JP2526967B2 - Camera operation control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an operation control device for a camera, and more particularly to a device for performing continuous shooting by changing a focusing position.

B. Conventional technology and its problems In a conventional camera, the photographing lens is driven to a focusing position that is desired to be based on the distance information to the object, and normally, it is 1
Since the photographing is performed only once, if the focusing position of the photographing lens is determined based on the distance information of the subject that the photographer does not intend, a defocused photograph will be photographed. For example, when shooting a person with a camera that focuses on a subject located in the center of the screen, face the center of the screen toward the chest for the sake of composition, even though you want to focus on the face of the subject. In some cases, there is no choice but to accurately focus on the face.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, so-called focus lock shooting in which the camera 20 is aimed at the position indicated by the broken line to perform focus lock so as to focus on the main subject 10 and then the focus is taken toward the position indicated by the solid line In that case, the subject is always focused by the point d in the figure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an operation control device for a camera that enables continuous shooting at different focusing positions and that can obtain a photograph in which at least one desired subject is in focus.

C. Means for Solving Problems Explaining with reference to FIG. 1 which is a diagram corresponding to claims, the operation control device for a camera according to the present invention is a detecting means for obtaining focus detection information for focusing driving of the taking lens LE.
101, driving means 102 for driving the taking lens LE for focusing, mode setting means 103 for setting a continuous shooting mode for performing continuous shooting at least twice or more, and based on at least focus detection information when the continuous shooting mode is set. The lens driving signal is sent to the driving means 102 so as to drive the taking lens LE to the first focusing position and the second focusing position which is separated from the first focusing position by a preset distance. The control means 104 for outputting is provided to solve the above problems.

D. Action The control means 106, when the continuous shooting mode is set, at least the first focusing position based on the distance information from the distance information detecting means 101 and the second focusing position separated from the first focusing position by a predetermined distance set in advance. The shooting lens LE is driven to the focusing position and shooting is performed. Therefore, a photograph in which at least one desired subject is in focus can be obtained.

E. Embodiment-First Embodiment-The first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

In FIG. 2, a CPU 1 is connected to a photometric circuit 2 and a distance measuring circuit 3 for calculating and outputting photometric information on the brightness of the subject 10. The distance measuring circuit 3 includes a projector 4 that emits light toward the subject 10 and a light receiving element 5 that receives the reflected light from the subject 10. Based on a detection signal from the light receiving element 5, the distance measuring circuit 3 measures the distance to the subject. Distance information (focus detection information)
Is calculated and output to CPU1. Here, the CPU 1 stores a table that associates the distance measurement information with the focusing position of the taking lens. That is, the distance measurement information from infinity (∞) to the closest distance (N) is set to the number of steps 1 to 3 for each predetermined distance.
It is divided into R steps corresponding to R, and each step has a one-to-one correspondence with a focusing position. This step is called an AF step here, and the number of AF steps 1 to R is represented by the letter K.

Further, the CPU 1 is connected with a motor drive circuit 6 of a focusing motor 8 for driving a taking lens (not shown) to a focusing position, an exposure control circuit 7, and switches SW1, SW2 which are interlocked with the operation of a release button (not shown). . Switch SW1 turns on when the release button is pressed halfway, and switch SW2
Is turned on when fully pressed. The CPU1 activates the photometry circuit 2 and the distance measurement circuit 3 by turning on the switch SW1, and the switch SW1
In response to a release signal output when the switch 2 is turned on, the photographing lens is driven to a predetermined focusing position by the motor 8 via the motor drive circuit 6, and the exposure control circuit 7 is driven based on the exposure calculation information such as photometric information. A shutter device or the like is driven through the camera to take an image.

Further, the display circuit 9 and the AF bracketing switch SW3 are connected to the CPU 1. This switch SW3
Is turned on in conjunction with the operation of the AF bracketing button (not shown), and the CPU1 sets the continuous shooting mode in which continuous shooting is performed by turning on the switch SW3, and a display to that effect is displayed in the viewfinder via the display circuit 9. To do.

Here, in the present embodiment, when this continuous shooting mode is set, the focusing position (first focusing position) corresponding to the AF step (K = X) based on the distance measurement information from the distance measurement circuit 3 and its position. AF step before and after (K = X
Focusing position corresponding to + 1, K = X-1) (second
The continuous shooting is performed at each focusing position). That is, in the present embodiment, the three-frame continuous shooting will be described. Note that continuous shooting of two frames or continuous shooting of four or more frames may be performed.

In the configuration of the above embodiment, the distance measuring circuit 3 is the detecting means.
Motor driving circuit 6 and motor 8 drive 101
Switch SW3 and CPU1 set the mode setting means 103 to CP
U1 constitutes the control means 104, respectively.

