Patent Description:
An accessory device, which is capable of being attached to or detached from an accessory shoe of an image pickup apparatus (for example, a camera) that is an electronic apparatus, has a lock mechanism that prevents the accessory device from dropping from the image pickup apparatus and a power switch, but conventionally, the lock mechanism and the power switch are independently disposed. For example, <CIT> discloses a technique, in which a function of the power switch is not added to a fixing ring <NUM> that is the lock mechanism of a strobe device <NUM> as the accessory device, and the fixing ring <NUM> and the power switch are independently disposed.

Further, in recent years, in the accessory device, in the case of a power-on state or when shifting from the power-on state to a power-off state by operating the power switch, setting information from the image pickup apparatus is written into a memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

However, in the case that the power is in the power-on state and the setting information is being written into the memory such as the EEPROM, if the accessory device is detached from the image pickup apparatus, there is a risk that the setting information will be destroyed.

Further, in a configuration that the power is supplied from the image pickup apparatus to the accessory device, if the power supply from the image pickup apparatus to the accessory device is stopped during the setting information is being written into the memory such as the EEPROM, there is also a risk that the setting information will be destroyed.

<CIT> discloses a lens assembly according to the preamble portion of claim <NUM> or <NUM> of the present invention. Further conventional accessory devices are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

The present invention provides an accessory device capable of preventing setting information to be written from being destroyed.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides an accessory device as specified in claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

Accordingly, a second aspect of the present invention provides an accessory device as specified in claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the setting information to be written into a memory or the like of the accessory device from being destroyed.

The present invention will now be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing embodiments thereof.

At first, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

<FIG> are views that show the outside appearance of a transmitter <NUM> as an accessory device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> shows a case that the transmitter <NUM> is viewed from an oblique front, and <FIG> shows a case that the transmitter <NUM> is viewed from an oblique rear. <FIG> is a sectional view that shows the internal structure of the transmitter <NUM> of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a sectional view that shows the internal structure of the transmitter <NUM> of <FIG>. <FIG> is the cross-sectional view along a YZ plane in <FIG>, and <FIG> is the cross-sectional view along a XY plane in <FIG>. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the transmitter <NUM> in the case that a top cover <NUM> is detached from a bottom cover <NUM>. <FIG> are perspective views for explaining the internal structure of a bottom case unit <NUM> in the transmitter <NUM> of <FIG>. <FIG> is the exploded perspective view of the bottom case unit <NUM>, and <FIG> is the view for explaining a mating surface of the bottom cover <NUM> mated with the lock unit <NUM>. Further, in <FIG>, the bottom cover <NUM> is shown so that the top and bottom are reversed with respect to the lock unit <NUM>.

The transmitter <NUM> has a wireless module <NUM>, performs wireless communications with a strobe device (not shown) that also has a wireless module, and transmits a light emission instruction to the strobe device. Further, the transmitter <NUM> according to the present embodiment works by means of a bus power supply method that receives supply of a power from a camera (not shown) that is an electronic apparatus. Moreover, the transmitter <NUM> may be configured to be equipped with a power source such as a battery and work by means of a selfpower method.

The transmitter <NUM> is roughly divided into a top case unit <NUM> and the bottom case unit <NUM>. In the top case unit <NUM>, the top cover <NUM> covers the internal structure, and in the bottom case unit <NUM>, the bottom cover <NUM> covers the internal structure. A cushion member <NUM> is inserted into a mating portion of the top cover <NUM> and the bottom cover <NUM> (i.e., is sandwiched between the top cover <NUM> and the bottom cover <NUM>) so as to prevent liquid droplets from entering the inside of the transmitter <NUM>.

LED (Light Emitting Diode) notification windows <NUM> and an operation button <NUM> are disposed on the top cover <NUM>. The LED notification windows <NUM> are welded to the top cover <NUM> to have the drip-proof performance, and notify various states of the transmitter <NUM> as light projecting windows of LEDs 115a inside. The operation button <NUM> is composed of a rubber member, and is in close contact with the top cover <NUM> to exhibit the drip-proof performance. The operation button <NUM> is a button that is used when performing various settings of the transmitter <NUM>, and a MPU (Micro-Processing Unit) 116a, which will be described later, changes the various settings of the transmitter <NUM> according to user's operations performed with respect to the operation button <NUM>.

A plate <NUM>, which is a connection portion for mounting on an accessory shoe of the camera, lock pins <NUM>, and a contact plug <NUM> (a mounting portion), are disposed on the bottom cover <NUM>, and a boot <NUM> is mounted so as to cover the plate <NUM>, the lock pins <NUM>, and the contact plug <NUM>. The contact plug <NUM> receives various communications and the supply of the power via a contact portion of the accessory shoe of the camera.

Further, the lock unit <NUM> (a lock mechanism) is incorporated in the bottom cover <NUM>, and the lock unit <NUM> has a lever <NUM> (an operation member) capable of rotating around a Y axis. In the transmitter <NUM>, an operator rotates the lever <NUM> to a lock position, so that the lock pins <NUM> provided inside of the plate <NUM> pop out of the plate <NUM>, i.e., the lock pins <NUM> provided the inside of the plate <NUM> protrude to outside (downward) of the plate <NUM>. The lock pins <NUM>, which popped out, fit into a hole portion that is provided in the accessory shoe of the camera, restrict the movement of the transmitter <NUM> in an attachment/detachment direction, and shift the transmitter <NUM> to a locked state, in which the transmitter <NUM> cannot be detached from the camera. In this way, it is possible to prevent the transmitter <NUM> from dropping from the camera.

