JP2000089307A - Strobe system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the inappropriate execution of regular emission in the case where light is not appropriately emitted by discriminating whether or not pre-emission is normally executed and inhibiting the regular emission in the case where the pre-emission is not normally executed. SOLUTION: For example, in the case of executing pre-emission by both of a master strobe and a slave strobe and in the case where the pre-emission is not executed because the slave strobe is not completely charged, the light reflected from an object obtained by the pre-emission only by the master strobe is measured by a camera, the amount of the regular emission is decided and the regular emission is executed (S129). Then, in the case where the slave strobe is completely charged and light is emitted by the slave strobe in the same way of the master strobe when the regular emission is executed. Overexposure occurs by the emission amount of the slave strobe. Then, in the case where the master strobe is under a dedicated control mode, a light emission start signal for starting the light emission of the slave strobe is generated by the master strobe (S130). In the case of an automatic dimming mode, the regular emission is not executed (S131) in the case where the pre-emission is not normally executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a strobe system, for example, a strobe device for controlling light emission of a camera and a strobe device built in or connected to the camera as a master transmission device and a slave strobe device arranged at a remote position. It is about the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, pre-emission is performed, the reflected light of a subject is measured, and the amount of main emission is calculated based on the measured light value. A strobe system is known, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-48713 filed by the present applicant.

In this conventional example, even if the main capacitor voltage drops and charging is not completed (unfilled state) when the strobe performs pre-flash to obtain the main light emission amount, At the time of light emission, the main light emission is correctly performed by lowering the voltage level of the completion of charging of the strobe.

[0004]

However, in the above-described strobe system, since the camera and the strobe are connected by a communication line, the camera can grasp the state of charge of the strobe both at the time of the pre-flash and at the time of the main flash. However, in wireless flash photography where the strobe (slave strobe) is located away from the camera, the camera cannot know the charging status and flash status of this slave strobe. Problem arises.

If the slave strobe is not fully charged when it receives the pre-flash command from the camera, the slave strobe cannot perform the pre-flash, and the camera cannot measure the reflected light of the subject due to the pre-flash of the slave strobe. It is calculated that the state becomes the same as the state where the subject is in a very distant state, and the main light emission amount becomes almost full light emission state. Subsequently, when the main flash is issued from the camera to the slave strobe, if the slave strobe is fully charged and fires, the slave strobe will fire at almost the full flash state specified by the camera, and in most cases, will be extremely Overexposed photos.

In addition, even when a plurality of slave strobes are used to emit light at the same time in order to increase the guide number, a certain slave strobe is not fully charged at the time of pre-emission and does not perform pre-emission. When the main light emission is performed together with another strobe, a photograph in which the light emission amount exceeds the light emission amount of the uncompleted slave strobe at the time of the pre-light emission may be produced.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pre-flash by a slave strobe in a strobe system in which a pre-flash is performed by a slave strobe, a reflected light of the subject by the pre-flash is measured, and a main flash is obtained to obtain an appropriate exposure. It is an object of the present invention to provide a strobe system that prevents improper main light emission from being performed when the flashing is not performed correctly.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a strobe system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a master transmission device including a camera, and a flash unit disposed at a position remote from the master transmission device. Alternatively, in a strobe system having a plurality of slave strobe devices and controlling the slave strobe device by communication from the master transmission device, the master transmission device pre-instructs the slave strobe device to perform pre-emission. Transmitting means for transmitting control information including at least light emission information and main light emission amount information; light metering means for metering a subject reflected light by the pre-flash of the slave strobe device; and a light metering value of the pre-flash measured by the light metering means. Calculating means for calculating the main light emission amount, wherein the slave strobe device comprises:
Receiving means for receiving control information from the master transmitting device, light emission control means for controlling light emission of the flash light emitting means in accordance with the received control information, and the flash light emitting means when receiving control information of pre-flash Pre-emission determination means for determining whether or not pre-emission can be normally performed, and emission inhibition means for inhibiting main emission when the pre-emission determination means determines that normal pre-emission cannot be performed. I do.

According to the above configuration, when the slave strobe device receives information from the camera and performs pre-emission, it detects whether or not pre-emission can be executed normally, and thus pre-emission is performed normally. Otherwise, by prohibiting the main light emission, it is possible to prevent improper main light emission from being performed and improper photographing.

[0010] A strobe system according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a master transmission device including a camera, and one or more slave strobe devices arranged at a position distant from the master transmission device, wherein the master transmission device is provided. In a strobe system that controls the slave strobe device by communication from a device, the master transmission device includes:
Transmitting means for transmitting control information including at least pre-emission information and main light-emission amount information for instructing the slave strobe device to perform pre-emission; photometry means for measuring subject reflected light by pre-emission of the slave strobe device;
Calculating means for calculating a main light emission amount based on a photometric value of the pre-flash measured by the photometric means; the slave strobe device receiving means for receiving control information from the master transmitting device; and Light emission control means for controlling light emission of the flash light emission means in accordance with the control information obtained, and pre-emission determination means for determining whether or not the flash light emission means has normally executed pre-emission when receiving control information of pre-emission. And a light emission prohibition means for prohibiting main light emission when the pre-light emission determination means determines that normal pre-light emission has not been executed.

According to the above configuration, when the slave strobe device receives information from the camera and performs pre-emission, it detects whether or not pre-emission has been normally executed, thereby detecting normal pre-emission. Otherwise, by prohibiting the main light emission, it is possible to prevent improper main light emission from being performed and improper photographing.
A strobe system according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the master transmission device includes a camera and a strobe device mounted on the camera.

According to the above configuration, since the slave strobe device can be controlled using the strobe device built in the camera, wireless strobe photography can be performed without using a special transmission control device.

[0013] A flash system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the master transmission device is constituted by a camera and a flash device built in the camera.

According to the above configuration, since the slave strobe device can be controlled using the strobe device built in the camera, wireless strobe photography can be performed without using a special transmission control device.

[0015] In a strobe system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the control information from the master transmitting device is output from the flash light emitting means of the strobe as optical communication.

According to the above configuration, since the slave strobe device is controlled by using the flash device of the strobe, it is possible to perform wireless strobe photography with a long reach distance and less error due to noise.

In a strobe system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the master transmission device is a camera and auxiliary light means for outputting auxiliary light for autofocus.

According to the above configuration, since the slave strobe device is controlled using the autofocus auxiliary light,
Wireless flash photography with low power consumption can be performed.

A strobe light system according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the pre-emission determination means determines that normal pre-emission cannot be executed when charging for pre-emission is not completed. .

According to the above configuration, there is an effect of preventing improper main light emission from being taken when pre-emission is not completed.

An electronic flash system according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the pre-emission determining means determines that normal pre-emission cannot be executed when pre-emission information cannot be normally received. .

According to the above configuration, there is an effect of preventing improper main light emission from being taken when pre-emission information cannot be normally received.

In the strobe system according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the case where the pre-emission determining means fails to normally receive the pre-emission information means that the reception channel of the slave strobe device to be received does not match the transmission channel. ,
Alternatively, it is characterized by an error of pre-emission information.

According to the above configuration, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent improper main light emission from being performed due to interference caused by channel mismatch, data error, or the like.

In a strobe system according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the pre-emission determining means determines that the pre-emission was not actually performed based on whether or not the light receiving means received the pre-emission by the flash means. It is characterized by determining.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to determine whether or not the pre-emission has been normally performed, thereby preventing an improper photographing using the main emission.

A strobe system according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is a strobe system comprising a camera and a slave strobe arranged at a position remote from the camera.
The camera has a transmission unit for transmitting light emission control information to the slave strobe. The transmission unit instructs the slave strobe to perform a pre-flash, and a unit for measuring the reflected light of the subject by the pre-flash; A calculating means for calculating a main light emission amount based on the light; the transmitting means instructs a slave strobe to perform a main light emission with the calculated main light emission amount; and the slave strobe is provided with a control information receiving means. A flash light emitting means, a flash control means for controlling the flash light emitting means in accordance with the received strobe control information, and determining that the pre-flash was normally performed when the pre-flash was instructed. And a light emission prohibiting means for prohibiting the main light emission when it is determined that the pre-emission is not performed normally by the judgment means. Things and said.

According to the above configuration, when the slave strobe receives the information from the camera and performs the pre-emission, it detects that the pre-emission is normally performed, so that the pre-emission is normally performed. If not performed, the main light emission is prohibited, so that it is possible to prevent improper main light emission from being performed and improper photography being taken. In a strobe system according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the transmission unit is detachable from the camera body, has a receiving unit for light emission control information from the camera, and has an information output unit for sending the information to a slave strobe. It is characterized by having.

In a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the information output means is a flash light emitting means.

[0030] In a strobe light system according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the transmitting means is a flash light emitting means built in a camera body.

[0031] In a strobe light system according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the transmitting means is an auxiliary light for auto focus.

In a strobe light system according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, when the pre-flash is instructed from the camera, the discriminating means determines that the main flash is to be inhibited when the slave strobe is not fully charged. It is characterized by.

[0033] In a strobe system according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the discriminating means discriminates to prohibit the main flash when the pre-flash is instructed by the camera and the slave strobe cannot normally receive the command. It is characterized by being done.

