FR2635201A1 - Camera with automatic flash - Google Patents

Abstract

It is an automatic flash camera which provides a clear indication of the status of a flash charge operation only when the user manifests the intention to take a photo. In the preferred embodiment, the automatic flash camera is equipped with a flash unit which emits light when a photometric switch is operated and an exposure value is below a certain level ; the invention includes a signaling unit indicating that a charging process is in progress, only when the photometric switch is on and the flash is not ready to operate, even when the flash is necessary to obtain a photograph properly exposed. The signaling unit informs the photographer that the photographer should wait for the end of the charging operation only when the photometric switch is on and the flash is not ready to operate, although the use of the flash is required.

Description

-1- "Camera with automatic flash" The present invention is

  relates to a camera o the flash fires automatically when the brightness of the subject

  is below a certain level.

  In a camera equipped with a zoom lens, it is necessary to know the aperture F of the zoom lens so that a correct exposure can be calculated. In addition, if the camera has a motorized zoom lens, the focal length setting should be known so

  the camera can control the zoom operation.

  A conventional solution to the abovementioned problems consisted in providing the zoom lens with a code plate situated on a cam ring for driving the zoom lens for a rotation integral with the latter. Such a system provides brushes in sliding contact with the code plate to generate a position code which corresponds to the focal distance of the lens as a function of the zoom code detected as a result of a conductive state between a ground brush which is normally in contact with the conductive configuration of the code plate and code brushes which come into contact with the code plate during switching between conductive and non-conductive areas

  conductive of the code plate when the cam ring turns.

  Each code brush generates a 1-bit signal which is a function of the conductive and non-conductive state of the code plate so that, when several of these brushes are used, a multi-bit zoom code signal is generated. However, since the brushes and code plate constitute a mechanical configuration, it is possible that the code brushes separate from the code plate and do not establish correct electrical contact for external causes, such as vibration or dust, dirt or other foreign bodies on the contact surfaces. In such a case, the resulting position code which is calculated from the detected zoom code will not correspond to

the actual position of the lens.

  In addition, when determining the lens position code -2 (i.e. the focal length of the lens), it is likely that the exposure control will not be adjusted correctly if the steps of the location code are not precise enough. For example, in the case of a camera having a lens having a range of about 35 mm to 60 mm, the camera should preferably have about fifteen position codes to ensure calculation

correct exposure.

  In a conventional camera, a zoom code corresponds to a position code. That is to say, an absolute code system is used in which each step of the zoom code has a unique value which is specific to that step and, consequently,

  specific to a particular position of the zoom lens.

  However, such a system has a problem that if the zoom code is selected as the absolute code over the entire range of the zoom lens, the number of brushes used in association with the code plate must be increased, if although the structure of

  the code plate is more complex.

  For example, if it is necessary to detect information over fifteen steps, at least four bits of information are necessary to generate the zoom code. Thus, five brushes would be required, including a ground brush, to cooperate with the code plate. While it is desirable to minimize the number of brushes required, in order to obtain a more compact camera, it is not

  convenient to reduce the number of steps of the position code.

  Some electronically controlled cameras have macro and normal photography functions that can be switched between macro and normal mode using a manual operation switch. In either mode, shooting is done by automatic focusing based on distance measurement information. A particular camera of this type is one in which the normal mode consists of a zoom mode and the camera can be switched between zoom mode and macro mode, the lens moving to a macro position and stopping in this position when the macro mode is selected by means of the manual switch and moving towards the zoom range and stopping in this range when the zoom mode is selected by means of the manual switch. When the lens is in zoom mode, pressing a wide-angle switch or a tele switch moves the zoom lens correspondingly to the wide-angle end of the range.

  zoom or towards the tele end of the zoom range, respectively.

  The distance between the subject to be photographed and the camera, as well as the brightness of the subject, are measured when the zoom lens is set to a desired position and the shutter button is pressed. Based on the result of the distance measurement, automatic focusing is performed both in macro mode and in zoom mode. Photo taking is

  also performed according to the result of the light measurement.

  In conventional electronically controlled cameras, if it is established that the subject is at a distance for which focus is impossible in macro mode, which is selected by the manual switch to thereby place the zoom lens in the macro position , shooting can only be done by manually switching from macro mode to zoom mode. This requirement, in terms of convenience, creates a considerable problem since it is practically impossible to benefit from a rapid response which might be necessary to

  obtaining the composite photograph.

  The Applicant has realized, therefore, that when the distance measurement is carried out when the lens is placed in the macro position by actuation of the manual switch, it would be desirable to be able to automatically switch from macro mode to zoom mode so that a subject that cannot be photographed in macro mode can be

  automatically photographed in zoom mode.

  Such automatic switching, however, presents a problem in that, if the lens is moved from a macro position to a normal position (zoom position, for example), it is not possible to obtain the desired photograph which was composed in macro mode due to the parallax between the lens and -4-

  the viewfinder of the camera.

  Another problem with automatic cameras that are designed to shoot with auto focus either in macro mode or in zoom mode is that it is not always possible to take a picture. view in either mode due

  subject distance measurement errors.

  For example, it is assumed that the automatic focusing is designed to be carried out in the zoom mode for a distance of the subject included in the range going from 0.90 meter to infinity (i.e. 0.90 m - oy) and, in macro mode, for a distance from the subject in the range of 0.50 m - 0.90 m. In addition, it is assumed that the lens is placed in the zoom position by means of the manual switch and that the distance measurement made by the camera is 0.89 m for an object placed at this distance. In such a case, the distance from the object is outside the above-mentioned focus range, so that it is not possible to obtain a photo. In this situation, conventional cameras give the photographer a warning indicating that it is not possible to obtain a correctly focused photo and informing him of the need to switch to macro mode, or else a trigger lock is actuated to prevent the shutter from being released even in the event of

  the shutter button.

  In response to this, the photographer puts the camera in macro mode using the manual switch. However, for the object positioned at the same distance of 0.89 m, it is conceivable that the distance measurement carried out by the device could give an erroneous result of 0.91 m. In this case, the photographer is warned of the impossibility of taking a correctly focused photograph, or the activation of a release lock function 1 prevents the shutter being released, even in the

macro mode.

  This drawback, of course, is undesirable and it is particularly serious when the automatic camera -5 is provided with a trigger lock function which makes it impossible to take photographs within a certain range.

distances from the subject.

  Another problem relates to cameras having a built-in flash device. A recent trend is to provide a camera with a function known as an automatic flash by which the camera decides whether to automatically activate the flash when an exposure value is below a level

predetermined.

  Such automatic flash cameras are typically designed to light a red light during the charging operation so as to warn the user that he must wait until charging is completed, or simply to warn the user that charging is not yet done and that the flash is not ready when the button

shutter is pressed.

  An ideal arrangement would be to provide an automatic flash camera with which the photographer can take photographs without having to worry about charging the flash. In practice, a red indicator light is either kept on during the charging cycle regardless of whether the user intends to take a photo, or

  on if the flash is not ready when the shutter button

  tor is activated and is kept on regardless of whether the flash charging is completed or not. In other words, the problem lies in the

  causes the red light to come on to alert the photo-

  graph of the need to wait before taking a photograph, even if the photographer does not intend to press the shutter button to take a photograph, or in the fact that no indication is provided to notify the photographer that the camera

  is ready, while it is waiting for the flash to be ready.

  Another additional problem associated with electronically controlled cameras is the liquid crystal display indicating the various operating states of the camera. Such a display provides information relating to the frame number of the film loaded in the camera, the focal distance of the zoom lens, the mode of shooting of the camera, the state of the battery being in the device and in the state of the loading condition of the

film, e.g. full.

  However, the space available on the body of the device for such a display is limited. If we tried to provide a display panel capable of displaying all the desired information at once, each indication of the display panel

  would tend to be so small that it would become illegible.

  Thus, some cameras do not display all of the

  information, but just display the information that the-

  Camera maker considers them to be the most important for the average photographer. However, this practice deprives certain photographers of information who prefer to have all the necessary information before taking a photograph. Some electronically controlled cameras have a rear cover closing detection switch that detects the closing of the rear cover after the cover has been opened and the film has been loaded into the camera. In response to the detection of the back cover closing, the main camera CPU drives the film advance motor to perform the "blank" advance

  of a number of film frames.

  There are certain problems associated with rear cover close switches, particularly with regard to manufacturing difficulties and unreliability in operation. The Applicant has established that it is preferable to use software to minimize the number of parts such as the switches required for the advance of the film in order to improve the assembly efficiency. , while also making the operation of the white film advance

More reliable.

  Considering the state of the art as discussed above, the object of the present invention is to provide a camera with automatic flash which gives a clear indication of the state of the charging operation of a flash only when the photographer wants to take a photograph. To accomplish the above object, the invention provides an automatic flash camera which includes a flash ignition device which emits a light signal when a photometric switch is placed in the actuation position and a value of exposure is below a certain level, the system including a signaling unit which indicates that a charging process is in progress, only when the photometric switch is placed in the actuation position, and that the flash is not ready to light up, even if ignition is necessary to

  obtain a suitably exposed photograph.

  The signaling unit warns the photographer to wait until the charging operation is complete, only when the photometric switch is put in the actuation position and the flash is not ready to fire, although

  use of flash ignition is required.

  The present invention therefore provides a system for charging a flash from a photographic camera, characterized in that it comprises: (a) means for determining whether the ignition of said flash is required; (b) means for charging said flash in response to a determination made by said determining means that ignition of said flash is required; (c) a photometry switch capable of operating between an actuation position and a non-actuation position; and (d) means for notifying that said flash is charging, only if said photometry switch is actuated and if it is determined by said determining means that firing of said flash is required, until completion of the

charging said flash.

  Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of a zoom unit constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 1B is a schematic diagram of the zoom unit of Figure 1A, in which the zoom lens is electrically operated; Figure 1C is a schematic diagram of an electronically switchable information unit that displays information of interest to the photographer; Figure 2 is a front view of a camera constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a top view of the camera of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a rear view of the camera of Figure 2; Figure 5A illustrates the rear of the camera shown in Figure 4, a rear cover of the camera being in the open position; Figure 58 illustrates an LCD liquid crystal display panel used with the camera of the preferred embodiment; Figure 5C illustrates the LCD display panel of Figure 5B displaying other useful information; Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a lens used in the camera of Figure 2, illustrating the relative arrangement of a cam ring, a code plate and a plurality of brushes; Figure 7 is an exploded view of the code plate illustrated on the lens of Figure 6; Figure 8 illustrates a camera control circuit constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figures 9 and 10 show a flowchart of computer software relating to a MAIN program executed by a CPU of the camera of Figure 2; Figure 11 is a software flow diagram of a POSITION INITIALIZATION CODE subroutine which is invoked by the MAIN program shown in Figures 9 and 10; FIG. 12 is a software flow diagram of a ZOOM INPUT CODE subroutine which is called by the POSITION CODE INITIALIZATION subroutine of FIG. 11; FIG. 13 is a software flow diagram of a VERIFICATION CODE subroutine which is called by the POSITION INITIALIZATION subroutine of FIG. 11; Figure 14 is a software flow diagram of a ZOOM REAR ROTATION subroutine which is invoked by the MAIN program shown in Figures 9 and 10; Figure 15 is a software flow diagram of a ROTATION BEFORE ZOOM routine which is invoked by the MAIN program shown in Figures 9 and 10; FIG. 16 is a flow diagram of a WIDE ANGLE ZOOM subroutine which is called by the MAIN program illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10; Figure 17 is a software flow diagram of a TELE ZOOM subroutine which is invoked by the MAIN program illustrated in Figures 9 and 10; Figure 18 is a software flow diagram of a BACKUP program which is a branch of the MAIN program illustrated in Figures 9 and 10; Figure 19 is a software flow diagram of an ERROR LOOP CODE program which is a branch of the VERIFICATION CODE subroutine of Figure 13 and the SAVE program of Figure 18; FIG. 20 is a software flow diagram of a RESET program which is activated upon initial power-up and which is also a branch of the BACKUP program illustrated in FIG. 18; Figure 21 is a software flow diagram of a FILM INFORMATION subroutine which is invoked by the MAIN program of Figures 9 and 10; FIG. 22 is a flow diagram of a series of instructions relating to the execution of a LOADING operation, this operation being a branch of the MAIN program; -10- Figure 23 represents the instructions relating to the MODIFICATION PULSE WINDING which is called by the LOADING operation; FIG. 24 is a software flow diagram of a RE-WINDING program which is a branch of the MAIN program illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 and of the LOADING operation illustrated in FIG. 22; Figure 25 is a software flow diagram of a LOCK program which is a branch of the MAIN program shown in Figures 9 and 10; Figure 26 illustrates the zoom operation of the lens used with the camera constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 27A illustrates a summary of the flowchart shown in Figures 9 and 10; Figure 27B is a software flow diagram of a series of instructions relating to a DATA I / O operation which is a branch of the MAIN program shown in Figure 27A; Fig. 28 shows the relationship between a distance measurement step and a lens lock when the camera constructed according to the preferred embodiment is in a zoom mode and a macro mode; Figure 29 is a flow diagram of a MACRO-TELE PASSAGE subroutine which is called by the DATA I / O operation of Figure 27B; Figure 30 is a flow diagram of a LOCK OBJECTIVE subroutine which is called by the DATA I / O operation of Figure 27B; Figure 31 is a flow diagram of a series of instructions relating to the TRIGGER LOCK operation which is a branch of the DATA I / O operation shown in Figure 27B; FIG. 32 illustrates a series of instructions relating to a SEQUENCE TRIGGERING operation which is a branch of the DATA I / O operation represented in FIG. 27B; FIG. 33 represents a series of instructions which constitute a WINDING operation which is a branch of the TRIGGERING SEQUENCE operation of FIG. 32; Figure 34 shows a summary of the instructions shown on the MAIN program illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 above, as well as additional instructions added to illustrate the steps involved in a flash charging operation relating to a built-in flash in the camera constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 35 illustrates a series of instructions constituting an AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE / AUTOMATIC FOCUSING FLASH operation which constitutes a branch of the MAIN program represented in FIG. 34; FIG. 36 illustrates a series of instructions relating to a LOADING operation constituting a branch of the MAIN program illustrated in FIG. 34; FIG. 37 is a flow diagram of a series of instructions relating to a TRIP PROCESSING operation which constitutes a branch of the AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE / AUTOMATIC FOCUSING FLASH operation represented in FIG. 35; A zoom position detection device according to the present invention comprises, as shown in FIG. 1A, means for outputting a zoom code 15, a code plate 13 provided on the circumferential surface of a cam ring 12 to change the focal length of a zoom lens, a plurality of brushes 14 which are mounted on the camera body and in sliding contact with the code plate 13 so as to generate a relative zoom code in accordance the conduction state of the brushes, means for detecting a position 16 which convert the zoom code into a position code corresponding to the focal distance of the zoom lens, means for recording a configuration of modifications of the zoom code 17 , the configuration of modifications being associated with the zoom operation, detection means 18 for detecting modifications of the zoom code and establishing whether the modifications coincide with the configuration of m modifications, and prohibition means 19 which carry out an examination with a view to checking whether the modifications of the zoom code are different from the configuration of modifications and, in the event of a difference, whether or not the modifications are due to separation electric between at least one of the brushes and the code plate, in which case they

  prohibit the conversion of the zoom code into a position code.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the present invention can also be implemented electrically. The electrically operated zoom lens further comprises means 16 ′ for counting and recording modifications of the zoom code of the area of the absolute code and saving it in memory as a position code which corresponds to the focal distance of the lens. , drive means 18 'of the zoom motor 10 intended to modify the focal distance of the zoom lens 11 by controlling the activation of the zoom motor 10 as a function of an input coming from the actuation switch 17' andposition code stored in memory, and correction means 19 which controls the motor drive means 18 'to rotate the cam ring 12 to a position in which the zoom code becomes an absolute code when the position of the memory-counting means 16 'is deleted. In addition, as will be explained later, the camera includes means for indicating the focal distance of the lens to allow the operator of the camera to know

the zoom lens setting.

