JP3359155B2 - 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, and more particularly, to a camera capable of displaying a setting state of a plurality of camera functions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A so-called custom function in which a photographer selects and uses a setting state from functions having at least a first setting state and a plurality of setting states prepared in a camera in advance. There is a concept.

[0003] For example, when rewinding a film, it refers to a function that allows the user to select a state setting such as whether to wind the entire film into the patrone or to leave the leader portion of the film outside the patrone.

If the photographed film is to be taken out to a lab for development, it is convenient to wrap the entire film in a patrone, and if the film is to be developed on its own, it is better to leave the leader section. It is convenient for processing.

[0005] As described above, it is easier to use the camera if the setting state provided in a certain function can be selected and used depending on the situation, and the more the number of functions can be set, the more finely the setting can be made. So convenient.

[0006]

However, in the above-described conventional example, even if the custom function is set by the photographer, the user forgets which number of the plurality of prepared custom functions is set to which state. There were many things that would happen. In such a case, it is necessary to call each custom function for checking the setting state and display it on an external monitor such as a liquid crystal display to confirm the setting, which has a disadvantage that the operation becomes complicated. Was.

Further, the liquid crystal display itself displays various kinds of information. In order to be able to simultaneously display the setting states of all the custom functions, it is necessary to increase the number of segments and enlarge the liquid crystal display. was there.
However, an increase in the number of segments leads to an increase in circuit load, and an increase in the size of the display has a drawback in that it leads to an increase in cost and design problems.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described drawbacks, and has as its object to provide a camera capable of clearly displaying the setting states of all custom functions.

[0009]

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, a camera function setting means for sequentially calling functions of a plurality of cameras , the camera function setting means, the setting means therefore against the called camera function,
A condition setting means like can be arbitrarily set any one of the setting state of the multiple, therefore called the camera function setting means
A first display unit display the camera function was, displaying the first
A second display unit for displaying a setting state of the camera function displayed on the unit, and a second display unit for sequentially corresponding to each of the plurality of camera functions.
Consists of multiple dot segments, each dot segment
And a third display unit for displaying all setting states of the plurality of camera functions according to the lighting state of the camera .

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a camera, 1 is a camera body, 2 is a power switch, and 3 is a liquid crystal display which is an external monitor, and displays various information including exposure information. Reference numeral 4 denotes a release button, which performs photometry and automatic focus detection by pressing the first stroke, and opens / closes, that is, exposes, the shutter by pressing the second stroke. 5
Is a so-called custom function which is prepared in the camera and can be used by selecting and using a function having at least a plurality of setting states of a first setting state and a second setting state. Is a setting button for
The custom function can be set in the mode that can be set by pressing twice. The custom function is sequentially called by pressing twice or more. Reference numeral 6 denotes an information input dial for inputting a shutter time and an aperture value, or for setting one of a plurality of setting states in parallel with the setting button 5. Reference numeral 7 denotes a rewind button for forcibly rewinding the film loaded in the camera.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the liquid crystal display 3 shown in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 8 denotes a display for displaying shutter time, reference numeral 9 denotes a display for displaying an aperture value, and reference numeral 10 denotes the number of frames or remaining frames of the film. It is a frame counter display unit showing a number.
Reference numeral 11 denotes an exposure scale for indicating a deviation of a control exposure value from a reference exposure value. Reference numeral 12 denotes an exposure step number display unit for displaying an exposure deviation amount using dots in correspondence with the exposure scale 11. The other display portions without reference numerals are for displaying various other camera modes and information, but are not directly related to the present invention, and therefore description thereof is omitted. Next, the display of the custom function (s) will be described with reference to FIG. The seven-segment display shutter time display unit 8 displays, by number, the identification of a plurality of custom functions that have been called and settable. "CF-
If "1" is displayed, the custom function 1
If the number is displayed as "CF-2", it indicates that the custom function number 2 has been called and can be set. The aperture value display unit 9 of the seven-segment display system displays whether the custom function is in the initial setting state of the camera, that is, in the first setting state, or is changed, that is, in the second setting state. ing.

In the first setting state, "0" is displayed in the seven-segment display, and in the second setting state, "1" is displayed in the seven-segment display.

