JP3063801B2 - Anti-shake camera - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention
The present invention relates to an anti-shake camera that predicts and performs appropriate anti-shake processing based on the prediction result.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a camera having an anti-shake function,
Conventionally, a camera using an acceleration sensor is known.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-53524 discloses that the acceleration applied to a camera is detected by an acceleration sensor, and the detection result is integrated twice to obtain a camera shake amount immediately before photographing. A technique for judging whether or not a picture is blurred based on a combination of a value and a shutter speed, and in a case where it is determined that the picture is blurred, opening a diaphragm and shifting a shutter speed to a higher speed to prevent camera shake. Is disclosed.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, since it takes a calculation time for integrating the output of the acceleration sensor twice, there is an inconvenience that it is difficult to grasp the blurring state immediately before the operation. In addition, an acceleration sensor for detecting a small acceleration such as camera shake has a disadvantage that the structure is complicated and the cost is high. There is. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an anti-shake camera which accurately grasps the state of camera shake immediately before operation and has few failures.

[0004]

The anti-shake camera according to the present invention comprises: detecting means (3, 31) for outputting a signal corresponding to the pressing speed or pressing force of the shutter button (11) when the shutter button (11) is pressed. , The detecting means
Based on the output from the
Adjust exposure to ram diagram and instruct start of exposure
Control means that performs at least one of prohibition of release
And step (1) . In addition, the present invention
The anti-shake camera measures the brightness of the subject.
Light means (4), wherein the control means includes a light meter
Adjust the exposure according to the brightness of the subject detected by the
It is characterized by performing. In this case, the control means includes:
Make the exposure time shorter than the preset exposure condition
The exposure is adjusted.

In this case, the detecting means includes first and second switches (SW1 and SW2) which are sequentially turned on when the shutter button (11) is depressed, and the second switch (SW1 and SW2) after the first switch is turned on. And a time measuring means for measuring a time interval until the second switch is turned on.

[0006] In this case, the detecting means may include a distortion measuring sensor (2d, 3) for outputting a signal corresponding to the amount of distortion by pressing the shutter button (11).
0).

Further , in this case, the detecting means includes
The shutter button (11) is sequentially turned on by pressing the button.
The first and second switches (SW1 and SW2) and
Measurement of the elapse of a certain time since the second switch was turned on
A predetermined time measuring means (1),
Fixed to the contact piece (2c) on the high rigidity side,
A strain measurement sensor (2d) for measuring the maximum strain amount distorted;
It is characterized by being.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the camera shake is caused by the vibration of the camera, and the vibration of the camera is rapidly excited by the photographer pressing down the shutter button. The focus was on the point that the camera vibration increased as the pressure was pushed.

In the first embodiment, first, the time measuring means measures the time interval when the first and second switches are turned on, and detects the pressing speed of the shutter button. Since the stroke between the first and second switches is always constant, it is possible to detect the pressing speed of the shutter button by measuring the time interval between them. Then, based on the thus detected pushing speed, the blanking Les
Prediction is performed , and the combination of the shutter speed and the aperture value programmed based on the prediction result is changed as necessary to prevent camera shake.

In the second and third embodiments, the pressing force of the shutter button is detected by the distortion measuring sensor.
And, to predict the camera shake in accordance with the push-in force of this, the
The camera shake is prevented by changing the combination of the programmed aperture value and shutter speed as needed based on the prediction result.

As described above, according to the present invention, the camera shake is predicted by detecting the pressing speed or pressing force of the shutter button. Therefore, the number of failures is smaller than when a conventional acceleration sensor is used, and It is possible to accurately grasp the situation of camera shake immediately before the operation and perform an appropriate shake prevention process.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an anti-shake camera according to the present invention. In this example,
The camera is configured so that various controls of the camera are performed by a system control unit 1 having a microcomputer configuration.

A system control unit 1 includes a switch detection unit 3 for detecting the on / off state of a shutter switch 2, a photometry unit 4 for detecting the brightness of a subject, and a sensitivity and a latitude of a film loaded in a camera. Alternatively, a film sensitivity setting unit 5 to be set, an LCD driver 7 for displaying and driving a liquid crystal display member (LCD) 6 provided outside the camera or in the viewfinder, a shutter driving unit 8 based on a command from the system control unit 1, An exposure control unit 10 for controlling the aperture driving unit 9 is connected to each.

