JP2000147610A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the result of photographing from being affected adversely by the attitude of a camera equipped with a flashing device. SOLUTION: This camera is equipped with the flashing device, incorporated in a camera main body 41 or the flashing device attached to/detached from the main body 41, a control means for controlling the flashing device, and attitude detection means 16 and 17 detecting the attitude of the main body 41. In the camera, the control means switches the permission/denial of the light emission by the flashing device according to the posture detected by the attitude detection means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to a camera which can use a built-in flash device or an external flash device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a flash device is built in a camera body, and when it is determined that flash light emission is necessary, for example, by judging the brightness of a subject, the flash device is automatically emitted at the time of shooting. 2. Description of the Related Art A camera that attaches a flash device to a camera or an accessory shoe provided on an upper portion of the camera to emit light from the flash device is often used.

[0003] When a camera is used in a vertical position in which the grip portion is up or down, when a photograph is taken using a flash device, the flash casts a shadow of the subject, making the photograph unappearing. Sometimes. For this reason, in JP-A-5-341360, a camera is provided with a flash device for a vertical posture and a flash device for a horizontal posture,
A camera has been proposed in which the flash devices can be selectively used so that the flash device emits light in accordance with the shooting posture. However, in such a camera, a flash device for a vertical posture must be newly added in addition to a flash device for a horizontal posture which is usually used, so that there is a problem that the camera becomes large.

[0004] In various shooting scenes, a situation in which the camera must be held upside down and shooting must be performed, or shooting can be performed with the camera turned upside down unconsciously (with no problem). There is.

For example, as shown in FIG. 20 (a), if there is a wall between the subject and the photographer, the photographer holding the camera in a normal posture and the same height as the photographing lens, the photographing can be performed. Can not. However, even in such a case, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 0 (b), when the camera is held in an inverted posture, a height corresponding to the distance between the eyepiece and the optical axis of the lens can be obtained, and there are situations in which photographing is possible.

If there is a gap between the subject and the photographer, as shown in FIG. 21, the photographer bends his / her body and places it between the legs as shown by the dotted line in the figure. There is a situation where a photograph is taken, that is, the camera is taken in an inverted posture.

Further, as shown in FIG. 22, there is a situation where a photographer is on a terrace-shaped table, and a subject under the table is photographed with the camera in an inverted posture.

[0008]

However, when the camera equipped with the flash device captures an image in a situation as shown in FIG. 20, the camera determines from the brightness of the subject or the like that flash light emission is necessary, In some cases, flash light is emitted, and the exposure control value (shutter time, aperture value) is set to a value for flash photography.

[0009] However, since the flash is eclipsed by the wall, an appropriate photographing result cannot be obtained if the image is photographed with the exposure control value set on the premise of the flash light emission.

[0010] Further, when flash photography is performed in a situation as shown in FIG. 21 or FIG. 22 by automatic determination of the camera, the flash causes a shadow of the subject to appear above the subject, resulting in an ugly photograph. is there.

On the other hand, unlike these cases, the photographer sometimes intentionally holds the camera in an inverted posture to perform flash photography. For example, while holding the camera in an inverted posture, the direction of the light emitting section (irradiation direction) of the flash device is made different from the shooting direction (a direction substantially parallel to the lens optical axis direction) so that it can be applied to the ground, walls, and sometimes the photographer's own body. This is a case in which a flash is reflected to shoot an image. In this method, the photographer intentionally bounces the flash and shoots.

It is a first object of the present invention to prevent a photographing result from being adversely affected by a posture of a camera having a flash device. It is a second object of the present invention to provide a camera capable of performing flash photographing in a case where a camera having a flash device is intentionally held in an inverted posture and the intention is reflected.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a flash device incorporated in a camera body or a flash device detachable from the camera body, and controlling the flash device. In a camera provided with a control means and a posture detecting means for detecting a posture of the camera body, the control means is made to switch between enabling and disabling light emission of the flash device in accordance with the detected posture by the posture detecting means.

Specifically, when the flash device is provided on the upper part of the camera body, when the posture detected by the posture detecting means is the inverted posture in which the flash device is lower than the camera body, the flash device is turned on. Light emission is prohibited.

[0015] This prevents an ugly photograph in which the shadow of the subject appears on the subject and prevents the camera from automatically emitting flash light when shooting is performed in a situation where flash emission is blocked. Setting an exposure control value on the premise of the above is prevented, thereby preventing an inappropriate photographing result from occurring. Further, in the second invention of the present application, the direction of the light emitting unit can be switched with respect to the photographing direction, and a flash device having light emitting direction detecting means for detecting the direction of the light emitting unit, and a control means for controlling the flash device And a posture detecting means for detecting the posture of the camera body, wherein the control means switches permission / prohibition of light emission of the flash device according to the detected posture by the posture detecting means and the detection direction by the light emitting direction detecting means. I try to make it.

Specifically, when the flash device is disposed above the camera body and the posture detected by the posture detecting means is the inverted posture where the flash device is lower than the camera body, the light emission direction detection is performed. The flash device is allowed to emit light only when the direction detected by the means is different from the photographing direction.

As a result, similarly to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent an inappropriate photographing result from occurring, and to intentionally set the camera in an inverted posture to bounce the flash to perform photographing. In such a case, flash photography according to this intention can be performed to improve the usability of the camera.