[0034]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view mainly illustrating an optical configuration of a strobe control camera system as a master transmission device implemented by applying the present invention to a single-lens reflex camera.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a camera main body, in which optical components, mechanical components, electric circuits, films, and the like are housed so that a photograph can be taken. Reference numeral 2 denotes a main mirror which is inclined or retracted to a photographing optical path according to an observation state and a photographing state. The main mirror 2 is a half mirror, and transmits about half of a light beam from a subject to a focus detection optical system described later. Reference numeral 3 denotes a focusing plate arranged on a predetermined imaging plane of the photographing lens 11, 4 denotes a pentaprism for changing a finder optical path, 5 denotes an eyepiece, and a photographer observes the focusing plate 3 from this window to observe a photographing screen. You can do it. Reference numerals 6 and 7 denote an imaging lens and a photometric sensor for measuring the luminance of the subject in the observation screen. The imaging lens 6 associates the focusing plate 3 and the photometric sensor 7 via a reflection optical path in the pentaprism 4 in a conjugate manner. ing.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a shutter, and 9 denotes a photosensitive member, which is made of a silver halide film or the like.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a sub-mirror which bends a light beam from a subject downward and guides it toward the focus detection unit 26.

The focus detection unit 26 includes a secondary imaging mirror 27, a secondary imaging lens 28, a focus detection line sensor 29, and the like. A secondary imaging mirror 27 and a secondary imaging lens 28 form a focus detection optical system, and a secondary imaging surface of the imaging optical system is connected to a focus detection line sensor 29. The focus detection unit 26 realizes an automatic focus detection device by detecting a focus state of a subject in a shooting screen by a known phase difference detection method and controlling a focus adjustment mechanism of a shooting lens.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a group of mount contacts serving as an interface between the camera and the lens, and reference numeral 11 denotes a lens barrel mounted on the camera body. Reference numerals 12 to 14 denote photographing lenses. Reference numeral 12 denotes a first group lens, which can adjust the focus position of the photographing screen by moving back and forth on the optical axis. 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes a two-group lens, which moves back and forth on the optical axis to change the magnification of the photographing screen and change the focal length of the photographing lens.
Reference numeral 14 denotes a third-group fixed lens. Reference numeral 15 denotes a photographing lens stop.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a first-group lens drive motor, which can automatically adjust the focus position by moving the first-group lens back and forth according to an automatic focus adjustment operation.
Reference numeral 17 denotes a lens aperture drive motor, which can drive the photographic lens aperture to a desired aperture diameter.

Reference numeral 18 denotes an external flash (flash device) which is attached to the camera body 1 and controls light emission according to a signal from the camera. Reference numeral 19 denotes a xenon tube as an arc tube, which converts current energy into luminous energy. Reference numerals 20 and 21 denote a reflection plate and a Fresnel lens, respectively, which serve to efficiently collect light emission energy toward a subject.

Reference numeral 22 denotes the camera body 1 and the external strobe 18
This is a group of strobe contacts that interface with the camera. 3
Reference numeral 0 denotes a light transmitting means such as a glass fiber, which leads light to a light receiving element 31 as a first light receiving means such as a photodiode which is a light receiving means for monitoring light emitted from the xenon tube 19, and performs pre-emission of a strobe light and a light emitting element. The light intensity of light emission is directly measured.

Numeral 32 denotes a light receiving element such as a photodiode as second light receiving means for monitoring the light emitted from the xenon tube 19. The light emission current of the xenon tube 19 is limited by the output of the light receiving element 32 to control the flat light emission. Reference numerals 20a and 20b denote light guides integrated with the reflection shade 20, and reflect and guide the light of the xenon tube to the light receiving element 32 or 31.

Next, FIGS. 2 and 3 show electric circuit block diagrams of the present embodiment. Members corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As the control means on the camera side, the internal operation of the camera microcomputer 100 is performed based on a clock generated by the oscillator 101.

EEPROM 100b as storage means
Can store a film counter and other photographing information. A / D (analog-digital converter) 100c
Converts the analog signals from the focus detection circuit 105 and the photometry circuit 106 from analog to digital, and the camera microcomputer 100
Various states are set by signal processing of the / D conversion value.

The camera microcomputer 100 includes a focus detection circuit 105, a photometry circuit 106, a shutter control circuit 107,
Motor control circuit 108, film running detection circuit 10
9, switch sense circuit 110, LCD drive circuit 111
Etc. are connected.

A signal is transmitted to a microcomputer 112 as a lens control circuit disposed in the photographing lens via a mount contact 10, and an external strobe is connected to a strobe side process through a strobe contact group 22. Signals are transmitted to a strobe microcomputer 238 as a means.

The focus detection circuit 105 is a camera microcomputer 10
In accordance with the signal of 0, accumulation control and readout control of the CCD line sensor 29, which is a known distance measuring element, are performed, and each pixel information is output to the camera microcomputer 100. The camera microcomputer 100 performs A / D conversion of this information and performs focus detection by a well-known phase difference detection method.

The camera microcomputer 100 adjusts the focus of the lens by exchanging signals with the lens microcomputer 112 based on the focus detection information.

The photometric circuit 106 outputs the output from the photometric sensor 7 to the camera microcomputer 100 as a luminance signal of the subject. The photometry circuit 106 outputs a luminance signal in both a steady state in which the strobe light is not pre-emitted to the subject and a pre-emission state in which the pre-emission is performed, and the camera microcomputer 100 converts the luminance signal to A / A. The D-conversion is performed to calculate the aperture value and the shutter speed for adjusting the exposure for photographing, and to calculate the main flash emission amount at the time of exposure.

The shutter control circuit 107 operates in accordance with a signal from the camera microcomputer 100 to control a shutter front curtain driving magnet MG-
1 and the shutter rear curtain drive magnet MG-2 is run to perform the exposure operation.

The motor control circuit 108 controls the motor in accordance with the signal from the camera microcomputer 100 to perform the up / down movement of the main mirror 2, the charging of the shutter, and the feeding of the film.

The film running detection circuit 109 detects whether the film has been wound up by one frame at the time of feeding the film.
A signal is sent to the camera microcomputer 100.

SW1 is a switch which is turned on by the first stroke of a release button (not shown) to start photometry and AF.
SW2 is a switch that is turned on by the second stroke of the release button to start the exposure operation. SWFELK is a switch that performs pre-emission independently. Switches SW1, SW
2. Signals from SWFELK and other operation members of the camera (not shown) are detected by the switch sense circuit 110 and sent to the camera microcomputer 100.

The liquid crystal display circuit 111 has an LC in the finder.
D24 and the display on the monitor LCD 42 are controlled in accordance with signals from the camera microcomputer 100. SWX is a strobe light emission start switch, which is turned on at the same time when the front curtain of the shutter is completed.

Next, an explanation will be given of the strobe and lens interface terminals of the camera microcomputer 100.

SCK is a synchronous clock output terminal for serial communication with the strobe, SDO is a serial data output terminal for serial communication with the strobe, SDI is a data input terminal for serial communication with the strobe, and SCH.
G is an input terminal for detecting whether the strobe can emit light, and L is an input terminal.
CK is an output terminal of a synchronous clock for performing serial communication with the lens, LDO is a serial data output terminal for serial communication with the lens, and LDI is a data input terminal for serial communication with the lens.

Next, the configuration of the lens will be described. The camera body and the lens are electrically connected to each other through a lens mount contact 10. This lens mount contact 10
L0 is a power supply contact of the focus drive motor 16 and the aperture drive motor 17 in the lens, L1 is a power supply contact of the lens microcomputer 112 as lens control means, and a clock for performing known serial data communication. Contact L2, contact L for data transmission from camera to lens
3. A contact L4 for transmitting data from the lens to the camera, and a ground contact L for the motor to the power supply for the motor.
5. L6, which is a ground contact for the power supply for the lens microcomputer 112.

The lens microcomputer 112 is connected to the camera microcomputer 100 via these lens mount contacts 10, and operates the first lens drive motor 16 and the lens aperture motor 17 to control the focus of the lens and the aperture. . Reference numerals 35 and 36 denote a photodetector and a pulse plate. The lens microcomputer 112 can obtain position information of the first lens group by counting the number of pulses, and can adjust the focus of the lens. Next, the structure of the strobe is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 201 denotes a battery serving as a power supply, and reference numeral 202 denotes a known DC-DC converter, which boosts the battery voltage to several hundred volts.

Reference numeral 203 denotes a main capacitor for storing light emission energy, and reference numerals 204 and 205 denote resistors, which divide the voltage of the main capacitor 203 into a predetermined ratio. 206 is a first coil for limiting a light emission current, 207 is a first diode for absorbing a back electromotive voltage generated when light emission is stopped,
Reference numeral 208 denotes a second coil for limiting the emission current, and 209
Is a second diode for absorbing a back electromotive voltage generated in the coil 8 when light emission is stopped.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a light emitting means and an Xe tube, 2 which is a means for outputting control information of the slave strobe.
11 is a trigger generation circuit, 212 is a light emission control circuit such as an IGBT, 213 is a thyristor which is a switching element for bypassing the coil 208, and Xe
The coil 208 is used to generate a short light pulse from the Xe tube 19 when performing wireless communication using the tube 19 and to improve stop controllability at the time of stopping light emission during flash light emission.
The light emitting current is bypassed by the thyristor 213 so that no current flows.

Reference numeral 214 denotes a resistor for flowing a current to the gate, which is a control electrode of the thyristor 213, for turning on the thyristor 213. Reference numeral 215 denotes that when the thyristor 213 is off, noise is applied to the gate of the thyristor 213 to turn on. Gate potential stabilization resistor to prevent
216 is a capacitor for rapidly turning on the thyristor 213, 217 is a noise absorption capacitor for preventing noise from being applied to the gate of the thyristor 213 when the thyristor 213 is off, and turning on. 218 is the gate of the thyristor 213. It is a transistor for switching current.

219 and 220 are resistors, 221 is a transistor for switching the transistor 218, 22
2, 223 are resistors.

Reference numeral 230 denotes a data selector, and Y0, Y
D0, D1, and D2 are selected by a combination of two inputs of 1 and output to Y.

