Patent ID: 12244915

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, unnecessarily detailed description may be omitted. For example, a detailed description of a well-known matter and a repeated description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy of the following description and to facilitate understanding of those skilled in the art. Note that the inventors provide the accompanying drawings and the following description in order for those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and do not intend to limit the subject matter described in the claims by the accompanying drawings and the following description.

First Embodiment

In a first embodiment, a digital camera will be described as an example of an imaging device according to the present disclosure.

A configuration of an imaging device2according to the first embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS.1to7. Hereinafter, a left-right direction as viewed from a user using the imaging device2is defined as an X-axis direction, a front-rear direction is defined as a Y-axis direction, and an up-down direction is defined as a Z-axis direction. With respect to the direction in a self-sustained state of the imaging device2, terms indicating directions such as “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, and “right” are used, which does not mean to limit a use state of the imaging device of the present disclosure.

FIGS.1and2are perspective views of the imaging device2according to the first embodiment,FIG.3is a front view of the imaging device2,FIG.4is a rear view of the imaging device2,FIGS.5and6are side views of the imaging device2, andFIG.7is a plan view of the imaging device2.

The imaging device2illustrated inFIGS.1to7includes an imaging main body4and a grip portion6.

The imaging main body4is a portion for capturing an image of a subject using a lens (not illustrated). The imaging main body4incorporates various components including a heat source such as an image sensor and an image engine, and captures, toward an imaging direction B (Y-axis direction) along an optical axis L, an image of a subject (not illustrated) positioned on the front side.

The grip portion6is a portion for the user to grip the imaging device2. The grip portion6is provided on a side (right side in the first embodiment) with respect to the imaging main body4. An upper surface of the grip portion6is provided with a release button18. The grip portion6of the first embodiment is formed integrally with the imaging main body4, but may be detachable.

The imaging main body4includes a lens cap8, an electronic view finder (EVF) unit10, a penta portion12, and dials14and16.

The lens cap8is a member that covers a lens attachment portion (not illustrated) for attaching an interchangeable lens. The lens cap8is provided on a front surface4A of the imaging main body4. Various lenses can be attached to the lens attachment portion covered by the lens cap8.

The EVF unit10is a unit that displays, in a finder, an image (through-the-lens image) captured by the imaging device2. The EVF unit10is provided above the imaging main body4and protrudes rearward.

The penta portion12is provided above the imaging main body4and protrudes forward. The penta portion12is an example of a “protrusion”. In a case where the imaging device2is single-lens reflex, a pentaprism (not illustrated) that is an optical system of the finder is accommodated in the penta portion12. In a case where the imaging device2is mirrorless, no pentaprism is accommodated in the penta portion12. In the present description, the “protrusion” is referred to as penta portion12regardless of whether or not the pentaprism is included. A heat dissipation mechanism36(FIG.10) including a cooling fan38described later is accommodated in the penta portion12of the first embodiment. The penta portion12is an example of a “fan accommodation portion” that accommodates the cooling fan38, and functions as a case and a cover.

The penta portion12of the first embodiment has an upper surface20, a pair of side surfaces22A and22B, a front surface24, and a lower surface26. As illustrated inFIG.1and the like, the upper surface20of the penta portion12is provided with an accessory shoe32. The accessory shoe32can be attached with external equipment such as an external microphone34(FIG.9). The accessory shoe32may be referred to as “hot shoe”.

As illustrated inFIGS.1and2, the front surface24of the penta portion12is at a position protruding forward with respect to the front surface4A of the imaging main body4. The lower surface26is formed so as to connect the front surface24of the penta portion12and the front surface4A of the imaging main body4.

The penta portion12further forms an intake port28(FIG.2and the like) and exhaust ports30A and30B (FIGS.1,2, and the like) as components of the heat dissipation mechanism36.

The intake port28is an opening for sucking air into the penta portion12. The exhaust ports30A and30B are openings for discharging the air sucked from the intake port28to the outside of the penta portion12. In the first embodiment, the intake port28is provided on the lower surface26of the penta portion12, and the exhaust ports30A and30B are provided on the side surfaces22A and22B of the penta portion12, respectively.

