JP2000231054A - Releasing operation controller for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a releasing operation controller constituted so that photographing operation may be executed as necessary even though a photographing distance is improper by setting so that warning display may be executed in the case of judging that the photographing distance is not proper at the time of releasing. SOLUTION: This controller is constituted so that the warning display may be executed in the case of judging that the photographing distance is improper at the time of releasing. In such a case, the photographing operation is executed when the releasing operation (steps 704 and 713) is kept for a prescribed time or longer in the midst of warning display. A release button and a release switch are arranged to execute the releasing operation. By depressing the release button, the release switch is turned on to execute the photographing operation. When the photographing operation is improper, turning on the release switch is made ineffective over the prescribed time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera release operation control device for displaying a warning when it is determined that a shooting distance is not appropriate during release.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Auto focus function (auto focus function)
For cameras with, the shortest shooting distance is usually set to about 60 cm. Therefore, when the distance between the camera and the subject image, that is, the shooting distance is shorter than the shortest shooting distance (60 cm), the subject image is recorded as a so-called out-of-focus image. In order to avoid recording an image, if it is determined that the shooting distance is shorter than the shortest shooting distance during ranging, the release switch is disabled to disable the shooting operation and the shooting distance is shorter than the shortest shooting distance. A warning is displayed to notify the photographer of the fact.

On the other hand, even if the recording of the subject image is out of focus, the recording of the subject image may be desired. In order to respond to such a demand, a camera in which only a warning is displayed and the release switch is made effective. Is also known. However, in such a camera, if the photographer is a beginner who is not particularly used to handling the camera, he may operate the release switch immediately without confirming the warning display, At this time, an unintended out-of-focus image is recorded.

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional camera, there is a problem that either no out-of-focus shooting is possible or unintended out-of-focus shooting is performed. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera release operation control device for displaying a warning when the photographing distance is determined to be inappropriate at the time of release. It is an object of the present invention to provide a release operation control device configured to execute a shooting operation and to prevent careless out-of-focus shooting.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

According to the present invention, a release operation control device for a camera which issues a warning when the shooting distance is determined to be inappropriate at the time of release is provided when the release operation is continued for a predetermined time or more during the warning display. It is characterized by performing a shooting operation.

In a preferred embodiment of the release operation control device according to the present invention, a release button and a release switch are provided for a release operation, and the release switch is turned on to execute a photographing operation by pressing the release button. When the shooting distance is inappropriate, the ON of the release switch is invalidated for the above-mentioned predetermined time.

In a preferred embodiment of the release operation control device according to the present invention, a distance measuring sensor for detecting a photographing distance, a distance measuring switch for operating the distance measuring sensor are provided, and the release button is half pressed. When the button is pressed, the distance measurement switch is turned on. When the release button is fully pressed, the release switch is turned on. Preferably, a timer function is provided to measure the above-mentioned predetermined time, and when the shooting distance is inappropriate, the timer function is started together with the output of the warning display, and the measurement of the above-mentioned predetermined time by the timer function is completed. After that, the release switch is turned on. The warning display can be performed by blinking a lamp, and the lamp may be turned on when it is determined that the shooting distance is appropriate.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a camera incorporating a release operation control system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show the appearance of a camera incorporating a release operation control method according to the present invention. 1, 2, and 3 show the camera as a front view, a plan view, and a rear view, respectively.

The camera comprises a camera body 10 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a projection 11 is formed substantially at the center of the front surface of the camera body 10, and a lens barrel 12 for holding a photographing lens is arranged in the projection 11. In this embodiment,
The taking lens is configured as a zoom lens, so that the lens barrel 12 is movable along its optical axis. As is apparent from FIG. 2, the lens barrel 12 is illustrated in a storage position where the lens barrel 12 is stored in the protrusion 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, a camera body 10
A finder window 14 is disposed above the lens barrel 12 in front of the camera body 10, and a finder viewing window 16 is provided on the rear side of the camera body 10. A finder optical system (not shown) is provided between the finder window 14 and the finder viewing window 16.
Is provided so that the subject can be viewed through the finder viewing window 16.
It is to be observed through.