Next, a control procedure performed in the CPU 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the half-push switch SW1 is turned on, this program is started. First, in step S1, the photometric information from the photometric circuit 2 is read, and in step S2, the ranging information from the distance measuring circuit 3 is read. Next, in step S3, it is determined whether or not the continuous shooting mode is set, that is, whether or not the switch SW3 is turned on. If the determination is negative, step S5
When the determination is affirmative, the continuous shooting mode is displayed in the viewfinder through the display circuit 9 in step S4, and then the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, it is determined whether or not the full-press switch SW2 is turned on. If an affirmative decision is made, the operation proceeds to step S6.
It is determined whether or not is on. If step S15 is positive, the process returns to step S5, and if negative, the process ends.

In step S6, it is determined whether or not the continuous shooting mode is set, and if an affirmative determination is made, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the count value n indicating the number of times of photographing is set to zero. Next, in step S8, the AF step number K is calculated by K = X-1 + n using the AF step number X based on the distance measurement information read in step S2, and in step S9, the motor 8 is output via the motor drive circuit 6. The taking lens is driven to the focusing position corresponding to the AF step number K obtained by. Next, in step S10, the exposure control member is driven by the exposure control circuit to perform photographing, and in step S11, one frame of film is wound up and the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, 1 is added to the count value n of the number of shots, and the process proceeds to step S13. Step S
In 13, it is determined whether or not n ≧ 3, and if a negative determination is made, the process returns to step S8, and thereafter, photographing is continuously performed twice in the same procedure. Three
When the frame sequential shooting ends, step S13 is affirmed, and step S
At 14, the photographing lens is driven to the reset position and the processing is ended.

On the other hand, if step S6 is denied, the process proceeds to step S16, the AF step number K is set to a value X based on the distance measurement information read in step S2, and the photographing lens is driven to the focusing position corresponding to this in step S17. After that, shooting is performed in step S19. Then in step S19, 1 film
Wind the pieces and proceed to step S14.

According to the above procedure, the AF steps (K = X) based on the distance measurement information from the distance measurement circuit 3 and the AF steps (K = X + 1, K = X-1) before and after the AF steps are summed at the respective focusing positions. Since the photographing is carried out three times, at least one photograph in which the desired subject is in focus can be obtained.

Further, FIG. 4 shows a modification in which continuous shooting can be interrupted.

In FIG. 4, if step S5 is positive,
In step S31, the AF step number K is set to the value X based on the distance measurement information read in step S2, and in step S3
In step 2, the photographing lens is driven to the corresponding focusing position, and in steps S33 and 34 thereafter, photographing and film winding are performed. Next, in step S35, it is determined whether or not the continuous shooting mode is set. If the result is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S36, and if the result is negative, the taking lens is driven to the reset position in step S45, and the process ends.

In step S36, the count value n of the number of captured images is set to 1, and then in step S37, it is determined whether or not the full-press switch SW2 is on. If a negative decision is made, the operation proceeds to step S38, and it is decided whether or not the halfway press switch SW1 is on. Step S38
Is denied, the process proceeds to step S45, and if affirmed, the process returns to step S37.

If the result at step S37 is affirmative, at step S39, the AF step number K is calculated by K = X-2 + n, and then the taking lens is driven to the focusing position corresponding to the AF step number K calculated at step S40, and then step S41. , 42, filming and film winding are performed, and the process proceeds to step S43. Step S
At 43, it is determined whether or not n = 3. If affirmative, the routine proceeds to step S45, and if negative, then n = 3 is set at step S44 and the routine proceeds to step S37.

According to the above procedure, in the continuous shooting mode, first at the focusing position corresponding to the AF step (K = X) based on the distance measurement information, and then at the AF steps (K = X) before and after the focusing position.
Continuous shooting is performed in the order of +1, K = X-1). If the full-press switch SW2 is turned off during continuous shooting, shooting is stopped.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in the continuous photographing mode, after photographing is performed in step S10, the photographing lens may be driven to the reset position in step S50 each time.

-Second Embodiment- A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 6.

In FIG. 2, CPU 1 has a switch SW for designating the number of shots.
4 (operating member) is connected. This switch SW4 is
When the switch SW4 is turned on a predetermined number of times in the continuous shooting mode, the number of shots corresponding to the number of shots is set in association with the operation of an unillustrated number-of-shots designation button. The number of images to be photographed can be an odd number of 3 or more.

Next, the control procedure of the CPU 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The same steps as those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 6, when it is determined in step S3 that the continuous shooting mode is set, the switch SW4 is set in step S51.
The number of shots A input by is set, and the process proceeds to step S4. After the processing of steps S4 to S7 similar to the above, step S5
In 2 Then, the AF step number K is calculated, and the photographing lens is driven to the focusing position corresponding to the AF step in step S9.

