the mount portion1403of the resin member1401to which the lens mount1002is fixed. Thereby, the rigidity of the mount portion1403of the housing1008is improved.

Moreover, the first planar plate1503, second planar plate1504, third planar plate1505, and fourth planar plate1506are arranged at approximately equal angular intervals (approximately 90 degrees) in a circumferential direction around the optical axis1003. Thereby, even when external force is applied from various directions to the mount portion1403, the rigidity of the housing1008is maintained. It should be noted that the second planar portion1502may include at least one of fifth planar plates1507. Moreover, from a viewpoint of improving the rigidity, the planar plates constituting the second planar portion1502are enough to be arranged at approximately equal angular intervals. The planar plates may be arranged at angular intervals of 60 degrees instead of 90 degrees.

Moreover, at least one through hole1508penetrated in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis1003is formed in each of the planner plates of the second planar portion1502. When the metal plate1402is insert-molded to the resin member1401, resin enters into the through holes1508. Thereby, even when external force is applied to the mount portion1403, exfoliation at the interface between the resin member1401and the metal plate1402is reduced and which improves the rigidity.

Furthermore, the metal plate1402has a third planar portion1509that is bent in the direction of the optical axis1003(−Z-direction) from the first planar portion1501. The tripod seat1010is fixed to the third planar portion1509with screws. Thereby, the rigidity of the periphery of the tripod seat1010of the housing1008is improved.

In this way, since the rigidity of the housing1008is improved, deformation of the housing1008due to external force is reduced, change of the flange back is reduced, and its reliability is improved.

Next, heat dissipation of the camera body1000will be described. The control substrate1006shown inFIG.3is fixed to a first contact part1510of the metal plate1402. The image pickup unit1004shown inFIG.3is fixed to a second contact part1511of the metal plate1402. Thereby, heat that occurs in the control substrate1006and the image pickup unit1004when the camera body1000is driven is efficiently dissipated to the metal plate1402.

A third contact part1512is provided in at least one of the planar plates (the first planar plate1503in the example inFIG.4) of the second planar portion1502of the metal plate1402. The lens mount1002contacts the third contact part1512. The lens energization spring1009contacts a fourth contact part1513of the metal plate1402. Thereby, the heat of the metal plate1402transfers to the lens mount1002and lens energization spring1009, and is dissipated to the image pickup lens1001through the lens mount1002.

Moreover, at least a part of the first planar portion1501of the metal plate1402faces the exterior cover1007between the first grip portion1301and the lens mount1002in a radial direction that intersects the optical axis1003. For example, the first planar portion1501faces a part equivalent to the base part (bottom part) at the +X side of the first grip portion1301. Thereby, the heat of the metal plate1402is efficiently dissipated to the exterior cover1007. Moreover, since the tripod seat1010is fixed to the third planar portion1509of the metal plate1402as mentioned above, the heat of the metal plate1402is dissipated to the tripod seat1010, too.

In this way, the heat that occurs in the control substrate1006and the image pickup unit1004is dissipated to the lens mount1002, lens energization spring1009, image pickup lens1001, exterior cover1007, and tripod seat1010through the metal plate1402. In the exterior cover1007, since the heat that occurs in the camera body1000is dissipated to a part that avoids the first grip portion1301, there is few possibility that a hand of a user touches a heat dissipation section during an image pickup operation.

Incidentally, a conventional camera that holds a microphone with an elastic member so that the microphone cannot directly touch an exterior cover and a pressure member is known. This camera reduces direct transmission of vibration of driving sound of a camera body or a lens to the microphone through the exterior cover or the pressure member, which avoids obtainment of noise sound. For example, the conventional camera that is covered by the elastic member except an opening corresponding to a sound hole of a capacitor microphone is disclosed.

A camera equipped with a reference microphone for noise cancellation is developed in recent years. In such a camera, the reference microphone and a sound obtainment microphone are implemented on the same substrate (i.e., are held by and are fixed to the same component) in order to obtain sound of the same characteristics by the reference microphone and sound obtainment microphone. However, in such a camera, it is difficult to form an elastic member that covers the substrate and microphones like a conventional one.