When the cooling fan38is operated in the above configuration, as illustrated inFIG.8, a flow is generated in which air is sucked from the front side of the penta portion12through the intake port28(arrow A1) and air is discharged to the side of the penta portion12through the exhaust ports30A and30B (arrows A2and A3). This makes it possible to cool various heat sources built in the imaging main body4.

As illustrated inFIGS.1,2, and the like, the side surfaces22A and22B and the lower surface26of the penta portion12are provided with openings for intake and exhaust, whereas the upper surface20and the front surface24are not provided with openings for intake and exhaust. According to such configuration, in a state where the external microphone34is attached to the accessory shoe32as illustrated inFIG.9, the distance from the external microphone34to the intake and exhaust openings (intake port28, exhaust ports30A and30B) becomes long, and therefore it is possible to make the operation sound of the cooling fan38difficult to be collected by the external microphone34. In the example illustrated inFIG.9, the external microphone34is positioned immediately above the upper surface20of the penta portion12and extends in the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction). The intake port28and the exhaust ports30A and30B are not open in a direction facing the external microphone34. This makes it possible to suppress deterioration in sound collection quality of the external microphone34as compared with a configuration in which the upper surface20and the front surface24are provided with openings for intake and exhaust, leading to improvement in quality of the imaging device2.

The dials14and16are members for the user to perform a dial operation, and are erected on an upper surface4B of the imaging main body4. The dial14is provided at a position overlapping the exhaust port30A when the imaging device2is viewed from the side (left side) as illustrated inFIG.5, and the dial16is provided at a position overlapping the exhaust port30B when the imaging device2is viewed from the side (right side) as illustrated inFIG.6. By providing the dials14and16at positions overlapping the exhaust ports30A and30B, it becomes difficult for the exhaust ports30A and30B to be visually recognized from the outside. This makes it possible to achieve designability of the imaging device2while providing the penta portion12with the exhaust ports30A and30B.

There is a gap between the exhaust ports30A and30B and the dials14and16, and therefore the air discharged from the exhaust ports30A and30B hits the dials14and16, respectively, and is discharged to the outside from an empty space. It is difficult for a finger to enter the gap, and therefore there is an effect of suppressing the user from erroneously blocking the exhaust ports30A and30B.

Next, the heat dissipation mechanism36accommodated in the penta portion12will be described with reference toFIGS.10to16.

FIG.10is a perspective view of the imaging device2illustrating a state in which the penta portion12is removed to expose the heat dissipation mechanism36,FIGS.11and12are exploded perspective views of the heat dissipation mechanism36, andFIGS.13and14are enlarged perspective views illustrating a state in which the cooling fan38is removed from the heat dissipation mechanism36.FIGS.15and16are a longitudinal sectional view and a transverse sectional view, respectively, illustrating a schematic configuration of the heat dissipation mechanism36.

As illustrated inFIG.10, the heat dissipation mechanism36accommodated in the penta portion12is disposed in the upper portion of the imaging main body4, and includes, in addition to the cooling fan38, an attachment member40, a heat sink42, an intake cover44, and two exhaust covers46A and46B as illustrated inFIGS.11and12.

The cooling fan38is a fan for cooling a heat source H (FIG.15) such as an image sensor, an image engine, and the like. By blowing air to the heat sink42to dissipate heat from the heat sink42, the cooling fan38indirectly cools the heat source H connected to the heat sink42.

The cooling fan38of the first embodiment is an “axial fan” that allows air to flow in a direction along a central axis E. In the attachment state illustrated inFIG.10, the cooling fan38sucks air from above and discharges the air downward.

The attachment member40is a member for attaching the cooling fan38. An opening portion41for disposing the cooling fan38is formed in a central portion of the attachment member40. When the attachment member40attached with the cooling fan38is accommodated in the heat sink42, the cooling fan38is positioned with respect to the heat sink42.

The heat sink42is a member thermally connected to the heat source H, and has a function of dissipating heat transferred from the heat source H. The heat sink42is thermally connected to the heat source H via a heat transfer member (not illustrated) such as graphite.