  For example, it is assumed that the camera frame film number is given priority for information on the display panel as the first updatable piece of information which is stored in the first memory. , as shown in Figure 1C. The indication switching means

  operates to selectively switch information to.

  display to indicate the other piece of information

  updatable, such as the focal length of the zoom lens.

  Referring to Figures 2-5A, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the camera is a compact type lens shutter apparatus in which a zoom lens

  11 and a viewfinder system 21 are independent of each other.

  -13- The front of the camera houses a flash 22, a CdS detector 23 for photometric detection and a distance measuring device 24, comprising a position detector (PSD) 57 and an infrared detector (IRED) ) 56. The flash 22 Illuminates a subject, the CdS photocell 23 measures the brightness of the subject and the infrared diode (IRED) emits Infrared radiation on the subject so that the position detector PSD delivers a position signal in accordance with the distance from the subject by receiving infrared light which is reflected by the subject. The zoom lens 11 is associated with a movable barrel 27 which is movable relative to a fixed barrel 26 mounted on the body of the camera 25. The movable barrel 27 moves between a storage position (represented by a line in dashes in Figure 3) and a macro end (shown in solid lines in Figure 3). In this embodiment, the focal length of the lens 11 is variable between approximately 38 mm and 60 mm in the zoom range. In addition, the camera of the present invention has a position

macro and a locking position.

  As shown in FIG. 3 in particular, the upper part of the camera comprises a set of actuation buttons 28 arranged in a triangle, this set also being used for zooming. The front part 28a of the actuation button assembly 28 comprises a two-position switch serving as a photometric switch SWS and as a shutter release switch SWR. On the rear part of the button assembly 28, a rear button 28b is constituted by a tele switch SWT for controlling the zoom lens 11, while a second rear button 28c of the button assembly 28 is constituted by a wide-angle switch SWW, also for controlling the zoom lens 11. These three switches 28a, 28b and 28c are associated with each other so that when a switch is actuated, the other two switches cannot be actuated . Pressing the shutter button halfway activates the photometry switch SWS, while pressing the shutter button 28 fully activates the trigger switch -14- SWR. If the part of the set of actuation buttons is pressed above the tele switch SWT and, consequently, if the generally triangular part is tilted down, the zoom motor 10 rotates in a direction leading to the extension of the zoom lens 11 outside the body of the camera. Pressing the portion of the actuator button assembly above the SWW wide angle switch causes the zoom motor to rotate in the opposite direction, so that the zoom lens 11 retracts into the camera body . The rotation of the zoom motor 10 is controlled by the main CPU, which executes a sequence of instructions according to that of the switches, SWT or SWW,

which is pressed.

  As shown in particular in FIGS. 4 and 5A, the rear part of the apparatus 25 comprises a rear cover 29 (film compartment cover), a main switch 30, a mode switch 31 and an LCD display panel 32, a lever opening / closing the rear cover 36, a red indicator light (LED) Rd, and a green indicator light (LED) Gd. A film switch 33 has the function of detecting the presence of a film, while a winding pulse switch 34 is used to generate a winding pulse in response to the advance of the film. The film loading detection switch 33 is pressed into the wall 33a & the interior of the apparatus when the film cartridge is installed in the film cartridge compartment 35a, that the front end of the film is placed on the reel 35, its perforations being in contact with the film advance detection switch 34 and that the rear cover is closed. The film presence detection switch 33 is turned off when it is fully pressed into the wall 33a. When the 33-film presence detection switch is

  stop, the film is ready for advancement.

  The red Rd indicator light flashes when the SWS photometry switch is pressed and the flash emission -15- is required, but is not ready. When the shutter release button SWR is pressed and the flash 22 emits light, the red indicator light Rd lights up continuously (i.e. its ON operating cycle is equal to 100 percent). The green indicator light Gd flashes if the subject is too close when the photometry switch SWS is pressed, and it lights up continuously (as described above for the red indicator) when the subject is at a correct distance for the

flash shooting.

  The rear cover 29 opens by sliding the opening / closing lever 36 in the direction of arrow A. The main switch 30 is a three-position switch, namely a locking position SWL, a zoom position SWz and a SWM macro position. When the main switch 30-is moved in the direction of arrow B, from the SWL lock position to the SWz zoom position, or from the SWL lock position to the SWM macro position, the components of the device, such as a motor drive circuit 500, a flash circuit 600, etc., shown schematically in FIG. 8, are supplied with energy by application of electrical energy to

a main CPU 100.

  The LCD panel 32 operates under the control of the main CPU and is capable of displaying a blank winding symbol, indicating a request for blank film supply; a cartridge symbol, indicating the loading of the film; the frame number of the film; and a focal length value

  indicating the position of the zoom lens.

  The function of a switching operation is to switch the data which is displayed on the LCD panel 32. For example, as shown in Fig. 5B, the LCD display panel 32 has a film status indication area 32a intended to provide information-associated with the film 32r, a mode indication area 32b for indicating the mode of taking pictures of the camera, such as for example the normal mode 32s and an area of indication of the state of the batteries 32c used to inform on -16- the state of the batteries of the device 32t. In the drawing of Figure 5B, the film status indication area 32a is used to initially indicate a blank film advance request Ld (i.e., a cylindrical film roll case representing the loading of film ) when a film is initially loaded in the camera, the frame number of the film or the

  focal length of the zoom lens 11.

  Figure 5C illustrates the LCD panel 32 displaying other information. In this drawing, the film status indication area 32a now shows the focal length of the zoom lens, while the mode indication area 32b shows

  here a 32x daylight synchronized mode.

  The battery status indication area 32c informs the operator of the device's battery status; .- The device battery 32t has two indicators 32y and 32z. When a fully charged battery is inserted into the device, the outline of the

  the device 32t and the two indicators 32y and 32z are illuminated.

  When the device battery is partially discharged, the outline of the device battery 32t and a single indicator 32z are illuminated. When the battery voltage of the device is below a predetermined level (or when the battery is completely discharged), each drawing displayed by the LCD panel flashes. This flashing warns the photographer that

replace the battery.

  The main CPU controls a means for indicating the loading request which forces the display of the film advance request for blank capture Ld on the LCD panel 32 when the film presence detection switch 33 detects the absence film in the camera. The main CPU further controls the LCD panel 32 so as to give priority to the display of the frame number of the film loaded in the device. Regarding the display on the panel ez of the state of the film and the focal distance of the zoom lens 11, the main CPU gives priority to the frame number of the film. This first updatable piece of information is recorded in a first memory means. The indication of a second function, for example the focal distance, constitutes a second updatable item of information which is also recorded in a memory. The display of the second function on the panel 32 replaces the display of the first function in response to the actuation of the tele switch SWT, the wide angle switch SWW or the light measurement switch SWS. The main CPU also receives inputs from the film presence detection switch 33, the film advance detection switch 34, information about the presence of batteries from the battery presence switch SWB, information about the zoom code and information about the DX contact

  indicating the sensitivity of the film.

  Figure 1C schematically shows how the various pieces of information can be displayed on a limited display area. An information control means makes it possible to record a first type of information in the first memory

  and another type of information in a second memory.

  The information contained in the first memory has priority over that of the second memory so that the information of the first memory is displayed in the limited information area unless a

  switch reacting to the second type of information is actuated.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the drive circuit of the motor 500 controls the zoom motor 10 and a film advance motor 510. The drive circuit of the motor 500 is controlled by the main CPU 100. The selection button Mode 31 has the role of switching between a normal photography mode and a synchro photography mode in broad daylight. When the mode selection button 31 is switched to the normal photography mode, this mode is selected. When the mode selection button 31 is switched to the daylight synchro photography mode, this mode is

  selected. The serial mode is displayed on the LCD panel 32.

  As indicated above, the main CPU controls the film advance operation for a predetermined number of blank shots, when a new film roll is installed in the apparatus following the information of loading request, via control means by which the advance of the blank film is effected by the actuation of a film advance motor 510 as a function of the actuation of the main switch 30 and of the SWR trigger switch. The motion of the film advance motor 510 is stopped when the predetermined number of blank shooting frames has been reached in response to the output of the advance detection switch

film 34.

  The winding axis 35 is the axis of the reel on which the film is wound when the film advances from one

frame to another.

  The main CPU 100 transfers the information using a sub-CPU via a control IC. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the main CPU, the sub-CPU, the piloting IC and the automatic focusing IC were incorporated into the main CPU using very large-scale circuit integration. (VLSIC) to create a custom integrated circuit. The role of the subCPU is to transfer the photometric information from a photometric element 23 and from a distance measurement section 24 to the main CPU 100. The sub-CPU also controls the transfer of information with a focusing CI automatic. The auto focus IC controls the emission of an infrared diode (LED) and transfers output information from a position detector (PSD), which receives infrared light reflected from a subject in order to provide information distance measurement to the sub-CPU. As shown in Figure 8, the camera has a SWS photometry switch and a shutter release switch SWR (both of which are activated by pressing the shutter button 28a), a power source 300, and a flash circuit 600 which initiates the ignition of the flash 22. The flash circuit comprises a capacitor (not illustrated) which is charged by a booster circuit and a buffer circuit. The charging current of this -19-

  capacitor is sent to flash 22 so that it lights up.

  Referring to Figure 6 which shows a cam ring 12 mounted around the zoom lens 11 and connected to the zoom motor 10 via a toothed sector 12a and a pinion 10a, to advance or retract the zoom lens 11 as a function of the rotation of the zoom motor 10 using a cam mechanism, which

  is not shown in the drawing.

  In the camera constructed according to the present invention, the information relating to a modification of the focal distance of the lens 11, to a modification of the aperture f as a function of a modification of the focal distance, and the determination of the position of the lens, namely wide angle end, tele end, macro photography or locking, are the subject of an automatic detection with a view to the automatic execution of various operations as a function of the information detected. To obtain the required information, the code plate 13 is fixed to the circumference of the cam ring 12, while four brush terminals 14 (ZCO, ZC1, ZC2 and GND) are in contact with the code plate 13. A of the brushes serves as an earth terminal (GND), while the other three brushes (ZCO, ZC1 and ZC2) are used for code detection.

  FIG. 7 is an exploded plan view of the code plate 13.

  When the terminals ZCO, ZC1 and ZC2 come into contact with a conductive area of the code plate, represented by hatching in the drawing, a 0 "signal is generated, but if a brush is not in contact with a conductive zone, a signal "1" is generated. Thus, a three-bit information detection signal generated by the conduction ratio between the brushes ZC1-ZC3 and the earth brush

GND corresponds to a ZC zoom code.

  Below the code plate 13 (FIG. 7) is illustrated a POS position code corresponding to the ZC zoom code, as represented in table 1. The POS position code represents the Valer

hexadecimal from 'OH "to" EH ".

  In the camera, there are 15 detection steps corresponding to the focal length of the lens. There are therefore 15 -20- POS position codes. It should be noted that the indication relating to the focal distance provides for 6 steps corresponding to the code of

POS position.

  To detect the 15 positions using three brushes, it is necessary to create a common relative code, containing the zoom code, corresponding to different step positions. In the embodiment, the absolute code is selected by providing a one-to-one correspondence between the part in which the position code POS is equal to "CH", "IH", "DH" and "EH" and the part in where the ZC zoom code is equal to "0, 1, 2 and 3", while the relative code is selected by providing a repeated correspondence between the position code equaling "2M" to "CH" and the ZC zoom code

equaling "4" to "7".

  When POS equals "OH", the zoom lens 11 is retracted into the fixed barrel 26 and the front of the lens 11 is covered by a barrier (not shown) to select the lens locking mode. A POS position code from "2H" to "CH" indicates a range allowing the zoom function, while a POS position code equal to "EH" indicates a macro position used for taking a close-up. The limit section between the locked position and the zoom range, as well as between the zoom range and the macro position, indicates a

range of stop prohibition.

-21-

Table 1

  ___oo _l _ / _ L _? _; // _____________ I '__ L _ / _ L / ____

POS O 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A 8 C D E

---- '-----

ZC2 O O 1 1 1 1 1 1i 1 1 1 1 O O

ZC1 1 O O O 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 O

ZCO 1 1 1 O O 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 O 0

ZC 3 1 5 4 6 7 5 4 6 7 5 4 6 2 O

I ndi -

  Ca- 38 38 38 42 46 50 55 60 60 60 t ion (mm) _,

L -...... J ---------------

  VER- OFF Zoom range OFF Macr

ROUIL- in- ln-

LAGE ter- ter-

  dit dit d it Absolute code Relative code Absolute code

  at__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

  -22- A circuit configuration used with the camera

  of the present invention is explained with reference to Figure 8.

  The operation of the device will be explained with reference to several flowcharts, shown in Figures 9-23. In the

  following description, the processing associated with the zoom concerning the

  the present invention will be described in detail, while the processing relating to the control of the shutter or the advance of the

  film will only be briefly treated.

  A main CPU 100 has four serial signal lines. An AF shutter unit, which performs processing related to the shutter, is connected to the four serial signal lines. The battery 300 supplies power to the main CPU 100 via a regulator 310. The LCD display panel 32, the zoom motor 10 and the other components of the apparatus are controlled according to the inputs from the above-mentioned switches. A backup capacitor 320 supplies current to the main CPU 100 when the battery 300 is

removed from the device.

  A circuit relating to the operation of the motor 400 is composed of a plurality of PNP transistors 401-404, of NPN transistors 405 and 406 and of a multiplicity of polarization resistors, serving to control the front and rear rotation of the lens as well. than stopping the zoom motor 10 as a function of the four-bit signals FOW N, REV P. REV N and FOW P output by the CPU

  main 100, as shown in Tables 2 and 3.

  The zoom motor 10 rotates forward for the extension of the zoom lens 11 outside the body of the camera 25 so as to

  change the focal length of the lens to the TV range.

  When the zoom motor turns back, the zoom lens 11 retracts into the body of the camera so as to modify the

  focal length of the lens 11 to the wide-angle end.

