JPS62211624A - Auto focus control part of camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent an object to be potographed, from moving and going to out-of-focus in the course of a release inhibition period, by executing a control so that only a charge accumulation is executed to a distance measuring element, in the course of a prescribed release inhibition period after winding of a film is completed. CONSTITUTION:An out-of-focus quantity of an object to be photographed is inputted to a camera controlling microcomputer (CPU) through an operation of a self-scan type image pickup element (CCD), and by a command of a CPU 1, a motor M2 of a driver control part 8 moves a focus of a photographic lens so that the out-of-focus quantity is eliminated. When switches SW1, 2 turn on, a timer means is operated for a prescribed time, and in such a period, a release operation is inhibited, and also, a camera is controlled so that only a charge accumulation is executed to the CCD, and controlled so that its automatic exposure is not locked. In such a way, it is prevented that an object to be photographed moves and an out-of-focus photographing is executed in a release operation inhibition period.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an autofocus control section of a camera.

[Prior Art and its Problems] Some cameras that use a built-in motor to automatically wind the film are equipped with a continuous shooting mode that allows continuous shooting. According to the disclosure of JP-A No. 60-179727, in high-speed shooting mode, the release operation is performed immediately after film winding is completed, while in low-speed continuous shooting mode, the release operation is performed immediately after film winding is completed. Release is possible after a certain delay time. With this type of female mentality, a certain release invalidation period is always set during low-speed continuous shooting mode, so there is a risk of missing a photo opportunity. Mainly, mode selection means for switching between high-speed snapshot mode or low-speed continuous shooting mode is required, which increases the cost of the camera. Therefore, whenever the release button is pressed after the completion of film winding, a release prohibition period is set by a timer, and if the release button is continued to be pressed, the release operation will be performed after the release prohibition period. A conceivable camera is one in which the continuous shooting mode is canceled if the release button is released during the shooting period.

However, in such a camera, as the charge accumulation in the charge accumulation type CCD distance measurement element in the autofocus processing section is completed within the above-mentioned release prohibition period, the distance measurement data is taken in from the CCD distance measurement element. If the AF is a one-shot AF system that calculates the amount of lens movement through a predetermined calculation, moves the lens to the in-focus position, and then locks the lens, if the distance to the subject changes within the remaining release-inhibited period. Then, there was a problem in that the release operation was continued until the camera was out of focus after the release prohibition period.

[Means for Solving the Problems 1] The autofocus control section of the camera of the present invention is a camera that winds the film by a motor, uses a charge accumulation type CCD distance measuring element in the autofocus processing section, and a switch means that is turned on by pressing the button; a timer means that operates for a predetermined period of time if the switch means is turned on when the film winding is completed; and a timer means that operates for a predetermined period of time when the release button is pressed while the timer is in operation. In order to prohibit the release operation caused by the lens, the autofocus processing section is provided with a release/distance measurement control means that only accumulates charge in the CCD distance measurement element.

[Operation 1] With the above configuration, when the release button is pressed when film winding is completed, if the switch means is turned on, the timer means is activated for a predetermined period of time, and if the timer means is in operation, the release/distance measurement control is performed. The means prohibits the release operation by the release button, and only stores charge in the charge storage type CCD distance measuring element,
Distance data from the CCD is not taken in.

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a camera system to which the present invention is applied.

1 is a camera control microcomputer that performs functions such as sequence control of the entire camera, exposure calculation control, and autofocus (hereinafter abbreviated as AF) calculation control.
It is hereinafter abbreviated as CPU) and is equipped with a data bus and various input/output terminals P1 to P18 as described below.

2 is an AFF distance unit that measures the amount of defocus of the subject image at the film plane equivalent position, and includes a one-dimensional self-scanning image sensor (hereinafter abbreviated as CCD), a COD drive unit, an A/D converter, and /D conversion reference power source, etc. This C
The analog image information obtained by OD is converted into a digital signal and then taken into the CPU via the AF data bus.

φ^F, AF 5TART, AF END) are control signal lines for controlling the AF distance measurement committee, and are connected to terminals P1 to P3, respectively.

3 is a display section consisting of a liquid crystal LCD or a light emitting diode LED, and information such as the shutter speed Tv and aperture value Av, which are the calculation results of automatic exposure (hereinafter abbreviated as AE) sent from the CPU, or the shooting mode, is displayed on this display. The image is displayed in the finder or the like by section 3. 4 is provided for each interchangeable lens, and has a maximum aperture value, a minimum aperture value,
This is a lens data circuit that stores the focal length and the extension amount conversion coefficients necessary for focus adjustment, and when the lens is attached to the camera body, the data is transmitted via an electrical contact provided near the attachment part. It is transmitted to the camera body.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a flash circuit within the flash device, which sends a guide number indicating the amount of light emitted, charging completion information, a dimming confirmation signal, etc. to the camera body.

6 is a photometry unit that measures the brightness By of the subject, and is composed of a photoelectric conversion element for light reception, an A/D conversion unit, a reference voltage source for A/D conversion, a data exchange unit with the CPU, etc.
The light passing through the photographic lens is photometered according to the command from I. A film sensitivity reading section 7 automatically reads the sensitivity of the loaded film, and the film sensitivity on the film cartridge is read through an electrical contact provided in the cartridge chamber of the camera. Above display section 3. Lens data circuit 4. Flash circuit 5. Photometering section 6. Each piece of information from the film sensitivity reading section 7 is input as a serial signal to a serial input/output g (abbreviated as Ilo) via a serial data bus. In this serial section 110, as will be described later, each of the selected circuits 3 to 7 has a clock frequency φ1. A suitable clock is selected from among φ2.

