JPH0723946B2 - A camera with the function of responding to old and new flash devices - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a camera for photography in which a conventional flash unit and a new flash unit improved from this flash unit can be mounted and used.

“Prior Art” Recent photography cameras are configured to give and receive a lot of information signals to and from a flash device, such as giving camera information to the flash device and inputting flash information from the flash device. There are many things.

In such a camera, since the camera information signal and the flash information signal both have a signal form and the number of signal lines that match the mechanism and function of the camera and the flash device, there is a flash device that can be mounted and used by the camera. Specified.

That is, the flash device that can be mounted and used for a camera and a camera model of a certain manufacturer is limited to a so-called dedicated flash device.

This type of camera switches to the flash photography mode by inputting a signal indicating that the flash device is ready to emit light when the flash device is charged to a flash-enabled state, and outputs a quench signal output when proper exposure is reached. Various operations in flash photography are automated, such as giving to a flash device to stop the flash.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] A major problem of the above-described conventional camera is that it is not compatible with the flash device because the flash device that can be mounted and used is specified.

For this reason, when a new camera is developed, it is necessary to develop a dedicated flash device that can be mounted and used in this camera.

In other words, every time a camera is developed, a dedicated flash device must be newly developed.

The dedicated flash unit developed together with the camera will surely become a highly convenient and automatically controlled flash unit with other functions, but on the other hand, if you purchase a newly developed camera, it will be a dedicated flash unit for this camera. The absurdity arises that flash photography cannot be performed unless a new device is purchased, and the flash device is newly developed, resulting in a high-cost product.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention has an object to develop a camera for photography in which a conventional flash device and a newly developed flash device can be mounted and used together.

Therefore, in the present invention, in a camera having an information processing means for supplying a camera information signal to a flash device and inputting the flash information signal from the flash device, a terminal X for outputting a trigger signal and a ready signal indicating a flash emission standby state are provided. A terminal R for inputting, a flash information signal such as aperture setting information before starting flash emission, and a terminal Q for outputting camera information signal such as quench signal after starting flash emission, distinguished by the number of pulses , A terminal C for outputting a control signal composed of the second and third pulses, and the terminals X,
Each terminal Xo, Ro, Qo, which can be electrically connected to each of R, Q, C
Whether or not a flash device having Co and operating in response to a control signal from the camera is attached is determined by the above terminal C.
If a discriminating means for discriminating based on the voltage change is provided, the information processing means outputs a serial clock signal from a terminal R when the discriminating means discriminates the mounting of the flash device which operates in response to a control signal. In addition, an operation mode in which the first pulse is output from the terminal C and the camera information signal is output from the terminal Q in synchronization with the serial clock signal, and the second pulse is output from the terminal C in synchronization with the serial clock signal. A camera is proposed which has a configuration in which an operation mode for inputting a flash information signal to the terminal Q and a transition to the flash light emission operation mode with the output of the third pulse from the terminal C are made.

[Operation] If the conventional flash device having no control terminal is attached to the camera according to the present invention, the control terminal C
Since the control terminal voltage is kept unchanged, the camera side discriminating means discriminates that the conventional flash device is mounted, and the camera information processing means operates corresponding to the conventional flash device. Switch to mode.

When a new flash device having the control terminal Co is installed, the control terminal C is electrically connected to the flash device, and the voltage of the control terminal C changes.

As a result, the discriminating means on the camera side discriminates that the new flash device is mounted, and the camera information processing means is shifted to the operation mode corresponding to the flash device.

After shifting to this operation mode, the camera information processing means outputs the serial clock signal from the terminal R, and the first, second, and third pulses are output from the control terminal C as control signals. The operation mode shifts to an operation mode in which an information signal is output from the terminal Q, an operation mode in which a flash information signal is input from the terminal Q, and a flash light emission operation mode.

[Examples] Next, examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a newly developed clip-on type flash device 10 and a camera 11 embodying the present invention.