[0018]

(First Embodiment) First, FIG. 4 shows a camera with a built-in flash according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 41 denotes a camera body, and reference numeral 42 denotes an interchangeable photographing lens attached to the front of the camera body 41. Reference numeral 43 denotes a grip portion provided on the right side (left side in the drawing) of the camera body 41, and reference numeral 44 denotes a release button provided on the upper portion of the grip portion 43. Reference numeral 45 denotes an upper portion of the camera body 41, which is a flash storage portion for storing a flash light emitting portion. Further, reference numerals 16 and 17 are posture detection switches attached to the camera body 41.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the electric circuit of the camera. PRS (1) controls the camera,
CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM, RAM, A / D
It is a one-chip microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as a microcomputer) having a built-in conversion unit. Microcomputer PRS (1)
Controls a series of operations of the camera, such as an automatic exposure control operation, an automatic focus detection operation, a strobe control operation, and a film winding / mechanical charging operation, in accordance with a camera sequence program stored in the ROM. For this reason, the microcomputer PRS (1) uses the synchronous communication signals SO, SI, SCL
K, communication selection signal CLCM (2), CSDR, CDOR
Is used to communicate with peripheral circuits in the camera body 41 and the photographing lens 42 to control the operations of the circuits and the lenses.

SO is a data signal output from the microcomputer PRS (1), SI is a data signal output from the microcomputer PRS (1), and SCLK is a synchronous clock of the signals SO and SI.

LCM (2) is a lens circuit, and power is supplied to a lens power supply terminal when the camera is operating. The microcomputer PRS (1) outputs a buffer signal of the synchronous clock SCLK and a buffer signal of a predetermined data signal SO synchronized with the synchronous clock SCLK to the lens circuit LCM (2) via the camera-lens indirect point. . Similarly, the lens circuit LCM (2) outputs a signal such as the lens focal length at that time as a signal SI,
The microcomputer PRS (1) inputs the signal SI as data from the lens in synchronization with the synchronization clock SCLK.

SDR (3) is a drive circuit of a focus detection line sensor device composed of a CCD or the like, and is selected when the communication selection signal CSDR is "H", and the signals SO,
It is controlled using SI and clock SCLK.

The SPC (6) is an exposure control photometric sensor that receives light from the subject through the photographing lens 43.
The output SSPC of the photometric sensor SPC (6) is the microcomputer PR
The signal is input to the analog input terminal of S (1), and after A / D conversion, is used for automatic exposure control (AE) according to a predetermined program.

DOR (4) is a circuit for detecting and displaying a switch. When the signal CDOR is at "H", the signal SOR is output.
O, SI, microcomputer PR using synchronous clock SCLK
Controlled by S (1).

FMS (8) is a film feed detection circuit,
The detection output is input to the circuit DOR (4) as a signal SFMS.

MES (7) is a mechanical phase detecting circuit such as a shutter or a mirror, and a detection output is inputted to a circuit DOR (4) as a signal SMES.

FLS (5) is a flash phase detection circuit which detects the presence or absence of a pop-up from the camera body 41 of the flash light emitting section and the zoom phase, and outputs a signal SFLS.
Is input to the circuit DOR (4).

X is a switch that is turned on when the front curtain of the shutter is completed, and CN2 is a switch that is turned on when the rear curtain of the shutter is completed.

The POS (9) is a posture detection circuit of the camera body 41, which is constituted by the posture detection switches 16 and 17 and a posture detection switch drive circuit (not shown). This P
The OS (9) detects the attitude of the camera body 41 and outputs a signal S
POS is input to the circuit DOR (4). Attitude detection circuit P
The details of the method of detecting the posture of the camera by the OS (9) will be described later.

As described above, the circuit DOR (4) switches the display on the display member DSP (14) of the camera on the basis of the data sent from the microcomputer PRS (1), and switches which are linked to various states of the camera. Alternatively, a status signal is notified to the microcomputer PRS (1) by communication.

The switch SW-ST is a switch for detecting whether or not the external flash is attached to the camera. The switch is turned on when the external flash is mounted and turned off when the external flash is not provided.

The switches SW1 and SW2 are switches linked to the release button 44,
The switch SW1 is turned on by the depression in the first stage, and the switch SW2 is subsequently turned on by the depression in the second stage.

The microcomputer PRS (1) performs a photometry operation, an automatic focus adjustment operation, and a flash pop-up operation in response to the turning on of a switch SW1, as will be described later.
The exposure control operation, the flash emission operation, and the film winding operation are performed with the turning on of 2 as a trigger.

SW3 is a switch for detecting completion of flash pop-up. M1 is a motor for film feeding, M2 is a motor for mirror up / down, pop-up of shutter charge and flash, and zoom drive motor.
The normal rotation and the reverse rotation are controlled by (11).

From the microcomputer PRS (1) to the drive circuit MDR
1 (10), signal M input to MDR2 (11)
1F, M1R, M2F, and M2R are motor control signals.

MG1 and MG2 are running start magnets for the shutter first curtain and rear curtain, respectively, and are energized when the amplification transistors TR1 and TR2 are turned on by signals SMG1 and SMG2 output from the microcomputer PRS (1), and the shutter operation is performed. Is performed. FLSH (12) is a flash circuit including a main capacitor and a xenon tube, and includes a light emission signal FS, a light emission stop signal F0, and a charge start signal S
C, which is controlled by the microcomputer PRS (1) through the charge completion signal CF.