8 is a driver control unit for exciting a lens drive motor and various magnets for AF, which will be described later, and output terminal P15 of the CPUI. Pte.

P17. Control signal line C14DO,C from P18
MDI, CMD2. Controlled by CMD3. C.N.T.
The R terminal is a pulse input terminal that counts the number of pulses sent from the driver control section 8.

SW4~SW 1. S WAEL, S WMOD
E, S WUP, and S WDN are switches, and one of these switches is grounded, and the other is connected to the control signal lines 84 to St, ^EL, MODE, UP, respectively.
It is connected to input terminals P4 to pH via DN.

SWl is a photometry switch that is turned on in the first step when a release button (not shown) is pressed down, and cpul outputs a signal to start photometry and distance measurement.

While this switch SW1 is on, if the lens is in an out-of-focus position due to distance measurement, the lens continues to be driven, and when the in-focus position is reached, the lens driving is stopped. When the release button is released and the switch SWI is turned off, the driving of the lens is immediately stopped. SW2
is a release switch that is turned on in the second step of pressing down the release button, and if this switch SW2 is turned on when the release is possible, the CPU instructs the release operation. Note that when the release switch SW2 is turned on, the photometry switch SWI is configured to be kept in the on state. SW3 is a mirror up detection switch, which is turned on when a mirror (not shown) is fully raised. SW4 is a film winding completion detection switch, which is off when film winding is completed.
If makiage makiage is not completed, it is turned on.

5WAEL is a switch for locking the photometric value from the photometry section 6. When this switch 5WAEL is turned on, the photometric value is locked, and this switch 5W
When the AEL is turned from the on state to the off state, new photometric values are loaded into the CPUI. SWMODE is a mode switch for selecting the exposure mode of the camera, and by pressing switch swap or 5WDN while pressing this mode switch SWMO [1E],
B-gram mode.

You can choose between aperture priority mode and shutter speed priority mode. Furthermore, when only the switch swap or 5WDN is turned on, the aperture value can be arbitrarily set in the aperture priority mode, and the shutter speed can be arbitrarily set in the shutter speed priority mode.

P12. P13. P14 is an output terminal,
Control signal lines IENDEN, RELEN, -^K, respectively
EEN is connected to one input terminal of each of OR1, OR2, OR3 of the OR circuit, and the control lines AFEN[), S2. S1 is connected. The output terminals of OR1, 0R2, and OR3 are connected to the interrupt input terminal INT via ANDl of an AND circuit. When this terminal INT changes from the H" level to the L" level, an interrupt from the outside is accepted, and when the CPU 1 is in a non-operating standby state, the standby state is canceled and the CPU is activated. It has become.

RESET is a reset terminal pulled up to +VDD by a resistor R, and when the level changes from L level to H level, the CPUI is reset. X is a crystal oscillator for providing a clock signal to the CPU1.

Next, the functions of each circuit will be explained.

Control over the AFffill distance section 2 will be explained with reference to the time chart of FIG. CPU1 is located inside the AF distance measuring section.
In order to start accumulating charge on the CD, the control signal line A FSTART is set from H level to L level (time t0). When the accumulated charge reaches a predetermined level, the control signal is By changing the signal line AFEND from the H level to the L level (time 1+), the completion of charge accumulation is notified to the CPU 1. CPUI is control signal line A
When the L level of FEND is detected, the control signal line IENDEN is changed from the H level to the L level in order to generate an interrupt to the CPUI. At this time, since the control signal lines RELENI and EEN are at the H level, a signal changing from the H level to the L level is input to the interrupt terminal INT by ANDl, and an interrupt is generated in the CPUI. After that, the control signal line i is changed from L level to H level.
Return to level.

On the other hand, the cpui changes the control signal line AF 5TART to the H level by detecting the L level of the control signal line AFEND (at time t2), and when this is detected on the AF ranging section, it returns the control signal line AFSTART to the H level. With (
At time ts), A/D converted video information from the CCD is read into the CPU 1. And A based on the AF distance measuring section
When the F operation is completed and the release is possible,
The control signal line value is changed from H level to L level. At this time, since the control signal lines IENDEN and WAKEEN are both at the H level, the terminal INT changes from the H level to the L level, so an interrupt is generated in the CPU again, and after that, the control signal line RELEN changes from the L level to the L level. Return to H level.

FIG. 3 shows a clock selection circuit in the serial 110 section.

CS LM, CS DSP, CS DX, CS
LENS, CS FLASII, respectively photometric section 61 display section 3. Film sensitivity reading section7. Lens data circuit 4. This is a chip select signal for selecting the flash circuit 5. 08LH,CS DSP,CS
Each signal of DX AN D 2 i: Input, this AN
The output signal of D2 is input to one input of AND3. The CS LENS and CS FLASH signals are input to one input of AND4 and AND5, respectively, and the CS LENS and CS FLASII signals are input to the AN via inverters INVI and INV2, respectively.
It is input to the other input section of D5 and AND4. The output signals of AND4 and AND5 are input to OR4, and the output signal of OR4 is input to the other input section of AND3. The output signal of AND3 is AN
It is input to one input part of D6 and also input to one input part of ANDl via INV3.

The other input of AND1 and AND6 receives a clock pulse with a frequency of φl and a clock pulse with a frequency of φ1 that is slower than φ1.
2 clock pulses are respectively input. AND6
The output signals of ANDl are respectively input to OR5,
This OR5 outputs the serial clock signal SCK.