At the front of the camera body 10, a passive AF (autofocus) window 18 is disposed adjacent to the left side (FIG. 1) of the finder window 14, and the passive AF window 18 is provided.
An AF auxiliary light projecting window 19 is provided directly below the camera. A distance measuring sensor (not shown) is provided inside the passive AF window 18, and a projection pattern is emitted from the AF auxiliary light projecting window 19 toward the subject. AF auxiliary light emission window 19
The projection pattern emitted from forms an image on the subject,
As a result, the distance measurement sensor of the passive AF window 18 measures the distance, and measures the distance between the subject and the camera. A photometric window 20 is disposed on the front of the camera body 10 adjacent to the right side of the finder window 14, and a photometric sensor (not shown) is provided inside the photometric window 20. The amount of light is measured.

At the front of the camera body 10, a self-timer lamp 22 is disposed adjacent to the right side of the photometric window 20 (FIG. 1). Further, a strobe light emission window 24 is disposed adjacent to the right side of the self-timer lamp 22, and a strobe light is emitted as needed during a photographing operation, and the light emission is emitted from the strobe light emission window 24 to the outside. Further, on the front of the camera body 10, a release signal receiving window 26 is disposed substantially adjacent to and below the self-timer lamp 22 and the strobe light emission window 24 and below the both. Is provided with a receiver (not shown) for receiving a release signal from a remote controller, whereby the photographing operation is remotely controlled.

As shown in FIG. 2, a release button 28 is disposed on the right side of the upper surface of the camera body 10. When the release button 28 is pressed, a photometric switch and a release switch, which will be described later, are operated. That is, the release button 2
When the button 8 is half-pressed, the photometric switch is turned on first, and when the release button 28 is fully pressed, the release switch is turned on. A mode selection switch button 30 and a drive switch button 32 are provided on the upper surface of the camera body 10. Further, a zoom operation lever 34 is disposed on the upper surface of the camera body 10, and by operating the zoom operation lever 34, two zoom operation switches, which will be described later, are selectively operated. Further, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel 36 is disposed substantially at the center of the upper surface of the camera body 10, and various setting information of the camera and the like are displayed on the LCD panel 36.

As shown in FIG. 3, two display lamps, that is, a green lamp 38 and a red lamp 40 are arranged on the back of the camera body 10 adjacent to the finder viewing window 16. Each is composed of, for example, a green light emitting diode and a red light emitting diode. Further, a power on / off slider 42 is disposed on the right of the green lamp 38 and the red lamp 40, and the power on / off slider 42 controls on / off of a power switch described later. Further, on the back side of the camera body 10, there is provided a back cover 44 which is opened and closed for loading and unloading of the film cartridge. The back cover 44 is opened and closed by operating a back cover opening lever 46. The release lever 46 is linked with a back cover switch as described later.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a control block diagram of the camera shown in FIGS. In the figure,
Reference numeral 48 indicates a control circuit for controlling the overall operation of the camera, and the control circuit 48 is constituted by a microcomputer. That is, the control circuit 48 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a program for executing various routines, a read-only memory (ROM) for storing constants and the like, and a writable / readable memory (ROM) for temporarily storing data and the like. RAM), an input / output interface (I / O), and the like. The microcomputer also has various timer functions, and in the present embodiment, one of them is used as a subtraction counter as described later.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control circuit 48 includes a series of switches 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 6
2, 64 and 66 are connected.
As for the OFF operation, as described below, a release button 28, a mode selection switch button 30, a drive switch button 32, and a zoom operation lever 3 provided on the camera body 10 are provided.
4. The operation is performed by operating the power on / off slider 42 and the back cover opening lever 46.

The switch 50 is a power switch, and the on / off operation of the power switch 50 is performed by a power on / off slider 42. That is, in FIG. 2, the power on / off slider 42 is placed on the OFF side, but by moving the power on / off slider 42 from the OFF side to the ON side, the power switch 50 is turned on. . When the power switch 50 is turned on, the control circuit 48 starts operating, all functions of the camera become operable, and the LCD panel 36 is also in a state where various display items can be displayed. The control circuit 48 is connected to the power switch 5
Even when the power is off, power is always supplied from the battery 68, and the necessary minimum operation is performed in a low power consumption state. However, when the power switch 50 is turned on, a process required for the photographing operation is started.