FLS-ST (13) is an external flash circuit included in an external flash including a main capacitor and a xenon tube, and emits light signal FS-ST, light emission stop signal F0-ST, charge start signal SC-ST, and charge completion. It is controlled by the microcomputer PRS (1) through the signal CF-ST.

In this embodiment, as the external flash,
As shown in FIG. 17A, the direction of the flash light emitting unit 72 is set in the positive direction B substantially parallel to the shooting direction A about the upper end axis of the main body 71, and the shooting direction as shown in FIG. B
And a switchable bounce direction C is used.

Inside the external flash 70, there is provided a switch SW-STR which is turned on / off depending on whether the direction of the flash light emitting section 72 is the forward direction or the bounce direction, and the state of the switch SW-STR is as follows. It is detected by the microcomputer PRS (1).

The configuration of the switch SW-STR will be described with reference to FIG. A SW substrate 81 as shown in FIG. 18A is attached around the rotation axis of the flash light emitting unit 72, and rotates integrally with the light emitting unit 72. On the SW substrate 81, a pattern GND and a pattern STR are formed. On the other hand, the contact piece 18 that slides on the SW board 81 is attached to the main body 71.

When the light emitting section 72 is oriented in the forward direction, as shown in FIG. 18B, the patterns GND and STR of the SW substrate 81 are made conductive by the contact piece 18, whereby the microcomputer PRS (1) detects that the light emitting unit 72 faces in the forward direction. When the light emitting unit 72 faces the bounce direction, the microcomputer PRS (1) uses the light emitting unit 72 facing the bounce direction because the patterns GND and STR of the SW substrate 81 are not conducted by the contact pieces 18. Detect that

Next, the configuration of the attitude detection switches 16 and 17 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that FIG.
2A is a plan view of the attitude detection switch, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing at the time of cutting along the CC line | wire in (a). FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along a line DD in FIG. 2A. The configurations of the attitude detection switches 16 and 17 are the same.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 20 denotes a switch body formed of resin. The switch body 20 has a groove 20.
a is formed. A steel ball 21 is inserted into the groove 20a.
Is arranged. The steel ball 21 can freely roll in the groove 20a.

The groove 20a is formed as shown in FIG.
When viewed in the cross section DD direction, the steel ball 21 is formed with a uniform width slightly wider than the diameter of the steel ball 21. The groove 20a is
In cross section CC, first slope 20c and second slope 20d
And is formed in a substantially V-shape having
A light projecting window 20e of the photodiode 22 and a light receiving window 20f of the phototransistor 23 are formed near 0b. The angle θ of the V-shaped portion of the groove 20a is formed at about 90 °. A lid 24 is adhered to the upper part of the main body 20, and a steel ball 21 is sealed in the groove 20a.

Here, to explain the direction of the attitude detection switch, the lower surface of the attitude detection switch in FIG. 2B is the A surface, and the right surface in FIG. 2B is the B surface. Defined as a surface.

Next, the operation of the attitude detection switch will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the B surface of the attitude detection switch is down, and FIG. 3B shows a state in which the A surface of the attitude detection switch is down.

When the attitude detection switch is in the state shown in FIG. 3A, the steel ball 21 rolls downward in the groove 20a due to gravity. Therefore, the optical path between the light emitting window 20 e and the light receiving window 20 f is not blocked by the steel ball 21.

When the attitude detection switch is in the state shown in FIG. 3B, the steel ball 21 rolls downward in the groove 20a, that is, in the direction of the apex 20b by gravity. For this reason, the optical path between the light projecting window 20e and the light receiving window 20f is
Blocked by

Generally, when the apex portion 20b of the groove portion 20a is at the lowest position, the steel ball 21 rolls near the apex portion 20b and blocks the optical path between the light projecting window 20e and the light receiving window 20f.

Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, a state in which the steel ball 21 is present near the apex portion 20b and interrupts the optical path between the photodiode 22 and the phototransistor 23 is referred to as " 1 ”, and as shown in FIG.
A state in which the steel ball 21 does not exist near the apex portion 20b and does not block the optical path between the photodiode 22 and the phototransistor 23 is expressed as "0".

Photodiode 2 in attitude detection switch
2 and the phototransistor 23 are driven by the attitude detection switch drive circuit. The microcomputer PRS (1)
The attitude detection switch drive circuit is controlled to detect the output of the phototransistor 23, and it is determined from the detection output whether the attitude detection switch is in the "0" state or the "1" state.

Actually, since the steel ball 21 has rolling resistance, when the first slope 20c is located at a position lower than the second slope 20d and is substantially horizontal, the second slope 20
When d is at a position lower than the first slope 20c and is substantially horizontal or when both the first slope 20c and the second slope 20d are substantially horizontal, the steel ball 21
May exist near the vertex 20b or may not exist. That is, it is not known whether the posture detection sensor will be in the state of “0” or “1”. Hereinafter, such a state is referred to as an unstable state.

Next, the position detecting switches 16 and 17
The arrangement of the camera body 41 with respect to the camera body 41 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in this figure, a first attitude detection switch 16 and a second attitude detection switch 17 are disposed at an upper right portion with respect to the photographing optical axis when viewed from the front of the camera body 41 and above a cartridge chamber (not shown). Have been.