-23-

Table 2

Normal rotation

_ FOW N FOW P REV P REV N

1 Open

  __, -------- ---------------- -____ ________ -______ -----______

  2 ON ON Normal rotation 3 Open 4 ON ON Brake Open

  __ __ ________ ____..___ ____ -____ ____ _- __ _____ ____ ____

-24-

Table 3

Reverse rotation

FOW N FOW P REV P REV N

à1 Open

  - -------- T ---- $ ------ ---------------------------- -

12 ON ON Normal rotation

t i I 1t --------------------

3 Open 14 ON ON Brake

  ----------- ------- -------- -----------------------

  L. j OPEN The following switches provide information to the main CPU 100: (1) Lock switch SWL, which is set to ON when the main switch 30 is set to the lock position; (2) SWM macro switch, which is turned ON when the main switch 30 is set to the macro position; -25- (3) Film switch-SWF (element 33 in Figure SA) which is pressed when film is loaded in the device, the switch being turned OFF when the back cover 29 is closed; (4) SWB battery switch, which is turned ON by mechanical detection of the presence of a battery; (5) ZCO, ZC1 and ZC2 brushes which come into contact with code plate 13 to detect ZC zoom codes (these brushes are not, technically speaking, switches; however, since they act as switches in the circuit, they are called switches for convenience); (6) SWS photometric switch, which is turned ON by depressing the front switch 28a of the set of actuating buttons 28 by one step; (7) SWR trip switch, which is turned ON by depressing the front switch 28a of the set of actuation buttons 28 by two steps; (8) Tele zoom switch SWT, which is turned ON by depressing the rear switch 28b of the button assembly 28; and (9) SWW wide-angle zoom switch, which is turned ON by

  depressing the rear switch 28c of the shutter button 28.

  The main CPU 100 performs the following functions by executing stored programs: (1) Zoom control according to the conduction state of the brushes; (2) Control of the zoom motor 10 as a function of inputs from the switches and the zoom code; (3) Keeping and recording in memory of the modifications of the zoom code as position code by counting it from the absolute code section; (4) Maintaining the configuration of code information modifications associated with the zoom operation; (5) Detects changes to the zoom code and checks whether or not the changes coincide with the configuration of -26- changes; (6) If the modification of the zoom code differs from the configuration of modifications, check whether the modification is due to the separation of at least one brush from the code plate and, if the modification is due to the separation of a brush , prohibits the conversion of the zoom code into a position code after the detected change; and (7) controls the zoom motor so that the cam ring rotates to a position in which the zoom code becomes a

  absolute code when the counting memory is erased.

  MAIN program The MAIN program flow diagram is shown in Figures 9 and 10. The Main program specifies the basic operation of the camera. Associated programs, called subroutines, are executed after being called by an instruction of the MAIN program. The steps 1-22 of FIG. 27A constitute a summary flowchart of the MAIN program illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 27A describes the instructions necessary for the execution of a given I / O operation,

  this operation being summarized in steps 51-64 of FIG. 10.

  The instructions shown in Figure 27A have been worded to correspond to their instructions listed on the

Figures 9 and 10.

  In step (referenced in the drawings by "S" followed by the instruction number) 1, the state of each switch is sent to the input of the main CPU 100, which stores the detected values into memory so that you can supply a series of initial switch values. A position flag Fpos is examined to determine if the flag has been set to 1. The position flag indicates the reliability of the position code. If the flag is set to 1, the processing continues in step 3. If the flag is set to 0, a subroutine POSITION CODE INITIALIZATION (POS INI) is executed in step 4, which will be described below. after. The POS INI subroutine is executed when the relative code is used for POS detection and has the characteristics of a

  element particular to the invention.

  -27- In step 3, the switch states are again introduced. The purpose of this step is to detect any dynamic change in the selection of the switches by comparing the selected values which have been read again with the data recorded in the memory. In step 5, the battery switch SWB is examined to determine if it is ON. If this switch is OFF, i.e. if the battery is removed from the device, processing continues at step 6 for connection to a series of SAVED instructions, which will be described thereafter. The camera constructed according to the present invention keeps the data recorded in memory for a certain period of time in the event of removal of the battery 300 (in the case, for example, of a replacement of the battery) in

  using the energy that is stored in the capacitor 320.

  When backup power is used (i.e., capacitor 320), any operation involving the use of a large amount of energy should be prohibited. To do this, a

  connection is carried out on the instructions SAVE.

  The first step in operating a camera is to load the film. Automatic film loading is carried out by pulling the film up to the point where its end rests on the winding axis 35. To order the film loading, a FLODRQ film loading request flag and a end of loading FLDEND are used. These flag operations are carried out in step 257 of the SAVE instructions (FIG. 18), step 309 of a series of instructions for performing a RESET operation (Figure), step 325 of a series. instructions for performing a REWIND operation (Figure 22) and steps 358, 360 and 361 of a series of instructions for performing a REWIND operation

  LOCK (figure 23), as well as in the MAIN program.

  Once the battery charge has been established (step 5), steps 7-14 are performed to establish whether the film switch SWF is in a condition corresponding to what was estimated from the charge flags of film. If the condition is different from that which has been estimated, information of the film frame is displayed on the LCD panel 32, while if its condition corresponds to that which had been estimated, the preceding information (namely , either the focal length or the frame of the film) is maintained on the LCD panel 32 and the

  processing continues at step 15.

  Thus, in step 7, it is a question of determining whether the flag for the end of loading FLDEND is set to 1. Initially, this flag is set to 0, which means that the loading of the film has not yet occurred. If this flag is set to 0, it is determined, in step 8,

  if the FLDRQ load request flag is set to 1.

Initially, FLORQ is set to 0.

  When it has been determined that the two flags are at 0, the film switch is checked (step 9). When the end of the film is pulled until it reaches the spindle 35 and the back cover 29 is closed, the film switch SWF is turned OFF and the load request flag FLORQ is set to 1 in step 10, so that the operation

  film loading can begin.

  When this flag is 1 and the program loops back

  again on this step, the test carried out in step 8 is positive.

  When the film loading is complete, the decision in step 7 is positive. Consequently, the same test as in step 9 is carried out in step 11. The film switch SWF is set to ON after the FLORQ OR FLDEND flags are set to 1 when the rear cover 29 is open or the film was rewound. In the first case, the FLORQ and FLODEND flags are set to zero (steps 12 and 13) and the state of the film is then indicated on the LCD panel 32 (step 14). Film information is given with priority display of the focal length, except when the LCD panel is temporarily switched to

  display of other information.

  In step 15, a check is carried out in order to establish whether the load request flag FLDRQ is at 1. If this flag is set to 1, the state of the macro switch SWM and that of the interlock switch SWLs are checked (steps 16 and 17) to establish a possible modification after saving their setting values in memory. In the event of modification, the processing is connected to a LOADING operation (step 18). If no modification is noted, the MAIN program continues in step 19. In step 19, the state of the locking switch SWL is judged by examining the data entered relative to this switch and obtained from from step 3. The SWL lock switch is turned ON when the camera is placed in a storage or non-use condition. In this case, the POS position code is examined to determine if it is equal to "OH, that is, if the lens has been placed in the locked position (step 20). If the lens is already in the locked position, processing continues at step 21 and the LOCK subroutine is called in. If the lens is not in the locked position, a ZM REV program (step 22) is executed reverse rotation of the zoom motor to retract the lens

  zoom in the body of the device in the locked position.

  When the lock switch SWL is set to OFF, the following operations are performed: First, in step 23, the state of the macro switch SWM is examined. If the SWM macro switch is set to ON, as required to set the lens to the desired position for close-up photography, the position code POS is examined (step 24) to determine if it is equal to "EH". If POS equals "EH", the lens is already in the macro position. As a result, processing advances

  to point A shown in Figure 10.

  If POS is not equal to "EH", the processing goes to steps 25 and 26, in which a counter associated with the SCANT information is set to 8 and a sub-program ZM FOW is called to rotate the zoom motor in before. Step 25 is a timer instruction which displays the focal length of the lens on the LCD panel for one second. Then the

  MAIN program is executed again.

  When it has been determined, in step 23, that the macro switch -30- SWM is OFF, the objective must be in the range in

  which POS is equal to "2H-CH", ie in the zoom range.

  Consequently, if the POS position code is greater than or equal to "2," (step 27), the next question is whether the POS position code is less than or equal to "CH" (step 28). If POS is less than "2H" (ie if POS is equal to "OH" or "1H"), the lens is in the locked position or the limit zone between the locked position and the range of zoom. Accordingly, to extend the lens to the zoom range for photography, the above-mentioned counter adjustment operation of step 25 is performed. Then, the operations relating to the forward rotation of the zoom motor of step 26 are executed. When POS is greater than "CH", the lens is in the macro position or the boundary area between the macro end and the zoom range. Consequently, after the SCANT information counter has been set to "8", in step 29A, the subroutine relating to the

  backward rotation of the zoom motor is called in step 22.

  When steps 27 and 28 both provide affirmative answers, the lens is in the zoom range. The condition of the wide-angle zoom switch SWW is then examined (step 298). When this switch is ON, the film information displayed on the LCD panel disappears to make room for the lens focal length display (step 30)

  and the SCANT information counter is set to "8" (step 31).

  Next, the wide-angle flag FwIDE is examined to determine if the lens is at the wide-angle end (step 32). A value is assigned to the wide-angle end flag FwiDE in step 116 of the POS INI subroutine (FIG. 11), in step 162 of the ZM REV subroutine, in steps 185 and 189 of the ZM FOR subroutine and in step 211 of a WIDE ANGLE subprogram. If this flag is 1, the objective is already at the WIDE-ANGLE end and cannot be moved further. As a result, processing advances to point A, shown in Figure 10. If the GRAND-ANGLE FWZDE end flag is 0, the GRANDANGLE subroutine

is called in step 33.

  -31- When it has been established that the wide-angle switch SWW is OFF in step 29B, the processing advances to point B, shown in FIG. 10, to allow the determination of the state of the switch SWT tele zoom. When the tele switch SWT is ON, the LCD display panel is switched to indicate the focal length of the lens (step 35) and the SCANT counter is set to the value "8" (step 35). Next, the POS position code is examined to see if it is equal to "C". If POS is equal to "CH", the objective is already at the tele end. Consequently, there is a jump to step 49. If POS is not equal to "CH", a

  TELE subroutine is called in step 38 of the MAIN program.

  When the TV switch and the wide-angle switch are not ON, processing advances to step 39. In steps 39-42, the LCD panel display is switched according to the SCANT information counter . In step 39, the SCANT counter is checked to determine if it has been set to "0". As described above, the SCANT counter is set to "8" when the zoom switches SWW and SWT are ON. If the SCANT counter is not equal to "0", the SCANT information counter is decremented by one (step 40). The MAIN program performs a loop between steps 2 and 50 every 125 ms. Consequently, a period of one second can be counted by successively reducing the value of the SCANT counter, which was previously set to the value "8", by "1". Step 41 makes it possible to determine whether the information counter SCANT became "0 as a result of the subtraction operation

  above. If the counter is "0", one second has passed.

  When the value of the SCANT counter becomes "0", the LCD panel display indicating the focal length of the lens disappears to make room for the display of the film frame number (step 42), while, s' it is not equal to "0", step 42 is omitted and the information relating to the focal length of the lens

is held on the LCD panel.

  If it was determined that SCANT was equal to "0" in step 39, the

steps 40-42 are omitted.

  -32- In step 43, the FLDRQ load request flag is examined to see if it is 1. If this is the case, the current setting value of the trigger switch SWR is compared with its value in memory to determine if there has been a change (steps 44 and 45). If the SWR trip switch has been changed, i.e., it has changed from OFF to ON, the instructions

  LOADING are executed by a connection from step 46.

  If the state of the SWR trip switch has not been changed or if it has changed from ON to OFF, the processing continues with a return to the MAIN program. However, if the load request flag FLDRQ is 1, the verification of the state of the photometry switch SWS in step 47 is not performed. Consequently, the operation of the photometric switch SWS has not

  no effect on the camera.

* When the FLDRQ load request flag is at 0, the setting value of the photometry switch SWS is compared with its value which is stored in memory (step 48) to establish whether there has been a modification. If there has been no change, or if the setting has changed from ON to OFF, step 49 is executed so as to re-write the switch data in the memory in step 3, after a pause 125 ms (step 50) before returning to

step 2.

  Similarly, if the SWM switch is ON and the lens is in the macro position or the wide-angle switch SWW is ON and the lens is at the WIDE-ANGLE end or the TV switch SWT is ON and the target is

  at the tele end, the processing advances to step 49.

  When the SWS photometry switch goes from OFF to ON, the SCANT information counter is set to "1" (step 51) and the information displayed on the LCD panel is replaced by the display.

  the focal length of the lens (step 52).

  In step 53, the exposure value Ev is calculated from the luminosity information of a subject, obtained from the CdS detector and from the sensitivity of the film which is calculated

  from the DX code of the film.

  -33- In steps 54-64, the states of the photometry switch SWS, the battery switch SWB, the trigger switch SWR and the latch switch SWL are introduced successively

  checked to determine if the switches are ON or OFF.

  First, in step 55, the state of the photometry switch SWS is determined. If this switch is OFF, processing resumes at the start of the MAIN program. Since the SCANT information counter was at "1" in step 51, this counter takes the value "0" in step 40 for the first loop and the display of the focal distance on the LCD panel place for the display of

  number of film frames in step 42.

  If the photometric switch SWS is ON (step 55), the battery switch SWB is checked to determine if it is ON (step 56). If the SWB battery switch is OFF, the BACKUP instructions are executed by branching from step 57, while if the switch is ON, step 58 is executed

  to set the SWR trip switch setting.

  If the trigger switch is ON, an EXPOSURE subroutine is called in step 59. The subroutine

  controls the operation of the camera shutter.

  Then, a WINDING subroutine is called in step 60 to advance the film of a frame. Once the WINDING subroutine is complete, the next step is to decide whether or not the film should be rewound (step 61). When the winding is

  correctly completed, the answer obtained in step 61 is negative.

  As a result, treatment resumes at the start of the MAIN program. If it has been determined that the end of the film has been reached, a series of instructions for performing a REWIND operation are executed by branching from step 62. If step 58 establishes that the trigger switch SWR is OFF, the state of the interlock switch SWL is checked in step 64. If the interlock switch SWL is ON, processing resumes at the start of the MAIN program , while if it is OFF, there is a

  connection upstream on step 54.

  -34- The above explanations made it possible to describe each stage of the

  MAIN program. The following description is intended to explain

  the operations executed by the various subroutines which are

  called by the MAIN program.

  POSITION CODE INITIALIZATION subroutine (POS INI) Figure 11 illustrates the initialization operations called in step 4 of the MAIN program. The FPos position code flag is set to O when a RESET subroutine (shown in Figure 20) is called or when the execution of a CHECK CODES subroutine (shown in Figure 13) shows that the ZC zoom code has an abnormal value. In the first case, the subroutine is executed when a battery is inserted for the first time in the camera, or when the battery is removed from the camera and is not reinstalled

  within about seventeen minutes.

