JP3099463B2 - camera - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera which determines whether or not a predetermined switch is operated when a main switch is turned on, and sets a function according to the predetermined switch operation state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional camera, for example, a so-called AF camera having an auto focus (hereinafter, referred to as AF) function, a shutter button is pressed halfway to set an A.
The F operation is performed. However, if the image of the object in a predetermined detection area for AF operation is of low contrast, run the focusing optical system of the taking lens
Inspect (scan) to find a subject with contrast. As a result, a more accurate autofocus operation can be performed.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional AF camera, the scanning operation is always performed when the contrast of the subject image in the detection area for the AF operation is low. In the case of a lens having a large end-to-end movement amount, the reciprocating movement of the focusing optical system may take a long time, and it is not possible to take a picture quickly. In addition, there is a disadvantage that the scanning operation is always performed even if the user does not want to perform such a scanning operation. An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional camera,
Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to change the functions of the camera by, for example, prohibiting the scanning operation by a simple operation, and to set the camera functions suitable for the photographer's intention and the shooting environment.

[0004]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the camera can be operated in a first state and a second state. In the first state, the operation power of the camera is turned off. And a camera provided with a first operation member such as a main switch whose operation power is turned on in response to an operation from the first state to the second state, wherein the second operation member is The first operation member is operated from the first state to the second state to turn on the operating power.
An operation state of the second operation member is detected, and a function of the camera is different depending on whether the second operation member is operated or not.

Further, a timer for automatically turning off the operation power of the camera when the operation power of the camera is on for a predetermined time when the first operation member is in the second state. And a third operating member for operating after the operation power of the camera is automatically turned off based on the timer and turning on the operation power of the camera again, and operating the second operation member. The function of the camera when the first operation member is operated from the first state to the second state to turn on the operation power of the camera while or after the operation, and the first operation member In the state of 2, the function of the camera when the operation power of the camera is turned on again by operating the third operation member after the operation power of the camera is automatically turned off based on the timer is the same. It is convenient That.

Further, for example, the second operating member is a focus lock button, and the operating power is turned on by operating the first operating member from the first state to the second state while operating the focus lock button. In this case, the so-called scanning operation in the AF operation is prohibited, and the operation power is turned on by operating the first operating member from the first state to the second state in a state where the focus lock button is not operated. In such a case, the configuration may be such that the scanning operation is not prohibited.

Further, the third operating member may be a half-press switch interlocked with a shutter button of a camera.

[0008]

In the above configuration, the first operation member such as a main switch of the camera is operated from the first state to the second state to operate the second operation member when the operating power is turned on. The state is detected, and the function of the camera is changed according to the operation state of the second operation member. Therefore, for example, the function of the camera can be easily changed depending on whether a specific button is operated when the main switch is turned on. For example, when the main switch is turned on, the scanning operation in the AF operation may be prohibited or not prohibited depending on whether a specific button, for example, a focus lock button is operated.

When the first operation member is in the second state, the operation power of the camera is automatically turned off by the timer in response to the operation power of the camera being on for a predetermined time. In this case, the operation power of the camera can be turned on again by operating the third operation member, for example, the half-press switch of the camera. Also in this case, the function state of the camera set according to the operation state of the second operation member when the first operation member is operated from the first state to the second state is maintained. You. Therefore, a camera that is extremely easy to use can be realized without the function state once selected disappearing every time the power of the camera is turned off.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an electric circuit portion of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. The circuit shown in the figure includes a power supply 1, a main switch or main power switch 3, a half-press switch 5, a focus lock switch 7, a microcomputer 9, a dimming circuit 11, a display circuit 13
, A focus detection circuit 15, an AF motor drive circuit 17, and the like.

The half-press switch 5 is a switch that is turned on by, for example, half-pressing a shutter button of a camera. The focus lock switch 7 is normally
This switch is used to fix and maintain the focus adjustment state set by the operation. In the present invention, this focus lock switch is also used to inhibit the scanning operation during the AF operation described later. The photometric circuit 11
It detects the brightness of the subject. The display circuit 13
For example, it has a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like, and displays, for example, shutter speed, aperture value, film frame number, and other information. The focus detection circuit 15 detects, for example, a focus state or a defocus amount of a subject image. The AF motor drive circuit 17 drives the motor 19 based on the information on the focus state detected by the focus detection circuit 15 and the like to move the focus optical system to perform the AF operation. These photometric circuit 11, display circuit 13, focus detection circuit 15, and AF motor drive circuit 1
Reference numeral 7 and the like are interconnected with the microcomputer 9 through a port group 21 of the microcomputer 9.

A circuit including transistors Q1 and Q2 and resistors R5, R6, and R7 includes a photometric circuit 11, a display circuit 13, a focus detection circuit 15, and an AF motor drive circuit 1.
And a power supply control circuit for turning on / off the power supply of the power supply 7.

In the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 1, a power supply 1 is directly connected to a power supply terminal of the microcomputer 9. Therefore, the microcomputer 9 is always supplied with power. However, when the camera is operating, the frequency of the operation clock is, for example, 8 MHz, and when the camera is not operating, the frequency is, for example, 32 KHz, so that the low power consumption operation mode can be set. Therefore, when the camera is not operating, the operating current of usually several tens mA is reduced to several tens μA to prevent battery consumption.