The table below shows a logic table in the block diagram consisting of the above configuration.

Table 1 LHHHHL φ1 HLHHHL φ1 HHLHHL φ1 HHHLHHφ2 HHHHLHφ2 In Table 1, for example, when the photometry section 6 is selected, only the C3LM signal is at the L level and the other signals are at the H level due to the negative logic signal. In this case, AND3 outputs L level, AND1 turns on, and OR
5 outputs a serial clock signal with a clock frequency of φ1. As can be seen from Table 1, when any one of the photometry section 6, display section 3, and film sensitivity reading section 7 is selected, the clock frequency of the serial clock signal becomes φ1, and the clock frequency of the serial clock signal becomes φ1, and the clock frequency of the serial clock signal becomes φ1. 5 is selected, the serial clock signal has a slow clock frequency φ2.

This is because the lens and flash device are connected to the camera body through electrical contacts, which tends to cause delays in signal transmission, and there is a risk that serial data may not be communicated correctly. The clock frequency φ2 of φ2 is adopted.

Next, the driver control section 8 and each control section will be explained.

ICMG is a magnet for holding one shutter curtain,
When the control output line ICMGQ becomes L level, the magnet ICMG is energized and the first shutter curtain is held. 2CMG is a magnet for holding the second shutter curtain, and when the control output line 2CMGO becomes L level, the magnet 2CMG is energized and the second shutter curtain is held, and after releasing the holding of the first curtain shutter, the second curtain is held. The time it takes for the curtain shutter to release its hold corresponds to the shutter speed. FMG is a magnet for locking the diaphragm, and by keeping the control output line FMGO at the L level for a certain period of time, the diaphragm is locked in a predetermined position.

Q1 to Q are transistors, respectively, and transistors Q and Q4 are for driving the motor M1, and are connected in a bridge configuration to enable forward and reverse rotation. In addition, transistors Q and ~Q are also connected in a bridge configuration for driving motor M2, and both terminals of motor M are connected to the common connection point of transistors Q and Q2 and the common connection point of transistors Q and Q4. Both terminals of motor M2 are connected between the common connection point of transistors Q and Q4 and the common connection point of transistors Q and Q6. With this connection, transistor Q31Q
, is shared by the two bridges. motor M,
is a camera sequence control motor; by rotating in the forward direction, the mirror is raised, and by operating the preset lever, the aperture mechanism is narrowed down to a preset value, and by rotating in the opposite direction, the motor advances the film. The motor M2 charges the mirror system and returns the preset lever.Motor M2 is a lens drive motor used for AF, and when rotated in the forward direction, the lens is extended, and when rotated in the reverse direction, the lens is retracted.

ON+ to OH are control signal lines for switching each transistor.

Table 2 below shows the on/off states of the transistors Q1-Q6 controlled by the control signal lines ON, ~OH, to control the drive motors M, , M2.

Table 2! O 7 O 7 O 7 O 7 O 7 O 7 Stop Stop On Off Off On Off Off Forward Stop Off On On Off Off Off
Reverse direction stop on off on off off off brake stop off off off on on off stop forward direction off off on off off on stop reverse direction off off on off on off stop braking In this example, two motors M1 and M2
Since both bridges are not driven at the same time, transistors Q, , Q, are used in common for both bridges, and six transistors are used. Thereby, the number of terminals of the CPU 1 and the driver control section 8 can be reduced, and the mounting area of the driver part 8 occupying the control board can be reduced.

81 and 82 are an aperture encoder and an AF encoder consisting of seven autocouplers, and control signal lines PD, PT
, and PO□PT are connected to the driver control unit 8.

The aperture encoder 81 monitors the movement of the aperture preset lever at the time of release. At the time of release, the control signal line PD becomes H level as the aperture locking magnet FMG is driven, and light is emitted. The light emitted by the diode 81a is detected by the 7-channel transistor 81b, and is transmitted to the driver control unit 8 via the control signal line PT.
is input.

After the waveform is shaped into a pulse by this driver control unit 8, it is output to CPU via the control signal line CNTR0.
is sent to the counter input terminal CNTR.

The control signal line P[1, is at L level except at the time of release.

The AF encoder 82 is for monitoring the number of rotations of the lens drive motor M1 during AF, that is, the amount of movement of the lens. During AF, the control signal #1 PD2 becomes H level and the light emitting diode 82a emits light (7i). Detected by transistor 82b, the control signal! The signal is input to the driver control unit 8 via PT2. After the waveform is shaped into a pulse by this driver control unit 8,
It is sent to the terminal CNTR of the CPU1 via the control signal line CNTR0. The control signal line P except during AF
D2 is at L level.

In this embodiment, as described above, the aperture encoder 8
1 and the AF enhancer 82 are waveform-shaped by the driver control unit 8, and then sent to the terminal CN of the CPU 1.
Input to TR. This allows driver part 8 and C
The number of terminals of PU1 is reduced.

CHDO to CH[13 are control signal lines output from output terminals Q15 to P18 of the CPU 1 to control the driver control section 8.

Next, the configuration of the decoder section in the driver control section 8 will be explained with reference to FIG.

The control signal lines CMDO to CHO2 form rows ■, ■, ■, ■ in the matrix configuration, and these control signal lines are connected to inverters INVII to INV14, respectively.
The control signal lines inverted by the lines ■, ■, ■.

■It forms. Then, the lines ■, ■ are connected to ANDII, and the lines ■, ■, ■, ■ are connected to AND12.