Moreover, when left and right sound obtainment microphones for obtaining stereo sound and the reference microphone are implemented on the same substrate, the substrate is arranged at the center on the top surface in the lateral direction of the camera in many cases. However, when the camera is provided with a built-in flash in the center in the lateral direction, the arrangement positions of the microphones and elastic member become deep below, which lowers incorporating workability.

Hereinafter, a holding mechanism of built-in microphones will be described by referring toFIG.5AthroughFIG.7B.

FIG.5Ais an XY sectional view showing the camera body1000viewed from the front. The camera body1000has three built-in microphones including the left microphone2021, the right microphone2022, and a reference microphone2023. These three built-in microphones are implemented on a flexible substrate2030. The left microphone2021, reference microphone2023, and right microphone2022are arranged in a line in this order from the −X side. The left microphone2021and right microphone2022are built-in microphones for obtaining stereo sound. The reference microphone2023is a built-in microphone for the noise cancellations for obtaining sound transmitted inside the camera body1000. The built-in microphones are respectively provided with microphone sound holes2024.FIG.5Ashows a section that passes through the microphone sound holes2024of the built-in microphones.

Openings2031are formed in the flexible substrate2030corresponding to the positions of the microphone sound holes2024. Sound is obtained through the opening2031. The first sound holes2011in the exterior cover1007are formed above the left microphone2021and right microphone2022. Second sound holes2043are formed in a first elastic portion2041(mentioned later) at positions corresponding to the openings2031of the flexible substrate2030corresponding to the microphone sound holes2024of the left microphone2021and right microphone2022. The two second sound holes2043correspond to the two first sound holes2011.

In the meantime, the reference microphone2023needs to obtain only the sound transmitted inside the camera body1000, for example, the driving sound of the camera body1000or the lens. Accordingly, the exterior cover1007is not provided with a sound hole equivalent to the first sound hole2011above the reference microphone2023.

A microphone unit2060is arranged mainly under the exterior cover1007. The microphone unit2060will be described by referring toFIG.6A,FIG.6B,FIG.7A, andFIG.7B.

FIG.5Bis a YZ sectional view showing the camera body1000viewed from the +X side.FIG.5Bshows a section that passes through the reference microphone2023.FIG.6Ais a perspective view showing the microphone unit2060, andFIG.6Bis an exploded perspective view showing the microphone unit2060.

As shown inFIG.6AandFIG.6B, the microphone unit2060is constituted by unitizing and incorporating a holding member2050, an elastic member2040, the left microphone2021, the right microphone2022, the reference microphone2023, and the flexible substrate2030.

The elastic member2040is integrally composed of a first elastic portion2041, a second elastic portion2042, and two connection parts2045. The first elastic portion2041and second elastic portion2042are connected by the two connection parts2045at one side. The elastic member2040has a U-shaped section when viewed in the X-direction. The first elastic portion2041and second elastic portion2042face each other across a gap.

The flexible substrate2030on which the built-in microphones are implemented is inserted into the gap between the first elastic portion2041and second elastic portion2042from the side (−Z side) at which the first elastic portion2041and second elastic portion2042are not connected.

The holding member2050is fixed to the exterior cover1007with screws (not shown) so as to compress the first elastic portion2041, the flexible substrate2030on which the built-in microphones are implemented, and the second elastic portion2042in a thickness direction (Y-direction). Accordingly, the first elastic portion2041, flexible substrate2030, and second elastic portion2042are press-held between the exterior cover1007and holding member2050. Accordingly, as shown inFIG.5A, the exterior cover1007, first elastic portion2041, flexible substrate2030, second elastic portion2042, and holding member2050are located in this order from the +Y side in a space between adjacent built-in microphones.

As shown inFIG.5A, the flexible substrate2030is in pressure-contact with the first elastic portion2041with no gap. Moreover, the first elastic portion2041is in pressure-contact with the exterior cover1007with no gap. Accordingly, when sound is transmitted from the first sound hole2011of the exterior cover1007to the microphone sound hole2024through the second sound hole2043, mixture of the driving sound of the camera body1000or the lens from the space between the flexible substrate2030and the exterior covers1007is reduced.

Moreover, the flexible substrate2030contacts only the first elastic portion2041and second elastic portion2042between the exterior cover1007and the holding member2050in the Y-direction. Accordingly, since the driving sound of the camera body1000or the lens that is transmitted to the exterior cover1007or the holding member2050as vibration is hardly transmitted to the flexible substrate2030directly, noise sound obtained with built-in microphones is reduced.

