Digital camera having synchronized movement of lens and flash

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention is related to a camera having a movable lens and a movable flash. The invention is more particularly related to a digital camera having a lens which can be aimed upwardly and/or downwardly relative to the body of the camera which has a flash which moves up and down with the movement of the lens.

[0004] 2. Discussion of the Background

[0005] FIG. 1A illustrates a digital camera 200 having a camera body 202 and an imaging unit 204. The camera body 202 includes conventional features such as a shutter button 206, control buttons 208, and the imaging unit 204 includes a flash 212, a lens 214, and a flash sensor 216. Decorative lines 210aand 210bare in alignment on the camera body 204 and the imaging unit 204 in FIG. 1A.

[0006] FIG. 1B illustrates that the imaging unit 204 having the flash 212 and lens 214 can move upwardly relative to the camera body 202. Thus, the flash is always pointing towards the object which is being photographed.

[0007] A problem with the digital camera 200 illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B is that because the flash is located so close to the lens, a red-eye phenomenon may be present in images taken by the digital camera 200, resulting in people having unnatural red eyes in the photographs. Further, the inventors have noted that the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1A may not allow a zoom lens to be used because such a zoom lens requires more physical space than the depth of the camera. Thus, a problem exists in designing a compact digital camera with a zoom lens which effectively prevents red-eye.

[0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention is to provide a digital camera in which the flash illuminates the object which is photographed.

[0009] It is another object of the invention to provide a digital camera having a lens which moves up and down relative to the camera body and has a flash which is synchronized with the movement of the lens.

[0010] It is a further object of the invention to provide a digital camera having a flash disposed within the camera body and a separate rotating imaging unit having a lens connected to the camera body, wherein rotation of the imaging unit and lens causes rotation of the flash within the camera body.

[0011] These and other objects are accomplished by a digital camera having a body, an image sensing section which is rotatably connected to the body, and a flash. The flash is connected to the image sensing section and rotatably disposed within the camera body such that when the image sensing section rotates, the flash also rotates. The range of rotation of the flash may be limited and not completely correspond to the range of motion of the image sensing section. The lens of the camera is preferably a zoom lens. As the zoom lens has a depth which may be longer than the depth of the camera, the zoom lens may rotate to point upwardly (or downwardly) so that when stored, the lens is less likely to become damaged.

[0012] In a first embodiment, the axis of rotation of the flash is the same as the axis of rotation of the image sensing section. However, other embodiments permit the image sensing section to have a different axis of rotation than the flash. In order to connect the axis of rotation of the image sensing section with the axis rotation of the flash, various mechanisms such as one or more gears or belt are used to rotatably connect the image sensing section with the flash.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a gear mechanism is used which has a two gears sharing an axis of rotation. The gears are connected to each other by a spring such that when a limit of the range of movement of the flash is reached, the spring allows relative movement between the two gears so that the image sensing section may continue to rotate, even when the flash can no longer rotate.

[0014] A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0015] FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a digital camera according to the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 1B illustrates a front view of the digital camera illustrated in FIG. 1B with the image sensing section aimed upwardly;

[0017] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a digital camera embodying the principals of the invention;

[0018] FIG. 2B is a front view of the camera illustrated in FIG. 2A;

[0019] FIG. 2C illustrates a top view of the camera illustrated in FIG. 2A;

[0020] FIG. 2D illustrates a view from the rear of the camera illustrated in FIG. 2A;

[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of the camera of FIG. 2A and how a person using the camera holds the camera when taking pictures;

[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates a rotatable shaft including the flash and the connection of the rotatable shaft to the imaging unit;

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates the details of the shaft 8 and the structure used to control the rotation of the first connecting shaft 8awhich is connected to the imaging unit relative to the rotation second connecting shaft 8b;

[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates the relative movement between the first and second connecting shafts and the interaction of the plate or leaf springs with the driving pin 21 and the first and second stoppers 23 and 24;

[0025] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a digital camera according to the invention in which the axis of rotation of the imaging unit is different from the axis of rotation of the flash;

[0026] FIG. 7B illustrates a front view of an embodiment of the camera in which a plurality of gears connect the imaging unit 2 with the flash unit 12;

[0027] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the gears used to connect the imaging unit 2 and the flash unit 12 and the range of rotation of the flash relative to the range of rotation of the imaging unit 2;

[0028] FIG. 9 illustrates a belt which rotatably connects the rotating flash unit with the imaging unit 204;