  Since the current of the backup capacitor 320 is usually less than the current required to maintain the camera memory after the battery has been removed and left out of the camera for more than ten- seven minutes, the camera constructed in accordance with the present invention is designed to erase its memory

when this situation occurs.

  The purpose of the initialization operation is to move the lens away from the zoom range, where the zoom code is a relative code, passing through the wide-angle end section to the absolute code section of so as to start the counting relative to the size of the

  moving the lens from the absolute code section.

  Consequently, the first instruction to be executed (step 101) relates to the introduction of the zoom code ZC on the basis of the state.

  of conduction of the brushes which are in contact with the code plate.

  To do this, a ZOOM CODE INITIALIZATION subroutine (ZC IN),

  illustrated in Figure 12, is called.

  In step 102, the position code POS is provisionally selected as a function of the zoom code ZC. introduced. In addition, the ZC FOW and ZC REV modification estimate values of the zoom code and the provisional zoom code are saved in the

device memory.

  As shown in Table 1, the 15-step position code POS is obtained from a three-bit zoom code ZC of eight steps. Consequently, the ZC zoom code is considered by dividing the absolute ZC code (which is equal to "0, 1, 2 or 3") which corresponds to a POS position code of "OH", 1H, "DH" or " EH "one by one and the relative code ZC (which is equal to" 4, 5, 6 or 7 ") which corresponds to POS equal

at "2m '-" C. "several at 1.

  In the relative code part, the POS position code equal to "3.", "7H" or "BH" corresponds to a ZC zoom code of "4"; the POS position code equal to "2H", "6H" 'OR "AH" corresponds to a ZC zoom code of "5"; the POS position code equal to "4H", "8H" OR "CH" corresponds to a ZC zoom code of "6"; and the POS position code equal to "5 '" or "9H" corresponds to a ZC zoom code of "7"; temporarily setting the POS position code forces the zoom code to be set to "4, 5, 6 or 7", values corresponding respectively to the relative code "BHm", "AH '", "CH" or "9H". When the photography lens is in the POS range equal to "2H" - "8H", the value different from that

  corresponding to the current position of the lens is selected.

  The zoom code value, which is expected to change when the lens moves to the tele end or wide-angle end, is selected based on a modification estimate value ZC FOW and ZC REV, respectively. However, this value is rewritten, at the same time as the modification of the

  POS code position in the VERIFICATION CODES subroutine.

  In step 102 of this subroutine, when the entry of the zoom code in step 101 is selected as "5", the position code POS is temporarily set to "AH" and, consequently, ZC

  FOW is set to "4" and ZC REV is set to "7".

  In step 103, the output of terminal ZC2 is checked to see if it is equal to O. As shown in table 1, the output of terminal ZC2 becomes 0 when the zoom code ZC is an absolute code. In this case, the temporary POS position code setting is correctly selected. The subroutine puts -36-

  then the POS FPos flag at 1 then returns to the MAIN program.

  When the output from terminal ZC2 is 1, the zoom code ZC is the relative code and the POS position code provisionally selected may not coincide with the actual position of the lens. Consequently, the zoom motor is rotated backward (step 105) to move the lens up to the

  part of absolute code adjacent to the wide-angle end.

  In step 106, the information prohibition flag FNODSP is set to 1. This flag is used to determine whether the focal distance of the objective should be indicated when the VERIFICATION CODES subroutine (which will be described later) is executed. When this flag is set to 1, the display on the LCD panel of incorrect focal distance information, which occurs when the provisionally selected PQS position code does not coincide with the actual position of the photography lens, is prohibited. This flag is also used for the WIDE ANGLE subroutine which

  will also be described later.

  In step 107, a CHECK CODES (CODE CHK) sub-program (Cf. figure 13) is called to check the position code. The processing performs a loop between steps 107 and 108 until the position code POS is equal to "1H". When this code is equal to "HI", step 109 is executed so as to introduce a delay period of tl ms before the zoom motor is driven in forward rotation so as to prevent backlash from the

mechanical system.

  Then, the CHECK CODES subroutine is executed again (step 111), several times if necessary, until the position code POS is equal to "2H" (step 112). When the position code is equal to "2H", the FNODSP information prohibition flag is set to 0 (step 113) and the zoom motor is stopped at

step 114.

  Finally, the FPos code position flag and the wide-angle end flag FwIDE are set to 1 (steps 115 and 116) before

return to the MAIN program.

  -37- ZOOM CODE INPUT subroutine (ZC IN) Figure 12 illustrates the ZOOM INPUT CODE subroutine which is executed in the POSITION CODE INITIALIZATION subroutine and the

CHECK CODES subroutine.

  This subroutine improves the reliability of the zoom code which is detected by interfacing the brush terminals ZOO, ZC1 and ZC2 with the code plate. The brush outputs are compared by repeating the entry of the zoom code ten times. When the results match three times, the corresponding zoom codes & these results

are defined.

  When examining the conduction relationship between the code plate and the brush terminals, the OFF signal (signal level "1) may be detected due to a temporary separation of a terminal, when the position should corresponds to the ON signal (signal level "0"). Consequently, the detection results are combined together in an AND gate and the terminal in question is considered to be conductive if the detection

  shows that it is conductive at least once for ten tests.

  This avoids an incorrect reading of the brush terminal which could be due to the temporary separation of a terminal and the code plate. When this subroutine is called, the ZC zoom code recorded in REGISTER 2 of the memory is read and a Z counter is set to "3". Then, the result obtained by combination in an AND gate obtained by the introduction, repeated ten times, of the zoom code is recorded in REGISTER 1 (steps 120-122). The value of REGISTER 1 is then compared to that of REGISTER 2 (step 123). If the two registers are different, the value of REGISTER 1 is

  moved to REGISTER 2 in step 124.

  In steps 124-126, the counter Z is set to "1" and the subroutine is put in the standby mode for 500 ls before the introduction of another zoom code. When the detection result of this cycle is the same as that of the previous cycle, the REGISTER 2 becomes equal to the REGISTER 1. Consequently, the counter Z is examined (step 127) to decide whether it is equal to "3". If the Z counter is not equal to "3", it is incremented by "1" (step 128) and the processing returns to step 122 after a pause of 500 Ps. If the Z counter is equal at "3 (step 127), this means that the REGISTER 1 has been equal to the REGISTER 2 for three successive cycles of the steps 122 and 123 after the zoom code ZC has presented different values coming from the zoom code memory, the value from REGISTER 2 is defined as the zoom code ZC (step 129 ') and operations resume at the point at which the

  ZC IN subroutine had been called.

  CHECK CODES subroutine (CODE CHK) Figure 13 illustrates the CHECK CODES subroutine which modifies the POS position code according to the ZC zoom code, which is itself modified following a zoom operation. This subroutine is frequently used in the zoom processing illustrated in Figures 14-17, in addition to the subroutine

POSITION CODE INITIALIZATION.

  In step 130, the data relating to the locking switch SWL, to the macro switch SWM, to the battery switch SWB, to the wide-angle switch SWW and to the tele switch SWT are introduced. In step 131, the state of the battery switch SWB is determined. If this switch is OFF, the brake is applied to the zoom motor (step 132), processing the register register stack

  the CPU 100 is executed (step 133) and the processing is connected to -

  the SAVE instructions, illustrated in figure 18.

  When the battery switch is ON, the ZC zoom code is entered by executing the ZOOM CODE INPUT subroutine described above (step 134). Then, an FCHNG code modification flag is released and set to 0 (step 135) before the comparison of the contents of the zoom code ZC and the zoom code stored in memory is performed (step 136). The FcHNG code modification flag is only used for this VERIFICATION CODES subroutine to determine if the POS position code has been re-registered during

of the processing associated with the zoom.

  If the zoom code is equal to the value stored in memory, it -39-

  returns to the point where the subroutine was called.

  However, when the zoom motor is running, the value of the zoom code

  becomes different from that which had been stored in memory.

  When the zoom code is different from that stored in memory, it is necessary to decide whether the zoom motor is running in the

forward direction (step 137).

  If the zoom motor is rotating in the reverse direction, it is a question of determining whether the modified zoom code ZC coincides with the modification estimate value ZC REV (step 138). When this CHECK CODES subroutine is called in the zoom operations Illustrated in Figures 14-17, the modified zoom code normally coincides with the modification estimate value. Consequently, in step 139, the value "l1" is subtracted from the position code POS, the zoom code recorded in the memory is replaced by the value obtained after moving the zoom lens and the estimation values of modification ZC FOW and ZC REV are reinitialized so as to correspond to the position code POS obtained after execution of the subtraction. The value of the FNODSP information prohibition flag is then examined to determine whether it has been set to 1. If this flag has been set to 0, the focal distance of the lens is indicated on the display panel (step 141). If the value of the prohibition flag is 1, step 141 is omitted. Whether or not the focal length of the lens is displayed, the FCmNG code modification flag is set to 1 in step 142 before the subprogram returns to

  the place from which he had been called.

  However, when the CHECK CODES subroutine is called in step 107 of the POSITION CODE INITIALIZATION subroutine (figure 11), it is possible that the zoom code, after moving the lens, is different from the value estimate of the modification. As in the example described above, when the temporarily selected POS position code is "AH", ZC REV is "7", ZC FOW is "4", while when the actual position of the objective before modification corresponds to POS equal "2H", the ZC zoom code after displacement of -40 the objective becomes equal to "1" for a ZC REV modification estimation value of "7". Consequently, the two values are not equal and the processing proceeds from step 138 to step 143. In step 143, the zoom code ZC after modification is checked to determine whether it is equal to "1" while the zoom before modification code is equal to 5. If the comparison of the two values is positive, the processing goes to step 144, during which the camera decides that the lens has moved from the position code POS "2Hi" to POS position code "1H". Consequently, the POS position code is forced to "1iH", and stored in memory, ZC FOW is set to "5" and ZC REV is set to "3". Then the command returns to

  the point at which the subroutine had been called.

  Thanks to the operation described above, if there is an error relating to the position code provisionally selected, this

last one is corrected.

  When returning to step 137, if it is established that the zoom motor is rotating forward, the subroutine goes to step 145 during which it is established if the zoom code ZC after moving by

  the objective is equal to the modification estimate value ZC FOW.

  If the two values are equal, the position code POS is incremented by "1H", the zoom code is stored in memory, and the modification estimation codes ZC FOW and ZC REV are selected (step 146). For example, if the lens is moved to a point where the POS position code is equal to "4H", ZC FOW will be equal to "7" and ZC REV will be equal to "4". Next, the value of the FmODSP information prohibition flag is examined to determine whether the flag has been set to 1. If this flag has been set to 1, the focal length of the lens is displayed on the LCD panel (step 148). When the value of the prohibition flag is 1, step 148 is omitted. Whether or not the focal length of the lens is displayed, the FcmNG code modification flag is set to 1 in step 149 before the subroutine returns to the point where it was called. It is not always established in step 136 that. the zoom code stored in memory is different from the zoom code introduced in step -41- 134 when the lens is zooming due to the modification made by an effective switching of the zoom code, as mentioned above. That is, although the objective is in fact in the position corresponding to the same position code bit, which should be 0, 1 is detected because a brush is not in contact with the code plate. This separation of the brush from the code plate can occur, among other things, if the camera vibrates or if there is dust on the code plate, so the zoom code entered does not match not to the value stored in memory. In this case, the ZC zoom code does not match the modification estimate value ZC REV and ZC FOW and the verification carried out in step 143 generates a

negative result.

  Consequently, the zoom code introduced in step 134 is combined by an OR gate to reverse the logic of the zoom code recorded in memory. This inverted value is checked to establish whether it is equal to 111binary (step 150). Since this OR gate combining operation is performed for the inverse and positive logic of two codes detected in the position in which the same POS values are obtained, the result always becomes equal to lllbinary ", even if a bit, which should to be 0, is interpreted

  as 1 and the decision in step 150 becomes affirmative.

  For example, when the zoom code stored in memory has the normal value "001binary at the position where POS is equal to" 7? "And an incorrect code" 011binary "is detected by the fact that the terminal ZC1, which should be conductive, is off, "111btnary is obtained by a combination by an OR gate for the reverse logic of the value in memory" 110blnary "and the Oll0binary code". '' a broom terminal which should normally be

  detected as ON is detected as & OFF.

  In accordance with the present invention, any modification of the zoom com due to the separation between a brush and the code plate is not considered as causing a modification of the position code but, on the contrary, it is treated as an erroneous reading. of the position code. The construction of a camera system as described here makes it possible to obtain a more precise lens position detection system while avoiding

  also imprecise exposure operations.

  When the zoom code takes an abnormal value, for a reason other than the temporary separation of the brush terminal described above, steps 151-153 are executed. During these steps, the flag of POS FPos is set to O in step 151, the focal distance of the lens is displayed on the LCD panel and the processing of the register stack of the CPU is carried out. Then, the processing connects to a series of instructions (illustrated in Figure 19)

  to execute an ERROR CODE LOOP (BC LOOP).

  As an example, assume that the camera has stored a zoom code of "001binary". This results in a reverse code of "110binary". In addition, it is assumed that a new code is introduced, with a value equal to "110binary". A combination by an OR gate of the reverse code with the new code entered gives a value of "IlObinary". Since the combination by an OR gate was not equal to "111binary", the processing is oriented towards the LOOP CODE ERRONE (BC LOOP) operation. Thus, if the position code is equal to "7H" but the data indicates that the objective is at the place where the position code POS is equal to "OH", the operations are connected to the LOOP operation CODED

ERRONE (BC LOOP).

  ZOOM REAR ROTATION subroutine Figure 14 illustrates the flowchart corresponding to the ZOOM REAR ENGINE ROTATION subroutine which is called in step 22 of the MAIN program. This routine returns the lens to the locked position when the SWL lock switch is ON, when the lock switch is turned OFF in the zoom range during the lens return operation, and l operation which returns the lens from the macro position to the zoom range when the macro switch is set to OFF. To stop the lens in the zoom range, a forward rotation operation is included to -43-

  to avoid any possibility of backlash.

  When this subroutine is called, the focal length of the lens is indicated on the LCD panel when the lens rotates in the reverse direction (steps 160 and 161). Then, the wide angle end flag FwIDE is cleared and reset to 0. The ZMREV routine calls the CODE CHK routine to obtain the lens position code (step 163). The position code POS is then checked to determine whether it is greater than or less than Du ". Until the position code is at least equal to" DHi ", a loop is traversed between steps 163 and 164. When the position code becomes greater than or equal to "DH", the lens is in the zoom range or in the position of

  lockout and processing goes to step 165.

  In step 165, the interlock switch SWL is checked to determine if it is turned ON. If set to ON, processing continues at step 166 of the CODE CHK subroutine. The POS position code is then checked to determine if it is greater than or equal to "2H". When the position code is greater than or equal to "2H", the lens is in the zoom range. Thus, a loop is traversed between steps 165 and 167. When the position code POS becomes less than "2H", the execution of the loop is

  finished and processing continues at step 168.