The first attitude detection switch 16 is arranged with the surface A facing upward when viewed from the front of the camera and the surface B facing right of the camera.

Further, the second attitude detection switch 17
The surface is directed upward when viewed from the front of the camera, and the surface B is disposed facing the front of the camera.

Next, the state of each posture detection switch corresponding to each posture of the camera will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5A shows the case where the camera is in the normal posture, FIG. 5B shows the case where the camera is in the inverted posture, and FIG.
Fig. 5D shows the case where the camera is in the lens-down position, Fig. 5E shows the case where the camera is in the vertical position (the grip-up position) in which the grip is up. FIG. 5F shows a case where the camera is in a vertical position in which the grip is down (grip down position).

As shown in FIG. 5A, when the camera is in the normal posture, the first posture detection switch 16 is in the state of "0".
The second attitude detection switch 17 is in the state of “0”.

As shown in FIG. 5B, when the camera is in the inverted posture, the first posture detection switch 16 is in the state of "1", and the second posture detection switch 17 is in the state of "1".

As shown in FIG. 5C, when the camera is in the lens up position, the first position detection switch 16 is in an unstable state (0 or 1), and the second position detection switch 17 is "0". State.

As shown in FIG. 5D, when the camera is in the lens lower position, the first position detection switch 16 is in an unstable state (0 or 1), and the second position detection switch 17 is "0". State.

As shown in FIG. 5E, when the camera is in the grip-up position, the first position detection switch 16 is set to "0".
State, the second attitude detection switch 17 is in an unstable state (0
Or 1).

As shown in FIG. 5F, when the camera is in the grip-down position, the first position detection switch 16 is in an unstable state (0 or 1), and the second position detection switch 17 is in a state of "0". become.

Next, the pop-up mechanism of the built-in flash of the camera will be described with reference to FIGS.

In these figures, reference numeral 101 denotes an upper cover as an exterior of the camera, which constitutes a part of the camera body 41. Reference numeral 102 denotes a case, which is rotatably supported on the upper cover 101 and forms a framework of the flash unit.

Reference numeral 102a denotes a long hole, which is a lead wire 1 described later.
Passing through 40 serves to absorb the movement of the member due to zooming.

Reference numeral 103 denotes a flash cover which forms the external appearance of the flash unit, and is fixed to the case 102.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a panel which covers the entire surface of the flash unit, and has a Fresnel lens portion 104a for controlling flash light and a window portion 104b corresponding to a red-eye preventing lamp described later.

Reference numeral 105 denotes a main plate, which has a plurality of gear shafts, a bearing 105a whose outer periphery is the rotation shaft of the case 102, a bearing 105b, and a spring hook 105c.
Is fixed to the backside of the panel with screws.

Reference numeral 106 denotes a gear, and a motor M2 fixed to the camera body 41 or the mirror box, and a gear train connected to the motor M2 and including a planetary gear mechanism to be described later.

Reference numerals 107 and 108 denote gears.
Is transmitted from the gear 107 to the gear 108.

Reference numeral 109 denotes a gear that meshes with the gear 108, and is rotatably fitted to the inner periphery of the bearing 105a of the main plate 105.

Reference numeral 110 denotes a gear that meshes with the gear 109. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, one side has three equiangular blade portions 110a.

Reference numeral 111 denotes a lever, which includes a shaft portion 111a, a projection 111b, a spring hook 111c, and a switch pressing portion 111d.
And the shaft portion 111a is rotatably supported on the inner periphery of the bearing 105b. The switch pressing portion 111d turns on the switch SW3 when the lever 111 moves during pop-up.

Reference numeral 112 denotes a tensioning lever having a claw 112b, which has a projection 112a near the claw 112b and is fixed to the shaft 111a of the lever 111.

A spring 113 has one end connected to the spring hook 105c of the main plate 105 and the other end connected to the spring hook 1 of the lever 111.
11c, and urges the tensioning lever 112 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction, that is, the claw 112b in the locking direction.

Reference numeral 114 denotes a bearing, a part of which is the upper cover 10.
1 and a part thereof is used as a rotation axis of the case 102.

Reference numerals 115L and 115R denote screws serving as stoppers when the case 102 rotates in the direction in which the case 102 protrudes with respect to the upper cover 101, and are fastened to the upper cover 101.

Reference numeral 116 denotes a spring for urging the case 102 in the pop-up direction. The spring 116 is mounted on a part of the outer periphery of the bearing 114, and has one arm on the screw 115R and the other arm on the case 1
Multiplied by 02.

Reference numeral 117 denotes a claw 112b of the tensioning lever 112.
11 is a fixed locking member having a hook 117a for hooking the cam portions 117b and 11 as shown in detail in FIG.
7c. The cam portion 117c has an arc shape from the rotation shaft of the case 102, and is fixed to the case 102.

As shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C,
When the motor M2 is driven, the rotation is transmitted to the gears 106 to 110, and the blade 110a of the gear 110
13, the projection 111b of the lever 111 is pushed down. Then, the tensioning lever 112 is rotated clockwise similarly to the lever 111, and the claw 112 of the tensioning lever 112 is rotated.
b is released from the hook 117a of the fixed locking member 117. As a result, the case 102 starts rotating in the pop-up direction due to the bias of the spring 116, and the projection 112 a contacts the cam portion 117 b of the fixed locking member 117.