The heat sink42includes a plurality of heat dissipation pins43. Each of the plurality of heat dissipation pins43is a rod-shaped member protruding upward toward the cooling fan38. As illustrated inFIG.16, the heat dissipation efficiency is improved by interspersing a large number of the heat dissipation pins43. It is designed that the air blown out from the cooling fan38hits the plurality of heat dissipation pins43. The heat dissipation pin43is not limited to have a pin shape, and may have a rib shape, and may have any shape as long as heat dissipation property is improved. The heat dissipation pin43is an example of a “heat dissipation facilitation member”.

As illustrated inFIGS.11,12, and the like, the heat sink42includes an intake cover attachment portion48on the front side and exhaust cover attachment portions50A and50B on the sides. The intake cover attachment portion48is a portion for attaching the intake cover44, and the exhaust cover attachment portions50A and50B are portions for attaching the exhaust covers46A and46B, respectively. As an attachment method, an arbitrary attachment method such as screw fastening or claw fitting may be adopted, or may be integrally molded. Both the intake cover attachment portion48and the exhaust cover attachment portions50A and50B form openings for allowing air to flow.

The intake cover44is a member that forms the intake port28, and is attached to the intake cover attachment portion48. The intake port28of the intake cover44communicates with an opening provided in the intake cover attachment portion48. The intake cover44constitutes the lower surface26(FIG.2and the like) of the above-described penta portion12. The exhaust covers46A and46B are members that form the exhaust ports30A and30B, respectively, and are attached to the exhaust cover attachment portions50A and50B, respectively. The exhaust ports30A and30B of the exhaust covers46A and46B communicate with openings provided in the exhaust cover attachment portions50A and50B, respectively. The exhaust covers46A and46B constitute the side surfaces22A and22B, respectively, of the penta portion12.

According to the above configuration, as illustrated inFIG.15, by the operation of the cooling fan38, a flow is generated in which air is sucked upward through the intake port28provided in the lower surface26of the penta portion12, goes around toward the upper surface side of the cooling fan38, flows downward along the central axis E inside the cooling fan38, and is blown out toward the heat dissipation pin43of the heat sink42. As illustrated inFIG.16, the air that has come into contact with the plurality of heat dissipation pins43and absorbed heat is blown out in the lateral direction (X-axis direction) through the exhaust ports30A and30B provided on the side surfaces22A and22B of the penta portion12.

As illustrated inFIG.15, the cooling fan38of the first embodiment is disposed such that the central axis E is inclined with respect to a vertical direction V. More specifically, the central axis E is inclined such that the rear portion of the cooling fan38becomes above the front portion. Such arrangement makes it possible to create a space through which air flows on the front side of the cooling fan38. This allows efficient arrangement to be taken when air is sucked from the lower surface26positioned on the front side of the penta portion12, and an increase in size of the imaging device2including the penta portion12to be suppressed. Use of an axial fan as the cooling fan38can increase the air volume, and can improve heat dissipation property.

The cooling fan38illustrated inFIG.15is disposed in a so-called “horizontal placement”, and intake and exhaust air in a substantially up-down direction. As illustrated inFIG.15, the “horizontal placement” includes an “oblique placement” in which the central axis E is inclined with respect to the vertical direction V.

Conclusion

According to the above configuration, even when the heat source H such as the image sensor, the image engine, and the like generates a large amount of heat, the heat is efficiently dissipated by the heat dissipation mechanism36including the cooling fan38and the heat sink42, and thus it is possible to suppress stop of operation of the imaging device2due to overheating. In recent years, the trend of higher image quality and higher performance and the use of moving images have become mainstream, and when a problem of stopping a camera function due to overheating is becoming serious, the imaging device2can be an effective solution to such a heat problem and can give the user a sense of security. On the other hand, since the heat dissipation mechanism36including the cooling fan38is accommodated in the penta portion12in the central upper portion of the imaging main body4and is disposed in front of the EVF unit10, it becomes easy to suppress an increase in size of the imaging device2and to achieve both heat dissipation property and designability.