The switch 52 is a back cover switch. The back cover switch 52 is turned off when the back cover 44 is opened by operating the back cover opening lever 46, and when the back cover 44 is completely closed after the film cartridge is loaded. It turns on. When the back cover switch 52 is turned on while the power switch 50 is on, the sensitivity data is D from the film cartridge.
The control circuit 4 is read by the X code input circuit 70 and
8.

The switch 54 is a rewind switch. When the rewind switch 54 is turned on, the film feed motor 74 is driven by the film feed circuit 72 in the rewind direction. By driving the film feed motor 74, the film pulled out from the film cartridge for photographing is forcibly rewound into the film cartridge. A switch button for turning on / off the rewind switch 54 is provided on the bottom side of the camera body 10.

A switch 56 is a strobe mode changeover switch. The on / off operation of the strobe mode changeover switch 56 is performed by a mode selection switch button 30. Each time the strobe mode changeover switch 56 is turned on by pressing the mode selection switch button 30, three strobe modes, that is, an automatic light emission mode, a forced light emission mode, and a light emission inhibition mode are sequentially switched. The automatic flash mode is a mode in which the flash is fired so that the shutter speed does not fall below the so-called camera shake value at the time of automatic exposure. This is a mode for prohibiting strobe light emission at times.

Strobe light emission is performed by a strobe circuit 76. The strobe circuit 76 is supplied with power from a battery 68, and strobe light emission and power supply are appropriately controlled by a control circuit 48. As is well known, the strobe circuit 76
A booster circuit for boosting the power supply voltage from the battery 68, a charging capacitor charged by the booster circuit at a high voltage, an arc tube (for example, a xenon tube) to which a high voltage is applied from the charging capacitor, A trigger circuit (emission control circuit) for controlling application of a high voltage to the arc tube. During charging of the charging capacitor of the strobe circuit 76, the red lamp 40 is blinked. When the charging of the charging capacitor is completed, the red lamp 40 shifts from the blinking state to the lighting state. Note that a strobe light emission mark is displayed on the LCD panel 36 when strobe light emission accompanies shooting, that is, when the forced light emission mode is selected, or when strobe light emission is required in the automatic light emission mode.

The switch 58 is a drive switch,
The ON / OFF operation of the drive switch is performed by the drive switch button 32. Drive switch button 32
The self-timer function, the remote control function, and the normal release function are sequentially switched each time the drive switch 58 is turned on by pressing. Note that the self-timer function is a function for performing a shooting operation after a predetermined time has elapsed since the release button 28 is pressed, the remote control function is a function for performing a shooting operation by a remote controller, and the normal release function is a release button. This is a function for immediately performing a photographing operation when the button 28 is pressed. When one of the self-timer function and the remote control function is selected, a mark indicating the selected function is displayed on the LCD panel 36. When the self-timer function is selected and the release button 28 is fully pressed, the self-timer lamp 22 is turned on, for example, for 7 seconds, and then flashes for 3 seconds, and then a shooting operation is performed. On the other hand, when the remote control function is selected, the release signal transmitted from the remote controller is received by the remote control receiving circuit 78 through the release signal receiving window 26, and is then taken into the control circuit 48 to perform a shooting operation.

The switches 60 and 62 are a zoom tele switch and a zoom wide switch. When the zoom operation lever 34 is shifted rightward in FIG. 2, the zoom tele switch 60 is turned on, and the zoom operation lever is turned on. When 34 is shifted to the left in FIG.
The wide switch 62 is turned on. When one of the zoom tele switch 60 and the zoom wide switch 62 is turned on, the zoom motor 82 is driven by the zoom lens driving circuit 80, and the zoom lens (not shown) is moved. Of course, when the zoom tele switch 60 is on, the focal length of the zoom lens is moved to the telephoto side, and when the zoom wide switch 62 is on, the focal length of the zoom lens is moved to the wide angle side. A code plate (not shown) for detecting the position of the zoom lens is provided in the movement range of the zoom lens.
The zoom lens position data read from the code plate is taken into the control circuit 48 from the zoom code input circuit 84.