Further, each row of the other AND13 to AND25 is connected as shown. The output terminals of A N D 11 and AND 12 are connected to oRll, and a driver AMP is further connected to the output side of this 0 R11. This driver AM
The output section of P is the control signal line ON, ttr), other control (i lines 0142 to 014., I CKO, 2
C14GO.

FMGO, PD, and PL are also INV1 as shown in the figure.
5~INV18.0R12~0R16, AND26 and t
'By composing, each has gained.

Table 3 shows each logical value in the decoder section and the operating state of the camera at this time.

As a result, the signals from the four control signal lines CMDO to CMD3 are used to control the motors M, M, and drive control signal lines ON, -ON, and 3).
, 2CM (:, Control signal line I CMC for FHC control
0.2CMGO.

FMGO and control signal lines PD, PD2 for controlling the two light emitting diodes 81a and 82a, a total of 12 control signal lines can be controlled, reducing the number of output terminals of the CPU 1 and the number of wires. It becomes possible.

Hereinafter, the operation of the camera system to which the present invention is applied will be explained based on a flowchart.

First, when a battery is attached to the camera body and power is supplied, the reset terminal RESET rises from L level to H level via resistor R, thereby resetting the CPU 1, and the battery is attached as shown in FIG. The routine is executed.

That is, in step #1, the board that is the input/output part in the CPU, the RAM (random access memory) that is the storage part, and the 7 lags for various judgments are cleared by reset, and then the steps from step #2 onwards are cleared. In step #2 of proceeding to the standby routine, flags are initialized, and in the next step #3, the timer built into the CPU 1 is stopped and timer interrupts are prohibited. In step #4, a startup interrupt is permitted. That is, in order to permit an interrupt by the photometry switch SW1, which is turned on at the first step of pressing down the release button, the control signal line -KEEN is changed from the H level to the L level. And in step #5 CP
The UI stops the clock and enters standby state.

In the CPUI standby state, the control signal line IE
Both NDEN and RELEN are at the H level, and only the control signal line -8KEEN is at the L level as described above. Therefore, regardless of the state of the control signal lines AFEND and S2 that are input to one of the ORI and OR2 circuits, the output sections of the ORI and OR2 circuits are both fixed at the H level. If the release button is not pressed and the photometry switch SWI is off, the control signal line S1 input to the other side of OR3 is at H level, and OR3 outputs H level, so The H level is input to the interrupt terminal INT.

Next, when the photometry switch SWI is turned on from off by the first step of pressing the release button, the control signal line S1 goes to L level, and OR3 outputs L level, so the output of ANDl changes from H level to Changes to L level. As a result, an interrupt is generated at the interrupt terminal INT, the CPU changes from the standby state to the startup state, and executes the startup routine shown in FIG.

At step #10, the state of the activation flag is determined.

This startup flag is set to '1' after the CPUI starts up, and is set to '1' just before the CPUI goes into standby mode.
will be reset to Therefore, immediately after the CPU 1 is started, the start flag is O, and the process proceeds to the start processing program after step #11. In step #11, the start flag is set to 1, and the control signal line -8 is set to 1. EEN is changed from L level to H level. As a result, OR3 outputs an H level, and the interrupt terminal INT is kept at an H level via ANDl, and C
A startup interrupt is prevented from occurring in PU1. At step #12, C, which is the distance measuring element within the AF distance measuring section,
The CD is initialized and unnecessary charges accumulated on the COD during non-operation are removed.

After waiting for ΔT1 to initialize the CCD in step #13, in step #14, the distance measuring element CO
After the initialization of D is completed, the process proceeds to the photometry processing from step 15 onwards.

At step #15, a photometry start command is sent from the serial unit 110 to the photometry unit 6 via the serial data bus, so that photometry of the subject brightness that has passed through the lens is started. A timer TMR2 for power hold is set and started. The switches SWI, SW2, 5WAEL, and 5WU mentioned in the book elapse after the time ΔT set by this timer TMR2.
If neither P nor 5WTIN is pressed, C
The PUI is set to enter a standby state. Then, in step #17, the state of the photometric switch SW1 is determined, and the switch SW1 is off, that is, the control signal line S1
If is H level, step #17 to step #2
Proceed to a loop that repeats the 0 photometry routine.

This photometry routine will be explained with reference to FIG. Step #
At 200, the MO V switch SWMO[)E.

By reading the states of the up switch swap and the down switch SW[IN, setting data such as the aperture value AV and shutter speed Tv in the exposure mode or each exposure mode is read. In step #201, the film sensitivity reading section 7 takes in the read film sensitivity Sv to the CPUI via the serial data bus. In step #202, flash data such as the flash device installation data, charge completion signal, and dimming confirmation signal read from the flash circuit 5 is taken into the CPUI via the serial data bus. Then, in step #203, the maximum aperture value, minimum aperture value, and focal length specific to the attached lens read from the lens data circuit 4,
Lens data such as extension amount conversion coefficients are taken into the CPUI via a serial data bus. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the signals on this serial data bus may be communicated with the circuits 3, 6, 7 inside the camera body, or the circuits 4, 5 connected to the outside via electrical contacts. The clock frequency of the serial data is selected as φ1 or φ2 depending on whether the serial data is φ1 or φ2.

In step #205, the state of the focus zone flag is determined. This flag is set to gin when the lens is in focus due to distance measurement, or when the lens is in focus after being driven by AF, and the lens is in focus. , that is, the flag is “O”
Only when the photometer 6 is
The brightness Bv of the subject is newly read out.