The shutter switch 2 has a shutter button 11
The first contact piece 2a which bends by pushing the first contact piece 2a, the second contact piece 2b which bends by pushing down the first contact piece 2a, and the third contact piece 2c which bends by pushing down the second contact piece 2b. The first switch SW1 is connected to the second and third contact pieces 2 by the first and second contact pieces 2a and 2b.
The second switch SW2 is constituted by b and 2c, respectively.

When the first switch SW1 is turned on by pressing the shutter button 11, the camera is ready for shooting. When the second switch SW2 is turned on by further pressing the shutter button 11 and a certain time elapses, the camera lens is turned on. And the shutter is opened and closed. As shown in FIG. 2, the shutter switch 2 is attached to the upper left of the camera body 20 when viewed from the front, and the first to third contact pieces 2a to 2c are
1 to form a shutter button component.

Next, the blur prevention operation according to this configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when the shutter button 11 is pressed, the first contact piece 2a bends, contacts the second contact piece 2b, and contacts the first switch SW.
When 1 is turned on (step S1), the switch detection unit 3 sends a signal indicating that the first switch SW1 is turned on to the system control unit 1. The system control unit 1 receives this signal and starts measuring the time until the second switch SW2 is turned on (step S2). This measurement is performed by counting pulses of a predetermined period by a counter in the system control unit 1.

When the second switch SW2 is turned on (step S3), the switch detecting section 3 sets the second switch SW2 to ON.
Is sent to the system control unit 1. Upon receiving this signal, the system control unit 1 stops counting pulses in the internal counter, and sets the count value T at that time to the time from when the first switch SW1 is turned on to when the second switch SW2 is turned on. T (Step S
4).

[0018] Next, the system control unit 1 determines whether or longer or not than a predetermined time T ₁ which is the measurement time T (step S5). If longer than the time T is time T _1,
The shutter button 11 is judged to have been depressed slowly, shake as not occur, it determines a combination of shutter speed T _V and the diaphragm value A _V according to the program diagram shown in FIG. 4 (step S6), and release this combination ( Step S7).

[0019] If the measurement time T is shorter than the predetermined time T ₁ generation of blur is predicted. Therefore, the system control unit 1
Is shorter than the measurement time T is a predetermined time T _1, and determines whether longer or not than a predetermined time _{T 2 (T 2 <T 1} ) ( step S8). If this condition is satisfied, it is determined that a relatively strong shock has been applied to the camera when the shutter button 11 is pressed, and it is predicted that slight blurring will occur. The shutter speed is increased by one step to “T _V +1”, and the aperture value is increased by one step to “A
_V- 1 "(step S9), and release with this determined combination (step S7).

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the subject brightness is E _V 8, the shutter speed is 1 /
30 seconds (T _V 5), although the aperture value is F2.8 (A _V 3), in step S9, one step higher shutter speed 1/6
And 0 seconds (T _V 6), one step brighter the aperture value F2 (A
Release as _V 2).

In this case, the determined shutter speed “T _V +1” is faster than the maximum shutter speed T _VF of the camera, or the aperture value “A _V −1” is smaller than the open value A _{VO of the} attached lens. (Step S1)
0). In such a case, the shutter speed is set to the maximum speed T
Adjust the exposure with the aperture within the latitude of the film fixed to _VF , or set the aperture of the lens to the open value A
_While keeping _VO , only the shutter speed is shifted to the high speed side within the allowable range of latitude (step S11), and the shutter is released by a combination thereof (step S7).

The measurement time if T is determined to less than a predetermined time T ₂ (step S8), and the measurement time T is a predetermined time T
_{It is} determined whether it is shorter than _{2 and} longer than a predetermined time T ₃ (T ₃ <T ₂ ) (step S12). If this condition is satisfied, it is determined that a strong shock has been applied to the camera when the shutter button 11 is pressed, and it is predicted that camera shake will occur, and the shutter speed will deviate from the program diagram shown in FIG. To "T _V +2" two steps faster and the aperture value to "A _V -2" two steps open (Step S13), and release with this combination (Step S13).
7).