  In step 168, the CODE CHK subroutine is recalled. Next, the POS position code is checked to determine if it is equal to "OH". Until the position code is "OH", a loop is executed between the operation of executing the CODE CHK subroutine and checking the position code (steps 168 and 169). Once the position code is "OH", step 170 is performed to apply braking of the zoom motor to stop the movement of the lens. The MAIN program then resumes command of operations. However, when the OFF state of the locking switch SWL is detected in step 130 of the CHECK CODE subprogram (called in step 166 of this subprogram), while the objective is considered to be in the zoom range at step -44- 167, the position of the interlock switch SWL in step 165 will be considered to be OFF. Processing will continue

therefore in steps 171-178.

  When the OFF state is determined for the locking switch SWL in step 165, the information prohibition flag% DsP is set to 1 (step 171). The CODE CHK subroutine is then executed (step 172), after which the code modification flag FcKHNG is queried (in step 173) to determine if it has been set to 1 (in step 139 of the CODE VERIFICATION subprogram). Until the code modification flag is set to 1, a loop is executed between steps 172 and 173. After it has been determined that the FCHNG code modification flag has been set to 1, it i.e. the POS position code has been renewed, the processing pauses for tims (step 174) before turning the zoom motor in the direction

before at step 175.

  When the position code POS is renewed in the loop between steps 176 and 177, the information prohibition flag FNODSP is erased in step 178. The brake of the zoom motor is then applied (step 170) and the control of operations is resumed at the point from which this subroutine was called. The objective stop position in this operation has twelve steps,

  represented by circles in figure 26.

  In the ZOOM REAR MOTOR ROTATION subroutine, the zoom motor is stopped at the point where the POS position code is renewed by turning the zoom motor forward once the motor has crossed the limit section of the position code POS. This allows you to cancel a possible backlash. For example, as shown in Figure 26, when the state of the lock switch SWL is changed from ON to OFF to the position where POS equals "7H" and the display of focal length is not prohibited, the value "46 mn 'is indicated on the display panel. When the zoom motor brings the lens into the zone in which POS equals" 6H ", the display is modified to indicate" 50 mm "when it enters in the area where POS -45- equals "7H". This could give the user the impression of a faulty operation of the device by switching to the TV range just before the stop operation, despite the causes the operation to shift the focal length of the lens to the wide angle end, therefore, in order to avoid this misinterpretation, the FNoosp information prohibition flag is set & O (step 178) so well the focal length of the lens is displayed again

  at the point where the zoom motor stops rotating.

  When this subroutine is called in step 22 of the MAIN program, the focal length continues to be indicated on the display for a period of one second, in response to the setting

  to 8 of the SCANT display counter in step 29.

  ROTATION BEFORE ZOOM (ZMFOW) subroutine Figure 15 is a flowchart illustrating the ROTATION BEFORE ENGINE subroutine, which is called in step 26 of the MAIN program. This subroutine refers to the operation that occurs when the interlock switch is turned from ON to OFF, the state of the macro SWM switch is changed from OFF to ON, and the macro SWM switch is then set to OFF before

  the lens does not reach the macro end.

  When the ZOOM FRONT ROTATION ROTATION routine is called up, the focal length of the lens is indicated on the LCD display. In addition, the wide-angle end flag FwzDE is cleared and set to O, while the zoom engine starts to

  rotate the lens in the forward direction (steps 180-182).

  The CHECK CODE subroutine is executed and it is determined whether the POS position code is less than or equal to "1H" (steps 183 and 184). If the position code equals "OH" or "1H", the lens is in a position between the wide angle end of the zoom range and the locked position. To allow the rotating engine to pass the wide angle end or stop at the wide angle end, the wide angle end flag FwIDE is set to 1 in step 185. The

  processing then loops back to step 183.

  The camera constructed in accordance with the present invention is designed so that the backlash of the gear system is eliminated and the stop position of the lens at the wide angle end is selected immediately after switching the POS position code from "W 'to" 2H ". For example, the lens is not always positioned at the wide-angle end of the focal length (ie 38 mm) even if the POS position code is set to "2H" It is not always possible to determine if the lens is at the wide angle end simply by examining the POS position code. big end

angle FWIDE is positioned.

  If the POS position code becomes greater than "1H '", in accordance with the movement of the lens towards the wide-angle end, or if the POS position code is already greater than 1H "at the time this subroutine is called , the SWM macro switch is

  checked to determine if it has been turned ON (step 186).

  When the macro switch SWM is ON, processing continues at step 187, so that the lens is moved to the end where the position code POS is "EH". When the value of the position code obtained from the CHECK CODE subroutine called in step 187 is determined to be less than "CH" (step 188), that is, the objective is in the zoom range, processing continues at step 190 to set the wide-angle end flag FWIDE to 0 before looping back to step 186. Thus, as long as the position code is less than CH,

  a loop comprising steps 186-189 is formed.

  At some point, the location code will be greater than or equal to "CH". When this occurs, the loop is interrupted and processing continues at step 190, o the CODE CHK subroutine (steps 190 and 191) is repeated until the position code becomes equal to "EH" . When this happens, the zoom motor brake is applied (step 192) and the processing returns to the point immediately after the one from which this subroutine

is called.

  When it is determined that the SWM macro switch is OFF, (in step 186), or if it is turned OFF while the lens is in the zoom range, the end flag

  wide angle FwIDE is Interrogated (step 193) to establish its state.

  As noted above, the wide-angle end flag FWiDE was set to 1 in step 185 and processing continues in step 186 just after the POS position code has changed from "1iH "at" 2H ", that is, the lens is at the wide angle end. In this case, the zoom motor is stopped in step 192, the lens being set to the wide angle end, and the

subroutine is finished.

  However, when the wide angle end flag FwzDE is set to O in step 193, a loop is executed between steps 194 and until the position code POS is switched to step depending on the detection of the result obtained from the CHECK CODE subroutine called in step 194. When the POS position code changes, as indicated by setting the FCHNG code modification flag to 1, the brake of the zoom motor is applied

  in step 192 and the subroutine is terminated.

  This subroutine provides for the reallocation of twelve positions

  for the lens, marked with circles in Figure 26.

  For example, when the lens is in the locked position, and the lock switch is turned OFF to call this routine, the stop position is selected as the point where the POS position code goes from 1H "to" 2H ", ie the wide angle end. When the macro switch goes from ON to OFF in the POS range equal to" 7H ", the lens stops at the point where the POS position code changed from "7H

at 8 o'clock".

  WIDE WIDE ANGLE ZOOM subroutine Figure 16 is a flowchart illustrating the WIDE ANGLE WIDE ZOOM OPEN subroutine which is called by setting the wide angle zoom aperture switch SWM to ON when the lens is in zoom mode and there is n 'reach the wide angle end. The operations used to change the focal length of the lens to the wide angle end are similar to those

  executed in the ZOOM REAR MOTOR ROTATION subroutine.

  -48- However, in the case of the WIDE ANGLE subroutine, the objective

  may stop at any desired position in its course.

  When the WIDE ANGLE routine is called, the focal length of the lens is indicated on the LCD display panel (step 200) and the zoom motor is rotated in the reverse direction (step 201). Then, the CHECK CODE subroutine is executed and the status of the lock switch SWL, the macro switch SWM, the wide angle switch SWW and the position code POS are checked. If either of the SWL or SWM interlock switches is ON (steps 203 and 204), the zoom motor brake is applied and processing

returns to the MAIN program.

  When both switches are OFF, the POS position code is checked to determine if it is equal to "1H" in step 206, which indicates that the lens is in a no-take zone. stop between the locked position and the zoom range. If the lens is in the stop prohibition zone, the zoom motor is rotated forward (step 208) after having paused for a period of 1 ms, as shown in Figure 26. The sub -program waits for code

  POS position changes from "1H" to "2H" in steps 209 and 210.

  When the position code changes, as indicated by the status of the FCHNG code modification flag, the FWIDE wide-angle end flag is set to 1 (step 211), the brake of the zoom motor is applied (step 212) and the subroutine ends. In that case,

  the lens is set to the wide angle end.

  When the position code POS, checked in step 206, is not equal to "'IH", the state of the wide-angle opening switch SWW is checked in step 213. If the opening switch Big angle

  SWW is set to ON, the processing loops back to step 202.

  So, in this case, a loop comprising steps 202-213 is

  executed until the lens reaches the wide-angle end.

  When the wide angle open switch is set to OFF, as determined in step 213, the FNODSP information prohibition flag is set to I (step 214) and a timer is initialized to count a period of t2 ms (step 215). Then, the position code POS is obtained by executing the subroutine CODE CHK in step 216. If the time period has not reached t2 ms

  (step 217), the execution of the operations resumes at step 216.

  When the time period t2 ms has elapsed, the zoom motor is started in forward rotation (step 218) to move the lens to the TV range. In step 219, the timer of ti

  ms is restarted and the CODE CHK subroutine is executed again.

  Then, the CODE CHK subroutine is executed and the timer is checked to determine if the time period ti ms has elapsed. If not, the execution of the operations returns

  in step 220 for re-execution of the CODE CHK subroutine.

  When the time period ti ms has elapsed, the processing

continues to step 222.

  The time periods corresponding to the two timers are selected so that ti is less than t2, as shown in FIG. 26. The time period ti corresponds to the time required to eliminate the backlash from the mechanical system, while the time period t2 corresponds to an arbitrary value greater than ti. If the time period t2 was shorter than ti, the lens would stop at a point closer to the tele end

than desired.

  In step 222, the FNODSP information prohibition flag is erased and set to 0. The purpose of this flag selection is

  explained in the description of the REAR ROTATION subroutine

  ZOOM ENGINE. Then the focal length of the lens is indicated on the LCD display panel, the brake of the zoom motor is applied and there is return of the subprogram to the program

MAIN.

  TELE ZOOM subroutine (TELE) Figure 17 is a flow diagram illustrating the subroutine - TELE which is called step 38 of the MAIN program. This subroutine is called by setting the TV switch SWT to ON when the lens is in the zoom range and the POS position code is not equal to "CH". The operation of activating the zoom motor so that it rotates in the forward direction to move the lens towards the tele end is similar to the operation performed in the FRONT ROTATION subroutine ZOOM ENGINE described above. It looks like the WIDE ANGLE subroutine in that the lens can stop & any position

desired range of racing.

  When the TELE subroutine is called, the focal length of the lens is indicated on the LCD display panel, and the zoom motor begins to rotate in the forward direction. The CODE CHK subroutine is called in step 232, and the status of the lock switch SWL, the macro switch SWM, the tele switch SWT and the position code POS are checked. If either of the lock and macro switches (steps 233 and 234) is ON, processing continues at step 235, which applies the brake of the zoom motor, and execution of operations resumes at point just after the one where the subprogram has

been called.

  When the lock switch and macro switch are both OFF, the POS position code is examined (at

  step 236) to determine if it is greater than or equal to "CH".

  If the location code is less than "CH", the TV switch is

  checked to determine if it is still ON (step 237).

  When the POS position code is greater than or equal to "CH", verification of the tele switch is omitted because the lens has reached the tele end. Thus, the execution of the operations goes to step 238, so as to apply the brake of the zoom motor and to

return to the MAIN program.

  However, if the position code is less than "CH", which means that the tele switch is OFF, the processing loops back to step 232. The subroutine continues to execute the loop comprising the steps 232- 237 while the tele switch SWT is ON 3 until the lens reaches the tele end. When the tele switch SWT is set to OFF (step 237), as shown in Figure 26, the brake on the zoom motor is

  applied (step 238) and the command returns to the MAIN program.

  -51- BACKUP Operation Figure 18 illustrates a series of instructions that are executed to perform a BACKUP operation. This operation is performed by connection from steps 6 and 57 of the MAIN program, as well as from a LOOP CODE ERRONE (BC LOOP) operation and the RESET operation. These instructions are executed in order to preserve data in memory for a fixed period of time by supplying the main unit CPU with electric current supplied from the backup capacitor 320 when the battery 300 is removed or exhausted. When the device goes to SAVE, all functions requiring a significant amount of electrical energy are suspended so that the data can be preserved in the

  memory as long as possible.

  When BACKUP operation begins, all inputs except the SWL lock switch, SWM macro switch, SWB battery switch, and SWF film switch are ignored to reduce electrical power consumption. at least. This is achieved by switching the access doors of the CPU 100 from an input mode to an output mode at

  using the ACCESS DOORS INITIALIZATION sub-program in step 250.

  Thus, only the data intended for the aforementioned four switches

will be detected.

  In step 251, an indication of the frame up to which the film is advanced is provided on the LCD display panel. Then the base frequency of the microprocessor is switched to a lower frequency. The operating speed of the device is reduced to reduce the energy requirements of its circuits. As is generally known, the faster an electrical component operates, the more power it generally requires. For example, when a microprocessor operates at the base frequency of 6 MHz, it can draw 20 uA of current. If the same microcomputer operates at a base frequency of 8 MHz, it will operate approximately 33 percent faster, but may require 300 uA of current. Thus, one of the techniques making it possible to reduce the energy consumption of an electrical circuit consists in reducing its base frequency, and this is achieved by performing the

  ACCESS DOORS INITIALIZATION sub-program.

  Then, a timer is started (step 253). This timer is used to clear the frame information from the film on the display panel and also to determine the memory setting of several switches. In step 254, the battery switch SWB is checked to determine if it is turned ON. If the switch is set to OFF, the film information on the LCD display panel begins to flash when the battery is removed (step 255). The film switch SWF is then checked in step 256 to determine if it is turned OFF. If this switch is ON, the load request flag FLDRQ and the end load flag FLDEND are cleared and set to O (step 257), the film frame information of the display panel is cleared (step 258 ) and processing continues at

step 259.

  If the film switch SWF is OFF, steps 257 and 258 are omitted, that is, execution of operations goes from step 256 to step 259. In step 259, the timer is checked to determine if a period of at least two minutes has elapsed since the timer was started. If less than two minutes have elapsed, the processing resumes at step 254. When the time period is greater than or equal to two minutes, the execution of the operations proceeds to step 260, at which it is determined whether the timer flag FTw is set to 1.

  The flag of the FTm timer is initially set to 0.

  When step 259 indicates that at least two minutes have passed since the timer was started, the execution of operations goes from step 259 to step 260. However, at this time, the timer flag will be equal to 0. Step 261 is therefore executed, which forces the flag of the FTM timer to 1. In step 262, the LCD display panel is deactivated to conserve additional electrical energy. Thereafter, the processing loops back to step 254. The SAVE operation continues to execute the loop comprising the steps 254-260 until the

  SWB battery switch is set to ON.

  If interrogation of the timer in step 259 indicates that less than two minutes have passed since the timer was started, steps 261 and 262 are omitted. Thus, when the power to the device is removed, the LCD display panel will continue to display for a period of two minutes. After expiration of the period of two

  minutes, the display panel will be switched off.