The switches 64 and 66 are a photometric switch and a release switch, respectively. When the release button 28 (FIG. 2) is half-pressed, the photometric switch 64 is turned on.
When the release button 28 is fully pressed, the release switch 6
6 is turned on. When the photometry switch 64 is turned on by half-pressing the release button 28, the photometry circuit 86 is driven,
Thus, photometry is performed through the photometry window 20. Also,
The photometry switch 64 also functions as a distance measurement switch, and when the photometry switch 64 is turned on, the distance measurement circuit 88 is simultaneously driven, whereby the distance measurement is performed through the passive AF window 18. A drive pulse is output from the focus drive circuit 90 to the auto focus drive motor 92 in accordance with the distance measurement result, whereby the auto focus operation is performed. When the distance measurement is performed properly, the green lamp 38 is turned on. However, when the distance measurement result is incorrect, the green lamp 38 is turned on.
Flashes. On the other hand, when the release switch 66 is turned on by fully pressing the release button 28, a driving pulse is output from the shutter driving circuit 94 to the shutter driving motor 96, whereby the shutter is opened for a predetermined time and the photographing operation is performed. Will be

When the photographing operation by the full press of the release button 28 is completed, the film feed motor 74 is driven in the winding direction by the film feed circuit 72, and the film is pulled out from the film cartridge by one frame (one frame). When one frame of the film is detected by the film feeding signal input circuit 98, and when one frame of the film is detected by the film feeding signal input circuit 98, the film feeding circuit 72 controls the film feeding motor. The drive of 74 is stopped.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown a flowchart of a main processing routine executed by the control circuit 48 of the camera described above. In the main processing routine, in a camera standby state in which no operation is performed, a predetermined time interval, for example, 200 ms, for reducing power consumption.
It is an endless routine where one loop is executed every time,
Its execution is started by loading or replacing the battery 68 (FIG. 4). On the other hand, when a switch operation is performed, an interrupt due to a switch change occurs, and the main processing routine is executed only for one loop regardless of a predetermined time interval.

First, in step 501, the camera is initialized. For example, initialization of the RAM and various counters of the control circuit 48 is performed.
If the zoom lens is not located at the initial position when the zoom lens is turned off, the zoom lens is returned to the initial position (FIGS. 1 and 2).

In step 502, the rewind switch 54
Is turned on or not, and if the rewind switch 5
When it is confirmed that the film No. 4 is turned on, the process proceeds to step 503, in which the film is forcibly rewound. That is, as described above, when the rewind switch 54 is turned on, the film feed motor 74 is driven in the rewind direction to forcibly remove the film drawn from the film cartridge for photographing. Rewinded inside.
If it is determined in step 502 that the rewind switch 54 is off, the process proceeds from step 502 to step 504.

In step 504, the change of the back cover switch 52 is monitored. For example, when the back cover switch 52 shifts from the off state to the on state, it is determined that a new film has been loaded. At this time, the process proceeds from step 504 to step 505, where the back cover opening / closing process is executed. In the back cover opening / closing processing, the cue of the first frame of the film is performed, and the back cover opening / closing processing includes a process of clearing a film counter to “0” when the back cover is opened. When the change of the back cover switch 52 is not recognized, the process proceeds from step 504 to step 506.

At step 506, it is determined whether the power is on. Note that the power-on state means a state in which the control circuit 48 recognizes that the power is currently on on software and is performing processing. If the power is not on, the process proceeds to step 507, where the power switch 5
It is determined whether 0 is on. If the power switch 50 is on, the process proceeds to step 508, where power-on processing is performed. The power-on processing includes, for example, projecting the photographing lens from the storage position to the photographing position, and enabling the photometric switch 64 and the release switch 66.

If the power is on in step 506, the process proceeds from step 506 to step 509, where it is determined whether the power switch 50 is off. If the power switch 50 is off, the process proceeds to step 510, where power-off processing is executed. The power-off processing includes, for example, returning the photographing lens from the photographing position to the storage position, and disabling the photometric switch 64 and the release switch 66. If it is confirmed in step 509 that the power switch 50 is turned on, then steps 509 to 51
Proceed to 1.