On the mounting foot 13 provided on the outer bottom portion of the case body 12 of the flash device 10, the flash device side terminals Xo, Ro, Qo, which are provided with a projecting force by a spring, are newly provided by similarly providing a projecting force. The terminal Co is provided.

In the following description, the flash device 10 provided with such a terminal Co will be referred to simply as "flash device 10" or "second device".
Type of flash device 10 ".

In the hot shoe 14 of the camera 11, in addition to the camera side terminals X, R, Q corresponding to the terminals Xo, Ro, Qo, the camera side terminal C corresponding to the terminal Co is provided. By inserting it into 14, the terminals on the flash unit side are in contact with the terminals on the camera side.

In the following description, the camera 11 provided with such a terminal C is simply referred to as "camera 11" or "second type camera 1".
1 ”.

Also, the mounting foot 13 is a ground terminal Go other than the above-mentioned terminals.
It has a five-terminal configuration (not shown), and this ground terminal Go contacts the ground terminal G on the camera side.

These ground terminals Go and G have a known structure, for example, a structure in which a part of the hot shoe contacts a ground contact piece protruding from a part of the mounting foot 13.

The terminals Xo and X described above are connection terminals for transmitting a trigger signal generated in synchronization with the shutter operation from the camera 11 to the flash unit 10.

The terminals R and Ro are connection terminals for transmitting the serial clock signal from the camera 11 to the flash device 10, but the flash device 10 does not include the terminal C.
When it is attached to a "type camera"), it functions as a connection terminal for transmitting a signal (hereinafter referred to as "ready signal") indicating that preparation for light emission is completed from the flash device 10 to the first type camera.

Terminals QO and Q receive various serial signals such as a ready signal, an aperture information signal and a quench signal from the camera 11 and the flash unit 10.
It is a connection terminal for exchanging with.

Further, the terminals Co and C are used for transmitting a control signal from the camera 11 to the flash device 10 when the second type flash device 10 is attached, in addition to distinguishing the old and new types of the flash device and the camera to be connected. Is a connection terminal of.

FIG. 2 shows the input / output circuit section of the flash device 10 connected to the terminals Ro, Qo, and Co, and the terminals R, Q, and C described above.
In the figure, the input / output circuit section of the camera 11 connected to the camera 11 is shown in the figure. Shows.

As shown in the figure, the flash device 10 is provided with grounded-emitter transistors 16, 17, and 18 whose output is connected to a microcomputer 15, and a terminal Qo is connected via a resistor 19 to the base of the transistor 16 and a terminal Ro. The terminal Co is connected to the base of the transistor 17 via the resistor 20, and the terminal Co is connected to the base of the transistor 18 via the resistor 21.

And the bias resistance of these transistors 16, 17, 18
Of the transistors 22, 23, 24, the bias resistor 24 of the transistor 18 is a resistor having a small resistance value (for example, about 20 kΩ), and this resistor 24 forms a combined resistor with the resistor 21, and the flash device 10 is It works as a discrimination resistor for discriminating on the flash unit side whether it is attached to the 1st type camera or the 2nd type camera. This will be described later.

The output of the transistor 18 is inverted by an inverter 25 and used as an input signal for the microcomputer 15.

That is, a high voltage signal is input when the transistor 18 is turned on, and a low voltage signal is input when the transistor 18 is turned off.

Each of the grounded-emitter transistors 16, 17, and 18 forms a signal input path for receiving a camera information signal into the flash unit 10.

In addition, 2 which is base input from the microcomputer 15
Two transistors 26 and 27 are provided. The emitter of the transistor 26 is the base of the transistor 16 and the transistor 27
The emitters of are connected to the bases of the transistors 17, respectively.

These transistors 26 and 27 form a signal output path for outputting a flash information signal from the terminals Ro and Qo toward the camera 11 as an emitter follower.

The series circuit of the capacitor 28 and the resistor 29 is a time constant circuit that is powered by the battery power source 31 when the power switch 30 is turned on.
The emitter-grounded transistor 32, whose base is connected to this time constant circuit, is turned on for a short time.