  When a battery is installed in the device, as indicated by the ON state of the battery switch in step 254, the above-mentioned loop is interrupted, the basic frequency is restored to its normal value (step 263) and it is determined whether a period of seventeen minutes or more has passed since the

  timer operation in step 264.

  If less than seventeen minutes have passed, the flag of the FTu timer is examined to determine if it is set to 1 (step 265). If the flag is set to 1, power to the LCD display panel (turned off in step 262) is restored (step 266) and

  the flag of the FTM timer is cleared and set to O in step 267.

  Thereafter, the FBC backup flag is set to 1 in step 268, then the operations are connected to the ERRONE CODE LOOP

  (BC LOOP) to execute error handling.

  When the flag of the FTM timer is set to O, steps 266 and 267 are omitted. Therefore, the LCD display panel is not reactivated. Instead, the execution of operations

  goes from step 256 to step 268.

  When it is established that more than seventeen minutes have passed since the timer was started, the flag of the FTM timer is erased and set to O in step 269 and the connection to the d series is made. instructions that execute the operation

RESET.

  Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing the series of instructions that execute error handling. These instructions are executed by connection from the

  CHECK CODE subroutine or BACKUP operation.

  When the BC LOOP operation is triggered, the data corresponding to the SWL interlock switch and the switch

  SWM macro are introduced and stored in memory (step 280).

  Next, the backup flag Fec is interrogated in order to determine whether it is set to 1. That is to say it is determined whether the error processing operation derives from the BACKUP operation (step 281) . If the save flag is 1, it is reset to 0 in step 282. Then, the LCD display panel is set to OFF (step 283) and the execution of the operations returns by

connection to the MAIN program.

  When the BC LOOP operation is executed after the CHECK CODE subroutine, the result of the interrogation performed in step 281 will be negative. Step 284, during which the switch data is entered, will therefore be executed. Based on the data entered, the SWB battery switch is checked to determine if it is ON. When the battery is removed, processing continues at step 286, where the LCD display panel is turned off and the operation proceeds

BACKUP.

  When it is determined that the battery switch is ON, the tele switch SWT, the wide angle switch SWW and the photometry switch SWS are interrogated (step 287). If at least one of these switches is set to ON, processing continues

at step 289.

  On the other hand, if the three switches are all OFF, step 288 is checked to determine whether the setting values of the locking and macro switches (SWL and SWM) are different from their values as stored in memory. In case of

  difference, the treatment continues & step-289.-

  In step 289, the battery voltage is checked. If the battery voltage exceeds a predetermined value, the battery is considered to be good. Flashing of the LCD display panel changes to -55-

  therefore STOP (step 283) before connecting to the MAIN program.

  The MAIN program will then determine what information is to be

  indicate on the LCD display panel.

  When (1) the tele switch SWT, the wide angle switch SWW and the photometry switch SWS are all OFF and the settings of the lock switch SWL and macro switch SWM are the same as the values stored in memory for the respective switches (steps 287 and 288), or (2) when the battery is judged not to be good (step 289), the flashing of the LCD display panel changes to ON in step 290. The settings of the lock switch SWL and macro switch SWM are stored in memory (step 291) and a 500 ms pause is introduced (step 292) before the BC LOOP operation returns to step 282, so as to turn on a loop comprising steps 284 -292

  until a good battery is placed in the device.

  RESET operation Figure 20 illustrates the series of instructions that is executed when the RESET operation is performed. This operation is executed during a reset to start-up or when a connection of operations is made from the BACKUP operation. A reset to zero operation from the BACKUP operation takes place when more than seventeen minutes have passed since the removal of a battery from the device or the failure of a battery in the apparatus. The RESET operation is executed because the capacitor 330 is only intended to allow the content of the memory to be maintained for approximately seventeen minutes. After seventeen minutes, the data stored in the memory may be corrupted or cannot be read reliably. First of all, all the memory locations and all the flags are erased in step 300. Thus, the position code flag FPos is also erased so that the subroutine POSITION CODE INITIALIZATION is called during startup. of the MAIN program. Then, the LCD display panel is energized and the ACCESS DOORS INITIALIZATION subroutine -56- (described above) is called (steps 302 and 303). This subroutine puts all access doors of the CPU 100 (except the latch switch SWL, the macro switch SWM, the stack switch SWB and the film switch SWF) in output mode. The state of the film switch SWF is introduced in step 305, after verification in step 308 to determine if it is OFF. If the film switch is OFF, loading the film becomes possible. Therefore, the FLDRO film load request flag is set to 1 in step 309 and

  the RESET operation is connected to the BACKUP operation.

  However, if the film switch is set to ON, the FLDRQ film load request flag is not set to 1. This means that step 309 is omitted when the film switch SWF is OFF. Then the treatment continues with

  connection to the BACKUP operation.

  FILM INFORMATION operation Figure 21 shows the series of instructions for performing the FILM INFORMATION operation. These instructions are executed by branching from the MAIN program, from the BACKUP operation, from the LOADING operation and from the

LOCKING.

  In step 320, the flag FLDRQ is interrogated in order to determine whether the register has been set to 1. The flag FLORQ is set to 1 when the rear cover of the apparatus is brought back from the open position to the closed position, that film is not fully loaded

  and that the film loading indicator was not requested.

  When set to 1, a Ld film load request configuration is created, in response to the load request in display memory XA, and is displayed on the camera's LCD panel (steps 322 and 324 ), the instruction series is complete

  and the command returns to the point just after the one from which a-

  there was a connection of the FILM INFORMATION operation.

  However, if the FLDRQ film loading information flag is set to 0, processing continues at step -57- 326, where the FLDEND film loading end flag is checked. If the flag is set to 1, a FILM ON CONFIGURATION subroutine (step 328) is called. This subroutine performs an Fc film count check. When Fc is not equal to 'O "0, step 332 is executed to display on the LCD display panel the number of images taken and to record the content of the film counter Fc in the display memory XA, before returning to the point from which this operation did

a connection.

* If FLDRQ equals O (at step 320) and FLDEND equals O (at step 326), processing continues at step 334 to call a FILM CONFIGURATION STOP routine. The information corresponding to CONFIGURATION FILM STOPPED is recorded in the display memory XA (step 336) and the LCD display panel is switched off. The FILM INFORMATION operation returns

  then at the point from which the connection took place.

  If the film count control Fc at step 330 is equal to "0", processing continues at step 336, described above, then resumes at the point from which the connection was made.

location.

  LOADING operation and PULSE MODIFICATION sub-program

OF WINDING

  The following description relates to the LOADING operation

  as well as the MODIFICATION OF WINDING PULSES, which are linked to each other. FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating the series of instructions constituting the LOADING operation. This operation automatically rolls up the film that the user inserts into the device until

  correct position to take a photograph.

  The operation is carried out when there is a change in the setting of the locking switch SWL, the macro switch SWM -and the trigger switch changes from AREE to 'ON, assuming that the load request flag FLDRO has been put to

1 in the MAIN program.

  First, a WPCNT winding pulse counter is set to -58- "18 in step 338. This count corresponds to the winding of four and a half frames of film. A MODIFICATION subroutine WINDING PULSES (step 340) then takes place as shown in FIG. 23. In the MODIFICATION OF WINDING PULSES, a film advancement (winding) motor starts a forward rotation in step 3401. The initialization flag FWPZNT and the winding pulse stop flag FWPOFF are then set to 1 in step 3402. In step 3403, a timer of 1.5 seconds is initialized and started. , 5 seconds is used to determine whether the film should be rewound or not, if it is determined that the WPCNT winding pulse counter is not equal to "O" in the MODIFICATIONS subroutine WINDING PULSES (figure

  23), the description of which will follow, a return flag is set &

  step 3404, so that the forward rotation of the winding motor is stopped in step 3405, even if more than 1.5 seconds have passed after the forward rotation of the winding motor or the rise of the winding pulse. Processing then resumes from the LOADING operation. This example relates to the initial film loading step, in which the film normally advances in 1.5 seconds before processing continues at step 3406. After entering switching data at in step 3406, the presence of the battery in the apparatus is established in step 3407. This check is carried out in order to determine whether the battery has been removed during the advancement of the film. If this is the case, a connection is made to the BACKUP operation after stopping the forward rotation in step 3408. With a battery charged in the apparatus, step 3409 is executed. This step is used to check whether the film switch SWF is OFF or ON. If the film switch SWF is ON, step 3410 is executed. This step is used to set the flags FLDRO, FLDEND and the film counter Fc to "0", to stop the forward rotation of the winding motor (step 3412) and is followed by a return to the MAIN program. This operation is performed in case the rear cover of the camera is opened during the film loading operation (this operation is

  designated by the blank film advance operation name).

  If the back cover of the camera is kept closed, the film switch SWF remains OFF. Consequently, the processing continues at step 3413, which determines whether the winding pulse stop flag (FWPOFF) equals 1. As the FWPOFF flag is Initially 1, an affirmative response is given so that the processing is completed. continue at step 3414 to determine if SWwp equals 0. If SWwp equals 0, this corresponds to a low winding pulse level Wp. If the winding pulse Wp is not at the low level, the processing resumes at step 3404 to re-execute the loop (including steps 3404, 3406, 3407, 3409, 3413 and 3414) until that the winding pulse Wp is at the low level. Then, the winding pulse Wp goes from the high level to the low level and step 3415 is executed to set the flag FWPOFF to 0. The processing then resumes at step 3404 and ends up returning to step 3413. Since the FWPOFF flag will now be 0, step 3416 will be executed to determine if the FWPINT and SWwP flags have changed. As the flag FWPINT was determined in step 3402 to be equal to 1 and as SWwp went from 1 to 0, the response to the interrogation of step 3416 is affirmative. Processing therefore continues at step 3417. Since the flag FWPXNT equals 1 at step 3417, processing continues at step 3418, where the flag FWPINT is set to 0. After the flag FWPzNT has been set at 0, the subroutine executes step 3419 to determine if SWwp is 1. If the winding pulse remains low, a negative result is obtained. Therefore, step 3404 is executed. A loop is thus traversed through steps 3404, 3406, 3407, 3413 and 3416. When the flag FWPINT has passed from 1 to 0 (in step 3416), SWwP remains equal to 0 so that the

  processing resumes CerooAveau at 3404. Entretempi, -l'lmpulsion - -

  winding Wp goes from low level to high level. This means that a change has occurred both in the flag FwPiNT and in SWwP in Step 3416. Processing therefore continues at --60- step 3417. As the flag FWPINT equals O at step 3417, processing continues at step 3420, at which the flag FWPINT is set to 1. Then, step 3419 is executed, step at which the winding pulse goes from low to high level and SWwp is set to 1 so that a FLASHING CONFIGURATION OF FILM subprogram is executed in step 3421. The FLASHING INFORMATION CONFIGURATION OF FILM subroutine is executed for switching on the film configuration on the panel LCD display when the winding pulse goes from low to high. As a result, the liquid crystal display panel provides a display corresponding to the actual advance of the blank film. After the subroutine of step 3421 is executed, the winding pulse counter WPCNT is decremented by "1 '(step 3422), so that the content of said counter becomes equal to" 17 ". step 3423, it is a question of determining if the counter WPCNT is equal to "0". If said counter is not equal to "O", the sub-program MODIFICATION OF WINDING PULSES returns to step 3403 , to which the above processing is repeated. That is, in the WINDING PULSE MODIFICATION subroutine, the content of the winding pulse counter WPCNT is decremented by one each time the l winding pulse Wp. When said counter reaches "0" O, the forward rotation of the film advancement motor is stopped (step 3424), a flag is set for the non-execution of a rewinding operation and the treatment is

  continues to step 342 of the LOADING operation.

  In step 342, it is a question of determining whether the WINDING subroutine must be executed. When step 3423 of the WINDING PULSE CHANGE subroutine is executed, the question of whether to go to step 344 is answered negatively, while, if the processing goes through step 3404, an affirmative answer is given to go to steps 346 and 348. In steps 346 and 348, the flag FLDEND is set to 1 and the flag FLDRQ is set to O for the RE-WINDING operation. In steps 344, 350 and 352, the film counter Fc is set to "1", -61- FLoEND is set to 1 and FLDRQ is set to 0. Then, the operation

  FILM INFORMATION (step 354), already described, is executed.

  RE-WINDING operation FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating the REWINDING operation which makes a connection from step 62 of the

  MAIN program and from "'LOADING operation mentioned above.

  This operation consists in rewinding the film in the

  cartridge when the last film frame has been exposed.

  In step 360, the winding motor is started in the reverse rotation direction. Next, step 362 is executed to determine whether the film loading detector switch SWF is OFF. This step is used to detect that the winding motor has stopped. When the SWF switch is ON, processing continues at step 364 to stop the reverse rotation of the winding motor, set Fc, FLORO and FLOEND to 0, as well as to suppress the display of the film bolt and the film configuration that appear on the LCD display panel. Then the subroutine returns to the start of the MAIN program. If FLORQ and FLDENO equals 0, the processing continues in the MAIN program and proceeds until it arrives at the FILM INFORMATION subroutine. However, since FLDRQ equals 0 and FLDEND equals 0, step 320 (of the FILM INFORMATION subroutine) provides a negative response and step 326 provides an affirmative response. In step 334, a FILM CONFIGURATION STOP subroutine is executed, and information corresponding to this stop is recorded in the display memory XA (step 336), the film information area of the panel.

LCD display being obscured.

  When the film switch SWF (during the WIND UP operation) is OFF, processing continues at step 366, at which step a winding pulse detection operation is performed. This step detects the passage of the winding pulse from the low level to the high level. Then, in step 368, a film configuration blink indication operation is performed. During the indication operation of -62- film configuration, the film configuration appearing on the LCD display panel is deleted when the winding pulse changes from low to high. Then, in step 370, it is determined whether four winding pulse passes have occurred from low to high, indicating

  rewinding of a film frame.

  If it appears from step 370 that a film frame has not been rewound, steps 362-370 are repeated. Information corresponding to the rewinding of the film appears on the LCD display panel. If a frame of the film has been rewound (as indicated following the interrogation of step

370), step 372 is executed.

  In step 372, the content of the film counter Fr is decremented by "'1". Then, the FILM INFORMATION subroutine is called (in step 374) to indicate the frame number of the film on the LCD display panel. When the FILM INFORMATION subroutine is finished, the RE-WINDING operation goes by connection at step 362 and turns on the loop of its

  instructions until SWF is turned ON.

  LOCK operation Figure 25 is a flowchart illustrating the LOCK operation which is a branch from step 21 of the MAIN program. This connection is made when the lock switch is turned ON and the camera lens is

stored in the locked position.

  In step 380, the access door initialization operation is executed and the access door mode of the CPU 100 switches from input mode to output mode, so as to conserve the energy of the stack, as already explained. Then step 380A is executed to erase the mode indication and the battery indication from the

LCD display panel 32.