[0029] FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which a gear mechanism which includes two gears which can rotate relative to each other have a common axis of rotation and permit a rotatable coupling of the flash unit and the imaging unit over a limited range of movement;

[0030] FIG. 11 is a top view of the two gears of the gear mechanism utilized to impart a limited range of rotation;

[0031] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the gear mechanism illustrated in FIG. 11;

[0032] FIG. 13 is a top view of the larger outer gear of the gear mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12;

[0033] FIG. 14 is a top view of the smaller inner gear of the gear mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12; and

[0034] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the gear mechanism interacting with a gear which drives the flash unit and a gear which is connected to the imaging unit.

[0035] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to FIG. 2A thereof, there is illustrates a perspective view of a digital camera 1 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The digital camera 1 includes an imaging unit 2 which is an image sensing section which is rotatably connected to a camera body 3. The imaging unit 2 includes a first lens 4awhich is a portion of a lens assembly 4 (shown in FIG. 2B) which captures images through an image opening 7.

[0036] The camera body 3 includes a mode dial 9 for selecting between a recording mode and a reproduction mode. Depressing a shutter button 10 causes an image to be captured by the digital camera 1. There is a flash switch 11 which is utilized to turn the flash on and off, although the flash may also be automatically turned on or off, depending on the position of the imaging unit 2 relative to the digital camera 1.

[0037] The camera body 3 includes a flash unit 12 which has a flash window 12aand a light emitting unit 12bwhich includes a xenon discharge lamp, for example, surrounded by a reflector which properly directs the light from the xenon discharge lamp. In FIG. 2A, the light emitting unit 12bis illustrated as facing forward but as will be explained below, the light emitting unit 12bis rotatable due to rotation of the imaging unit 2 and therefore, the flash unit 12bmay be rotated to face upwardly. While rotation of the light emitting unit 12band its reflector is described, it is possible to implement the invention by the rotation of the reflector behind the xenon discharge lamp of the light emitting unit 12bwhile allowing the xenon discharge lamp to remain stationary. It is also possible to use any other desired light source as the light emitting unit, as desired.

[0038] In order to obtain a proper exposure when utilizing the flash unit 12, there is a light sensor 13 which is a flash sensor which senses an amount of light. Light sensor 13 preferably senses the light reflected off of a subject when the flash is used. In order to properly use the light sensor 13 with the flash unit 12, the light sensor 13 rotates the same amount and faces the direction that the light emitting unit is facing. There is a light sensor window 3athrough which the light sensor 13 senses light. The flash unit 12 along with its reflector is preferably constructed so that the field of illumination by the flash unit corresponds to the image sensed by the camera when the lens assembly 4 is capturing the widest angle image possible. The camera body 3 also includes a grip portion 14. There is a connecting shaft 8 which is used to connect the imaging unit 2 with the flash unit 12 inside of the camera body 3.

[0039] FIG. 2B is a front view of the digital camera 1 illustrated in FIG. 2A which shows internal components of the imaging unit 2. In FIG. 2B, the imaging unit is facing upwardly which allows easy storage and transportation of the camera with a reduced chance of breaking the camera as compared with the position of the imaging unit 2 in FIG. 2A. FIG. 2B clearly illustrates the lens assembly 4 having the first lens 4a, a second lens group 4b, and a third lens group 4c. The lens assembly 4 is preferably a zoom lens assembly which is focused controlled based on range information provided by a through-the-lens (TTL) autofocus (AF) optical system for range finding which is, for example, a known system. A motor may be utilized to control the movement of the lenses within the lens assembly 4 in order to change the focal length.

[0040] Light passing through the lens assembly 4 is sensed by an image sensing device 5 which may be implemented as a charge coupled device (CCD), which converts light focused thereon into an electrical signal representing the image, although any other type of image sensing device may be used. The imaging unit 2 further includes an imaging unit circuit board 6 connected to the image sensing device 5 which includes, a driving circuit for driving the image sensing device 5, resistors, capacitors, ICs, coils or inductors, and/or other electronic components constituting a converter circuit for performing a light to electrical signal conversion. The imaging circuit board may also include, if desired, circuitry to control the motor which zooms the lens assembly 4, although this circuitry may be located in the camera body 3, if desired.