[0023] The shutter speed "T _V was also determined in this case
+2 ”is faster than the maximum shutter speed T _VF of the camera, or the aperture value“ A _V -2 ”is the open value A _{VO of the} attached lens.
Since it may be smaller (step S14),
As above, fix the shutter speed to the maximum speed T _VF and adjust the exposure with the aperture within the allowable range of latitude, or leave the aperture value of the lens at the open value A _VO and set only the shutter speed within the allowable range of latitude. The shift is performed to the high-speed side (step S11), and the release is performed by the combination (step S7).

The measurement time if T is shorter than the predetermined time T ₃ is (step S12), the shutter button predicts that determines that applied a very strong impact on the camera to have suddenly pressing the shutter button 11, a large blur occurs 1
A release prohibition mode in which release is not performed even if 1 is pressed is set (step 15), a release prohibition display is performed on the LCD 5 (step 16), and the process is terminated.

As described above, in this embodiment, focusing on the fact that the quicker the shutter button is pressed, the more the camera shake is likely to occur, the speed at which the shutter button is pressed is detected, and the speed within the range of the capability of the camera is determined in accordance with this speed. To increase the shutter speed and release the lens with a bright aperture value within the range of the capability of the attached lens to prevent camera shake. The number of steps for ranking the measurement time T is desirably about three steps (“slightly shake”, “slightly shakes”, and “slightly shakes”) as in this embodiment, but is not limited to this. The number of stages may be set.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment measures the pressing force of the shutter button by focusing on the point that the stronger the pressing force of the shutter button, the stronger the force acts on the camera, and the movement of the camera during exposure becomes large, and the camera shake is likely to occur. By doing so, camera shake is predicted .

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 except that a strain measurement sensor 2d such as a strain gauge is mounted on the surface of the third contact piece 2c. It has the same configuration as the example.

In this configuration, when the shutter button 11 is pressed down, the first contact piece 2a and the second contact piece 2b come into contact with each other to turn on the first switch SW1, and the second contact piece 2b and the second contact piece 2b come into contact with each other. The second switch SW2 is turned on by the contact with the third contact piece 2c. Since the third contact piece 2c is higher in rigidity than the other contact pieces 2a and 2b, it is possible to recognize by touch of the finger that the second contact piece 2b has come into contact and the second switch SW2 has been turned on. I have. Conversely, since the first and second contact pieces 2a and 2b have lower rigidity than the third contact piece 2c, the first and second contact pieces 2a and 2b do not significantly affect the pressing force of the shutter button 11.

The force pressing the third contact piece 2c can be measured by a strain measuring sensor 2d fixed to the surface of the contact piece 2c. Since the distortion of the contact piece 2c and the force and deflection acting on it are in a proportional relationship, the force acting on the contact piece 2c can be measured by measuring the distortion of the contact piece 2c. That is, the more strongly the shutter button 11 is pressed within a certain period of time, the greater the deflection of the contact piece 2c and the greater the distortion of the distortion measurement sensor 2d. The strength of the force pressing the shutter button 11 can be known from this distortion, and the maximum distortion of the distortion measurement sensor 2d becomes the maximum pressing force acting on the camera.

Next, a blur prevention operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. First, when the first contact piece 2a is bent by pressing the shutter button 11, and the first switch SW1 is turned on (step S21), the switch detection unit 3 starts the first switch SW1.
A signal indicating that the switch SW1 is turned on is sent to the system control unit 1 to instruct that the camera starts preparation for photographing.

Next, when the second switch SW2 is turned on (step S22), the switch detector 3 sends a signal indicating that the second switch SW2 is turned on to the system controller 1. If the pressing force of the shutter button 11 is strong, the pressing is continued further after the second switch SW2 is turned on. Therefore, the system control unit 1 determines that a predetermined time has elapsed since the second switch SW2 was turned on. ,
The distortion of the contact piece 2c is measured by the distortion measuring sensor 2d (Steps S23 and S24), and the maximum pushing force F applied to the camera is calculated from the maximum distortion amount therein (Step S23).
25).