Further, the case 102 rotates, and the case 10
2 is rotated by the force of the spring 116, so that the protrusions 112 a of the tensioning lever 112 are pushed by the cam portions 117 b to 117 c of the fixed locking member 117. Tension lever 11
Reference numeral 2 denotes an area of the cam portion 117c,
The gear 11b rotates until it leaves the rotation area of the blade 110a of the gear 110 (FIGS. 10B to 10C). That is,
The tension lever 112 is released by the blade 110a, the case 102 moves up, the tension lever 112 is further released by the case 102 raising operation, and the projection 111b of the lever 111 is rotated out of the rotation region of the blade 110a, and the motor M2 Is not transmitted to the lever 111 and the tensioning lever 112.

Further, while the projection 112a generates a constant frictional force on the arc portion of the cam portion 117c by the urging force of the spring 113, the flash case 102
Rotate in the protruding direction until it comes into contact with 5R (FIG. 10 (A)
-(C)).

A gear 118 is coaxially fixed to the gear 109 in the upper cover 101 and transmits the driving force of the motor M into the rotating case 102. Reference numerals 119 and 120 denote idlers for transmitting the rotation of the gear 118.

Reference numeral 121 denotes a gear having a cam 121a on one surface and a contact piece 131 (see FIG. 7) fixed on the other surface. As shown in FIG. 12, a wide-angle portion, a telephoto portion, and two standard portions are provided. And four phases consisting of

Reference numeral 132 denotes a substrate (FIG. 7) on which the contact piece 131 slides.
And FIG. 13), and as shown in FIG.
Each brake phase is provided for every fixed angle, such as standard → telephoto → standard → wide angle → standard →. This substrate 1
32 is a roller 12 to be described later for detecting the phase of the cam 121a.
It is provided for detecting the rotation phase of the lever 122 having 2a. As described above, the gears 119 to 121 are
02 is rotatably supported.

Reference numeral 122 denotes a bearing rotatably mounted on the shaft of the case 102 and a roller 1 for tracing the cam 121a.
22A and a transmission lever having a pressing portion 122b for pressing the holder 123.

Reference numeral 123 denotes a spring, which is mounted on the outer periphery of the bearing of the transmission lever 122, and has one end mounted on the case 2 and the other end mounted on a holder 123 described later.

Reference numeral 124 denotes a holding plate which is screwed to the case 102 while holding the gears 119 to 121 and the transmission lever 122.

FIG. 14 shows the start of braking (A) at standard time and the stop (B) after overrun.

The gear 121 having the cam and the gear 110 having the blades have a specific gear ratio set via the gear 109 and the gears 118 to 120. That is, in the present embodiment, the gear 110 is set to make 2/3 rotation every time the gear 121 makes 1/4 rotation. In short, the gear 121 is 90 ° (1
(/ 4 rotation), the brake phase appears, and the blades of the gear 110 at that time are in the state of (A), and then overrun, and the maximum allowable position is in the state of (B).

The gear ratio is set so that the overrun falls from the state of (A) to the state of (B) under any circumstances such as the state of the motor M2, the power supply, and the temperature condition.
That is, assuming that the brake pattern of the substrate 132 is 15 °, the gear 110 overruns by about 40 ° and stops.
In any of the standard, telephoto, and wide-angle cases, the blades of the gear 110 stop in the same phase.

As described above, the projection 111b of the lever 111 does not interfere with the wing 110a of the gear 110 in any of the standard, telephoto, and wide-angle states even if the flash is pushed down. 112b is hooked on the hook 117a of the fixed locking member 117, and the flash is fixed in the housed state.

In this embodiment, the gear 121 is used.
Is divided into four phases, the number of blades of the gear 110 is set to three, and the rotation of the gear
Although the gear ratio is set to be / 3 times, the rotation of the gear 110 may be 4/3 times, or the gear ratio with the gear 110 may be a multiple of 1/3 with the cam of the gear 121 having three phases. Good. That is, the cam phase of the gear 121 and the phase of the blades of the gear 110 are matched, and before any of the stop positions of the gear 121 has the same phase as the blade of the gear 110, the number of stop positions of the gear 121 and the blades of the gear 110 And the gear ratio may be matched.

Reference numeral 125 denotes a xenon tube, and a reflecting shade 126
Is stopped by rubber (not shown). 123 is a xenon tube 12
5 and a holder for holding the reflection shade 126. 128
Is a holding member, which is fixed inside the case 102.
Reference numeral 129 denotes a shaft held by the holding member 128, which extends perpendicularly to the surface of the panel 104.

Reference numeral 130 denotes a rail, which has a shaft 129 and a flat rail-shaped elongated hole 130a, and is fixed inside the case 102. Here, as shown in FIG. 8, one of the holders 123 is rotatably supported by the shaft 129 so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and the other is held by the boss portion 123b slidably on the rail portion 130a of the rail 130. Since one end of the spring 123 is hung on the projection 123a of the holder 123,
The holder 123 is urged in the direction of the panel 104 and is regulated in the reverse direction by the transmission lever 122.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 14, the transmission lever 122 is swung based on the cam displacement of the cam portion 121a of the gear 121 which is rotationally transmitted from the motor M2. By pressing the projection 123 a against the spring 123, the xenon tube 125 of the holder 123 and the light emitting part of the reflection shade 126 are mounted on the panel 1.
04 is reciprocated vertically.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, reference numeral 133 denotes a red-eye prevention lamp. Reference numeral 134 denotes a reflection shade that collects the light, and is fixed to the back side of the window 104 b of the panel 104.