The lever <NUM> has a lock release button <NUM> (a movement restriction release mechanism). When the lock release button <NUM> is operated (for example, is pressed down), the lever <NUM> can rotate from the lock position in a direction opposite to a rotating direction when shifting to the locked state. Hereinafter, the rotating direction when shifting to the locked state is referred to as "a lock direction" or "a predetermined direction". Further, the direction opposite to the rotating direction when shifting to the locked state is referred to as "a unlock direction" or "a direction opposite to the predetermined direction". Then, when the lever <NUM> is rotated in the unlock direction and reaches an unlock position, the lock pins <NUM>, which popped out, are housed in the inside of the plate <NUM>, and the transmitter <NUM> shifts to an unlocked state, in which the transmitter <NUM> can be detached from the camera.

The lever <NUM> is configured to be rotatable further from the lock position in the lock direction. When the lever <NUM> is further rotated from the lock position in the lock direction and reaches a power-on position, a power of the transmitter <NUM> becomes an on state (i.e., the transmitter <NUM> becomes a power-on state). Further, by rotating the lever <NUM> from the power-on position to a power-off position in the unlock direction, the power of the transmitter <NUM> becomes an off state (i.e., the transmitter <NUM> becomes a power-off state), that is, the transmitter <NUM> is not used (i.e., non-use of the transmitter <NUM>). In other words, in the present embodiment, the function of a power switch is added to the lever <NUM>. Moreover, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the lock position and the power-off position accord.

The wireless module <NUM>, a buzzer <NUM>, a button base <NUM>, a switch FPC (Flexible Printed Circuits) <NUM>, the operation button <NUM>, and a main substrate <NUM> are disposed within the interior of the top cover <NUM>, and these configuration elements constitute the top case unit <NUM>. The buzzer <NUM> is adhered to the top cover <NUM> and is electrically connected to the switch FPC <NUM>. By means of a buzzer sound, the buzzer <NUM> notifies the various states of the transmitter <NUM> in the same manner as the LED notification windows <NUM>. The button base <NUM> fixes the switch FPC <NUM> and receives a force that is generated when the operation button <NUM> is pressed. In the top case unit <NUM>, by a wiring pattern of the switch FPC <NUM> and conductive rubber provided in the operation button <NUM> come into contact with each other, the operation button <NUM> functions as a push-button switch. The switch FPC <NUM> has the LEDs 115a, and electrically connects the wireless module <NUM> and the buzzer <NUM> to the main substrate <NUM>. Further, an antenna 101a (a chip antenna) for the wireless communications is mounted on an upper end side of the wireless module <NUM>. The MPU 116a (a control unit), which performs various controls, and various electric components including connectors, to which the switch FPC <NUM> and a shoe FPC <NUM> are connected, and the like are mounted on the main substrate <NUM>.

The lock unit <NUM> is fixed by being sandwiched between the plate <NUM> and a GND (Ground) plate <NUM> by means of four screws <NUM>. Further, these configuration elements constitute the bottom case unit <NUM>. In the bottom cover <NUM>, in addition to the cushion member <NUM> described above, a cushion member <NUM> is disposed at a boundary portion between a hole portion 103e where the shoe FPC <NUM> is inserted and the lock unit <NUM>, and as a result, it is possible to suppress that the liquid droplets (for example, water droplets) enter the inside of the bottom cover <NUM>. Moreover, the cushion member <NUM> and the cushion member <NUM> are adhered to the bottom cover <NUM> with a double-sided adhesive tape.

As shown in <FIG>, the bottom cover <NUM> has a click protrusion <NUM> and a power detecting protrusion <NUM> (a switching portion) on its mating surface mated with the lock unit <NUM>. The click protrusion <NUM> and the power detecting protrusion <NUM> generate a click force when the lever <NUM> is rotated to switch between the power-on state and the power-off state, and perform a power detection. The click protrusion <NUM> is disposed in a protrusion housing portion 103c of the bottom cover <NUM>, and is energized toward the lock unit <NUM> by a spring (not shown). When the lever <NUM> of the lock unit <NUM>, which is incorporated into the interior of the bottom cover <NUM>, rotates, the click protrusion <NUM> generates the click force by sliding with an opposing power cam portion 110a of the lever <NUM>. The power detecting protrusion <NUM> is disposed in a power detecting hole 103d of the bottom cover <NUM>, and is energized toward the lock unit <NUM> by a power detecting rubber member <NUM> (the switching portion). As with the click protrusion <NUM>, when the lever <NUM> of the lock unit <NUM> rotates, the power detecting protrusion <NUM> also slides with the opposing power cam portion 110a of the lever <NUM>.

In the bottom case unit <NUM>, by conductive rubber provided in the power detecting rubber member <NUM> and a wiring pattern of the shoe FPC <NUM> come into contact with each other, the power detection is performed. The power detecting rubber member <NUM> also functions as a drip-proof member. Moreover, an operating force of the lever <NUM> can be adjusted by a force of the spring that energizes the click protrusion <NUM>, an inclination angle of the power cam portion 110a, and a repulsive force of the power detecting rubber member <NUM>.

The shoe FPC <NUM> is inserted into the hole portion 103e of the bottom cover <NUM>, passes through the bottom cover <NUM>, and is electrically connected to the contact plug <NUM>. Further, the shoe FPC <NUM> has a reinforcing plate 118a, and is screwed to the bottom cover <NUM> so that an elastic force, which is generated when the power detecting rubber member <NUM> comes into contact with the wiring pattern of the shoe FPC <NUM>, is received by the reinforcing plate 118a. Further, the shoe FPC <NUM> is also screwed to the GND plate <NUM>, and electrically connects the plate <NUM>, which is connected to the GND plate <NUM> via the screws <NUM>, to GND of the contact plug <NUM>.