[0041] Of course, signals must be communicated between the camera body 3 and the imaging unit 2. One manner of implementing such communication is through a ribbon cable connected to the imaging unit circuit board 6 which is routed through the shaft 8 and is electrically connected to circuitry such as first and/or second camera body circuit boards 19aand 19b, for example, illustrated in FIG. 2C. Alternatively, any other type of electrical connections may be utilized to electrically connect the imaging unit 2 to the camera body 3 including any form of wires, cables, optical connection devices, electrical connection devices, or using any desired communication means to communicate the necessary information. Also illustrated in FIG. 2B is a battery holder 15 which holds a battery of the digital camera 1.

[0042] FIG. 2C illustrates a top view of the camera illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 2C contains the first camera body circuit board 19aand the second camera circuit board 19bwhich are utilized to control the general operation of the digital camera 1, store images captured by the digital camera 1 and/or store programs which control the digital camera 1. The drawings appearing in this application are drawn to scale. Thus, as can be seen in FIGS. 2A and 2C, the camera body 3 has the shape of a thin parallelopiped box having a thin depth dimension and the imaging unit 2 is a vertically elongated box having a side-end shape substantially the same as the side-end shape of the camera body 3. Thus, it is seen from the figures that the depth of the camera 1 is relatively thin when in a storage position but the camera allows the use of a longer zoom lens during operation. However, the structure illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C makes it difficult to mount a flash unit on the imaging unit 2 on the side thereof containing the first lens 4aand the imaging opening 7. Thus, the flash unit 12 is located on the camera body 3. The concept of the present invention are also applicable to cameras having other shapes including cameras having a relatively short height as compared to the depth of the camera, such as the Ricoh DC-1 digital camera. Further, the principals of the invention may be applied to any type of camera having any desired body style.

[0043] FIG. 2D illustrates a rear view of the digital camera 1 illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C. FIG. 2D further illustrates a grip portion 14bof the imaging unit 2. An image display, which may be implemented as a color liquid crystal display is mounted on the rear surface of the camera body 3. Additionally, there is a zoom button 16 which changes the focal length of the lens from a telephoto to a wide angle mode. There is a power switch 17 which is utilized to turn the camera on and off. The image display 18 presents an image focused by the lens assembly 4 based on a signal from the imaging unit circuit board 6, and also presents an image reproduced from a recording medium such as a memory or IC card. Additionally, the image display 18 may display a variety of operation message screens or information. The image display 18 is connected to the camera body circuit boards 19aand/or 19band is powered by a battery in the battery holder 15.

[0044] FIG. 3 illustrates how a person holds the digital camera 1 when taking pictures. A right hand 54 grips the grip portion 14 of the camera body 3 at an angle which allows an image on the image display 18 to be clearly visible to the user. The person who is a photographer pivots the imaging unit 2 with a left hand 52 so that the lens assembly 4 points towards the intended object to be photographed. The thumb of the right hand 54 can easily press the power switch 17 and the zoom button 16. The imaging unit 2 is rotated along an axis Y as illustrated in FIG. 3. Additionally, the flash unit 12 rotates in synchronism with the rotation of the imaging unit 2, at least over a predefined or predetermined range of motion.

[0045] FIG. 4 illustrates a shaft 8 to which the flash unit 12 which includes the light emitting unit 12bis mounted. At one end of the shaft 8 is a first connecting shaft 8awhich is cylindrical in shape and is fixed with respect to the imaging unit 2. The first connecting shaft 8a may be directly connected to the imaging unit 2 or alternatively, is connected to the imaging unit 2 through an intermediate element. In this embodiment, the shaft 8 is mounted at a top-front portion of the camera body 3, although other embodiments permit the shaft 8 to be mounted at other positions. The light sensor 13 and the flash unit 12 are both mounted to the first connecting shaft 8aand therefore, the position of the light sensor 13 faces in the same direction as the flash unit 12.

[0046] Referring to the more detailed enlargement of the shaft 8 illustrated in FIG. 5, it is possible for the first and second connecting shafts 8aand 8bto rotate relative to one another. However, over a range of rotation, it is preferably that the first and second shafts 8aand 8brotate as a unit. Thus, in FIG. 5, a left portion of the first shaft 8ainternally contains a small diameter step portion which engages with a locking step portion at the right side of the second shaft 8b. Such a construction allows the first and second shafts 8aand 8bto rotate together in a collinear fashion but also allows them to disengage from each other. Other mechanisms may be used to assist in the collinear rotation such as a detent mechanism which engages with a protrusion, a spring or a plurality of springs, or any other desired mechanism.