[0032] Next, the system control unit 1 determines whether weak or not than constant force F ₁ which is pushing force F (step S26). If the pushing force F is weak than constant force F _1, as is determined that the shutter button 11 without the action of most force the camera is pressed, blurring does not occur, the shutter speed in accordance with the program diagram shown in FIG. 4 T _V, the combination of aperture value a _V determined (step S2
7) Release with this combination (step S2)
8).

[0033] When the pushing force F is stronger than constant force F ₁ is generated blur is predicted. Therefore, the pushing force F is stronger than the constant force F ₁ and the constant force F ₂ (F ₁ <
Determines weaker or not than F ₂₎ (step S29).
If this condition is met, shutter button 1
Determines that 1 is applied slightly strong force to the camera when it is pushed, predicts that slight blur occurs, one step higher shutter speed off the program chart shown in FIG. 4, "T _V +1", "A _V -1" with one-stop aperture
Are respectively determined (step S30), and a release is performed using this combination (step S28).

In this case, the determined shutter speed “T _V +
If “1” is faster than the maximum shutter speed T _VF of the camera, or if the aperture value “A _V −1” is smaller than the open value A _{VO of the} attached lens (step S31), the shutter speed is set to the maximum speed T. fixed to _VF adjust the exposure in aperture within the allowable range of latitude of the film, or a lens aperture value is shifted to the shutter speed only the high speed side within a tolerance of latitude as left open value a _VO (step S3
2) Release with that combination (step S2)
8).

[0035] If a pushing force F is determined to stronger than constant force F ₂ than (step S29), strongly pushing force F is below a certain force F _2, and constant force F ₃ (F ₂ <F ₃₎ It is determined whether or not it is weak (step S33). If this condition is satisfied, it is determined that a strong force has been applied to the camera when the shutter button 11 is pressed, and it is predicted that blur will occur, and the shutter speed deviates from the program diagram shown in FIG. Is determined to be "T _V +2" two steps faster and the aperture value is set to "A _V -2" which is two steps open (Step S34), and the shutter is released using this combination (Step S28).

Also in this case, when the shutter speed “T _V +2” becomes faster than the maximum shutter speed T _VF of the camera,
Since the aperture value “A _V -2” may be smaller than the open value A _{VO of the} attached lens (step S35), the shutter speed is fixed at the maximum speed T _VF and the latitude of the film is set in the same manner as described above. adjust the exposure by the diaphragm within the tolerance range, or the aperture value of the lens is shifted only to the shutter speed high speed side within a tolerance of latitude as left open value a _VO (step S32), and the release by the combination (step S28).

[0037] When the pushing force F is stronger than constant force F ₃ (step S33), it is determined that the shutter button 11 is pressed deeply with a very strong force, pressing the shutter button 11 predicts that a large blur occurs Is set to the release prohibition mode in which no release is performed (step S36).
A release prohibition display is performed in D5 (step S37), and the process ends.

As described above, in this embodiment, focusing on the point that the camera shake is more likely to occur as the shutter button is pressed with a strong force, the pressing force of the shutter button is detected from the amount of distortion acting on the contact piece of the shutter switch. The shutter speed is increased within the range of the capability of the camera in accordance with the pushing force, and the camera is released with a bright aperture value within the range of the capability of the attached lens to prevent camera shake. The number of steps for ranking the strength of the pushing force is preferably about three as in this embodiment, but is not limited to this, and may be set to any number.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment focuses on the relationship between the pressing force of the shutter button and the camera shake, as in the second embodiment described above, and predicts the camera shake by measuring the shutter button pressing force. .

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5 in that a semiconductor pressure sensor 30 is provided in place of the shutter switch 2 and a sensor detector 31 is provided in place of the switch detector 3. The second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a structural view showing an example of the semiconductor pressure sensor 30. The substrate 3 having a concave portion kept in vacuum is shown in FIG.
A thin metal piece 30b having a high melting point and easy to be thinned is provided on the first metal piece 0a. An insulating film 30c is provided on the surface of the thin metal piece 30b. Then, electrodes 30f are connected to both ends of the semiconductor material 30d.

In this configuration, when a pressure is applied to the semiconductor material 30d by the shutter button 11, the resistance of the semiconductor material 30d changes in accordance with the magnitude of the strain, and the resistance between the electrodes 30f changes accordingly. . Therefore, by detecting the output signal between the electrodes 30f,
As shown in FIG. 9, the pressing force of the shutter button 11 can be detected.