Reference numeral 231 denotes a comparator for controlling the luminous intensity of flat light emission, reference numeral 232 denotes a comparator for controlling the amount of light emission during flash light emission, and reference numeral 32 denotes a photodiode which is a light receiving sensor for controlling flat light emission, and a light emitting means. The light output of the Xe tube 19 is monitored.

Reference numeral 234 denotes a photometric circuit which amplifies a minute current flowing through the photodiode 32 and converts a photocurrent into a voltage. Reference numeral 31 denotes a photodiode which is a light receiving sensor for controlling flash light emission, and Xe which is a light emitting means. Tube 19
Monitor the light output of

Reference numeral 236 denotes a photometric integration circuit for logarithmically compressing the photocurrent flowing through the photodiode 31 and compressing and integrating the amount of light emitted from the Xe tube 19.

Reference numeral 238 denotes a microcomputer for controlling the entire operation of the strobe, reference numeral 22 denotes a contact group provided on a hot shoe for communication with the camera body, and reference numeral 240 denotes a liquid crystal display means for displaying the operation state of the strobe. Display,
Reference numeral 241 denotes a wireless selector switch for setting the wireless operation state of the strobe, and 242 denotes a power switch for controlling on / off of the power of the strobe.

Reference numeral 243 denotes L for indicating that the flash has been charged.
ED 244 is a dimming display LED that indicates that the flash has been photographed with an appropriate amount of light, 245 is a well-known motor control circuit, 246 is a Xe tube 19 and a reflector that match the focal length of the lens mounted on the camera body. It is a motor for moving the shade 20 and setting the irradiation angle.

Reference numeral 247 denotes a backlight lighting switch for illuminating the liquid crystal display 240, 248 denotes a mode switch for selecting a strobe light emission mode, and 249 denotes a parameter associated with the light emission mode (for example, a light emission amount in manual light emission). Switch 250, an up switch for increasing the parameter setting value, 2
51 is a down switch for decreasing the parameter, 252 is a zoom switch for manually setting the emission angle, 253, 254 and 255 are encoders indicating the position of the emission angle, and 256 is control information from the camera. The photodiode 257 serving as the receiving means is a light receiving circuit that amplifies a photocurrent flowing through the photodiode 256 and converts the photocurrent into a voltage.

Next, each terminal of the microcomputer 238 will be described.

CNT is a control output terminal for controlling charging of the DC / DC converter 2, and LCDS is a liquid crystal display 2
A wiring group for displaying and lighting 40, COM1 is a switch 2
41, a control output terminal corresponding to the ground potential, NORM
Is an input terminal selected when the operation state of the strobe is a normal photographing state (not a wireless mode).

MASTER is an input terminal selected when the operation state of the strobe is in the wireless master mode, that is, connected to the camera using the camera hot shoe contact group 22 to control the operation of the wireless slave strobe. SLAVE is the strobe. The input terminal selected when the operation state of the wireless slave mode is a state in which the light emission control light signal from the master strobe is received by the light receiving element 256 and the light emission of the strobe is controlled, that is, the light emission control light signal from the master strobe is installed. is there.

Next, COM2 is a control output terminal corresponding to the ground potential of the switch 242, OFF is an input terminal selected when the strobe is turned off, ON is an input terminal selected when the strobe is turned on, and SE is a predetermined strobe. This input terminal is selected when the power is turned off after a lapse of time.

CLK is a synchronous clock input terminal for serial communication with the camera, DO is a serial data output terminal for transferring serial data from the strobe to the camera in synchronization with the synchronous clock, and DI is synchronous with the synchronous clock. A serial data input terminal for transferring serial data from the camera to the strobe, PI is an input terminal for a wireless signal as input information, and M0 and M1 are four types of operation states of a motor driver (CW drive, CCW drive, motor off, motor off, Output terminal for controlling the brake). ZOOM
0, ZOOM1, ZOOM2 are input terminals for inputting the encoders 253, 254, 255 indicating the above-mentioned zoom position, COM0 is a control output terminal corresponding to the ground potential of a zoom encoder or the like, and ZOOM is an input terminal of the above-mentioned zoom position setting switch 252. , DOWN are the input terminals of the light emission parameter decrease switch 251, UP is the input terminal of the light emission parameter increase switch 250, SEL / S
ET is an input terminal of the data selection switch 249, M
ODE is an input terminal of the light emission mode selection switch 248, LIGHT is an input terminal of the illumination switch 247, YIN is an input terminal for detecting the output state of the data selector 230, and INT is an integration control output terminal of the photometry integration circuit 236. AD0 is an A / D conversion input terminal for reading an integrated voltage indicating the light emission amount of the photometric integration circuit 236, and DA0 is a D / A output terminal for outputting a comparator voltage of the comparators 231 and 232. is there.

Y0 and Y1 are selection state setting output terminals of the data selector 230, TRIG is a light emission trigger generation output terminal, and SCR_CTRL is a thyristor 21.
3 is a control output terminal.

Next, FIG. 4 is an external view of the master and slave strobe devices according to the present embodiment. Each switch, display, and the like are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. Reference numeral 258 denotes a light receiving window of the photodiode 256 serving as the above-mentioned information receiving means, in which the photodiode is arranged.

Next, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of wireless photographing using the master strobe MS and one slave strobe SS.

Master strobe M connected to camera 1
S indicates that the wireless mode selection switch 242 is set to MA
STER is set, and the slave strobe SS is set to SLAVE by the wireless mode selection switch 241 described above.
Is set to

The light emission control light of the master strobe MS is reflected by the subject and received from the light receiving window 258 to control the light emission of the slave strobe SS. Master Strobe MS
Two modes can be set: a mode in which the master strobe itself emits light (master flash mode), and a mode in which the master strobe itself controls only the slave strobe (control-only mode).

<Description of Wireless Communication> Next, wireless communication for transmitting light emission information from the master strobe to the slave strobe will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a wireless light control signal generated by the master strobe MS when the slave strobe is pre-emitted.

A) is a synchronous clock signal for serial communication from the camera to the strobe, B) is a data output signal from the camera to the strobe, and C) is a signal from the strobe to the camera. This is a data output signal.

D) and E) indicate that the master strobe is X
A wireless optical communication signal to the slave strobe generated by causing the e-tube 19 to emit light intermittently in a pulsed manner. D) shows a light emission signal when the master strobe is in the control-only mode, and E) shows the master strobe is the master strobe. A light emission signal in the light emission mode is shown, and F) shows light emission of the slave strobe.

In the figure, when a pre-flash command is issued from the camera via the serial communication line, the master strobe generates a wireless optical communication signal D) or E).

The first byte is composed of a START pulse and C
H pulse and data of a total of 10 bits of D7 to D0, a START and a CH interval indicate a channel identification signal, and D7 to D0 at a predetermined interval thereafter indicate 1-byte data. Is D7-D0
The information such as the light emission mode (pre-emission, main light emission, manual light emission, multi-light emission), flash or flat light emission mode, and light emission time in flat light emission is compressed by a combination of the light pulses. The contents of this command will be described later.

The subsequent second and subsequent bytes are STAs at predetermined intervals.
The RT pulse and D7 to D0 indicate 1-byte data, and indicate data such as the light emission amount according to the above-described light emission mode. The communication data length of the wireless optical communication signal has a predetermined length defined according to the light emission mode, and has a length of 2 bytes in the pre-light emission communication shown in FIG. The reason why the channel identification signal is superimposed only on the first byte and is not added after the second byte is to shorten the communication length.

The master strobe MS drops the DO communication line to the Lo level during the wireless transmission, and returns to the Hi level when the transmission is completed.

At time t2, the camera sets the DO communication line to H level.
Upon recognizing the return to the i level, at time t3, the CLK signal line is lowered to instruct the start of pre-light emission.

The master strobe MS detects that the CLK communication line has fallen, and generates a light emission start light pulse shown in (3) of FIG. 6 in the case of the control only mode. Light emission of a predetermined luminous intensity is performed for a predetermined time instructed by the camera shown in 6 (4).

On the other hand, the slave strobe is the first byte and the second byte of the wireless optical communication pulse from the master strobe MS.
The byte is received, and information such as the channel number, the light emission mode, the light emission time, and the light emission amount is decoded, and the predetermined light amount and the predetermined light emission time shown in (5) of FIG. Is performed.

Next, typical commands of the above-described wireless communication will be described with reference to the communication table of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a table showing typical communication modes of wireless communication according to the present embodiment.

The first byte is a command, which is displayed for each bit for detailed explanation. The bits D7 to D0 in the first byte correspond to D7 to D0 in FIG.

F described in the D7 bit of the first byte
S is a bit indicating flash light emission and flat light emission, and is 0 for flash light emission and 1 for flat light emission.

Since the multi-light emission is performed by flash light emission, the value is 0.

Bits D2 to D0 indicate the light emission time, and represent eight kinds of times by a combination of three bits T2, T1, and T0. The flat pre-emission indicates the pre-emission time, and the main light-emission indicates the shutter speed. And the emission time of flat emission according to the curtain speed.

The data from the second byte to the fifth byte is data following each light emission command, has a length corresponding to the command, and is data such as a light emission amount, a multiple light emission frequency, and multiple light emission times.

F / C in the third to fifth bytes of the multi-emission is data indicating the frequency and the number of times of the multi-emission. One byte is divided into four bits, and the frequency and the number of times of the emission are divided. Is represented.

The combination of these commands and data controls the emission of the slave strobe.

Next, the information receiving operation of the slave strobe will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[Step 01] When the slave strobe receives the wireless information signal from the master strobe at the photodiode 256 as the receiving means, the signal is amplified and filtered through the light receiving circuit 257, and the signal rises quickly like a light pulse. Is input to the PI terminal of the microcomputer 238 and enters the internal buffer.