In this example, after the lens is focused, the brightness B
This is because it has the function of locking y.

In step #210, the above steps #200 to #20
Based on the data read in step 6, an aperture value Av and a shutter speed Tv are calculated by a predetermined calculation. In step #211, data is sent to the display unit 3 via the serial data bus in order to display the calculated aperture value Av, shutter speed Tv, exposure mode, etc. within seven frames.

Then, in step #212, data such as the photographing aperture value Av and film sensitivity Sv are sent to the flash circuit 5.

Since the series of operations related to exposure calculation is completed in steps #200 to #212, the AF priority flag is set to "1" in the next step #213. This AF priority flag is used to determine whether to give priority to the photometry loop or data acquisition from the COD when integrating the signal from the COD while executing the photometry routine. .

In step #214, the state of the snapshot delay flag is determined. The details of this flag will be described later, but if the continuous shooting delay flag is reset to "O", the process advances to step #218, but if it is set to "1", the process advances to step #2151.

Steps #215 to #217 are a loop for determining whether to cancel the continuous shooting delay. In the step well 215, the state of the release switch SW2 is determined, and the state of the release switch SW2 is determined.
If switch SW2 is on, the process advances to step #218 and the continuous shooting delay mode is continued, but if the switch SW2 is off, the quick shooting delay mode is canceled, that is, step #2
In step #16, the continuous shooting delay flag is reset to O, and in the next step #217, the timer TMR4 is stopped and interrupts of the timer TMR4 in parentheses are prohibited. In this way, if you turn off the release switch SW2 during the continuous shooting delay period, the continuous shooting delay mode will be canceled, so by turning on the release switch SW2 again, you can release the camera.
Faster snapshots are also possible.

In the next step #218, various operation switches SWI are used as a power hold determination.

SW2.5WAEL, SWMODE, 5WUP, 5WD
Only when the N state is determined and any switch is operated, the power hold timer TMR2 resets the set time ΔT in step #219.

is set and started. After that step #22
At 0, the process returns to step #17 of the startup routine.

If none of the switches are operated and a time ΔT5 has elapsed since the start of the power hold timer TMR2, a timer interrupt is generated by the timer TMR2. This timer interrupt is shown in FIG.

At step #250, the stack pointer is reset, and at step #251, the CPU 1 jumps to step #2, thereby entering the standby state.

On the other hand, if it is detected in step #17 that the photometry switch SW1 is on, the process proceeds to the integration routine starting from step #21.

In step #21, the control signal line AFSTART is changed from the H level to the L level to send an integration start command to the AF distance measuring section, thereby causing the distance measuring element COD to start accumulating charge. Then, in step #22, the integration end interrupt is enabled. That is, when the accumulated charge reaches a predetermined level and the control signal line AFEND is changed from the H level to the L level to notify the end of integration, the control signal line I of the CPU 1 is set so that the external interrupt can be accepted. ENDEN goes from H level to L level.

In the next step #26, the state of the photometry switch SWI is determined, and if it remains on, the process proceeds to the photometry routine shown in FIG. 7 in step #27, and then again from steps #26 to
Return to the loop of #27 and wait for the integration end interrupt.

When the camera goes from standby to operating state by turning on the photometry switch SW1, and photometry and COD charge integration start at the same time, this photometry routine is repeated at least once, and AFF is activated at step 7'#213. If the destination flag is not set to 1, no integral data will be taken in.

On the other hand, if the photometry switch SW1 is turned off in step #26, the output terminal P2 of the CPUI is turned off in step #28.
Control signal line A F 5TART from L level to H
By returning to the level, a forced integration stop command is sent to the AF distance measuring section. Then, in step #30, the control signal line IENDEN from the output terminal P12 is returned from the L level to the H level, thereby inhibiting interrupts caused by the end of integration. After that, the process returns to step #17.

Now, during the loop of steps #26 and #27, the charge accumulation of COD is completed and the control signal line A F EN
When D is changed from the H level to the L level, an interrupt for the end of integration occurs as described above, and the program is changed to step #10 and subsequent steps.

In this way, when the charge accumulation on COD is completed, C
The reason for interrupting PtJl and proceeding to another program is that the charge accumulation time for the COD changes depending on the brightness of the subject, making routine time management for charge accumulation difficult and preventing effective use of the CPU 1. Because it will disappear.

The state of the startup flag is determined in step #10,
At this point, CPU1 is already booting up and the boot flag is set to 1, so step #10
Proceeds to step #40, where C is sent via the AF data bus.
It is determined whether or not the charge accumulated in OD is being captured, and if the capture operation is completed, interrupts are prohibited in step #41, and the process proceeds to the release processing routine from step #60 onwards. Since it is being taken in, the process advances to the integral end interrupt processing routine starting from step #42.

If, in step #42, it is determined whether the AFF destination flag is set, and if the photometry routine has not been cycled once and the AFF destination flag is not set to 1, the data from COD is In order to prioritize photometry over capture, step #21. Similar to #22, in steps #48 and #49, after issuing an instruction to start integration again to the AF distance measuring section, an interrupt due to the end of integration is permitted. Then, in step #5o, the process returns to the original routine, step #2G, @27.

On the other hand, if the AFF destination flag is set to 1 in step #42, the process proceeds to step #43, and the state of the quick-shot delay flag, which is set to "on" when the film winding is completed, is determined. If yes, and the flag is set to 1, the process proceeds to step #48 without taking in data from the CCD, and only charges are accumulated in the COD again.On the other hand, this snapshot delay flag is reset to 0. If so, proceed to step #44,
The A/D converted COD data on the AF range finder is the AF
The data is sequentially fetched into the CPU via the data bus. Then, in step #45, the AFF destination flag is reset to O, and in step #46, the stack pointer is reset so as not to return to the original routine. Climb up to the step well 10 shown in FIG.
Jump one AFF routine starting from 0.