Further, the bottom cover <NUM> has a power supply cover portion 103a (an operation restricting member, a cover member) and a lock release button sliding cam portion 103b. When the lever <NUM> is rotated to the power-on position in the lock direction, the power supply cover portion 103a covers at least a part of the lock release button <NUM>, and hides it from the operator's finger or the like. As a result, it is possible to prevent such a phenomenon that in the case that the power is in the on state, if the lock release button <NUM> is accidentally pressed down, the lever <NUM> becomes capable of rotating in the unlock direction, and thus the lever <NUM> is unintentionally rotated to the unlock position. When the lever <NUM> is rotated from the power-on position to the power-off position, the power supply cover portion 103a exposes the lock release button <NUM>. As a result, the lock release button <NUM> can be easily pressed down after shifting to the power-off state, and thus it is possible to smoothly shift to the unlocked state after shifting to the power-off state.

The lock release button sliding cam portion 103b is a cam structure that slides with a button protruding portion 112a of the lock release button <NUM> when the lever <NUM> rotates. The lock release button sliding cam portion 103b generates the click force when the lever <NUM> starts to rotate from the unlock position in the lock direction. Further, the button protruding portion 112a suppresses the rotation of the lever <NUM> and maintains the locked state by engaging with a wall portion of the lock release button sliding cam portion 103b when the lever <NUM> is located at the lock position (the power-off position).

<FIG> is a view for explaining the lock release button sliding cam portion 103b formed on the bottom cover <NUM>. <FIG> shows a state, in which the bottom cover <NUM> is viewed from the camera side along a Y direction. With reference to <FIG>, the movement of the lock release button <NUM> (the button protruding portion 112a) whose movement is restricted by the lock release button sliding cam portion 103b when the lever <NUM> rotates will be described. With respect to the lock direction, a cam slope 103ba, an arc wall surface 103bb, a lock wall surface 103bc, and a wall surface 103bd, which slide with the button protruding portion 112a, are formed on the lock release button sliding cam portion 103b in this order.

At first, when the lever <NUM> is operated to start rotating from the unlock position to the lock position, the button protruding portion 112a slides on the cam slope 103ba, and a click feeling is generated when the button protruding portion 112a moves toward a rotation center and gets over the cam slope 103ba. Next, along with the rotation toward the lock position of the lever <NUM>, the button protruding portion 112a slides while being pressed against the arc wall surface 103bb by a lock release spring <NUM> described later. As a result, an appropriate operating feeling is given to the rotation of the lever <NUM>.

After that, when the button protruding portion 112a gets over the lock wall surface 103bc of the lock release button sliding cam portion 103b that formed corresponding to the lock position, the button protruding portion 112a is pressed against the wall surface 103bd by the lock release spring <NUM>. At this time, the transmitter <NUM> shifts to the locked state. Since the wall surface 103bd is formed at outside than the arc wall surface 103bb with respect to an energizing direction of the lock release spring <NUM>, the lock wall surface 103bc becomes an obstacle, and the button protruding portion 112a, which is pressed against the wall surface 103bd, does not easily return to the arc wall surface 103bb. As a result, the locked state of the transmitter <NUM> is maintained. Moreover, at this time, the lever <NUM> is located at the power-off position.

Further, along with the rotation toward the lock direction of the lever <NUM>, the button protruding portion 112a slides while being pressed against the wall surface 103bd, and the lever <NUM> eventually reaches the power-on position. Since a distance from the rotation center of the lever <NUM> to the wall surface 103b does not change with respect to the rotating direction, when the lever <NUM> rotates from the power-off position to the power-on position, the lock release button <NUM> does not move with respect to a radial direction of the rotation. Then, when the lever <NUM> reaches the power-on position, as described above, at least a part of the lock release button <NUM> is covered by the power supply cover portion 103a.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view that shows an internal structure of the lock unit <NUM>. <FIG> are views for explaining in detail the power cam portion 110a and a shoe lock cam base sliding cam portion 110b that are provided on the lever <NUM> of the lock unit <NUM>. <FIG> is a plan view of the lever <NUM>, and <FIG> is a sectional view taken along line A-A of <FIG>. Moreover, it is noted that the click protrusion <NUM> and the power detecting protrusion <NUM> are not shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the lock unit <NUM> has the contact plug <NUM>, the lever <NUM>, a shoe top base <NUM>, and a shoe lock cam base <NUM>. The lock release button <NUM> is mounted on the lever <NUM>, and the lock release button <NUM> is energized by the lock release spring <NUM> in an outward direction when being viewed from the rotation center. Further, the lock release button <NUM> rotates together with the lever <NUM>. The shoe top base <NUM> is screwed to the shoe lock cam base <NUM> by two stepped screws <NUM> equipped with conical springs, and the conical springs of the stepped screws <NUM> energizes the shoe top base <NUM> toward the shoe lock cam base <NUM>. The shoe top base <NUM> is in an approximately cylindrical shape, and the lever <NUM>, which is in an approximately ring shape, is mounted on an outer peripheral side of the shoe top base <NUM>. Further, the position of the shoe top base <NUM> is fixed with respect to the bottom cover <NUM>, and the shoe top base <NUM> functions as a rotation axis of the lever <NUM>. The lower part of the shoe lock cam base <NUM> abuts on the boot <NUM>.

Further, the two lock pins <NUM> are disposed between the shoe top base <NUM> and the shoe lock cam base <NUM> so as to be energized toward the shoe lock cam base <NUM> by a compression spring on the basis of the shoe top base <NUM>. A plug hole 130a is opened on the shoe lock cam base <NUM>, the contact plug <NUM> is inserted into the plug hole 130a, and the contact plug <NUM> is screwed to the shoe top base <NUM>. A contact spacer <NUM> is disposed on the contact plug <NUM>, and the contact spacer <NUM> is insulated so that the plate <NUM> and a contact portion of the contact plug <NUM> does not come into contact with each other.

Further, the power cam portion 110a, which extends in the rotating direction, is formed on the upper surface of the lever <NUM>, and the shoe lock cam base sliding cam portion 110b, which extends in the rotating direction, is formed on the lower surface of the lever <NUM>. The power cam portion 110a is a cam, on which the click protrusion <NUM> and the power detecting protrusion <NUM> slide. Further, a sliding rib portion 110c is formed on the upper surface of the lever <NUM>, and when the lever <NUM> rotates, the sliding rib portion 110c slides on the mating surface of the bottom cover <NUM> mated with the lock unit <NUM>.