In the imaging device2of the first embodiment, the intake port28is provided in the lower surface26of the penta portion12, the exhaust ports30A and30B are provided in the side surfaces22A and22B of the penta portion12, and the upper surface20and the front surface24of the penta portion12are not provided with the intake and exhaust openings. Due to this, as illustrated inFIG.9, even when the external microphone34is attached to the accessory shoe32on the upper surface20of the penta portion12, operation sound of the cooling fan38is less likely to be collected through the intake and exhaust openings, and deterioration of sound characteristics of the external microphone34can be suppressed.

As illustrated inFIGS.1to7and the like, the intake port28and the exhaust ports30A and30B are disposed at places that are less likely to be visually recognized from the outside. In particular, the intake port28provided on the lower surface26of the penta portion12is difficult to visually recognize from the outside, and the exhaust ports30A and30B provided on the side surfaces22A and22B are also difficult to visually recognize from the outside because the dials14and16overlap in the lateral direction. This makes it possible to achieve designability of the imaging device2while providing the penta portion12with the intake and exhaust openings.

Operations and Effects

As described above, the imaging device2of the first embodiment includes the imaging main body4, the penta portion12(corresponding to fan accommodation portion) provided in the upper portion of the imaging main body4, and the cooling fan38disposed in the penta portion12. The penta portion12includes the upper surface20covering the cooling fan38, the pair of side surfaces22A and22B, and the front surface24. The intake port28and the exhaust ports30A and30B for the cooling fan38to perform intake and exhaust are provided on surfaces (for example, side surfaces22A and22B and lower surface26) of the penta portion12different from the upper surface20.

According to such configuration, when the external microphone34is attached to the upper portion of the imaging device2, it is difficult for the external microphone34to pick up operation sound of the cooling fan38. It is possible to suppress deterioration of sound characteristics collected by the external microphone34as compared with a configuration in which the upper surface20of the penta portion12is provided with intake and exhaust openings. This makes it possible to suppress deterioration of sound characteristics while improving the quality of heat dissipation characteristics by providing the cooling fan38.

In the imaging device2of the first embodiment, the upper surface20and the front surface24are not provided with intake and exhaust openings. This makes it possible to improve the designability of the imaging device2while making it difficult for the external microphone34to pick up operation sound of the cooling fan38.

In the imaging device2of the first embodiment, the penta portion12(corresponding to protrusion) provided above the imaging main body4to protrude forward is used as a fan accommodation portion that accommodates the cooling fan38. By accommodating the cooling fan38in the penta portion12, it is possible to suppress an increase in size of the imaging device2and to improve designability of the imaging device2.

The imaging device2of the first embodiment further includes the heat sink42disposed below the cooling fan38, and the cooling fan38blows out air downward toward the heat sink42. This makes it possible to efficiently dissipate the heat collected in the heat sink42.

In the imaging device2of the first embodiment, the exhaust ports30A and30B are provided on the side surfaces22A and22B. This makes it possible to provide the exhaust ports30A and30B at positions that are difficult for the user to visually recognize, leading to improvement of designability. In place of the exhaust ports30A and30B, the intake ports may be provided on the side surfaces22A and22B. That is, at least one of the intake port and the exhaust port may be provided on the side surfaces22A and22B.

In the imaging device2of the first embodiment, the dials14and16that overlap the exhaust ports30A and30B provided on the side surfaces22A and22B when viewed from the side (for example, viewed along X-axis direction) are erected on the imaging main body4. Due to this, it becomes more difficult for the user to visually recognize the exhaust ports30A and30B, and the designability of the imaging device2can be improved.

In the imaging device2of the first embodiment, the front surface24of the penta portion12is at a position protruding forward relative to the imaging main body4, and the intake port28is provided on the lower surface26connecting the front surface24and the front surface4A of the imaging main body4. This makes it difficult for the user to visually recognize the intake port28, and to improve the designability. In place of the intake port28, the exhaust port may be provided on the lower surface26. That is, at least one of the intake port and the exhaust port may be provided on the lower surface26.

In the imaging device2of the first embodiment, the lower surface26is provided with the intake port28, and the side surfaces22A and22B are provided with the exhaust ports30A and30B. This makes it possible to dispose the intake and exhaust openings at positions that are difficult to visually recognize, and to improve the designability of the imaging device2.

In the imaging device2of the first embodiment, the upper surface20of the penta portion12is provided with the accessory shoe32. This makes it possible to make the external microphone34hardly pick up operation sound of the cooling fan38when the external microphone34is attached to the accessory shoe32.