As shown inFIG.5B, the built-in microphone (the reference microphone2023inFIG.5B) is arranged between the built-in flash2001and the accessory shoe2002in the Z-direction. The exterior cover1007has a vertical wall2012that is a wall portion interposed between the built-in microphone and the accessory shoe2002in the Z-direction. Moreover, the exterior cover1007has a vertical wall2013interposed between the built-in microphone and the built-in flash2001in the Z-direction. In order to miniaturize the camera body1000, the distance between the built-in flash2001and the accessory shoe2002needs to be shortened. If the distance between them is shortened, the distance between the vertical walls2012and2013of the exterior cover1007is shortened, and the space in which the built-in microphones are arranged becomes narrow in the Z-direction and becomes deep in the −Y-direction.

In this case, some issues occur. For example, the flexible substrate2030is extended at the side where the built-in microphones are not implemented and is connected to a voice control substrate (not shown). When the arrangement space of the built-in microphones is narrow and deep, it is necessary to bend the flexible substrate2030at right angle at a P section shown inFIG.5B. Accordingly, since the flexible substrate2030contacts the vertical wall2012of the exterior cover1007strongly, there is an issue that the driving sound of the camera body1000or the lens is easily transmitted to the built-in microphones.

In the meantime, if the built-in microphones are arranged lower than the vertical wall2012, the arrangement space is widely securable. However, if so, the depth of the first sound hole2011(FIG.5A) of the exterior cover1007needs to be deeper by the lowered distance of the built-in microphones. In this case, since another issue that wind noise mixes in the sound that is obtained by the built-in microphone occurs, the lowering of the position of the built-in microphone is not the best way.

Consequently, the embodiment provides an extended portion2044that is extended from the first elastic portion2041and is inserted between the vertical wall2012and the flexible substrate2030. This prevents the vibration of the vertical wall2012from being transmitted to the flexible substrate2030directly.

Moreover, if the arrangement space of the built-in microphones is narrow and deep, work to incorporate the built-in microphone, first elastic portion2041, and second elastic portion2042to the exterior cover1007becomes difficult. Accordingly, in the embodiment, as mentioned above, the built-in microphones, flexible substrate2030, first elastic portion2041, second elastic portion2042, and holding member2050are grouped together into one unit.

Since these components are unitized, a worker is not required to do a work to hold and insert the built-in microphones and elastic member2040into a narrow and deep space. The worker is able to incorporate the built-in microphones to the exterior cover1007by only holding the holding member2050.

As shown inFIG.6B, the holding member2050has cylindrical projection parts2051. The second elastic portion2042has holes2046of which an inside diameter is smaller than an outside diameter of the projection parts2051. The second elastic portion2042is positioned and held by the holding member2050by inserting and pressing the projection parts2051of the holding member into the holes2046of the second elastic portion2042with low pressure.

The second elastic portion2042provides four engagement parts2047(only two parts at the +Z side are illustrated). The flexible substrate2030provides projection parts2032and corner parts2033(partially not shown) corresponding to the engagement parts2047. The flexible substrate2030is positioned and held by the second elastic portion2042because the engagement parts2047are engaged with the corresponding projection parts2032and corner parts2033. Moreover, the holding member2050is positioned and held by the exterior cover1007as mentioned above. Accordingly, since a deviation amount of the first sound hole2011to the microphone sound hole2024becomes lower than a certain value, degradation of sound quality of the obtained sound is reduced.

FIG.7Ais a YZ sectional view showing the elastic member2040into which the flexible substrate2030is inserted.FIG.7Bis a YZ sectional view showing the elastic member2040held by the holding member2050.FIG.7AandFIG.7Bare sections that pass through the left microphone2021.FIG.7Ashows a state where the elastic member2040is not held by the holding member2050, andFIG.7Bshows a state where the elastic member2040is held by the holding member2050.

When the first elastic portion2041and second elastic portion2042are formed integrally, a certain thickness is required for a form block in order to secure intensity of a form block. When the elastic member2040is not yet incorporated to the exterior cover1007, the gap between the first elastic portion2041and the second elastic portion2042is larger than the thickness of the flexible substrate2030. Accordingly, there is a gap between the flexible substrate2030and the first elastic portion2041.