[Step 02] The data of the first byte of the reception is composed of the first START pulse and CH. Since the pulse interval represents the channel, the interval is measured, the channel is identified, and the remaining data from D7 to D0 is analyzed to see if it matches the command in FIG. [Step 03] The received first byte command is as shown in FIG.
If the command table does not match the command table, the process branches to step 13 as a command error.

[Step 04] The remaining reception length to be received is set in accordance with the received command.

[Step 05] If the remaining data to be received is 0, the data reception processing is terminated, and the flow branches to step 07.

[Step 06] The remaining data is received.

[Step 07] It is determined that the received data is appropriate. If the data is inappropriate, the process does not proceed to the light emission processing.
Branch to 3.

[Step 08] If a light emission start signal of the master strobe is received, the flow advances to step 10, and if not, the flow branches to step 09.

[Step 09] If the light emission start signal cannot be received for a predetermined period of time, a time-out is set to step 13
Branch to

[Step 10] If the channel identified in step 02 does not match the channel of the slave strobe, the process branches to step 13 without performing light emission processing.

[Step 11] Light emission processing is performed in accordance with the received command and data.

[Step 12] Light emission state (light emission form: flash light emission, flat light emission, light emission mode: automatic light adjustment,
Manual light emission, multiple light emission, light emission parameters: light emission amount, light emission frequency, light emission frequency, etc.) are displayed on the liquid crystal display 240.

[Step 13] In the case of a command error, a data error, or the like, the light emission processing is not performed, and after waiting for a predetermined time, reception of the next data is waited.

Next, the light emission operation of the camera and the strobe during wireless photographing will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. It should be noted that the automatic light control photography in the normal mode in which the wireless slave strobe is not controlled is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-061909 filed by the present applicant and will not be described.

[Step 101] When the operation of the camera is started and the switch SW1, which is a photometric distance measurement start switch, is turned on, a focus detection operation is performed by the camera focus detection circuit 105 by a known phase difference detection method.
Is instructed to perform focus driving, and focus adjustment is performed.

[Step 102] Camera photometry circuit 106
Is used to measure the subject brightness value Bv with natural light.

[Step 103] The appropriate exposure EvS (= Tv + Av) is determined based on the luminance of the subject and the film sensitivity, and the shutter speed and the aperture are determined according to the set exposure mode.

[Step 104] If the release start switch SW2 is on, the flow advances to step 105; if it is off, the flow returns to step 102 to repeat the above processing.

[Step 105] Depending on the flash mode, in the case of the automatic flash control mode, the process branches to step 106, and in other modes (manual flash mode, multi flash mode, etc.), the pre-flash of the flash is performed. Since it is not necessary for the camera to perform photometry and determine the main light emission amount, the process branches to step 122.

[Step 106] In the automatic light control mode, the camera emits a predetermined amount of light with respect to the master strobe.
The light emission time is transmitted via a serial communication line (CLK, DI, DO) to instruct pre-emission.

[Step 107] When the master strobe receives the pre-emission instruction communication from the camera, it sends the pre-emission command and the pre-emission luminous intensity data described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 to the slave strobe. At this time, in the ratio-off mode, the command 1 of FIG. 7 and the pre-emission luminous intensity data are sent out. 3, 4
And sends it out together with the pre-emission luminosity data.

[Step 108] In the case of the master light emission mode, the flow branches to step 109, and in the case of the control only mode, the flow branches to step 110.

[Step 109] Master strobe MS
Is in the master flash mode, the master strobe performs a predetermined pre-flash instructed by the camera as shown in FIG. In the master flash mode, the group A
Other than the pre-emission, pulse emission is performed to start emission of the slave strobe.

[Step 110] Master strobe MS
Is in the control-only mode, the master strobe emits a pulse for starting the emission of the slave strobe as shown in FIG. 6 (3).

[Step 111] On the other hand, before performing the pre-flash, the slave strobe checks whether the pre-flash conditions are satisfied. That is, it is checked whether charging has been completed, whether the channels match, whether there is an error in the pre-emission command and data received in step 107, and if none of the items match, step 114 is performed.
Branch to

The data error state means that, for example, when the luminous intensity data is other than the expected value, for example, when the luminous intensity data is equal to or more than the upper limit or equal to or less than the lower limit, the data error is determined to be a data error caused by a carpet.

[Step 112] When the pre-flash condition is met, the slave strobe is synchronized with the master strobe to pre-emit a predetermined flash time and luminous intensity instructed by the master flash as shown in FIG. 6 (5). And sets a pre-flash normal end flag in a RAM (not shown) in the flash microcomputer 238.

[Step 113] Since the pre-emission of the slave strobe is received by the light receiving element 31 and integrated by the photometric integration circuit 236, if the integrated output voltage is monitored from the AD0 terminal of the microcomputer 238 after the end of the emission, the light is emitted. It is possible to determine whether or not the operation has been performed.
If the pre-flash is not emitted due to the output abnormality of 1 or the like, the process branches to step 114, and if it is normally emitted, the process proceeds to step 115.

[Step 114] If the pre-emission is not performed according to the result of the determination in step 111 or the result of the determination in step 113, the above-mentioned pre-emission normal end flag is reset.

[Step 115] On the other hand, the camera measures the reflected light from the subject with the photometry sensor 7 in synchronization with the pre-flash of the master strobe or the slave strobe in step 112, and obtains the obtained subject brightness BvF and film sensitivity SV. The exposure amount EvF for pre-emission is obtained.

In order to measure the reflected light of the subject only by the pre-emission of the strobe light without external light, it is obtained by subtracting the subject photometric value of the immediately preceding natural light from the reflected light of the subject by the pre-emission.

[Step 116] The camera moves to step 11
The proper main light emission amount (GAIN) in which the exposure amount of the pre-light emission obtained in step 5 should be the appropriate exposure amount EVS obtained in step 103
Is calculated.

The method of calculating the proper flash emission amount of the strobe is described in detail in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-33992, and will not be described here. That is, a difference with respect to the amount is obtained, and this difference is used as a main emission amount relative to the pre-emission.

In the case of multi-light control, this proper main light emission amount is obtained by the number of times of slave control. That is, A:
In the case of the two-light control of B, from step 106 to step 1
17 is looped twice, and in the first loop, the group A proper flash amount (A_GAIN) obtained by pre-flashing the group A strobe is obtained, and in the second loop, the group B strobe is pre-flashed. A group B proper light emission amount (B_GAIN) is obtained, and A:
In the case of the B: C three-light control, the loop is repeated three times in the same manner, and the group C strobe light amount (C_GA) obtained by pre-flashing the group C strobe in the third loop
IN).

[Step 117] As described in step 116, until the necessary number of pre-flashes and photometry are performed,
Returning to step 106, the pre-emission and photometry processes are repeated.

[Step 118] In the case of the multi-light mode, the flow branches to step 119 to perform the light amount ratio calculation, and in the case of the non-multi-light mode, the flow branches to step 120.

[Step 119] In the case of the multi-light mode and the two-light mode, the emission correction amounts of the groups A and B according to the set light amount ratio of A: B shown in FIG.
(A_GAIN, B)
_GAIN) to obtain the main light emission amount of each group.
In the case of the three-light mode, the group C emission correction amount is further set to C
_GAIN is added to obtain the main light emission amount of each group.

The table shown in FIG. 12 is a table showing the light amount correction amount of each group so that the group A and the group B have a predetermined light amount ratio. In FIG. Is the light amount ratio set by
The columns correspond to their intermediate values. The third column shows the light intensity correction values of the group A strobe, and the fourth column shows the light intensity correction values of the group B strobe.

That is, in order to irradiate the group A strobe and the group B strobe to the same subject and to add the light amounts of both groups to make them appropriate, the light emission correction shown in FIG. The amount may be added.

[Step 120] It is determined whether or not light adjustment is possible based on the main emission light emission amount obtained in the above description.

That is, if the pre-emission is defined as 1 / n of the maximum light emission and the light emission is performed, it is understood that the maximum light emission amount of the slave / slave strobe or the master strobe is n times the pre-emission. Therefore, the proper main light emission amount is compared with the maximum light emission amount of the strobe. If the proper main light emission amount is larger than the maximum light emission amount by a predetermined value or more, it is determined that dimming is impossible. That's why. In this determination, in the case of the multi-light mode, if any one of the groups does not have enough main light emission, it may be determined that dimming is impossible.

[Step 121] The camera moves to step 12
The result determined as 0 is transmitted to the master strobe.

[Step 122] The camera communicates main light emission information (light emission mode: FP / flash, main light emission amount, light emission time in the case of FP) to the master strobe MS, and terminates the main light emission instruction to the strobe. Then, in preparation for photographing, the main mirror 2 and the sub mirror 25 are raised and retracted from the photographing optical path, and at the same time, the lens microcomputer 112 is instructed to drive the aperture.

[Step 123] The master strobe receives the command and data shown in FIG. 7 based on the received information, the flash mode (auto flash control, manual flash, multi flash) set by the master flash, and the number of slave controls. Is communicated to the slave strobe in the same manner as in the pre-emission transmission described above. For example, in the case of automatic light control, according to the number of slave controls, command 5 and data 1 byte in the case of one-light control (ratio-off), command 6 and data 2 bytes in the case of two-light control, and three-light control in the case of three-light control Command 7 and data 3
Send bytes.

On the other hand, the slave strobe receives the main light emission communication from the master strobe, analyzes the command, and prepares for the main light emission according to the specified light emission mode and light emission amount. [Step 124] Continue to wait for the mirror to retreat from the optical path, and when the retraction is completed, proceed to Step 125.

[Step 125] When the main mirror 2 and the sub mirror 25 are retracted from the photographing optical path, the shutter first curtain is driven and the exposure operation is started.