The shoe lock cam base sliding cam portion 110b is a cam, on which a protruding portion 130b of the shoe lock cam base <NUM> slides. In the present embodiment, although the shoe lock cam base <NUM> has three protruding portions 130b that are disposed on the circumference, three shoe lock cam base sliding cam portion 110b are provided on the lower surface of the lever <NUM> so as to correspond to each protruding portion 130b.

When the lever <NUM> rotates, the shoe lock cam base sliding cam portion 110b and the protruding portion 130b of the shoe lock cam base <NUM> slide. Then, in accordance with the outline (profile) of the shoe lock cam base sliding cam portion 110b, the shoe lock cam base <NUM> moves up and down (in the Y direction). Moreover, the sliding of the shoe lock cam base sliding cam portion 110b and the protruding portion 130b will be described in detail later.

As described above, the shoe top base <NUM> is connected to the shoe lock cam base <NUM> by the stepped screws <NUM>, and the shoe lock cam base <NUM> abuts on the boot <NUM>. Therefore, in accordance with a vertical movement of the shoe lock cam base <NUM>, the lock pins <NUM>, the stepped screws <NUM>, and the boot <NUM> also move up and down. As a result, the accessory shoe of the camera is sandwiched between the boot <NUM> and the plate <NUM>, and the lock pins <NUM>, which popped out of the plate <NUM>, fit into the hole portion of the accessory shoe of the camera. As a result, the transmitter <NUM> shifts from the unlocked state to the locked state.

Next, the details of sliding between the click protrusion <NUM> and the power cam portion 110a and sliding between the power detecting protrusion <NUM> and the power cam portion 110a will be described. When the transmitter <NUM> is in the unlocked state, both the click protrusion <NUM> and the power detecting protrusion <NUM> are located on a bottom surface <NUM>10aa of the power cam portion <NUM>10a. After that, when the lever <NUM> rotates in the lock direction, at first, the click protrusion <NUM> climbs a slope 110ab. After that, the click protrusion <NUM> gets over a top surface 110ac and goes down a slope 110ad, and when the click protrusion <NUM> reaches a bottom surface 110ae, the power detecting protrusion <NUM> starts to climb the slope 110ab. Further, when the click protrusion <NUM> has reached the bottom surface <NUM>10ae, the transmitter <NUM> shifts to the locked state (the power-off state). Furthermore, when the lever <NUM> continues to rotate in the lock direction, the click protrusion <NUM> climbs a slope 110af, gets over a top surface 110ag, goes down a slope <NUM>10ah, and reaches a bottom surface 110ai to generate the click force. When the click protrusion <NUM> reaches the bottom surface 110ai, the power detecting protrusion <NUM> reaches the top surface 110ac, and pushes the power detecting rubber member <NUM> to perform the power detection. At this time, the transmitter <NUM> shifts to the power-on state.

Furthermore, after the click protrusion <NUM> has reached the bottom surface 110ai, the lever <NUM> rotates in the unlock direction, so that the transmitter <NUM> shifts from the power-on state to the power-off state (the locked state) and further shifts to the unlocked state. In the present embodiment, even in the case that the click protrusion <NUM> reaches the bottom surface <NUM>10ai, the click protrusion <NUM> does not come in contact with the bottom surface 110ai. In the power cam portion <NUM>10a, since the width of the bottom surface <NUM>10ai is set short, the click protrusion <NUM> can be sandwiched between the slope 110ah and a slope 110aj, thereby suppressing the looseness of the lever <NUM> in the power-on state.

Further, the details of sliding between the protruding portion 130b of the shoe lock cam base <NUM> and the shoe lock cam base sliding cam portion 110b will be described. When the transmitter <NUM> is in the unlocked state, a plurality of the protruding portions 130b of the shoe lock cam base <NUM> are respectively located in a recessed portion <NUM>10ba of the shoe lock cam base sliding cam portion 110b corresponding to the protruding portion 130b. After that, when the lever <NUM> rotates in the lock direction, each protruding portion 130b moves on a slope 110bb and reaches a convex portion 110bc, and at this time, the transmitter <NUM> shifts to the locked state. Moreover, even in the case that the lever <NUM> further rotates in the lock direction and the transmitter <NUM> shifts from the power-off state to the power-on state, the protruding portion 130b only moves on the convex portion 110bc. At this time, since the protruding portion 130b does not move in the Y direction, the shoe lock cam base <NUM> also does not move in the Y direction.

<FIG> are views for explaining the movement of the lever <NUM> when the transmitter <NUM> shifts from the unlocked state to the power-on state via the locked state (the power-off state). <FIG> shows a case that the lever <NUM> is located at the unlock position, <FIG> shows a case that the lever <NUM> has reached the lock position, and <FIG> shows a case that the lever <NUM> has reached the power-on position.

In the case that the lever <NUM> is located at the unlock position (<FIG>), since the lock pins <NUM> are housed in the inside of the plate <NUM>, does not pop out, and does not fit into the hole portion of the accessory shoe, it is possible to detach the transmitter <NUM> from the camera.

Further, when the lever <NUM> is rotated by <NUM>° in the lock direction from the unlock position, the lever <NUM> reaches the lock position (<FIG>). At this time, although the power of the transmitter <NUM> is in the off state, the lock pins <NUM> pop out, and fit into the hole portion of the accessory shoe. As a result, the transmitter <NUM> is fixed to the accessory shoe of the camera, and shifts to the locked state. Furthermore, even in the case that the lever <NUM> reaches the lock position, the power detecting protrusion <NUM> is on the way of climbing the slope 110ab of the power cam portion <NUM>10a, and has not reached the top surface <NUM>10ac. Therefore, the power detection is not performed, and the power of the transmitter <NUM> is maintained in the off state.