These time constant circuit and transistor 32 are
Turning on 32 turns on the power transistor 33 to stabilize the flash device circuit in the initial operating state.

The collector of the transistor 32 is connected to the collector of the transistor 18 through the diode 34, and the transistor 32 is connected in parallel with the transistor 35 whose base is input from the microcomputer 15.

The control signal is input to the terminal Co and the transistor 18
When turned on, the above-described power transistor 33 is turned on, and then the power hold state is entered.

That is, when the transistor 18 is turned on, a high voltage signal is input from the inverter 25 to the microcomputer 15, and as a result, the microcomputer 15 controls the transistor 359 to be turned on for a predetermined time, and the power transistor 33 causes the transistor 18 to turn on. Regardless of whether it is turned ON or OFF thereafter, for example, the power supply to the flash device circuit is continued for a predetermined time of 5 minutes to 10 minutes.

On the other hand, the flash unit 10 includes a first flash mechanism having a known structure and a second flash mechanism configured by using a part or all of the flash mechanism.
The operating modes of the two flash mechanisms are selectively switched by the microcomputer 15.

The first flash mechanism provided in the flash device 10 has the same configuration as a conventional flash device having a four-terminal configuration of terminals Xo, Ro, Qo, and Co that does not have a terminal Co.

That is, the flash mechanism is such that the ready signal is output from the terminal Ro and the aperture information signal is output from the terminal Qo before the flash is started, and the quench signal is input as the camera signal from the terminal Qo after the flash is started.

A conventional flash device having such a first flash mechanism (hereinafter referred to as a first type flash device) has already been commercialized and is publicly known, and is disclosed in JP-A-57-20.
It is published in the 4029 publication.

Further, the second flash mechanism is provided with a terminal Co as a control terminal, and a ready signal, an aperture information signal, a quench signal, other second type camera and second type flash device 10 are provided according to the control signal input to the terminal Co. Various signals (hereinafter, this signal is referred to as a "serial signal") required for are transmitted and received through a terminal Qo, and a serial clock signal is input through a terminal Ro.

As shown in the figure, the camera 11 is provided with grounded-emitter transistors 37 and 38 having an output connected to a microcomputer 36, and the terminal Q is connected to the transistor via a base resistor 39.
A terminal R is connected to the base of the transistor 38 via a base resistor 40 at the base of 37.

These transistors 37 and 38 form a signal path for receiving the flash information signal into the camera 11. Incidentally, 41 and 42 are bias resistors of the transistors 37 and 38.

Further, transistors 43 and 44 for base input from the microcomputer 36 are provided, the emitter of the transistor 43 is connected to the terminal Q, and the emitter of the transistor 44 is connected to the terminal R.

These transistors 43 and 44 form a signal output path for outputting a camera information signal from the terminals R and Q toward the flash device 10 as an emitter follower.

The base of the transistor 43 is input via the OR gate 45 because the serial signal output from the microcomputer 36 and the quench signal Qs are output using the terminal Q as a common terminal.

Further, a drive circuit 46 that outputs a control signal in accordance with a command signal from the microcomputer 36 is provided, and a terminal C is connected to the output end of this drive circuit 46.

The drive circuit 46 is composed of a tri-state (3-state circuit), and the resistor 47 connected to the output end of the drive circuit 46 is for the camera side to determine whether it is the first type flash device or the second type flash device. It is a resistor and has a relatively high resistance value (for example, about 200 KΩ).

When the second type flash device 10 as shown in the figure is mounted and the terminals C and Co are connected, the voltage appearing at the terminal C causes the discrimination resistance 47 on the camera side and the resistance 21 on the flash device side to be
The voltage drops to a division voltage determined by the resistance value of the discrimination resistor 2 and the terminal C becomes a low voltage.

The combined resistance value of the resistor 21 and the discrimination resistor 24 is set smaller than the resistance value of the discrimination resistor 47.

