FR2661258A1 - ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS. - Google Patents

Abstract

In an electronically controlled still camera with a motor, in particular for adjusting the lens, and a switching device for reversing the direction of rotation of the motor, there is provided a device for selecting a speed from among a plurality of. predetermined rotational speeds of the motor, and a device for controlling the direction of rotation engaged and the selected rotational speed. At least two predetermined speeds are provided; a start command drives the motor at high speed during an initial phase, which is independent of the selected rotational speed.

Description

ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS

  The present invention relates to an electronically controlled photographic camera having macro and normal operating modes, this camera being switchable from one to the other of the two modes by means of a manual switch, the shooting being carried out by auto-focus in accordance with distance measurement information, whether in normal or macro mode. Some electronically controlled cameras have macro and normal photography functions that can be switched between macro and normal mode using a manual operation switch. Either mode takes pictures by automatic focusing as a function of distance measurement information A particular camera of this type is a camera 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 that position when macro mode is selected using the manual switch and moving to the zoom range and stopping in that range when zoom mode is selected using the switch manual When the lens is in zoom mode, pressing a wide-angle switch or a tele switch moves the zoom lens by correspondingly towards the wide angle end of the zoom range 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 measurement result distance, automatic focusing is performed both in macro mode and in zoom mode The photo is also taken

  based on the result of the light measurement.

  The invention provides, for a convenient execution of such operations with the electric control with motor, a selector device for the selection of a speed from a plurality of predetermined speeds of rotation and a control device for controlling the sound of rotation engaged and the selected rotation speed. The invention will be better understood in light of the

  description which follows, given only as

  example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a camera according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram of the zoom motor control system; FIG. 3 schematically represents the control circuits, in the form of a block diagram; FIG. 4 graphically represents the configuration of the contacts of the zoom switch; FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the code plate, with a diagram showing the correspondence between the code plate and the different codes; Figure 6 shows the zoom initialization process; Figure 7 is a graphical representation of the zoom operation; Figure 8 shows the zoom advance process; Figure 9 shows the zoom to telephoto process; Figure 10 shows the zoom to wide angle process; Figure 11 shows the locking process; The upper section of the device body 1 K, as illustrated in FIG. 1, comprises a locking lever 14 K, a shutter button 15 K and a macro button 16 K The locking lever 14 K is capable of sliding between a

  ON position and an OFF position.

  The zoom lever 10 K can be moved in a first direction indicated by the arrow rl in FIG. 1, and in a second direction indicated by the arrow r 2. The zoom lever 10 K makes it possible to move the objective of the camera between a wide-angle end and a tele end The 10 K zoom lever is used to modify both the interval time and the manual shutter time, which will be described below The camera contains a control circuit comprising a main CPU unit, to which is connected a sub-CPU unit which performs a processing relating to the shutter in association with a control IC A unique custom-made integrated circuit has been produced; this integrated circuit contains the main CPU, the sub-CPU, the piloting CI, the focusing CI

  automatic and other electronic components.

  The main CPU (Figure 3) performs the following functions in response to the input signals supplied to the camera: 1) Control of the zoom motor and the film motor via a motor drive circuit ; 2) Control of lighting and flashing of the green LED DK which provides the indication relating to the distance measurement, of the red LED EK which provides an indication relating to the flash, and of a self-timer LED which provides an indication of the self-timer; 3) Control of indications on the 9 K LCD indicator; and

  4) Charge control of the flash circuit.

  Information is entered into the main CPU using the following: 1) The LOCK lock switch, which is turned ON when the 14 K lock lever is moved to its ON position; 2) The SWS photometry switch, which is set to ON when the 15 K shutter button is pressed in half; 3) The SWR trip switch, which is turned ON when the 15 K shutter button is fully pressed; 4) The MACRO MCRO switch, which is turned ON when the 16 K macro button is pressed; ) The TELE tele zoom switch, which is turned ON when the 10 K zoom lever is moved from a central neutral position to a tele r 2 side; 6) The WIDE wide-angle zoom switch, which is turned ON when the 10 K zoom lever is moved from a central neutral position to a wide-angle side rl; 7) The speed switch ZMHL, which is set to ON when the 10 K zoom lever is moved a short distance from the central neutral position and which is set to OFF when the 10 K zoom lever is moved a long distance from the central neutral position; 8) Mode switch A MDA, mode switch B MDB and reset switch MDC, which are set to ON when the mode buttons AK, BK, CK, respectively, are pressed; 9) The DX contact point, which reads a DX code printed on a film cartridge; 10) The zoom code entries ZCO, ZC 1 and ZC 2, which are discussed in detail below; 11) The back cover switch BACK, which is turned OFF when the rear cover release lever 11 K is lowered and turned ON when the rear cover 8 K is closed and the lever returns to its engaged position; and 12) The REW rewind switch, which is set

  ON when the rewind button is pressed.