In the imaging device2of the first embodiment, the central axis E of the cooling fan38is inclined with respect to the vertical direction V. This allows the flow of air by the cooling fan38to be variously designed.

In the imaging device2of the first embodiment, the central axis E of the cooling fan38is inclined such that the rear side of the cooling fan38becomes higher than the front side. This makes it possible to achieve efficient arrangement, and easily makes an air path on the front side of the cooling fan38.

In the imaging device2of the first embodiment, the cooling fan38is an axial fan. This makes it possible to increase the air volume and improve heat dissipation property.

Modification of First Embodiment

In the first embodiment, an axial fan is used as the cooling fan38, but the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, as illustrated in the modification ofFIG.17, a cooling fan138as a centrifugal fan may be provided inside the penta portion12. The cooling fan138, which is a centrifugal fan, is disposed horizontally, sucks air along a horizontal axis E1, and blows out the air downward along a vertical axis (central axis) E2orthogonal to the horizontal axis E1. According to such configuration, similarly to the imaging device2of the first embodiment, it is possible to generate a flow in which air is sucked from the intake port28provided in the lower surface26of the penta portion12, air is hit to the heat dissipation pin43of the heat sink42, and air is blown out from the exhaust ports30A and30B provided in the side surfaces22A and22B.

In the first embodiment, one intake port28and two exhaust ports30A and30B are provided, but the present invention is not limited to such a case, and the number of intake ports and the number of exhaust ports may be any number. The positions of, the intake port and the exhaust port and the orientation of intake and exhaust may be appropriately changed.

For example, in an imaging device100according to the modification ofFIG.18, the side surface22A is provided with the exhaust port30A, whereas the opposing side surface22B is not provided with the exhaust port (there is no flow of arrow A3). In an imaging device200according to the modification ofFIG.19, the side surface22B is provided with the exhaust port30B, whereas the opposing side surface22A is not provided with the exhaust port (there is no flow of arrow A2). Also in the configuration illustrated inFIGS.18and19, air can be sucked and discharged by the operation of the cooling fan38.

An imaging device300according to still another modification is illustrated inFIGS.20and21. The imaging device300illustrated inFIGS.20and21corresponds to a configuration in which the intake port and the exhaust port are switched in the imaging device2of the first embodiment. Specifically, the intake port28is changed to an exhaust port302, and the exhaust ports30A and30B are changed to intake ports304A and304B. This makes it possible to generate a flow in which air is sucked from the intake ports304A and304B (arrow C1and C2) and air is blown out from the exhaust port302(arrow C3).

The intake port and the exhaust port described above are not limited to being always open, and may be provided with a lid that can be opened and closed by the user.

Second Embodiment

An imaging device400according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS.22to24. In the second embodiment, points different from the first embodiment will be mainly described. In addition, the same or equivalent components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, the cooling fans38and138are in the “horizontal placement” to suck air upward as illustrated inFIGS.15and17or discharge air downward as illustrated inFIGS.20and21, meanwhile in the second embodiment, the cooling fan is in “vertical placement” to perform intake and exhaust of the air horizontally, which is different from the first embodiment.

FIGS.22and23are perspective views of the imaging device400according to the second embodiment, andFIG.24is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a heat dissipation mechanism436provided in the imaging device400.

In the imaging device400illustrated inFIGS.22and23, an intake port428(FIG.23) is provided on a side surface422B of a penta portion412, and an exhaust port430(FIG.22) is provided in an opposing side surface422A. This generates a flow in which air is sucked into the penta portion412from the intake port428(arrow D1) and air is blown out to the outside of the penta portion412from the exhaust port430(arrow D2).

In the second embodiment, a lower surface426of the penta portion412is not provided with intake and exhaust openings. Any of the upper surface420, the front surface424, and the lower surface426of the penta portion412are not provided with intake and exhaust openings.

As illustrated inFIG.24, the heat dissipation mechanism436is built in the penta portion412. The heat dissipation mechanism436includes a heat sink442and two cooling fans438and439.

The heat sink442accommodates the two cooling fans438and439and incorporates a plurality of heat dissipation pins443.