In this way, at the same time as photometric calculation is started (step #15), charge accumulation in the COD is started (step #21).
However, during the first photometry calculation (AF priority flag = 0), even if the charge accumulation in the CCD is completed, only the accumulated charge is returned to the COD by 1m9 without taking in the COD charge (step #42→#49), the COD charge accumulation will be completed in a relatively short time from the end of the photometric calculation and the loop of steps #26 to #27 will be exited), and the process can proceed to the AFF routine, so the first photometric calculation can be performed. The processing time can be shorter than starting charge accumulation in the COD after the completion of the process.

In other words, when it is relatively dark and the COD charge accumulation time is long, the charge accumulation is completed after the photometry calculation is completed.
The time required to determine focus is shorter than when COD charge accumulation is started after photometric calculation.

Also, when it is relatively bright and the COD accumulation time is short, the charge accumulation will be completed during the photometry calculation, but by starting charge accumulation again, the time required to complete the COD charge accumulation after the photometry calculation will be the maximum. , COD after photometry calculation is completed.
On average, CO
This is approximately half the time required for charge accumulation of D.

Next, when the continuous shooting delay flag is set to 1,
Even if an interrupt occurs at the end of charge accumulation in GeD,
The reason why charge accumulation in the COD is started again (steps #43→#48) without taking in data from the COD will be described.

In response to the COD integration end interrupt that occurred during the continuous shooting delay period, data from the CCD is taken in and calculation is performed to calculate the defocus amount, which is the amount of lens extension for AF, and the focus is determined and the in-focus state is reached. If it is determined that this is the case, the lens will be locked at that focus position, so if the subject moves or the composition changes during the remaining continuous shooting delay period until release is possible, the camera will switch to quick shooting delay mode. This is because there is a risk that the focus will shift when the shutter release is released. Therefore, after the continuous shooting delay mode is released, data is fetched from the COD and the AF defocus amount is calculated.

FIG. 9 shows the AFF processing routine.

In step #100, the amount of defocus and the direction of defocus are calculated by processing data taken in from the CCD within the AF distance measuring section via the AF data bus. In step #101, the focus of the lens is determined, and if the amount of defocus is greater than a certain value, it is determined that the lens is out of focus, and the process starts from step #112.
The process proceeds to the F motor control routine, but if the defocus amount is less than the predetermined value, it is determined that the focus is in focus, and the process proceeds to the focus processing routine from step #102.

First, in step #102, an in-focus display is performed using a buzzer (not shown) or a light emitting diode LED in the viewfinder, and in the next step #103, the in-focus zone flag is set to 1 in order to memorize the in-focus state. In step #104, the signal control line RELEN of the output terminal P13 is changed from the H level to the L level in order to permit a release interrupt caused by turning on the release switch SW2. After this point, the release switch SW2 is turned on, an interrupt is generated in the CPU 1, and the process proceeds to the release processing routine from step #60 shown in FIG.

Then, keeping the lens locked in focus, step #
In step 105, the state of the photometry switch SW1 is determined, and if the switch SWI is on, the process proceeds to the photometry routine again in step #106, after which the loop returns to step #105, and an interrupt by the release switch SW2 is processed. On the other hand, if the photometry switch SW1 is off, the process proceeds from step #105 to step #107, the focus display is turned off, and step #1O8
After the focus zone flag is reset to O in step #107, the process jumps to step #17 in FIG.

Next, the AF motor control routine after step #112 will be explained.

First, in step #112, the defocus amount calculated in step #100 is calculated based on the extension amount conversion coefficient read from the lens.
It is converted into the number N of pulses sent to the encoder 82. In steps #113 and #114, the number of pulses N,
is compared with the reference pulse number N0, and if N≧N0, it is determined that the defocus amount is relatively large, and the process proceeds to the FAR zone processing routine starting from step #140.
If N<N, it is determined that the defocus amount is relatively small, and the process proceeds to the NEAR zone processing routine starting from step 115.

Now, in step #140, the values of N, -N, are
After setting the counter in I, the counter is started. Then, in step #141, the AF motor M2
AF to remember that the is in FAR zone operation
MF7 lag is set to 1. Next step #142
Interrupts from the counter are enabled, and step #14
In step 3, the AF motor M2 is continuously energized based on the defocus direction calculated in step #100 to drive the lens toward the in-focus position at high speed. At this point, each of the control signal lines CMDO to CM[13 from the CPUI to the driver control unit 8 is
, H, H, L or H, H, L, H level. After resetting the AF priority flag to O in step #144, step #145. A loop formed by the photometry switch SW1 and the photometry routine is executed in #146. In this loop, step #105. Unlike the loop in #106, it waits for a counter interrupt by the AF motor M2. Now, with AF motor M2,
The lens is driven and the CN of the CPUI is output from the AP encode.
When a predetermined number of pulses N, -N, are counted at the TR terminal, an interrupt is issued to the CPU 1, and the process proceeds to the pulse counter interrupt routine starting from step #150 shown in FIG.