As described above, the case 102 is divided into three rooms, and the light emitting section including the moving members 125 to 123 is provided at the center, and the driving mechanism (118 to 124) is provided at the left side.
However, the unit 133,1 of the red eye prevention lamp is on the right side.
34 are arranged respectively.

Reference numeral 140 denotes a lead wire, which extends to one side of the case 102 through the bearing 114 to extend the lamp 1.
33, and further connected to the xenon tube 125 through the elongated hole 102a.

Next, a planetary gear mechanism for transmitting the output of the motor M2 will be described with reference to FIG. The output of the motor M2 is transmitted to the sun gear 153 via the gear 151 and the transmission gear. A planetary lever 154 that is frictionally coupled to the central axis of the sun gear 153 is connected to the planetary gear 154. Therefore, the sun gear, the planetary lever 154, and the planetary gear 155 constitute a planetary gear mechanism.

Reference numeral 156 denotes a mirror drive gear. Although not shown in detail, the main mirror 16 is rotated by the mirror drive gear 156 in one direction by using a cam mechanism.
A motion 0 moves from the observation position (down position) shown in FIG. 9 to the shooting retreat position (up position), and returns to the observation position.

The sun gear 153 rotates counterclockwise by the reverse rotation of the motor M2, and the planetary gear 155
And mesh with it. In addition, the planetary gear 155 meshes with the mirror drive gear 156 by forward rotation.

Next, the operation of the camera will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When a power switch (not shown) is turned on, the microcomputer PRS
Power supply to (1) is started, and the microcomputer PRS (1)
The execution of the sequence program stored in the OM is started. The execution of the program is started by the above operation. When SW1 is turned on by pressing the release button 44 at the first stage after step # 1 (step # 2), the process proceeds to step # 4. When SW1 is off, step #
Then, the process goes to 3 to clear and initialize all control flag variables set in the RAM in the microcomputer PRS (1). Steps # 2 and # 3 are repeatedly executed until the switch SW1 is turned on.

At step # 4, a photometry subroutine is executed. The microcomputer PRS (1) inputs the output SSPC of the photometric sensor SPC (6) shown in FIG. 1 to an analog input terminal, performs A / D conversion, and stores the digital photometric value in a RAM.
At a predetermined address. Further, in step # 5, A
Perform F operation.

Further, in step # 6, the microcomputer PRS (1) determines the state of the switch SW-ST,
The presence / absence of the external flash is detected, and if the external flash is present, the sequence proceeds to the external flash sequence shown in FIG.

In step # 7, the microcomputer PRS (1)
Determines whether flash emission is necessary based on the photometry state. If a flash is required, the process proceeds to step # 8. If a flash is not required, step # 16 is performed.
Move to.

At step # 8, the microcomputer PRS (1)
Performs the posture determination of the camera by the posture detection circuit POS (9). At this time, if the camera posture is determined to be the inverted posture,
The flash emission is prohibited (not permitted), and step # 16 is performed.
Proceed to.

In step # 16, optimal exposure control values (shutter control value, aperture control value) without flash emission are calculated from the digital photometric values obtained in step # 4. Then, it waits until the switch SW2 is turned on.

As described above, by prohibiting the emission of the flash light when the camera provided with the flash on the upper part of the camera body is in the inverted posture, it is possible to perform shooting in the situation shown in FIG. In addition, it is possible to prevent the calculation of the exposure control value on the assumption that the flash is fired.

When the switch SW2 is turned on in step # 16, the flow shifts to step # 24 to perform a release operation.

Specifically, the motor M2 is rotated forward by the signal M2F of the microcomputer PRS (1), and the planetary gear 55 is meshed with the mirror driving gear to perform the mirror-up operation. When the mirror up is completed, the input phase detection circuit MES
Since the signal SI is sent to the microcomputer PRS (1) via (7), the microcomputer PRS (1) stops the motor M2. Next, the front curtain magnet MG1 of the shutter is excited by the signal SMG1 of the microcomputer PRS (1), and the film is exposed by running the front curtain of the shutter by a spring force.
Thereafter, a signal SMG2 is generated with a predetermined time delay based on the shutter time calculated in step # 8, and the shutter rear curtain magnet MG2 is excited to run the shutter rear curtain.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step # 8 that the camera is in a posture other than the inverted posture, flash emission is permitted, and the flow advances to step # 9.

In step # 9, the focal length of the loaded photographing lens is introduced from the lens circuit LCM (2).
The data is stored in the RAM of the microcomputer PRS (1).

Next, in step # 10, the motor M2 is rotated in the reverse direction to rotate the gears 6 to 8 to rotate the tension lever 1
At the same time, the tension is released and the flash pops up, and at the same time, the gears 9, 18 to 21 are rotated to swing the transmission lever 22, and the holder 23, the xenon tube 25, the reflection shade 26 and the like are moved to irradiate the irradiation angle. Also start changing. Next, the process proceeds to step # 11 to detect whether or not the flash pops up based on the state of the switch SW3. Step # 12 when completion of popup is detected
Move to.

In step # 12, it is determined whether or not the correspondence between the focal length of the lens detected in step # 9 and the flash irradiation angle is established. If the countermeasure is taken, the process proceeds to step # 13, and the reverse rotation of the motor M2 is stopped.