Each of the cooling fans438and439is disposed in vertical placement inside the heat sink442and blows air in the lateral direction (X-axis direction) along a central axis F. The cooling fan438is disposed on the upstream side, and the cooling fan439is disposed on the downstream side. The cooling fan438is disposed adjacent to the intake port428and generates a flow (arrow D1) in which air is sucked from the intake port428. The cooling fan439is disposed adjacent to the exhaust port430and generates a flow (arrow D2) in which air is blown out from the exhaust port430.

The plurality of heat dissipation pins443are disposed between the cooling fan438and the cooling fan439. The flow of air generated by the cooling fans438and439passes through the plurality of heat dissipation pins443and dissipates the heat of the heat source H transferred to the heat dissipation pins443.

According to the imaging device400of the second embodiment, since one intake port428and one exhaust port430are provided, the number of intake and exhaust openings is smaller and the appearance is more simplified as compared with the imaging device2of the first embodiment. On the other hand, the two cooling fans438and439are provided inside the penta portion412, which makes it possible to increase the air volume of intake and exhaust as compared with the case of providing only one cooling fan, and to improve heat dissipation property. This makes it possible to improve the heat dissipation while making the appearance simple, and it is easy to achieve both designability and heat dissipation property.

Positional Relationship Between Built-in Microphone and Cooling Fan

Next, the positional relationship between the built-in microphone built in the imaging device and the cooling fan will be described with reference toFIGS.25and26.

FIG.25is a perspective view illustrating a peripheral configuration of the penta portion12, andFIG.26is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a peripheral configuration of the penta portion12.

As illustrated inFIG.25, the upper surface20includes a first upper surface20A, a second upper surface20B, and a third upper surface20C.

Among the three upper surfaces20A,20B, and20C, the first upper surface20A is positioned at the foremost position, the third upper surface20C is positioned at the rearmost position, and the second upper surface20B is positioned between the first upper surface20A and the third upper surface20C.

The first upper surface20A is a surface that is connected to the front surface24and that is inclined obliquely downward toward the front. The second upper surface20B is a surface that extends substantially horizontally and that is provided with the accessory shoe32described above. The third upper surface20C is a surface constituting the upper surface of the EVF unit10, and is provided rearward relative to the accessory shoe32.

As illustrated inFIG.25, the third upper surface20C is provided with a microphone opening500. The microphone opening500is a through hole for allowing a built-in microphone502illustrated inFIG.26to communicate with an external space. In the example illustrated inFIG.25, a pair of the built-in microphones502are provided in left and right.

As illustrated inFIG.26, the built-in microphone502is provided below the microphone opening500. The built-in microphone502is a microphone for collecting sound through the microphone opening500, and, unlike the external microphone34, is built in the imaging device.

According to the arrangement illustrated inFIGS.25and26, by providing the microphone opening500on the upper surface20C, it is possible to increase a distance D (seeFIG.26) between the cooling fan38and the built-in microphone502as compared with the case where the upper surfaces20B and20A are provided with the microphone opening. This makes it difficult for the built-in microphone502to collect operation sound of the cooling fan38, and makes it possible to improve the sound collection accuracy of the built-in microphone502.

As illustrated inFIG.26, in the configuration where the cooling fan38is disposed forward relative to the accessory shoe32, the sound collection accuracy of the built-in microphone502can be improved by disposing the built-in microphone502rearward relative to the accessory shoe32.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the first and second embodiments and the modifications, the present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments and the modifications. For example, the imaging device needs not include the grip portion6or the EVF unit10. The heat source H is not limited to the image sensor or the image engine, and may be another heat source (for example, a storage unit of a recording medium). In the second embodiment, the two cooling fans438and439are provided, but only one cooling fan may be provided.

Although the present disclosure has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, various variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It should be understood that such variations and modifications are included within the present disclosure as long as they do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. In addition, combinations and changes in order of elements in each embodiment can be realized without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

By appropriately combining any embodiments and modifications among the above-described embodiments and various modifications, it is possible to achieve the effects of the respective embodiments and modifications.

The present disclosure can be applied to an imaging device that captures an image of a subject such as a digital camera.