[Step 126] If the light emission mode is flat light emission, the flow branches to step 128 to start light emission before the front curtain runs and the shutter opens, and if it is flash light emission, the flow branches to step 127.

[Step 127] In the case of the flash light emission mode, after the shutter front curtain is driven, it waits until the shutter front curtain is completely opened and the X contact is turned on.

[Step 128] According to the flash mode of the master strobe, the process branches to step 129 in the case of the master flash mode, and to step 1 in the case of the transmission only mode.
Branch to 30.

[Step 129] If the master strobe is in the master flash mode and in the automatic flash control mode,
The master strobe performs main light emission in the light emission mode (flat light emission mode or flash light emission mode) and light emission amount instructed by the camera. In cases other than the automatic light control mode, the main light emission is performed in the light emission mode set by the master strobe.

[Step 130] When the master strobe is in the control-only mode, the master strobe emits a light emission start signal (Xe tube 19) for starting emission of the slave strobe.
Pulse emission).

[Step 131] In the case of the automatic light control mode, if the pre-flash is not normally performed, that is, if the pre-flash normal flag is not set, the process proceeds to step 133 without performing the main flash.

In the mode other than the automatic flash control mode, since the pre-flash is not performed, no pre-flash error occurs, and the main flash control is performed based on the current charging state and the consistency of the command and data received from the master strobe. Done.

[Step 132] When the pre-flash is normally performed in the automatic light control mode or in modes other than the automatic light control mode, an instruction is given in step 123 in synchronization with the start of the master strobe light emission in step 129 or step 130. The main light emission is performed based on the information such as the light emission mode and the light emission amount.

When light emission is normally performed, the slave strobe displays information on main light emission on the liquid crystal display 240.

The display of the slave strobe is displayed and updated when the main light emission is normally performed.
It is possible to confirm that the slave strobe correctly received information from the master strobe and fired.

[Step 133] After the elapse of a predetermined shutter release time, the camera travels on the rear curtain and ends photographing.

[Step 134] If the light emission mode set for the master strobe is the automatic light adjustment mode, the flow branches to step 135 to perform light adjustment display, and otherwise (in the case of the manual light emission mode or the multiple light emission mode). Then, the process branches to step 136.

[Step 135] In the case of the automatic light control mode, the master strobe turns on or off the light control confirmation LED 244 for a predetermined period of time after the light emission is completed, indicating the light control enable / disable result instructed by the camera.

[Step 136] When the exposure operation is completed, the main mirror 2 and the sub-mirror 2 retracted from the photographing optical path.
5, the film is wound up by one frame by the motor control circuit 108 and the film running detection circuit 109, and the photographing operation is completed.

Next, the operation of the above-described flowchart will be described in detail with reference to a timing chart.

FIG. 13 is a timing chart showing the operation when the main light emission is flash light emission in the single-light mode (ratio off), and FIG. 14 is the timing chart showing the operation when the main light emission is flat light emission. Description of other light emission modes is omitted.

FIG. 13 is a timing chart for explaining the operation at the time of one-light automatic light control photographing at the time of flash light emission, and FIG. 14 is a timing chart for explaining the operation at the time of single light automatic light control photographing at the time of flat light emission. .

In FIGS. 13 and 14, A) to C) denote serial communication lines for the camera and the strobe, which are the same as those in FIG.

D) shows the operation of the mirror 2 of the camera body, where Lo level indicates mirror down and Hi level indicates mirror up.

E) shows the running state of the front curtain of the shutter 8 of the camera body, and F) shows the running state of the rear curtain of the shutter 8, with the Lo level before running and the Hi level after running.

G) is an X contact point of the camera body, where Hi level is open and Lo level is short. The X contact is short-circuited when the shutter first curtain is opened, and is opened when the rear curtain of the shutter is completed.

H) is a wireless communication waveform when the master strobe is set to the control-only mode. Similarly, I) shows the wireless communication waveform and the pre- and main emission waveforms when the master strobe is set to the master emission mode. J) is the emission waveform of the slave strobe.

The flash light emission and the flat light emission are different from each other only in the light emission start timing and the light emission form.

[Timing t0] The camera performs predetermined serial communication with the master strobe to instruct wireless pre-emission.

[Timing t1] Master strobe MS
Causes the Xe tube 19 to emit a pulse, and transmits the command 1 shown in FIG. 7 (1).

[Timing t2] Master strobe MS
Transmits the luminous intensity data (2) in the same manner.

[Timing t3] When transmission is completed, the master strobe returns the DO terminal to Hi.

[Timing t4] The camera drops the CLK terminal to the Lo level for a predetermined time in order to start pre-emission. On the other hand, the master strobe MS detects that the CLK terminal has become Lo, generates a light emission start pulse (3) in the control only mode, and emits a predetermined light emission time designated by the camera in the master light emission mode. Pre-light emission (4) of a predetermined light emission intensity is performed.

On the other hand, the slave strobe performs pre-emission (5) with a predetermined light emission intensity for a predetermined light emission time designated by the master strobe in synchronization with the master strobe light emission.

On the other hand, the camera is a master strobe or
The subject reflected light is measured while the slave strobe emits pre-flash.

[Timing t5] When the pre-flash is completed, the master strobe returns the DO terminal to Hi.

[Timing t6] The camera uses serial communication with the master strobe to determine whether or not main light emission can be adjusted and the main light emission mode (flash light emission and flat light emission), the amount of main light emission for flash light emission, and the light emission intensity for flat light emission. And the emission time. On the other hand, the camera starts mirror up to start shooting.

[Timing t7] Master strobe MS
Causes the Xe tube 19 to emit a pulse, and transmits the command 5 shown in FIG. 7 (6).

[Timing t8] Master strobe MS
Transmits the light emission amount data (7) in the same manner.

[Timing t9] Upon completion of the transmission, the master strobe returns the DO terminal to Hi.

[Timing t10] When the mirror-up is completed, the camera starts running on the front curtain of the shutter.
The LK terminal is dropped to Lo level and the start of the shutter first curtain is transmitted to the master strobe.

On the other hand, in the case of the flat light emission mode, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, at this time, a light emission start pulse (11) is generated in the control only mode, and in the master light emission mode, the flat main light emission (12) with the predetermined light emission time and the predetermined light emission intensity is designated by the camera. ) To emit light.

The slave strobe is also a master strobe MS
The flat main light emission (13) having a predetermined light emission intensity is emitted for a predetermined light emission time instructed by the master strobe in synchronization with the light emission.

[Timing t11] When the front curtain of the camera has completed traveling, the X contact is turned on. In the case of the flash light emission mode, a light emission start pulse (8) is generated at this time in the case of the control only mode as shown in FIG. 11, and in the case of the master light emission mode, a flash of a predetermined light emission amount instructed by the camera. The main light emission (9) is emitted.

The slave strobe is also a master strobe MS
The flash main light emission (10) of a predetermined light emission amount instructed by the master strobe is emitted in synchronization with the light emission of the master strobe.

[Timing t12] After the end of the predetermined shutter time, the camera starts running on the rear curtain of the shutter.

[Timing t13] When the rear curtain of the shutter has completed traveling, the X contact is interrupted, and thereafter the camera performs operations such as film winding, shutter charging, and mirror down, and ends a series of processing.

In the above description of the timing charts, the description has been made on the assumption that the pre-emission of the slave strobe was performed normally. However, as described in the above-mentioned flowcharts FIGS. If it is desired to perform the pre-emission, the main emission of the slave strobe is prohibited.

For example, in the case where the master strobe is set to the above-described master flash mode and both the master strobe and the slave strobe perform pre-flash, and the pre-flash is not performed because the slave strobe is not fully charged or the like. The camera measures the reflected light of the subject due to the pre-flash of only the master strobe, determines the main flash amount, and performs the main flash, but at the time of the main flash, when the slave flash is fully charged and fires in the same way as the master flash, The picture is overexposed due to the emission of the slave strobe.

However, in the present embodiment, when the pre-flash is not normally emitted in the slave strobe, a photograph with proper exposure can be obtained by prohibiting the main flash of the slave strobe.

This is because, when there are a plurality of slave strobes, the timing of completion of each slave strobe does not match, so that even if there is a slave strobe that cannot perform the pre-flash, it is also possible to obtain a photograph with the proper exposure. I can do it.

Even when shooting is performed with only one slave strobe, for example, when continuous shooting is performed in the wireless flash mode, if normal emission determination of pre-flash described in the present embodiment is not performed, continuous shooting is performed. One of the frames emits light in a substantially full light-emission state, resulting in an extremely overexposed photograph, which gives the photographer a sense of mistrust. Can be prevented from being photographed.

Next, the circuit operation of the master strobe and the slave strobe in the above description will be described with reference to FIG.

<Wireless Communication Light Emission Operation> Upon receiving the wireless communication instruction from the camera, the master strobe microcomputer 238 generates a predetermined voltage from the DA0 output terminal in accordance with the amount of light pulse required for wireless optical communication.

Next, Lo is set to Y0 and Y1 is set to Hi level, and the D2 input of the data selector 230 is selected. At this time, since the Xe tube 19 has not emitted light, no photocurrent flows to the sensor 32, and the output of the comparator 231 is at the Lo level, so that the output of the comparator 231 is at the Hi level, and the light emission control circuit 211 is in a conductive state.

Further, when the SCR_CTRL terminal is set to the Hi level and the transistors 221 and 218 are turned on, a gate current flows to the gate of the thyristor 231 through the transistor 218 and the resistor 214, and the thyristor 213 is turned on. When the HI signal is output for a predetermined time, the Xe tube 19 starts emitting light because the light emission control circuit 212 is conducting.