The low voltage at the terminal C is detected by the comparator 48. This comparator 48 is composed of an operational amplifier that keeps the non-inverting input terminal at the reference voltage and inputs the Low voltage to the inverting input terminal to perform inverting operation. By inputting the High voltage output to the microcomputer 36, 11 is operated so as to correspond to the second type flash device 10.

By this operation, the drive circuit 46 is controlled, its output voltage rises, and the voltage of the terminal C changes from the low voltage to the high voltage.

Further, when the first type flash device having no terminal Co is mounted, the terminal C maintains the high voltage, the low voltage output of the comparator 48 is input to the microcomputer 36, and the camera 11 is the first type. It works with flash devices.

As described above, the camera mechanism unit that interlocks with the first type flash device or the camera mechanism that interlocks with the second type flash device 10 in response to the discrimination by the discriminating means including the drive circuit 46, the discrimination resistor 47, the comparator 48, and the like. The department shifts to the interlocking mode.

The other circuit configurations connected to the terminals X and Xo and the terminals G and Go are the same as those of the conventional camera and flash device, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

Next, operations of the flash device 10 and the camera 11 described above will be described.

(1) When the second type flash device 10 is attached to the second type camera 11 The operation when the second type flash device 10 is attached to the second type camera 11 is shown in FIG. Description will be given with reference to the time chart.

In this device, each terminal on the flash device side Xo, Ro, Qo, C
o and Go are connected to each terminal X, R, Q, C, G on the camera side.

When the power switch 30 of the flash unit 10 is turned on, the power transistor 33 is turned on for a short time as described above.
When turned on, the flash device circuit is set to the initial operation state.

When the power switch (not shown) of the camera 11 is turned on in the above state, the drive circuit 46 outputs a control signal.

This control signal is a voltage signal of a predetermined level which sends out pulse signals P ₁ , P ₂ and P ₃ as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (a).

Therefore, at the time when the control signal is generated, the output voltage of the drive circuit 46 is equal to the discrimination resistors 24 and 47 and the resistor 21.
And the terminal voltage C, Co appears as a low voltage as shown by a phantom line in FIG.

The low voltage is applied to the inverting input terminal of the comparator 48, and the inverting operation of the comparator 48 inputs the high voltage output to the microcomputer 36.

With the above operation, the camera side determines that the second type flash device 10 is attached, and the camera 11 operates corresponding to the second type flash device 10.

When the camera 11 judges as described above, the drive circuit 46 is also controlled and the output voltage thereof is increased.
High voltage.

On the other hand, on the flash unit side, the terminal Co changes from Low voltage to Hig.
By changing to the h voltage, the transistor 18 turns on, then the power transistor 33 turns on, and the inverter 25
The high voltage output is input to the microcomputer 15.

As a result, the transistor 35 is turned on according to the program of the microcomputer 15, and the power transistor 33 works so as to maintain the ON state for a predetermined time.

That is, the process proceeds to the power hold of the flash device circuit as shown in FIG.

Further, the microcomputer 15 determines that the flash unit 10 is attached to the second type camera 11 when the output of the inverter 25 is at the Hihg voltage for a certain time (for example, 10 milliseconds).

In other words, the timer function of the microcomputer 15 determines that the flash unit 10 is mounted on the second type camera 11 when the terminal Co is at the high voltage during the timer time t. Move to the mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the microcomputer 15 showing the power hold and the discriminating operation.

As shown in the figure, the microcomputer 15 has a flash device almost at the same time when a control signal is input to the terminal Co.
Power on 10 and then work to start power hold, then proceed with program to start timer.

Then, it is determined whether or not the voltage of the terminal Co is High, and if it is Low, the timer time t is decremented by -1, and then the process returns to the determination process again.

In this way, the determination operation is repeated until the timer time t ends, and if the High voltage is confirmed, the operation mode shifts to the operation mode of the second flash mechanism.

If the High voltage cannot be confirmed, the operation shifts to the first flash operation mode.

Further, the power supply to the flash device 10 is continued until the predetermined power hold time T ends, and when the hold time T ends, the flash device 10 is automatically turned off.

