Abstract:
A digital photographing apparatus is provided that has a reduced number of elements as compared to conventional arrangements and can thus be manufactured through a simple process with low manufacturing costs. The digital photographing apparatus includes a main printed circuit board to which an imaging device converting energy of incident light into electrical signals is directly attached. The digital photographing apparatus also includes an optical tube unit connected to the main printed circuit board and forming an image in the imaging device by receiving an external image. A first contact formed at a surface of the optical tube unit is directly in contact with a second contact formed at a surface of the main printed circuit board.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0127577, filed on Dec. 10, 2007 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a digital photographing apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a digital photographing apparatus that has a reduced number of elements and can thus be manufactured at a low cost. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Generally speaking, a digital photographing apparatus stores image data obtained in a photographing operation into storage media in a photographing mode. The digital photographing apparatus displays an image on a display unit of the apparatus using the stored image data obtained from the storage media. 
         [0006]    In such a digital photographing apparatus, light passing through an optical tube unit including lenses is incident onto an imaging device. As a result, image data is obtained in the imaging device. Thus, the digital photographing apparatus essentially includes an imaging device and an optical tube unit. 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating an example of an imaging device assembly and an optical tube unit of a conventional digital photographing apparatus.  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0008]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an imaging device assembly includes a flexible printed circuit board  1  for an imaging device, an imaging device  2  attached to the flexible printed circuit board for an imaging device  1 , and an imaging device plate interposed between the flexible printed circuit board for an imaging device  1  and the imaging device  2 . The flexible printed circuit board for an imaging device  1  includes a terminal  1   a  connected via a connector to a main printed circuit board  7 . The main printed circuit board  7  includes a CPU, which controls the entire operation of the digital photographing apparatus, and a digital signal processor. The imaging device  2  includes a terminal  2   a  which passes through the flexible printed circuit board for an imaging device  1  and is fixed at a rear surface of the flexible printed circuit board for an imaging device  1  by soldering. 
         [0009]    Meanwhile, a flexible printed circuit board  6  for an optical tube unit includes a terminal  6   a  connected via connector and is connected to the main printed circuit board  7 . 
         [0010]    The flexible printed circuit board for an optical tube unit  6  is assembled to a rear surface of an optical tube unit  5 . An imaging device assembly is assembled to a rear surface of the flexible printed circuit board for an optical tube unit  6  by aligning the imaging device assembly and the optical tube unit  5  such that light passing through the optical tube unit  5  is incident onto the imaging device  2 . The main printed circuit  7  is connected to a rear surface of the imaging device assembly. Then, the flexible printed circuit board for an imaging device  1  and the flexible printed circuit board for an optical tube unit  6  are respectively connected to the main printed circuit board  7  through connectors using terminals  1   a  and  6   a.    
         [0011]    However, the above-described conventional digital photographing apparatus, which includes an imaging device assembly and an optical tube unit as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , has a large number of elements. As a result, the conventional digital photographing apparatus has a complicated structure, it&#39;s associated manufacturing process is complex, the manufacturing yield is low, the defect rate is high, and manufacturing costs are high. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention provides a digital photographing apparatus that has a reduced number of elements and can be manufactured through a simple process with low manufacturing costs. 
         [0013]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a digital photographing apparatus is provided that includes: a main printed circuit board to which an imaging device converting energy of incident light into electrical signals is directly attached; and an optical tube unit connected to the main printed circuit board and forming an image in the imaging device by receiving an external image, wherein a first contact formed at a surface of the optical tube unit is directly in contact with a second contact formed at a surface of the main printed circuit board. 
         [0014]    The first contact and the second contact may be electrically interconnected to electrically connect the optical tube unit and the main printed circuit board. 
         [0015]    The imaging device may be attached to the main printed circuit board such that the rear surface of the imaging device contacts the surface of the main printed circuit board. 
         [0016]    The optical tube unit may be directly assembled to the main printed circuit board such that light passing through the optical tube unit is incident onto the imaging device attached to the main printed circuit board. 
         [0017]    The digital photographing apparatus may further include a first assembling element for assembling the optical tube unit and the main printed circuit board. 
         [0018]    The second contact may be formed at a portion of the main printed circuit board corresponding to the first contact of the optical tube unit such that the first contact is in contact with the second contact when the optical tube unit is assembled to the main printed circuit board. 
         [0019]    The optical tube unit may include a flexible printed circuit board for an optical tube unit, and the first contact is formed on a surface of the flexible printed circuit board for an optical tube unit. 