That is, as described above, with the reverse rotation of the motor M2, the pop-up operation of the flash and the operation of changing the irradiation angle are started at the same time, and it is detected that both operations are completed, and the reverse rotation of the motor M2 is stopped. .

Note that a pattern corresponding to the focal length (cam phase) is formed on the detection substrate 32, and the zoom state of the flash can be detected by sliding the contact piece 31 on the pattern.

Next, in step # 14, it is determined whether or not the flash has been charged. If the charging is not completed, the process proceeds to step # 15, and the microcomputer PRS (1) outputs a flash charging start signal SC to start charging. When the charging is completed, a charge completion signal CF is generated, and the routine goes to Step # 17.

In step # 17, based on the digital photometric value obtained in step # 4, an exposure control value (flash synchronization shutter time, etc.) is calculated on the assumption that a flash is to be emitted. Then, it waits for the switch SW2 to be turned on by pressing the release button 44 in the second stage. If the switch SW2 is ON, the process proceeds to step # 18 to perform a release operation.

Specifically, the motor M2 is rotated forward to perform a mirror-up operation, and the front curtain magnet MG1 is excited to run the shutter front curtain. Then, step # 19
Then, the X contact which is turned on when the front curtain of the shutter is completed is determined. When the X contact turns on, the circuit DOR
A signal is sent to the microcomputer PRS (1) via (4),
The microcomputer PRS (1) emits a flash in step # 20 (flashes the xenon tube 25). When the flash emission amount reaches a predetermined amount, a flash emission stop signal Fo is generated based on the output of a light control circuit (not shown), and the flash emission is stopped. Further, after traveling of the shutter front curtain, a signal SMG2 is generated with a predetermined time delay based on the flash synchronization shutter time calculated in step # 17, and the shutter rear curtain magnet MG2 is excited to travel the shutter rear curtain.

After performing the release operation without flash emission in step # 24 or after performing the release operation with flash emission in steps # 18 to # 20, the process proceeds to step # 21, and the rear curtain of the shutter runs. Is completed. When the traveling of the second curtain is completed, the switch CN2 is turned on, and the microcomputer P2 is connected via the circuit DOR (4).
A signal is transmitted to RS (1), and the routine goes to Step # 22.

In step # 22, the signal M2F is output to rotate the motor M2 forward, and the mirror down and the shutter charge are performed. When the mirror down and the shutter charge are completed, a signal is transmitted to the microcomputer PRS (1) via the mechanical phase detection circuit MES (7),
(1) stops the forward rotation of the motor M2.

Next, the flow shifts to step # 23 to feed the film. The microcomputer PRS (1) outputs the signal MI
F is output to rotate the motor M1 forward to wind up the film.

When one frame of film is wound up,
Microcomputer P via film signal detection circuit FMS (8)
A signal is transmitted to RS (1), and microcomputer PRS (1) stops normal rotation of motor M1. Note that the motor M1 is configured to reversely rotate based on the signal MIR and rewind the film. Steps # 22 and # 23 do not always need to be performed in series, but may be performed simultaneously. When the above steps are completed, the camera prepares for the next shooting.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the built-in flash is used and the camera posture is the inverted posture even though it is determined that the flash emission is necessary according to the photometry result, Since the flash emission is prohibited, it is possible to prevent taking an ugly photograph in which the shadow of the subject appears on the subject in the situation shown in FIG. In addition, when flash emission is prohibited, an exposure control value suitable for shooting without flash emission is calculated. It can be reliably prevented that the photographing is performed inappropriately.

Next, an operation sequence when an external flash is attached to the camera of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

If it is determined in step # 6 of FIG. 15 that the external flash 70 is present, the flow proceeds to step # 25 of FIG. 16, where the microcomputer PRS (1)
The posture of the camera is determined by the OS (9). At this time, if the posture of the camera is determined to be the inverted posture, step # 34
Then, it is determined whether or not the external flash 70 is set to the bounce mode by checking the switch SW-STR. If the bounce mode is set, it is determined that the photographing is being performed intentionally in an inverted posture, the flash emission is permitted, and step # 26 is performed.
Move to.

On the other hand, if the bounce mode is not set in step # 34, the emission of the external flash is prohibited, and the flow shifts to step # 16 to wait for the release operation.

Next, in step # 26, it is determined whether or not the flash has been charged. If the charging is not completed, the process proceeds to step # 23, in which the microcomputer PRS (1) outputs a flash charging start signal SC to start charging.
When the charging is completed, a charge completion signal CF is generated, and the routine goes to Step # 28.

In Step # 28, Step # in FIG.
An exposure control value (flash synchronization shutter time, etc.) is calculated based on the digital photometric value acquired in step 4 assuming flash emission. Then, when the release button 44 is turned on by being pressed in the second stage, the flow proceeds to step # 29 to perform the release operation.

More specifically, the motor M2 is rotated forward to perform a mirror-up operation, and the front curtain magnet MG1 is excited to run the shutter front curtain.

Then, the flow shifts to step # 30 to determine whether or not the X contact is turned on when the front curtain of the shutter is completed.
When the X contact is turned on, the microcomputer PRS via the circuit (4)
A signal is sent to (1), and the microcomputer PRS (1) emits a flash in step # 31. When the flash light emission amount reaches a predetermined amount, a flash light emission stop signal Fo-ST is generated based on the output of a light control circuit (not shown) to stop the flash light emission.