At this time, the current flowing through the Xe tube 19 flows through the capacitor 203, the coil 206, and the thyristor 213. That is, by bypassing the coil 208 with the thyristor 213, a sharp rising light pulse required for high-speed wireless communication can be obtained.

When light emission is started and current flows through the Xe tube, the light quantity gradually increases, and when the output of the light receiving circuit 234 for monitoring light emission reaches a predetermined voltage, the output of the comparator 231 becomes H
The output is inverted from the i level to the Lo level, and the output is D2, Y
Then, the light emission control circuit 212 is turned off to pass the light, so that light emission is stopped. At the same time, the microcomputer 238 detects that the Y output monitored by the YIN terminal has become Lo level, sets the Y1 and Y0 terminals to Lo and Lo levels, and forcibly enters the light emission stop state.

In the same manner, the first byte of the transmission is transmitted after a predetermined period of time. appear. This channel identification signal is for selecting a channel when there are a plurality of slave strobes SS to prevent interference. Subsequently, necessary bits D7 to D0 are emitted at regular intervals according to the content of the transmission data.

In the second and subsequent bytes of the communication, necessary bits D7 to D0 are emitted at equal intervals according to the contents of the transmission data after the start pulse.

<Pre-emission operation> When the strobe is in the master mode, the microcomputer 238 sets a predetermined voltage for obtaining an appropriate luminous intensity to the DA0 output according to the luminous intensity information instructed by the camera, and in the slave mode. Is DA0 according to the luminous intensity information received from the master strobe.
The output is set to a predetermined voltage that provides an appropriate luminous intensity.

Next, when the SCR_CTRL output terminal is set to Lo, the transistors 221 and 218 are turned off, so that the thyristor 213 is turned off. At the same time, Lo and Hi are output to Y1 and Y0, and the input D1 is selected.

At this time, since the xenon tube 19 has not yet emitted light, the photocurrent of the light receiving element 32 does not flow, the output of the light receiving circuit 234 input to the inverting input terminal of the comparator 231 does not occur, and the output of the comparator 231 does not occur. Is Hi, so that the light emission control circuit 212 is turned on.

Next, when a trigger signal is output from the TRIG terminal, the trigger circuit 211 generates a high voltage, excites the xenon tube 19, and starts emitting light. This emission current flows from the capacitor 203 to the Xe tube 19 through the coils 206 and 208.

On the other hand, the microcomputer 238 instructs the photometric integration circuit 236 to start integration after a predetermined time from the generation of the trigger.
The photometric integration circuit 236 starts integration of the logarithmically compressed photoelectric output of the light-receiving element 31 for light quantity integration and, at the same time, starts an internal timer of a microcomputer 238 (not shown) that counts a predetermined time.

The reason why the start of integration is delayed from the occurrence of the trigger is to prevent the photometric integration circuit from integrating noise other than the optical signal due to the noise due to the occurrence of the trigger, and at the same time, the substantial light emission is not performed. 10s μs after trigger generation
This is because there is a delay of c.

When the pre-emission starts, the photocurrent of the light receiving element 32 increases, the output of the light receiving circuit 234 rises, and when the output becomes higher than a predetermined comparator voltage set at the non-inverting input of the comparator 231, Comparator 231
Is inverted to Lo, the light emission control circuit 212 interrupts the light emission current of the xenon tube 19, and a discharge loop is formed.
A circulating loop is formed by the diode 209 and the coil 208, and the emission current gradually decreases after the overshoot due to the delay of the circuit stops. Since the luminous intensity decreases as the emission current decreases, the photocurrent of the light receiving element 32 decreases, the output of the light receiving circuit 234 decreases, and when the output drops below a predetermined comparator level, the comparator 23 returns again.
The output of 1 is inverted to Hi, the emission control circuit 212 conducts again, a discharge loop of the xenon tube 19 is formed, the emission current increases, and the emission intensity increases.

As described above, the increase and decrease of the luminous intensity are repeated in a short cycle around the predetermined comparator voltage set to DA0, and as a result, the flat luminous intensity is maintained at the desired substantially constant luminous intensity. Can control.

When a predetermined pre-emission time has elapsed according to the count of the light-emission time timer, the microcomputer 238 sets the values of Y1 and Y
The 0 terminal is set to Lo, Lo, the input of the data selector 230 is D0, that is, the Lo level input is selected, the output is forced to the Lo level, the light emission control circuit 212 cuts off the discharge loop of the xenon tube 19, Light emission ends. At the end of the light emission, the microcomputer 238 reads the output of the photometric integration circuit 236 that has integrated the pre-emission from the A / D input terminal AD0, performs A / D conversion, and uses the integrated value, that is, the amount of light emission at the time of the pre-emission, for the main emission. It is stored as a digital value as a reference value of the quantity.

<Flash Main Light Emission Operation> When the strobe is in the master mode, the microcomputer 238 sets a predetermined voltage at which the appropriate light emission amount is set to the DA0 output according to the light emission amount information instructed by the camera, and sets the slave mode. In this case, a predetermined voltage for setting an appropriate light emission amount is set to the DA0 output according to the light emission amount information received from the master strobe.

[0213] This predetermined voltage is set to AD0 at the end of pre-emission.
It is determined by adding or subtracting a voltage corresponding to a relative light emission amount from the integrated output that has been read.

Next, Lo and Hi are output to Y1 and Y0, respectively.
Select the input D1. At this time, since the photometric integration circuit is in the operation prohibited state, the output of the photometric integration circuit 236 input to the inverting input terminal of the comparator 232 does not occur, and the output of the comparator 232 is Hi.
2 becomes conductive.

Next, when a trigger signal is output from the TRIG terminal, the trigger circuit 211 generates a high voltage, excites the xenon tube 19, and starts emitting light. In addition, the strobe microcomputer 238 sets the integration start terminal INT to the Lo level ten and several μsec after the start of the actual light emission while the trigger noise caused by the trigger application is settled.
36 integrates the output from the sensor 31.

When the integrated output reaches the predetermined voltage set by DA0, the comparator 232 is inverted, the light emission control circuit 212 is turned off through the data selector 230, and the light emission stops.

On the other hand, the flash microcomputer 238 monitors the YIN terminal, and when the YIN terminal is inverted and the light emission stops,
The Y1 and Y0 terminals are set to Lo and Lo to set the forced light emission prohibition state, and the integration start terminal is inverted to terminate the integration and end the light emission processing. <Flat main light emission operation> In the case of the master mode, the microcomputer 238 sets a predetermined voltage that provides an appropriate light emission amount to the DA0 output in accordance with the light emission amount information instructed by the camera. In accordance with the received light emission amount information, a predetermined voltage for setting an appropriate light emission amount is set for the DA0 output.

The predetermined voltage is obtained by adding or subtracting a voltage corresponding to the relative luminous intensity to the voltage set to AD0 during the pre-light emission.

In the subsequent processing, flat light emission with a predetermined light emission intensity and a predetermined light emission time is performed in the same manner as in the above-described pre-light emission.

As described above, the first embodiment has the following effects.

In a strobe system comprising a camera and a slave strobe arranged at a position distant from the camera, the camera has a means for transmitting emission control information to the slave strobe, and the transmitting means pre-controls the slave strobe. Along with instructing light emission, it has means for measuring the subject reflected light due to the pre-emission, and calculating means for calculating the main light emission amount based on the measured subject reflected light, and the transmission means calculates the main light emission amount based on the calculated main light emission amount. The slave strobe is instructed to perform main light emission. The slave strobe has a control information receiving unit and a flash light emitting unit, and includes a light emission control unit that controls the flash light emitting unit according to the received strobe control information. And a judging means for judging that the pre-emission was normally performed when the pre-emission was instructed. If the discriminating means determines that the pre-flash is not performed properly, the provision of the light-emitting prohibiting means for prohibiting the main light-emitting causes an inappropriate main flash to be performed and an inappropriate photograph to be taken. There is an effect that can be prevented.

(Second Embodiment) In a second embodiment, a slave strobe control signal is generated by using a strobe built in a camera, so that a slave installed at a position distant from the camera is generated. It controls the strobe.

FIG. 15 shows a cross section of a camera according to the second embodiment. Members corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In the figure, reference numerals 118 and 119 denote Fresnel lenses and reflectors, each of which plays a role of efficiently condensing light emission energy toward a subject. Reference numeral 120 denotes a xenon tube as a light emitting unit.

Reference numeral 121 denotes a light control sensor for monitoring reflected light from the film surface for performing TTL automatic light control of the built-in flash, and 122 denotes a lens for forming an image of the film surface on the light control sensor. is there. Reference numeral 123 denotes a light receiving element for directly monitoring the light emission amount of the Xe tube 120.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a circuit according to the second embodiment. Members corresponding to those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 113 denotes a flash light emitting circuit for controlling flash light emission. This circuit is shown in FIG.
This will be described in detail.

FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram illustrating the inside of the flash emission control circuit 113.

In the figure, reference numeral 121 denotes a light receiving sensor for receiving TTL light control by receiving light reflected from the film surface by a strobe, 123 a light receiving sensor for directly monitoring light emission of the Xe tube 120, and 124 a power supply. Somewhere battery, 12
Reference numeral 5 denotes a known DC-DC converter, which boosts the battery voltage to several hundred volts. Reference numeral 126 denotes a main capacitor for storing light emission energy, and 127 and 128 denote resistors, which divide the voltage of the main capacitor 126 into a predetermined ratio.

Reference numeral 129 denotes a coil for limiting the emission current.
A diode 130 absorbs a back electromotive voltage generated in the coil 129 when the light emission stops. 131 is a trigger generating circuit, 13
Reference numeral 2 denotes a light emission control circuit such as an IGBT.