[0047] An additional manner of causing the first and second shafts 8aand 8bto rotate together is through the use of a first plate or leaf spring 22aand a second plate or leaf spring 22bwhich are mounted to a spring holder 20 which is fixed to the first shaft 8a. The first and second plate springs 22aand 22bare spaced apart at a predetermined distance in a cantilever fashion. Between the first and second plate springs 22aand 22bis a pin 21 which is rigidly attached to the second shaft 8b. When the imaging unit 2 is pivoted, the first shaft 8ais rotated which causes rotation of the first and second plate springs 22aand 22b, one of which pushes the pin 21 in order to cause rotation of the second shaft 8b. The second shaft 8brotates with the first shaft 8auntil the pin 21 contacts a first or second stopper 23 or 24 which are fixed with respect to the camera body 3. The first and second stoppers 23 and 24 are preferably spaced apart from the second shaft 8bso that the plate springs 22aand 22bdo not contact the stoppers 23 and 24 but only the pin 21 contacts the stoppers 23 and 24. Alternatively, the stoppers 23 and 24 may contact the plate springs 22aand 22b.

[0048] In FIG. 5, the stoppers 23 and 24 are arranged such that the flash unit 12 can cover at least 90 degrees; that is, the flash can face horizontally with respect to the camera body 3 and be tilted back to a position where it is directly upward from the camera body 3. It is also possible for the flash unit 12 to move through a greater or lesser range than 90 degrees. For example, it is possible for the flash to be aimed downward, it is also possible to construct the camera so that the flash can be tilted directly backwards in order to have a self-portrait image capturing mode which utilizes the flash.

[0049] A feature of the invention is having the camera automatically turn on due to a rotation of the imaging unit 2 from a position where the imaging unit 2 is aimed upwardly with respect to the camera body 3 and thus aligned with the camera body 3. One manner of implementing such a switch which turns on the camera due to movement of the imaging unit 2 is to place an electrical contact 40 on the second shaft 8b(or 8a), as illustrated in FIG. 5. Movement of the second shaft 8bcauses the electrical contact 40 either to move out of contact with a corresponding contact on the camera body 3, or to move into contact with a corresponding contact on the camera body 3. Alternative switches may be implemented such as mechanical, optical, or other types of electrical switches. Since the digital camera 1 is switched to the on state by pivoting the imaging unit 2, the photographer can quickly record an image simply by arranging the camera to an in-use position, thus reducing the possibility of a missed photographic opportunity. In addition to turning on the camera by pivoting the imaging unit 2, the camera may additionally be turned on by pressing the power switch 17. If the camera has a self-portrait mode, returning the camera to the position in which the imaging unit 2 is aimed upwardly preferably does not turn off the camera because the imaging unit 2 must pass through a position where it is aimed upwardly in order to go from the conventional mode of taking pictures when the lens assembly 4 is facing forward to the self-portrait position. However, if there is no self-portrait mode, the camera may be turned off by returning the imaging unit 2 to face upwardly. Further, the electrical contact 40 or a different electrical contact or switch may be utilized to sense that the camera is in a self-portrait mode in order to flip the captured and displayed image upside-down so that the actual image captured in the self-portrait mode will be right-side up. Additionally, the camera 1 includes a timer which turns the camera 1 off after a period of inactivity.

[0050] FIG. 6 illustrates the angular ranges of movement of the first and second shafts 8a and 8b. Between positions a and b (in the range B), the first shaft 8amoves the same amount as the second shaft 8bmoves as the pin 21 moves in an unrestricted manner due to the force from the springs 22aand 22b(and also due to the internal step portion, detent mechanism, or other mechanism used to keep 8aand 8btogether). The flash at position a is facing approximately horizontal and the flash at position b is facing approximately vertical. On the left side of FIG. 6, the pin 21 hits the first stopper 23 at position a which prevents the first shaft 8afrom further movement downward while the imaging unit 204 continues to move downward. The position where the imaging unit 2 moves downward is between positions c and a (in the range A) of FIG. 6. Alternatively, on the right side of FIG. 6 in the range C between the points b and d, the pin 21 contacts the second stopper 24 which prevents rotation of the second shaft 8bfrom further backward rotation. In FIG. 6, the range D is approximately 90 degrees, the range A is approximately 30 degrees, and the range C is approximately 120 degrees making the total amount which the imaging unit 2 can be moved equal to 240 degrees with the range of movement of the second shaft 8band flash unit 12 being approximately 90 degrees. As an alternative to the previously recited angular ranges, other exemplary angular ranges include range A equal to 45 degrees, range B equal to 90 degrees, and range C equal to 150 degrees. The range of the flash may be any desired range and may face backwards at least 10 or 20 degrees from a vertical position. Additionally, it may be preferable to have the flash stop backward movement after it reaches a vertical direction at which time the imaging unit 2 also faces in a vertical direction. However, the stated ranges are merely exemplary and for this particular embodiment and if desired, the flash unit 12 can have a larger range of motion and be permitted to face downwardly or backwards. If the flash is not permitted to face backwards, for example, in the self-portrait mode, a switch such as a switch using the electrical contact 40 may be utilized to automatically turn off the flash unit 12 when in a self-portrait mode as the flash does not have the range to go into a self-portrait mode. However, if the flash has a larger range of motion, the flash can be used in the self-portrait mode.

