JP3206931B2 - Zoom autofocus 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 zoom autofocus camera, and more particularly to a zoom autofocus camera having improved zooming and autofocus functions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional zoom-type autofocus camera, a release key (button) of a two-stage operation is provided on a camera body. When the first-stage release key is pressed, photometry (AE) and distance measurement (AF) are performed. After the operation and the focusing operation are performed and the composition is determined, the shutter is released by pressing the second release key. Further, a zoom key is provided, and when the release key is pressed, the zoom key becomes inoperable.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of a conventional zoom-type autofocus camera.
In FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the first stage of the release key has been operated and the trigger for control has been turned ON, that is, the release key has been pressed down to the first stage to instruct autofocus (AF). It is determined whether there is a first-step recording trigger step (step S31), and if it is determined to be ON, the AF operation is started (step S3).
2) Then, it is determined whether or not the camera is in focus (step S33). Here, the trigger means, for example, a state corresponding to each press when the release key having the conventional two-stage configuration is in the first-stage and second-stage depression states. The first operation step (focusing by photometry and distance measurement) and the second operation step (shutter release operation) necessary for the operation steps required until subject recording (photographing) are each referred to as a recording trigger step. If the camera is not in focus, the process returns to step S31. If the camera is in focus, the release key for outputting an instruction to release the shutter is operated at the second stage, and the trigger at the second stage is ON ( It is determined whether or not it is in the second-stage recording trigger step) (step S34). If it is ON, a shooting operation is performed (step S
35) It is confirmed whether or not the release signal of the second-step trigger signal is OFF, and whether or not the first-step trigger is OFF (steps S36 and S37). .

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional zoom-type autofocus camera, when the release key is pressed, the zoom key is disabled. Therefore, it is not possible to cope with a slight focus movement after focusing once (for example, when focusing on a specific person and then performing a focusing operation on another nearby person). Sometimes escaped. In addition, when shooting a subject that is difficult to focus during normal shooting, a photo opportunity may be missed when out of focus. When it is difficult to focus in the macro mode,
The step-down release key must be pressed, which causes a problem in operability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a zoom-type autofocus camera that enables a zoom function to operate even when a release key is pressed, thereby greatly improving operability.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a zoom autofocus camera according to the present invention comprises:
A zoom autofocus camera having two recording trigger steps, a zoom operation means for performing a zoom operation, an autofocus means for performing an autofocus operation when performed in a first recording trigger step, When the operation of the zoom operation means is performed in the state of the first-stage recording trigger step, when the in-focus state is obtained by the auto-focus means, the operation corresponds to each operation of the zoom operation means. Control means for changing the focal length by a predetermined unit amount and controlling to perform a power focus operation corresponding to the operation time to the zoom operation means when the in-focus state cannot be obtained by the auto focus means. It is configured with.

[0007]

According to the present invention, when the in-focus state is obtained when the zoom operation means is operated in the state of the first-stage recording trigger step, the first operation to the zoom operation means is performed.
The focal length is changed by a predetermined unit amount in accordance with each operation, and if the in-focus state is not obtained, the power focus operation is performed in accordance with the operation time on the zoom operation means.

[0008]

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of a zoom autofocus camera according to the present invention. First
The CPU (Main CPU) 1 controls various operations in the zoom autofocus camera as a whole, and a second CPU (K
EY, LCD-CPU) 2 and third CPU (lens CPU) 6
Serial communication for exchanging data with the device. The second CPU 2 receives the backup by the backup circuit 5 and controls the display on a liquid crystal display (LCD) 3 for displaying the operation state of the zoom-type autofocus camera, as well as a release key (button), a shutter key, and a macro key. The key information from the key matrix 4 having a key section configuration is received and transmitted to the first CPU 1. Third C
The PU 6 receives zoom instruction information from the zoom key 7 and controls the driving of the zoom motor driver 9 by a motor control signal to perform a zoom operation, and outputs a motor control signal for auto focus control to the AF.
It is sent to the motor driver 10 to perform an autofocus operation. When the focusing operation is completed, the focusing display section 8 including an LED or the like emits light and displays the fact.

Next, the operation of this embodiment in the configuration of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the timing charts of FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation timing when the AF is not in focus is a first-stage trigger (signal) generated by pressing the first-stage release key of the key matrix 4 when the mode of the zoom key is the TELE or WIDE zoom operation. CPU
2, the second CPU 2 sends a pulse signal P indicating this to the first CPU 1. First CPU 1
Receives the signal P, determines that it is in the first-step recording trigger step, and sends a photometry command signal and a distance measurement command signal to the third CPU 6 to execute the photometry operation AE and the distance measurement operation AF. Then, the AF motor driver 10 is driven to determine the focus. In this case, since the image is not focused, an NG signal is generated. When the zoom key mode is switched and in the power focus mode, when the zoom key 7 is pressed, the zoom motor is driven for a time equal to the pressed times T1, T2, and T3 to perform the power focus operation.