  In step 381, the load request flag FLDRQ is queried to determine if it is set to 1. If this flag is set to 0, the end of load flag FLOEuD is queried to determine if it is set to 1 & step 382. If the results of the two checks are negative, the power supply to the LCD panel is cut off. When one or the other of the two flags, the flag for the end of loading FLDENoD or the flag for request for loading FLORQ is at 1, the subroutine FILM INFORMATION of step 384 is called. In step 385, the data for the lock switch SWL, the stack switch SWB and the film switch SWF are entered and checked to determine whether the data which has been entered is different from the data stored in the memory (step 386). When no change has occurred, processing continues at step 387, performing a loop between steps 385-387 (a 125 ms pause being marked at step 387) until it there is a difference between the setting values in memory and the actual settings of the switches. If there is a difference, the power of the LCD panel is restored in step 388. Based on the switch data entered from step 389, it is determined in step 390 whether the battery switch SWB is to ON. If this switch is OFF, a connection is made to the aforementioned BACKUP operation (step 391), while, if it is ON, the state of the locking switch SWL

is checked (step 392).

  If the interlock switch is OFF, continuing the

  processing of the LOCK operation is no longer necessary.

  Step 392A is therefore executed. This step passes the indication

  mode and battery indication of the LCD display panel 32 to ON.

  Step 393 is then executed to determine if loading of the film is requested. If this is the case, a connection takes place towards the LOADING operation (step 394), already described. If it appears from step 393 that no film loading has been requested, a

  reconnection is made to the MAIN program.

  If it appears from step 392 that the locking switch SWL is set to ON, the processing continues at steps 395 and 396. At step 395, it is a question of determining whether FLDEND is equal to 1, and in step 396 to determine if FLDRQ is equal to 1. S1 the response

263 520 1

  For either of steps 395 and 396 is affirmative, a check is made (in step 399) to determine if the film loading detector switch SWF is set to OFF. However, if the responses for steps 395 and 396 are both negative, processing continues at step 397. Steps 397 and 399 are used to check if the film loading detection switch SWF has been turned OFF. If the film loading detection switch SWF is determined to be OFF in step 397, processing continues at step 398, where FLDRQ is set. Subsequently, the FILM INFORMATION subroutine (step 402) is called. If the result of the check carried out in step 397 is negative or if the result of the check in step 399 is positive, the processing continues at step 403. If step 399 provides a negative response, FLDEOD and FLORQ are both set to 0 (steps 400 and 401), and the

  FILM INFORMATION subroutine from step 402 is called.

  Thereafter, processing continues at step 403, at which

the status of FLORO is checked.

  In steps 403 and 404, if it is determined that The load request flag FLDRQ and the end load flag FLDEND are both 0, power to the LCD display panel

is deleted in step 405.

  In step 406, the switching data entered in step 389 are recorded in memory and the processing proceeds to step 387. If one of the aforementioned flags is set to 1, step 405 is omitted. Electrical power thus continues to be supplied to the

LCD display panel.

  Thus, during the locking operation, when the state of the locking switch SWL, the stack switch SWB and the film switch SWF does not change, the processing continues to take place in the loop comprising the steps 386-387 . When the state of the film switch SWF is changed, only one loop cycle including steps 388-406 is performed. When the state of the lock switch SWL and that of the stack switch SWB are changed, the processing leaves these loops to

  continue to the next step in the program.

  DATA I / O operation and MACRO TELE PASSAGE subroutine (MT SIFT)

  The description of the DATA I / O subroutine, illustrated on the

  Figure 27B, will be preceded by a description of the relationship between the

  no distance measurement, lens lock and focus position. In this regard, reference should be made to

Figure 28.

  The distance measurement steps are shown in increments from 1 to 36. As shown in Figure 28, the distances corresponding to these steps are listed to the right of the distance measurement steps. For example, the distance measurement step "1 corresponds to 5 m -, and the distance measurement step" 2 "corresponds to 3.7 - 5 m. As it also appears in FIG. 28, in zoom mode, the lens blocking steps are represented in steps from "1" and "3" to "19", which corresponds to the steps for measuring the distance from "1" to '18 "of the zoom lens 11. By example, for a distance measuring step of 1 ", the ideal focusing position for a lens blocking step of" 1 "is 9 m. The blocking step of" 1 "allows you to take a photograph of correct focusing in the range of 5 m. For a distance measuring step of "2", corresponding to a blocking step of "3", the ideal focusing position is 4 m. blocking "3", it is possible to take the photograph correctly placed at

point in the range 3.7 m - 5 m.

  The electronically controlled camera of the preferred embodiment cannot take a photograph of a subject for distance measurement steps from "19" to "36" when the camera is in zoom mode. In this situation, a trip lock or short distance warning (which will be described later) appears on the LCD display panel 32. The user then switches from the zoom position SW2 to the macro position SWM by manually operating the main switch 2Q, so that

  the camera switches from zoom mode to macro mode.

  In macro mode, the lens blocking steps are set from "1" to "19", which corresponds to the distance measurement steps -66- "16" - "36". As shown in FIG. 28, the steps for measuring the distance "16" and "17" correspond to the blocking step for the objective "1" in macro mode. The ideal focus position for the macro lens "1" blocking step is 0.96 m. The macro lens "1" blocking step allows you to take a point-in-time photograph in the range between 0.94m and 1m. The distance measuring step "18" corresponds to the blocking step of the macro lens "2. The ideal focusing position for the blocking step of the macro lens" 2 "is the same as for the blocking step "19" in the zoom mode. This allows you to take a picture

  at the point in the range between 0.90 m and 0.94 m.

  The distance measurement steps "16" to "18" overlap, so that point-in-time shots can be taken in both zoom and macro modes. This means that the long distance side of macro mode and the short distance side of zoom mode overlap in the range from the limit of the long distance side of the focus range in macro mode (lm) to the limit of the short distance side. of the focus range in zoom mode (0.9 m). This avoids a situation in which it would be impossible to take a photograph in macro mode due to fluctuating distance measurements when the user manually switches the main switch 30 to switch to macro mode when notified impossibility of taking a photograph in point in

zoom mode.

  In the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the distance measuring step "36" corresponds to the lens blocking step "19" in macro mode. In this case, only the short distance warning is given and the locking of the

trigger is not performed.

  In macro mode, the distance measurements from "1" to "15" correspond to the lens blocking steps "1" and "3" - "16", for executing a MACRO-TELEPHONE subprogram (under -program

  MT SIFT), the description of which is given below. For example,

  macro mode, when a distance measurement of "1" is obtained, the zoom lens is actuated to move the macro end to the tele end of the zoom range to obtain a correspondence with the step lens blocking distance 1. The ideal focal length of the lens blocking pitch "1" is 9 m; a lens blocking value of "1" allows you to take a sharp picture in a range from 5 m to i :.

  A description will now be provided of the subroutine.

  MACRO-TELE PASSAGE (MT SIFT), and an explanation will also be provided regarding the DATA I / O operation. It should be

  refer in this regard to Figures 27B and 29.

  The first step executed in the DATA I / O subroutine (step 420) concerns the conversion of the DX code of the film that is loaded into the device into an ISO SV sensitivity value. In step 422, the information POS of the zoom code of the zoom lens 11 undergoes an alpha conversion in order to obtain an exposure operation to be used in step 424. The resulting alpha value includes the variation of End ( Full aperture F) of the specified focal length position of the zoom lens, the wide-angle end serving as a reference. In step 424, an exposure operation flag is set. In response to the completion of step 424, step 426 is executed to input distance measurement data from the CPU. Then, in step 428, a

  OBJECTIVE LOCK (LL) subroutine is called.

  Once the OBJECTIVE LOCK (LL) subroutine (see Figure 30) has been completed, step 430 of the DATA I / O subroutine is executed. At this stage, photometric data information is introduced. Then, in step 432, an AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE CALCULATION AND FLASHMATIC CALCULATION (AEFM) subroutine is called. When the AEFM subroutine is finished, a check is carried out in order to determine whether the trigger locking flag RLocK is set to 1 (step 434). If the answer is 'yes', a connection is made to the PROCESSING LOCK TRIGGERING, in step 435, as will be described below. If the result of the check for the triggering locking flag of step 434 is negative, step 436 is executed to determine whether the macro-TV passing flag MT SIFT is equal to 1. If MT SIFT is equal to 1, a subroutine for processing the macro-TV passage MT SIFT is executed (step 438). This subroutine, illustrated in FIG. 29, initiates a backward rotation of the zoom motor 10 in step 4381. This allows the zoom lens to move towards the tele end. Once this step has been completed, the position code POS is checked in step 4382 and, on the basis of the code obtained, a check is carried out in step 4383 in order to determine whether the zoom lens is in the position in which POS position code equals "BH". A loop between steps 4382 and 4383 is executed until the zoom lens is positioned so that the position code POS equals "BH". When the zoom lens reaches the position at which POS equals "H", the reverse rotation of the zoom motor 10 is stopped and normal forward rotation of the zoom motor begins (step 4384). After execution of step 4384, the position code POS is checked (step 4386) in order to determine whether the zoom lens is at the point at which the code equals "CH". A loop is traversed between steps 4385 and 4386 until the position code POS equals CH. When the zoom lens is set to the specified position of the tele end, a zoom motor brake is applied (step 4387) to stop the rotation of the zoom motor. The MACRO-TELE PASSAGE subroutine (MT SIFT) is therefore finished. Processing control then returns to step 440 of the operation

DATA I / O.

  In summary, the MACRO-TELE PASSAGE subroutine (MT SIFT) is used as a switching method to switch the zoom lens 11 from the macro end to the tele end when it appears distance measurement information that the range is unusable

in macro mode.

  After the main unit CPU has executed the MACRO-TELE PASSAGE (HT SIFT) subroutine, it performs steps 440 and 442 so as to provide lens lock data (LL data) and exposure data (AE data). These two steps are also executed if the result obtained for the control in step -69- 436 is negative (that is to say that the flag MT SIFT is not equal to 1). In step 444, a check is made to determine if the trigger switch SWR is set to ON. If the trigger switch SWR is OFF, a check is made (in step 446) to determine if the photometry switch SWS is ON. If the photometry switch SWS is ON, step 448 is performed to determine if the latch switch SWL is ON. If the lock switch SWL is OFF, the DATA I / O operation loops back to step 444, creating a trigger standby mode. That is, if the trigger switch SWR is OFF, the photometry switch SWS is OFF, and the zoom switch SW2 or macro switch SWM is ON, a trigger standby mode is created in which steps 444 and 448 are

constantly executed.

  If it appears from the control of step 446 that the photometry switch SWS is set to OFF, or if it appears from the control of step 448 that the locking switch SWL is ON, the I / O operation DATA reconnects to the start of the program

MAIN.

  If it appears from step 444 that the trigger switch SWR is set to ON, we go to step 450, to which the computer program connects to a SEQUENCE operation

  TRIP, as shown in Figure 32 and described below.

  OBJECTIVE LOCK subroutine (LL) In the LL subroutine, shown in Figure 30, the distance measurement information (AF data) is converted to a distance measurement step (step AF) in step 4281. The distance measurement step is limited to a minimum value AFmin of 1 and to a maximum value AFnax of 36. Next, step 4282 is executed; in this step, it is a matter of determining whether the macro switch SWM is set to ON. When the macro switch SWM is not ON, the subroutine LL concludes that the zoom switch SW2 is ON and executes step 4283. At step 4283, the subroutine decides whether the distance measurement step is less than or equal to "18. If an affirmative answer is obtained, it is possible to take a point photograph in zoom mode. Consequently, step 4284 is executed in order to carry out the required processing to select the LL objective blocking step as the distance measurement step value. The subroutine then proceeds to step 4285, at which it is determined whether the LL objective blocking step is less than or equal when "L" is less than or equal to "1", the LL subroutine is terminated and the

  processing resumes by connecting to the DATA I / O operation.

  When LL is greater than "1", the LL objective lock step is increased by '1' (at step 4286). Processing resumes at the DATA I / O operation. So, for example, when the distance measurement step is equal to "2", a lens blocking step of "3" is selected. As described above, and as shown in figure 28, each distance measurement step "1 at 18 "

  corresponds to a respective target blocking step of "1, 3 to 19".

  When the distance measurement step (AF step) is equal to or greater than "19" in step 4283, step 4287 is executed to set the macro symbol flashing flag 2MCMFL to 1, which causes the symbol to flash macro shown on the LCD display panel. In addition, a RLOCK trigger lock flag is set to 1. Step 4287 is executed because, when the distance measurement step is in the range of 19 to 36 "while the camera is in zoom mode, it is not possible to take a point-in-time photograph, therefore it is necessary to flash the macro symbol to warn the user of the camera of the need to turn ON the macro SWM switch and to set the trigger lock in order to avoid to take a photograph that is not in focus. The subroutine then passes

  in step 4293, as will be described below.

  When the macro switch SWM is ON at step 4282, the subprogram LL goes to step 4288 to determine if the distance measurement step is greater than or equal to "16". If it is determined to be greater than or equal to "16", step 4289 is executed, step in which "16" is subtracted from the distance measurement step. We then proceed to the execution of step 4290, at which the minimum value of the blocking step of the objective LLitn is set to "1". This step is used to prevent LLuin from being set to "0" when a lens blocking step corresponding to a step of

  16 "distance measurement comes up.

  After execution of step 4290, the subroutine goes to step 4291 in order to decide whether LL is greater than or equal to "19". If this is the case, LL is set to "19" in step 4293. In addition, a flag of green indicator GLAMPFL is set to 1 in order to cause the flashing of the green indicator Gd located at the rear of the body 1 of the device. The flashing green light alerts the user that the subject is too close to the camera to allow a satisfactory photograph to be taken. The LL subroutine is then terminated and processing resumes at the DATA I / O operation. In macro mode, the processing used to position the flag for trigger locking is not executed, so that a take

  of view is achievable, even if the subject is too close.

  If the distance measurement step is less than '16 "in step 4288, step 4292 is executed to set the macro STV MT SIFT flag to 1. Then steps 4284 to 4286 are

  executed as described above with respect to these steps.

  That is, the distance measurement step is provisionally set to the LL lens lock step and a check is made at step 4285 to determine if LL is less than or equal to "1" . If this is the case, the LL subroutine is terminated and the processing resumes in the DATA I / O subroutine. When the objective blocking step LL is greater than "1", LL is incremented by "1". At step 4286, the operation subprogram LL is terminated and the processing of the DATA I / O operation continues . Thus, for example, when the distance measuring step equals "2", a lens blocking step of "3" is selected. The objective blocking steps of "1" and "3" - "16" will therefore correspond to each value of the distance measurement step 1-15 ", as shown in

Figure 28.

  -72- TRIP LOCK PROCESSING subroutine The TRIP LOCK PROCESSING subroutine is illustrated in Figure 31. In this subroutine, it is determined whether the SWB stack switch is ON (step 4351) and, if it is the case, step 4532 is executed to determine if the photometry switch SWS is ON. If the answer is yes, a check is made (at step 4353) to determine if the locking position switch SWL is ON. If it is OFF; the subroutine loops back to step 4531. Consequently, if the stack switch SWB is ON, the photometry switch SWS is ON and the latch switch SWL is OFF, the PROCESSING subroutine TRIGGER LOCK turns on a continuous loop between the

  steps 4351 and 4353 - until one of these three states changes.