         [0020]    The digital photographing apparatus may further include: a frame; and a top printed circuit board (PCB) including a button element disposed on the upper portion of the digital photographing apparatus, wherein the top PCB is disposed on the upper portion of the frame and the main printed circuit board is disposed at a side of the frame. 
         [0021]    According to the digital photographing apparatus of the present invention, the number of elements can be reduced. As a result, the digital photographing apparatus can be manufactured through a simple process with low manufacturing costs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating an example of an imaging device and an optical tube unit of a conventional digital photographing apparatus; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating an example of a main printed circuit board and an optical tube unit of a digital photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a rear exploded perspective view schematically illustrating the main printed circuit board and the optical tube unit of  FIG. 3 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an example of a main printed circuit board-optical tube unit assembly in which the main printed circuit board and the optical tube unit of  FIG. 3  are assembled, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of an example of a digital photographing apparatus schematically illustrating a frame, a top printed circuit board assembly assembled to the frame, and a main printed circuit board-optical tube unit assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an example of a digital photographing apparatus in which a main printed circuit board-optical tube assembly is assembled to a top printed circuit board, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    Hereinafter, the present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating an example of a main printed circuit board and an optical tube unit of a digital photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  is a rear exploded perspective view schematically illustrating the main printed circuit board and the optical tube unit of  FIG. 3 , according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an example of a main printed circuit board-optical tube unit assembly in which the main printed circuit board and the optical tube unit of  FIG. 3  are assembled, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0033]    Referring to the drawings above, a digital photographing apparatus according to the present invention includes a main printed circuit board  50  to which a control element  52  that controls the digital photographing apparatus and an imaging device  54  are directly attached. 
         [0034]    In a conventional digital photographing apparatus, an imaging device assembly including a flexible printed circuit board for an imaging device, an imaging device attached to the flexible printed circuit board for an imaging device and an imaging device plate interposed between the imaging device and the flexible printed circuit board is prepared. Then, the prepared imaging device assembly is connected to a main printed circuit board through a connector. 
         [0035]    However, in the digital photographing apparatus according to the present invention, the imaging device  54  is directly attached to a main printed circuit board  50 . Accordingly, a printed circuit board  1  for an imaging device, an imaging device plate  3  and a connector (not shown) connecting the printed circuit board for an imaging device  1  and the main printed circuit board are not necessary unlike in the conventional digital photographing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . As a result, in the digital photographing apparatus of the present invention, the number of elements of the digital photographing apparatus can be reduced. As a result, the digital photographing apparatus can be manufactured through a simple process with low manufacturing costs and a low defect rate. 
         [0036]    Meanwhile, in the conventional digital photographing apparatus shown in  FIG. 2 , the imaging device  2  includes the terminal  2   a  which passes through the flexible printed circuit board for an imaging device  1  and is fixed at a rear surface of the flexible printed circuit board for an imaging device  1  by soldering. Also, the imaging device plate  3  is interposed between the flexible printed circuit board  1  and the imaging device  2 . The imaging device plate  3  is interposed therebetween since the imaging device  2  may be damaged while the imaging device assembly is connected to the main printed circuit board using a connector, or the like, and completely fixed due to the flexible properties of the flexible printed circuit board. 
         [0037]    In addition, the flexible printed circuit board  1  cannot be easily handled during soldering or the imaging device  2  cannot be appropriately fixed on the flexible printed circuit board  1  when the imaging device  2  is fixed on the flexible printed circuit board  1  by soldering. Furthermore, the imaging device assembly can be fixed to the main printed circuit board by assembling the imaging device plate  3  and the main printed circuit board using an assembling element through an opening formed in the imaging device plate  3 . 
         [0038]    However, in the digital photographing apparatus according to the present invention, the imaging device  54  is directly attached to the main printed circuit board  50 , which is not flexible, as shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , and thus an additional imaging device plate is not necessary. In addition, the imaging device  54  is attached to the main printed circuit board  50  such that the rear surface of the imaging device  54  contacts the main printed circuit board  50  as shown in  FIG. 4 , and thus, an empty space is not formed therebetween. Since the printed circuit board  50  to which the imaging device  54  is attached is not flexible, the process of fixing the terminal  54   a  of the imaging device  54  to the main printed circuit board  50  by soldering can be easily handled. 
         [0039]    Meanwhile, the digital photographing apparatus according to the present invention may further include an optical tube unit  60  having a lens, a diaphragm, and the like. This optical tube unit  60  is directly assembled to the main printed circuit board  50 . Light passing through the optical tube unit  60  may be incident onto the imaging device  54  attached to the main printed circuit board  50 . In this regard, the optical tube unit  60  and the main printed circuit board  50  may be assembled using a first assembling element  74  such as, for example, a screw. For example, the optical tube unit  60  may be assembled to the main printed circuit board  50  by the first assembling element  74  at peripheral regions of the imaging device  54  through the rear surface of the main printed circuit board  50 . 