When the above-mentioned determination operation is completed, the pulse signals P ₁ and P ₂ shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A are repeatedly sent from the drive circuit 46 to the terminal Co.

When the pulse signal P ₁ is input from the terminal Co, the transistor 18
Is once turned off, and the “Low” output of the inverter 25 is input to the microcomputer 15.

From this, the microcomputer 15 operates to receive the camera information signal from the camera 11, the serial clock signal is input to the terminal Ro, the serial signal is input to the terminal Qo, and these camera information signals are input via the transistors 16 and 17. It is transmitted to the microcomputer 15. (See FIGS. 4 (c) and 4 (d)) When the pulse signal P ₂ is input from the terminal Co, the transistor 18
Is turned on and off repeatedly, and the inverter 25 “Low” and “hig
The h "and" Low "outputs are input to the microcomputer 15.

From this, the microcomputer 15 is contrary to the above,
The flash information signal is switched to be transmitted to the camera 11, the serial clock signal is input from the terminal Ro in the same manner as above, and the serial signal such as the ready signal and the aperture information signal is output from the terminal Qo as the emitter follower output of the transistor 26. These flash information signals are output and transmitted to the microcomputer 36 via the transistor 37 on the camera side. (See FIGS. 4 (c) and 4 (e)) After the microcomputer 36 of the camera 11 inputs the high voltage output of the comparator 48 and determines that the second type flash unit 10 is mounted, The pulse signals P ₁ and P ₂ are output from the drive circuit 46, and immediately after the pulse signal P ₁ is output, the serial clock signal is output to the terminal R via the transistor 44 and the serial signal is output to the terminal Q via the transistor 43. In addition to outputting the pulse signal P ₂ , the serial clock signal is output to the terminal R via the transistor 44 and the serial signal is input to the terminal Q via the transistor 37.
(Refer to FIG. 7) The flash information signal and the camera information signal as described above are repeatedly transmitted and received. When the camera 11 is switched to the release mode during this repetition, the terminal Co is connected to the terminal shown in FIG. The pulse signal P ₂ shown in FIG. 4 is sent from the drive circuit 46.

Therefore, the microcomputer 15 receives the pulse signal P ₃
The output of the inverter 25 corresponding to is input, and the computer 15 shifts to the flash emission mode.

When switching the release mode of the camera 11, interrupt processing is performed on the program of the microcomputer 36. (See Fig. 7) When the camera 11 releases the shutter, a trigger signal is input to the terminal Xo to start the flash, and a quench signal sent from the camera 11 at the time of proper exposure is input to the terminal Qo to control the flash stop. Is performed. (Fig. 4 (d),
(See (f) and (g)) In Fig. 6, the control signals P ₁ , P ₂ and P ₃ are flash devices.
6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the microcomputer 15 when inputting to 10.

As shown in the figure, when the terminal Co becomes a high voltage, the input gate of the counter is opened, the counter counts the pulse signals P ₁ , P ₂ and P ₃ , and these pulse signals are once set to count.

Then, it is determined whether the pulse signal set in the count is P ₁ , P ₂ , or P ₃ , and if it is confirmed that it is P ₁ , information transmission is switched and the camera information signal is transmitted. Is accepted, and when it is confirmed that it is P ₂ , the operation is to output the flash information signal by switching the information transmission.

Further, when it is confirmed that it is P ₃ , the light emission operation mode is set, and in the next step, the flow shifts to light emission operation mode processing such as flash start and flash stop control.

If none of the pulse signals P ₁ , P ₂ and P ₃ is confirmed, the process returns to the initial position and the above determination process is repeated.

Next, FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the microcomputer 36 included in the second type camera 11.

As shown in the figure, the microcomputer 36 starts INT (interrupt) immediately after the initial setting when the program starts.
Is permitted, and it is determined in the next step whether or not the metering mode is set.

If the metering mode is set, step
In ST100, the new (second type) / old (first type) of the flash device attached to the camera 11 is monitored.

The output voltage of the comparator 48 shown in Fig. 2 is
This is done by monitoring low or high.