  Three switches relating to the zoom, TELE, WIDE, and ZMHL are controlled by a single zoom lever, the arrangement of the contact points being that which is represented in FIG. 4 With these combinations, five states are entered in the main CPU The data are used for the zoom operation or for the selection of modes For example, when the zoom operation is performed, the information corresponding to the high or slow rotation is entered into the main CPU. The subCPU controls the rangefinder, which includes the infrared diode LED and the position detector PSD via an automatic locating CI. The sub-CPU delivers the distance measurement data from the automatic focusing CI and the data

  photometric (according to the Cd S element) to the main CPU.

  The control IC controls the shutter circuit according to commands from the sub-CPU and

  provides a trigger signal to the flash circuit.

  We now refer to FIG. 2 The main CPU delivers at the output commands corresponding to the normal or rear rotation of the zoom motor via four signal lines (MPI, MP 2, MN 1

  and MN 2) to the motor drive circuit.

  A motor supply control circuit, switches between a high supply voltage and a low supply voltage according to the speed control introduced from the main CPU via the signal line MCNT When MCNT is OFF, battery voltage is supplied directly to the zoom motor drive circuit while, when MCNT is ON, battery voltage is supplied after

  voltage reduction to a specified value.

  These commands are illustrated in detail in the

table below.

Board

  Motor revolution MCNT M Pl MP 2 MN 1 MN 2 High speed before ON ON High speed back ON ON Slow speed before ON On ON Slow speed back ON ON ON Motor brake ON ON The zoom motor allows you to modify the focal distance of a lens so that it corresponds to the tele end by moving the movable barrel 3 K in a direction such that the latter protrudes relative to the body of the apparatus, by means of the cam ring, in the case of the normal rotation, When the reverse rotation is carried out, said motor makes it possible to modify the focal length of the shooting lens so that it corresponds to the wide-angle end by moving the

  3 K movable barrel in the rear direction.

  For this camera, the information that is representative of changes in the focal length of the shooting lens, changes in Fmm (maximum F aperture) as the lens moves to the wide-angle end , tele end, macro position, lock position etc, are detected automatically and each type of command is executed

according to this information.

  For this purpose, a 13 K code plate is fixed on the surface of the lens cam ring and four brushes (ZCO, ZC 1, ZC 2, GND) are in contact with the GND code plate is the terminal common while the other three

  brushes are used for code detection.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram of the code plate 13 K and each code generated when the terminals ZCO, ZC 1 and ZC 2 are in contact with a continuity part (also known as a "trace") of the plate codes represented by the oblique lines of the figure, in which a signal "O" indicates that part of the conductive trace is deleted, while a signal "1" indicates that part of the conductive trace is not deleted.

  In this description, a three-bit information code

  detected by the continuity relationship of these gate terminals

the zoom code name ZCODE.

  A POS position code and a DIV division code are defined according to the aforementioned zoom code so as to

control the zoom.

  The POS position code is used to differentiate five states of the shooting lens in the position between the wide-angle end and the locked position, the position of the wide-angle end or the TV end in the zoom area, and the position between the tele end and the macro position The DIV division code is used to identify the position of the lens in

  dividing the zoom range into fourteen areas.

  In FIG. 5, the part in which POS equal "1 and 3" is represented as having a fixed width POS equal "1" is obtained when the lens is put at the wide-angle end, and this only when o ZC 1 is switched from 1 to O (from OFF T to ON) When the lens does not stop at the wide-angle end, POS

is switched from "O" to "2".

  The lens is prohibited from stopping-in the area between the locked position and the zoom area, as well as in the area between the zoom area and the macro end. However, when a terminal that is correctly ON is detected as OFF, due to poor contact between a brush and the code plate, the zoom motor may stop in the prohibited area Therefore, the code plate and the software are designed so that the switches from OFF to ON of the specified terminals are used when these limits are detected. By using this configuration, it is possible to avoid stops in the prohibited area, even if a brush floats because the terminal

is OFF.

  On the other hand, in the zoom zone, fourteen divisions are used for the focal length of the lens, as it is said above In addition, the terminal ZC 2 is used to detect

  the TV end in the zoom area.

  It is therefore necessary to divide thirteen steps by two bits In this example, the relative code configuration which is used uses the ZC zoom codes "4", "5", "6" or "7" respectively to obtain a correspondence with the

  DIV division codes of "1 H" "EH".

  When this configuration is used, it is possible to uniquely specify a division code that corresponds to the focal length of the lens only using the ZCODE zoom code Therefore, the division code is fixed by rewriting successively the division code recorded in memory when modifications of the zoom code from the end points are

detected.

  The functions of the AK and BK mode buttons will now be explained The AK mode button has the function of selecting the exposure method The exposure method includes an auto mode (automatic flash emission mode), a flash ON mode (emission mode forced flash), a flash OFF mode (flash emission prohibition mode), an exposure compensation mode, a flash mode

  bulb, and a bulb and flash ON mode.

ZOOM INITIALIZATION subroutine

  Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating the sub-

  ZOOM INITIALIZATION program which is called in step R 54

of the RESET program.

  As mentioned above, the apparatus according to the present invention uses a relative code for the zoom code. Consequently, when the battery of the apparatus is removed and the data in the memory is canceled,

  the camera cannot identify the position of the lens.

  In this case, the ZOOM INITIALIZATION subroutine moves

  the lens to put it in the locked position.

  First, a ZCODE zoom code is introduced in step Z 11, as determined by the terminal brushes which are in contact with the code plate A check is then carried out to determine whether the objective is in the locked position (step Z 12) If this is not the case, step Z 15 is executed to drive the motor in reverse rotation at high speed If the lens is in the locked position, steps Z 13 and Z 14 are executed to make turn the zoom motor in the forward direction for 100 ms before going to step Z 15 and executing the reverse motor instruction at high speed to bring the lens to the position of

locking.

  Said subroutine initiates the setting at "O" of the position code POS, the setting to 1 of a position flag FLOCK lock and the zeroing of the macro position flag FMCRO before the return of the subroutine to the point at

  from which the subroutine was called.

  FRONT ZOOM operation Figure 8 illustrates the flowchart of the FRONT ZOOM operation This operation moves the lens from the locked position to the wide-angle end or

  the zoom area to the macro position.

  When the ZOOM FORWARD operation begins, the locking position flag FLOCK is set to zero (step ZF) and, in step ZF 2, the zoom motor is driven at high speed The objective is then checked to establish that '' it is well between the wide-angle end and the zoom zone If the macro command flag FRQMCRO (step ZF 5) is set to 0, the engine is stopped and the processing jumps to the MAIN operation These steps lead to moving the lens from the locking position to the wide-angle end when the locking lever is moved to the OFF position, as shown in the letter

"e" in Figure 7.

  When the macro command flag is set to 1, steps ZF 7-ZF 9 are executed and, during these steps, operations remain on hold until the objective exceeds the tele end in the area of zoom When the locking switch is set to ON, in step ZF 10, the engine is stopped (as shown by the letter "f" in figure 7) Then there is a return to the MAIN operation If the objective exceeds the tele end, steps ZF 11-ZF 13 are executed; during this time, the operations remain on hold until the macro position flag FMCRO is set to 1, moment at which the engine is stopped and the processing returns to the MAIN operation The steps ZF 11-ZF 13 are executed when the macro button 16 K is pressed and the locking lever is in the OFF position (switch

OFF lock).

  In accordance with the above explanations relating to the BACK ZOOM operation and the FRONT ZOOM operation, all lens operations via the main switch 14 K or the macro button 16 K are

  performed by the zoom motor rotating at high speed.

  ZOOM to TELE subroutine Figure 9 illustrates the flowchart of the ZOOM to TELE operation which is a connection from step M 142 of the MAIN operation This subroutine is executed by setting the TELE tele switch to the

  ON position, the lens being in the zoom area.

  This operation is common to the FRONT ZOOM operation in that the lens is moved by the normal rotation of the zoom motor However, this operation differs from the operations described above in that the zoom speed can be switched between high speed and a slow speed. When this operation begins, the zoom motor is driven in forward rotation at high speed before resetting the timer for switching the

motor speed zoom.

  If the tele switch is set to ON, the lens does not reach the tele end (ie POS is not equal to "3") So the lock switch is set to OFF and the motor is driven at high speed for 30 ms before the speed is switched to slow speed (if any) Otherwise, the speed remains high, depending on the setting of a

speed switch.

  In the zoom area, when the TELE tele switch is set to OFF, the operation is as indicated by the letter "g" in Figure 7 When the lens reaches the tele end, the operation is such that 'indicated by

letter "h" in Figure 7.

  At some point, the lock switch will be turned ON. When this happens, the zoom motor is stopped in step ZT 1 I, so that the operations

  resume at the MAIN operation.

  WIDE-ANGLE DISPLACEMENT operation FIG. 10 illustrates the flowchart of the WIDE-ANGLE DISPLACEMENT operation which constitutes a connection from step M 150 of the MAIN operation This

  operation is also called operation ZOOM towards GRAND-

ANGLE.

  This operation is performed when the lens is in the zoom area and the WIDE wide-angle switch

  is turned ON In the REAR ZOOM operation above

  mentioned, it sometimes happens that the lens is moved in a

storage direction.

  When the WIDE ANGLE DISPLACEMENT operation begins, the zoom lens rotates in the reverse direction and the timer is reset to zero. However, if this operation is called from step ZR 24 of the BACK ZOOM operation, these two steps are not performed.

  In steps ZW 3-ZW 10, if the large switch

  angle is set to ON, the lens does not move to the position between the wide-angle end and the locked position (that is, POS is not equal to "O") and the lock switch is set to ON, the zoom motor operates at high speed for 30 ms before starting to rotate backward, changing to slow speed or high speed, depending on the

speed switch setting.

  If the wide-angle switch WIDE is set to OFF and the motor speed is set to high speed in step ZW 1 I, the operation is connected to step ZR 14 of the ZOOM OUT operation to avoid any backlash that may occur (this displacement is

  indicated by the letter "il 'in figure 7).

  When the WIDE wide-angle switch is turned OFF in the zoom area and the 70 ms of normal rotation and 50 ms of reverse rotation are complete, the lens leaves the wide-angle end, as indicated by the letter " j "in figure 7, and the zoom motor

stop spinning.

  When the lens enters the locked position from the wide-angle end after the engine is set to high speed in step ZW 12, the engine will run in the reverse direction for a period of 50 ms (steps ZW 13-ZW 17) Then, the lens is set at the wide-angle end and the engine is stopped (displacement indicated by the character "k" in Figure 7), to avoid backlash, before re-enter

the MAIN program.

  When the lock switch is set to ON, step SW 19 is executed, which stops the rotation of the zoom motor before returning to the MAIN operation In this case, the processing is connected from the MAIN operation to the ZOOM OUT operation and the lens is moved again to the locked position. LOCK operation Figure 11 represents the flowchart relating to the LOCK operation which is called in step MI 24 of the MAIN operation This operation is executed when the lens is stored in the locked position,

  after switching on the interlock switch.

  When this operation begins, the LCD number indicator is on or off, depending on the state of the end of loading flag FLDEND (step L Kl-LK 4), which establishes the

initial mode.

  A program loop, consisting of steps LK 5-LK 13, is repeated every 125 ms until the rewind switch REW is turned ON, the back cover switch BACK is turned ON and the film is not fully loaded, or

  until the interlock switch is OFF.

  In step LK 13, the LOAD-PROHIBITION TIME subroutine is called. It is the same subroutine as that called in step M 173 of the operation.

MAIN.

  When the REW rewind switch is set to ON, the processing leaves step LK 6 to connect

  on the RE-WINDING operation mentioned above.

  If the back cover is closed and the film is loaded, steps LK 9 and LK 10 are omitted, while if the back cover is open, the end of loading flag is set to zero (step LK 9) and the display of the film frame number is set to STOP In the next loop, when the rear cover is closed, the processing leaves step LK 14 to connect to the

  loading program mentioned above.

  Finally, when the LOCK lock switch is set to OFF, the FCHGST charge start flag is set to 1 (steps LK 14 and LK 15) before return of operations to

the MAIN operation.

  As described above, if a subject to be photographed is too far away when the camera is set to macro mode, a trigger lock is applied to prevent shooting As soon as the shutter button is released, the lens is moved from macro mode to zoom mode, allowing the photographer to take

  a photo without having to manually move the lens.

  The present invention has been described with reference to

  non-limiting specific preferred embodiments.

  It is understood that the present invention covers all equivalent embodiments falling within the scope of

appended claims.

  It goes without saying that the present invention has been described purely for explanatory purposes and in no way

limiting.

Claims (4)

  1 electronically controlled photographic camera with a motor, in particular for adjusting the lens, and a switching device for reversing the direction of rotation of the motor, characterized by a selector device for selecting a speed from a plurality of predetermined motor rotation speeds, and by a control device for controlling the direction of rotation   engaged and the selected rotation speed.   2 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that there is provided at least two predetermined speeds of rotation.   3 Apparatus according to one of claims 1 or 2,   characterized in that the control device comprises a start control for driving the motor at high speed during an initial phase after switching on, which is independent of the speed of rotation chosen.   4 Apparatus according to any one of claims   above, characterized in that the control device is a stop command for driving the motor at high speed in one or the other of the two directions during a delay phase with a view to setting the stop which is adapted to intervene regardless of the direction of rotation chosen.   Apparatus according to any of the claims   previous with a zoom lens adapted to move in a rest position, characterized in that the control device contains a command to put in the rest position in order to drive the motor at high speed during a transition phase to, or from the rest position.