Furthermore, when the lever <NUM> is rotated by <NUM>° in the lock direction from the lock position, the lever <NUM> reaches the power-on position (<FIG>). Also at this time, the lock pins <NUM> fit into the hole portion of the accessory shoe, and the locked state is maintained. On the other hand, the power detecting protrusion <NUM> finishes climbing the slope 110ab of the power cam portion 110a, and reaches the top surface 110ac. As a result, the power detection is performed, and the power of the transmitter <NUM> shifts to the on state. Further, when the power is detected and the power shifts to the on state, the transmitter <NUM> notifies the camera that the power has shifted to the on state, and further the MPU 116a is activated.

Further, when the lever <NUM> is rotated by <NUM>° in the unlock direction from the power-on position, the lever <NUM> reaches the lock position (<FIG>). At this time, although the transmitter <NUM> shifts to the power-off state, the locked state is maintained. That is, by slightly rotating the lever <NUM> in the unlock direction, it is possible to shift to the power-off state without detaching the transmitter <NUM> from the camera.

Furthermore, when the lever <NUM> is rotated by <NUM>° in the unlock direction from the lock position, the lever <NUM> reaches the unlock position (<FIG>). However, as described above, when the lever <NUM> is located at the lock position, the lock wall surface 103bc of the lock release button sliding cam portion 103b becomes the obstacle, and the button protruding portion 112a does not easily return to the arc wall surface 103bb. Then, in order for the button protruding portion 112a to get over the lock wall surface 103bc, the operator needs to push the lock release button <NUM> so as to move the button protruding portion 112a toward the rotation center. That is, a thing that the lever <NUM> rotates from the power-on position through the power-off position to the unlock position without stopping has not happened. This thing makes it possible to prevent that the transmitter <NUM> is accidentally detached from the camera when making the power of the transmitter <NUM> become the off state. As a result, it is possible to suppress such a phenomenon that during setting information is being written into an EEPROM <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM> is detached from a camera <NUM> and a power ACC_POW supplied from the camera <NUM> is turned off, and it is possible to suppress such a phenomenon that the setting information is destroyed.

Furthermore, as described above, when the lever <NUM> has reached the power-on position, since the power supply cover portion 103a covers at least a part of the lock release button <NUM>, the operation of the lock release button <NUM> is blocked. As a result, it is possible to prevent such a phenomenon that the lock release button <NUM> is accidentally pressed down at the power-on position and then the lever <NUM> becomes capable of moving from the power-on position to the unlock position.

Further, in the transmitter <NUM>, when the lever <NUM> is rotated from the power-on position to the unlock position, the lever <NUM> always passes through the power-off position. This makes it possible to prevent that the transmitter <NUM> is detached from the camera while the power of the transmitter <NUM> remains the on state.

<FIG> is a block diagram that shows an electrical configuration of the transmitter <NUM> of <FIG> and the camera. As shown in <FIG>, the camera <NUM> has a camera MPU <NUM>, an accessory power supply unit <NUM>, an accessory shoe <NUM>, and a pull-up resistor element <NUM>. The transmitter <NUM> is attached to the accessory shoe <NUM> by the contact plug <NUM>, and the camera <NUM> supplies the power to the transmitter <NUM> from the accessory power supply unit <NUM>. The camera MPU <NUM> controls each configuration element of the camera <NUM>. A signal /ACC_DET, which is an accessory mounting notification signal transmitted from the transmitter <NUM> to the camera <NUM>, is pulled up by the pull-up resistor element <NUM> and changes to a high level when a transmission line that transmits the signal /ACC_DET is disconnected from the ground (GND). When the transmission line is grounded and the signal /ACC_DET is pulled down and changes to a low level, the camera MPU <NUM> detects that an accessory such as the transmitter <NUM> is attached. In response to the detection of the change of the signal /ACC_DET to the low level, the accessory power supply unit <NUM> supplies the accessory power ACC_POW to the transmitter <NUM>.

The transmitter <NUM> has the MPU 116a, a power supply unit <NUM> (a power receiving unit), the EEPROM <NUM>, and a mounting notification holding unit <NUM>. The MPU 116a controls each configuration element of the transmitter <NUM>. Further, the MPU 116a transmits and receives various kinds of information to and from the camera MPU <NUM> via the contact plug <NUM> and the accessory shoe <NUM>. The power supply unit <NUM> generates the power to be supplied to each configuration element of the transmitter <NUM> from the power ACC_POW supplied from the camera <NUM>. The EEPROM <NUM> stores various setting values for controlling the transmitter <NUM> and the setting information transmitted from the camera <NUM>.

The mounting notification holding unit <NUM> is configured by a diode <NUM>, a diode <NUM>, a switching element <NUM>, and a pull-up resistor element <NUM>. As will be described later, the mounting notification holding unit <NUM> has a function of holding a state (the level) of the signal /ACC_DET to be transmitted to the camera <NUM> for a predetermined period of time. Moreover, a configuration of the mounting notification holding unit <NUM> is not limited to the configuration shown in <FIG> as long as the function of holding the state of the signal /ACC_DET can be realized. The diode <NUM> is a rectifying diode that prevents an electric current from flowing from the camera <NUM> into the MPU 116a when the accessory power ACC_POW is turned off. When an accessory mounting notification signal EN_/ACC_DET used in the transmitter <NUM> reaches a high level, the switching element <NUM> is turned on. When the switching element <NUM> is turned on, the transmission line of the signal /ACC_DET transmitted to the camera <NUM> is grounded, and the signal /ACC_DET is pulled down and changes to a low level.