When the elastic member2040is incorporated to the exterior cover1007and is pressed by the holding member2050, the flexible substrate2030is in close contact with the first elastic portion2041as shown inFIG.5A. However, since the first elastic portion2041is connected to the second elastic portion2042only by the connection parts2045, the position of the first elastic portion2041may shift when incorporating the microphone unit2060in the exterior cover1007, which makes an assurance of the positional accuracy difficult. When the position of the second sound hole2043(FIG.5A) of the first elastic portion2041shifts with respect to the microphone sound hole2024or the first sound hole2011, the sound quality deteriorates.

The microphone unit2060of the embodiment includes a configuration that secures the positional accuracy of the first elastic portion2041even during incorporation to the exterior cover1007.

First, as shown inFIG.7AandFIG.7B, the +Z side end of the first elastic portion2041is connected to the +Z side end of the second elastic portion2042through the connection parts2045. Accordingly, a first end Q1of the first elastic portion2041is connected to the connection part2045, and the other second end Q2of the first elastic portion2041is not connected to the second elastic portion2042.

As shown inFIG.7B, when the elastic member2040is held by the holding member2050and the microphone unit2060is not yet incorporated to the exterior cover1007, the gap between the first elastic portion2041and the second elastic portion2042varies depending on the position in the Z-direction. The above-mentioned gap decreases toward the −Z side. For example, about the above-mentioned gap variation in the Z-direction, a gap at a first position x1near the connection part2045is smaller than a gap at a second position x2distant from the connection part2045. This is achieved because the second end Q2of the first elastic portion2041is engaged with an engagement part2052that is an engaging hook provided in the holding member2050.

That is, the second end Q2of the first elastic portion2041that contacts the exterior cover1007and is distant from the connection part2045is held by the engagement part2052. The area near the second end Q2contacts the flexible substrate2030. Thereby, the above-mentioned gap becomes narrower toward the −Z-direction. This state of the microphone unit2060is maintained before incorporation to the exterior cover1007.

According to such a holding mechanism, when the microphone unit2060is incorporated to the exterior cover1007in the +Y-direction, the first elastic portion2041contacts the exterior cover1007from the first end Q1first. Since the first end Q1is integrated to the second elastic portion2042by the connection part2045, the positional accuracy equivalent to the second elastic portion2042is secured.

Since the portion of the elastic member2040that contacts the exterior cover1007is in close contact with the exterior cover1007by frictional force, deviation after that hardly occurs. Accordingly, the portion of the elastic member2040that contacts the exterior cover1007is fixed to the exterior cover1007and its positional accuracy is secured.

When the elastic member2040is further pushed against the exterior cover1007, the area of the first elastic portion2041that contacts the exterior cover1007spreads. Since the positional accuracy is secured by the first contact, the positional accuracy of the remaining area is also secured after the first contact area. And finally, the state shown inFIG.5Ais achieved while securing the entire positional accuracy of the first elastic portion2041. Accordingly, the deviation amounts of the second sound hole2043with respect to the microphone sound hole2024and the first sound hole2011can also be kept below a certain value, and the degradation of quality of the sound that is obtained by the built-in microphone is reduced.

When the microphone unit2060is incorporated to the exterior cover1007, the extended portion2044contacts the exterior cover1007through the flexible substrate2030before the elastic member2040contacts the exterior cover1007. Accordingly, when reaction force at the time of deformation of the extended portion2044is too large, the connection parts2045will deform and the positional accuracy may not be secured at the time when the first elastic portion2041contacts the exterior cover1007.

A thickness of the extended portion2044is thinner than a thickness of the first elastic portion2041and a thickness of the connection parts2045. And a width of the extended portion2044in the X-direction is smaller than the sum total (width L+M shown inFIG.6A) of widths of the connection parts2045. According to such a configuration, the reaction force at the time of deformation of the extended portion2044hardly affects on the position of the first elastic portion2041.

In the configuration equipped with the built-in microphones implemented on the same flexible substrate2030, the transmission of vibration of the driving sound etc. is reduced at the time of obtaining voice and assemblability is improved.