Reference numeral 133 denotes a data selector, which is Y0, Y
D0, D1, and D2 are selected by a combination of two inputs of 1 and output to Y. 134 is a comparator for adjusting the light emission amount of the Xe tube 120 at the time of wireless pulse light emission,
135 is a Xe tube 12 with a predetermined light emission amount during TTL dimming control.
A comparator 136 for arbitrating the amount of light emission of 0 amplifies a minute current flowing through the light receiving sensor 123 and converts a photocurrent into a voltage.
Is an integration circuit for integrating the reflected light of the object received by the control unit.

Next, FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of photographing using the wireless strobe system according to the second embodiment, in which a slave strobe is controlled using a built-in strobe of a camera.

In the second embodiment, a strobe built in a camera generates a wireless optical signal for controlling a slave strobe similarly to the first embodiment, and is arranged at a position away from the camera body. The control information is transmitted to a slave strobe which enables wireless slave shooting.

Next, the operation of the camera and the strobe in the automatic light control operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

[Step 201] When the operation of the camera is started and the switch SW1, which is a photometric distance measurement start switch, is turned on, a focus detection operation is performed by the camera focus detection circuit 105 by a known phase difference detection method. A focus drive is instructed to 112 to perform focus adjustment.

[Step 202] Photometry circuit 10 of camera
6, the subject brightness value Bv in natural light is measured.

[Step 203] The appropriate exposure amount EvS (= Tv + Av) is determined based on the subject luminance and the film sensitivity, and the shutter speed and the aperture are determined according to the set exposure mode.

[Step 204] If the release start switch SW2 is on, the flow advances to step 205; if it is off, the flow returns to step 202 to repeat the above processing.

[Step 205] The camera sends the pre-flash command and the pre-flash intensity data described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 to the slave strobe.

At this time, in the ratio-off mode, the command 1 and the pre-emission intensity data shown in FIG. 7 are transmitted. In the ratio mode, that is, when there are a plurality of slave strobes to be controlled, the command 1 and the pre-emission light intensity data are set according to the group of the slave strobes to be emitted. One of commands 2, 3, and 4 is selected and transmitted together with the pre-emission luminous intensity data, and pulse emission for starting emission of the slave strobe is performed.

[Step 206] On the other hand, before performing the pre-flash, the slave strobe checks whether the pre-flash conditions are satisfied. That is, it is checked whether charging has been completed, whether the channels match, whether there is an error in the pre-flash command and data received in step 205, and if none of the items match, step 209 is performed.
Branch to

[Step 207] When the pre-flash condition is met, the slave strobe is synchronized with the master strobe to emit a pre-flash of a predetermined flash time and a luminous intensity designated by the master strobe as shown in FIG. 6 (5). And sets a pre-flash normal end flag in a RAM (not shown) in the flash microcomputer 238.

[Step 208] The slave strobe light is
The pre-emission is received by the light receiving element 31, and the photometric integration circuit 236
Therefore, if the integrated output voltage is monitored from the AD0 terminal of the microcomputer 238 after the light emission is completed, it is possible to determine whether the light emission has been performed.
If the pre-flash is not emitted due to the output abnormality at 11 or the like, the process branches to step 209, and if the pre-flash is emitted normally, the process proceeds to step 210.

[Step 209] If the pre-emission is not performed according to the result of the determination in step 206 or the result of the determination in step 208, the above-mentioned pre-emission normal end flag is reset.

[Step 210] The camera measures the reflected light from the subject by the pre-emission of the slave strobe by the photometric sensor 7, and obtains the exposure amount EvF of the pre-emission from the obtained subject luminance BvF and film sensitivity SV. In addition, in order to measure the reflected light of the subject only by the pre-flash of the flash while excluding external light, the reflected light of the subject by the pre-flash is calculated as follows.
It is obtained by subtracting the subject photometry value by the immediately preceding natural light.

[Step 211] In the same manner as in the first embodiment, the camera sets the proper main light emission amount so that the exposure amount of the pre-light emission obtained in step 210 becomes the appropriate exposure amount EVS obtained in step 203 for the number of times of the slave control. (GAIN) is calculated.

[Step 212] Return to step 205 and repeat the pre-flash and photometry processes until the necessary number of pre-flashes and photometry are performed.

[Step 213] In the case of the multi-light mode, the flow branches to step 214 to perform the light quantity ratio calculation, and in the case of the non-multi-light mode, the flow branches to step 215.

[Step 214] In the case of the multi-light mode, the light emission correction amount of each group is added to the proper main light emission amount of each group as in the first embodiment.

[Step 215] Based on the amount of main light emission obtained as described above, it is determined whether or not dimming is possible in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[Step 216] The camera communicates the command and data of the main light emission information shown in FIG. 6 to the slave strobe similarly to the first embodiment.

[Step 217] The camera raises the main mirror 2 and the sub-mirror 25 to prepare for photographing, retracts the same from the photographing optical path, and at the same time instructs the lens microcomputer 112 to drive the aperture together with the main light emission instruction to the strobe. .

On the other hand, the slave strobe receives the main light emission communication from the camera, analyzes the command, and prepares for the main light emission according to the specified light emission mode and light emission amount.

[Step 218] Continue to wait for the mirror to retreat from the optical path, and when the retraction is completed, proceed to Step 219.

[Step 219] When the main mirror 2 and the sub-mirror 25 are retracted from the photographing optical path, the shutter first curtain is driven and the exposure operation is started.

[Step 220] If the light emission mode is flat light emission, the front curtain runs and the flow branches to step 222 to start light emission before the shutter opens, and if it is flash light emission, the flow branches to step 221.

[Step 221] In the case of the flash emission mode, after the shutter front curtain is driven, it waits until the shutter front curtain is completely opened and the X contact is turned on.

[Step 222] The camera generates a pulse light emission for starting the light emission of the slave strobe.

[Step 223] If the pre-emission is not performed normally, that is, if the pre-emission normal flag is not set, the process proceeds to step 226 without performing the main emission.

[Step 224] If the pre-flash is normally performed in the automatic light control mode, the main flash is performed in synchronization with the flash start signal of the camera in accordance with the flash mode and the information such as the flash amount designated in step 216. . When the light emission is normally performed, the slave strobe emits information regarding the main light emission to the liquid crystal display 24.
Display at 0.

Note that the display of the slave strobe is displayed and updated when the main light emission is normally performed.
It is possible to confirm that the slave strobe correctly received information from the master strobe and fired.

[Step 225] After a predetermined shutter release time has elapsed, the camera travels the rear curtain and ends photographing.

[Step 226] Based on the dimming result determined in step 215, a dimming confirmation LED (not shown) in the viewfinder of the camera is turned on or off for a predetermined time after the light emission ends.

[Step 227] Upon completion of the exposure operation, the main mirror 2 and the sub-mirror 25 retracted from the photographing optical path.
The film is wound up by one frame by the motor control circuit 108 and the film running detection circuit 109, and the photographing operation is completed.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned flowchart will be described in detail with reference to a timing chart.

The wireless communication and the light emitting operation in the second embodiment are performed by the strobe built in the camera in what is to be performed by the master strobe in the first embodiment. Only a timing chart at the time of one-light automatic light control photographing at the time of light emission will be described as a representative example.

FIG. 21 is a timing chart for explaining the operation at the time of one-light automatic light control photography at the time of flash emission.

In the figure, A) is the release start switch SW2 of the above-mentioned camera, and B) shows the operation of the mirror 2 of the camera body. Lo level indicates mirror down and Hi level indicates mirror up. C) shows the running state of the front curtain of the shutter 8 of the camera body, and D) shows the running state of the rear curtain of the shutter 8, with the Lo level before running and the Hi level after running. E) is the X of the camera body
The contact points are Hi level open and Lo level shorted. The X contact is short-circuited when the shutter first curtain is opened, and is opened when the rear curtain of the shutter is completed. F) is a wireless communication waveform by the built-in flash of the camera. G) is the emission waveform of the slave strobe. Hereinafter, the timing chart shown in FIG. 21 will be described.

[Timing t0] When the release start switch SW2 is turned on, the camera starts the control operation of the wireless slave strobe.

[Timing t1] The camera emits a pulse from the built-in Xe tube 120 to pre-emit the slave strobe, and transmits the command 1 shown in FIG. 7 (1).

[Timing t2] Similarly, emission light intensity data (2) is transmitted.

[Timing t3] The camera starts light emission start pulse (3) to start pre-emission of the slave strobe.
Occurs.

On the other hand, the slave strobe performs pre-emission (4) with a predetermined light emission intensity for a predetermined light emission time specified by the camera in synchronization with the light emission start signal of the camera. On the other hand, the camera measures the reflected light of the subject while the slave strobe is performing the pre-emission, and calculates the main emission amount in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[Timing t4] The camera starts mirror up in order to start shooting, determines whether or not light control is possible based on the proper main light emission amount obtained by metering the pre-flash, and transmits a signal to the slave strobe. On the other hand, the built-in Xe tube 120 is caused to emit pulse light in order to instruct main light emission, and the command 5 shown in FIG. 7 is transmitted (5).

[Timing t5] The camera transmits the light emission amount data (6) in the same manner.

[Timing t6] When the mirror-up is completed, the camera starts running on the front curtain of the shutter. [Timing t7] When the running of the front curtain is completed, the X contact is turned on. In the case of the flash light emission mode, a light emission start pulse (7) is generated.

On the other hand, the slave strobe emits a flash main light (8) of a predetermined light emission amount instructed by the camera in synchronization with the light emission of the camera.

[Timing t8] After the end of the predetermined shutter time, the camera starts running on the rear curtain of the shutter.

[Timing t9] When the rear curtain of the shutter has completed traveling, conduction of the X contact is interrupted, and then operations such as film winding, shutter charging, and mirror down are performed, and a series of processing ends.