A switch <NUM> (a state detecting unit, a lock detecting unit) is a schematic representation of the power switch, which switches in response to a usage state of the transmitter <NUM> by the operator and is configured by the shoe FPC <NUM>, the power detecting protrusion <NUM>, and the power detecting rubber member <NUM>. In the case that the switch <NUM> is turned off, a power switch signal /SW_DET reaches a high level by the pull-up resistor element <NUM>. The MPU 116a detects that the switch <NUM> is turned off base on a fact that the power switch signal /SW_DET becomes the high level, and shifts the transmitter <NUM> to the power-off state. On the other hand, in the case that the switch <NUM> is turned on, the power switch signal /SW_DET becomes a low level, the MPU 116a detects that the switch <NUM> is turned on, and shifts the transmitter <NUM> to the power-on state.

In the transmitter <NUM>, if the power ACC_POW is turned off (i.e., if the power ACC_POW is no longer supplied) during the setting information transmitted from the camera <NUM> is being written from the MPU 116a into the EEPROM <NUM>, there is the risk that the setting information will be destroyed. Further, even in the case that the writing operation of the MPU 116a has been completed, in some cases, the writing operation of the inside of the EEPROM <NUM> has not been completed. In this case, when the power ACC_POW is turned off during the writing operation of the inside of the EEPROM <NUM>, there is also a risk that the setting information will be destroyed. Correspondingly, in the present embodiment, even in the case that the transmitter <NUM> shifts from the power-on state to the power-off state, it is possible to prevent the power ACC_POW from being turned off immediately.

<FIG> is a sequence diagram that shows the operation of each configuration element when the transmitter <NUM> shifts to the power-on state, and <FIG> is a sequence diagram that shows the operation of each configuration element when the transmitter <NUM> shifts to the power-off state. <FIG> shows the case that the transmitter <NUM> shifts to the power-on state, and <FIG> shows the case that the transmitter <NUM> shifts to the power-off state.

At first, the operation of each configuration element when the transmitter <NUM> is attached to the camera <NUM> and shifts to the power-on state will be described. After the transmitter <NUM> is attached to the camera <NUM>, when the lever <NUM> is rotated from the lock position (the power-off position) to the power-on position, the switch <NUM> is turned on, and the signal /ACC_DET changes from the high level (H) to the low level (L). When the signal /ACC_DET changes to the low level, the camera MPU <NUM> detects that the transmitter <NUM> has been attached to the camera <NUM>, and controls the accessory power supply unit <NUM> to supply the accessory power ACC_POW to the transmitter <NUM>. Further, when the power ACC_POW is supplied, the MPU 116a of the transmitter <NUM> is activated to start a usual operation. At this time, the MPU 116a changes the signal EN_/ACC_DET from the low level (L) to the high level (H), and turns on the switching element <NUM>.

In the usual operation, communications with the camera <NUM> are executed, and in the present embodiment, since the communications with the camera <NUM> are executed in a state that the transmitter <NUM> is fixed to the accessory shoe <NUM> of the camera <NUM>, poor contacting of the contact plug <NUM> is unlikely to occur. As a result, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of chattering of communication signals due to the poor contacting, and it is possible to avoid poor communication.

Next, the operation of each configuration element when the transmitter <NUM> shifts from the power-on state to the power-off state in a state that the transmitter <NUM> is still attached to the camera <NUM> will be described. When the lever <NUM> is rotated from the power-on position to the power-off position (the lock position), the switch <NUM> is turned off. However, even in the case that the switch <NUM> is turned off, since the signal EN_/ACC_DET is not affected, the signal EN_/ACC_DET remains at the high level, and the switching element <NUM> also remains the turned-on state. Therefore, the signal /ACC_DET continues to be pulled down, and the low level is maintained. As a result, the camera MPU <NUM> continues to detect the attachment of the transmitter <NUM>, and maintains the supply of the accessory power ACC_POW to the transmitter <NUM>.

On the other hand, since the switch <NUM> is turned off, although the power switch signal /SW_DET reaches the high level by the pull-up resistor element <NUM>, the diode <NUM> prevents the electric current from flowing from the power switch signal /SW_DET side into the signal /ACC_DET side. Therefore, the power switch signal /SW_DET remains at the high level even though the signal /ACC_DET is at the low level.

That is, in the present embodiment, the MPU 116a detects that the switch <NUM> is turned off, while the camera MPU <NUM> continues to detect the attachment of the transmitter <NUM>. When the MPU 116a detects that the switch <NUM> is turned off, it executes a termination processing of the transmitter <NUM>. The termination processing executed here corresponds to, for example, stopping a wireless control, turning off the LED, and writing the setting information into the EEPROM <NUM>.

After that, when the termination processing is completed, the MPU 116a changes the signal EN /ACC_DET to the low level, and turns off the switching element <NUM>. At this time, the signal /ACC_DET is no longer pulled down, is pulled up by the pull-up resistor element <NUM> and changes to the high level, and the signal /ACC_DET becomes disabled as the accessory mounting notification signal. Upon detecting that the signal /ACC_DET changes to the high level, the camera MPU <NUM> judges that the transmitter <NUM> has been detached or that the transmitter <NUM> has shifted to the power-off state. Then, the camera MPU <NUM> controls the accessory power supply unit <NUM> to stop the supply of the accessory power ACC_POW to the transmitter <NUM>.

According to the transmitter <NUM>, even in the case that the lever <NUM> is rotated from the power-on position to the power-off position, the accessory mounting notification signal /ACC_DET does not immediately change to the high level, and the low level is maintained until the termination processing of the transmitter <NUM> is completed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the power ACC_POW supplied from the camera <NUM> from being turned off during the setting information is being written into the EEPROM <NUM>, and thus it is possible to prevent the setting information from being destroyed.