Subsequently, after executing other routines for aperture, photometry and exposure calculation, the program is divided into programs corresponding to the second type flash device and the first type flash device.

When the second type flash device is monitored in the above-mentioned step ST100, the program processing of steps ST101 to ST102 is performed, and when the first type flash device is monitored, the program processing of steps ST103 and ST104 is performed. .

In steps ST101 to ST102, the flash information signal is received by the camera 11 after the pulse signal P ₂ is generated.

That is, after the pulse signal P ₂ is output to the terminal C as a control signal from the drive circuit 46 shown in FIG.
Program processing is executed so that a serial clock signal is output via the terminal R and the transistor 44, and a serial signal is input via the terminal Q and the transistor 37.

When the ready signal is input from the terminal Q, it is determined that the flash is possible and the process proceeds to the next step.

In the subsequent step, a process of transmitting the camera information to the flash unit 10 after the pulse signal P ₁ is generated is performed.

That is, after the drive circuit 46 shown in FIG. 2 outputs a pulse signal P ₁ to the terminal C as a control signal, a serial clock signal is output to the terminal R via the transistor 44 and serially to the terminal Q via the transistor 43. Program processing is performed to output the signal.

Further, the interruption is prohibited at the beginning of the steps ST101 to ST102 and is permitted at the end thereof.

If the first type of flash device is monitored,
The ready signal input to the R terminal is monitored, and after the shutter release, when a proper exposure is performed by a known light amount integrating circuit (not shown), a quench signal is output from the terminal Q.

In the next program, another routine is instructed to display a finder and generate a warning sound, and the generation of the finder display and a warning sound is repeated until the set time of the timer ends.

In addition, each shown in the figure represents a connector, and all of these connectors are bonded.

Further, steps ST105, ..., ST110 indicate a portion for judging the occurrence of an interrupt, and whichever step the interrupt is confirmed to, the program immediately returns to the initial position of the program.

The interrupt is performed by the interrupt loop shown in FIG. 8 when setting the release mode.

When the interrupt is made, the execution of the main program is temporarily stopped, the program shown in FIG. 8 is executed, and the pulse signal P ₃ is output from the drive circuit 46 shown in FIG. 2 to the terminal C as a control signal. Together with step ST
105 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Interrupt is confirmed by any of ST110.

Therefore, the setting of the release mode is determined, and the shutter control and the release mode reset program processing are performed.

(2) When the flash device 10 of the second type is attached to the camera of the first type When the flash device 10 is attached to the camera of the first type, since the camera does not have a terminal corresponding to the terminal Co, The terminal Co becomes the idle terminal.

Therefore, the terminal Co keeps the Low voltage, and the output “Low” of the inverter 25 is continuously input to the microcomputer 15.

With the above operation, it is determined that the flash unit 10 is attached to the camera of the first type, the operation mode of the first flash mechanism is set, and the terminal Ro via the transistor 27 of FIG.
Outputs a ready signal from the camera to the R terminal of the camera, and also outputs aperture information from the terminal Qo to the Q terminal of the camera via the transistor 26. After the flash starts, the quench signal is input to the terminal Qo The information device and the camera information signal are transmitted and received by a known method.
10 operates with the first flash mechanism.

On the other hand, turning on the power switch 30 causes the transistor 32 to
Although the power transistor 33 is turned on and the microcomputer 15 determines that the camera is the first type, the transistor 35 cannot be turned on. Therefore, the flash device circuit is not power-held, but is ready for light emission. The power transistor 33 continues to be turned on until the time (the time required for the main capacitor and the like to reach a predetermined charge pressure) ends, and then returns to the off state.

The ON time of the power transistor 33 when the power is not held may be set to an extremely short time, and a power supply circuit such as a main capacitor may be separately provided with a power switch.

(3) When the first type flash device is attached to the second type camera 11 When the first type flash device is attached to the camera 11, this flash device does not have a terminal corresponding to the terminal C. Therefore, the terminal C becomes a play terminal.