Incidentally, due to expansion of SNS (Social Networking Service) and a streaming service, a wireless communication module is standardly mounted on a lens interchangeable camera for wireless communication with an external device in many cases. A wireless communication module is arranged near an inside of an exterior in general in order to improve a communication characteristic and to avoid influence of metal shielding members inside a camera.

For example, a conventional camera secures the communication characteristic while reducing influence on an external appearance of the camera by arranging a wireless communication module inside a grip part. However, since the wireless communication module of the conventional camera is covered by a hand when a user holds the grip part, the communication characteristic deteriorates. Moreover, since the wireless communication module generates heat during communication, when a user performs wireless communication while holding the grip part, the user may feel displeasure depending on heating temperature. Accordingly, a heat dissipation member like a graphite sheet is added as a necessary counterplan that protects a user.

FIG.8is an exploded perspective view showing the camera system in the embodiment. Although the external appearance of the camera body1000shown inFIG.8is slightly different from what is shown inFIG.2, the internal configuration is identical. For example, the built-in microphones (the left microphone2021and right microphone2022) are arranged under the first sound holes2011.

As shown inFIG.8, a wireless module3001is arranged in the camera body1000. The wireless module3001is a wireless communication device that transmits/receives image data etc. to/from an external apparatus through wireless communication. The wireless module3001includes a function of an antenna for short-range wireless communication like Bluetooth (registered trademark) and can transmit voice data in addition to image data to an external device. The wireless module3001is arranged near the inner surface of the exterior cover1007in order to secure communication characteristic. It should be noted that the configuration described below is applicable to the camera body1000that has the external appearance shown inFIG.2.

Moreover, the wireless module3001is arranged at the opposite side of the first grip portion1301across the optical axis1003(interposing the optical axis1003). Moreover, the wireless module3001is arranged at an upper side (+Y side) than the optical axis1003. An antenna surface3001aof the wireless module3001intersects with the optical axis1003at approximately right angle. The antenna surface3001ais close to the portion of the front side of the exterior cover1007.

When a user holds the camera body1000, the first grip portion1301is covered with a hand of the user. If the wireless module3001were arranged in the first grip portion1301, the communication characteristic of the wireless module3001would deteriorate by being covered by a hand. Since the camera body1000employs the lens exchangeable system, when a user holds the first grip portion1301with a right hand and holds the image pickup lens1001with a left hand, the left hand does not cover the second grip portion3002. The wireless module3001is located at the opposite side of the first grip portion1301and at the upper side than the optical axis1003and second grip portion3002. Accordingly, since a user usually does not cover the wireless module3001by a hand, the communication characteristic hardly deteriorates.

Moreover, the wireless module3001generates heat due to communication with an external device. As mentioned above, the wireless module3001is arranged near the inner surface of the exterior cover1007in order to secure the communication characteristic. When the wireless module3001generates heat and a user holds a heated part of the exterior member for a long time, the user may feel displeasure depending on heating temperature. In the embodiment, since the wireless module3001is arranged at the position that is hardly covered by a hand of a user, the user usually does not feel displeasure.

The built-in flash2001is arranged above the optical axis1003in the camera body1000. The built-in flash2001contains many shielding components (a xenon tube and reflection umbrella for light emission, and lead lines for electric power supply) that shield the wireless communication. In the embodiment, since the wireless module3001is arranged at the opposite side of the first grip portion1301across the optical axis1003, the influence of the shielding components in the built-in flash2001upon the communication characteristic is avoidable.

Moreover, an external microphone terminal3003to which an external microphone is connected is mounted on the camera body1000. The external microphone, such as a MEMS microphone or a capacitor microphone, connected to the external microphone terminal3003also converts sound obtained during movie capturing into an audio signal as with the built-in microphones. The audio signal is stored in a recording medium. Since the audio signal is an analog signal basically, when the wireless communication is performed during the movie capturing, a wireless communication signal causes a cross talk with the audio signal, which may be stored as noise to the audio signal in the recording medium. In order to prevent this, it is effective to separate the audio signal and the wireless communication signal physically.

In the camera body1000, the wireless module3001is separated from the built-in microphones and external microphone terminal3003by a predetermined distance (about 20 mm) or more. This reduces a possibility that the wireless communication signal causes the cross talk to the audio signal. As a result, even if the wireless communication is performed during the movie capturing, the probability of mixing of noise in the audio signal is reduced. From a viewpoint of maintaining the communication characteristic, even if the predetermined distance cannot be secured, the wireless module3001should be arranged at a position that does not overlap with the built-in microphones and external microphone terminal3003when viewed in the optical axis direction.