Next, after performing steps S10 to S12 similar to the above, in step S53, it is determined whether or not n> A-1, that is, whether or not continuous shooting of the designated number of images is completed, and an affirmative determination is made. If so, in step S14 the photographing lens is driven to the reset position to end the post-processing, and if a negative determination is made, the processing returns to step S52 and the processing in step S52 and thereafter is repeated.

According to the above procedure, by specifying the number of shots A, the focusing position (first focusing position) corresponding to the AF step (K = X) based on the distance measurement information and the step of the predetermined number of images before and after the focusing position are respectively corresponded. The continuous shooting is performed at the focusing position (second focusing position). For example, when A = 3, 5, 7, continuous shooting is performed at the focusing position corresponding to the number of AF steps shown in the following table.

Next, a modified example in the case of performing focus lock photography will be described with reference to FIG. The same steps as those in FIGS. 3 and 6 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 7, after reading the distance measurement information in step S2, it is determined in step S61 whether or not focus lock photography is performed, that is, whether or not the photography screen is changed.
For this, for example, the distance measurement processing is performed a plurality of times, and if the distance measurement information at that time has changed, it is determined that the shooting screen has been changed. If step S61 is negative, the process proceeds to step S3, and if affirmative, step S62 displays a message indicating that focus lock shooting is performed in the viewfinder, and then the process proceeds to step S3. Then, the processing of steps S3, S51, S4 to S6 is performed, and step S
At 63, it is again determined whether or not focus lock photography is being performed. If an affirmative determination is made, n = 0 is set in step S64, the AF step number K is calculated by K = X + n in step S65, and the AF is calculated in step S66.
The taking lens is driven to the focusing position corresponding to the step. Next, shooting and film winding are performed in steps S67 and S68, 1 is added to n in step S69, and the process proceeds to step S70. In step S70, it is determined whether or not n> A-1, that is, whether or not the continuous shooting of the designated number of images is completed. If the result is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S14, and if the result is no, the process returns to step S65. If step S63 is denied instead of focus lock shooting, steps S7, S52, S9 to S12, S5
Process 3 sequentially.

According to the above procedure, during focus lock shooting, continuous shooting is performed at the focusing position corresponding to the AF step (K = X) based on the distance measurement information and the focusing position corresponding to the previous AF step. For example, A
= 5, continuous shooting is sequentially performed at the focusing positions corresponding to the AF steps of K = X, X + 1, X + 2, X + 3, X + 4. Therefore, in focus lock photography, the rear focus is always achieved as described with reference to FIG. 8. Therefore, by moving the focusing position to the short distance side, at least one photograph in which the desired subject is in focus can be obtained.

Although a compact camera that obtains distance information by an active distance measuring method has been described above, the present invention can be applied to a single-lens reflex camera that obtains distance information from the amount of image plane deviation on the film surface.

F. Effect of the Invention According to the present invention, at the time of setting the continuous shooting mode, at least the first focusing position based on the focus detection information and the second focusing position separated from the first focusing position by a preset distance. Since the photographing lens is driven to perform photographing, at least one photograph in which a desired subject is in focus can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to claims. 2 and 3 show the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a camera operation control device according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure, and FIGS. Is a flowchart showing a modified example of the processing. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a processing procedure showing the second embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a modification thereof. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a focus position at the time of focus lock photography. 1: CPU, 3: Distance measuring circuit 6: Motor drive circuit, 7: Exposure control circuit 8: Motor 101: Distance information detection means 102: Driving means 103: Mode setting means 104: Control means SW1 to SW4: Switch LE: Shooting lens

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP 62-269938 (JP, A) JP 62-133412 (JP, A) JP 57-146242 (JP, A)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A detection means for obtaining focus detection information for driving a photographing lens to focus, a driving means for driving the photographing lens for focusing, and a mode for setting a continuous photographing mode for performing continuous photographing at least twice or more. Setting means, and at the time of setting the continuous shooting mode, at least the first focusing position based on the focus detection information and the shooting lens at a second focusing position separated from the first focusing position by a predetermined distance set in advance. An operation control device for a camera, comprising: a control unit that outputs a lens drive signal to the drive unit so as to be driven to perform photographing at each position. 2. The control means respectively drives the photographing lens to the first focusing position and to a focusing position which is separated from the first focusing position by a predetermined distance in the front-rear direction at the time of photographing each frame in the continuous photographing. The operation control device for a camera according to claim 1, wherein 3. The operation control device for a camera according to claim 1, further comprising an operation member for designating the number of images to be taken for the continuous shooting. 4. The control means, when focus-lock photography is performed when the continuous photography mode is set, the first focusing position and the first focusing position when photographing each frame in the continuous photography. The operation control device for a camera according to claim 1, wherein each of the photographing lenses is driven to a focusing position closer to the camera than the other.