Digital camera with moveable image pickup device

Abstract

A digital camera which includes: a photographic lens movable along an optical axis thereof between a retracted position and a photographing position in front of the retracted position; an image pick-up device on which an object image is formed through the photographic lens, the image pick-up device being guided to be movable between a first position where the image pick-up device is positioned in a photographic optical path of the photographic lens behind the photographic lens and a second position where the image pick-up device is positioned out of the photographic optical path; and a mechanism for moving the image pick-up device between the first position and the second position, wherein the moving mechanism moves the image pick-up device to the first position when the photographic lens is moved from the retracted position to the photographing position, and wherein the moving mechanism moves the image pick-up device to the second position when the photographic lens is moved from the photographing position to the retracted position

1. A digital camera comprising:
 a photographic lens movable along an optical axis thereof between a retracted position and a photographing position in front of said retracted position;    image pick-up device on which an object image is formed through said photographic lens, said image pick-up device being guided to be movable between a first position where said image pick-up device is positioned in a photographic optical path of said photographic lens behind said photographic lens and a second position where said image pick-up device is positioned out of said lens optical path; and    a mechanism for moving said image pick-up device between said first position and said second position, wherein said moving mechanism moves said image pick-up device to said first position when said photographic lens is moved from said retracted position to said photographing position, and wherein said moving mechanism moves said image pick-up device to said second position when said photographic lens is moved from said photographing position to said retracted position.    
     
     
       2. The digital camera according to  claim 1 , wherein said image pick-up device is guided in a direction perpendicular to said optical axis. 
     
     
       3. The digital camera according to  claim 1 , wherein said moving mechanism moves said image pick-up device from said first position to said second position before said photographic lens reaches said retracted position. 
     
     
       4. The digital camera according to  claim 3 , wherein a rear end of said photographic lens moves into a space previously occupied by said image pick-up device when said photographic lens moves from said photographing position to L 1  said retracted position. 
     
     
       5. The digital camera according to  claim 1 , wherein said moving mechanism comprises a support plate to which the image pick-up device is secured, said support plate being pivoted about a shaft secured to a body of said digital camera so that said image pick-up device is movable between said first position and said second position. 
     
     
       6. The digital camera according to  claim 5 , wherein said shaft extends parallel to said optical axis. 
     
     
       7. The digital camera according to  claim 1 , wherein said photographic lens comprises:
 a lens barrel movable along said optical axis between said retracted position and said photographing position; and    a photographic optical system comprising a front lens group and a rear lens group, at least said rear lens group being supported by said movable lens barrel;    wherein said moving mechanism further comprises an interlocking mechanism, provided between said image pick-up device and said movable lens barrel, for moving said image pick-up device between said first position and said second position in association with the movement of said movable lens barrel between said photographing position and said retracted position.    
     
     
       8. The digital camera according to  claim 5 , wherein said moving mechanism further comprises a spring for continuously urging said support plate in a direction to move said image pick-up device to said first position. 
     
     
       9. The digital camera according to  claim 5 , wherein said photographic lens is a motor-driven zoom lens, said moving mechanism further comprises:
 a cam plate guided in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, said cam plate being moved in association with the movement of said photographic lens; and    an interlocking mechanism, provided between said image pick-up device and said cam plate, for moving said image pick-up device between said first position and said second position in association with the movement of said cam plate.    
     
     
       10. The digital camera according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a zoom finder which varies a magnification thereof in association of the variation of a focal length of said photographic lens, said zoom finder comprising at least one movable lens group having a follower,    wherein said cam plate comprises a cam slot in which said follower is fitted.    
     
     
       11. The digital camera according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a strobe which varies an angle of illumination thereof in association of said variation of said focal length of said photographic lens, said strobe comprising a movable light emitting unit having a second follower,    wherein said cam plate comprises a second cam slot in which said second follower is fitted.    
     
     
       12. The digital camera according to  claim 7 , wherein said moving mechanism further comprises a support plate to which the image pick-up device is secured, said support plate being pivoted about a shaft secured to a body of said digital camera so that said image pick-up device is movable between said first position and said second position,
 wherein said interlocking mechanism comprises: 
 a link bar pivoted about a shaft secured to said camera body, one end of said link bar having a follower, the other end of said link bar engaging with said support plate; and  
 a cam groove formed on said movable lens barrel, said follower being fitted in said cam groove.  
   
     
     
       13. A digital camera having a retractable photographic lens, comprising:
 an image pick-up device on which an object image is focused through said lens photographic; and    a mechanism for positioning said image pick-up in a photographic optical path of said photographic lens behind said photographic lens when a power switch of said digital camera is turned ON, and for positioning said image pick-up device out of said photographic optical path when said power switch is turned OFF.    
     
     
       14. A method for operating a camera having a barrel and a plurality of optical elements, the method comprising:
   moving the barrel along an optical axis between and including a plurality of photographic positions and at least one position in which no photograph can be taken;        positioning all of the optical elements along the optical axis when the barrel is in all of the plurality of photographic positions; and        positioning at least one optical element of the plurality of optical elements out of the optical axis and at least another optical element of the plurality of optical elements along the optical axis, such that at least a portion of the at least one optical element and at least a portion of the at least another optical element are located along a common plane which is generally perpendicular to the optical axis, when the barrel is in the at least one position in which no photograph can be taken.     
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one optical element is an image pick- up device.   
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the image pick- up device is a charge - coupled device.   
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 14  wherein the plurality of optical elements includes at least one lens and an image pick- up device.   
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the image pick- up device is a charge - coupled device.   
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of optical elements includes an image pick- up device and a plurality of lenses.   
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the image pick- up device is a charge - coupled device.   
     
     
       21. The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising moving a finder in association with movement of the barrel within the plurality of photographic positions. 
     
     
       22. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of photographic positions comprises a zoom range. 
     
     
       23. A method for operating a camera having a barrel and a plurality of imaging elements, the method comprising:
   moving the barrel along an optical axis between and including a plurality of photographic positions and at least one position in which no photograph can be taken;        positioning all of the imaging elements along the optical axis when the barrel is in all of the plurality of photographic positions; and        positioning at least one imaging element of the plurality of imaging elements out of the optical axis and at least another imaging element of the plurality of imaging elements along the optical axis, such that at least a portion of the at least one imaging element and at least a portion of the at least another imaging element are located along a common plane which is generally perpendicular to the optical axis, when the barrel is in the at least one position in which no photograph can be taken.     
     
     
       24. The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the at least one imaging element is an image pick- up device.   
     
     
       25. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the image pick- up device is a charge - coupled device.   
     
     
       26. The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of imaging elements includes at least one lens and an image pick- up device.   
     
     
       27. The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the image pick- up device is a charge - coupled device.   
     
     
       28. The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of imaging elements includes an image pick- up device and a plurality of lenses.    
     
     
       29. The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the image pick- up device is a charge - coupled device.   
     
     
       30. The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising moving a finder in association with movement of the barrel within the plurality of photographic positions. 
     
     
       31. The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of photographic positions comprises a zoom range.