  That is, the loop is interrupted either by setting the SWB stack switch to OFF, or by setting the photometry switch to OFF, or again by setting the

SWL lock on.

  When the battery switch SWB is set to ON, processing continues by connecting to the BACKUP operation, as shown in Figure 18 and described above. When the SWS photometry switch is turned OFF, or the lock switch is turned ON, processing resumes

to the MAIN program.

  TRIP SEQUENCE Operation Figure 32 illustrates a set of instructions including the TRIP SEQUENCE OPERATION. This operation makes a connection from step 450 of the DATA I / O operation,

as described above.

  In the SEQUENCE TRIGGERING operation, an exposure command is obtained in step 4501, which includes activating the shutter of the camera. Step 4502 is then executed in order to determine if the macro-TV flag MT SIFT is set to 1. If MT SIFT equals 1, step 4503 is executed in order to decide if the

SWM macro switch is & ON.

  -73- If the macro switch SWM is ON, step 4504 is performed to execute a TELE-MACRO PASSAGE subroutine (TM SIFT). The TM SIFT subroutine is the reverse of the MT SIFT subroutine described in relation to Figures 27B and 29;

  a detailed description of how the TM sub-program works

  SIF 'will therefore be omitted. When the macro SWM switch is ON, the TM SIFT subroutine is activated to return the zoom lens 11 to the macro position, once a photograph has been taken in the zoom position. When the TELE-MACRO TM SIFT PASSAGE sub-program is finished, the processing continues by connecting to a WINDING operation (step 4505) to advance the film. The WINDING operation is shown in figure 32

and will be described below.

  If the result of the MT SIFT macro-TV pass flag check performed in step 4502 is not equal to 1, the check used to determine whether the macro switch SWM is ON (step 4503) and the subroutine TM SIFT (step 4504) is not executed. On the contrary, the SEQUENCE TRIGGERING operation goes to step 4505

  to connect to the WINDING operation.

  WINDING operation The WINDING operation is shown in Figure 33. In this operation, the winding pulse counter WPCNT is set to "4" (step 45051). A count of "4 corresponds to a film frame in the preferred embodiment of the invention. In step 45052, a

  check is performed to determine if FLDENoD is equal to 1.

  As the loading is not finished when FLDEND equals 0, the processing leaves the WINDING operation and resumes at the start of the MAIN program. If FLDEND equals 1, the FILM INFORMATION subroutine, represented in FIG. 21, is called. The number of shots taken before the winding operation is indicated (step 45053) and the MODIFICATION OF WINDING PULSES subroutine (represented in FIG. 11) is called in step 45054. After execution of the subroutine WINDING PULSE MODIFICATION program to advance the film of a frame, it is determined in step 45055 if a RE-WINDING operation must take place. If the answer is 'yes', the processing continues by connecting to the RE-WINDING operation represented in FIG. 24. If no rewinding operation is & to be executed, the processing resumes at step 45056 at which the film counter Fc is incremented by '"1. There is then a return to the start of the MAIN program. Thus, the indication on the LCD display panel is incremented by 1 to show that another photograph has been taken (i.e. instead of indicating the

  digit "1", the display shows the digit "2").

  OPERATION OF THE FLASH DEVICE

  The operation of the flash device will now be explained with reference to Figures 34-37. Figure 34 shows the MAIN program of the camera constructed in accordance with the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 above. FIG. 34 has been condensed so as to present in concentrated form the instructions relating to the operation of the flash 22. The steps corresponding to the instructions illustrated on the flow diagram of FIGS. 9 and 10 bear the same reference numbers as those in FIG. 34 in order to help the reader understand how the steps relating to the operation of the flash interface with the MAIN program illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. However, it is understood that the apparatus constructed according to the present invention comprises only one only MAIN program containing all the instructions necessary for

  camera operation.

  When the MAIN program (as described in FIGS. 9 and 10) is initiated, the input conditions for the TV switch SWT, the wide-angle switch SWW, the trigger switch SWR, the photometry switch SWS and the interlock switch SWL are read and saved in a memory (step 1, also illustrated in FIG. 34). When the main switch 30 is switched from the LOCK position to the ZOOM position (or to the MACRO position), the processing leaves the LOCK operation (described above and shown in Figure 25) to return to the MAIN program which is illustrated in FIG. 34. At this time, the FCHGST loading flag -75 is set to 1, while the FCHGRQ and FCHGDSP loading flags are set to zero before pausing for a period of 125 ms (step 50 ) before returning to step 3. In step 3, the input conditions of the switches are read again. The MAIN program calls up the zoom subroutines (which have been described above) to cause the zoom lens to move to a location corresponding to the switch settings, then processing returns to the MAIN program, in which the sub -programs are executed once more. This time, when the positions of the main switch and the zoom lens match, the

processing goes to step 47.

  In step 47, the input condition of the photometric switch SWS stored in memory and the input condition of the photometric switch SWS which was read in step 3 are compared. If there is no difference, the processing goes to step 550 to check whether the FCHGST flag is equal to 1. As indicated above, when the processing is transferred to the MAIN program, the FCHGST flag is set to 1. Consequently, the processing goes to step 556 to check whether the charging of the flash capacitor is finished. Since the flash capacitor has not yet been charged, processing is transferred to step 556 to check if the flash capacitor is being charged. If not, processing proceeds to step 560 to initiate loading

  the flash capacitor (steps 560 and 562).

  At step 554, the loading flag FCHGDSP is checked in order to determine whether it is at 1. If this flag has been set to 1, the red indicator Rd flashes (step 564) and the processing goes to step 50 for the 125 ms pause before connection to step 3. If the FCHGDSP flag is set to 0 at step 554, the processing continues at step 50 without the red LED Rd flashing. If there is no difference in the input conditions of the SWT TV switch, SWW wide-angle switch, SWR trigger switch, SWS photometry switch and SWL lock switch, the flash capacitor will be charged when loop 3 to 550, 556,

263 520 1

-76-

558, 566, 554, 50 and 3.

  If battery charging is not completed within 15 seconds, step 566 will skip processing to step 568. This will interrupt charging of the flash capacitor and turn off the indicator red Rd. Finally, operations

will loop back to stage Sa.

  When charging of the flash capacitor is complete, processing proceeds from step 556 to step 568. Charging of the flash capacitor will be stopped and the red LED Rd will be turned off in step 568. Processing then proceeds to step 570, where the flags FCHGST, FCHGRQ and FCHGDSP are each reset to 0. Once the charging of the flash capacitor is complete, the processing of steps 3 & 50 will be executed repeatedly. At this time, if the shutter button is pressed and the photometry switch - SWS is ON, it will be decided at step

  47 if the SWS photometry switch setting is changed.

  Thus, the processing goes to step 48 to establish whether the photometry switch SWS is ON. If this switch is OFF, processing returns to step 550. If it is ON, the red indicator light Rd is turned off (step 572), charging of the flash capacitor is stopped (step 574), and the processing is connected to a series of instructions constituting the AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE / AUTOMATIC FOCUSING FLASH operation

(SAEAF).

  During the SAEAF operation, illustrated in FIG. 35, the distance measurement data Dv, the photometry data Bv and the ISO data Sv are introduced (step 576). In step 578, an exposure value Ev is calculated by adding the photometry data Bv and the ISO data Sv. Likewise, a FLASHMATIC (FM) operation will be executed using the exposure value

  Ev, the distance measurement data Dv and the ISO data Sv.

  Thus, if it is necessary to use the flash to obtain correct exposure, the FFLASH flag will be set to 1, while if

  the flash is not required, the FFLASH flag will be set to 0.

  -77- In step 580, a test is carried out in order to establish whether the FLASH flag is at 1, that is to say if the flash is required. If the use of the flash is not necessary, the processing is connected to a TRIP PROCESSING operation, which will be described later. When step 580 has established that the use of the flash is necessary, the processing goes to step 582 to check whether the charging operation of the flash capacitor has been completed, i.e. a check is performed to determine if flash usage is possible. If this is the case, the processing is connected to the TREATMENT TRIGGERING operation,

  after switching on the red indicator light Rd (step 584).

  Continuous illumination of the red Rd indicator light alerts the photographer that the flash will fire when the shutter release button is pressed. If the use of the flash is not possible, that is to say if the flash capacitor is not fully charged, the processing is connected to a series of instructions constituting a LOAD operation, after switching on. 1 of the FCHGRQ flag (step 586). The LOADING operation is

illustrated in Figure 36.

  When the processing is connected to the CHARGING operation, a charging timer is initiated in step 587 and the charging is enabled in step 588. Then, step 589 makes it possible to check whether the charging of the flash capacitor is finished . If this is the case, the processing continues at step 590, in which the flag FCHGRQ is set to 0, the charging of the flash capacitor is inhibited and the red indicator light Rd is set to OFF (step 591). The processing then returns to the SAEAF operation, which was

previously described.

  If charging of the flash capacitor is not complete, processing continues at step 592 to verify if the photometry switch SWS is ON. If this SWS switch is OFF, processing continues at step 593 to set the FCHGDSP flag to 1. Charging of the flash capacitor is then inhibited and the red indicator light Rd is set to OFF (step 594). The

  processing resumes in the MAIN program illustrated in Figure 34.

  -78- When returning to the MAIN program, step 564 is performed to allow the red indicator light Rd to flash, because the flag FCHGDSP has been set to 1 & step 593. Then, the processing returns to step S3, after a pause of 125 ms in step 50. 'As long as the flash capacitor is not fully charged, the red LED Rd will flash, while the processing performs the loop constituted by steps 3, 47, 550, 552, 556, 558, 566, 554, 564, 50 and 3. When the flash capacitor charging operation is completed, the red indicator Rd is turned off (step 568) and the flags FCHGDSP, FCHGRQ and FCHGST are each

  set to 0 (step 570). Processing then continues at step 50.

  If the shutter button is pressed and the photometry switch is turned ON when the flash is required but is not ready to fire, the flash capacitor will begin to charge. Levoyant rouge rouge Rd will also start to

  flash while the capacitor is charging.

  If the photometry switch SWS is ON in step 592 of the LOADING operation, processing continues at step 595 to check if the latch switch SWL is ON. If this is the case, step 593 is executed in order to prevent charging of the flash capacitor and to stop the red indicator Rd (step 594), before returning to the MAIN program. If the main switch 30 is not in the LOCK position, processing continues at step 596, during which a check takes place to determine if the charging period exceeds 15 seconds. If the loading period exceeds 15 seconds, the processing continues at step 597. If it does not

  no longer than 15 seconds, processing continues at step 598.

  In step 598, the processing is interrupted for 125 ms before the red LED Rd is activated to start flashing (step 599). If the SWS photometry switch is ON (which means the photographer intends to take a photo), the red Rd light will flash to alert the photographer that the

  flash capacitor is being charged.

  If the SWS photometry switch is set to OFF, processing is routed to steps 592, 593 and 594. In other words, the flash capacitor is fully charged and the red LED Rd is turned OFF. Treatment resumes in the program

MAIN.

  As long as the photometric switch SWS is ON, a loop is made between steps 589 and 599, so as to charge the flash capacitor for a maximum period of 15 seconds, or until the charging operation is completed. ended if this event occurs before. This means that the flash capacitor is charged according to the instructions in the CHARGING operation while the shutter button is pressed.

  On the other hand, when the shutter button is released, the flash capacitor is charged in response to

  MAIN program instructions.

  If the charging of the flash capacitor is not completed within 15 seconds at step 596 of the LOADING operation, the processing continues at step 597 to set the flag FCHGRQ to O, deactivate circuit the red LED Rd and inhibit charging of the flash capacitor (step 597A) before returning to

MAIN program.

  The TRIP PROCESSING subroutine is illustrated in Figure 37. In this subroutine, step 610 is executed to determine if the trigger switch SWR is ON. If it is not ON, processing continues at step 612 to determine if the photometry switch SWS is ON. If the photometry switch SWS is not ON, the red indicator Rd is turned OFF in step 614 and the processing returns to the MAIN program. However, if the photometry switch SWS is ON, processing continues at step 616, during which it is established whether the interlock switch SWL is ON. If this switch is not ON, processing returns to step 610. Consequently, if the trigger switch SWR is ON, the photometry switch SWS is ON and the lock switch SWL is OFF, the PROCESSING TRIGGER subroutine makes a continuous loop between steps 610 and 616 until one of these three conditions changes. That is to say that the output of the loop takes place either by switching the trip switch SWR to OFF, or by switching the photometry switch SWS to OFF, or by switching the locking switch ON. SWL. When the SWS photometry switch is turned off, or the SWL lock switch is ON, processing

returns to the MAIN program.

  When the release switch SWR is ON, the red indicator light Rd will be set to OFF (step 618) and the shutter will be released (step 620). The flash 22 is then checked (step 622) to establish whether it is ready to operate. If the flash is ready to operate (i.e. if the FLASH flag is 1), processing continues at step 624, to set the FCHGRQ flag to 1 and the FCHGDSP flag to 0, so to request battery charging for the next photo. In this sequence, since the photographer is not waiting to take a photo, the FCHGDSP flag will be set to 0 and the red indicator light Rd will not light up. The processing then proceeds to step 626. If the flash 22 is not ready to operate, the processing proceeds from step 622

at step 626.

  Step 626 establishes whether the film is loaded in the camera. If so, processing continues at step 628 to execute the FILM WINDING subroutine to advance the film, and returns to the MAIN program. If no film is loaded, the film wrap sub-treatment

  is omitted and processing returns to the MAIN program.

  The flash charging operation in accordance with the present invention provides the photographer with clear information about the state of the charging process. This information is provided to the photographer only when the photographer attempts to take a photo. When the photographer is not trying to take a photo, no loading condition information is shown, even

  if, in fact, the flash is charging.

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Claims (5)

  1. A system for charging a flash from a photographic camera, characterized in that it comprises: (a) means for determining whether the ignition of said flash is required; (b) means for charging said flash in response to a determination made by said determining means that ignition of said flash is required; (c) a photometry switch capable of operating between an actuation position and a non-actuation position; and (d) means for notifying that said flash is charging, only if said photometry switch is actuated and if it is determined by said determining means that firing of said flash is required, until completion of the charging said flash.   2. Flash charging system according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for determining whether the lighting of said flash is required comprises means for measuring an exposure value of a subject to be photographed with said camera photographic.   3. Flash charging system according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises means for warning that the charging of said flash is completed and that said flash is ready to light only in response to actuation of said switch   photometry after completion of charging of said flash.   4. System for charging a flash from a photographic camera, characterized in that it comprises: (a) a first trigger means for charging said flash in response to the actuation of a main switch; and (b) second trigger means for charging said flash in response to actuation of a photometry switch, and in that said flash is charged in response to the operation of either of said first and second triggering means. 5. Flash charging system according to any one of -82-   Claims 1 and 4, characterized in that it further comprises   means for terminating said charging of said flash after expiration   of a predetermined period of time.