[0051] FIG. 7A illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which the shaft which connects the imaging unit 2 to the camera body 3 is not disposed at the top or upper portion of the camera body 3 but is disposed at the lower portion of the camera 3. Alternatively, the shaft 8 may also be disposed in the middle portion of the camera body 3. By having the shaft 8 at the lower portion of the camera body 3, the axis of rotation of the imaging unit 2 is at an end portion of the imaging unit 2. Alternatively, if the shaft 8 is at a middle portion of the camera body 3, the axis of rotation of the imaging unit 2 is at a middle portion of the imaging unit 2.

[0052] The mechanism within the camera body 3 which moves the flash unit 12 is preferably arranged not to take a large amount of space within the camera body 3 or to divide the camera body 3 into different regions. If a zoom lens were placed in the middle of the camera body 3, the camera body 3 would be divided into different regions or spaces, thus making it difficult to design the circuitry on one circuit board. If desired, a large circuit board can be used within the camera of the present invention such as the circuit board 19aillustrated in FIGS. 2C and 2D. Of course, the present invention allows for the use of more than one circuit board such as the additional circuit board 19billustrated in FIG. 2C. Thus, the present invention provides enhanced space utilization in the camera body 3 as the mechanism which moves the flash unit 12 is preferably arranged in a space efficient manner.

[0053] By lowering the position of the shaft 8, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, it may be possible to more easily change the camera angle without taking an unnatural hand position which causes hand twisting and shaking of the camera body 3 due to rising up and down or lateral motion of the hand during camera pivoting. A lower position of the shaft 8 permits a more natural hand position to be achieved which results in more comfort to the user and a more stable holding of the camera which results in better pictures.

[0054] FIG. 7B is a front view of the digital camera 1 showing in phantom outline a series of gears connecting the imaging unit 204 to the flash unit 12 within the camera body 3. A shaft 8cconnects the imaging unit 2 to the camera body 3 and is connected to a gear 8d. The gear 8dmeshes with gear 24 which meshes with gear 25 which meshes with gear 26 which meshes with gear 27 which meshes with gear 28 which meshes with gear 29c. Gear 29cis connected to the first connecting shaft 8aof the shaft 8. Each of the gears 8c, 24-28 and 29cis rotatably supported by a corresponding shaft. The gear 8cand the gear 29chave the same number of gear teeth and the gears 24-28 also have the same number of gear teeth. Alternatively, the intermediate gears 24-28 may have different numbers of teeth and if desired, the gears 29cand 8chave different numbers of teeth. In order for the light emitting unit 12bto rotate in a same direction as the imaging unit 2, the number of gears (or axes of rotations of the gears) which are used by the system is preferably odd, although an even number of gears (or axes of rotations of the gears) could be used with an appropriate design.