On the other hand, at the time of AF focusing, as shown in FIG.
When the zoom function is activated, 1 by pressing the release key in the first step
Due to the generation of the first-stage trigger, the first C
The PU 1 causes the third CPU 6 to perform the focusing operation by performing the photometry AE and the ranging AF operation, and drives the AF motor driver 10 to determine the focusing. In this case, a focus completion (OK) signal is generated because the camera is in focus. Next, when the zoom key 7 is pressed, the zoom motor is driven for a fixed time T0 regardless of the pressing time, and for example, more than
A step-like focus operation for performing the focusing movement of m is performed.

FIG. 4 shows the above operation in a tabular form. In FIG. 4, during normal operation,
The zoom lens is TEL when the zoom TELE key is pressed
When the zoom lens moves in the E direction and the zoom WIDE key is pressed, the zoom lens moves in the WIDE direction. Further, in the state where the release button (key) is pressed, at the time of focusing, each time the zoom key is pressed, a focal point movement of tens of cm is performed in the TELE direction and the WIDE direction. At the time of out-of-focus, power focus operation is performed in the TELE direction and the WIDE direction for the zoom key pressing time. The operation processing procedure of the above embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5. First, it is determined whether or not the release key has triggered the first step (ON) (step S1), and the trigger is triggered. You have
The AF operation starts (step S2). Then, it is determined whether or not the camera is in focus (step S3). If the camera is in focus, it is determined whether or not the zoom key is ON (operation) (step S4). The second-step trigger of the release key is turned on in step S5
Is determined (that is, whether or not there is a shutter instruction). If the second-stage trigger is ON, a photographing operation is performed (step S6), and thereafter, the second-stage trigger is OFF (the release key has returned to the original state), and the first-stage trigger is OFF. Is confirmed (step S
7 and S8), if both are OFF, the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that the in-focus state is not established, it is determined whether the first-step trigger is not OFF (the release key has not been pressed).
If it is OFF, the process returns to step S1. Where 1
When the stage trigger is ON, the AF operation is canceled (step S10), and it is determined whether or not the zoom key is ON (pressed). If not, the process returns to step S9. If the zoom key is ON, step S1
In 2, zoom is TELE (T) or WIDE (W)
If the zoom key is ON, the telefocus power operation is performed (step S13). If it is determined in step S14 that the zoom key is ON, the process returns to step S12, and the zoom key is turned OFF. If it is determined that there is, the process proceeds to step S5. If it is determined in step S12 that the zoom is in the WIDE direction, steps S13 and S14
Similarly to the above, the WIDE direction power focus operation (step S15) and the zoom key OFF determination (step S1)
6) is performed.

When it is determined in step S4 that the zoom key is ON, the zoom is set to TELE.
Direction or WIDE direction (step S17), and T
In the case of the ELE direction, for example, after performing a one-step moving operation of moving the focal point in the TELE direction by more than ten cm,
It is confirmed that the zoom key is turned off (step S19). In step S19, the one-step moving operation of step S18 is performed until the zoom key is confirmed to be OFF. When the zoom key is OFF, the process proceeds to step S4. Similarly, when the determination in step S4 is in the zoom key WIDE direction, a one-step movement in the WIDE direction and confirmation of the zoom switch OFF are performed in steps S20 and S21. According to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to quickly release a shutter even for an object that is difficult to focus by AF and macro AF, and it is not necessary to repeatedly operate the release key. Also,
When you want to slightly move the focal point in the AF lock state,
It is possible to move without changing the holding.

[0014]

As described above, in the zoom autofocus camera according to the present invention, the in-focus state is obtained when the zoom operation means is operated in the first recording trigger step. Then, the focal length is changed by a predetermined unit amount in accordance with each operation on the zoom operation means, and if the in-focus state is not obtained, the power focus is adjusted in accordance with the operation time on the zoom operation means. Since it is configured to perform the operation, it can be performed without changing the holding when it is desired to slightly move the focal point after focusing in the AF, and the subject is difficult to focus in the AF and the macro AF. Can be taken quickly, and the repetitive operation to the release operation section is not required.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an operation timing chart when AF is not in focus in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an operation timing chart at the time of AF focusing in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a normal state and a release key O in the embodiment of FIG. 1;
It is a figure showing the zoom operation at the time of N.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a conventional zoom-type autofocus camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st CPU 2 2nd CPU 3 LCD 4 key matrix 5 backup circuit 6 3rd CPU 7 zoom key 8 LED 9 zoom motor driver 10 AF motor driver

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A zoom autofocus camera having two recording trigger steps, a zoom operation means for performing a zoom operation, and performing an autofocus operation when a first recording trigger step is performed. Auto-focusing means; and when the zoom operation means is operated in the state of the first-stage recording trigger step, when the in-focus state is obtained by the auto-focus means, each time the zoom operation means is operated. The focal length is changed by a predetermined unit amount in accordance with the operation of (1), and when the in-focus state cannot be obtained by the auto-focusing means, the power focus operation is performed in accordance with the operation time to the zoom operation means. A zoom autofocus camera, comprising: