FR2697096A1 - Single lens reflex camera with learning function - Google Patents

Abstract

The camera has exposure parameters fixed for each exposure value according to a reference program characteristic. The exposure parameters fixed by a program line can be shifted along an exposure value EV line so that exposure parameters for an exposure operation are based on the shifted program line according to the preference of the camera user.The camera further has UP and DOWN switches (78,80) for temporarily changing these exposure parameters at a constant exposure value w.r.t. the values set by a program line. The number of times that a shutter is released is counted (20c) while the program line is shifted in one direction and a control unit (20a) stores the changed values for shifting the program line under certain conditions.

Description

CAMERA WITH EXPOSURE MODE
COMMAND BY PROGRAM
The present invention relates to a camera with a program-controlled exposure mode in which an aperture value and a exposure time are set for each exposure value as a function of a reference program characteristic, comprising setting means for temporarily changing these exposure parameters, the exposure value being maintained.

 In a camera of this type, the exposure parameters set by the reference program feature are changed to obtain specific photographic effects. This is useful, for example, if the camera user wishes to use the program-controlled exposure mode, although the exposure parameters set by the reference program feature preclude achieving a desired photographic effect for the camera. the currently prevailing light conditions. For example, the aperture set by the reference program feature may lead to a depth of field that the camera user does not wish. In this case it is possible to change the aperture value to the right of the camera so that a suitable exposure time for the changed aperture is calculated in the camera.

Since this is possible for all points of the reference program characteristic, the result is an offset of the reference program characteristic, the exposure value being retained.

 A change in exposure time is also possible in this camera, so that a suitable aperture value for it is calculated in the camera, with the reference program characteristic which is also shifted, the value of exposure being preserved.

 An offset of the reference program characteristic in this case means its displacement in the direction of the constant exposure values within a coordinate system which represents the aperture values as a function of the exposure times.

 In the prior art, the shifting of the reference program feature is only temporarily done because it is reset if the camera is turned off or a predetermined time has elapsed after the shifting. Therefore, if a camera user prefers to take photographs using a program characteristic that is offset from the reference program feature, he or she must adjust the offset of his choice each time after the camera photo was started.

 The invention is based on the problem of creating a camera allowing more freedom with respect to a shift of the reference program characteristic, and allowing for simpler manipulation with respect to the modification of the characteristic of program.

 The invention solves this problem in a camera of the type mentioned above in that a change of the aperture value or exposure time is detected at a constant exposure value with respect to the values predetermined by the characteristic of reference program, and after that the exposure control is performed according to a new program characteristic which is changed with respect to the reference program characteristic.

 The invention achieves a learning effect in a camera in which a reference program characteristic can be shifted, which learning effect is that depending on the detection of changes in the exposure parameters with respect to values predetermined by the reference program characteristic to a constant exposure value, a new program characteristic is turned on for the exposure control which is changed from the reference program characteristic in the desired direction by the camera user. Detecting the change in exposure values reveals the tendency of the camera user to prefer a shift they want. When the camera is operating with the new program feature, it saves the user's settings. of camera, and so the camera has given priority to the trend of the camera user.

 In a further development of the invention, the exposure control is performed according to the changed program characteristic after a change of an exposure parameter of at least one predetermined value has been detected. This offers the possibility that the camera already adapts its performance of the exposure to a change of the exposure parameters by a value corresponding in importance to that desired by the camera user.

 In another development of a camera according to the invention, the exposure control is performed according to the modified program characteristic after a change of an exposure parameter, performed by the operator, in the same direction. , has been detected with a predetermined frequency. With regard to its exposure control, the camera reacts, in this case, to the tendency of the camera user only after several changes of the exposure parameters. This excludes the case where the camera makes a change to the program feature, if the camera user wants different exposure settings, instead of program-controlled exposure settings, for a single photograph. This could be the case, if the user usually performs program-controlled exposures and therefore puts the camera into operation in the corresponding program-controlled trigger mode, but manipulates the exposure settings for only one photograph because of the creative aspect of the photograph or because of different lighting conditions. Advantageously, the exposure control is performed according to a modified program characteristic, if a change of the exposure parameters of a small value has been made with a certain frequency, or if a change of the exposure parameters of a larger value has been made with a lower frequency, for example once.

 Preferably, the exposure control is then performed according to a new program characteristic, when the implementation of exposures with modified exposure parameters is detected. An offset of the program characteristic can thus be performed respectively after the detection of a corresponding exposure, or respectively after the detection of a certain number of exposures with changed exposure parameters.

 A further development of the invention resides in the fact that the successive exposures of the camera with changed exposure parameters are counted, and in the fact that after exceeding a predetermined number of such exposures with the same signs for changes, the exposure parameters are determined based on a modified program feature.

 This reveals, by counting successive exposures deviating from the reference program characteristic, the tendency of the camera user to maintain a shift that he wishes for a longer period of time. Thus, a new program characteristic takes effect, for exposure control, according to the number of such exposures that are performed according to an offset program characteristic, which is, relative to the reference program characteristic, modified in the desired direction.

In this embodiment the camera user performs with a predetermined frequency a temporary change of the exposure parameters. After exceeding a predetermined number of exposures with changes made in the same direction relative to the output parameters assigned to a reference program characteristic, the camera detects the exposure parameters according to a new characteristic program, thus saving the camera user a further adjustment of the exposure parameters.

 Advantageously, the camera can be made in such a way that exposures with exposure parameters changed with the same signs of change are counted and exposure control is performed according to a new program characteristic after a number of these exposures have been achieved. After a change of the exposure parameters made by the user, the exposures without change of the exposure parameters are respectively counted, and if the exposures without change of the exposure parameters exceed a certain number, after exposure with a change of the exposure parameters. exposure settings, counting exposures with changed exposure values starts again.

During this, exposures with changed exposure values can be detected by a counting device that is reset as soon as exposures without changing the exposure parameters have been made with a determined frequency after the last exposure with parameters of the exposure. exposure changed. For this purpose, an additional counting device can count the exposures without changing the exposure parameters, and this additional counting device is reset each time that exposure with a change in the exposure parameters is detected.

 Here the camera does not only detect the tendency of the camera user to prefer the exposure control according to a shifted program characteristic, but he is also able to understand, earlier, that the The user prefers exposure control according to the reference program characteristic.

 The predetermined offset value may correspond to the change value set by the camera user or may have a smaller value. In the latter case, the camera gradually follows the trend of the user.

 When counting the exposures that should lead to a change in the program characteristic, the predetermined number of exposures can also be determined according to the offset value of the exposure parameters that has been set manually. Therefore, the successive exposures can be counted in the increasing direction to a first predetermined number when the value of a change, with respect to a program characteristic, is equal to or larger than said predetermined offset value, while the successive exposures are counted up to a second predetermined number, higher than the first number, if the value of a change from a program characteristic is smaller than the predetermined offset value.

 This further development of the invention considers that the number of exposures against which the change in the program characteristic is made may be smaller for a large offset value, because a large offset value unambiguously indicates the trend. of the camera user. However, if the camera user has set only a low offset value, this will be considered, only after a large number of exposures, as a clear sign of the intention to operate in the long term with such a shift.

 A possible kind of modification of a new program characteristic with respect to the reference program characteristic is that the new program characteristic is shifted from the reference program characteristic by a predetermined offset value in the direction of the program. constant exposure values. In this case the exposure control of the camera itself makes a shift similar to that made previously by the user using the adjustment means. Here the offset value can be predetermined for a one-time shift. It is, however, also possible to shift the program characteristic only by a small value, with respect to a learning function described above, in the direction of the preselected exposure parameter change by the camera user, and to allow the user to make additional offsets of the program feature set for the exposure control, at the time of subsequent changes successive exposure parameters.

 A further development of the invention is that the exposure control is performed according to the new program characteristic from the reference program characteristic, whereby one of its two fixed exposure parameters is changed. a predetermined value which is proportional to the offset value, and the other exposure parameter is calculated from there for the corresponding exposure value respectively.

 What is of interest in this further development is its particular simplicity, since no additional storage capacity is needed to memorize all the possible values of a new program feature. Starting from the reference program characteristic, the shifted program characteristic is produced by considering the predetermined value for one of the respective exposure parameters and calculating accordingly the respective other exposure parameter, which results therefrom. a new program feature by the use of computing means that are provided anyway in the camera.

 Further improvement of the camera according to the invention is possible, if the exposures are also counted if the aperture value and the exposure time are changed by the camera user by means of the adjustment means. with the same signs relative to the values set by a new program characteristic to obtain a further modification of the reference program characteristic. For this purpose the new previous program characteristic can be used as a reference program characteristic and the exposure control can then be performed according to a new program characteristic which is, with respect to this reference program characteristic, modified in the same way as before.According to the way in which the previous modification of the program characteristic was made, the new program feature used in the future may, however, be modified in a different way also when changing subsequent program characteristic by applying a learning function with respect to the new previous program characteristic.

 This further development considers that the camera user possibly does not wish to be limited to only a modified program feature, but wishes, starting from such a modified program feature, to make an additional change which then leads to a second modified program feature so that the previous program characteristic must then be considered as a reference program characteristic.

 This produces a new program feature after at least one exposure. If, for example, as described above, the modification of the new program characteristic consists of a shift of the reference program characteristic by a predetermined offset value in the direction of the constant exposure values, the new characteristic of previous program can be considered as reference program characteristic and the new current program characteristic can be shifted by a predetermined offset value. If then further exposures are performed with changed exposure parameters with respect to the characteristic of reference program, the new program feature already shifted can be shifted again from the set shift value, the respective new program feature coming closer to the desired position by the camera user.

The offset direction is retained in all cases, for example the direction of decreasing apertures or increasing exposure times.

 Advantageously, the counting of said exposures is reset when the sign of the change in the aperture value and the exposure time is changed.

 This further development of the invention provides the possibility of bringing the program characteristic which resulted from a modification with respect to the reference program characteristic closer to the reference program characteristic, by a further modification in the opposite direction or by returning it to the prior reference program characteristic, and thereby moving the reference program characteristic in a direction opposite to the previous offset direction. This significantly expands the flexibility of the learning function provided in the camera, since it is not necessary to change the modification direction to return first to the original reference program characteristic. modified program characteristic with respect to the reference program characteristic in the other direction can therefore be obtained directly from a previously modified program characteristic in the first direction.

 The modification of a reference program characteristic to obtain a new program characteristic can be performed in such a way that the new program characteristic deviates from the reference program characteristic only in certain parts. If, for example, the reference program characteristic keeps one of the exposure parameters at a constant level in particular sections of exposure values, it may be advantageous not to modify at least some of these sections of the reference program characteristic to obtain a new program characteristic.If an exposure program for example provides that the set aperture performs the setting for exposure times which are in this case longer than one limit value of shake depending on the focal length, it does not necessarily make sense to select a larger aperture value or a smaller aperture value, in a modified program characteristic, for exposure times that must be one corresponding length.

 Preferably, the invention divides the entire section of the exposure values, which depends on the object brightness and the film sensitivity, into several partial sections. This can be a division into a section with low exposure values and a section with exposure values ranging from intermediate to high, or a division into three sections, i.e., a section of low exposure values, a section of intermediate values and a section of high exposure values.In this context the invention can be applied to part of the partial sections of the exposure values, i.e., for example, exposure control will be used for future exposures based on a new program characteristic as a result of detecting, at least once, a change in exposure time or aperture value relative to the predetermined values by the reference program characteristic for an exposure value which is within the section provided for the learning function. In this case, the new program characteristic could be modified only in a partial section of permissible exposure values with respect to the reference program characteristic.

 The section of permissible laying times or the section of permissible opening values can also, as described above, be divided into partial sections, as well as the section of the exposure values. A possible limit value could be, for example, a limit value of movement of the exposure time.

 It is also possible to apply the learning function for program-controlled exposure according to the invention to certain sections. If partial sections of exposure values are taken as criterion for the limitation of the sections, the detection, at least once, of a change of exposure parameter with respect to the corresponding parameter predetermined by the reference program characteristic in a specific section of exposure values, results in the exposure control being used for future exposures made according to a new program characteristic which is established with respect to the modified reference program feature inside this section of exposure values.

 A further possible kind of modification of a reference program feature is that the new reference program characteristic is modified with respect to the reference program characteristic with respect to a characteristic gradient. Because of the delimited sections of exposure parameters that are determined by the camera, this usually results in the initial point and / or end point of the slope of the feature set by that gradient being shifted.

 Preferably, the predetermined number of exposures can be variably adjusted to the right of the camera. Thus the camera user can use in different ways the learning function provided in the camera. Modification of a reference program characteristic can start already after an exposure, or also after several exposures.

 If the predetermined offset value or a predetermined change value can be variably adjusted to the right of the camera, the user can set the steps with which the program characteristic is respectively shifted or changed, depending on his personal requirements. If this setting possibility is combined with the possibility of setting the predetermined number of exposures, the result is a further improvement, since a small offset or a small change value may, for example, be combined with a small number of exposures. counted, whereby the learning function gradually approaches the needs of the camera user.

 The invention can also be practiced so as to memorize, when exceeding said predetermined number of exposures, a datum which modifies the combinations of aperture values and exposure times fixed by said reference program characteristic. for example, a predetermined value for a constant exposure value, or a constant change value depending on the exposure value.

 This further development of the invention utilizes additional storage for the description of an offset program characteristic. The additional storage volume can be justified in cameras with a sufficient amount of memory or in which the computation time must be preserved.

 Data characterizing a new program characteristic, such as program parameters or data affecting exposure parameters specific to each specific exposure value in the form of a matrix, are preferably stored in a memory so as to be always available after a main switch of the camera has been opened.

This can be achieved for example by storing the data in a non-volatile memory, such as a magnetic memory, an EPROM (electrically programmable read only memory) or an EEPROM (programmable and electrically erasable read-only memory) or storing them in a memory.
RAM (RAM) that is energized even if the main switch is open. A buffer stack can prevent the loss of data in the event of failure of the main power source.

 The presence of data characterizing a new program feature may be sufficient for the exposure control to be performed according to a corresponding new program feature.

However, it may be necessary to memorize in a mark, toggle, or memory the state of the camera which causes the exposure control to be performed according to a new program feature. In this case too, this status memory should save its contents when the main switch of the camera is open.

 A particularly favorable development of the present invention proposes that the state indicating that the camera is to perform the exposure control according to a new program characteristic can be reset. If several program characteristic changes are made, it is also possible to reset only the last change or all the changes so that the exposure control is performed according to the original reference program characteristic.

 Resetting the camera condition that the exposure control is performed according to a new program characteristic may, for example, be effected by erasing or reprogramming a state memory determining this state of play. camera and / or erasing or changing the data determining the property of the program feature. Corresponding means for resetting this camera state may be provided as an erase key whose operation causes the corresponding reset. However, the reason for resetting the program feature change can also be given by the operating conditions of the camera.

 The learning function provided according to the invention should be conveniently displayed to the right of the camera so that the camera user can recognize it as a mode of operation and turn it on or off. In a camera having a display area for the operation modes and the photography parameters, said display area having display symbols and ideogram symbols that can be turned on and off, a scale to indicate the offset value of a program characteristic may be provided, including a moving registration symbol along a graduation, ideogram symbols displayed at both ends of the graduation to indicate the offset direction, and a switch for the transition to other ideogram symbols located at both ends of the scale to indicate different exposure programs.

 This further development of the invention is particularly suitable for a camera including the above-mentioned features, however, it also has an independent importance for other non-learning cameras in which the shift of program must be represented.

 Preferably, the ideogram symbols that can be displayed at both ends of the graduation serve to indicate a photograph effect that results from the two offset directions of a program feature. If a change in the depth of field of the photographic exposure is sought by the shift of the program characteristic, an ideogram symbol with a foreground and a background may be displayed at one end of the graduation, the front -plan only being clear to represent the shallow depth of field, while at the other end of the graduation is displayed an ideogram symbol with the foreground and the background net to indicate a large depth of field.

 Although the ideogram symbols are preferably used to indicate the direction of the increase or decrease in depth of field in the program exposure mode with depth of field priority, it is convenient to use other ideogram symbols to indicate the direction of shorter or longer exposure times in a program exposure mode with exposure time priority. For this purpose a runner or other object indicating a movement in progress can be displayed fully developed to indicate the direction of decrease in exposure times and the same runner or a corresponding object may be displayed partially blurred to indicate the direction of increased exposure time.

 Other display symbols for the exposure time and aperture as well as ideogram symbols in the form of plus and minus signs at both ends of the graduation serve to indicate the meaning and value of a change in exposure time or aperture, set to the right of the camera in relation to predetermined values. What is of interest for such a display means is its particular simplicity in allowing the camera user to see and immediately detect which mode of operation is set.

 The display symbol that can be moved along the scale may consist of individual points or line segments that can be activated individually or in groups and can thus mark a certain location as well as a certain area of the graduation. A group of adjacent points or segments can thus display as a display symbol a bar graph. A particularly advantageous development is that the individual dots can be activated continuously or intermittently.

A particular mark may be provided to mark the initial reference program characteristic before a first modification, for example an offset, as a consequence of the learning function. This particular mark is preferably arranged in the central part of the graduation, if a change of the exposure parameter or the shift of the program characteristic are respectively possible in both directions.

 A number of information regarding the position of the current reference characteristic, the current value of change of the exposure parameters and the direction of change can be represented by such a display symbol which is movable along the graduation. If, for example, a dot-shaped display segment arrangement is arranged along the scale as mobile display symbols which are activated, if desired, individually or in the form of a bar graph group, a point or the first point of a bar may, depending on its position with respect to the mark mentioned above, indicate the position of the current reference characteristic with respect to the initial reference characteristic. bars or the number of points activated can indicate a current value of change of the exposure parameters relative to the reference characteristic and the direction of change can be indicated by means of a point display element indicating the target change and that is activated and deactivated alternately.

 If the exposure control is performed according to a program characteristic which is, for example, relative to a reference program characteristic, shifted by a predetermined value, then the direction and the offset value are represented by the position of the activated point in relation to the graduation. Preferably, this indication is displayed after the offset value and its direction have been stored. This allows the camera user to know when the exposure control starts by being performed by a program feature that is shifted with respect to the previous program feature.

 Such an arrangement of display elements, in the form of a scale, a display symbol that can be moved along the scale and a symbol disposed at both ends of the scale to characterize a direction and if necessary the current exposure program, provides the camera user with a plurality of information on a small display area. This arrangement informs the camera user of: the change of the exposure parameters, with a conserved exposure value, relative to the exposure parameters determined according to a reference program; shifting the reference program characteristic for the exposure control with respect to a reference program feature; and / or exposure compensation by changing the current determined exposure value.Despite the number of information that can be clearly provided by such an arrangement of the display elements, the display of the symbols may nevertheless be be placed in the field of viewfinder of the camera, thanks to the small surface necessary. However, it can also be applied to displays located anywhere on a camera.

 A further development of the invention provides a camera including a multi-dot display graph and affected ideogram symbols, respectively indicating a sense as well as a plus sign and a minus sign. In addition, an exposure compensation means is provided for setting an exposure compensation which allows a change of the exposure value. The invention also provides display control means for displaying the direction and value of an exposure compensation by activating a point and the plus sign or minus sign, if the exposure control is enabled. Exposure control has been performed, the display control means can perform the above-described display of the program characteristic shift, however, with the plus and minus signs that are displayed on both sides of the point, or the bar graph, instead of ideogram symbols. This display of the plus and minus signs indicates to the camera user that the exposure control has been performed even without displaying its value and direction. If necessary, the plus or minus sign may indicate by another operating mode, for example, alternating activation and deactivation, if the exposure control was to overexposure or underexposure.

 Exposure compensation is preferably activated by means of an exposure control button. The camera is returned to the exposure program when the button is released. A special development of the invention provides the display of an individual dot or bar graph as well as the display of plus and minus signs by means of the display control to indicate the correction of the exposure while the exposure compensation button is pressed, and this display is not changed when this button is released.

 In a camera as described above, which also has trigger modes with automatic exposure in which the learning function described above and thus a continuous shift or a different modification of the exposure control can not not be performed, it can be provided that the display control means, does not perform, in connection with these triggering modes, the display of an arrangement consisting of graphs in the form of dots, symbols ideograms, signs plus and minus and a graduation.

 In a camera with manual release mode that additionally detects an optimal exposure value depending on the brightness conditions and the film sensitivity, a manually set exposure value deviation from the exposure value Optimum can be displayed by indicating points of the display arrangement mentioned above and indicating the plus and minus signs.

 By means of the control described above of the arrangement of display elements, consisting of dots, ideogram symbols at the ends of the dots, plus and minus signs and if necessary a registration sign, which may be selectively activated, the camera user can see, by means of this arrangement of display elements, the current trigger mode among a plurality of possible trigger modes. In addition, the camera user can see if the exposure correction has been made and, if so, is informed of the direction and value of said correction. In addition, the camera user receives the information of a temporary change of the exposure parameter as well as of an offset of the program characteristic. In the manual exposure mode, the camera user photo is informed, by means of the same arrangement of display elements, of the relation of a manually set exposure value to a detected optimum exposure value, based on a brightness measurement procedure. The camera user is therefore informed of the current operating modes as well as data which are essential for the exposure, by means of such an arrangement of display elements in a camera having many modes of operation. operation. This information can be captured at a glance, since it is displayed in a relatively small display area.

When this arrangement of display elements is displayed in the viewfinder of the camera, the camera user receives a plurality of information without being distracted from what he is doing.

 The above-described arrangement of the display elements may also be designed without graduation. This, however, is recommended only if a small range of possible change is to be displayed, since otherwise the relative position of an indication in the form of dots or a bar graph with respect to a landmark is difficult to estimate. .

 An improvement of the invention provides that a display area of a display means provides an ideogram symbol to indicate that an operating mode has been selected in which the exposure control is effected by means of a display. program characteristic that may have been modified with respect to the reference program characteristic. This ideogram symbol can be turned on and off alternately for a period of time while the number of exposures with changed exposure factors is counted.

 Such an ideogram symbol informs the camera user about the possibility of exposure with an offset program feature. In this case the ideogram symbol can be activated only if the current program characteristic is an offset program characteristic. It is also possible to indicate the different phases of a learning process by means of different modes of operation of such an ideogram symbol, such as continuous activation or alternating activation and deactivation. If the ideogram symbol is used in conjunction with the arrangement of the display elements described above, the display of the ideogram symbols draws the attention of the camera user to also note the information. displayed by the arrangement of display elements.

 A camera according to the invention can perform exposure control for certain requirements, respectively, according to other criteria. Thus, several program-controlled trigger modes with different program characteristics can be provided. In this case, the learning function according to the invention can be executed independently for several triggering modes.

 The program characteristic of an exposure program which is preferably used for the people photography always predetermines the aperture value in a section ranging from the longest exposure time to the limit value of moving when the value of exposure increases, and a decrease in aperture to a predetermined aperture when the shake limit value has been reached. If a zoom lens is used, the aperture can be reduced by 3 aperture steps for a first motion limit value in the wide angle position, and 1 aperture step for the second motion limit limit in the telephoto position or as an alternative, 1.5 aperture steps in the wide angle position and 0.5 steps in the telephoto position for the respective movement limit values.

 The different shake-up values of the exposure time, for the wide angle position and the telephoto position, take into account the fact that a smaller deviation of the camera is necessary to achieve the same limit value of moving at an angle of smaller opening of the lens. In the section of exposure times that are shorter than the limit value of shake a great depth of field is obtained due to the small opening value, and so people or groups of people as well as the background can be clearly represented in wide-angle photographs. In telephoto photographs, such as mid-distance portraits and portraits of individual people, the reduced depth of field, is, due to the large focal length in conjunction with the relatively small distance to the object, as a consequence of the reduced aperture value, still large enough to represent the person to be photographed fully to the point. The set aperture value is set when the shake limit value is exceeded, respectively, to reduce the risk of blur and to achieve the shortest exposure time possible.

 In a camera with a learning function according to the invention it is provided that the modified program characteristic adjusts the open aperture also to exposure times which are longer than the limit value of shake.

 The program characteristic of an exposure program that is preferably used for landscape photographs always predetermines the open aperture value increased by one aperture step with the increased exposure value in a time section. for laying the longest at a limit value of shake, and with a further increase of the exposure values, the exposure time and the aperture are predetermined according to the shape of the program characteristic with predetermined gradients. Preferably, the program feature operates in such a way that a reduction of the aperture of the diaphragm has priority.

 The exposure control according to this program characteristic also reduces the aperture of a certain value when the limit value of movement is exceeded, for example, by an aperture step. This is to avoid, in the case of a low brightness of object, a reduction of the brightness on the edges of the photograph due to the opening. In the case of landscape photographs, for example, the concentration of the viewer is not inevitably directed towards the center of the photograph as in the case of portraits, so that a reduction in brightness on the edges of the photograph This camera makes it possible, due to the reduced aperture value, for photographs with a large depth of field, which also allows sharp photographs of nearby objects and the distant background. At high exposure values the depth of field is sufficient to clearly represent very close objects and objects very far apart, and in addition, at low exposure values, the depth of field is sufficient for landscape photographs. because the shortest distance to be developed is relatively large.

 In a camera performing the learning function according to the invention, a program characteristic can be modified so that the new program characteristic is shifted from the reference program characteristic by a predetermined offset value in the program. direction of constant exposure values. An additional possibility of modification is that a modified characteristic for a exposure time that is longer than the limit value of shake is not changed. A change in the pattern of the characteristic with constant gradients can be performed in the feature section containing the modifiable aperture value by an offset of the exposure parameters. However, a change of gradients can also be made.

 An exposure control according to these two program features is particularly suitable for a camera including the features mentioned above, however, it is also important in itself for other cameras.

The features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a camera body of a single lens reflex camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the shape of the top of the camera body shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view showing the shape of the rear of the camera body shown in Fig. 1
FIG. 4 is a view of a display window at
External LCD of the camera body shown in Fig. 1, all the display elements being fully lit; ;
Fig. 5 is a view of the fixed display data in the external LCD display window of Fig. 4
Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the structure of the external LCD display window shown in Fig. 4;
FIG. 7 is a view of a display window at
Viewfinder LCD in a viewfinder eyepiece of the camera body shown in Figure 1, all display elements being fully lit
Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view showing, in side elevation, how a shutter release button, a UP / DOWN lever and a TV / AV button are attached to the camera body shown in Fig. 1 ;;
FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view showing, in front elevation, how the UP / DOWN lever shown in FIG. 8 is fixed
Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view showing, in front elevation, how a drive key and a mode key are attached to the camera body shown in Fig. 1
Fig. 11 is a block diagram of a control device of the single lens reflex camera according to the embodiment
Fig. 12 is a flowchart of a main program of a control sequence that is executed by a body-side CPU shown in Fig. 11;
Fig. 13A and Fig. 13B are a flowchart of a control sequence used when a restart process is called
Fig. 14 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when a shutter release processing is called
FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when a display loop of the state of the switches is called
FIG. 16A, FIG. 16B, FIG. 16C and FIG. 16D are a flowchart of a control sequence used when a display 1 of the state of the switches is called
Fig. 17 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when a PF loop is called;
Fig. 18 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when PF display processing is called ;;
Fig. 19A and Fig. 19B are a flowchart of a control sequence used when a loop 1 of
PF is called
Fig. 19C is a flowchart of a control sequence used when PF mode UP processing is called
Fig. 20 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when a total erasure process of PF is called
Fig. 21 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when PF rollback processing is called ;;
FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when a U / D loop is called
Fig. 23 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when a UP loop is called
Fig. 24 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when a DOWN loop is called;
Fig. 25 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when U / D processing of data is called
Fig. 26 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when U / D processing of PF data is called
Fig. 27 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when program offset U / D processing is called
Fig. 28 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when an exposure correction U / D process is called
Fig. 29 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when a program shift graph display processing is called
Fig. 30 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when an exposure correction display process is called;
Fig. 31 is a diagram showing a program shift scoreboard
Fig. 32 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when PF timer display processing is called
Fig. 33 is a diagram showing a data format in a PICT mode and in a FULL mode ;;
Fig. 34 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when an AE mode U / D process is called
Fig. 35 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when an AE mode setting process is called
Fig. 36 is a diagram showing the relationship between an AE mode and an exposure mode
Fig. 37 is a diagram showing how a displayed graph changes during the counting operation of a PF timer
Fig. 38 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when a program offset erase process is called ;;
Fig. 39 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when exposure correction processing is called
Fig. 40 is a diagram showing a bulletin board of an exposure correction graph
Fig. 41A, Fig. 41B, Fig. 41C and Fig. 41D are a flow chart of a control sequence used when AE calculation processing is called;
Fig. 42A and Fig. 42B are a flowchart of a control sequence used when a program calculation process is called
Fig. 43 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when a routine CAL ~ Tv is called ;;
Fig. 44 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when a CAL ~ Av routine is called
Fig. 45 is a flow chart of a control sequence used when an auxiliary program shift processing is called
Fig. 46 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when program offset calculation processing is called
Fig. 47 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when a routine CHK ~ TvAv is called
Fig. 48A is a program diagram showing generally the relationship between shutter speed and aperture when a portrait mode is selected
Fig. 48B is a program diagram showing in detail, in a particular case, the relationship between shutter speed and aperture at focal lengths of 28 mm and 80 mm when portrait mode is selected;
Fig. 49A is a program diagram showing generally the relationship between shutter speed and aperture when a landscape mode is selected; ;
Fig. 49B is a program diagram showing in detail, in a particular case, the relationship between shutter speed and aperture at focal lengths of 28mm and 80mm when landscape mode is selected
Fig. 50A is a program diagram showing generally the relation between shutter speed and aperture when moving object mode is selected
Fig. 50B is a program diagram showing in detail, in a particular case, the relationship between shutter speed and aperture at focal lengths of 28 mm and 80 mm when the moving object mode is selected
Fig. 51A is a program diagram showing generally the relationship between shutter speed and aperture when a close-up mode is selected
Fig. 51B is a program diagram showing in detail, in a particular case, the relationship between shutter speed and aperture at focal lengths of 28 mm and 80 mm when close-up mode is selected ;;
Fig. 52A is a flowchart of a control sequence used when a normal program is called
Fig. 52B is a program diagram showing in detail, in a particular case, the relationship between shutter speed and aperture at focal lengths of 28 mm and 80 mm when the normal program is selected
Fig. 53 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when automatic computation processing is called
Fig. 54 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when a manual calculation process is called
Fig. 55A and Fig. 55B are a flowchart of a control sequence used when a learning mode calculation process is called
Fig. 55C is a program diagram showing a program shift
Fig. 56 is a flowchart of a control sequence used when learning mode storing processing 1 is called;
Fig. 57A and Fig. 57B are a flowchart of a control sequence used when a processing
U / D learning mode is called
Fig. 58 is a diagram showing a data format of EEPROM-RAM
Fig. 59 is a diagram showing RAM zone formats
Fig. 60A is a view showing a main key pushed into a PICT position
Fig. 60B is a view of the display window
Viewfinder LCD showing the displayed data when the main key is in the PICT position
Fig. 60C is a view of the display window at
External LCD showing the data displayed when the main key is in the PICT position;
Fig. 61A is a view showing a main key pushed into an ON position;
Fig. 61B is a view of the display window at
Viewfinder LCD showing data displayed when the main button is in the ON position
Fig. 61C is a view of the display window at
External LCD showing the displayed data when the main key is in the ON position;
Fig. 62 is a view of the display window at
External LCD showing data displayed when portrait mode is set while learning mode calculation processing is selected
Fig. 63A, Fig. 63B, Fig. 63C, Fig. 63D, Fig. 63E, Fig. 63F, and Fig. 63G are views showing the data displayed in the external LCD display window as they vary. when a special function (PF) setting mode is set ;;
Fig. 64A and Fig. 64B are views showing the data displayed in the external LCD display window as they vary when the special function (PF) setting mode is cleared;
Fig. 65A and Fig. 65B are views showing the data displayed in the external LCD display window as they vary when ISO film sensitivity is set in the special function (PF) setting mode; ;
Fig. 66A and Fig. 66B are views showing the data displayed in the external LCD display window as they vary as the number of times a learning mode is to occur is set in the setting mode. special functions (PF)
Fig. 67A and Fig. 67B are views showing the data displayed in the external LCD display window as they vary when a setting is made with respect to the fact that a tone must be generated when the lens system is in focus in the special function (PF) setting mode
Fig. 68A, Fig. 68B, Fig. 68C, Fig. 68D, Fig. 68E, and Fig. 68F are views showing the "tone" data displayed in the external LCD display window as they vary. when a setting is made with respect to the fact that a tone must be produced when the lens system is in focus in the special function (PF) setting mode;
Fig. 69A and Fig. 69B are views showing the data displayed in the external LCD display window as they vary when a setting is made with respect to the fact that a learning mode must see place in special function (PF) setting mode;
Fig. 70A and Fig. 70B are views showing the data displayed in the external LCD display window as they vary when a setting is made with respect to the fact that the learning mode is to be cleared. in special function setting mode (PF)
Fig. 71A is a view of the display window at
External LCD showing data displayed when a beginner mode is set in a photography mode
Fig. 71B is a view of the display window at
External LCD showing the displayed data when a portrait mode is set in the photography mode;
Fig. 71C is a view of the display window at
External LCD showing the data displayed when a landscape mode is set in the photography mode
Figure 71D is a view of the display window at
External LCD showing the data displayed when a moving object mode is set in the photography mode
Figure 71E is a view of the display window at
External LCD showing the data displayed when a close-up mode is set in the photography mode
Fig. 71F is a view of the display window at
Viewfinder LCD showing data displayed when portrait mode, landscape mode, or macro mode is set in photography mode;
Figure 71G is a view of the display window at
Viewfinder LCD showing data displayed when moving object mode is set in photography mode
Fig. 72A and Fig. 72B are views, respectively, in the external LCD display window and in the viewfinder LCD display window, showing normal data displayed when portrait mode, for example, is selected in the mode of photography;
Fig. 73A and Fig. 73B are views, respectively, in the external LCD display window and in the viewfinder LCD display window, showing the displayed data when exposure correction is made in the data. shown in Figs. 72A and 72B; ;
Fig. 74A and Fig. 74B are views, respectively, in the external LCD display window and in the viewfinder LCD display window, showing the displayed data when exposure correction is made beyond a range that can be displayed as a bar graph in the displayed data shown in Figs. 72A and 72B
Fig. 75A and Fig. 75B are views, respectively, in the external LCD display window and in the viewfinder LCD display window, showing the displayed data when a normal photography state is resumed after the exposure data has been made in the displayed data shown in FIGS. 72A and 72B
Fig. 76A and Fig. 76B are views, respectively, in the external LCD display window and in the viewfinder LCD display window, showing the normal data displayed when a program mode is selected;
Fig. 77A and Fig. 77B are views, respectively, in the external LCD display window and in the viewfinder LCD display window, showing the displayed data when exposure correction is made in the data. shown in Figs. 76A and 76B;
Fig. 78A and Fig. 78B are views, respectively, in the external LCD display window and in the viewfinder LCD display window, showing the displayed data when a normal photography state is resumed after exposure correction was made in the displayed data shown in Figs. 76A and 76B
Fig. 79A and Fig. 79B are views, respectively, in the external LCD display window and in the viewfinder LCD display window, showing the normal data displayed when an automatic mode is selected.
Fig. 80A and Fig. 80B are views, respectively, in the external LCD display window and in the viewfinder LCD display window, showing the data displayed when exposure correction is made in the data. shown in FIGS. 79A and 79B
Fig. 81A and Fig. 81B are views, respectively, in the external LCD display window and in the viewfinder LCD display window, showing the displayed data when a normal photography state is resumed after exposure correction was made in the displayed data shown in Figs. 79A and 79B
Fig. 82A and Fig. 82B are views, respectively, in the external LCD display window and in the viewfinder LCD display window, showing the normal data displayed when a variable shutter speed state is set while a manual mode has been selected;
Fig. 83A and Fig. 83B are views, respectively, in the external LCD display window and in the viewfinder LCD display window, showing the normal data displayed when a variable aperture state is set while that manual mode has been selected
Fig. 83C and Fig. 83D are views, respectively, in the external LCD display window and in the viewfinder LCD display window, showing the normal data displayed when the difference between a suitable exposure value calculated and a manually set exposure value exceeds a range that can be displayed as a bar graph when a variable aperture state is set while the manual mode has been selected
Fig. 84A and Fig. 84B are views, respectively, in the external LCD display window and in the viewfinder LCD display window, showing the normal data displayed when a suitable exposure value calculated and a manually set exposure value will match each other when a variable aperture state is set while the manual mode has been selected
FIG. 85 is a view of a display window at
An external LCD showing the data displayed before the learned data is stored or when a learned program line corresponds to a default program line and a program offset is 0;
FIG. 86 is a view of a display window at
External LCD showing the data displayed before the learned data is stored or when a learned program line corresponds to a default program line and a program offset is + 1.0 Tv
Figure 87 is a view of the display window at
External LCD showing the displayed data when a learned program line is shifted + 0.5 Tv from a default program line and a program offset is + 0.5 Tv
Figure 88 is a view of the display window at
External LCD showing the displayed data when a learned program line is shifted + 0.5 Tv from a default program line and a program offset is 0 ;;
Figure 89 is a view of the display window at
External LCD showing the displayed data when a learned program line is shifted + 0.5 Tv from a default program line and a program offset is - 0.5 Tv; and
FIG. 90 is a view of a display window at
External LCD showing the data displayed before the learned data is stored or when a learned program line corresponds to a default program line and a program offset of - 1.5 Tv
ENTIRE DISPOSITION
Figures 1 to 3 are, respectively, front elevation, plan and rear elevation views of a camera body 10 of a single focus autofocus (AF) SLR camera which performs the present invention.The camera includes a lens mount 14 on a front panel of the camera body 10. The camera also includes a lens system 12 (shown schematically in FIG. 11) which can, interchangeably (i.e. removably), be mounted on the lens mount 14.

In this embodiment, the objective system 12 consists of a motorized zoom lens system whose focal length can vary between 28 mm and 80 mm by means of an incorporated zoom motor (not shown).

OBJECTIVE SYSTEM
The lens system 12 when mounted on the camera body 10 is locked to the lens mount 14. When a lens lock button 16 is placed on the left side of the lens mount 14, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is pressed, the lens system 12 is unlocked and can be removed from the lens mount 14.When the lens system 12 is mounted on the body of the lens 10, a group of connection terminals 18 on the surface (the front face) of the lens mount 14 are held in contact with a group of connection terminals (not shown) on the rear face of the lens system. 12, allowing a CPU (central processing unit) on the body side 20, located in the camera body 10, and a CPU on the lens side 22, located in the lens system 12 to communicate with each other. other, as shown in Figure 11.

FOCUS SELECTION BUTTON
A focus mode selection key 24 is placed on the right side of the lens mount 14, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and can slide substantially vertically to select a manual focus mode ( MF) to manually focus the lens system 12 or an autofocus (AF) mode to automatically focus the lens system 12. The AF mode is selected when a "-" the focus mode selection key 24 is aligned with an "AF" mark printed on the camera body 10, and the MF mode is selected when the "-" sign is aligned with a printed "MF" mark on the camera body 10.

SHUTTER BUTTON, UP / DOWN LEVER, TV / AV BUTTON
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a press-type shutter release button 26 is disposed on the upper left portion of the camera body 10 in a forwardmost position. A UP / DOWN lever 28 for modifying, upward (UP) or downward (DOWN), the designated variable datum, that is to say for increasing or reducing the designated variable datum, is located immediately behind the key The UP / DOWN lever 28 is angularly movable about an axis substantially parallel to the optical axis of the lens system 12, i.e., about an axis s'. extending substantially in the forward / reverse direction of the camera body 10. Immediately behind the UP / DOWN lever 28, there is disposed a touch of Tv / Av 30, of the pressure type, which serves in addition to a touch key. erasure. Each time the TV / AV key 30 is pressed in an automatic exposure mode (A) or in a manual exposure mode (M), in an all-possibilities mode which is established when a main button 36 (described below) is brought into an ON position, the Tv / Av key 30 selects either a set time priority mode or an aperture priority mode.

 In this embodiment, the UP / DOWN lever 28, which is movable laterally when the camera body 10 is held in a photographing position, is interposed between the shutter release button 26 and the Tv / key. Av 30 which are of the pressure type. The shutter release button 26, the UP / DOWN lever 28, and the Tv / Av button 30 are positioned in such a way that they can be operated by the index of the user's right hand when holds the right part (the left part in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the camera body 10. Since the shutter release button 26 and the AV / AV button 30 are both keys that can be pressed by index of the right hand of the user, they could be used by mistake.

However, since the UP / DOWN lever 28 which is laterally moveable, i.e., which is not a press button, is located between the shutter release button 26 and the Tv / Av button 30. , the user can reliably recognize the shutter release key 26 in front of the UP / DOWN lever 28 and the Tv / Av key 30 behind the UP / DOWN lever 28 by touching the UP lever with the index finger / DOWN 28 in the direction of the depression. Therefore, the shutter release button 26 and the TV / AV button 30 can not be pressed by mistake.

MAIN KEY.

 An incorporated flash bulb (not shown) is housed in a front portion of the camera body near its top center surface. The flash bulb will be output when an exit key 32 is pressed.

As shown in Fig. 2, an external LCD (liquid crystal) display window 34 for displaying various pieces of information that will be required when taking photographs is mounted for visual observation on a back portion of the central surface. The main key 36 is disposed on the left side (as seen in Figure 2) of the LCD display window 34. The main key 36 can slide in the direction forward / backward between an OFF position, an ON position, and a PICT position. When the main key 36 is in the OFF position, a main switch 110 (described below) is opened, and when the main key 36 is in the ON or PICT position the main switch 110 is closed.

When the main key 36 is in the position
ON, it sets a normal exposure mode (all-possibilities mode: FULL) in which a program mode (P) normal, auto exposure mode (A) or manual exposure mode (M), can be selected as desired. When the main key 36 is in the PICT position, it sets an exposure mode (photography mode) in which: a beginner mode, suitable for a novice to take photographs; a portrait mode, suitable for photographing human beings a landscape mode, suitable for photographing scenes of nature; a moving object mode, suitable for shooting moving objects, and a close-up mode suitable for taking close-ups, can be selected as desired.

 These exposure modes will be described later. In this embodiment, the modes that can be selected in the photography mode can be set when the user selects symbols represented by ideograms.

 When the manual exposure mode (M) is set, a shutter speed and aperture such that their values have been set by the Tv / Av button 30 can be changed by turning the UP / DOWN lever 28.

DRIVE KEY, MODE KEY
A drive key 38 and a mode key 40, which is located on the left side of the drive key 38, of the pressure type, are arranged in a juxtaposed relationship on an upper straight surface (as seen from in Figure 2) of the camera body 10. The drive key 38 and the mode key 40 can be pressed independently or simultaneously by the index of the left hand of the user holding the left side (shown on the right side of Figures 1 and 2) of the camera body 10.

 When the UP / DOWN lever 28 is rotated, the drive key 38 being pressed by the user, a drive setting mode switches between a single-view photography mode, a multi-view photography mode, and a photography mode with automatic timeout regardless of whether the main key 36 is in the ON or PICT position.

When the UP / DOWN lever 28 is turned, the mode key 40 is pressed by the user, the exposure mode switches successively between the normal program mode (P), the automatic exposure mode (A) and the manual exposure mode (M), in the all-possibilities mode in that the main key 36 is in the ON position, and it switches successively between the beginner mode, the portrait mode, the landscape mode, the moving object mode, and the big mode plan, in the photography mode in that the main key 36 is in the position
PICT.

 When the user simultaneously presses the drive key 38 and the mode key 40 for a predetermined period of time, the camera enters a special function (PF) setting mode. When the PF adjustment mode is selected, each time the mode key 40 is pressed, the contents of a special function that is set is changed successively.

When the PF setting mode is selected and the letters "PF" are displayed, if the TV / AV key is pressed simultaneously for a predetermined period of time, the TV / AV key 30 functions as an erase key for erase all the various data that has been set in the special function setting mode, as will be described later in detail. In such erasure processing, if a film is loaded into the camera body 10, then the ISO film sensitivity is set to an exposure index
ISO indicated by a DX code (exposure code) on the loaded film, and if no film is loaded in the camera body 10, then the ISO film sensitivity is set to an ISO exposure index by default, for example, 100.

When the Tv / Av key 30 is pressed while the program offset (which will be described later) is running, the Tv / Av key 30 functions as a program offset clear key to clear the program offset. program offset value. When the touch of
Tv / Av 30 is pressed while exposure compensation is in progress, the Tv / Av key 30 functions as an exposure compensation erase key to erase the exposure compensation value.

 An accessory shoe 42 for mounting an external flash (not shown) is disposed on the upper surface of the camera body 10 on its left side as seen in FIG. 2. The accessory shoe 42 is normally covered by a hood 44.

 As shown in FIG. 3, a viewfinder eyepiece 46 is placed on an upper portion of the back panel of the camera body 10. The back panel has a lower portion that can be opened and which is substantially completely covered by a cover rear 48, which when opened, allows a film to be loaded into the camera body 10 and be unloaded therefrom. The back cover 48 is equipped with a date data recording system 50 for recording, on a loaded film, the year, month and day information where the film is exposed.

HYPER TOUCH
A hyperpressure type key 52 is disposed on the rear panel of the camera body 10 on its right shoulder. The hyper key 52 basically works as an exposure correction key. While normal program mode (P) or auto exposure mode (A) is being set in the normal exposure mode, if the lever
UP / DOWN 28 is rotated, the hyper key 52 being pressed, the optimal exposure conditions calculated by the camera can be corrected in a positive or negative direction, that is, can be increased or decreased, as desired by the user.

The user can also correct the exposure conditions by turning the UP / DOWN lever 28 when the hyper key 52 is pressed while any of the modes other than the beginner mode is set in the photography mode.

 When the manual exposure mode (M) is set in the normal exposure mode, if the hyper key 52 is pressed, a photometry treatment for the exposure is performed, and an optimal combination of shutter speed and shutter speed. The opening is determined based on the results of the photometry treatment. That is, if the hyper key 52 is pressed in the manual exposure mode (M), the auto exposure mode (A) is virtually selected.

 The exposure conditions that were corrected by turning the UP / DOWN lever 28 while the hyper key 52 was pressed are erased when the AV / AV key 30 that serves as the erase key is pressed.

CONTENTS DISPLAYED FROM EXTERNAL LCD DISPLAY WINDOW
The arrangement of the external LCD display window 34 will be described in detail below with reference to Figs. 4-6.

 Figure 4 shows the external LCD display window 34 as it would appear with all its elements or drawings lit. The external LCD display window 34 has four fixed display elements 54a to 54d that are displayed or turned on all the time regardless of the position in which the main key 36 is placed. The display element 54a includes a half-tone display element for displaying an ideogram indicative of the beginner mode in a true green hue. The display element 54b is constituted by a separation line for separating the display area of the external LCD display window 34 into two left and right areas placed, respectively, on the right and left sides of the line. 54b.The left area displays ideograms to indicate the five exposure modes selected in the photography mode, and letters of the alphabet indicating the three exposure modes in the normal exposure mode.

The right area displays various pieces of information including exposure conditions, shutter speed, aperture, the number of images displayed, etc. that are required to take photographs.

The display elements 54c, 54d represent parentheses for displaying in the area between them the state of the stack, the movie information, and the setting information of special functions etc. The display elements shown as fully lit in Fig. 4, except for the fixed display elements 54a to 54d shown in Fig. 5, are activatable elements such as liquid crystal elements. These display elements such as liquid crystal elements can be activated when the main key 36 is pushed to positions other than the OFF position.

 In the area on the left side of the dividing line 54b are arranged: an ideogram (graphically representing a smiling face) 56a indicating the beginner mode; an ideogram (graphically representing a person) 56b indicating the portrait mode; an ideogram (graphically representing a mountain) 56c indicating the landscape mode; an ideogram (graphically representing a runner) 56d indicating the moving object mode; and an ideograph (graphically representing a flower) 56th indicating the close-up mode. The ideograms that can be activated 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d, 56e being placed successively from top to bottom from the upper end.In the lowest position in the left zone are arranged: a letter P indicating the mode normal program that can be selected in normal exposure mode, a letter A indicating the auto exposure mode that can be selected in the normal exposure mode, and a letter M indicating the manual exposure mode that can be selected in the normal exposure mode. normal exposure mode, the letters being able to be activated A, P, M being placed in a horizontal relation side by side. The ideograms 56a-56e are surrounded by respective frames 58a-58e that can be activated to indicate that the corresponding 56a-56e ideograms are selected.

 More specifically, when the normal exposure mode is set by the main key 36 brought into the ON position, only one selected from the letters P, A, or M, which indicate, respectively, the normal program mode. , the auto exposure mode and the manual exposure mode, is activated on the left side of the separation line 54b. When the photography mode is established by the main key 36 brought to the PICT position, all the ideograms 56a to 56e are activated, and only one of the frames 58a to 58e, which corresponds to the mode selected in the photography mode, is activated.

 In the right-hand area of the separation line 54b, there is arranged an activatable graph 58f composed of nine black dots which are placed at equal intervals along an upper central edge of the external LCD display window. 34 in a side-by-side relationship horizontally and a row of nine 58g graduations, placed directly under the black dots in vertical alignment with them. The center of the graduations 58g is located above a triangular mark 58h which can be activated to indicate the central graduation 58g. The graduation 58g at the left end of the row is situated above a minus sign 58i that can be activated, and the graduation 58g of the right end of the row is located above a signal plus 58j that can to be activated.

The minus sign 58i indicates the negative direction to reduce the aperture or decrease the shutter speed, and the plus sign 58j indicates a positive direction to enlarge the aperture or increase the shutter speed.

 When one of the four exposure modes, other than the beginner mode, is selected in the photography mode, the manner in which the black dots in Chart 58f are alternately lit and off or continuously lit is changed by turning the UP / DOWN lever 28, thereby indicating a direction in which and a value of which a program shift is made.

However, a "plus" sign and a "-" sign (minus) may alternately be lit and extinguished, or lit continuously, at opposite ends of chart 58f, to allow chart 58f to display directly a change in shutter speed or a change in aperture. The ideograms 56f, 56g (described below) at the opposite ends of the graph 58f can be dispensed with, and only the "+" and "-" signs can be displayed.

 The ideograms 56f, 56g which are activated when either of the portrait mode, the landscape mode, and the macro mode is selected in the photography mode, are respectively placed at the left and right ends of the graph 58f. The left 56f ideogram, which is a graphical representation of a person and a mountain, both in point, indicates that the aperture is reduced which increases the depth of field to widen the range that may be at point. The right 56g ideogram, which is a graphical representation of a person in focus and a mountain out of focus, indicates that the aperture is increased which reduces the depth of field to reduce the range that can be on point.

 The ideograms 56h, 56i, which are activated when the moving object mode is selected in the photography mode, are respectively placed to the left of the minus sign 58i, that is to say, under an ideogram 56f, and to the right of the plus sign. 58j, that is to say, under the 56g ideogram. The left-hand 56h ideogram, which is a graphical representation of a fuzzy runner, indicates that the shutter speed is slow, which will tend to photograph the object as a blurred image. The right-hand ideogram 56i, which is a graphical representation of a non-blur runner, indicates that the shutter speed is fast, which will tend to photograph the object as a stopped image.

 A vertical row of three ideographs 56j, 56k, 56m that can be activated selectively is disposed under the ideogram 56h. These ideographs 56j, 56k, 56m indicate different modes of automatic zoom control that can be established when the lens system 12 mounted on the camera body 10 is a motorized zoom lens. The uppermost ideogram 56j is activated when a photography mode with constant image enlargement is selected. The central 56k ideogram is activated when a "clip" photography mode is chosen. The 56m most downward ideogram is activated when a shot mode with exposure change is selected. These modes of automatic motorized zoom control will not be described in detail because they have nothing to do with the present invention.

 A vertical row of five selectively activated 56n, 56O, 56p, 56q, 56r ideograms is arranged under minus sign 58i. The uppermost ideogram 56n, graphically representing a flash, is alternately switched on and off when flash photography is required. At this time, when the output key 32 is pressed, the built-in flash bulb is output, and it will be on when the conditions are ready for flash photography. The second ideogram 56O, graphically representing an eye, is lit when a mode of prevention of the phenomenon of the red eye is established for the flash photography. When the mode of prevention of the phenomenon of the red eye is established, the Built-in flash bulb is turned on before taking a flash photography view, causing the object person to close their eyes.

 The third ideograph 56p, graphically representing a watch, is activated when the photography mode with automatic delayed release is selected by turning the UP / DOWN lever 28 while the drive key 38 has been pressed to set the setting mode of the timer. 'training. The fourth ideograph 56q, graphically representing a rectangle is activated when the photography mode has a single view or the multi-shot photography mode is selected by turning the UP / DOWN lever 28 and then the driving key 38 is pressed. to set the drive adjustment mode.

The downwardly most ideograph 56r, graphically representing, in connection with the 56q ideogram, overlapping rectangles, is activated when the multi-view photography mode is selected by turning the UP / DOWN lever 28 while the key drive 38 is pressed to set the drive adjustment mode.

More specifically, when the single-view photography mode is set, only the 56q rectangular ideogram is activated, and when the multi-view photography mode is set, the 56r ideogram is activated in addition to the rectangular ideogram. 56q.

 An ideogram 56s, which can be activated, graphically representing a learning mode, is arranged between the triangular sign 58h and the minus sign 58i. The 56s ideogram, consisting of a notebook and a pencil, is activated when a learning mode is set in the special function (PF) setting mode. The learning mode will be described in detail later.

 "Tv" letters, which can be activated to display a shutter speed, are arranged on the right side of the flash 56a ideogram and under triangular mark 58h. A sign in the form of a line 58k, which can be activated, is placed directly above the letters "Tv". The 58k line sign is activated when the shutter speed priority mode is selected by pressing the TV / AV key 30.

 "Av" letters, which can be activated, indicating the opening are arranged under the letters "Tv". A sign 58m in the form of an arc, which can be activated, is placed directly above the letters "Av".

The line sign 58m is activated when the aperture priority mode is selected by pressing the TV / AV key 30.

 The external LCD display window 34 may be provided to activate the "Tv" and "Av" signs simultaneously, or to activate the "Tv" and "Av" signs one at a time in response to a switch operation. .

 Four-digit display elements 60a-60d, operable to display a shutter speed or ISO film sensitivity, are provided on the right side of the letters "Tv". Each of the two-digit left-side display elements 60a, 60b is composed of seven segments capable of selectively displaying numbers from "0" to "9" and letters.

The display element 60c, which is the second element from the right, is composed of six segments capable of selectively displaying the numbers "5" and "O".

The right end display element 60d may selectively display a "0" digit and a "" symbol. "" "" Is activated if the shutter speed displayed by the display elements forming two digits, left, 60a, 60b is expressed in seconds, and is disabled if the shutter speed displayed in a maximum of four digits is expressed in inverse magnitude of the second (direction1).

 The two-digit display elements 60e, 60f, which can be activated to display an opening, or the like, are arranged on the right side of the letters "Av" described above. Each of these two-digit display elements 60e, 60f, consists of seven segments to display numbers ranging from "0" to "9" and letters. A display element of a point 60g for displaying a decimal point is interposed between the display elements 60e, 60f.

 An ideogram 56u, representing graphically a dry cell, which can be activated to display the state of electric power of a power source (a battery), is arranged in the upper left part of the area between the parentheses represented by the display elements 54c, 54d. The 56u ideogram is fully activated in its central zone when the battery contains enough electrical energy, it is activated halfway when the electrical energy remaining stored in the battery is low, and it is deactivated when the electric energy remaining stored is almost exhausted.

 An ideogram 56t, graphically representing a film cartridge, which can be activated to display the fact that a film is loaded, is arranged under the ideogram of the dry battery 56u. The ideograph of the 56t film cartridge is disabled when no film is loaded, and it is activated when a movie is loaded.

 Two-digit display elements 60h, 60i that can be activated to display an exposure correction value or the letters "PF" or the like are arranged in a right portion of the area between the parentheses represented by the display elements 54c, 54d. Each of these two-digit display elements 60h, 60i is composed of seven segments to display numbers ranging from "0" to "9" and letters. A display element of a point 60j for displaying a decimal point is interposed between the display elements 60h, 60i. A display element 60k, graphically representing a minus sign, operable to indicate that the exposure compensation value is negative, is disposed on the left side of the left display element 60h.

STRUCTURE OF THE EXTERNAL LCD DISPLAY WINDOW
The structure of the external LCD display window 34 will be described below with reference to FIG.

 The external LCD display window 34 comprises two upper and lower transparent glass plates 34a, 34b which are spaced a predetermined spacing from each other by means of a spacer 34c. Liquid crystal 34d is placed in the gap which is determined by the spacer 34c. Two upper and lower transparent electrodes, 34e, 34f, are respectively disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the top and bottom transparent glass plates 34a, 34b in the form of independent electrodes corresponding to the ideograms 56a-56s, 58a to 58m representing the frames, the signs, etc., and to the display elements 60a to 60k including the seven-segment elements, etc.When, for example, the ideogram representing a smiling face 56a must be activated, the upper and lower transparent electrodes 34e, 34f corresponding to the ideogram 56a are powered to light the ideogram representing a smiling face 56a independently of the other ideograms.

 A first polarizer 34g is mounted on the upper surface of the upper clear glass plate 34a, and a second polarizer 34b is mounted on the lower surface of the lower transparent glass plate 34b. The upper surface of the second polarizer 34h is printed with the green half-tone display 54a according to the pad printing method. The separation line 54b and the display elements 54c, 54d are also printed on the upper surface of the second polarizer 34h. A reflector 34i is attached to the lower surface of the second polarizer 34h.

 The external LCD display window 34 of the above structure is capable, when necessary, of reliably displaying the various pieces of information described above.

LCD DISPLAY WINDOW
A viewfinder LCD display 62 as shown in FIG. 7 is disposed along the right edge of an outer frame that defines a viewfinder as viewed through the viewfinder eyepiece 46. 62 viewfinder LCD window displays various pieces of information that are simplified versions of the information elements that are displayed by the external LCD display window 34. Therefore, the information elements that are displayed by the viewfinder LCD display window 62 are designated by similar markers, and will not be described in detail. The viewfinder LCD display 62 includes a display member 58n, graphically representing a sign of focus, which is activated when the lens system is in focus to inform the user that the lens system is in focus. This same display element is not in the display window at
External LCD 34. The focus mark 58n can be activated when the Manual Focus (MF) or Auto Focus (AF) mode is selected using the Mode Select button. development 24.

FASTENING STRUCTURES FOR THE TRIGGER KEY
SHUTTER, LEVER UP / DOWN, TOUCH Tv / Av, LA
TRAINING BUTTON, AND FASHION KEY
Fastening structures for the five manual control elements, that is: the shutter release button 26, the UP / DOWN lever 28, the Tv / Av button 30, the drive button 38 and the mode key 40, which are arranged on the upper surface of the camera body 10, will be described below with reference to Figs. 8 to 10.

 First, the attachment structures for the shutter release button 26, the UP / DOWN lever 28 and the TV / AV button 30 which are disposed on the upper surface of the camera body 10 on the left side ( that is, the right side seen from the user) of the external LCD display window 34, will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. As shown in FIG. shutter release button 26, which can be pressed inward, is disposed in a first hole 64a which is defined in an upper trim plate 64 which defines the upper surface of the camera body 10. The touch of shutter release 26 is normally pushed upward by a coil spring 66. A switch assembly 68 is disposed under the shutter release key 26.

The switch assembly 68 contains a photometry switch 70 (see Fig. 11) which is closed when the shutter release button 26 is depressed halfway, and a trigger switch 72 (see Fig. 11) which is closed. when the shutter release button 26 is fully depressed. The Tv / Av button 30, which can be pressed inwardly, is disposed in a second hole 64b defined in the upper cover plate 64. The Tv / Av button 30 is normally pushed up by a spring with blade 74 which is placed upwards with respect to an erase switch 76.

Erase switch 76 is closed when the Tv / Av key 30 is pressed.

 The UP / DOWN lever 28 is angularly mobile, instead of being able to be depressed. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the UP / DOWN lever 28 comprises a lever 28a and a support shaft 28b fixed in one piece to the lever body 28a and extending substantially parallel to the axis Thus, the UP / DOWN lever 28 is angularly movable around the central axis of the support shaft 28b. The lever body 28a is of a substantially semicircular shape and has an upper edge protruding upwardly through a third hole (slot) 64c defined in the upper trim plate 64. The lever body 28a is associated with an UP switch 78 which is closed when the lever body 28a is turned counterclockwise in FIG. 9 (i.e., clockwise such as it is seen by the user), and a DOWN switch 80 which is closed when the lever body 28a is turned clockwise in FIG. 9 (i.e. the opposite direction of the clockwise as viewed by the user). The lever body 28a is normally pushed by a return spring (not shown) in a proper direction to return it to its neutral position in which it does not close any of the switches UP and DOWN 78, 80.

 As shown in Fig. 10, the drive key 38 and the mode key 40 which can be pressed inward are disposed in respective fourth and fifth holes 64d, 64e defined in the upper trim plate 64. The Drive key 38 and mode key 40 are normally pushed up by a spring (not shown). A drive switch 82 and a mode switch 84 are disposed on a switch support plate 86, respectively, under the drive key 38 and the mode key 40. The drive switch 82 is closed when the drive key 38 is pressed, and the mode switch 84 is closed when the mode key 40 is pressed.

 A hyper switch 88 that can be closed when the hyper key 52 is pressed, is located in the camera body 10. The camera body 10 also contains a film cartridge detecting switch 90 therein which can be closed by a film cartridge, which is loaded when the rear cover 48 is open, thereby to detect the loaded state of the film cartridge. The hyper switch 88 and the film cartridge detecting switch 90 are shown in FIG.

A REFLEX CAMERA CONTROL SYSTEM WITH OBJECTIVE
SINGLE AUTOMATIC FOCUS
Since the lens system 12 is mounted on the camera body 10, they can be used as a single-lens reflex camera, AF (autofocus), for taking photographs. A control system of such a single-lens reflex camera AF will be described below with reference to FIG.

 Light from an object that enters the camera body 10 through the optical zoom system of the lens system 12 is for the most part reflected by a main mirror 92 (see FIG. direction of a pentagonal mirror (not shown) of the viewfinder optical system. Part of the reflected light is applied to a photodetector 94 (see Figure 11) of a photometry integrated circuit (IC). Part of the light from the object, which has entered the camera body 10, is applied to, and passes through, a silver mirror semi-mirror portion (not shown) of the main mirror 92, and it is reflected by a rear secondary mirror (not shown) down to a range finder (CCD) detection unit (not shown).

 The photodetector 94 of the photometry integrated circuit produces an electrical signal as a function of the intensity of the light applied thereto.

The electrical signal produced by the photodetector 94 is logarithmically compressed by a photometry circuit 96, and is then converted by an A / D converter (analog to digital) 98 into a digital signal which is applied as a photometry signal to the photodetector.
Body-side CPU 20 in the camera body 10. Based on the digital photometry signal and the film sensitivity information, the body-side CPU 20 performs predetermined calculations to determine a shutter speed and a resolution. optimal opening for exposure. Next, the body-side CPU 20 implements an exposure control device 100 and an opening mechanism (not shown) to expose a film view based on the calculated shutter speed and aperture.

 In response to shutter release, the body side CPU 20 controls a motor driver (not shown) to power a mirror motor (not shown), to raise and lower the main mirror 92. After film was exposed, the body side CPU 20 feeds a film winding motor (not shown) to wind the film.

 The body side CPU 20 communicates with the objective-side CPU 22 to exchange data and instructions via connection terminals 18 on the lens mount 14 and connection terminals (not shown) on the system. objective 12. The lens system 12 includes a focal length detecting mechanism 102 for detecting a focal length that is currently set. The focal length detection mechanism 102 is electrically connected to the objective-side CPU 22.

 The body side CPU 20 comprises a control unit 20a for performing the overall control of the camera, the control unit 20a having a ROM (ROM) for storing a control program and a RAM (RAM) for storing certain data, an arithmetic unit 20b for performing AF (autofocus) arithmetic operations, PZ (motorized zoom) arithmetic operations, AE (automatic exposure) arithmetic operations, arithmetic operations learning mode, etc., and a timer 20c. At the control unit 20a is connected an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable ROM) 106 as an external memory via a controller 104. The EEPROM 106 stores various constants specific to the camera body 10 and different functions and constants that will be needed for AF arithmetic operations, PZ arithmetic operations, AE arithmetic operations, learning mode arithmetic operations, etc. An electronic sounder 108, to produce a sound when the lens system is in focus, is connected to the controller 104. The electronic sounder 108 is constituted, in this embodiment, by a PCV.

 Also connected to the body side CPU 20 is the photometry switch 70 which is closed when the shutter release button 26 is pressed halfway, the trigger switch 72 which is closed when the shutter release button is pressed. shutter 26 is fully pressed, the main switch 110 which is closed and open in response to the sliding movement of the main key 30, the erase switch 76, the UP switch 78, the DOWN switch 80, the drive switch 82, mode switch 84, hyper switch 88, and film cartridge detecting switch 90.

The main switch 110 includes a switch
ON 110a and a PICT switch 110b. The ON switch 110a is closed when the main key 36 is pushed to the ON position, and it is opened when the main key 36 is pushed to the other positions.

The PICT switch 110b is closed when the main key 36 is pushed to the PICT position, and it is opened when the main key is pushed to the other positions. The main switch 110 is closed when either the ON switch 110a or the switch
PICT 110b is closed, and is open when the ON switch 110a and the PICT switch 110b are both open.

 A control sequence for controlling the camera in this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowcharts.

 A main program shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 comprises a POFF loop corresponding to a waiting state and a PON loop corresponding to an operating state. From the PON loop are executed various control processes to control the camera. There are roughly four control processes that are shutter release processing (FIG. 14) to control an exposure when the shutter release button 26 is fully pressed, a display loop of the state of the switches (FIG. 15) to control the display processes during the operation of the mode key 40, the drive key 38, the Tv / Av key 30, the UP / DOWN lever 28 and the hyper key 52, an arithmetic processing of AE for controlling different program arithmetic operations and a learning mode arithmetic processing for controlling a learning function to learn an action of the user. The switch status display loop is divided into a processing in the exposure mode for exposure compensation and program offset, and processing in the special function setting mode.

MAIN PROGRAM
Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing the main program for controlling the camera. This flowchart is started when a battery is inserted into the camera. When a battery is set up in camera body 10, interrupts are prohibited, and initialization processing is performed to initialize marks, RAM, and registers, and to perform summation control in ROM (S1201, S1203). Then a current hold mode is activated to deliver electrical power to the entire hardware device of the camera, and data stored in the EEPROM 106 is written to the RAM of the camera.
CPU 20 (S1205, S1207). Then, the command executes the POFF loop which is repeatedly executed as long as the main switch 110 of the camera is open.

DATA FORMATS IN EEPROM / RAM
Figures 58 and 59 are diagrams showing the formats of the data stored in the EEPROM and data written in the RAM.

The camera according to this embodiment includes a function for learning the value of a program shift in each of the exposure modes including portrait mode, landscape mode, moving object mode, and close-up mode. In these exposure modes, GENPSFT (0) through GENPSFT (3) that indicate the value of an offset from an initial learning mode origin in a learned program schema, and STDYCNT (0). ) at
STDYCNT (3) which indicate the number of times the shutter is triggered with the value of a program offset that the user has set, are first written in the RAM, and then written in the EEPROM 106 as required. The data written in the EEPROM 106 is written in the RAM at a step S1303 shown in FIG. 13A and the step S1207 shown in FIG. 12. In addition, the data is transferred from GENPSFT (0) to GENPSFT (FIG. 3) and
STDYCNT (0) to STDYCNT (3) written in RAM to GENPSFT,
STDYCNT in the RAM according to an exposure mode that is selected.

 In addition to the locations, GENPSFT, STDYCNT, the RAM has a SETPSFT location for storing the value of a program offset, which the user has set, from a learning mode origin, and an ALLPSFT location for memorize the final value of a program offset.

 Figure 59 shows a data structure of ALLPSFT, SETPSFT, GENPSFT, STDYCNT data in RAM.

As shown in Figure 59, each of the data
ALLPSFT, SETPSFT, GENPSFT contains 0th through 6th bits representing the absolute value of a program offset in units of 1/8, and a 7th bit serving as a sense bit which represents the direction of the offset of program. The data
STDYCNT contains 0-th -5 th bits representing the number of times the shutter is triggered, and 6-th and 7-th bits representing data relating to the state of a learning mode.

POFF LOOP
In the POFF loop, a display loop of the state of the switches is called first (see Figure 15). In the display of the status of the switches, marks including a trigger switch mark (RELEASESW), a photometry switch mark (PHOTOMETRICSW), a master switch mark (MAINSW), a mark Clear switch (CLEARSW), UP switch mark (UPSW), DOWN switch mark (DOWNSW), Drive switch mark (DRIVESW), Mode switch mark ( MODESW), and a hyper switch mark (HYPSW) which are set to "1" or "0" depending on whether the trip switch 72, the photometry switch 70, the main switch 110, the erase switch 76, the UP switch 78, the DOWN switch 80, the drive switch 82, the mode switch 84, and the hyper switch 88 are closed or open, and various marks that are established according to the operation of the switches, are delivered to the CPU 20 which controls the aff in the external LCD display window 34 and in the viewfinder LCD display window 62 based on the issued marks (S1211, S1213).

If MAINSW is set to "0", that is, if the main key 36 is in the OFF position, then only the display loop of the state of the switches is called at a cyclic period of 128 ms (S1211, S1213), and the current hold mode remains off (S1229, S1231, S1233). Even if MAINSW is set to "1", that is, even if the main key 36 is in the PICT position or in the ON position, as long as all the marks
(1) RELEASESW,
(2) PHOTOMETRICSW, and
(3) HYPSW,
(4) UPSW,
(5) DOWNSW are set to "0" or if a PF mode mark is set to "0", the power hold mode remains off, and only the switch status display loop is called 128 ms intervals (S1217 to S1233, S1211,
S1213) .The PF mode mark is set to "1" when the camera is operating in the special function setting mode (the PF mode) which will be described later. In the PF mode (with MAINSW set to "1"), therefore, the control goes to "restart" (RESTART) regardless of the state of the operating switches.

 If either of the trip switch, photometry switch, hyper switch, UP switch, and DOWN switch is closed, that is, if any one of the marks (1) to (5) above is set to "1", while the POFF loop is running, a restart processing shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B is executed.

RESTART
Figs. 13a and 13B are a flowchart showing the restart processing. The restart process is executed if either of the marks (1) to (5) above is set to "1" or if the PF mode mark is set to "1" while MAINSW is in setting of "1" in the POFF loop shown in Fig. 12. The current holding mode is activated to deliver electrical power to the entire hardware device of the camera at a step S1301, and the data stored in the EEPROM 106 is read again and written in the RAM (S1303). In step S1305, a PON counter timer is set to the number of times the PON loop is to be repeated later (at 80 in the flowchart of Fig. 13A). Then the command executes the PON loop.

PON LOOP
In the PON loop, AE calculations for calculating a Tv / Av value are performed based on data transmissions between the camera body 10 and the lens system 12, data transmissions between the camera and the camera. camera body 10 and an external flash (not shown), photometry processing, and the results of such photometry processing. Shutter release processing is also performed in the PON loop.

First, to determine the cyclic periodicity of the PON loop, a timer of 128 ms is started (S1311), and the display in the external LCD display window 34 and in the LCD viewfinder window 62 is controlled according to the display loop of the state of the switches (S1313). If MAINSW is set to "1" (S1315
MAINSW = "1"), then data is transmitted from the external flash to the camera body 10 and data transmissions take place between the camera body 10 and the lens system 12 (S1317, S1319). Then, a normal photometry process is performed (S1321), AE calculations are performed based on the photometry data (S1323). Based on the results of the AE calculations, data is transmitted from the body from camera 10 to flash (S1325), after these data, including the results of AE calculations, have been displayed in the display loop of the state of the switches (S1327).

If the shutter release button 26 is pressed fully (S1329: RELEASESW = "0"), the shutter release processing is executed. If the trigger switch 72 is open (S1329: RELEASESW = "1"), then an AF loop is called. As long as the 128ms timer continues to run, the AF loop is repeatedly called while RELEASESW continues to be monitored (S1329 to S1333) .After the 128ms has been exhausted, if the photometry switch, the hyper switch, UP switch, and DOWN switch are all open, that is, if PHOTOMETRICSW, HYPSW, UPSW, and
DOWNSW are all "0", if the PF mode mark continues to be "0" indicating that the special function setting mode is not selected (S1335 to S1343), and if the PON loop is repeated the number of times that was set in step S1305, then the command goes to the POFF loop (S1345 to S1347). Otherwise, the PON loop is repeated.

SHUTTER RELEASE TREATMENT
Fig. 14 is a flow chart showing the shutter release processing. In shutter release processing, photometry processing (S1401), flash data transmissions to camera body 10 (S1403), AE calculations (S1405) described hereinafter, transmission transmissions of data from the camera body 10 to the flash (S1407) based on the results of the AE calculations, and the state display loop of the switches (S1409) are executed. Next, a series of exposure operations is performed, which includes a rising process of the main mirror and opening control (S1411), an exposure processing (S1413), and a winding treatment of the film and In the camera according to the present invention, after the exposure processing, learning mode calculations, described in the following, are performed (S1415) to learn the settings made by the user. After shutter release processing, control returns to the loop
PON shown in Figures 13A and 13B.

BUTTON DISPLAYING THE STATUS OF SWITCHES
Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing the state display loop of the switches for controlling the display in the external LCD display window 34 and in the viewfinder LCD display window 62 in response to the maneuver. control buttons on the camera. In the display loop of the state of the switches, are carried out and displayed various treatments including the display of a film sensitivity
ISO and switching between PF setting mode and other photography modes in response to the operation of the control buttons.

At a step S1501, the states of the different switches, which are established by the control keys of the camera, are read, and different marks (MAINSW, the fashion mark PF, MODESW, DRIVESW, the mark
PFOUTM) are adjusted based on the reading of the states of the switches.

 When the mode key 40 and the drive key are pressed simultaneously while the camera is in a normal state ready to take photographs, the ISO film sensitivity is displayed in the external LCD display window 34. Continuing to press the mode key 40 and the drive key 38 for a predetermined time causes the camera to enter the PF setting mode, i.e. setting of special functions.

In the PF setting mode, the PF mode mark is set to "1" as described later. If MAINSW is set to "0" in the switch status display loop, then the external LCD display window 34 and the viewfinder LCD display window 62 are turned off (S1521). Then, after PF override processing (S1523), control returns to where the switch status display loop was called.

If MAINSW is set to "1" and the camera is not in the PF setting mode, then the camera
MODESW and DRIVESW are determined. If both MODESW and DRIVESW are set to "0", then the command is routed to one of the different branches according to the PFOUTM mark. The PFOUTM mark is set to "1" only when the PF setting mode is completed normally after the camera enters the PF setting mode. Normally, the PFOUTM mark is set to "0". To return from the PF setting mode to the ordinary exposure mode, the mode key 40 and the drive key 38 are simultaneously pressed for a predetermined time. If both MODESW and DRIVESW are set to "0", then the PF timer is incremented from zero. If the timer count of PF is smaller than "31", then the film sensitivity
ISO is displayed in the external LCD display window 34 and at the same time a period of time remaining until the camera enters the PF mode is displayed as a graph depending on the processing of the image. PF timer display as will be described later. After the PF timer display processing, the control returns to where the display loop of the state of the switches was called.

 If the PF timer counts "31" or higher in step S1513, then the PF mode mark indicating that the camera enters the PF mode is set to "1" and a PFINM mark is also set to "1". ". The condition counting timer = "31" corresponds to a period of time of about 2 seconds.

 If the PF mode mark is set to "1", then control goes from a S1505 step to a PF loop when the switch status display loop is called the next time. The PF loop monitors the states of the different switches during the PF setting mode.

The PF loop will be described later.

In this embodiment, the film sensitivity
ISO is displayed only when the mode key 40 and the drive key 38 are pressed simultaneously.

However, the external LCD display window 34 may be controlled such that once the mode key 40 and the drive key 38 have been pressed, the external LCD display window 34 will display the sensitivity. ISO film for a predetermined period of time even if the mode key 40 and the drive key 38 are subsequently released.

If either of the mode switch and the drive switch is open while the ISO film sensitivity is being displayed, that is, while the period remaining time until the camera enters the PF mode is being displayed as a graph, then the PF timer is cleared and set to "0", and the mark
PFOUTM is set to "0".

If the mode key 40 and the drive key 38 are continuously pressed during the transition from the setting mode of PF to the exposure mode, then since the mark
PFOUTM is set to "1", the control goes from a step S1511 to a processing 1 of display of the state of the switches, and does not return to the PF setting mode. To return to the PF setting mode, again, it is necessary, in step S1525, to release either of the mode key 40 or the drive key 38 to set the PFOUTM mark to "0" and then press the mode key 40 and the drive key 38 both simultaneously. As described above, immediately after switching from the PF setting mode to the photography mode, the PF setting mode is not started again even if the drive key and the mode key are pressed simultaneously. Therefore, the camera can be implemented easily.

 During operation in the normal exposure mode, unless either of the mode key and the drive key is pressed, no processing is performed on the PF setting mode. , and the control goes to the processing 1 to display the state of the switches (S1507, S1509, S1525).

DISPLAYING THE STATUS OF SWITCHES
FIGS. 16A, 16B and 16C are a flowchart of the display 1 of the state of the switches. The display 1 of the state of the switches controls the display of data selected and adjusted by the lever UP / DOWN 28.

 First, a learning mode mark is set to "0" at a step S1601. In this embodiment, a learning mode prohibition mark is set to "0" (S1925, Fig. 19 or S2611, Fig. 26), indicating the permission of a learning mode and the mode mark. is set to "1" (S1615, Figure 16) to execute a learning mode only when an exposure mode (portrait, landscape, moving object and close-up) is selected, as will be described by the following.

At a step S1603, a U / D loop is performed to set and display different data depending on the state of the UP / DOWN lever 28, as described in detail below. An AE mode setting process shown in Fig. 35 is called at step S1605 which determines that the exposure mode should be the beginner mode, the portrait mode, the landscape mode, the moving object mode, the close-up mode, the program mode, the automatic mode or the manual mode, according to the data set in the U / D loop shown in FIG. 34 and also according to the fact that the main key 36 is in the position
PICT or the ON position, as will be described later in detail, and that puts a variable "AE mode" to a numerical value depending on the exposure mode.

The control then branches into different branches depending on the exposure mode (S1607,
S1609). In Fig. 16B, steps S1611 to S1621 belong to program offset processing to be described later, and steps S1623, S1625 belong to a processing relating to exposure compensation. If the exposure mode is the beginner mode or the manual mode, then the above steps are not performed since no program shift or exposure compensation is performed. In the automatic embodiment, only the exposure compensation is performed and no program offset occurs. In the program mode, it is possible to execute a program shift even though no graphics are displayed, and the command starts from a step S1619.

 If the exposure mode is portrait mode, landscape mode, moving object mode, or macro mode, then the camera according to this embodiment has a function to learn the value of a program shift. which has been set by the user. The learn function is active as long as a film cartridge is loaded in the camera and the teach mode prohibition mark is set to "0" in the PF setting mode. As long as the above conditions are satisfied, the learning mode mark is set to "1" (S1611 to S1615).

 In a program shift graph display processing, the value of a program offset that has been set by the user is displayed as a graph in the external LCD display window 34 and in the display. viewfinder LCD display window 62. The value of a program offset that has been set can be canceled when the TV / AV key alone is pressed (see PROGRAM OFFSET CLEARING PROCESS, figure 38 , S3805). In step S1619, the program offset is canceled as will be described in detail later.

 In step S1621, the letters "Tv" and "Av" and the arc-shaped lines that overlie them 58k, 58m are displayed in the external LCD display window 34.

As described above, you can set the camera for exposure compensation if the exposure mode is portrait mode, landscape mode, moving object mode, macro mode, program mode. or the automatic mode. Depressing the hyper key 52 causes the external LCD display window 34 and the viewfinder LCD display window 62 to display an exposure correction graph. With the exposure compensation graphic displayed, i.e., the hyper key 52 being pressed, the UP / DOWN lever 28 is rotated to set an exposure correction value
S1623. The exposure compensation value set in this way can be cleared by pressing the TV / AV key 30 while the exposure compensation graphic is displayed (S1625). Processing details for displaying and clearing the exposure compensation will be described later.

 If the exposure mode is the auto mode, then switching between shutter speed priority mode and aperture priority mode can be done by pressing the TV / AV button 30 (S1627). In shutter speed priority mode, a Tv value can be changed by turning the UP / DOWN lever 28. In aperture priority mode, a value of Av can be changed by turning the UP / DOWN lever. 28. At this time, the external LCD display window 34 displays the arc-shaped line 58k or 58m which overcomes that of the value of Tv or the value of Av which has the priority, and the window of viewfinder LCD display 62 displays an underline under that of the value of Tv or the value of Av which has the priority (S1629).

 If the exposure mode is the manual mode, then a manually adjusted deviation of the value of Tv / Av from a calculated optimum exposure value is displayed as a graph according to a display processing. exposure (S1631). If the hyper key only 52 is pressed in the manual mode, then an optimum exposure value is set which is calculated according to the program.

In the manual mode, the value of Tv / Av is set by the lever UP / DOWN 28. The Tv / Av key 30 determines (S1633), as in the automatic mode, whether it is the value of Tv or the value which is to be adjusted by the UP / DOWN lever 28. As for the automatic mode, the external LCD display window 34 displays the arc-shaped line 58k or 58m above that of the TV value. or the value of Av which is modifiable by the UP / DOWN lever 28, and the viewfinder LCD display 62 displays an underline under the value of Tv or Av (S1635).

 The values of Tv and Av thus determined are displayed in the external LCD display window 34 and in the viewfinder LCD display 62 (S1637). The external LCD display window 34 and the viewfinder LCD display window 62 also display the exposure mode and the training mode, an indication whether or not a learning mode should take place. , and a number of other data depending on modes (81641).

PF LOOP
Figure 17 is a flowchart of the PF loop.

The PF loop controls branching in a PF loop 1 to set and change various special functions in the PF setting mode, and processing to return to normal exposure mode after a function has been set.

 A special function (PF) is set by selecting setting items with the mode key 40 and changing the data by turning the UP / DOWN lever 28. If one minute elapses without setting any special function during operating mode in the PF setting mode, then the PF setting mode is canceled and the control returns to the exposure mode. For this purpose, if either of the mode switch 84 (S1701), the UP switch 78 (S1703), and the DOWN switch 80 (S1705) is closed, then a timer of end of PF is set to "0" (S1707), and if none of the mode switch, UP switch and DOWN switch are closed, the end timer of PF continues to measure the time .

 When the control changes from the normal exposure mode to the PF loop in response to the simultaneous pressing of the mode key 40 and the drive key 38, since the PFINM mark has been set to "1" at the same time. In step S1527 of FIG. 15, control is from step S1715 in FIG. 17 to PF display processing. Since the PFINM mark is set to "0", in the PF display processing, the PF display processing is executed only when the command goes to the PF adjustment processing. Once the mode key 40 or the drive key 38 is released, the PF display processing will not be executed during operation in the PF setting mode.

 The setting items are changed by PF loop 1 when the mode switch is closed, i.e., MODESW is set to "0" (S1711). If both MODESW and DRIVESW are set to "o" for a predetermined period of time, which is 2 seconds in this embodiment, then the command executes an end of PF adjustment processing, in which the special function which has been set is established, i.e. written in the EEPROM 106. The time until the command goes to the end of PF adjustment processing is measured and displayed in the same way as in the steps S1513, S1515, S1519 shown in Figure 15 (S1717, S1719, S1721).

FP DISPLAY PROCESSING
Fig. 18 is a flow chart of the PF display processing that is executed when the control changes from the normal exposure mode to the PF setting mode. The PF display processing is executed when the control enters the PF setting mode, a predetermined period of time after the ISO film sensitivity has been displayed by simultaneously pressing the mode key 40 and the drive key 38. while the camera is operating in the normal exposure mode.

 If the timer count of PF reaches or exceeds a predetermined value (31), that is, if the mode key 40 and the drive key 38 are continuously pressed for 2 seconds, the PF mode mark and the PFINM mark are set to "1" in step S1527 of Fig. 15. Then, when the switch status display loop shown in Fig. 15 is executed, the mode key 40 and the key With the drive 38 being pressed, control goes to the PF loop at step S1505, and comes from step S1715 in the PF loop in Fig. 17 to the PF display processing in Fig. 18.

 In the PF display processing, the letters "PF" are displayed to indicate that the control has entered the PF setting mode, and a MODESWM mark (described later) is set to "1". If the Tv / Av key 30 is not pressed at this time (S1803: CLEARSW = "1"), then the command returns to where the switch status display loop, in bypass in PF display processing, has been called.

The camera according to this embodiment is arranged such that all special functions that are set are erased and default values are set if the TV / AV key is pressed while "PF" is displayed in the camera. the display window to
External LCD 34 by pressing the mode key 40 and the drive key 38. Such processing is performed in steps S1805 to S1815.

Pressing the Tv / Av key 30 (S1803:
CLEARSW = "0") sets the MODESWM mark to "0" (S1805). To set the PF timer to "0", only when a processing of a step S1805 and the following steps is performed for the first time, the command branches into different branches according to a brand
PFINM 2, at step S1807. More specifically, the PFINM mark 2 is set to "0" in a first cycle, and is set to "1" in a second cycle and subsequent cycles. In the second cycle and subsequent cycles, therefore, the PF timer is not reset to "0". Steps S1811 to S1815 are similar to steps S1515 to S1519 shown in Fig. 15 or steps S1717 to S1721 shown. in Fig. 17, in that the remaining time period until the command goes to a total erasure processing of PF to clear the settings is displayed as a graph. When a predetermined period of time elapses, that is, when the timer count of PF exceeds "31", the control goes to the total erasure process of PF which replaces the settings with default values.

LOOP 1 OF PF
FIGS. 19A and 19B are a flowchart of PF loop 1 for controlling the setting of special functions and the display of settings.

 The camera body according to this embodiment is arranged such that if no adjustment is made for one minute or more, during operation in the PF setting mode, all settings made during operation in the mode PF setting are canceled, and the settings immediately before the command goes into the PF setting mode are retained as is. Therefore, a step S1901 determines whether the end timer of PF has run for a minute or more. As shown in steps S1701 to S1707 in Fig. 17, the end timer of PF is reset to "0" each time one of the mode switch, the UP switch, and the DOWN switch for PF setting mode is detected as closed. That is, the end timer of PF is set to "0" whenever the mode key 40 or the UP / DOWN lever 28 is operated. If the mode key 40 and the UP / DOWN lever 28 are not operated for a minute or a longer time, then the control proceeds from step S1901 to a PF undo process.

During the operation of the PF setting mode, control goes from step S1901 to step S1903. In step S1903 the PFINM mark is set to "0", and the PF timer is set to a count value of "0". The brand
PFINM is set to "1" at step S1527 in Fig. 15 when the control changes from the exposure mode to the PF setting mode by causing the control to branch to the PF display processing at step S1715 in Figure 17. If the mode key 40 and the drive key 38 remain pressed after the command is entered in the PF setting mode, then since the PFINM mark is set to "1", the command always goes to step S1715 to the PF display processing. As the mode key 40 or the drive key 38 is released, the display processing of PF is not executed any longer and the control changes from step S1715 in step S1717, allowing the end of PF adjustment processing to be executed.

To switch from the PF setting mode to the exposure mode, it is necessary to press the mode key 40 and the drive key 38 simultaneously for a predetermined period of time. The timer of PF serves to measure this predetermined period of time. As can be seen from the steps
S1711, S1713 in Fig. 17, in conjunction with step S1903 in Fig. 19, the timer of PF is set to "0" as soon as the mode key 40 or the drive key 38 is released.

 Then, steps S1905 and S1907 determine whether the UP / DOWN lever is or is not maneuvered. If the UP / DOWN lever 28 is rotated to increase the designated variable data, then a UPM mark is set to "1" (Fig. 23) in the U / D loop, and if the UP / DOWN lever 28 is turned to reduce the designated variable data, then a DOWNM mark is set to "1" (Figure 23) in the U / D loop (Figure 22).

 If the UP / DOWN lever 28 is not operated, then the items set as special functions are changed when the mode key 40 is pressed at a step S1937 of a process, called at step S1909.

The camera according to this embodiment has, as special functions which can be modified, five elements indicated below.

(A) ISO film sensitivity;
(B) Level of learning mode change;
(C) The fact that a sound must or may not be produced when the lens system is developed automatically
(D) whether a learning mode should or should not take place; and
(E) Erasing a learning mode.

 These five elements (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) are successively selected in the order listed each time the mode key 40 is pressed in the PF setting mode. When the mode key 40 is pressed once more while the element (E) is selected, the element (A) is selected again.

The U / D loop is executed only when the mark
MODESWM is set to "0" which is tested at one step
S1911. In the U / D loop, the data during the adjustment of the elements are modified by turning the lever UP / DOWN 28.

In this embodiment, only when one of the mode key 40 and the UP / DOWN lever 28 is operated, the setting of the elements or data can be changed.

Step S1911 determines whether or not the U / D loop is called based on the MODESWM mark. The brand
MODESWM is set to a different value in PF mode UP processing, at step S1909, depending on the mode switch 84, as described later in detail.

 Steps 51915 through S1927 display an item that is set and its data. If the adjusted item is item (A) above, then ISO film sensitivity is displayed.

If the set element is the element (B), then a numerical value ranging from "0" to "4" corresponding to a combination of the chosen learning level and the number of times the learning mode is displayed. must take place.

If the set element is the element (C), it is then displayed a numerical value "0" indicating that the electronic sounder 108 is energized when the lens system is in focus, or a numerical value "1" indicating that the electronic sounder 108 is not powered when the lens system is in focus, and the electronic buzzer 108 is periodically powered when the numerical value "0" is selected or is not powered when the numerical value "1" is chosen, allowing the user to audit the setting.

If the set element is element (D), then a numerical value "0" is displayed indicating that a learning mode is to take place, or a number "1" indicating that a learning mode should not take place, and at the right of the external LCD display window 34 a 56s learning ideogram is turned on or off, allowing the user to visually check the setting. If the set element is the element (E), then a symbol indicating a chosen exposure mode, and the letters "RSL" indicating that the erasure of a learning mode is set, are displayed.

 Loop 1 of PF is called from the state display processing of the switches. Therefore, after the end of the PF loop, the control returns to a location where the display of the state of the switches was called.

UP OF PF MODE
Fig. 19 (C) is a flowchart of the PF mode UP processing which is called at step S1909 shown in Fig. A. The mode UP processing PF is called when the UP / DOWN lever is not rotated. When the PF mode UP processing begins to be executed, it first determines whether or not the mode key 40 has been pressed (S1931). Yes
MODESW has been set to "1", then the MODESWM mark has been set to "0". Thus, the control proceeds from a step S1911 to a step 51913 in FIG. 19 (A), allowing the data to be modified using the UP / DOWN lever 28.

 If MODESW has been set to "0", then the PF mode is incremented (S1937) to change the setting of the elements as long as the MODESWM mark is set to "0".

Since the PF mode consists of five types from 0 to 4, when the PF mode reaches 5, it is set to "0" (S1939). Once the PF mode is incremented, the brand
MODESWM is set to "1" (S1943). After the setting items have been changed by pressing the mode key 40, the change processing of the setting items is not executed at a step S1935 if the mode key 40 remains pressed. In other words, the setting items are not really changed unless the mode key 40 is released. Therefore, the camera is very convenient to implement.

 After the above processing, the command returns to the place where the PF mode UP has been called.

TOTAL ERASE TREATMENTS OF PF AND END OF SETTING
PF
Fig. 20 is a flowchart of the total erase processing of PF and the end of PF control process.

The total erasure processing of PF is executed when the timer count of PF reaches, or exceeds "31", in step S1811 of the display processing of
PF shown in Figure 18.

 More specifically, the total erasure processing of PF is performed when the Tv / Av key 30 is continuously pressed for a predetermined time of two seconds after the input of the control in the PF setting mode. by simultaneously pressing the mode key 40 and the drive key 38 for a predetermined period of time, while the external LCD display window 34 displays "PF". In the total erase processing of PF, all the data whose setting can be changed in the PF setting mode are reset to initial values (S2001).

 If a movie with DX code (exposure data code) is loaded in the camera, then an ISO film sensitivity, read from the film's DX code, is set as the initial value. Otherwise, an ISO film sensitivity of 100 is set as the default. Regarding the level of learning mode change, are set as initial values: a change level = 0, the number of times 1 where the learning mode must occur = 3 times, and the number of times 2 where the learning mode must take place = 3 times. Regarding the tone to be produced when the lens system is in focus, an initial setting is that the electronic sounder 108 is energized when the system is in focus. With respect to the tuning element determining whether the learning must, or not, take place, an initial setting is that the learning mode must take place. To clear the learning modes for portrait, landscape, moving object, and close-up exposure modes, all the learning mode mode mark marks corresponding to the respective modes are set. at "1".

 The above settings are written in the RAM. In the end of PF setting processing, in step S2011 and the following steps, the setting data in the RAM is written to the EEPROM 106.

 With respect to the ISO film sensitivity elements, the learning mode change level, the sound must be produced when the lens system is in focus, and the fact that the mode is The data in the RAM, which has been set and changed in the PF setting mode, corresponds to the data in the EEPROM. Therefore, the data in the RAM is written to the EEPROM (S2011). With regard to erasing a learning mode, since only the value of the learning mode erasure mark is changed for each mode (81927, Figure B-II), GENPSFT (X) and STDYCNT (X) in the RAM are reset to the initial data and written to the EEPROM only when the value of the learning mode clear mark (X) corresponding to each mode is "1" (S2013 to S2019).

After the above processing, the command executes a step S2111 in Fig. 21 to reset the different marks and the counter. At this moment, the brand
PFOUTM indicating that the control has changed from the PF setting mode to the normal exposure mode is set to "1".

 The total erasure processing of PF is called from the state display loop of the switches. Therefore, when the total erasure processing of PF is terminated, control returns to where the display loop of the state of the switches has been called.

FP CANCELLATION TREATMENT
Fig. 21 is a flowchart showing the PF cancellation processing.

In the camera according to this embodiment, special functions are set in the PF setting mode, and the settings are written to the EEPROM when the mode key 40 and the drive key 38 are simultaneously pressed during a predetermined period of time (see Figures 17 and 20), after which the PF setting mode terminates. If the setting mode of
PF is interrupted in another way, i.e., if the main key 26 is pushed into the OFF position during operation in the PF setting mode, or if no adjustment is made during a minute, or more, in the PF setting mode, then the data changed in the PF setting mode is not written to the EEPROM 106, but canceled. Particularly if no adjustment is made for one minute, or more, in the PF setting mode, then the control automatically switches from the PF setting mode to the exposure mode. If PF cancel processing is executed, the learning mode clear mark (X) is set to "0" so that the learning mode will not be cleared in any mode (S2101).

 PF cancellation processing is called from the switch status display loop. Therefore, when the PF cancellation processing is terminated, the command returns to where the state loop of the switches has been called.

U / D LOOP PROCESSING
Fig. 22 is a flowchart of the U / D loop for modifying data in response to lever rotation
UP / DOWN 28.

If the DOWN switch 80 is closed, that is, if
DOWNSW, tested in step S2401 of FIG. 24, is at "0" then the DOWNM mark (DOWN memory mark) is set to "1", and the UPM mark (UP memory mark) is set to "0""(S2409), and if UPSW (tested in step S2302) is set to" 0 ", then the UPM mark is set to" 1 ", and the DOWNM mark is set to" 1 "(S2309), as will be described in detail in the following. Therefore, if the UP switch 78 is closed, then the UP loop mark is set to "1" and a UP loop process is executed and a DOWN loop process is not executed (S2201 to S2205). If the DOWN switch 80 is closed, then the loop mark
UP is set to "0", and only the DOWN loop processing is executed (S2207 to S2211) .After the above processing, the command returns to where the U / D loop was called.

LOOP UP
Fig. 23 is a flowchart of a UP loop which is called in the U / D loop (Fig. 22).

 If the UP switch 78 is open (S2301: UPSW = "1"), then no data is changed, and the UP memory mark indicates that the UP switch 78 is open and set to "0" (S2303 ), and the command returns to the U / D loop.

 If the UP switch 78 is closed (S2301: UPSW = "0"), then a step S2305 determines whether the UP switch 78 has been closed when the UP loop has been called previously. If the UP switch 78 has been previously closed (memory mark UP = "1"), the command goes to a U / D timer loop. Since the U / D loop is repeated at a cyclic period of about 64 ms (twice in 128 ms), if the data that was changed based only on the state of the UP switch 78 at the time the UP loop is called, for example, when the switch 78 remains closed, that is to say when the user has turned the lever UP / DOWN 28 in the direction of increasing the variable data and keeps it turned in this sense, then the data will be changed in a very short period of time. To prevent such a change from occurring, if the UP switch 78 or the DOWN switch 80 is turned continuously, the period is extended in a software manner in the U / D timer loop.

If the memory mark UP is "0", then the data is changed in data U / D processing, and the memory mark UP indicating that the UP switch 78 has been closed is set to "1", and the when the DOWN memory mark indicating that the DOWN switch 80 has not been closed is set to "0", the count of a timer
U / D used in the U / D timer loop is set to "0" (S2305 to S2309).

TREATMENT OF THE DOWN LOOP
Fig. 24 is a flowchart of a DOWN loop.

Steps S2401 to S2409 are substantially the same as those shown in Fig. 23, with respect to the fact that the DOWN switch 80 is closed or open.

TREATMENT OF THE U / D TIMER LOOP
Steps S2411 to S2417 represent processing of the U / D timer loop.

In the U / D timer loop, if the timer U / D count, which is incremented each time the U / D timer loop is executed (S2417), reaches or exceeds "8" (S2411), then the data special function is changed (S2413). More specifically, if the U / D timer loop is executed 8 times, with the UP / DOWN lever 28 turned, the data is changed in a way that depends on the direction in which the lever
UP / DOWN 28 is rotated. When the data is changed, the U / D timer is reset and its count is set to "0" (S2415).

U / D DATA PROCESSING
FIG. 25 is a flowchart of the data U / D processing which performs a data modification in response to the operation of the UP / DOWN lever 28.

If during operation in the PF setting mode (S2501: PF = "1" mode mark), the control is connected to a PF data U / D process in which a special function is changed and adjusted by the lever
UP / DOWN 28 and the mode key 40 which are operated in combination.

If the mode mark PF = "0", then the control is connected in different branches according to an operating key which is pressed in combination with the lever
UP / DOWN 28.

If the UP / DOWN lever 28 is turned while the mode button 40 is pressed, then the exposure mode is changed (S2530, S2505). If the UP / DOWN lever 28 is turned while the drive key 38 is pressed, then the drive mode is changed (S2507, S2509). If the UP / DOWN lever 28 is turned while the hyper key 52 is pressed, then the exposure compensation is performed (S2511, S2512). If the UP / DOWN lever 28 is maneuvered alone, then
(1) a program shift is performed when the photography mode is any of portrait mode, landscape mode, moving object mode, macro mode and program mode (S2517, S2519), or
(2) the value of Tv or the value of Av is changed when the photography mode is automatic mode or manual mode (S2521, S2523, S2524) .The value of Av or the value of Tv must be set is determined by pressing the Tv / Av 30 key.

 After the above processing, the command returns to where the U / D data processing was called.

U / D TREATMENT OF PF DATA
Fig. 26 is a flowchart of the PF data U / D processing that modifies the data of PF elements (special functions) in the PF setting mode.

 The data of the special function element, which has been set by pressing the mode key 40 in step S1909 of Fig. 19A and step 51937 of Fig. 19C, is modified (S2601, S2603).

 If the set item is ISO film sensitivity, then the ISO film sensitivity is changed in steps by turning the UP / DOWN lever 28 (52605).

 When the TV / AV button is pressed while the ISO movie sensitivity is being set, an initial value is set as the ISO movie sensitivity, for example, a DX value according to a DX code is set if a film with a DX code is loaded into the camera, and otherwise an initial value of 100 is set.

If the set element is the learning mode change level, a variable representing a change level, and corresponding to a combination of a change value and the number of times the learning mode is to take place, is set to a value from "0" to "4". One step of the change value corresponds to a change of Tv or Av of a value corresponding to about 0.5 Ev, that is, a step of the change value makes a change in the value of Tv of 0.5 in a sense and a change in the value of
Av in the opposite direction, so that the value of Ev is constant.If the value of a program offset that is actually set by the user is equal to or greater than a change value that is selected, then, it is learned that the exposure will be performed a number of times indicated by the number of times 1 where the learning mode is to take place, and if the value of a program offset that is actually set by the user is smaller than If a change value is selected, then it is learned that the exposure will be performed a number of times indicated by the number of times 2 where the learning mode is to take place (S2607).

 If the adjusted item refers to whether the AF mode is to be on or off, then a focus prohibition mark changes from "0" to "1" (S2609).

 If the set item refers to whether or not a learning mode should be prohibited, then the teach mode prohibition mark changes from "0" to "1" (S2611).

If the adjusted item is the erasure setting of a learning mode, then an ideogram indicating the photography mode is displayed in the display window at
External LCD 34, the UP / DOWN lever 28 is rotated to select one or all of the four erase modes of a learning mode, and the touch of
Tv / Av 30 is pressed to clear a learning mode (S2613).

U / D PROGRAM SHIFT PROCESSING
Fig. 27 is a flowchart of program offset U / D processing for setting a program offset. If the exposure mode is the beginner mode, then since no shift program is performed, the processing of a step S2703 and the following steps will be executed (S2701: program shift inhibit mark = "1" ).

 If the UP / DOWN lever 28 is turned in the positive direction, then a program shift is possible only when the value of Tv does not exceed a maximum value and the value of Av does not reach a minimum value (S2705: TvMAX = "0", S2707: Av MIN = "0"). If the sense bit, stored in the RAM, which represents the direction of a program offset, is negative, then 0.5 is subtracted from the sense bit until the value of a program offset becomes " 0 ". When the value of the program offset becomes "0", the sense bit is made positive (S2717 to S2721). If the sense bit is positive, 0.5 is added to the program offset value unless the program offset value becomes equal to or greater than 4/8 (S2713, S2715).

 If the UP / DOWN lever 28 is turned in the negative direction then a program shift is possible only when the value of Tv is greater than the minimum value and when the value of Av does not exceed the maximum value. If the program offset direction bit in the RAM is positive, then 0.5 is subtracted from the program offset value (S2727, S2729). If the value of the program offset becomes negative as a result of the subtraction, then since the data in the RAM is represented in decimal notation, the data is processed in such a way that it will be represented by a negative bit and the absolute value. the value of the program offset (S2729 to 52733). If the direction bit is negative, then 0.5 is added to the value of the program offset unless it becomes equal to or greater than the maximum value (52735 , 52727).

U / D TREATMENT OF EXPOSURE CORRECTION
Fig. 28 is a flow diagram of a U / D treatment of exposure correction.

If the direction in which the UP / DOWN lever 28 is turned is positive, i.e. if the UPLOOP mark is set to "1" in step S2203, then the exposure compensation value Xv is incremented from 0.5 until an upper limit Xv = 3.0 is reached (S2801 to S2805), and if this direction is negative, that is, if the mark
UPLOOP is set to "0" in step S2209, Xv is decremented by 0.5 until a lower limit Xv = -3.0 is reached (S2801 to S2807).

DISPLAY PROCESSING OF OFFSET GRAPHICS
PROGRAM
Fig. 29 is a flowchart of a program offset graph display processing for graphically displaying the value of a program offset that has been set.

To display a program offset as a graph, the data, found in a program offset display panel shown in Fig. 31, is read and displayed based on the meaning and value of a program offset. offset the origin and meaning and value of a program shift that is fixed by referring to the origin. In Figure 31, black dots represent activated areas, and black dots with radial lines indicate that the black dots are alternately turned on and off. The data designated Y and Z in Figure 31 are displayed in the display window at
External LCD 34 and in the viewfinder LCD display window 62.

In Fig. 29, the sense bit and the value of an offset of the origin corresponding to an exposure mode that has been set are read from the RAM (S2901 to S2905), and the value of Y from the figure. 31 is calculated from the origin direction bit and the origin offset value (S2907 to S2911). Then, the value of Z shown in Fig. 31 is calculated from the program shift direction bit and the program offset value (S2913 to
S2917). If the value of Z is negative, or equal to or greater than "11", then Z is set, respectively, to "0" or "10" (S2919 to S2925). Based on the values of Y and Z thus determined, the display data of the scoreboard shown in Fig. 31 is written to the RAM for the LCD display windows (S2927, S2929).

EXPOSURE CORRECTION DISPLAY PROCESSING
Fig. 30 is a flowchart of an exposure correction display process which is referenced in step S1623 shown in Fig. 16.

 Depending on the exposure compensation value Xv that has been set, any one of a mark Xv zero, one mark Xv plus, and one mark minus Xv is set to "1" (S3001 to S3011). If HYPSW is set to "0" by pressing the hyper key 51, the exposure compensation value Xv is displayed by a digit (S3013, S3015), and an exposure compensation graphic display processing is executed at step S3031 and the steps that follow.

 If HYPSW is set to "1", then no graph display is performed provided that the exposure compensation value is "0" (S3013, S3017, S3019), and the command executes step S1624 in a process. 1 display of the state of the switches.

 If the main key 36 is in the PICT position with HYPSW set to "1", then the "+" or "-" sign is displayed in the external LCD display window 34 and in the LCD display window of viewfinder 62 depending on whether Xv is positive or negative (S3021 to S3027).

 If the main key 36 is in the ON position with the hyper switch open, then the control goes to an exposure correction graph display step (S3021: PICTSW = "1").

 In the exposure correction graph display step, the correction value is displayed as a graph in the external LCD display window 34 and in the viewfinder LCD display window 62, using the data from an Exposure Compensation Chart Display Board shown in Figure 40.

 More specifically, the data of the exposure correction graph display panel shown in Fig. 40 is selected based on the exposure correction value Xv, and ticks are displayed in the display window. external LCD display 34 and in the viewfinder LCD display window 62, the data of the selected figure 40 being displayed thereon. The exposure compensation value that can be displayed as a graph ranges from - 2.0 EV to + 2.0 EV, although the exposure compensation value that can be adjusted is - 3, 0 Ev to + 3, 0 Ev. If the exposure compensation value is outside the range that can be displayed by the graph, then this is indicated by turning on and off black dots at the ends of the graph.

 After the above processing, step S1624 in the display 1 of the state of the switches is executed.

DISPLAYING THE PF TIMER
Fig. 32 is a flow chart of the PF timer display processing for displaying a time period remaining when the controller enters the PF setting mode by simultaneously pressing the drive key 38 and the mode key 40, and also when the control exits the PF setting mode. Switching between the PF setting mode and the exposure mode is performed when the timer count of PF reaches or exceeds a predetermined value of 31 (Figures 15 and 18). Therefore, based on the numerical value of the PF timer, the PF timer display data shown in Fig. 37 is selected and written in a display RAM to enable the external LCD display window. 34 to display a graph representative of the remaining time period (S3201, S3203).

AE MODE U / D PROCESSING
Fig. 34 is a flowchart of an AE mode U / D processing for selecting an exposure mode using the UP / DOWN lever 28. The control branches to different branches, at a step S3401, in function of the direction in which the data is changed, i.e., the direction in which the UP / DOWN lever 28 is rotated.

If the UP switch 78 is closed and therefore if the UPLOOP mark is set to "1" in step S2203 of Fig. 22, then control goes from step S3401 to step
S3403. If the DOWN switch 80 is closed, and therefore if the UPLOOP mark is set to "0" at step
S2209, then the command goes from step S3401 to step
S3421.

According to the fact that the main key 36 is in the PICT position or in the ON position, the exposure mode becomes the photography mode (PICT mode) or the all possibilities mode (the FULL mode) in a step
S3403. As shown in Figure 33, an exposure mode is selected by setting a digit of the 8-bit data to "1" and the remaining numbers to "0" if the 8-bit data of an exposure mode is represented as: exposure mode [given at 8 bits], then it can be represented in the PICT mode by
Beginner mode: [00000001],
Moving object mode: [00001000], and in the mode
FULL by
Automatic mode: [00000010].

If the 8-bit data as represented by the decimal notation in the form: exposure mode (decimal digit), it can be represented by
Beginner mode: (1),
Moving object mode: (3), and
Automatic mode: (2).

As shown in Figure 33, when the data in the PICT mode, for example, is shifted from the
Beginner mode [00000001], it becomes successively
portrait mode [00000010],
landscape mode [00000100],
object mode in motion [00001000], and
the fat pan mode [00010000].

In this embodiment, since there are five exposure modes that can be selected in the mode.
PICT, the maximum value of the 8-bit data is [00010000]. If the PICT value reaches "16" in a step S3405 shown in Fig. 34, then there will be no exposure mode corresponding to the data shifted to the left. Therefore, the data is set back to 1. Even when the UP / DOWN lever 28 is rotated continuously in the proper direction to modify the data as described above, for example, the beginner mode can be selected as a result close-up mode. Therefore, the camera can be implemented easily.

 Steps S3415 to S3419 are the same as those of the above processing relating to the FULL mode. The steps S3421 to S3423 are basically the same as those described above except that the "1" in the 8-bit data is shifted to the right and that when the data reaches the value 1, an additional confirmation of the DOWN switch 80 by the lever UP / DOWN 28 leads to return the data to its maximum value. As can be seen in Figure 33 this maximum value in the PICT mode is "16" and in the ON mode of "4".

AE MODE SETTING PROCESSING
Fig. 35 is a flow chart of the AE mode setting processing for converting the PICT mode or FULL mode value that has been set in the AE mode U / D processing in Fig. 34 to a mode of AE variable.

In AE mode setting processing, the mode
PICT is represented by binary numbers ranging from t00000001] to [00010000], and FULL mode is represented by binary numbers ranging from [00000001] to [00000100]. The "AE mode" adjustment processing is used to represent the PICT mode or the FULL mode with a variable "AE mode".

 First, an initial value of "AE mode" is set according to the position of the main key 36 (S3501, S3503, S3507). Then, the PICT mode or FULL mode value that was set in the AE mode U / D processing shown in Figure 34 is converted to a N variable (S3505, S3509). Then, the variable N is shifted to the right until N = 1, and the number of times the variable N has been shifted is added to the initial value of "AE mode", thereby obtaining the relationship between the AE mode and the exposure mode shown in Figure 36.

PROGRAM CLEARING ERASURE PROCESSING
Fig. 38 is a flowchart of program offset clearing processing which is called in step S1609 in Fig. 16. When the Tv / Av key 30 is pressed alone, the value of a program offset which has been set is canceled, and the program returns to its original position. In the camera according to this embodiment, if the Tv / Av key 30 is pressed while the hyper key 52 is already pressed, then the exposure compensation is cleared. As a result, the program offset is only cleared when the hyper key 52 is not pressed (S3801: HYPSW = "1").

EXPOSURE CORRECTION ERASING TREATMENT
Fig. 39 is a flowchart of an exposure correction erase processing which is referenced in step S1625 shown in Fig. 16.

 The exposure compensation value Xv is set to "0" when the hyper key 52 and the Tv / Av key 30 are pressed simultaneously (S3901 to S3905).

MAIN KEY POSITIONS AND DISPLAY SCREEN
INITIAL
Figs. 60b to 60c show, by way of example, the display screens of the external LCD display window 34 and the viewfinder LCD display window 62 when the main key 36 is in the PICT position shown in Figure 60A. More specifically, FIG. 60A shows the main key 36 pushed into the PICT position, and FIGS. 60B and 60C show the display screens of the external LCD display window 34 and the display window FIG. Viewfinder LCD 62 at this time. In this example, frame 68b in Fig. 60C indicates the portrait mode as the chosen exposure mode.

Figs. 61A-61C show an example where the main key is in the ON position. Figs. 61B and 61C show the display screens of the display window at
External LCD 34 and viewfinder LCD display window 62 at this time. In this example, as will be described later in detail, as indicated by the letter "P" the program mode is selected as the exposure mode, and as indicated by the black dot 58f an exposure compensation is set to - 0.5 Ev.

 Fig. 62 shows, by way of example, a display screen of the external LCD display window 34 when the main key 36 is in the PICT position as in the case of Fig. 60C. In this example, portrait mode is selected as the exposure mode. It can also be seen from this display screen that a learning function is on, and that a program offset of +0.5 Ev has already been learned. Positive exposure correction is performed. The display of a program shift and the display of an exposure compensation will be described later in detail.

PF ADJUSTMENT MODE DISPLAY PROCESSING
Figs. 63A to 63F show a display screen of the external LCD display window 34 as the camera enters the PF setting mode processing. The display data of the PF timer shown in Fig. 37 is set in the RAM and displayed according to the PF timer display processing which is called in step S1519 shown in Fig. 15 (Figs. 63A-63E). ). Until the camera enters the PF setting mode, the ISO film sensitivity is displayed at step S1517 shown in Fig. 15. All other displayed data is turned off, so that only the data necessary is displayed. The elapsed time after the nine points have been displayed until they are off is about 2 seconds.

 When all points are off after the 2 second period has elapsed, the PF display processing shown in Fig. 18 is executed, displaying "PF" as shown in Fig. 63F. When the mode key 40 and the drive key 38 are released at this time, the letters "PF" displayed are replaced by a displayed data, which is the first item to be set in the PF setting mode, to change the setting. ISO film sensitivity (see Figures 63G and 65A).

DISPLAYING THE TOTAL ERASING TREATMENT OF PF
When the TV / AV key is pressed while "PF" is being displayed in the
PF, the display of the timer of PF is invoked in step S1815, in Fig. 18, thereby displaying the dots again (Fig. 64A). When all nine points are off after 2 seconds, all settings in the PF (special functions) mode are cleared (see Figure 20: PF total erase processing), and the LCD display window External 34 displays "CL" as shown in Figure 64B.

SPECIAL FUNCTION ADJUSTMENT PROCESSING AND DISPLAY
As described above, during operation in the PF setting mode, an item to be adjusted is selected by the mode key 40, and the lever
UP / DOWN 28 is rotated to edit the data in the selected item.

ADJUSTING THE SENSITIVITY OF ISO FILM
Figures 65A and 65B show a display screen for changing the ISO film sensitivity setting. The data, which was modified in step S2605 shown in FIG. 26, of the U / D processing of PF data by the lever
UP / DOWN 28, is displayed in the external LCD display window 34 at a step S1919 shown in Fig. 19B. In the example shown, 200 ISO (Figure 65) and replaced by 100 ISO (Figure 65B). The external LCD display window 34 also displays "1" which indicates the item that is set.

 As described above, if the TV / AV button is pressed during the adjustment process, ISO film sensitivity is set to an initial value (DX or ISO value = 100).

SETTING THE NUMBER OF TIMES OR LEARNING MODE MUST
TAKE PLACE
Figs. 66A and 66B show a displayed example of setting the number of times that the learning mode should occur for an immediate program change. The external LCD display window 34 displays "2" indicating an item that is set. A numerical value ranging from 0 to 4, indicative of a change level as a combination of a learning mode change value and the number of times the learning mode is to take place, is set by turning the lever UP / DOWN 28. Such a combination of a learning mode change value and the number of times that the learning mode is to take place is set in step S2607 shown in Fig. 26 and is displayed in FIG. Step S1921 shown in Figure 19B.

ADJUSTING THE FACT THAT SOUNDS SHOULD BE PRODUCED WHEN
THE OBJECTIVE SYSTEM IS IN FOCUS.

 Figs. 67A and 67B show an exemplary display for setting that electronic sounder 108 must be powered when the lens system is in focus. The external LCD display window 34 displays "3" indicating an item that has been set, and it also displays the letters "Sd" to inform the user of the tone setting. A mark is set to "1" if the electronic sounder 108 is to be powered, and to "0" otherwise. Since it would be difficult to indicate the setting only with the mark, then if the mark is set to "1", to facilitate the use of the camera, the electronic sounder 108 is powered at intervals predetermined time at the same time as the display shown in Fig. 67B.The setting is made in step S2609 as shown in Fig. 26, and the display and supply of the electronic sounder 108 are executed at step S1923 shown in Figure 19B.

 Figs. 68A to 68F show an example of a display variant for adjustment with respect to the electronic sounder 108 when the lens system is in focus. In this variant, if the mark indicating that the electronic buzzer 108 is to be powered is set to "1", then the letters "Sound" are separated and displayed successively to indicate that a setting has been made to supply the electronic buzzer 108 when the lens system is in focus. The letters "Sound" are displayed in a 2-digit display area to normally display the value of Av, each of the 2 digits being composed of seven segments. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide special display segments for displaying alphabetic characters. The mark is set at step S2609 shown in FIG. 16, and is displayed at step S1923 shown. in Figure 19.

SELECTION OF THE LEARNING FUNCTION
Figs. 69A and 69B show a setting as to whether a program offset should be learned or not. The external LCD display window 34 displays "4" indicating a selected item. If the learning mode is to be executed, i.e., if the learning mode prohibition mark is set to "0", then the booklet ideogram is displayed to the user easily understands the setting. The learning function is selected at step S2611 shown in Fig. 26, and is displayed at a step S1925 shown in Fig. 19B. If, after the learning mode, the mark is changed to learning must take place "in" learning mode should not take place ", the value of a program shift that has been learned is not cleared, but fixed.

ERASING DATA LEARNED
Figs. 70A and 70B show an example display in which the learned data is erased. The external LCD display window 34 displays "5" indicating a selected element, and also the ideogram representing a notebook and the letters "CL" which are turned on and off alternately. At this time, the UP / DOWN lever 28 is rotated to select one or all of the four modes in which the learning function is usable, and the Tv / Av key 30 is pressed to complete the erase setting. of data. When the erasure of the learned data is done, the ideogram representing a notebook is extinguished, and the letters "CL" are lit continuously as shown in Figure 70B.

The erasure of the learned data is done in step S2613 shown in Fig. 26, and is displayed in step S1927 shown in Fig. 19B.

SELECTION OF THE EXPOSURE MODE
Figs. 71A to 71E show data that is displayed in the external LCD display window 34 when the UP / DOWN lever 28 is rotated while the mode key 40 is pressed while the main key 36 is in the PICT position . The displayed data shown in Figs. 71A, 71B, 71C, 71D, and 71E correspond respectively to beginner mode, portrait mode, landscape mode, moving object mode, and macro mode.

Fig. 71F shows the data displayed in the viewfinder LCD display window 62 in portrait, landscape and close-up modes. Fig. 71G shows the data displayed in the viewfinder LCD display window 62 in the moving object mode. Figure 71H shows the data displayed in the display window at
Viewfinder LCD 62 in beginner mode.

EXAMPLE OF EXPOSURE CORRECTION DISPLAY IN MODE
PICT
Figs. 72A and 72B show, by way of example, the data displayed when the main key 36 is in the PICT position, for example, when the portrait mode is selected.

 Fig. 78A shows the data displayed in the viewfinder LCD display 62. The value of a program offset is displayed by ticks and dots. The values of Tv and Av that have been calculated based on the shifted program, are displayed in a higher region. Fig. 72B shows the data displayed in the external LCD display window 34. The external LCD display window 34 also displays, in addition to data displayed in the viewfinder LCD display window 62, a view counter, and the ideograms representing the training mode (photography mode) and the AE mode.

 When the hyper key 52 is pressed, an exposure compensation is displayed. Figs. 73A and 73B show the data displayed in the external LCD display window 34 and in the viewfinder LCD display window 62 when exposure compensation is performed. In this example, the exposure compensation has a value of - 2.0 Ev. Each of the graduations in the display windows corresponds to 0.5 EV, and the center graduation corresponds to the exposure compensation value of "0". In this example, a dot is continuously lit at the negative end of the scale. The external LCD display window 34 also displays in numerical form the exposure compensation value - 2.0.

The exposure compensation value that can be displayed as a graph ranges from - 2.0 Ev to + 2.0
Ev. However, the exposure compensation value that can be set ranges from -3.0 EV to + 3.0 EV, which is beyond the chart range (see Figure 28). If the exposure compensation value exceeds the range of graphics that can be displayed, then this is indicated by the turning on and off of black dot signs at the ends of the graph. In Figs. 74A and 74B, the exposure compensation value is -2.5 Ev. In this case, a black dot is turned on and off alternately at the negative end of the scale.

 Figs. 75A and 75B show, by way of example, an exposure mode that is displayed when the hyper key 52 is released after the exposure compensation value has been set. In this example, the "-" sign indicating that the exposure compensation value is negative is lit continuously. If the TV / AV button is pressed while the hyper button 52 is pressed, then the exposure compensation value that has been set is set to "0".

EXAMPLE OF EXPOSURE CORRECTION DISPLAY IN MODE
PROGRAM
Figs. 76A and 76B show the data normally displayed when the exposure mode is the program mode. Figs. 77A and 77B show the data displayed while adjusting exposure compensation when the exposure mode is program mode. Figs. 78A and 78B show the data displayed after an exposure compensation value has been set when the exposure mode is program mode. Normally displayed data does not contain displayed data using ticks and dots.

However, once an exposure compensation value has been set, it is displayed as a graph in addition to the data normally displayed.

For exposure compensation in program mode, exposure compensation values can also be displayed beyond the range of graphics that can be displayed by a black dot that is turned on and off alternately at the end. of the graph. The black dot that is turned on and off alternately is also displayed in addition to the data normally displayed when the hyper key 52 is released.

In the program mode, a program shift can also be performed. If the program is shifted, then lines placed above the letters "Tv" and "Av" are displayed in the external LCD display window 34, and lines are displayed below the values of Tv and
Av in the viewfinder LCD display window 62. If the value of a program offset is 0, then no lines are displayed above or below the values.

EXAMPLE OF MODE EXPOSURE CORRECTION DISPLAY
AUTOMATIC.

Figs. 79A and 79B show the data normally displayed when the exposure mode is the automatic mode. Figs. 80A and 80B show the data displayed during exposure compensation when the exposure mode is the auto mode. Figs. 81A and 81B show the data displayed after an exposure compensation value has been set when the exposure mode is the auto mode. Normally displayed data does not contain any displayed data using ticks and dots. The external LCD display window 34 displays an arc-shaped line above the letters "Tv" or "Av", which indicates which values of Tv and Av can be modified by the UP / DOWN lever 28, i.e., which of the shutter speed priority and aperture priority mode is selected. The viewfinder LCD display window 62 displays a line below the value of
Tv or Av to indicate the same information. The touch of
Tv / Av 30 can determine which values of Tv and Av can be modified.

 The exposure compensation display in the auto mode is the same as that in the program mode.

For exposure compensation in the auto mode, exposure compensation values can also be displayed beyond the range of graphics that can be displayed, by a black dot that is turned on and off alternately at the same time. end of the graph.

 The black dot that is turned on and off alternately is also displayed in addition to the data normally displayed when the hyper key 52 is released.

GRAPHICAL DISPLAY IN MANUAL MODE
Figures 82A and 82B show the data displayed when adjusting a Tv value using the lever
UP / DOWN 28 when the exposure mode is manual mode.

Figs. 83A and 83B show the data displayed when adjusting a value of Av with the UP / DOWN lever 28 when the exposure mode is manual. Figures 84A and 84B show the displayed data when the manually set exposure value corresponds to a suitable exposure value, based on the camera-calculated brightness measurement processing, when the exposure mode is the manual mode.

 In the manual mode, if the Tv value can be changed using the UP / DOWN lever 28, an arc-shaped line is displayed above the letters "Tv" displayed in the LCD display window. 34, and an underline is displayed below the Tv value displayed in the viewfinder LCD display 62 (FIGS. 82A and 82B). In Figs. 83A and 83B, an underline is displayed under the value of Av and an highlight line is displayed above the letters "Av". In manual mode, no exposure compensation is performed and a graph is displayed with ticks and dots in addition to normal display data.

In the camera according to this embodiment, AE calculations are performed even in the manual mode. The center position on the displayed scale serves as the optimum calculated exposure value. If the exposure setting indicates an exposure value outside the range, then points are displayed on the "+" side of the graduations. Since a scale corresponds to 0.5 Ev, the exposure setting shown in Figs. 82A and 82B indicates an exposure value of 1.0 Ev.

The graduations allow points to be displayed in the range from - 2.0 Ev to + 2.0 Ev, the optimum exposure value being in the center of the range. If an exposure setting is outside this range, the "-" sign is alternately switched on and off, indicating an insufficient exposure value outside the range, as shown in Figures 83C and 83D. Radial lines around the sign "-" in Figures 83C and 83D indicate that the sign "-" is alternately turned on and off. When the exposure setting indicates an excessive exposure value, then the "+" sign is turned on and off alternately.

Figs. 84A and 84B show displayed data indicating that a manual exposure value setting and a calculated exposure value are identical to each other. To make the manual exposure value setting equal to the calculated exposure value, the lever
UP / DOWN 28 is rotated to change the setting to reduce the number of points that are displayed. In addition, when the hyper key 52 is pressed in the manual mode an optimum exposure value is set which is calculated.

CALCULATIONS OF AE
An AE (automatic exposure mode) subprogram, which is called in step S1329 in "RESTART" shown in Figs. 13A and 13B and in step S1405 in shutter release processing shown in Figure 14, will be described below with reference to Figures 41A, 41B, 41C and 41D.

 In this embodiment, the exposure mode includes the beginner mode, the portrait mode, the landscape mode, the moving object mode and the close-up mode that can be selected if the main key 36 is in the PICT position, and if the PICT switch 110b is closed. The exposure mode further comprises a normal program mode (a normal program exposure mode in which a shutter speed and aperture are automatically adjusted based on the result of a photometry process), the automatic mode (an automatic exposure mode with shutter speed priority for automatic lens operation in which an aperture is automatically adjusted based on a manually set aperture and the result of a photometry process, and an aperture-priority auto exposure mode for automatic lens operation in which a shutter speed is automatically adjusted (based on a manually set shutter speed and the result of a shutter speed processing). photometry), and the manual exposure mode, although this is not shown, the exposure mode also includes an auto exposure mode with aperture priority, manual exposure mode, and "B" exposure mode for manual lens operation.

 In AE processing, the RAM of the body side CPU 20 is initialized, and different marks relating to the photometry processing are also initialized.

Then, a goal correction calculation routine is called (S4101 to S4105). In the objective correction calculation routine, a lens correction calculation process is performed based on different lens data, depending on the type of the lens system, which have been issued by the lens correction calculator.
Lens-side CPU 22 (Fig. 11) in the "lens transmissions" part in the "RESTART" processing shown in Fig. 13A.

 Then, the luminance data of the object, detected by each of the sensors (photodetector 94) for the distributed photometry, and converted by the A / D converter 93, is converted into an Ev object luminance suitable for calculations. A luminous intensity Lv 'for each sensor is determined from the object luminance Bv and an objective correction value calculated in step S4105, and then a luminous intensity Lv appropriate for the object is calculated by function of a distributed photometry algorithm (S4107 to S4111).

 Then, a luminous intensity Lv determined based on a film sensitivity Sv which has been converted for the calculations and on an exposure correction value Xv for the calculations, and values corresponding to an AE mode (a number ) which is currently set, are placed in X (S4113, S4115).

Coefficients a, b, TvL1, etc., corresponding to each AE mode placed in X are set at one step
S4117. These coefficients a, b, TvL1, etc., are stored in the ROM of the CPU on the body side 20, and are read in the
RAM as needed.

 In the portrait mode whose program line is schematically represented in FIG. 48A and in which the control connects for X = 1, 2/8 is placed in the coefficient a, which represents the gradient of the program line, and 6/8 is placed in the coefficient b. Moreover, a shake limit Tvf is placed in a first limit of Tv, TvL1, and an optimum value of Av, Avf, is placed in a first limit of Av, AvLl, and a minimum aperture AvMIN, is placed in a second Av limit, AvL2. Then a program calculation subroutine is called at a step S4143.

In the landscape mode of which a program line is schematically shown in Fig. 49A and in which the control connects for X = 2, 2/8 is placed in the coefficient a, and a landscape coefficient b is placed in the coefficient b . The landscape coefficient b is determined by
b = (6/8) J Tvf - (2/8) J (AvMIN + 1).

A minimum shutter speed TvMIN is set in the first limit of Tv, TvL1, the minimum aperture AvMIN + 1 is placed in the first limit of Av, AvLl, and the minimum aperture AvMIN is placed in the second limit of Av , AvL2. Then, the program calculation routine is called at step S4143.

In the moving object mode whose program line is schematically shown in Fig. 50A and in which the control connects for X = 3, 2/8 is placed in the coefficient a, and 5 6/8 is placed in the coefficient b. In addition, the shake limit TvF + 1 is placed in the first limit of Tv, TvL1, the minimum aperture AvMIN + 1 is placed in the first limit of
Av, AvLl, and the minimum aperture AvMIN is placed in the second Av limit, AvL2. Then, the calculation subroutine is called at step S4143.

In the close-up mode whose program line is schematically shown in Fig. 51A and in which the control connects for X = 4, 2/8 is placed in the coefficient b, and 5 6/8 is placed in the coefficient b . In addition, the shake limit TvF + 1 is set in the first limit of Tv, TvL1, the minimum aperture Av6 (F = 8) is placed in the first limit of Av, and the minimum aperture AvMIN + 1 is set in the second limit of Av,
AvL2. Then, the calculation subroutine is called at step S4143.

 In the program calculation routine which is called in step S4143, a command value of Tv and a command value of Av, which are actually used for the command, are calculated based on the values of Tv. and Av and the coefficients a and b that are set for each mode (S4119 to S4133 and S4143).

 If the control connects to the beginner mode with X = 0, then a program shift inhibit mark is set to "1", prohibiting the program line from being shifted, and a program routine. normal is called (S4135, S4137). In this normal program routine, a control Tv value and a control Av value, which are actually used for control, are calculated. If the control connects to the normal program mode with X = 5, then the program shift inhibit mark is not set to "1", and the normal program routine is called (S4137).

 If the command branches into automatic mode with X = 0, an automatic calculation subroutine is called (S4139). If the control connects to manual mode with X = 7, a manual calculation subroutine is called (S4141).

It is tested, by a subroutine CHK ~ TvaV which is called, if the control value Tv and the control value Av which have been determined in the mode selected in step S4117 can be used, or not, for controlling. If they exceed a controllable range, they are converted to a maximum value or a minimum value (S4145). The number of pulses EE is then determined based on the values of Tv and Av which are ultimately determined from the subroutine CHK ~ TvAv, and indicative data whether the external flash should be, or not, power, which light intensity the external flash must output, and whether or not a back curtain should be synchronized, are transmitted to the external flash (S4147, S4149).
EE are used to narrow the opening according to the Av opening provided for the command. Then the data
TTL (measured through the lens) is set to stop the flash output in response to an off signal, in flash photography, after which the command returns to the main program.

The routine program routine at step S4137 shown in Fig. 41C will be described below with reference to the flow chart of Fig. 52A. A program diagram explained in the normal program routine is shown in Figure 52B, for example, and has the following features
(1) The shake limit Tvf (= TvLl) is set.

 (2) It is set to be located between a program line (see Figure 49B) relating to the landscape mode which gives preference to the depth of field, and a program line (see Figure 50B) relating to the Moving object that favors shutter speed.

 (3) When the shake limit Tvf (= TvL1) is exceeded, it is possible to make a program shift of at least one step.

 Hand-generated vibrations (the phenomenon of shaking) are likely to occur near the shake limit Tvf (= TvLl) when f = 80 mm and f = 28 mm in Figure 52B. Therefore, in a range where Ev is low, where Tv <Tvf, the shutter speed is set to the shake limit Tvf, and the aperture is opened up to the minimum aperture value. When the aperture is open, the shutter speed is reduced while keeping the aperture set. The shake limit Tvf (= TvLl) at this time is set in the TvLl variable and is processed.

In the normal program routine, a fv calculation routine shown in Fig. 42A is called to determine a converted focal length fv, in which a focal length has been converted according to an APEX value (Additive System). of Photographic
Exposure).

Then, at a step S5203, a calculation Tv is determined according to
Tv = (3/8) 2 luminous intensity Lv + normal coefficient b where the normal coefficient b = (5/8) Tvf - (3/8) (AvMIN + 1).

This formula is used to move the program line in the direction of the shutter axis when the normal coefficient b varies while the gradient is fixed, for example, in the program diagram shown in Figure 52b.

 Then, it is determined, whether the calculation Tv is larger, or not that the maximum shutter speed TvMAX.

If the calculation Tv is larger than the maximum shutter speed TvMAX, then the maximum shutter speed TvMAX is stored in the RAM of the body side CPU 20, and a transit mark above Tv is set to "1" to indicate that the maximum shutter speed TvMAX replaces the calculation Tv, although a shutter speed that must actually be set is higher (S5205, S5219, S5221).

Then, a subroutine CAL ~ Av shown in Fig. 44 is called to determine a computation Av corresponding to the modified calculation Tv (S5223). Then, and when the pass mark below Av is set to "0", the command goes to a step S5215. If the calculation Tv is equal to or less than the maximum shutter speed TvMAX in step S5205, then the calculation Tv is compared to the shake limit Tvf. If the calculation Tv is smaller than the shake limit Tvf, then the shake limit Tvf is stored as the calculation Tv in the RAM (S5207, S5225). And then, the command goes to a step S5209. If the calculation Tv is greater than the Tvf move limit at step
S5207, then the command goes to a step S5209.

Step S5209 calls the subroutine CAL ~ Av shown in Fig. 44 to determine a suitable calculation Av for the modified calculation Av, after which the control goes to a step (S5211). Step S5211 tests a passing mark above Av. If the passing mark above Av is set to "1", then a subroutine
CAL ~ Tv is called to determine a suitable calculation Tv corresponding to the modified calculation Av (S5227). Then, the command goes to step S5215. If the passing mark above Av is set to "0", then the command goes to a step S5213 which tests a passing mark below Av. If the passing mark below Av is set to "1", then the subprogram
CAL ~ Tv is called to determine a suitable calculation Tv corresponding to the modified calculation Av.

Then, the command goes to step S5215.

 In step S5215, a normal program offset calculation routine shown in Fig. 46 is called to test whether there is a program offset or not. More specifically, the value of a program offset that has been set by the user using the UP / DOWN lever 28 is taken as a program total offset value at a step S4602, and a bit A program offset direction that has been set according to the direction in which the program offset is made is taken as the program total offset direction bit at a step S4604. The command then goes to a step S4603 that tests a program shift prohibition mark.

Since no program shifts are made in the beginner mode in this embodiment, the program shift inhibit mark was set to "1" when the beginner mode was chosen with X = 0, in the calculations AE shown in Figs. 41A, 41B, 41C, 41D. Therefore, since no program offset is recognized, the command returns to the main program from step S4603. In the normal program mode (P), a program shift is made. Thus, when this mode is selected with X = 5, step S4135 is skipped, and the program shift inhibit mark is not set to "1". Therefore, a program shift is recognized and the command executes a next step without returning to the main program from step 54603.

At a step S5217, the calculation Tv is converted into a value that will actually be used for the command, and it is stored as a control Tv in the RAM of the body side CPU 20, and the calculation Av is converted to a value which will actually be used for the command, and it is stored as Command Av in the RAM of
CPU side body 20.

The automatic calculation routine at step
S4139 shown in step 41C will be described below with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 53. First, a step S5301 tests a Tv / Av mode mark which is to be set in step S2521 in the U / D routine of data shown in Fig. 25. If the Tv / Av mode mark is set to "1" then it is recognized that the aperture priority mode is selected, and the command executes a step S5311. If the Tv / Av mode mark is set to "0" then it is recognized that the shutter speed priority mode is selected, and the command executes a step S5303.

In the shutter speed priority mode, a shutter speed
Manually set tv is placed in the control Tv that will actually be used for control (S5303). The setting Tv is converted into a value for calculations and placed in the calculation Tv. The subroutine CAL ~ Av is called to determine an appropriate calculation Av corresponding to the calculation Tv, and the calculation Av is placed in the control Av (S5305 to
S5309), after which the command returns to the main program. In aperture priority mode, an adjustment Av is set in the control Av (S5311), and the adjustment Av is placed in the calculation Av.The CAL ~ Av subroutine is called to determine a Tv calculation method for the calculation Av, and the calculation Tv is placed in the control Tv (S5313 to S5317) after which the command returns to the main program.

The manual calculation routine of step S4141 shown in Fig. 41C will be described below with reference to the flow chart of Fig. 54. First, a step S5401 tests the TvAv mode mark which is set in step S2521 in the data U / D routine shown in Fig. 25. If the mode mark TvAv is set to "1", then since an aperture value can be set using of the UP / DOWN lever 28, the command executes a step
S5419. If the TvAv mode mark is set to "0", then since a shutter speed can be set using the UP / DOWN lever 28, the command performs a step S5403.

 To set a shutter speed, the adjustment Tv that has been set with a value of 1/2 series processed in 1/2 steps is placed in the control TV, and the set AV that has been set with a value of a similar 1/2 series is placed in the control Av (S5403, S5405).

Then, it is determined whether the hyper (exposure compensation) key is pressed or not. If the hyper key 52 is not pressed, the command returns to the main program with the value of the series 1/2. In this case, the views are exposed with the control Tv and Av based on the manually set value that is processed in 1/2 steps.

 If the hyper switch 88 is closed to obtain an appropriate exposure value based on the photometry value, then the set value Tv of 1/2 is converted into a calculation Tv which is processed by not 1/8. The subroutine CAL ~ Av is called to determine an appropriate calculation Av corresponding to the calculation Tv, and the calculated calculation Av in steps of 1/8 is placed in the control Av which will actually be used for the command ( S5409 to S5413). In the manual exposure mode, therefore, when the shutter is triggered while the hyper key 52 is pressed to close the hyper switch 88, views can be displayed based on a value that has been calculated by the CPU side body 20 in steps of 1/8, with great precision.

 The calculation Av is placed in the setting Av and processed in a series of 1/2 (S5415 to S5417), after which the command returns to the main program.

Therefore, the value of Av must also be manually increased or decreased as a series value of 1/2 as it can be set manually.

 Processing the calculation Av in a value of a set of 1/2 means rounding an APEX value calculated in steps of 1/2 of an APEX value that can be manually set because the values are processed in steps of 1/2 in the manual calculations while the values are treated in steps of 1/8 in the automatic calculations, that is to say because the steps of an APEX value which is regulated by the computations automatic by the CPU body side 20 are smaller than the steps of an APEX value that can be set manually.

 To manually set an aperture, the setting Av which has been set with a 1/2 series value processed in 1/2 steps is set in the control Av, and the adjustment Tv that has been set with a value of a similar 1/2 series is placed in the control Av (S5419, S5421). Then, it is determined whether the hyper key 52 is pressed or not. If the hyper switch 88 is not closed, the command returns to the main program with a value of a series of 1/2. In this case, views are displayed with the control Av and Tv based on the manually set value that is processed in 1/2 steps.

 If the hyper switch 88 is closed, then the set value AV of a series of 1/2 is converted into a calculation Av which is processed in 1/8 increments. The subroutine CAL ~ Tv is called to determine an appropriate calculation Tv corresponding to the calculation Av, and the calculated calculation Av in steps of 1/8 is placed in the control Av which will actually be used for the command ( S5425 to S5429). In the manual exposure mode, therefore, when the shutter is triggered while the hyper key 52 is pressed to close the hyper switch 88, views can be displayed based on a value that has been calculated by the CPU side body 20 in steps of 1/8, with great precision.

 The calculation Tv is placed in the setting Av and processed in a series of 1/2 (S5431 to S5433), after which the command returns to the main program. Therefore, the value of Av is then manually increased or decreased as a value of a series of 1/2.

PROGRAM CALCULATIONS
The program calculation routine called in step S4143 shown in Fig. 41B will be described below with reference to the flow chart of Figs. 42A and 42B. In this subprogram, the calculation Tv and the calculation Av are determined according to one of the portrait, landscape, moving object, and close-up modes which is set by the mode setting processing, and converted, respectively, in the control Tv and the Av of command that will actually be used for the command.

First, the fv calculation routine is called at a step S4201. In the fv calculation routine, a focal length f provided by the focal length detecting mechanism 102 for the lens system 12 is converted to a value that can be used as an APEX value, and a converted focal length. fv is determined according to the equation
fv = log (focal length f) / log2.

Then, a Tvf calculation subroutine is called, and a camera shake limit, Tvf, of the shutter speed is determined (S4203) according to the equation
Tvf = (3/4) g fv + 2.

A subroutine of Avf is called, and an Avf optimum Avf is determined (S4205) according to the equation
Avf = AvMIN + 1 + offset of Avf.

where Avf offset = (5/4) g (6.5 - fv),
O <offset Avf <2.

The Av Avf optimal photography value is a value to determine an optimal aperture based on the focal length when a shot is to be shot with a fuzzy background or with a sharp focus in a large depth of field. i.e., an absolute value indicative of how the aperture should be reduced from an open aperture.

In a step S4207, a calculation Tv is determined according to the formula
AG light intensity coefficient Lv + coefficient b, using the coefficients a, b, corresponding to AE modes that are set in steps S4119 to S4131 shown in Figure 41B.

The calculation Tv for a predetermined focal length in the selected mode is compared with the minimum shutter speed TvMIN and the maximum shutter speed TvMAX which are specific to the camera (S4209, S4211). If the
Tv calculation is smaller than the minimum shutter speed TvMIN, then the minimum shutter speed
TvMIN is set in the calculation Tv, and a mark below Tv is set to "1" indicating that the minimum shutter speed TvMIN is set although the shutter speed is slower than the speed minimum shutter speed TvMIN should have been set (S4213), after which the control goes to step S4217.If the calculation Tv is larger than the maximum shutter speed
TvMAX, then the maximum shutter speed TvMAX is set in the calculation Tv, and a stop mark above Tv is set to "1" indicating that the maximum shutter speed TvMAX is set evenly shutter speed faster than the maximum shutter speed TvMAX should have been set (S4215), after which the control goes to step S4217.

If the calculation Tv for a predetermined focal length in the selected mode is greater than the minimum shutter speed TvMIN at step S4209 and smaller than the maximum shutter speed TvMAX at step
S4211, then the passing mark below Tv and the passing mark above Tv are neither set to "1", and the command goes directly to step S4217. In step S4217, the subroutine CAL ~ Av (Av calculation) shown in Fig. 44 is called to determine an appropriate calculation Av corresponding to the
Tv calculation based on the calculation of Tv.

A step S4219 tests whether the calculation Av determined in the subroutine CAL ~ Av exceeds, or not, the first limit value of Av, AvLl, calculated in the selected mode. If the calculation Av exceeds the first Av limit, AvL1, then the command jumps to a step S4243 in which program offset calculation processing is performed to test the meaning and value of a program offset, and determine a calculation Tv and a calculation Av which are suitable for the program to be shifted. If the calculation Av is equal to or less than the first limit of Av, AvL1, then the command goes to a step S4221 in which the first limit of Av, AvLl, is placed in the calculation Av.As the value of Av is thus determined, the subroutine CAL-Tv (FIG. 43) is called to determine a value of Tv according to the
Calculation Av (S4223).

In step S4225, the calculation Tv determined in step
S4223 is compared to the first limit of Tv, TvL1, calculated in step S4203. If the calculation Tv exceeds the first limit of Tv, TvL1, then the command jumps to a step S4243 in which program offset calculation processing is performed to test the meaning and value of a program offset, and determine a
Calculation Tv and a calculation Av which are suitable for the program to be shifted. If the calculation Tv is equal to or less than the first limit of Tv, TvL1, then the control goes to a step S4227 in which the first limit of Tv, TvL1, is placed in the calculation Tv.

Since the value of Tv is thus determined, the subroutine CAL-Av is called, in a step 4229, to determine a value of Av depending on the calculation Tv.

Then, a step S4231 tests whether the calculation Av is greater than one second Av limit, AvL2. If the calculation Av exceeds the second Av limit, AvL2, then the command skips to step S4243. If not, then the command executes a step S4233 in which the second limit of
Av, AvL2, is taken as calculation Av. Since the value of Av is thus determined, the subroutine CAL ~ Tv is called again, at a step S4235, to determine a
Tv calculation function of the calculation Av. Next, the calculation TV is compared to the minimum shutter speed
Tmin (S4237). If the calculation Tv is larger than the minimum shutter speed T min, then the command skips to step S4243. If not, then the command executes a step S4239 in which the minimum shutter speed
TvMIN is placed in the calculation TV. Since the value of
Tv is thus determined, the subroutine CAL ~ Av is called again, at a step S4241, to determine a
Av calculation function of the calculation Tv.

 In step S4243, the program offset calculation routine is called to determine the value of an offset of a program line that has been previously stored in the ROM. Then, the calculation Tv is set as the control Tv that will actually be used for the command, and the calculation Av is set as the command Av which will actually be used for the command (S4245), after which the command returns to the program main.

CAL ~ Tv
The subroutine CAL ~ Tv (Tv calculation) for setting an appropriate Tv value and for limiting the value of Tv to a controllable range will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 43.

First, the passing mark below Tv and the mark above Tv are cleared (S4301), and a value determined according to the formula
luminous intensity Lv - Av of calculation is placed in the calculation Tv (S4303).

The above calculation TV is compared with the minimum shutter speed value TvMIN and the maximum shutter speed TvMAX that are specific to the camera (S4305, S4307). If the calculation Tv is smaller than the minimum shutter speed TvMIN, then the minimum shutter speed TvMIN is set in the calculation Tv, and the transit mark below Tv is set to "1". indicating that the minimum shutter speed TvMIN is set although a shutter speed slower than the minimum shutter speed T vMIN would actually have to be set (S4309), after which the command returns to the main program. If the calculation TV is larger than the maximum shutter speed
TvMAX, then the maximum shutter speed TvMAX is taken as the calculation Tv, and the transit mark above Tv is set to "1" indicating that the maximum shutter speed TvMAX is set, although the speed shutter speed faster than the maximum shutter speed TvMAX should actually have been set (S4311), after which the command returns to the main program.

If the calculation Tv is equal to or greater than the minimum shutter speed T min at step S4305, then the control goes to step S4307. If the calculation TV is equal to or less than the maximum shutter speed
TvMAX, then the command returns to the main program. Therefore, the subroutine CAL ~ Tv limits the shutter speed value used for the AE program offset to a controllable range.

CAL Av ~
The subroutine CAL ~ Av (Av calculation) to set an appropriate Av value and to limit the value of Av to a controllable range will be described below with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 44.

First, the passing mark below Av and the mark above Av are cleared (S4301), and a value determined according to the formula
luminous intensity Lv - calculation Tv is placed in the calculation Av (S4303).

The calculation Av above is compared to the minimum AvMIN aperture and the AvMAX maximum aperture (S4405,
S4407). If the calculation Av is smaller than the minimum AvMIN aperture, then the minimum AvMIN aperture is placed in the calculation Av, and the transit mark below
Av is set to "1" indicating that the minimum aperture
AvMIN is set although a smaller aperture would actually have to be set (S4409), after which the command returns to the main program. If the calculation Av is larger than the maximum AvMAX aperture, then the aperture AvMAX is taken as a calculation Av, and the pass mark above Av is set to "1" indicating that the AvMAX maximum aperture is set although a larger aperture would actually have to be set ( S4411), after which the command returns to the main program.

 If the calculation Av is equal to or greater than the minimum aperture AvMIN at step S4405, then control goes to step S4307. If the calculation Av is equal to or less than the AvMAX maximum aperture, then the command returns to the main program. Therefore, the subroutine CAL ~ Av limits the aperture value used for the AE program offset to a controllable range.

PROGRAM CALCULATION CALCULATIONS.

 The program offset calculation routine shown in Figs. 42A and 42B will be described below with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 46. First, at a step S4601, an auxiliary calculation subprogram Program Shift (SUB-P) is called to determine the value and direction of a shift of a program line.

When the meaning and value of a total program offset have been determined, the program offset prohibition mark is tested (S4603). If the program offset prohibition mark is set to "1", then the command returns to the main program, and no program shift is made. If the program offset prohibition mark is set to "0", then the command executes a step S4605 which tests whether or not the value of a program total offset is 0. If the value of an offset program total is 0, that is, if the program line is not to be shifted, then the command returns to the main program. If the program line is to be shifted, then the program total offset direction bit is tested to determine the program offset direction (S4607).

 If the program total offset direction bit is &quot; 1 " and the program offset direction is negative, for example, the program line shown in Figs. 48A and 48B must be shifted up, to the left, then a value produced by subtracting the value of a total program offset from the calculation Tv is set in the calculated Tg, thereby setting the shutter speed to a slower value (S4623). Then, a step S4625 determines whether the calculated Tv is, or not, smaller than the minimum shutter speed TvMIN. If it is smaller, then the minimum shutter speed TvMIN is taken as the calculation Tv (S4627), then the control goes to step S4615.

Otherwise, the command goes directly to step S4615.

 If the program total offset direction bit is set to "0" and the program offset direction is positive, for example, the program line shown in Figs. 48A and 48B must be shifted downward to the right. then a value produced by adding the value of a total program offset to the calculation Tv is set in the calculated Tv, thus setting the shutter speed to a faster value (S4611). Then, a step S4611 determines whether or not the computed Tv is larger than the maximum shutter speed TvMAX. If it is larger, then the maximum shutter speed TvMAX is taken as the calculation Tv (S4613), then the control goes to step S4615.

Otherwise, the command goes directly to step 54615.

In step S4615, the subroutine CAL ~ Av shown in Fig. 44 is called to calculate the calculation Av. Then, the passing mark above Av and the passing mark below Av are tested in respective steps S4617, S4619. If the passing mark above Av is set to "1" or if the passing mark below Av is set to "1", the command goes to a step S4621 in which the subroutine CAL ~ Tv is called to calculate the value of Tv corresponding to the calculation Av at this time. If the passing mark above
Av and the pass mark below Av are both set to "0", so the command returns to the main program.

The program line shown in Fig. 48B shows in more detail the program line for the portrait mode, as described above in connection with Fig. 48A. The program line has the following features
(1) The first Tvf (TvL1) motion limit is set for each of the wide angle and telephoto settings.

 (2) The wide-angle range is set to photograph a group of people, and a person in a landscape, and allows the person and the landscape both to be in sharp focus when the aperture diameter is reduced.

 (3) The telephoto range is set for portrait and bust photography, and allows a person to photograph to be in focus when the aperture is open.

 (4) The aperture control level is reversed in a normal photography range.

 As described above, the program line in portrait mode is such that the aperture is open for shutter speeds ranging from a low shutter speed range to a camera shake limit for wide angle adjustments. and telephoto, and the shutter speed is fixed and the aperture is changed to a predetermined value at the camera boundary. Therefore, the camera is suitable for photographing people in general as well as portraits, the program line in the portrait mode being adjusted taking into account the prevention of the phenomenon of movement. The aperture at the edge of shake can be reduced by three steps for the wide-angle end, and it can be reduced by one step for the telephoto end.

Therefore, the wide-angle end can be set for photographing a group of people and a person in a landscape, allowing both the person and the landscape to be in sharp focus when the opening is reduced. The program line shown in Fig. 49B shows in more detail the program line for the landscape mode as shown in Fig. 49A. The program line has the following features.

 (1) It allows the camera to take photographs of close-up and far-distant objects in focus regardless of the focal length.

 (2) In a low luminance range, the aperture priority mode is selected to reduce the opening of a step relative to the open aperture, and the aperture is reduced to the minimum aperture from the limit of movement fv.

 (3) By reducing the opening of a pitch relative to the open aperture, the loss of brightness of the edge of the image is eliminated, and the quality of the image is improved.

 As described above, the program line for the landscape mode is set such that the aperture is reduced by one step from the open aperture for the focal length, regardless of the focal length, for Shutter speeds ranging from low shutter speed range to camera shake limit. For example, at the focal length of 28 mm, the aperture is reduced by one step compared to AvL2 which is the open aperture for the focal length.

The program line for landscape mode is set so that it varies with a 6/2 gradient in a G-part beyond the shake limit. As described above, since the value of Tv is given by
Tv = coefficient at Z luminous intensity Lv + coefficient b and since 2/8 is placed in the coefficient a at step S4123 in the landscape mode, the value of Tv increases by 2/8 when the luminous intensity Lv increases by 1 As a result, the values of Av and Tv vary in a ratio of 6 to 2, i.e., the program line varies with a 6/2 gradient. In Figure 49B, numbers in parentheses indicate APEX values for shutter speeds and apertures. The APEX values have the same meaning as FIGS. 48B, 50B, 51B, 52B and 55C.

 The program line shown in Fig. 50B shows in more detail the program line for the moving object mode as shown in Fig. 50A.

The program line has the following particularity
(1) It sets the third movement limit (Tvf + 1) so that the movement limit Tvf is increased by one step from the first movement limit.

 The program line shown in Fig. 51B shows in more detail the program line for the close-up mode as shown in Figs. 51B and 51A.

The program line has the following features
(1) In a low luminance range, the program line selects the aperture priority mode to reduce the opening of one step relative to the open aperture for each of the wide angle and telephoto settings.

 (2) From the movement limit, the aperture is set to F8 regardless of the focal length.

 As described above, the program line for the macro mode is set such that the aperture is set to a predetermined shutter speed value ranging from a low shutter speed range to the shutter speed limit. moved, and the aperture is changed by approximately one step and is set to F8 at the camera shake limit, control being made with F8 beyond the shake limit. Therefore, the camera with the exposure mode can be used with a zoom lens having a macrophotography range, and also with a macro lens in the macro mode.

 When taking close-ups, since the depth of field is reduced, the aperture is reduced excessively and the shutter speed is lowered, which tends to give images subject to camera shake and blur. . According to this embodiment, the shutter speed is fixed, and the aperture is reduced by only one step to the edge of shake where the phenomenon of shake may occur. Beyond the movement limit, the control is executed with an opening that is not too small to thereby reduce the tendency to give images subject to the phenomenon of shake and blur.

AUXILIARY PROGRAM OFFSET
The program offset calculation subprogram (SUB-P), called in step S4601 shown in Fig. 46, will be described below with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 45. This sub-program is program determines the value of an offset of the origin and the value of a shift of a program line in the learning mode, i.e., the value of an offset of the entire program . In addition, it determines the first program shift direction.

 An AE mode number ranging from 0 to 4 is assigned, respectively, according to the table of Fig. 36 to each of the five modes, i.e., beginner mode, portrait mode, mode landscape, moving object mode and close-up mode, which can be selectively adjusted when the PICT switch 110b is closed, i.e., when the main key 36 is pushed into the PICT position. The program offset calculation routine, in which the SUB-P offset calculation routine is called, is in turn called in step S4243 of the program calculation of the routine.

The program calculation subroutine is called only at step S4143 shown in Fig. 41B, if a variable X, consisting of the AE mode number, is either 1, 2, 3, or 4. To assign four values of a variable from 0 to 3 to the four corresponding trigger modes, as shown in the data format representation of Fig. 58, the number ((AE mode) 1) is input, as variable X, to step S4105.

The value of an offset of the origin and the original sense bit which corresponds to the value read are read in the
RAM (S4503, S4505), and the program shift direction bit is tested to determine whether the direction of a program offset is positive or negative (S4507). If it is positive, then the command jumps to a step S4511.

If negative, then the value of a program offset is considered negative, and it is converted to a negative value, that is, its absolute value is converted to a negative value (S4509) .

 Step S4511 then tests, from the original sense bit, how the origin was changed by the learning mode. If the direction of an offset of the origin is negative, then the value of an offset of the origin is converted to a negative value, that is to say that its absolute value is converted into a negative value. If the direction of an offset of the origin is positive, then the value of an offset of the origin is not converted, but it is used as such (S4513).

The value of an offset of the origin is then added to the value of a program offset, thus determining the value of a total offset of the program line (S4515). A step S4517 determines whether or not the value of a total offset is smaller than 0. If it is smaller, then the command executes a step S4519 in which the value of a program total offset is converted to a absolute value and the program total offset direction bit is set to "1". If the value of a total offset equals or exceeds 0 at step
S4517, then the command returns to the main program. The value of a total program offset is converted to an absolute value in step S4519 to prevent the values of the exposure factors for the calculations from becoming negative and the accuracy of each of the exposure factors is set to a 1/8 EV step to facilitate APEX calculations by adding and subtracting without taking into account computational accuracy.

CHK ~ TvAv
The routine CHK ~ TvAv for detecting whether the calculation Tv and the calculation Av are out of the limit values in step S4145 shown in FIG. 45 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 47.

First, a step S4701 determines whether the calculated control voltage Tv in each mode is equal to the maximum shutter speed TvMAX or not. If it is equal, then a TvMAX maximum shutter speed mark is set to "1" (S4703). Otherwise, the command skips to a step S4705. Step S4705 determines whether the control Tv value calculated in each mode is equal to the minimum shutter speed TvMIN. If it is equal, then a minimum shutter speed mark TvMIN is set to "1" (S4707). Otherwise, the command then jumps to a step S4719.

Step S4709 determines whether the calculated control Av value in each mode is equal or not to the AvMAX maximum aperture. If it is equal, then an AvMAX maximum aperture mark is set to "1" (S4711). Otherwise, the command skips to a step S4713. Step S4713 determines whether the command Av value calculated in each mode is equal to the minimum aperture or not.
Avmin. If it is equal, then a minimum aperture mark AvMIN is set to "1" (S4715). Otherwise, the command returns to the main program.

LEARNING
A processing relating to the learning mode according to the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 55 to 59 and Figs. 85 to 90.

 The learning mode according to the present invention relates to the state of a program shift in the program exposure mode. More specifically, when the user triggers the shutter while the program is shifted according to the preference of the user, the number of times the shutter is triggered is counted. When the count reaches or exceeds a predetermined number, a datum for shifting the program line in a shift direction by a predetermined value is stored as learned data. After the data has been stored, a shutter speed and an aperture are set according to a learned program line based on the learned data, and the program is shifted and the learned data is stored with reference to the program line. learned.

The term "program shift" in this embodiment means the shifting of a program line (default program line), obtained in a normal program exposure processing, in a direction parallel to a line of program. exposure value Ev, to change a combination of a shutter speed and an aperture. For example, in the program diagram shown in Fig. 55C for an objective having an open F value of 3.5 and a minimum aperture value of a maximum of 22, when a program line as a program line of reference is shifted in a positive direction by 0.5 Tv or 1.0 Tv. It becomes a program line or oo. On the contrary, when the default program line is shifted in the negative direction by 0.5 Tv or 1.0
TV, it becomes a Z or program line. However,
If the shutter speed or aperture exceeds a controllable range, i.e., if Ev = 9, since the program line can not be shifted in the positive direction when the aperture has reached open, no data is learned. When a certain value is added to the shutter speed Tv, this certain value is subtracted from the aperture Av.

 Origin displacement or origin offset is called moving an origin on the default program line to the learned program line along the exposure value line Ev. The value whose shutter speed Tv is changed by the displacement of the origin is called the displacement value of the origin or the offset value of the origin. The direction from the default program line to the learned program line is called the origin direction, and a point on the learned program line is called a learned origin. A program line shifted in the original direction from an original offset value to a default program line is used in the learning mode as a reference program line with respect to a program shift Figure 55C shows a simple program diagram for easy understanding of the program shift according to the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated program scheme. A program shift and data can be learned in each of the portrait mode, the landscape mode, the moving object mode and the close-up mode of this embodiment.

The single-lens reflex camera is arranged in such a way that the value and direction of a program shift (P) are adjusted by turning the UP / DOWN lever 28 (by operating the UP, DOWN 78, 80 switches). and when the photometry switch 70 is closed, a shutter speed Tv obtained in the normal program calculation process is changed by the value of a program offset, and an appropriate aperture Av is computed again by based on shutter speed
Tv modified and on an exposure value Ev appropriate.

 In this embodiment, there is an independent learning function available in the four program exposure modes, i.e., portrait mode, landscape mode, moving object mode, and mode. close-up and the learning function is performed independently when one of the four exposure modes is selected.

 Figures 58 and 59 show different data necessary for the learning function, EEPROM areas 106 and RAM for storing these different data, data formats and their relationship, and a format of the RAM. The data necessary for the learning function includes the value of an offset of the origin, the direction of origin, the number of times the shutter is triggered, the previous sense learned, the value of a program shift, and the meaning of a program shift.

 The value of a program offset is the absolute value of a shutter speed Tv to shift relative to a reference program line. Higher shutter speeds (including 0) that are considered positive (+) and lower shutter speeds that are considered negative (-) are distinguishable from each other by using the shift direction bit is "0" when the values are positive and is "1" when they are negative. The reference program line is the program line learned when the learning mode results are stored, and it is the default program line when the learning mode results are not stored. the origin is the difference between the shutter speed value Tv at the learned program line that is stored and the shutter speed Tv at the default program line. The amplitude of the offset values of the origin is indicated by its absolute value. The state in which the program line learned is on the side of the higher shutter speeds of the default program line is considered positive, and the state in which the program line learned, is on the side of the lower shutter speeds of the default program line is considered negative, and these positive and negative states are distinguishable from each other in using the original sense bit that is "0" for the positive state and that is "1" for the negative state. The learned number of times the shutter is triggered is counted each time an exposure is terminated, provided that the current meaning of a program shift and the previous direction of a program offset must be identical to the one 'other.

The previous sense of a program shift is recognized using the previously learned sense bits which are "01" for the positive direction and "10" for the negative direction.

Memory areas for storing the four data, i.e., the offset value of the origin, the original sense bit, the learned number of times the shutter is triggered, and the previously learned sense, are 2 bytes {STDYCNT (X), GENPSFT (X)} in the EEPROM 106 and 2 bytes {STDYCNT (X), GENPSFT (X)} in the RAM for each of the modes of exposure to program. In addition, a common data area is four bytes {ALLPSFT, SETPSFT, STDYCNT, and GENPSFT}. The value of a program offset is stored using the 0-th to 6-th bits of SETPSFT. The meaning of a program offset is stored using the 7 th bit of
SETPSFT. The value of the offset of the origin is stored using the 0-th to 6-th bits of GENPSFT, the original sense bit is stored using the 7 th bit of
GENPSFT. The learned number of times the shutter is triggered is stored using the 0-th to 5-th bits of STDYCNT, and the previously learned sense bits are stored using the 6-th and 7-th bits of STDYCNT.
STDYCNT. The value of a program total offset, i.e., the value of a program offset from the origin, is stored using the 0-th to 6-th bits of ALLPSFT, and the total offset direction bit is stored using the 7 th bit of ALLPSFT.

DISPLAY DATA OF THE LEARNING MODE.

 Figs. 85-90 show the display data in the external LCD display window 34 with respect to the state of a program shift and the state of a learning mode when Ev = 13. This display data is controlled based on the program offset display table shown in Fig. 31 as a function of the program shift graph display processing shown in Fig. 19.

 In Figs. 85, 86, and 90, a black dot 58f displayed above the original mark 58h indicates that no data is being learned or that a learned program line is identical to the program line by default.

Fig. 85 shows that the value of the program offset is 0, with only the black dot 58f displayed above the original mark 58h being lit. Figure 86 shows that the value of the program offset is + 1.0 Tv (- 1.0 Av).

In Fig. 86, a black dot 58f which is alternately switched on and off indicates an offset value, and a black dot 58f opposite the black dot 58f which is turned on and off alternately indicates the origin. Figure 90 shows that the value of the program offset is -0.1 Tv (+ 1.0 Av). In Fig. 90, a black dot 58f that is alternately turned on and off at the left end indicates an offset value, and a black dot 58f at the right end indicates the origin of the learning mode.

 Figures 87 to 89 show that the origin of the learning mode is + 0.5 Tv (- 0.5 Av), that is, one program line learned (a datum) that is shifted + 0.5 Tv (- 0.5 Av) is memorized. Figure 87 shows a program offset of + 0.5 Tv. Figure 88 shows that the value of the program offset is 0. Figure 89 shows a program offset of -1.5 Tv.

 Although not shown, the viewfinder LCD display 62 also displays a triangular mark 58h, 58g graduations, and black dots 58f which correspond respectively to triangular mark 58h, 58g graduations, and dots. blacks 58f in the external LCD display window 34.

LEARNING MODE CALCULATION TREATMENT
A learning mode calculation process will be described in detail below with reference to the flow chart of Figs. 55A, 55B, 56, 57A, 57B. Figs. 55A and 55B are a flow chart relating to the learning mode calculation process, which is a routine that is called in step S1415 in the shutter release process shown in Fig. 14. In this embodiment, when the shutter is triggered a predetermined number of times in the learning mode with a program shift in one direction, the learned data is stored, i.e. a program line learned is modified.

 When the command enters the learning mode calculation processing, a learning mode operation mark (RUN), for controlling the supply of the learning mode ideogram 56S, is cleared, it is determined whether the command is, or is not in the learning mode, whether the learning mode mark is, or not, "1", and whether or not the program offset value is 0 (S5501 , S5503, S5505). If the learning mode mark is "0", or if the command is in the learning mode, but the value of a program shift is 0, then since the learned number of times the shutter is triggered is not counted, the command returns to a shutter release routine.

 If the learning mode mark is "1", and if furthermore the value of a program shift is not 0, then it is determined whether the value of the program shift is larger than the change value. a learning mode that has been set in the learning mode change value change processing in Fig. 26 to count the number of times the shutter is triggered (S5503, S5505, S5507).

If the value of the program shift is larger than the learning mode change value, then the number of times 1 when the shutter is triggered is set as the number of times the shutter is triggered (S5507, 85509) . If the value of the program offset is equal to or less than the learning mode change level, then the number of times 2 when the shutter is triggered, is set as the number of times the shutter is triggered (S5507, 55511 ).

 Then, the value of an offset of the origin, the original sense bit, the counted number of times the shutter is triggered, and the previously learned sense bits are read in the RAM STDYCNT (X ), GENPSFT (X) that correspond to the selected exposure mode (X is produced by subtracting 1 from the AE mode X number) (85513).

The value of an offset of the origin and the original sense bit are stored in the RAM area GENPSFT, and the number of times the shutter is triggered and the previously learned sense bits are stored in the memory. RAM area STDYCNT (S5515 to S5521).

 The learning mode mark RUN is set to "1", and 1 is added to the number of times the shutter is triggered (S5523, S5525). It is determined whether the counted count of times the shutter is triggered is, or not, smaller than the number of times the shutter is triggered (S5527). If it is smaller, then the command goes a step S5529 to count the number of times the shutter is triggered. If the counted number of times the shutter is triggered is equal to or greater than the number of times the shutter is triggered, the command goes to a U / D (up and down) processing of the shutter mode. learning shown in Figures 57A and 57B.

 If the counted number of times the shutter is triggered is smaller than the modified number of times the shutter is triggered then the command executes a learning mode storing process 2 provided that the direction of the program shift is the same as the direction of a previous program shift (learning direction) i.e., that the program shift direction bit is "0" and the previously learned sense bits are "01" "or that the program shift direction bit is" 1 "and the previously learned sense bits are" 10 "(S5529, S5531, or S5529, S5533).

In other words, when the shutter is fired in the same program shift direction, (or with the program shift value of 0), the counted number of times the shutter is fired is increased each time the shutter is triggered, and when the program shift direction is changed, the counted number of times the shutter is triggered is set to "1", and then the counted count of times the shutter is triggered is increased each time the shutter is triggered in the same program shift direction (or with a program offset value of 0).

 If the previously learned direction (the program offset direction) is negative, and the current program offset direction is positive, then since the program offset direction has changed from negative to positive direction, the command goes to a training mode reset processing 1 in which the counted number of times the shutter is triggered is set to "1" and the previously learned sense bits are set to "01" (positive) (S5529, S5531, S5541). Then, the control goes to learning mode storing processing 2 to update only the counted number of times the shutter is triggered and the previously learned sense bits. On the contrary, if the previous learned sense (the program shift direction) is positive, and the current program offset direction is negative, then since the program shift direction has changed from a positive direction to a negative direction , the control goes to a learning mode reset process 2 in which the counted number of times the shutter is triggered is set to "1" and the previously learned sense bits are set to "10" (negative) (S5529, 85533, S5551). Then, the command goes to processing 2, learning mode storage.

TREATMENT 2 OF MEMORIZATION OF LEARNING MODE.

 The learning mode storing process 2 is a process for updating and storing the counted number of times the shutter is triggered and the previously learned sense bits. In this process, the value of an offset of the origin and the bit of the original direction are not changed. More specifically, the number of times the shutter is triggered and the previously learned sense bits are stored in predetermined bits in the RAM area X corresponding to the current program exposure mode (X = mode AE-1) (S5911, S5613). Then, the data stored in the RAM area X relating to the learning mode is written to the corresponding 2-byte area of the EEPROM 106 (S5616), after which the command returns to the main program.

U / D TRAINING OF LEARNING MODE
The learning mode U / D processing for storing the learning mode result when the counted number of times the shutter is triggered becomes equal to or greater than the number of times the shutter is triggered, that is, that is, for executing an offset of the origin, will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIGS. 57A and 57B and in the program diagram of FIG. 55C.When the command between in the learning mode U / D processing, the program shift direction is tested, and if the current program offset direction is positive (the program offset direction bit is "0" then a processing (UP ) of learning mode is executed and if the current program offset direction is negative (the program offset direction bit is "1", then a learning mode DOWN process is executed. default program line or program line learned is d signed in Figure 55C and that the program shift value is 0, then a black dot 58f above the origin indicating mark (the triangular mark) 58h is turned on. The data shown in Figs. 85 to 90 are displayed for Ev (Lv) = 13.

TREATMENT UP OF LEARNING MODE.

In the learning mode UP processing, the previously learned meaning (program shift direction) is tested, and if the previous learned sense is negative, (the previously learned meaning bits are "10"), that is, that is, if the current program offset direction has changed in relation to the previous direction, then since the value of an offset of the origin and the original sense bit are not updated, the command goes to learning mode reset processing 1 (S5711). For example, if the current program line is designated in FIG. 55C, then the previous program offset is -0.5, -1.0
Tv, or less (in the direction of f or), and the current program offset is + 0.5, + 1.0 Tv, or more (in the direction to or). For example, the previous offset direction is as shown in Fig. 90, and the current offset direction is as shown in Fig. 86.

 If the current program offset direction is the same as the previous program offset direction or if no program offset has been performed previously (the program offset value is 0), then the number of times the program shutter is triggered is set to "0" and the previously learned sense bits are set to "01" (S5711, S5713), after which the command executes steps S5715 to S5727 to set the offset value of the origin and For example, if the current program line is designated in Figure 55C, then the previous program offset is 0, + 0.5, + 1.5 Tv, or more (in the direction of the program offset. to, or Oc, and the current program offset is + 0.5 Tv or more (in the direction to Oc) If the default program line (the learned line) is designated by and if the program offset is + 1.0 Tv, then the data is displayed as shown in Figure 86.

 Then, depending on the direction of origin, that is, depending on whether the learned program line is in a positive direction or the same as the default program line, or in a negative sense as relative to the default program line, 0.5 Tv is added, or subtracted, from the offset value of the origin (S5715, S5717, 85719 or S5715, S5721).

If the learned program line is shifted in the positive direction relative to the default program line, that is, if the original sense bit is "0" (positive), and also if the value of the offset of the origin is smaller than 2, then 0.5 Tv is added to the value of the offset of the origin (S5715 to S5719). The 0.5
Tvs added are then deduced from the program offset value after which the command executes a learning mode memorizing processing 1 (S5727). Since the maximum value of the offset value of the origin is limited to 2 Tv in this embodiment, when the offset value of the origin is equal to or greater than 2
Tv, the offset of the origin (the offset of the learned program line) is not performed, and the command jumps from step S5717 to the training mode memorizing processing 1.

 When the learning mode UP processing below is executed, if the default program line is designated by, if the learned program line is designated by and if the program offset is + 0.5 Tv (in the direction to Oc), then the learned program line changes from 9 to Oc. If + 0.5 Tv is added to the offset value of the origin in the state shown in Figure 86, when the default program line (learned) is designated by and if the program offset is + 1, 0 Tv, then black dots 58f are lit as shown in Figure 86, the program line becomes the learned program line which has been shifted by + 0.5 Tv, indicating that the program offset is + 0.5 Tv, the data being displayed as shown in FIG. 87. If a program offset deletion process is executed, the value of the program offset relative to the learned program line is cleared, the data being displayed as shown Figure 88.

 If the learned program line is shifted in the negative direction from the default program line, that is, if the original sense bit is "1", then 0.5 Tv is subtracted the value of the offset of the origin (S5715, S5721). If the value of the offset of the origin becomes 0, then "0" is placed in the original sense bit and if the offset value of the origin does not become 0, then the original sense bit remains unchanged. 0.5 Tv is deduced from the program offset value, and the control goes to the training mode memorizing processing 1 (S5723, S5725, S5727 or 85723, S5727).

 When the above learning mode UP is executed, if the default program line is designated by, if the learned program line is designated by, and the program offset is + 0.5, +1 , 0, + 1.5 Tv or more (in the direction to, m), then the new program line learned changes to.

DOWN PROCESSING OF LEARNING MODE
The command enters the learn mode DOWN processing if the program offset direction is negative (if the program offset direction bit is "1") in step S5701 shown in Fig. 57A. In the DOWN processing of the learning mode it is first determined, using the previously learned sense bits, whether or not the program shift direction has changed in relation to the previous direction. If it has changed (if the previous learned sense bits are "01"), then the command goes to learning mode reset process 2, and the learned data is not updated (S5731).

 If the program shift direction has not changed from the previous direction (if the previously learned sense bits are "10") then the counted number of times the shutter is triggered is set to "0", and the previously learned sense bits are set to "10" (negative) (S5733).

Then, depending on the direction of origin, that is, depending on whether the learned program line is in a positive direction relative to the default program line or the same as the program line by default, or in a negative direction relative to the default program line, a certain value is added to, or subtracted from, the value of the offset of the origin (S5735,
S5737, or S5735, S5743, S5745).

 More precisely, if the direction of origin is positive, then 0.5 Tv is subtracted from the offset value of the origin (S5735, S5737). Since the offset value of the origin from which 0.5 Tv has been subtracted can be smaller than 0 (- 0.5 Tv), it is determined whether the offset value of the origin is smaller than 0 (S5739). If it is smaller than 0, then the offset value of the origin is converted to its absolute value and the original sense bit is set to "1" (negative) (S5741), after which the command goes to a step S5747. If the value of the offset of the origin is equal to or greater than 0, then the command goes from step S5739 to step S5747.

 When the learning mode DOWN processing is executed, if the default program line is designated by, if the learned program line is designated by and the program offset is - 0.5, - 1.0, - 1.5 Tv, or less (in the direction to, Z, "), then the new learned program line is changed to If the learned program line is designated by and if the program offset is - 1.5 Tv the data is displayed as shown in Fig. 39. The data when the learning mode is executed in the above state and when the learned program line becomes, are displayed as shown in Fig. 90.

When the direction of origin is negative, the offset value of the origin may exceed a limit value of 2
Tv. Therefore, a step S5743 determines whether or not the value of the offset of the origin is equal to or greater than the limit value of 2 Tv. If it is smaller than the limit value, then 0.5 Tv is added. to the offset of the origin (55745), and the command goes to step S5747. If it is equal to or greater than the limit value, then the command jumps to a step 85749.

When the learning mode DOWN treatment below is executed, if the default program line is designated by, if the learned program line is designated f and the program offset is -0.5 Tv (in meaning to), then the new learned program line changes to
The value of the program offset from which 0.5 Tv has been subtracted from step S5747 can become 0. If the program offset value becomes 0, the program offset direction bit is changed to "0" ( positive) (S5749, S5751), and the command goes to the training mode memorizing processing 1. If the program offset value is not 0, then the command jumps to learning mode storing processing 1 (S5749).

TRAINING 1 AND 2 OF LEARNING MODE STORAGE
The learning mode storing process 1 for storing the learned state in EEPROM 106 will be described below with reference to FIG. 56. The value of the offset of the origin and the sense bit of origin that have been settled in the treatment
UP / DOWN learning mode above are stored in predetermined bits in the RAM areas
STDYCNT (X), GENPSFT (X) corresponding to the current program exposure mode, after which the control goes to the learning mode storing processing 2 (S5601, S5603).

In the learning mode storing process 2, the number of times the shutter is triggered and the previously learned sense bits are stored in predetermined bits in the (X) area of
RAM corresponding to the current program exposure mode (S5611, S5613). The data stored in the zones of
RAM STDYCNT (X), GENPSFT (X) pertaining to the learning mode are written in the corresponding two-byte fields STDYCNT (X), GENPSFT (X), EEPROM 106 (S5615), after which the command back to the main program.

 With the single-lens reflex camera having the learning function of the present invention, the camera user selects the portrait mode, the landscape mode, the moving object mode, or the close-up mode, such as program exposure mode.

When the user fires the shutter a predetermined number of times while the program is shifted in a positive or negative direction, the program line is shifted in steps of 0.5 Tv in that direction (origin is shifted). After the program line has been shifted, a shutter speed and an aperture are set by referring to the shifted learned program line and the program is shifted and program shifting is learned. That is, when the camera user shifts the program and releases the shutter, the camera learns the user's tendency to shift the program each time the shutter is released. After the program offset trend has been learned a predetermined number of times, the learned trend results are updated (stored). A shutter speed and an aperture are adjusted based on the results of the trend. learned, and a new learning mode is executed.

 In the above embodiment, it is possible to select a combination of a program offset value and the number of times the learning mode changes. However, the value of the program offset and the number of times the learning mode changes can be selected independently. The number of times the learning mode changes is changed in two steps in a predetermined offset value. However, the number of times the learning mode changes can be changed in three or more steps, or it can be changed according to the value of an offset.

 In this embodiment, the learning mode is changed in steps of 0.5 Tv. However, it could be changed in steps of 1.5 Tv, in steps of 1.0 Tv, step 0.3 Tv or by other steps, or else it could be changed to a certain value of Tv. While the program is running, the program shift processing, and, in the embodiment above, the training and are performed in the shutter speed priority mode, but these processes could be performed in aperture priority mode.

 As described above, when the user of the camera with the learning function of the present invention fires the shutter a plurality of times while the program line is shifted in one direction in the mode of operation. program exposure, the learning means stores the learned program data to shift the program line by a predetermined value in that direction, and then a shutter speed and an aperture are set based on the program data. memorized learned. Therefore, by simply shifting the program according to the user's preference, and by repeating the exposures, a combination of a shutter speed and an aperture that the user prefers, i.e. say, a learned program line, can be obtained.

Description of the numbers 10 Camera body 12 Lens system (motorized lens) 14 Lens mount 16 Lens lock button 18 Terminal block group 20 CPU body side 22 CPU lens side 24 Key selector focus mode 26 Shutter release button 28 UP / DOWN lever 30 TV / AV button 32 Exit button 34 External LCD display window 36 Main button 38 Drive button 40 Mode button 42 Shoe cover Accessory 44 Hood 46 Viewfinder eyepiece 48 Back cover 50 Date data recorder 52 Hyper key 54a to 54d Fixed display elements 56a to 56d Ideograms 58a to 58n Display elements of frames and signs 60a to 60k digits and letters display 62 Viewfinder LCD display window 64 Top cover plate 66 Coil spring 68 Switch assembly 70 Photometry switch 72 Trigger switch 74 Spring Blade 78 UP switch 80 DOWN switch 82 Drive switch 84 Mode switch 86 Switch support plate 88 Hyper switch 90 Film cartridge detection switch 92 Main mirror 94 Photodetector 96 Photometry circuit 98 A / D converter 100 Device Exposure control 102 Focal length detection mechanism 104 Supervisor 106 EEPROM 108 Electronic sounder 110 Main switch 110a ON switch 110b PICT switch

Claims (34)

 1. A camera with a program-controlled exposure mode in which an aperture value (Av) and a exposure time (Tv) are set for each exposure value according to a reference program characteristic, comprising setting means for temporarily giving said exposure parameters (AV, Tv) different values so that they are changed from the predetermined values by the reference program characteristic, wherein such a setting of the value of opening (Av) or exposure time (Tv) is done while maintaining the exposure value (Ev), characterized in that when detecting at least one exposure with an exposure parameter (Av) , Tv), the subsequent exposure control is performed according to a new program characteristic which is changed with respect to the reference program characteristic.  Camera according to claim 1, characterized in that the exposure control is performed according to the modified program characteristic, when a change of an exposure parameter (Av, Tv) of at least one predetermined value has been detected.  Camera according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the exposure control is performed according to the modified program characteristic, when a change of an exposure parameter (Av, Tv) with a frequency predetermined in the same direction has been detected.  A camera according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the exposure control is then performed according to a new program characteristic when at least one exposure, with a modified exposure value, is detected.  5. The camera according to claim 4, characterized in that successive exposures with exposure parameters (Av, Tv) are counted, and in that, after exceeding a predetermined number of such successive exposures with changes of same signs, the exposure control is performed according to the modified program feature.  6. Camera according to claim 5, characterized in that said exposures are also counted when the opening value (Av) and the exposure time (Tv) are modified with the same signs compared to the values fixed by a new characteristic. program to make a further modification with respect to the reference program feature.  Camera according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the counting of said exposures is reset when the sign of change of the aperture value (Av) and the exposure time (Tv) changes.  Camera according to claims 5, 6, or 7, characterized in that the predetermined number of exposures can be variably adjusted to the right of the camera.  Camera according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the new program characteristic is shifted by a predetermined offset value with respect to the reference program characteristic in the direction of the exposure values. constant.  Camera according to claim 9, characterized in that the exposure control is performed according to the new program characteristic from the reference program characteristic whereby one of its two exposure parameters (Tv, Av) is modified by a predetermined value, and the other exposure parameter (Av, Tv) is calculated from there for the corresponding exposure value (Ev).  Camera according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the predetermined offset value can be variably adjusted to the right of the camera.  Camera according to any one of claims 9, 10, or 11, characterized in that, when exceeding said predetermined number of exposures, the data is stored which modifies the combinations of the opening value (Av) and setting time (Tv), set by said reference program characteristic, by a predetermined value for a constant exposure value (Ev).  Camera according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the new program characteristic deviates from the reference program characteristic only in part.  Camera according to claim 13, characterized in that the reference program characteristic, in some sections, retains one of the constant exposure parameters (Av, Tv), and that the new program characteristic n is not modified at least in part of these sections with respect to the reference program feature.  Camera according to any one of claims 1 to 8, 13 and 14, characterized in that the new program characteristic is modified with respect to the reference program characteristic in relation to a gradient of the characteristic.  Camera according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that data (STDYCNT (X), GENPSFT (X), with X = 0 to 3) characterizing the new program characteristic are stored appropriately. in a memory (106), to be always available following the opening of a main switch (110a, 110b) of the camera.  A camera according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by storing the camera state independently of the switching mode of a master switch (110a, 110b) in which exposure control is performed according to a new program feature.  Camera according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by means (30, 76, 20, 104, 106) for restoring the state of the camera in which the exposure control is performed according to a new program feature.  Camera according to any one of claims 5 to 18, characterized in that said successive exposures are counted up to a first predetermined number, when the value of a change, with respect to a program characteristic, reaches or exceeds a predetermined offset value, and in that said successive exposures are counted up to a second predetermined number, higher than the first number, if the value of a change, relative to a program characteristic, is smaller than the predetermined offset value.  The camera in particular according to one of claims 1 to 19, comprising a display area for modes of operation and photography parameters, said display area having display symbols and ideogram symbols which can being switched on and off, characterized by a scale (58g) to indicate the offset value of a program characteristic comprising an indication symbol (58f) movable along said scale (58g), ideogram symbols (56f, 56g) ) displayed at both ends of the scale to mark the offset direction, and a switch to switch to other ideogram symbols (56h, 56i) at both ends of the scale to indicate different exposure programs.  Camera according to claim 20, characterized in that said further ideogram symbols (56h, 56i) indicate a photograph effect which results from the two offset directions of a program feature.  Camera according to Claim 21, characterized by additional display symbols for the exposure time (Tv) and the aperture value (Av), and symbols in the form of plus and minus signs (58j, 58i). ) at both ends of the scale to indicate the direction and the change value of the exposure time (Tv) or the aperture value (Av) set to the right of the camera, relative to predetermined values.  Camera according to claim 22, characterized in that said graduation (58g) comprises a division into predetermined segments, as well as display symbols corresponding to this division, which can be switched on in a number corresponding to a value of offset to be displayed along the scale, whereby they can be turned on and off alternately to display the value whose program characteristic is shifted.  Camera according to Claim 23, characterized in that the graduation represents the offset direction and the offset value by the position of a lit point (58f) when the direction and the value are stored.  Camera according to one of claims 20 to 24, characterized in that the display area comprises an ideogram symbol for displaying the choice of the operating mode in which the exposure control is performed by a program characteristic. which is offset from the reference program characteristic.  The camera of claim 25, characterized in that said ideogram symbol is turned on and off a predetermined number of times as the number of exposures is counted.  Camera, in particular according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reference program characteristic constantly sets the open value (Av) open with an increasing exposure value (Ev) in a range from the maximum exposure time (TvMAX) to a shake limit value (Tvf), and sets a decay to a predetermined aperture for said shake limit value (Tvf).  28. The camera according to claim 27, characterized in that in a zoom lens the aperture (Av) is decreased by three opening steps to a first limit value of shake (TvLi) in the wide angle position, and an opening step at a second limit value of moving in the telephoto position.  Camera according to claim 27 or 28, characterized in that the aperture is decreased to the respective shake limit of 1.5 apertures in the wide angle position and 1/2 aperture steps in the aperture position. the telephoto position.  Camera, in particular according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reference program characteristic is fixed permanently, with an increasing exposure value (Ev) in a range of the maximum exposure time. (TvMAX) up to a shake limit value (Tvf), the open aperture value increased by one opening step, and in that the exposure time (Tv) and the aperture value (Av ) are set with a further increasing exposure value as a function of a program characteristic having a predetermined gradient.  Camera according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a display unit (34) mounted on the camera body (10) for displaying various photographic information elements, which comprise a graph of display having a plurality of dots, an ideogram display section for indicating the directions, a minus sign and a plus sign, an exposure compensation means for setting an exposure compensation mode, and a control means display for displaying a value and a direction of a program characteristic shift by continuously activating points (58f) and alternately activating and deactivating points at at least one of the two ends, when the program exposure mode is set, and to display a value and a direction of exposure compensation by the activation of a point and the activation of the minus sign (58i) or the plus sign (58j) when the exposure correction mode it is set and to return the display unit (34) to the program shift display, leaving only the minus sign (58i) and the plus sign (58j) displayed when the exposure compensation mode is activated.  Camera according to claim 31, characterized in that the exposure correction means comprises a push button which activates the activation correction when pressed, and which returns the camera to the exposure mode. program when released.  Camera according to claim 32, characterized in that the exposure control means does not display a display graphic in principle when, while the automatic exposure is selected, a priority mode at the exposure time or an aperture priority mode is selected, while only one dot (58f) is lit and the minus sign (58i) or the plus sign (58j) for the exposure compensation is displayed, while said correction key exposure is pressed, and the displayed data is not changed when said exposure compensation key is released.  Camera according to claim 31, 32 or 33, characterized in that the display control means displays the value and the direction of an exposure difference by continuous activation of the points (58f) and the minus sign ( 58i) or plus sign (58j) during manual exposure.