Next, the flow shifts to step # 32, where it is determined whether or not the running of the rear curtain of the shutter has been completed. When the traveling of the second curtain is completed, the switch CN2 is turned on, and a signal is transmitted to the microcomputer PRS (1) via the circuit DOR (4). Upon receiving this signal, the microcomputer PRS (1) proceeds to step # 33, and proceeds to step # 22 of the main sequence in FIG.

As described above, when the external flash is attached to the upper part of the camera body, even if the camera is in the inverted posture, the photographer intentionally intends to perform flash photography in the bounce mode in this posture. Since the flash emission is permitted, it is possible to perform photographing according to the photographer's intention. Conversely, when the camera is in the inverted posture, even if an attempt is made to perform normal (flash emission direction is positive) flash photography, the flash emission is prohibited.
It is possible to prevent improper photographing in the situation as shown in FIG. 20B or ugly photograph in which the shadow of the subject appears on the subject in the situation as shown in FIG. .

[0135]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the light emission of the flash device is switched according to the position detected by the position detecting means. Exposure control based on the assumption that the camera automatically flashes when shooting in a situation (camera posture) where flash emission is blocked, while preventing the taking of ugly photos, such as getting over the camera It is possible to prevent setting of a value and prevent an inappropriate photographing result from occurring.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the permission / prohibition of light emission of the flash device is switched in accordance with the detection posture by the posture detection means and the detection direction by the light emission direction detection means. As in the first invention, it is possible to prevent an inappropriate photographing result from occurring,
In the case where the camera is intentionally turned upside down and the flash is bounced to perform shooting, flash shooting can be performed in accordance with the intention, and the usability of the camera can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit configuration of a camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a posture detection switch provided in the camera.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the attitude detection switch.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the camera.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the attitude of the camera.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a built-in flash unit of the camera.

7 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of the left half of the flash unit shown in FIG. 6 as viewed from the back side of the camera.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a holder of the flash unit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a power transmission system to a pop-up mechanism of the flash unit.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the pop-up mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a fixed locking member for locking the flash unit.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a cam of a zoom mechanism of the flash unit.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged front view of a conductive pattern substrate provided in a power transmission section to the flash unit.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an operation state of a power transmission mechanism of the flash unit.

FIG. 15 is an operation flowchart of the camera.

FIG. 16 is an operation flowchart when an external flash of the camera is attached.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a direction of a light emitting unit of an external flash attached to the camera.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of a direction detection switch of a light emitting unit of the external flash.

FIG. 19 is a table showing the relationship between the attitude of the camera and the output of an attitude detection switch.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a shooting situation of a conventional camera.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of a shooting situation of a conventional camera.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of a shooting situation of a conventional camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 microcomputer PRS 2 lens circuit LCM 6 photometry sensor SPC 9 attitude detection circuit POS 10 MDR1 11 MDR2 12 FLSH (built-in flash circuit) 13 FLS-ST (external flash circuit) 16, 17 attitude detection switch 41 camera body 42 shooting lens 44 release Button 45 Flash storage unit 70 External flash 72 Flash emission unit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A camera comprising: a flash device built in a camera body; control means for controlling the flash device; and attitude detection means for detecting the attitude of the camera body. A camera, which switches between permission and rejection of light emission of the flash device in accordance with a detection position detected by a detection unit. 2. A camera comprising: flash means detachable from a camera body; control means for controlling the flash device; and attitude detection means for detecting the attitude of the camera body, wherein the control means comprises: A camera, which switches between permission and rejection of light emission of the flash device in accordance with a detection position detected by a detection unit. 3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein, when it is determined that light emission of the flash device is necessary in accordance with a photometric result, the control unit switches permission / prohibition of light emission of the flash device in accordance with a detection position detected by the position detection unit. The camera according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. When the control means determines that light emission of the flash device is necessary according to a photometric result, and when the light emission of the flash device is not permitted in accordance with the detected posture by the posture detecting means, 4. The camera according to claim 3, wherein an exposure control value for photographing performed without causing the flash device to emit light is set. 5. The flash device is disposed on an upper portion of the camera body, and the control means detects a posture detected by the posture detection means,
The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the flash device is not allowed to emit light when the flash device is in an inverted position below the camera body. 6. A flash device having a light emitting direction detecting means capable of switching the direction of a light emitting unit with respect to a photographing direction and detecting the direction of the light emitting unit, a control means for controlling the flash device, and the camera A camera provided with a posture detecting means for detecting a posture of the main body, wherein the control means switches permission / prohibition of light emission of the flash device according to a detection posture by the posture detection means and a detection direction by the light emission direction detection means. A camera characterized by performing. 7. The flash device is disposed at an upper portion of the camera body, and the control unit detects a posture detected by the posture detection unit.
In the case where the flash device is in an inverted position below the camera body, permitting the flash device to emit light only when the detection direction by the light emission direction detection unit is a bounce direction different from the imaging direction. The camera according to claim 6, characterized in that: 8. The control unit, when disabling light emission of the flash device in accordance with the detected posture by the posture detection unit and the detection direction by the light emission direction detection unit, does not cause the flash device to emit light. 8. The camera according to claim 6, wherein an exposure control value for performing photographing is set.