In the above description of the timing chart, the pre-emission of the slave strobe has been described on the assumption that normal operation has been performed. However, as described in the above-mentioned flowcharts of FIGS. If it is desired to perform the pre-emission, the main emission of the slave strobe is prohibited. As a result, as described in the first embodiment, when the pre-flash is not normally emitted by the slave strobe, the improper image is obtained by prohibiting the main flash of the slave strobe. Can be prevented.

As described above, the second embodiment has the following effects similarly to the first embodiment.

In a strobe system comprising a camera and a slave strobe arranged at a position distant from the camera, the camera has a means for transmitting light emission control information to the slave strobe, and the transmitting means pre-controls the slave strobe. Along with instructing light emission, it has means for measuring the subject reflected light due to the pre-emission, and calculating means for calculating the main light emission amount based on the measured subject reflected light, and the transmission means calculates the main light emission amount based on the calculated main light emission amount. The main strobe is instructed to the slave strobe, and the slave strobe has a control information receiving unit and a flash unit.
In accordance with the received strobe control information, the flash control unit includes a flash control unit that controls the flash unit, and a determination unit that determines that the pre-flash is normally performed when the pre-flash is instructed. If the discriminating means determines that the pre-flash is not performed properly, the provision of the light-emission prohibiting means for prohibiting the main light emission prevents the inappropriate main light emission from being performed and an inappropriate photograph to be taken. There is an effect that can be prevented.

(Third Embodiment) In the third embodiment, a signal for slave strobe control is generated by using a high-brightness LED, which is an auxiliary light for autofocus, built in the camera. It controls a slave strobe installed at a position away from the camera.

FIG. 22 is a front view of a camera according to the third embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 150 denotes a projection window for auxiliary light for auto focus.

FIG. 23 shows an optical cross section of auxiliary light in the third embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 150 denotes an auxiliary light projecting window, 151 denotes an auxiliary light projecting lens, 152 denotes a film on which an auxiliary light projecting pattern is printed, and 153 denotes a high-brightness LED for projecting light.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram of a circuit according to the third embodiment. Members corresponding to those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the figure, reference numeral 154 denotes an auxiliary light emitting circuit for controlling light emission of the auxiliary light LED.

In the third embodiment, since a high-brightness LED for auxiliary light is used instead of the built-in strobe of the second embodiment, the operation is the same as that of the second embodiment. The description is omitted. The effect is the same as that of the second embodiment. However, since the transmitting means is a high-brightness LED, the reach is short, but the power consumption is reduced to the second embodiment in which the Xe tube emits light. This has the effect of realizing a wireless slave strobe control system that consumes much less energy and consumes less energy. Even in this system, if the pre-flash does not fire properly with the slave strobe, prohibit the main flash of the slave strobe. To prevent an inappropriate image from being taken.

(Correspondence between the Invention and the Embodiment) In the above embodiment, the Xe tube 19, the Xe tube 120 of the camera built-in flash, or the auxiliary light LE for auto-focusing is used.
D153 corresponds to the emission information transmitting means of the present invention, the light receiving element 7 and the photometry circuit 106 of the camera correspond to the means for measuring the reflected light of the subject by the pre-emission of the present invention, and the microcomputer 100 of the camera corresponds to the present invention. The photodiode 256 and the light receiving circuit 2 correspond to a calculating means for calculating the light emission amount.
57 corresponds to the control information receiving means of the present invention,
9 corresponds to the flash light emitting means of the present invention, the flash microcomputer 238 and the light emission control circuit 212 correspond to the light emission control means for controlling the flash light emitting means of the present invention, and the flash microcomputer 238 normally performs the pre-flash of the present invention. The flash microcomputer 238 also corresponds to a light emission prohibiting unit of the present invention for prohibiting main light emission.

[0289]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

When the slave strobe receives information from a master transmission device such as a camera to perform pre-emission, it is determined that pre-emission is not normally performed, or when pre-emission is performed, pre-emission is performed. If the light emission is not performed normally, the main light emission is prohibited, so that it is possible to prevent an inappropriate main light emission and an inappropriate photograph from being taken.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a strobe control camera system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an electric circuit block diagram showing an electric configuration of the camera and the lens of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an electric circuit block diagram showing an electric configuration of the strobe light of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an external view of a strobe light according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a photographing example according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a timing chart illustrating wireless communication according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a wireless communication command according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a slave strobe according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a camera and a strobe in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a camera and a strobe in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a camera and a strobe according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a light amount ratio setting correction amount according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a timing chart illustrating the operation of the camera and the strobe in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a timing chart illustrating operations of a camera and a strobe in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a camera system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

16 is an electric circuit block diagram showing an electric configuration of the camera and the lens in FIG.

17 is an electric circuit block diagram showing an electric configuration of a flash control circuit of the camera in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a photographing example according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a camera and a strobe in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a camera and a strobe in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a timing chart for explaining operations of a camera and a strobe in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a front view of a camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the autofocus auxiliary light in FIG. 22;

24 is an electric circuit block diagram showing an electric configuration of the camera and the lens in FIG. 22.

[Explanation of symbols]

 19, 120 xenon tube 100 camera microcomputer 238 strobe microcomputer 212 light emission control circuit 256 photodiode 240 liquid crystal display

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A master transmission device including a camera, and one or more slave strobe devices arranged at a position distant from the master transmission device, wherein the slave strobe device communicates with the master strobe device by communication from the master transmission device. In a strobe system that performs control, the master transmission device transmits control information including at least pre-emission information and main emission amount information that instructs the slave strobe device to perform pre-emission,
The slave strobe device includes a photometer that measures the reflected light of the subject due to the preflash of the slave strobe device, and a calculator that calculates a main flash amount based on a photometry value of the preflash that is measured by the photometer device. Receiving means for receiving control information from the master transmitting device, light emitting control means for controlling light emission of a flash light emitting means in accordance with the received control information, and flash light emitting means for receiving pre-flash control information. Has pre-emission determination means for determining whether or not pre-emission can be normally performed, and emission prohibition means for prohibiting main emission when the pre-emission determination means determines that normal pre-emission cannot be performed. And strobe system. 2. A slave transmission device having a master transmission device including a camera and one or more slave strobe devices arranged at a position distant from the master transmission device. In a strobe system that performs control, the master transmission device transmits control information including at least pre-emission information and main emission amount information that instructs the slave strobe device to perform pre-emission,
The slave strobe device includes a photometer that measures the reflected light of the subject due to the preflash of the slave strobe device, and a calculator that calculates a main flash amount based on a photometry value of the preflash that is measured by the photometer device. Receiving means for receiving control information from the master transmitting device, light emission control means for controlling light emission of a flash light emitting means in accordance with the received control information, and flash light emitting means for receiving pre-flash control information. Has pre-emission determination means for determining whether or not pre-emission has been normally performed, and emission inhibition means for inhibiting main emission when the pre-emission determination means determines that normal pre-emission has not been performed. A stroboscopic system that is characteristic. 3. The strobe system according to claim 1, wherein the master transmission device includes a camera and a strobe device mounted on the camera. 4. The strobe system according to claim 1, wherein the master transmission device includes a camera and a strobe device built in the camera. 5. The strobe system according to claim 3, wherein the control information from the master transmission device is output from the strobe light emitting means of the strobe as optical communication. 6. The strobe system according to claim 1, wherein the master transmission device is a camera and an auxiliary light unit that outputs auxiliary light for auto focus. 7. The stroboscopic system according to claim 1, wherein the pre-emission determination unit determines that normal pre-emission cannot be executed when charging for pre-emission is not completed. 8. The flash system according to claim 1, wherein the pre-emission determination unit determines that normal pre-emission cannot be executed when pre-emission information cannot be normally received. 9. The case where the pre-emission discriminating means fails to normally receive the pre-emission information means that the reception channel of the slave strobe device to be received does not match the transmission channel, or that the pre-emission information has an error. The strobe system according to claim 8, wherein 10. The pre-emission determining unit determines whether or not a pre-emission by the flash unit is received by a light-receiving unit.
3. The strobe system according to claim 2, wherein it is determined that the pre-flash was not actually performed. 11. A strobe system comprising a camera and a slave strobe disposed at a position distant from the camera, wherein the camera has transmission means for transmitting light emission control information to the slave strobe, and the transmission means transmits the light emission control information to the slave strobe. It has means for instructing pre-emission, measuring the reflected light of the subject by the pre-emission, and calculating means for calculating the main light emission amount based on the measured reflected light of the subject. The slave strobe is instructed to perform main light emission by an amount of light emission, and the slave strobe has a control information receiving unit and a flash light emitting unit, and controls the flash light emitting unit in accordance with the received strobe control information. A control means, and a discriminating means for discriminating that the pre-flash was normally performed when the pre-flash was instructed Glutinous, when said that preliminary light emission is not performed normally is judged by the judgment means, a strobe system, characterized in that having an emission inhibiting means for inhibiting the main light emission. 12. The transmission means, which is detachable from the camera body, has means for receiving light emission control information from the camera, and has information output means for sending the information to a slave strobe. Item 12. The strobe system according to Item 11. 13. The strobe light system according to claim 12, wherein said information output means is a flash light emitting means. 14. The wireless strobe system according to claim 11, wherein said transmitting means is a flash light emitting means built in a camera body. 15. The wireless strobe system according to claim 11, wherein said transmitting means is an auxiliary light for auto focus. 16. The flash according to claim 11, wherein when the pre-flash is instructed by the camera, the determination unit determines to prohibit the main flash when the slave strobe is not fully charged. system. 17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when the pre-flash is instructed from the camera, the main flash is prohibited if the slave strobe cannot normally receive the command. The wireless strobe system described.