[0055] The drive range of the rotating components of the digital camera 1 is illustrated in FIG. 8. The camera body 3 is illustrated in a cross-section form using a solid outline and the imaging unit 2 is illustrated in phantom form using a broken line. As the camera of FIG. 8 uses a mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 5, over the range B, the lens assembly 4 is aimed in the same direction as the light emitting unit 12b. Thus, when the lens assembly 4 is aimed in the direction of the vector a, the light emitting unit 12bis aimed in the direction of the vector e. When the imaging unit 2 is rotated so that the lens assembly 4 moves through the range B from the direction a to the direction b which is facing upwardly, the light emitting unit 12balso moves through the range B until the light emitting unit 12bfaces upwardly in the direction f. As the camera utilized in FIG. 8 has a mechanism such as the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 5, when the pin 21 hits the stopper 23 and the flash unit 12bcannot rotate downwardly passed the direction e, the light emitting unit remains in the direction of e while the lens assembly 4 within the imaging unit 2 rotates through the range A from the direction a through c. Similarly, when the imaging unit 2 is rotated backwards, once the pin 21 hits the stopper 24, the light emitting 12bremains facing upwardly in the direction f while the imaging unit 2 is permitted to rotate from the direction b to the direction d through the range C. In FIG. 8, the range X between c and d is a range which the imaging unit 2 cannot face. The ranges illustrated in FIG. 8 correspond to the ranges A, B, and C of FIG. 6. It is to be noted that the ranges A, B, C, and X are merely exemplary and any desired ranges can be used. For example, the light emitting unit 12bmay be aimed downwardly, and also backwards, if desired. Further, the range X can be made narrower or eliminated, if desired.

[0056] FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative manner of transmitting the rotating movement from the shaft 8cconnecting the imaging unit 2 to the camera body 3 to the first connecting shaft 8a. A timing belt 30 has a cogged face 30a. These cogs mesh with the grooves of the gear 29dconnected to the first connecting shaft 8a. The bottom portion of the timing belt 30 is wrapped around the gear 8dconnected to the shaft 8cwhich connects the imaging unit 2 to the camera body 3. As an alternative, the timing belt may be used in addition to a plurality of gears. For example, if desired, the timing belt may be wrapped around a gear which is connected to the gear 25 illustrated in FIG. 8. Alternatively, the timing belt may include a half twist and wrap around a gear connected to the gear 24 illustrated in FIG. 8A. Alternatively, any other desired manner of using a timing belt and/or gears to rotatably couple the light emitting unit 12bwith the imaging unit 2 may be utilized.

[0057] The previous embodiments of this invention were described, for example, using the springs 22aand 22balong with the pin 21 and stoppers 23 and 24, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 9. However, the present invention does not require the use of such springs. For example, the shaft 8 illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 9 may be constructed as one piece or in pieces which do not move with respect to each other and therefore, the light emitting unit 12band the imaging unit 2 will be directly connected to each other and/or unitary. In FIG. 4, the light emitting unit 12bis not directly connected to the imaging unit 2 because of the first connecting shaft 8awhich is connected to the second connecting shaft 8bwhich holds the light emitting unit 12b. However, the invention can be constructed without using the mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 9 but may still allow the light emitting unit 12bto rotate with the imaging unit 2 over a limited range of rotation of the imaging unit 2 and to allow the light emitting unit 12bto remain stationary during a predetermined range of motion of the imaging unit 2. In FIG. 10, a gear 98 which is connected to the imaging unit 2 through the shaft 8cmeshes with a gear mechanism 100. The gear mechanism 100 also meshes with a gear 96 which is connected to the light emitting unit 12b. When the gear 96 rotates, the light emitting unit 12bpreferably rotates in the same amount. The gear mechanism 100 allows the light emitting unit 12bto remain stationary over a range of rotation due to relative movement occurring between a larger gear 110 and a smaller gear 130.

[0058] FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of the gear mechanism 100. The gear mechanism 100 includes the larger gear 110 which is referred to as an outer gear and the smaller gear 30 is referred to as an inner gear. Both gears preferably share the same axis of rotation. The outer gear 110 is connected to the inner gear 130 by a spring 140. The spring 140 connects to the inner gear at an indentation 137 in a ring 136 of the inner gear 130 and the spring 140 connects to the outer gear 110 at a first stop or stopping element 116a. Further features of the gear mechanism 100 are explained below with respect to FIGS. 12-15.

[0059] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the gear mechanism 100 taken along line JJ illustrated in FIG. 11. The gears 110 and 130 are preferably made of the same material such as resin or plastic, although metal or any desired material may be used. In FIG. 12, the outer gear 110 has cross hatching in an upper left to a lower right direction whereas the inner gear 130 has cross hatching in a lower left to upper right direction. The outer gear 110 includes a hub 120 around which the inner gear 130 rotates. The hub 120 of the outer gear 110 includes a first stop 116aand a second stop 116bwhich limits the range of motion of the inner gear 130 with respect to the outer gear 110 due to contact with a tab 138 (not illustrated in FIG. 12) of the inner gear 130. The stop 116aincludes a separated section 118 which allows the spring 140 to be held between the hub 120 and the first stop 116a. The first and second stops 116aand 116balso prevent the inner gear 130 from separating from the outer gear 110. The outer gear 110 includes gear teeth 112 and the inner gear 130 includes the gear teeth 132. The inner gear 130 also includes a ring 136 which serves as a mounting point for the spring 140, as illustrated in FIG. 11, and also serves to contain the spring 140.