In this case, when the sensor output is a certain output value P1, it indicates that the shutter button 11 is half-pressed, and when the sensor output is a constant output value P2 larger than the output value P1, the shutter button 11 Indicates that the button 11 is fully pressed. Further, when the sensor output is the output value P2 to P
When 3 (P2 <P3), it is determined that camera shake does not occur, and the combination of the shutter speed Tv and the aperture value Av is determined according to the above-described program diagram shown in FIG.

Further, the sensor outputs are output values P3 to P4 (P
When 3 <P4), a slightly strong force is applied to the camera, and it is predicted that slight blurring will occur, and the shutter speed is set to “T _V +1”, which is one step faster, and the aperture value is set to “A _V −1”, which is opened one step.
, Respectively. The sensor output is the output value P4
When ＰP5 (P4 <P5), a strong force is applied to the camera, and it is predicted that camera shake will occur, and the shutter speed is increased by two steps to “T _V +2” and the aperture value is opened by two steps to “A _V −2”. "
, Respectively.

[0045] Further, when the sensor output is greater than the output value P5, the shutter button 11 is pushed deeply in a very strong force, predicts that a large blur is determined that joined a very strong force on the camera is generated, the shutter A release prohibition mode in which the release is not performed even when the button 11 is pressed. In addition,
These series of operations are the same as the operations (steps S26 to S37) in the second embodiment described above.

As described above, in this embodiment, the second
Similarly to the embodiment, focusing on the relationship between the pressing force of the shutter button and the camera shake, the pressing force of the shutter button is detected from the output of the semiconductor pressure sensor, and the shutter is controlled within the range of the camera in accordance with the pressing force. By increasing the speed and releasing the lens with a bright aperture value within the range of the capability of the attached lens, camera shake is prevented.

[0047]

According to the present invention, since the camera shake is predicted by detecting the pressing speed or the pressing force of the shutter button, the situation of the camera shake immediately before the operation can be accurately grasped, and the structure is improved. However, it is possible to provide an anti-shake camera which is simple, has few failures, and is inexpensive.

[0048] Also, since it is only necessary to measure the on-time interval of the first switch and the second switch, the power required for the acceleration sensor driving means as in the prior art becomes unnecessary,
This has the effect of reducing battery consumption.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a shutter switch is attached to a camera body.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a program diagram showing a relationship between a shutter speed and an aperture value.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a semiconductor pressure sensor.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a relationship between a pressure applied to a semiconductor pressure sensor and a sensor output.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 System control part 2 Shutter switch 2c Contact piece 2d Distortion measuring sensor 3 Switch detecting part 11 Shutter button 30 Semiconductor pressure sensor 31 Sensor detecting part SW1 First switch SW2 Second switch

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03B 5/00 G03B ^7/ 00-7/28

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A detecting means for outputting a signal corresponding to a pressing speed or a pressing force of a shutter button when the shutter button is pressed, and an exposure condition is set in advance based on an output from the detecting means.
Adjust the exposure for the specified program diagram, and
At least one of prohibition of release to instruct
And a control unit for performing the following . 2. A photometric device for detecting the brightness of a subject.
And the control unit is configured to control the brightness of the subject detected by the photometric unit.
2. An anti-shake camera according to claim 1 , wherein the exposure is adjusted according to the degree. 3. The control means according to claim 1 , wherein
The camera according to claim 1, wherein the exposure is adjusted so that the exposure time is shorter than the light condition . 4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said detecting means is turned on sequentially by pressing the shutter button.
And a second switch; and a time measuring means for measuring a time interval from when the first switch is turned on to when the second switch is turned on. camera. 5. An anti-shake camera according to claim 1 , wherein said detecting means is a distortion measuring sensor which outputs a signal in accordance with the amount of distortion when the shutter button is pressed. 6. A first detecting means for sequentially turning on the shutter button by pressing the shutter button.
And a second switch; a fixed time measuring means for measuring a lapse of a fixed time after the second switch is turned on; fixed to a contact piece on a high rigidity side of the second switch; 6. An anti-shake camera according to claim 5, further comprising a distortion measuring sensor for measuring a maximum distortion amount distorted.