The microcomputer 9 is provided with two interrupt terminals INT1 and INT2 that operate at the falling edge of the signal so that the camera can be activated from the non-operation state to the operation state. One of these interrupt terminals INT2 has a resistor R3 at one end and a power supply V.
It is connected to the half-press switch 5 pulled up to cc. Another interrupt terminal INT1 is a parallel circuit of a resistor R2 and a diode D1 connected to a power supply Vcc, and a capacitor C
Is connected to the connection point. The other terminal of the capacitor C is connected to a movable terminal (common terminal) of the main switch 3. The movable terminal of the main switch 3 can be switched and connected to a position A where the main switch is off and a position A where it is on. The movable terminal of the main switch 3 is connected to the port P3 of the microcomputer 9 and is connected so that the level of the terminal can be detected.
The contact A of the main switch is connected to the power supply via the resistor R1, and the contact A of the main switch 3 is grounded.

One end of the focus lock switch 7 is connected to a power supply via a resistor R4 and to the port P2 of the microcomputer 9 so that the state of the focus lock switch 7 can be read. Other contacts of the focus lock switch 7 are grounded. Also, a transistor Q constituting the power supply control circuit
1 is connected to a microcomputer 9 via a resistor R5.
Port P1. The transistor Q1 is connected to the base of the transistor Q2 via the resistor R7,
The on / off control of the transistor Q2 is performed.

In the circuit configuration as described above, the microcomputer 9 outputs a low level "L" to the port P1 when not operating. Therefore, transistor Q1
And Q2 are both cut off, and the photometric circuit 11,
Power is not supplied to the display circuit 13, the focus detection circuit 15, and the AF motor drive circuit 17. The operation clock of the microcomputer 9 itself is also 32 KHz, and the microcomputer 9 is in the low power consumption mode.

In this state, the microcomputer 9 is in a standby state for detecting only a falling interrupt signal to the interrupt terminal INT1 or INT2.
The operation of activating the camera from the standby state and the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the main switch is turned on from the position A to the position A, a differential pulse is generated and applied to the interrupt terminal INT1 of the microcomputer 9 by the capacitor C and the resistor R2. As a result, the microcomputer 9 is interrupted.

That is, in FIG. 2, step # 1
Indicates that an interrupt is generated by the interrupt terminal INT1 when the main switch 3 is turned on, that is, when the main switch 3 is operated to the side A. In response to this interrupt, in step # 2, the microcomputer 9 sets its operation clock to 32 (not shown).
The clock of the KHz oscillation circuit is switched to the clock of the 8 MHz oscillation circuit to release the low power consumption mode, and transition to a normal operation state.

Next, in step # 3, the port P1
High level "H" is output to turn on the transistor Q1, and the base potential of the transistor Q2 is lowered to turn on the transistor Q2. As a result, the photometric circuit 11, display circuit 13, focus detection circuit 15, and A
Power is supplied to the F motor drive circuit 17.

Next, in step # 4, the port P2
The state of the focus lock switch 7 is read.
Then, in step # 5, it is determined whether or not the focus lock switch is on. If the focus lock switch 7 is on, step # 6
At a, the scan prohibition flag is set, and if the focus lock switch is not turned on, the scan prohibition flag is cleared or reset at step # 6b.

Next, in step # 7, the power holding timer is reset. The power holding timer is constituted by, for example, a time counter of the microcomputer 9, and when a predetermined time, for example, 16 seconds, elapses, the operation power is turned off and the microcomputer 9 is shifted to a standby state.

Next, in step # 8, the photometric circuit 1
The exposure condition is determined according to the luminance of the subject by calculating the photometric value from 1. In step # 9, the focus detection circuit 15 is driven to detect the focus adjustment state of the subject image with respect to the image, and to obtain focus detection information by calculation. In step # 11, predetermined display information is sent to the display circuit 13 in accordance with the photometric state information and the focus adjustment state information obtained in steps # 9 and # 10, respectively.

Next, in step # 11, the level of the interrupt terminal INT2 is checked to determine whether the half-press switch 5 is on. If the half-press switch 5 has not been turned on, the process proceeds to step # 17 without driving the AF. On the other hand, if the half-press switch 5 is on, the process proceeds to step # 12.

In step # 12, it is determined whether or not the result of the focus detection calculation performed in step # 9 indicates that the contrast of the subject image is low, that is, indicates low contrast. If the contrast is not low, in Step # 13, the above-described Step #
A signal is sent to the AF motor drive circuit 17 in accordance with the defocus amount obtained by the focus detection calculation in 9 and the motor 19 is driven to perform focus adjustment. In contrast,
If it is determined in step # 12 that the contrast is low, it is determined in step # 14 whether the scan prohibition flag is set. if,
If the scan prohibition flag has not been set, in step # 15, the motor 19 is driven by the AF motor drive circuit 17 to perform a scan operation of scanning the focusing optical system and searching for a subject image with contrast. Proceed to step # 16.