In this way, the wireless module3001in the camera body1000is arranged while considering the influence of the user's hand, the influence of the shielding components in the built-in flash2001, and the influence upon the audio signal of the built-in/external microphone. Thereby, even when the user holds the grip part, the characteristic of the wireless communication with an external device does not deteriorate. Particularly, since the wireless module3001is arranged in the position that is not covered by a user's hand, there are few possibilities of giving displeasure to the user when the wireless module3001generates heat.

According to the embodiment, the camera body1000has the housing1008that is formed by inserting the metal plate1402into the resin member1401. Such insert molding reduces the cost and increases the heat dissipation. The metal plate1402has the first planar portion1501that is approximately perpendicular to the optical axis1003and the second planar portion1502including at least one planar plate that is bent in the optical axis direction from the first planar portion1501(FIG.4). The planar plates of the second planar portion1502are inserted into the mount portion1403. This improves the rigidity of the housing1008and reduces deformation, which increases the reliability of the flange back. Accordingly, the heat dissipation is improved while reducing the cost and securing the reliability of the flange back.

Moreover, since the control substrate1006is fixed to the metal plate1402, the heat generated in the control substrate1006is efficiently dissipated to the metal plate1402. Moreover, since the first planar portion1501of the metal plate1402faces the exterior cover1007between the first grip portion1301and lens mount1002, the heat of the metal plate1402is efficiently dissipated to the exterior cover1007.

Moreover, since the tripod seat1010is fixed to the third planar portion1509of the metal plate1402, the heat of the metal plate1402is dissipated to the tripod seat1010and the rigidity of the housing1008increases. Moreover, the lens mount1002contacts the third contact part1512of the second planar portion1502, and the lens energization spring1009contacts the fourth contact part1513of the metal plate1402. Thereby, the heat of the metal plate1402is dissipated to the image pickup lens1001through the lens energization spring1009and lens mount1002.

Moreover, since the second planar portion1502includes the planar plates that are arranged at the approximately equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction around the optical axis1003, the housing1008exhibits high rigidity to external force applied from various directions to the mount portion1403. Moreover, since resin enters into the through holes1508of the planar plates of the second planar portion1502, the exfoliation at the interface between the resin member1401and the metal plate1402is reduced, which improves the rigidity of the housing1008.

Moreover, the gap between the first elastic portion2041and the second elastic portion2042decreases toward the −Z side in the state where the elastic member2040is held by the holding member2050and the microphone unit2060is not yet incorporated to the exterior cover1007(FIG.7B). That is, the gap at the second position x2distant from the connection part2045is smaller than the gap at the first position x1near the connection part2045. Thereby, the positional displacement of the second sound hole2043with respect to the microphone sound hole2024and first sound hole2011is reduced.

Moreover, the extended portion2044extended from the first elastic portion2041is inserted between the vertical wall2012of the exterior cover1007and the flexible substrate2030(FIG.5B). Thereby, the direct transmission of the vibration of the exterior cover1007to the flexible substrate2030is reduced.

Moreover, the thickness of the extended portion2044is thinner than the thicknesses of the first elastic portion2041and connection part2045, and the width of the extended portion2044is smaller than the sum total (L+M) of the widths of the connection parts2045. Thereby, the reaction force at the time of deformation of the extended portion2044hardly affects on the position of the first elastic portion2041. This also reduces the positional displacement of the sound hole.

Moreover, the wireless module3001is arranged at the opposite side of the first grip portion1301across the optical axis1003and at the upper side than the optical axis1003(FIG.8). Furthermore, the wireless module3001is located above the second grip portion3002. These maintain the communication characteristic of the wireless module3001and reduce the transmission of the heat of the wireless module3001to the user who holds the first grip portion1301or the second grip portion3002.

It should be noted that a value to which “approximately” is added does not except a just value in the embodiment. For example, “approximately perpendicular”, “intersection at approximately right angle”, and “approximately equal interval” respectively include “perpendicular”, “intersection at right angle”, and “equal interval”.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-076426, filed Apr. 28, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.