At step #150, it is determined whether the release is in progress or the AF is in progress, and the AFMF7 lag or AFMN7 lag is 1.
If it is set to 9, it is assumed that AF is in progress and step # is set.
The process advances to the AF motor pulse interrupt processing routine starting at 160. Furthermore, since it is the FAR zone in this case, the process proceeds from step #160 to step #171 based on the zone determination in step #160, and the AFMF7
Lag is reset to 0. In step #172, the reference pulse number N is set in the pulse counter, and in step #
Start the counter at 173 and step #1
At 74, counter interrupts are enabled. In step #175, the stack pointer required for returning from this counter interrupt routine to the original routine is reset. As a result, the interrupt processing routine jumps to the next routine without returning to the original routine, and in step #176, jumps to the NEAR zone control routine starting from step #121.

Now, returning to step #114 in diagram @9, N+
If <No, it is determined that the defocus amount is relatively small, and the process proceeds to the NEAR zone processing routine from step #116 onwards. In this routine, step #14
Unlike the FAR zone processing routine after 0, the AF motor M2 is driven at a low speed by intermittent pulses to prevent the lens from overrunning the target stop position, and the photometry routine is not called. This is because the amount of defocus is small, so the time required to reach the target value is short, and the processing of the CPU 1 becomes complicated. This routine will be explained below.

Stella 7' After setting the number of pulses N to 1 in the pulse counter 1 at #116, start the counter at step #117, and enable the counter interrupt at step #118.
The AFMN7 lag is set to 1 to remember that F motor M2 is in NEAR zone operation. In the next step #122, the AF motor M2 is energized, and after waiting for a predetermined time ΔT1° in step #123,
At step #124, the AF motor M2 is de-energized, and at the same time, at step #125, electrical braking is applied to the AF motor M2, and at step #126, the AF motor M2 is stopped for a predetermined period of time ΔT l
1, braking of the AF motor M2 is stopped in step #127. Then, in step #128, the state of the photometry switch SWI is determined, and if it is on, the process returns to step #122 and continues the loop formed by steps #122 to #128.

During this time, the pulses output from the AF encoder are counted by the above-mentioned intermittent driving of the AF motor M2,
When this count value reaches N1, an interrupt is issued to the CPU 1, and the program proceeds to the pulse counter interrupt routine shown in FIG.

In the loop formed in steps #122 to #128 and the loop formed in steps #145 to #146, when the lens has finished being extended by driving the AF motor M2, interrupting the CPUI and proceeding to another program is as follows. The time required to extend the lens changes depending on the amount of defocus, lens torque, etc., making it difficult to manage the time for the drive routine of this AF motor M2, and the CP
This is because U1 cannot be used effectively.

Now, in FIG. 10, in this case, the AFMN7 lag is set, so steps #150-#16
The process progresses from 0 to #161, the AF motor M2 is stopped, and the AFMN flag is reset to 01 in the next step #163. After applying the brake to AF motor M2 in step #164 and waiting for ΔT7 hours in step #165,
At step #166, the brake for AF motor M2 is turned off. At step #167, the stack pointer is reset, and at step #168, the program jumps to step #21 in FIG. 6, starts integration in the COD, and repeats the photometry routine at step #27. At this time, since the AF priority flag has been reset to 0, the photometry priority mode is set, and after one rotation of the photometry loop, data can be taken in from the COD. This is because the photometric calculation is omitted in the NEAR zone control routine in FIG.

In the AF processing routine shown in FIG. 9, if the photometry switch SW1 is turned off while the AF motor M2 is operating, step #
128 and or step #145 to step #13
0, AF motor M2 is stopped, and step #13
1 disables counter interrupts. Then, in step #132, both the AFMF and AFMN7 lags, which had memorized that the AF motor is in operation, are reset to O, and in step #133, step #17 in FIG. Proceed to routine.

Returning to Figure 9, after AF focusing, release switch SW2
If it is turned on, since the release interrupt is enabled in step #104, the release interrupt will occur.
The program returns to the startup routine in FIG. 6, proceeds to steps #10→#40-4#41, and changes to the release processing routine.

Well, in step #41, other interrupts are prohibited, and in step #60, the focusing zone flag set in the AF routine is reset to O, and in step #61, it is sent to the photometry section 6 via the serial data bus. In steps #62 and #63 of the 0th order, which sends a photometry stop command to the driver controller 8, each control signal line CMDO-CMD3 is set to H, L, H, and L levels, respectively, so that the shutter 1st act, shutter 2nd act magnet) ICNG and 2C
Holds the MC and sends a command to raise the mirror. In step #64, the aperture value Ay obtained in the exposure calculation routine is converted to the number of aperture steps from the maximum aperture value of the attached lens, and in step #65, the value is transferred to the CPU.
1 Set to the internal pulse counter.

At step #66, counter interrupts are enabled.

In step #67, the state of the switch SW3 for detecting mirror up is determined, and the process remains in step #67 until the switch SW3 is turned on when mirror up is completed. During this time, pulses output from the aperture encoder 81 are input from the driver control section 8 to the CNTR terminal of the CPUI, and this number of pulses is the number of pulses output from the step # above.
When the value becomes equal to the value corresponding to the number of refinement stages set in step 65, a counter interrupt occurs, and the program returns to the 10th stage.
The counter interrupt processing routine starting from step #150 shown in the figure is executed.

First, in step #150, it is determined whether the release operation is in progress or AF is in progress. In this case, since release is in progress, the aperture interrupt processing program from step #151 is executed. In step #151, counter interrupts are prohibited, and in step #152, each control signal line CMDO-CMD3 is set to H, L,
By setting the H and L levels, the aperture locking magnet FHG is energized and the aperture preset lever is stopped. After waiting for 616 hours in step #153, the control signal lines CMDO to CMD3 are set to H9L, L, and H levels in step #154, thereby turning off the power to the aperture locking magnet) FM(:). The return command at the primary step #155 returns to step #67 of the release processing program in FIG.