[0060] FIG. 13 illustrates the outer gear 110 without the inner gear 130 or spring 140 mounted thereto. As seen in FIG. 13, the outer gear 110 includes the gear teeth 112, a hole 114, the first and second stops 116aand 116b, and the hub 120. The hole 114 is not a necessary element in this embodiment and may be omitted. However, the hole 114 may be utilized for alignment during the process of assembling the gear mechanism and may also be helpful in positioning the gear mechanism 100 during installation into the camera body 3.

[0061] FIG. 14 illustrates the inner gear 130. The inner gear 130 includes the gear teeth 132, a first hole 134aand a second hole 134b.The first and second holes 134aand 134breceive the first and second stops 116aand 116bduring assembly of the gear mechanism 100. Once the stops 116aand 116bare respectively pushed through the holes 134aand 134band the first and second gears are rotated with respect to each other, the inner gear 130 cannot be separated from the outer gear 110 because the inner gear 130 contacts the stops 116aand 116bas illustrated in FIG. 12. A large circular hole 135 at the center of the inner gear 130 receives the hub 120 of the outer gear 110 and gives the inner and outer gears 130 and 110 the same axis of rotation. As explained above, the ring 136 contains the spring 140 therein and includes an indentation 137 to which the spring 140 is mounted. Additionally, the inner gear 130 includes the tab 138 which limits the range of relative rotation between the inner and outer gears 130 and 110.

[0062] FIG. 15 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the camera body 3 including the gear mechanism 100. When the imaging unit 2 is rotated downwardly, the gear 98 rotates in a clockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 15. The outer gear 110 meshes with the inner gear 98 causing the gear mechanism 100 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. Because the first stop 116aof the outer gear 110 contacts the tab 138 of the inner gear 130, the inner gear 130 also rotates in a counter-clockwise direction and thus causes the gear 96 to rotate in a clockwise manner and rotate the light emitting unit 12bdownwardly, as illustrated in FIG. 15.

[0063] When the imaging unit 2 is rotated backwards or in a counter-clockwise direction and the light emitting unit 12bis facing upward and/or can no longer rotate any further in a counter-clockwise direction due to a stop or limiting device, the outer gear 110 continues to rotate in a clockwise direction but the inner gear 130 is fixed. Thus, the spring 140 extends due to rotation of the stop 116ato which the spring is connected.

[0064] The double gear mechanism 100 does not have to be located in the position illustrated in FIG. 10 but may be substituted in place of gears 96 or 98 with a regular gear such as gear 98 being substituted in place for the gear mechanism 100 at the position illustrated in FIG. 10. Further, the general structure of the mechanism 100 including two members such as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 can be used with any of the illustrated embodiments and may be constructed with or without gear teeth. For example, in place of the plate springs 22aand 22billustrated in FIG. 5 and any other mechanism used with FIG. 5, the mechanism 100 may be used to rotatably connect the first shaft 8awith the second shaft 8bby disposing the mechanism 100 between 8aand 8bor alternatively inside of 8aand/or 8b. The mechanism 100 can also be used with any of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 7A-9, or in any other embodiment. With such an arrangement, one of the devices such as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 would be fixed to the first connecting shaft 8aand the other of the devices illustrating FIGS. 13 and 14 is connected to the second shaft 8b. Thus, over a first predetermined range, 8aand 8bwould rotate with each other whereas once the light emitting unit 12breached a point at which it could no longer move, the portion of the mechanism 100 connected to 8awould rotate with 8awhereas the portion of the mechanism 100 connected to 8bwould be fixed and not rotate as the light emitting unit 12bwould be fixed. The mechanism 100 could also be used with a belt and in the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 9. Further, the different features from the various embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other in order to have still further embodiments and variations.