Further, the configuration, which suppresses that the lever <NUM> rotates to the unlock position without stopping, is not limited to the present embodiment. For example, a method, which makes it difficult for the button protruding portion 112a to get caught in the operator's finger at the power-on position or the power-off position by adjusting a combination of a height of the lever <NUM>, a convex amount of the lock release button <NUM>, a spring force of the lock release spring <NUM>, and the like, is also conceivable. However, since the present embodiment suppresses that the lever <NUM> rotates to the unlock position without stopping only by providing the power supply cover portion 103a, it is possible for the present embodiment to realize the configuration of suppressing that the lever <NUM> rotates to the unlock position without stopping at a lower cost than the complicated method described above. Further, since the configuration of the present embodiment is simple, it is also possible to improve the reliability.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the configuration, in which switching between the power-on state and the power-off state and switching between the locked state and the unlocked state are executed only by the lever <NUM> that is one operation unit, has been described. However, if the supply of the power from the camera <NUM> is not stopped until the termination processing of the transmitter <NUM> is completed, the switching between the power-on state and the power-off state and the switching between the locked state and the unlocked state may be realized by respective operation units. Further, the switch <NUM> may be configured by an independent power switch. Moreover, the switch <NUM> may be a member that detects a state that the lock pins <NUM> popped out, that is, that detects that the transmitter <NUM> is locked on the accessory shoe <NUM>. Further, the sequence shown in <FIG> may be executed for the first time when both shifting to the power-on state and shifting to the locked state are detected.

Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration, in which the switching between the locked state and the unlocked state of the accessory device and the switching between the power-on state and the power-off state are linked, has been described. However, the present invention may be applied to a configuration, in which the switching between the power-on state and the power-off state and an operation intended by the operator to use the accessory device are linked.

Next, an accessory device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configurations, operations, and effects of the second embodiment are basically the same as those of the first embodiment described above, and the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the lock release button <NUM> moves toward the rotation center of the lever <NUM> when shifting the power-off state to the power-on state. Therefore, the descriptions of the duplicated configurations, operations, and effects will be omitted, and the different configurations, operations, and effects will be described below.

<FIG> is a view that shows the outside appearance of a transmitter <NUM> as the accessory device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> are views for explaining a lock release button sliding cam portion formed on a bottom cover in the second embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> shows a lock release button sliding cam portion 203b of the second embodiment, and <FIG> shows the lock release button sliding cam portion 103b of the first embodiment. <FIG> are views for explaining the movement of the lock release button <NUM> when shifting from the power-off state to the power-on state. <FIG> shows the lock release button <NUM> in the power-off state of the second embodiment, and <FIG> shows the lock release button <NUM> in the power-off state of the first embodiment. Further, <FIG> shows the lock release button <NUM> in the power-on state of the second embodiment, and <FIG> shows the lock release button <NUM> in the power-on state of the first embodiment.

In the transmitter <NUM>, a bottom cover <NUM> has the lock release button sliding cam portion 203b. As with the first embodiment, when the lever <NUM> is rotated to the power-on position in the lock direction, a power supply cover portion 203a covers at least a part of the lock release button <NUM>, and hides it from the operator's finger or the like.

The lock release button sliding cam portion 203b is a cam structure that slides with the button protruding portion 112a of the lock release button <NUM> when the lever <NUM> rotates. Here, with reference to <FIG>, the movement of the lock release button <NUM> (the button protruding portion 112a) that is restricted by the lock release button sliding cam portion 203b when the lever <NUM> rotates will be described. Further, with respect to the lock direction, a cam slope 203ba, an arc wall surface 203bb, a lock wall surface 203bc, a wall surface 203bd, a cam slope 203be, and an arc wall surface 203bf, which slide with the button protruding portion 112a, are formed on the lock release button sliding cam portion 203b in this order.

At first, when the lever <NUM> is operated to start rotating from the unlock position to the lock position, the button protruding portion 112a slides on the cam slope 203ba, and the click feeling is generated when the button protruding portion 112a moves toward the rotation center and gets over the cam slope 203ba. Next, along with the rotation toward the lock position of the lever <NUM>, the button protruding portion 112a slides while being pressed against the arc wall surface 203bb by the lock release spring <NUM>.

After that, when the button protruding portion 112a gets over the lock wall surface 203bc that formed corresponding to the lock position, the button protruding portion 112a is pressed against the wall surface 203bd by the lock release spring <NUM>. At this time, the transmitter <NUM> shifts to the locked state. Since the wall surface 203bd is formed at outside than the arc wall surface 203bb with respect to the energizing direction of the lock release spring <NUM>, the lock wall surface 203bc becomes the obstacle, and the button protruding portion 112a, which is pressed against the wall surface 203bd, does not easily return to the arc wall surface 203bb. The movement of the button protruding portion 112a from the cam slope 203ba to the wall surface 203bd is the same as the movement of the button protruding portion 112a of the first embodiment from the cam slope 103ba to the wall surface 103bd.

Further, along with the rotation toward the lock direction of the lever <NUM>, the button protruding portion 112a slides on the cam slope 203be, and the button protruding portion 112a moves toward the rotation center and gets over the cam slope 203be. Next, along with the rotation toward the power-on position of the lever <NUM>, the button protruding portion 112a slides while being pressed against the arc wall surface 203bf by the lock release spring <NUM>.

That is, in the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, when the lever <NUM> rotates from the power-off position to the power-on position, the lock release button <NUM> moves toward the rotation center. Therefore, at the power-on position, the lock release button <NUM> is closer to the rotation center as compared with the first embodiment. Then, when the lever <NUM> has reached the power-on position, at least a part of the lock release button <NUM> is covered by the power supply cover portion 203a.

As described above, at the power-on position, the lock release button <NUM> is closer to the rotation center as compared with the first embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to form the power supply cover portion 203a (<FIG>) that covers the lock release button <NUM> closer to the rotation center as compared with the power supply cover portion 103a (<FIG>) of the first embodiment. As a result, it is possible to reduce a recessed amount La (<FIG>) of the lock release button <NUM> at the power-off position with respect to the power supply cover portion 203a. Specifically, it is possible to make the recessed amount La smaller than a recessed amount Lb (<FIG>) of the lock release button <NUM> at the power-off position with respect to the power supply cover portion 103a of the first embodiment. As a result, when pushing the lock release button <NUM> toward an arrow direction of the drawing in order to release locking of the lever <NUM> at the power-off position, the operator's finger can easily reach the lock release button <NUM> as compared with the first embodiment. Thereby, it is possible to improve the operability of the lock release button <NUM>.