From this, when the drive circuit 46 generates the control signal, the terminal C becomes the high voltage, and the comparator 48
The low voltage output of is input to the microcomputer 36, and the camera side determines that the first type flash device is mounted.

That is, as described in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the flash device of the first type is monitored in step ST100, and the program processing of steps ST103 and ST104 results, so that the camera 11 operates in the operation mode corresponding to the flash device of the first type. Then, the ready signal is input through the terminal R and the transistor 38, and the aperture value information signal is input through the terminal Q and the transistor 27, respectively, and the transistor 43 and the terminal Q are input.
The camera information signal and the flash information signal are transmitted and received by a known method, for example, by outputting a quench signal via the camera, and flash photography is performed.

"Effects of the Invention" As described above, the camera according to the present invention is provided with the control terminal C, and determines the first type and the second type of the attached flash device based on the presence or absence of a voltage change at the terminal C, and also determines the type. According to the configuration, the camera mechanism that works with either the first type flash device or the second type flash device is switched to the operation mode. Therefore, the flash device that can be mounted and used is not specified, and it is compatible with the flash device. It becomes a camera with a certain nature.

Further, the above-mentioned control terminal C is used as a terminal for discriminating between the first and second type flash devices together with the discriminating means on the camera side, and switching between transmission of a camera information signal and a flash information signal, and flash emission. Since it is used as a signal terminal for transmitting a control signal and has a single terminal configuration that serves two purposes, the camera mechanism relating to the signal transmission system is simplified, and a practical camera configuration is advantageous.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a partial perspective view of a second type flash device and a second type camera embodying the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an input / output circuit section of the flash device to which terminals of mounting feet are connected, FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an input / output circuit part of a camera to which a hot shoe terminal is connected, FIG. 3 is a time chart of a control signal inputted to a control terminal of the flash device, and FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the flash device. 5 is a flow chart of a microcomputer provided in the flash device showing power holding and determination operation of the flash device, and FIG. 6 is provided in the flash device when a control signal is input to the flash device. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the microcomputer, and FIG. 7 is a microcomputer equipped with the above camera. Flowchart of FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an interrupt routine of the microcomputer of the camera. 11 …… Camera 14 …… Hotshot 36 …… Microcomputer 37,38 …… Transistor 43,44 …… which forms a flash information signal input path …… Transistor 46 that forms a camera information signal signal output path ………… Output drive circuit 47 ...... Resistance for distinguishing between the first type flash device and the second type flash device 48 ...... Comparator C ... Control terminal provided on hot shoe together with other terminals

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Hiroshi Osawa 2 36-9 Maeno-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Within Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-58-9131 (JP, A) JP-A-58- 9132 (JP, A) JP 59-191022 (JP, A) JP 59-189332 (JP, A) JP 59-191023 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A camera information signal is provided to a flash device,
In a camera having information processing means for inputting a flash information signal from a flash device, a terminal X for outputting a trigger signal, a terminal R for inputting a ready signal indicating a flash light emission standby state, set aperture information before the start of flash light emission, etc. The terminal Q for inputting the flash information signal of, and outputting the camera information signal such as a quench signal after the light emission of the flash is started.
A terminal C for outputting a control signal composed of second and third pulses is provided, and the above terminals X, R, Q, C are also provided.
Each terminal Xo, Ro, Qo, Co that can be electrically connected to each of,
A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the flash device which operates in response to the control signal from the camera is attached based on the voltage change of the terminal C is provided. In the information processing means, the discriminating means responds to the control signal. When it is determined that the above flash device that operates in the same manner is installed, the serial clock signal is output from the terminal R and the terminal C is output.
Operation mode in which the first pulse is output from the terminal Q and the camera information signal is output from the terminal Q in synchronization with the serial clock signal.
A configuration in which the second pulse is output from the terminal C and the flash information signal is input to the terminal Q in synchronization with the serial clock signal, and the flash emission operation mode is transitioned to by outputting the third pulse from the terminal C. A camera characterized by