[0065] While this invention is particularly applicable to a thin camera with a shallow depth such as that illustrated in the figures, the invention is also applicable to any shaped digital camera including cameras which are short in height. Variations and modifications of the above described features may be utilized without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, although the preferred implementation of the image display 18 is a liquid crystal display, the display may be implemented in any other manner including an array of miniature light emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes would substantially increase the contrast of the display as compared to a liquid crystal display because of the self-emitting feature and because light emitting diodes can be easily constructed without a back-light source.

[0066] In place of or in conjunction with the above-described mechanisms which allow relative movement during certain ranges and a fixing of the rotational movements of the first and second shafts 8aand 8b, a clutch mechanism may be utilized to connected the first and second shafts 8aand 8b. Based on the pivot angle of the imaging unit 2, the clutch mechanism may be switched between a coupled state and a decoupled state. Alternatively, the light emitting unit 12bmay be driven by a motor such as a stepping motor using a drive unit, based on an electric signal and a sensed position of the imaging unit 2. With this arrangement, there is an electrical connection between the imaging unit 2 and the light emitting unit 12b. Further, an end cam covering the pivotal angular range of the light emitting unit 12bmay be used so that the clutch mechanism decouples the first and second shafts 8aand 8bwhen a pivotal angular range is exceeded.

[0067] Although the flash window 12ais arranged on the front of the camera body 3 and is described as covering an angular range of approximately 90°, the flash window 12amay be widened in its area of angular coverage in order to illuminate behind the camera body 3, thus widening the range of the flash coverage to 180° or more. If the range of coverage of the light emitting unit 12bis increased, the present invention may be used with a digital camera having a flash which also operates in a self-portrait mode and additionally, the use of a mechanism which decouples the first and second shafts 8aand 8bmay be eliminated so that the light emitting unit 12balways points to a position at which the lens assembly 4 of the imaging unit 2 is aimed.

[0068] The width of the beam from the light emitting unit 12bcomplies with the focal length at the wide-angle end of the lens assembly 4 regardless of the zoom driving by the lens assembly 4. However, the strength of the flash may be increased by detecting the amount of zoom utilized by the lens assembly 4 and controlling the flash beam width from the light emitting unit 12bbased on the focal length of the lens assembly 4.

[0069] Although the image opening 7 has on its front no barrier that is closed when the camera is not in use, if desired the present invention may be implemented with such a barrier, such as a lens cap or automatic cover, if desired. Although the imaging opening 7 arranged on the front of the lens assembly 4 is designed to look upward in its unused or retracted position, other designs are acceptable including a design in which the imaging opening 7 looks downward in its retracted or unused position. With this arrangement, no foreign matter or dust collects on the surface of the imaging opening 7 or lens assembly 4 when the digital camera 1 is left in a dusty or dirty environment over a period of time. Further, the first lens 4ais protected from fingerprints, smudgings, and markings which result from inadvertent touching.

[0070] The design of the present invention allows the use of a zoom lens in a thin camera and reduces the risk of damaging the zoom lens by allowing the zoom lens to be positioned such that the shape of the body of the camera corresponds to the shape of the zoom lens contained within an imaging unit connected to the camera body. Thus, even if the number of lens elements is increased and the zoom lens becomes large in size such as sometimes occurs using a multi-focus lens or a zoom lens, there is no requirement to increase the depth of the digital camera and the lens is not projected in front of or behind the camera body during storage. This allows the digital camera to conveniently be carried and reduces the chances of the lens from hitting something and becoming damaged.

[0071] By arranging the light emitting unit 12bon the camera body 3 instead of the imaging unit 2, a red-eye phenomenon which results from the use of a flash is reduced as compared to when the flash is located next to the lens.

[0072] When the imaging unit 2 pivots about the camera body 3 at a lower portion of the camera body 3, the fulcrum of the joint or pivot between the camera body 3 and imaging unit 2 comes near the wrist joint of the photographer, which allows a smooth and easy motion of relative movement between the imaging unit 2 and the camera body 3. Thus, the hand holding the imaging unit 2 is free from upward and downward and lateral movement, and the base unit is able to be held steady and free from shaking. Further, by arranging the camera as described, the mechanism which moves the light emitting unit 12bdoes not divide the space interior to the camera body 3 into two sections which results in a digital camera having an efficient space utilization and allows for easier assembly of the camera.

[0073] The above-described embodiments utilize a rotation of the flash to change an aiming direction thereof. However, the direction in which the flash is aimed may be changed in other manners including sliding the light emitting unit 12bin or along a grave or track.

[0074] Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.