Further, as described above, since the power supply cover portion 203a can be formed close to the rotation center, it is possible to reduce a protrusion amount of the power supply cover portion 203a from a wall portion 203f provided on the bottom cover <NUM>, and it is possible to improve the appearance.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist thereof.

For example, the accessory device, to which the present invention is applied, is not limited to the transmitter, and may be a strobe device, a microphone, an adapter, or the like, to which the power is supplied from the camera <NUM>. Further, the device, to which the present invention is applied, is not limited to the accessory device. For example, the present invention can be applied to any another electronic apparatus that is attached to one electronic apparatus having a power source and receives supply of the power from the one electronic apparatus.

Further, the transmitter <NUM>, to which the present invention is applied, causes the camera <NUM> to continue to supply the accessory power supply ACC _POW by keeping the accessory mounting notification signal /ACC_DET at the low level until the termination processing is completed. However, the signal /ACC_DET may change to the high level as soon as the transmitter <NUM> has shifted to the power-off state. In this case, the camera <NUM> may be configured to supply the power ACC_POW for a period of time corresponding to a period of time from the signal /ACC_DET changing to the high level to the completion of the termination processing.

Further, in order to prevent the operator from moving the lever <NUM> to the unlock position before the termination processing of the transmitter <NUM> is completed, the operator's attention may be drawn. For example, before the termination processing of the transmitter <NUM> is completed, a display unit (not shown) of the transmitter <NUM> may perform a warning display or the buzzer <NUM> may sound a warning sound.

Further, in the lock unit <NUM> of the transmitter <NUM> described above, although the lock position of the lever <NUM> and the power-off position of the lever <NUM> accord, the lock position and the power-off position do not have to accord. For example, when the lever <NUM> is rotated in the unlock direction, the power-on position, the power-off position, the lock position, and the unlock position may be set in this order.

Further, in the transmitter <NUM> described above, although the lever <NUM> does not move in the Y direction (a vertical direction), it may be configured to move the lever <NUM> in the Y direction in the middle of rotating of the lever <NUM>. <FIG> are process drawings for explaining an unlocking operation in a lock unit <NUM> that moves the lever <NUM> in the Y direction in the middle of rotating of the lever <NUM>. Here, the lock unit <NUM> is in an approximately cylindrical shape, and has a lever <NUM> that moves in a circumferential direction on a side surface, and a guide groove <NUM> that guides the lever <NUM>. The guide groove <NUM> is formed along the circumferential direction of the lock unit <NUM>, and bends in the Y direction (the vertical direction) at one place of the guide groove <NUM>. The power-on position, the power-off position, the lock position, and the unlock position are set in the guide groove <NUM> along the circumferential direction, and the power-off position and the lock position are set at a lower end and an upper end of the guide groove <NUM> that bends in the Y direction, respectively.

A case that the lever <NUM> is rotated from the power-on position to the unlock position in the lock unit <NUM> will be described. At first, when the lever <NUM> reaches the power-off position (<FIG>) from the power-on position (<FIG>), since the guide groove <NUM> is bent in the Y direction, the lever <NUM> temporarily stops. Next, when the lever <NUM> is moved in the Y direction to reach the lock position (<FIG>), the lever <NUM> can rotate again. After that, the lever <NUM> is rotated to reach the unlock position.

In this case as well, since the lever <NUM> temporarily stops at the power-off position, the thing that the lever <NUM> rotates from the power-on position through the power-off position to the unlock position without stopping has not happened. This thing makes it possible to prevent that the transmitter <NUM> is accidentally detached from the camera when making the power of the transmitter <NUM> become the off state.

In addition, it is also possible to perform locking the accessory device and powering on the accessory device by using separate operation members. In this case, when performing the powering on the accessory device by using the power switch in a state that a lever for locking is moved to the lock position, a restricting member, which prevents the lock release button <NUM> from being pressed, is moved to make it difficult to release the locking the accessory device. Further, when performing powering off the accessory device by using the power switch, the restricting member may be moved to make it easy to release the locking the accessory device. The movement of the restricting member may be mechanically interlocked in response to a state of the power switch, or may be electrically controlled by the MPU by detecting the state of the power switch. Further, a method, which prevents the lock release button <NUM> from being pressed by the restricting member, is not particularly limited, for example, the restricting member is moved to the front of the lock release button <NUM>, and for example, by covering the lock release button <NUM> with the restricting member, it is possible to make it difficult for the user to press the lock release button <NUM>. Alternatively, the restricting member is moved to a position that restricts the movement of the lock release button <NUM>, for example, by engaging the restricting member with the lock release button <NUM>, it becomes possible that the lock release button <NUM> does not move even in the case that the user presses the lock release button <NUM>. Moreover, the accessory device is capable of being attached to or detached from an image pickup apparatus. Further, the accessory device works during photographing of the image pickup apparatus.

Claim 1:
An accessory device (<NUM>) capable of being attached to or detached from an electronic apparatus (<NUM>), comprising:
an operation member (<NUM>);
a lock mechanism (<NUM>) configured to perform a locking operation to lock the accessory device (<NUM>) and the electronic apparatus (<NUM>) in response to an operation of the operation member (<NUM>); and
a movement restriction release mechanism (<NUM>) configured to release a restriction on a movement of the operation member (<NUM>);
characterized by
an operation restricting member (103a) configured to restrict an operation of the movement restriction release mechanism (<NUM>), and
wherein the operation restricting member (103a) makes it more difficult to perform the operation of the movement restriction release mechanism (<NUM>) when a power of the accessory device (<NUM>) is in an on state than when the power of the accessory device (<NUM>) is in an off state.