In step # 16, since the half-press switch 5 is on as described above, the power holding timer is reset to "0", and the routine proceeds to step # 17.
Then, in step # 17, it is determined whether or not the power holding timer has counted up a predetermined time. If the predetermined time has not been reached, step # 18
If the power holding timer has reached the predetermined time,
Go to step # 19.

In step # 19, "L" is output to the port P1 and the transistors Q1 and Q2 are cut off, so that the photometry circuit 11, the display circuit 13, the focus detection circuit 15, and the AF motor drive circuit 17 Turn off the power. Next, in step # 20, the operation clock frequency is switched to 32 KHz, and the microcomputer 9 itself is set to the low power consumption mode.
At 21 the processing routine is exited. Step # 21
When exiting this routine, the state of the scan inhibition flag is stored in the memory of the microcomputer 9, and this state information is held even when the microcomputer 9 is in the low power consumption mode.

If it is determined in step # 17 that the power holding timer has not timed out, the process proceeds to step # 18. In step # 18, the main switch 3 is in the ON position from the state of the port P3. It is determined whether or not the level of the port P3 is low. If the main switch 3 is in the ON position, the process proceeds to step # 8,
The subsequent processing is repeatedly executed in the same manner as described above. If the main switch 3 is in the off position, the process proceeds to step # 19, and the camera is set to the standby state. That is, as described above, the power of the photometry circuit 11, the display circuit 13, the focus detection circuit 15, and the AF motor drive circuit 17 is turned off, and the microcomputer 9 is set to the low power consumption mode.

Next, when the microcomputer 9 is in the standby state and the half-press switch 5 is turned on, the processing is started from step # 101. In this case, first, in step # 102, the main switch 3
Is turned on, that is, whether the port P3 is grounded. If the main switch 3 has not been turned on, the process proceeds to step # 21, and the process ends.

If the main switch 3 is turned on in step # 102, the microcomputer 9 releases the low power consumption mode in step # 103, that is, the operation clock is changed from 32 KHz to 8 MHz.
Switch to Then, in step # 104, "H" is output to the port P1, and the photometric circuit 1 is output as described above.
1. Power is supplied to the display circuit 13, the focus detection circuit 15, and the AF motor drive circuit 17. And step #
Then, the process proceeds to step # 7. In this case, since the set / reset of the scan prohibition flag is not particularly performed, the function related to the scan prohibition before the standby state is continued. That is, in step # 14 performed later, it is determined whether or not the scan prohibition flag is set. If set, scanning is not performed, and if not, scanning is performed in step # 15.

In the above description, when the power switch is turned on, the state of the focus lock switch is detected, and whether or not scanning is inhibited is controlled according to the state of the focus lock switch. Is not particularly limited to the scan prohibiting function, and can be similarly applied to other functions. For example, when the power switch is turned on, switching between a focus mode such as an auto focus mode and a manual focus mode can be performed according to a setting state of some switch.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the function of the camera is changed depending on whether or not a specific button is operated when the main switch is turned on. When the power is turned off after the power timer expires at the position, the function set by the operation of the specific button is maintained even when the power is started by operating another button, for example, half-pressing the shutter button. . Therefore, the functions possessed by the camera can be changed with a simple operation, and the selected function does not disappear every time the power is turned off, so that an extremely convenient camera can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing performed by a microcomputer in the circuit of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power supply 3 Main switch 5 Half-press switch 7 Focus lock switch 9 Microcomputer 11 Photometry circuit 13 Display circuit 15 Focus detection circuit 17 AF motor drive circuit 19 Lens drive motor 21 Port group Q1, Q2 Transistors R1, R2, ..., R7 Resistance D1 Diode C Capacitor

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03B 17/02 G02B 7/28 G03B 7/26 G03B 13/36

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] The camera is operable between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the operation power of the camera is turned off, and when the camera is operated from the first state to the second state. A camera provided with a first operation member for turning on the operation power of the camera in response to the first operation member;
The operation power was turned on by operating from the state of the above to the second state .
Detecting an operation state of the second operating member when, in the case in which the operation member of the second non-operation as if it is operated, a camera which is characterized in that made different camera features. 2. The operation power supply of the camera is automatically turned off in response to the operation power supply of the camera being on for a predetermined time when the first operation member is in the second state. And a third operating member for operating after the operation power of the camera is automatically turned off based on the timer to turn on the operation power of the camera again, wherein the second operation member A function of the camera when the first operation member is operated from the first state to the second state to turn on the operation power of the camera while or after the operation of the first operation member, and then the first operation member Is the same as the function of the camera when the operation power of the camera is turned on again by operating the third operation member after the operation power of the camera is automatically turned off based on the timer in the second state. A contract characterized by being The camera according to claim 1. 3. The second operation member is a focus lock button, and operates the first operation member from the first state to the second state while operating the focus lock button to supply an operating power. When turned on, the so-called scanning operation in the AF operation is prohibited, and the operation power is turned on by operating the first operating member from the first state to the second state in a state where the focus lock button is not operated. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the scanning operation is not prohibited when the setting is made. 4. The camera according to claim 2, wherein the third operation member is a half-press switch that is linked with a shutter button of the camera.