         [0040]    Here, the optical tube unit  60  and the imaging device  54  need to be accurately aligned since light passing through the optical tube unit  60  needs to be precisely incident onto the imaging device  54 . In the digital photographing apparatus according to the present invention, the alignment between the optical tube unit  60  and the imaging device  54  can be precisely controlled when the optical tube unit  60  is assembled to the main printed circuit board  50  because the imaging device  54  is directly attached to the main printed circuit board  50 . 
         [0041]    Meanwhile, in the conventional digital photographing apparatus shown in  FIG. 2 , the flexible printed circuit board for an imaging device  1  and the flexible printed circuit board for an optical tube unit  6  respectively include the terminals  1   a  and  6   a  and connected to the main printed circuit board  7  including a CPU which controls the entire operation of the digital photographing apparatus and a digital signal processor via respective connectors 
         [0042]    However, in the digital photographing apparatus according to the present invention as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a first contact  61   a  is formed at a surface of the optical tube unit  60  and a second contact  50   a  is formed at a surface of the main printed circuit board  50  and the first contact  61   a  and the second contact  50   a  are directly electrically connected. 
         [0043]    Specifically, a flexible printed circuit board for an optical tube unit  61  is assembled to the rear surface of an optical tube unit  60  assembled to the main printed circuit board  50 . In addition, the first contact  61   a  is formed on the rear surface of the flexible printed circuit board for an optical tube unit  61  to be electrically connected to the main printed circuit board  50 . Here, the first contact  61   a  may be formed, for example, around a portion  60   a  of the optical tube unit  60  in order to function like the terminal  6   a  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0044]    In addition, the second contact  50   a  is formed, for example, on the upper surface of the main printed circuit board  50  which is assembled to the optical tube unit  60  in order to be electrically connected to the optical tube unit  60 . Here, the second contact  50   a  is formed in order to function as a connector. Thus, the first contact  61   a  of the optical tube unit  60  and the second contact  50   a  of the main printed circuit board  50  are assembled together and form an electrical contact point when the optical tube unit  60  and the main printed circuit board  50  are assembled together using the first assembling element  74  such as, for example, a screw. 
         [0045]    In other words, additional terminals or connectors are not necessary in order to connect the imaging device assembly and the main printed circuit board  50 , or the optical tube assembly and the main printed circuit board  50 , in the digital photographing apparatus according to the present invention. 
         [0046]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of an example of a digital photographing apparatus schematically illustrating a frame, a top printed circuit board assembly assembled to the frame, and a main printed circuit board-optical tube unit assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an example of a digital photographing apparatus in which a main printed circuit board-optical tube assembly is assembled to a top printed circuit board, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the digital photographing apparatus according to the present invention may further include, for example, a frame  10  and a top printed circuit board  30 . The top printed circuit board  30 , to which a button element disposed on the upper portion of the digital photographing apparatus is attached, is disposed on the frame  10 . Here, the top printed circuit board  30  may be assembled to the frame  10  using a second assembling element  72  such as, for example, a screw as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . In addition, a flash module  20  including a flash lamp may be assembled to the top printed circuit board  30 . Here, the main printed circuit board  50  is disposed at a side of the frame  10  and may also be assembled to the frame  10  using a third assembling element  73  such as a screw. 
         [0048]    Meanwhile, the top printed circuit board  30  includes a first connector  393  and the main printed circuit board  50  includes a second connector  594 . The first connector  393  and the second connector  594  may be electrically connected to electrically connect the top printed circuit board  30  and the main printed circuit board  50 . In particular, since the top printed circuit board  30  is assembled to the frame  10  and the main printed circuit board  50  is assembled to a side of the frame  10  as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the first connector  393  is automatically engaged with the second connector  594 , and thus an additional electrically connecting means is not necessary (Board to Board connection). In a conventional digital photographing apparatus, a flash lamp in a flash module is electrically connected to a main printed circuit board through a separate flexible printed circuit board and a connector. However, in the digital photographing apparatus according to the present invention, for example, the flash module  20  is electrically connected to the main printed circuit board  50  through the top printed circuit board  30 . As a result, the digital photographing apparatus is able to have a simple structure, can be manufactured through a simple process with a high yield, low manufacturing costs, and a low defect rate by reducing the number of elements. 
         [0049]    While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.