The exposure step number display section 12 displays all the custom functions prepared for the camera in the first place.
Is displayed, whether the function is set to the first setting state, the dot segment of the rank corresponding to the number is turned off, and the function set to the first setting state is turned off. In the function set to the setting state of 2, the dot segment of the order corresponding to the number is lit or blinked.

For example, custom functions 1 to 9
In the case where nine types of custom functions are provided in total, the first, second, and ninth are set to the second setting state, and the rest are set to the first setting state. Are the first and second from the left.
The ninth and ninth light or blink, and the other segments are turned off.

Next, the numbers of custom functions and their functions will be described with reference to Table 1.

[0025]

[Table 1]

First, the first custom function is:
Automatically rewinds the film after the specified number of shots,
This function is used to select whether to perform the operation by operating the rewind button.
When the first state is set, the film is automatically rewound when the photographing for the specified number of images is completed. When set to the second state, automatic rewinding is not performed even when shooting for the specified number of images is completed. Therefore, at this time, the rewind button 7
Operation to rewind at any time.

The custom function No. 2 is that when the film is rewound, the whole film is wound into the patrone,
It is a function to select whether to leave the leader part outside the patrone and wind it. When set to the first state, the entire film is wound into the cartridge, and when set to the second state, rewinding is controlled with the leader section left.

The description of the custom function numbers 3 and 4 is omitted. This function changes the custom function number 5 and the set time of the self-timer. When set to the first state, the self-timer is set to 10 seconds, and when set to the second state, the self-timer is set to 2 seconds. Custom function number 6,
The description of Nos. 7 and 8 is omitted.

The custom function number 9 is a function for selecting whether to automatically set the ISO sensitivity of the film by reading the DX code of the cartridge or to set manually regardless of the DX code. When set to the first setting state, the ISO sensitivity is automatically set, and when set to the second setting state, the automatic setting is not performed. Therefore, an arbitrary ISO sensitivity can be set manually. still,
As for the custom function number for which the description is omitted, a function capable of setting one state from among a plurality of setting states is assigned as described above.

FIG. 4 shows an electric circuit of the camera shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, COM is a microcomputer for controlling the camera, and SW1 is a first button of the release button 4.
SW2 is a photometry / AF start switch that is turned on by a stroke to start photometry and AF operation. SW2 is turned on by a second stroke of the release button 4, and is an exposure start switch for activating a shutter to perform exposure. SW3 is a custom camera. A custom function call switch that is turned on when the function setting button 5 is pressed and turned off when the pressing is stopped, switches to the custom function setting mode with the first press, and repeatedly calls the custom function with the second and subsequent presses The switch to perform.

SW4 is a rewind switch for turning on the film by pressing the rewind button 7 and forcibly rewinding the film loaded in the camera. BATT is the camera power battery, B
The ATT SW is a power switch that is turned on / off by operating the power switch 2 of the camera. DL is a pulse generator that generates a click pulse by rotating the dial 7 of the camera, and DLC is a dial counter that counts the pulses of the pulse generator DL and outputs it to the microcomputer COM.

SHD is a shutter drive circuit which drives the shutter device SH in accordance with a command from the microcomputer COM. MD is a circuit for controlling a motor M for feeding the film, that is, winding, rewinding, and charging the shutter. LCD is a display drive circuit for driving the liquid crystal display 3 for displaying various information of the camera, and LC is a liquid crystal display corresponding to the liquid crystal display 3. AFC is a focus detection circuit, which A / D converts an output from a line sensor CCD mounted on a focus detection device (not shown) and outputs the result to a microcomputer COM. The AEC converts the output obtained from the photometric element SPC mounted on a photometric device (not shown) to A
This is a photometric circuit that performs / D conversion and outputs the result to the microcomputer COM.

LEN indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure is an electric circuit on the photographing lens side (not shown), which is connected to the electric circuit on the camera side, communicates with the microcomputer COM on the camera side, and performs focusing. Lens drive control is performed based on the output of the detection circuit AFC, and aperture control is performed based on the output of the photometry circuit AEC.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart for setting a custom function.

A flowchart for setting a custom function will be described with reference to FIG.

Step 1: When the power switch BATT SW is turned on when the power of the camera is turned on, the camera is in an input waiting state, that is, a standby state, and the custom function call switch SW
When the first ON of No. 3 is detected, the process proceeds to Step 2.