When the switch SW3 is turned on due to completion of mirror up in step #67, the process proceeds to step #69, and each control signal line CMDO to CMD3 is set to H.

By setting L, L, L level, the brake to sequence motor M1 is turned on, and 61 is applied at step #70.
After waiting for 4 hours, in step #71, each control signal line C
By setting MDO to CMD3 to H, H, and H levels, the brake to the sequence motor M1 is turned off. Furthermore, in step #72, magnet) ICM
By turning off the power to G, the first shutter curtain is released from holding and starts. In step #74, the time corresponding to the shutter speed Tv obtained by the above-mentioned open field calculation routine is counted as the shutter opening time, and in the next step #75, each control signal line CMDO-
By setting CMD3 to H, H, H, and H levels, the magnet (2)CMC: is turned off, and the second shutter curtain is released from holding and starts. As a result, after the release processing program from steps #60 to #75 of 0 or more in which the shutter is opened for the time Tv is completed, the stack point is reset in step #77, and the stack point is reset in step #76. , jumps to step #80 in FIG. 11, which is the film winding routine.

First, in step #80, each of the control signal lines CMDO to CMD3 for the driver control unit 8 is connected.

By setting the H, H, and L levels, the sequence motor M1 is driven in the film winding direction. Step #8
At step #1, when the film winding detection switch SW4 is opened upon completion of film winding, step #
Proceeding to step 83, the sequence motor M is braked by setting each control signal line CHDO-CH[13 to FLL, H, L, and H levels, respectively, and the sequence motor M is braked.
After waiting for ΔT at step #84, at step #85,
Set each control signal line CMDO to CMD3 to H, H, H, respectively.
, H level, the brake for sequence motor M is turned off. In step #86, the state of the release switch SW2 is determined, and if it is off, the process jumps to step #15, which is the photometry processing program in FIG. 6, in step #90, but the release switch SW2 is still turned on. If the shutter remains open, the shutter will immediately enter the release operation and take a snapshot when the photometry and distance measurement are completed.

In this embodiment, a certain period of time ΔT starts from the time when the film winding operation is completed (step #85).

During this period, the release is prohibited even after photometering and distance measurement are completed, thereby preventing a quick shooting operation against the photographer's intention.

That is, in step #87, the snapshot delay flag is set to 1. This flag is used to determine whether or not the release is possible in the photometry routine after film winding is completed.
In the next step #88, a time ΔT9 is set and started in the timer TMR4. In step #89, an interrupt occurring a time ΔT after the start of the timer TMR4 is permitted. After that, in step #90, proceed to the photometry processing program in step #15. When an interrupt of timer TMR4 occurs in the photometry loop after the completion of 6 winding, the continuous shooting delay timer interrupt from step #280 shown in FIG. Execute.

First, in step #280, timer TMR4 is stopped, in step #281, the aforementioned continuous shooting delay flag is reset to O, and in step #282, the process returns to the original routine.

In this way, after winding is completed, release switch SW2
If the mainland is turned on, the time ΔT.

The next release operation is then started, allowing the photographer to select between single-shot mode and continuous-shot mode as desired.

As explained above, even if the charge accumulation in the CCD is completed during the delay period, which is the release prohibition period set after the completion of film winding, the distance measurement data from the CCD is not captured, and when the delay period ends, the COD is data is captured, and then the lens is driven and locked by autofocus processing, so if the defocus amount is calculated and the lens is locked at the in-focus position during the delay period, if the lens is locked during the remaining delay period. If the distance to the subject changes, it is possible to eliminate failures such as the release operation being performed while the camera remains out of focus after the delay ends. Note that since the COD does not start accumulating charge after the delay period, there is no worry that the time until the release operation is too long.

[Effect of the Invention 1 According to the present invention, during a certain release prohibition period after the completion of film winding, only charge is accumulated in the COD, which is the distance measuring element, and autofocus is not locked. Even if the distance to the subject changes during the release prohibition period after autofocus is locked, there is no longer any fear that the release operation will be performed while the focus remains out of focus.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an electrical circuit diagram showing one embodiment of a camera system to which the autofocus control section of the camera of the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a time chart showing the operation of the AF distance measuring section of Fig. 1, @3 Fig. is a circuit diagram of the clock selection section in the serial 110 section of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the decoder section of the driver circuit section of FIG. 1, and FIGS.
The figure is 7 for explaining the operation of the camera system in Figure 1.
0-Chart. 1... CPU, 2... AF distance measuring section, 3... display section, 4... lens data circuit, 5... flash circuit, 6... photometering section, 7... film sensitivity reading section,
8...Driver control unit, M,, M2...Drive motor, 81 River aperture encoder, 82...AP encoder, ICM, 2CHG, FMG...Magnet. Patent applicant: Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. Agent: Patent attorney: 2 people, Sogai Aoyama Figure 11 Figure 1z

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A camera that winds the film using a motor and uses a charge accumulation type CCD distance measuring element in the autofocus processing section, and has a switch means that is turned on by pressing the release button and when the film winding is completed. , a timer means that operates for a predetermined time when the switch means is on; and a timer means that prohibits a release operation by pressing the release button while the timer is in operation; and the autofocus processing section includes a CCD ranging element. What is claimed is: 1. An autofocus control section for a camera, comprising a release/distance measurement control means for only accumulating electric charge.