Step 2: The camera switches to the custom function setting mode and proceeds to step 3.

Step 3: The contents of the liquid crystal display 3 are changed from normal information display (shutter time, aperture value, frame counter, exposure scale, etc.) to custom function setting status display (called number and setting status and all custom settings). Function setting state) and proceeds to step 4.

Step 4: When the custom function call switch SW3 is turned on (for the second and subsequent times), the process proceeds to step 5. If SW3 is not turned on, the process proceeds to step 6.

Step 5: Call the next custom function sequentially with respect to the currently called custom function and proceed to step 6.

Step 6: When the dial 6 is operated and the click pulse is counted by the dial counter, the process proceeds to step 7, and when the dial 6 is not operated, the process proceeds to step 8.

Step 7: The setting state of the currently called custom function is changed. In this embodiment, since two setting states (first setting state and second setting state) are prepared, the setting state is changed when the click pulse from the dial is an odd number, and is changed when the click pulse from the dial is an even number. Proceeds to step 8 while maintaining the original setting state.

Step 8: Photometry / AF start switch SW
1 is turned on, the process proceeds to step 9, where the switch SW
If 1 is not turned on, the process returns to step 4.

Step 9: The camera is released from the custom function setting mode, switches to the normal photographing mode, and proceeds to step 10.

Step 10: The liquid crystal display 3 switches from the custom function setting status display to the normal information display, and the setting of the custom function is completed.

Next, a method of setting a custom function will be described.

First, turn on the power switch 2 of the camera,
When the function setting button 5 is turned on, the camera switches from the normal shooting state to the custom function setting mode, and the display of the shutter time display section 7 of the liquid crystal display 3 is switched to the called custom function number, The aperture value display section 9 switches the display to “0” or “1” in the 7-segment display. At the same time, the dot segments of the exposure step number display section 12 are switched to a display indicating whether the state is the first state or the second state for all the custom function numbers.

Now, when it is desired to change the custom function No. 5 from the first state to the second state, first, it is checked whether the fifth dot segment of the exposure step number display section 12 is off or on. As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the light is turned off. Therefore, the pressing of the function setting button 5 is repeated, and the shutter time display 7 is displayed.
“CF-5” is displayed in the segment display, and the custom function No. 5 can be set. At this time, since the aperture value display section 9 displays "0" in the 7-segment display, the dial 6 is rotated left or right by one click to switch to the display of "1". Then, the fifth dot segment of the exposure step number display section 12, which has been turned off until now, is turned on, as shown in FIG. 3B. This confirms that the state has been switched to the second setting state.

When the user wants to end the operation, when the first stroke of the release button is pressed, the user exits the custom function setting mode and returns to the normal photographing state.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, the crop
Call one of the camera functions
Other camera functions that have not been recalled by operation
You can check the status. Also, in the exposure step number display section
Others not called using one dot segment
You can check the setting status of the camera function of
There is no need to install any parts, making the camera more compact.
You.

[0052]

[0053]

[0054]

[0055]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external top view of a camera showing an embodiment of the camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an entire display state of a liquid crystal display of the camera in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a display state of a custom function.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a setting operation of a custom function.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera body 2 ... Power switch 3 ... Liquid crystal display 4 ... Release button 5 ... Setting button 6 ... Information input dial 7 ... Rewind button 8 ... Display part which shows shutter time 9 ... Display part which shows an aperture value 10 ... Frame counter display section 11 Exposure scale 12 Exposure step number display section

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03B 17/18 G03B ^7/ 00-7/28

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A and sequentially calling turtle <br/> la function setting member functions of a plurality of cameras, thus referred to the camera function setting means
Against out camera function, a condition setting means like can be arbitrarily set any one of the setting state of the multiple, thus called camera function to the camera function setting means
A first display unit table Shimesuru, a second display unit for displaying a setting state of the displayed camera function on the display unit of the first plurality of de corresponding to order each of the plurality of camera features
Consists of dot segments, and the lighting state of each dot segment
A third display unit that displays all setting states of the plurality of camera functions depending on the state. 2. The dot segment has an exposure step number display section.
2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera is also used.