In step 511, it is determined whether or not the zoom tele switch 60 is on. If the zoom tele switch 60 is on, step 512
The zoom tele process is executed there. That is, as described above, by shifting the zoom operation lever 34 to the right (FIG. 2), the zoom tele switch 60 is moved.
Is turned on, and the zoom lens is moved to the telephoto side (telephoto side) by the zoom motor 82. If it is not confirmed in step 511 that the zoom tele switch 60 is on, the process proceeds from step 511 to step 513.

In step 513, it is determined whether or not the zoom wide switch 62 is on. If the zoom wide switch 62 is on, step 5
The process proceeds to 14, where zoom wide processing is executed. That is, as described above, by shifting the zoom operation lever 34 to the left (FIG. 2), the zoom wide switch 62 is turned on, and the zoom lens is moved to the wide side (wide angle side) by the zoom motor 82. Can be If it is not confirmed in step 513 that the zoom / wide switch 62 is ON, the process proceeds from step 513 to step 515.
Proceed to.

At step 515, the drive switch 5
8 is turned on, and if it is confirmed that the drive switch 58 is turned on, the process proceeds to step 516, and
Then, drive setting processing is performed. That is, as described above, each time the drive switch 58 is turned on by pressing the drive switch button 32, the normal release function, the self-timer function, and the remote control function are sequentially switched. Is performed. If the drive switch 58 is off at step 515, the process proceeds from step 515 to step 517.

In step 517, it is monitored whether or not the flash mode switch 56 has been turned on. If it is confirmed that the flash mode switch 56 has been turned on, the process proceeds to step 518, where the mode setting process is executed. That is, as described above, every time the strobe mode changeover switch 56 is turned on by pressing the switch button 30, three strobe modes, that is, an automatic light emission mode, a forced light emission mode, and a light emission inhibition mode are sequentially switched. The processing required for each mode is executed. In step 517, the flash mode changeover switch 5
If step 6 is off, steps 517 to 5
Proceed to 19.

In step 519, it is monitored whether the photometric switch 64 is turned on, that is, whether the release button 28 is half-pressed. When it is confirmed that the photometry switch 64 is turned on, the process proceeds to step 520, where a photographing process is executed. The photographing process will be described later in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. If the photometry switch 64 is off at step 519, the process proceeds to step 521.

In step 521, it is determined whether the remote control function is selected (steps 515 and 516). If the remote control function is selected, the process proceeds to step 522, where a predetermined remote operation check is performed. Processing is performed. Next, at step 523, it is monitored whether or not a release signal has been received from the remote controller. When the release signal has been received, the process proceeds to step 520, where a photographing process (FIGS. 7 and 8) is executed. If the release signal has not been received, the process proceeds to step 524, where it is determined whether or not the charging capacitor of the strobe circuit 76 needs to be charged.
Then, the main charging process is executed, and charging of the charging capacitor of the strobe circuit 76 is started.
On the other hand, if the remote control function has not been selected in step 521, the process proceeds from step 521 to step 5
Skip to 24.

As long as the battery 68 is loaded in the camera as described above, the above-described main processing routine is constantly executed at a predetermined time interval (200 ms).

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown a flowchart of a photographing processing routine executed in step 520 of the above-described main processing routine. The photographing processing routine will be described below.

In step 701, the distance measuring process is executed by turning on the photometric switch 64 by half-pressing the release button 28 (step 519 in the main processing routine). Next, at step 702, it is determined whether or not the distance measurement has been properly performed. That is, it is determined whether or not the shooting distance (the distance between the camera and the subject) detected by the distance measurement is equal to or longer than a predetermined distance. For example, when the shortest shooting distance of the camera is set to 60 cm, and when the shooting distance detected by the distance measurement is 60 cm or less, the distance measurement is determined to be inappropriate.
From step 02, the process proceeds to step 703, where the green lamp 38 is blinked, thereby notifying the photographer that the distance measurement is inappropriate. Here, the green lamp 38 is used.
Is continued until the light-off process is executed (steps 711 and 717).

In step 704, a predetermined timer function in the microcomputer of the control circuit 48 is started. This timer function functions as a subtraction counter, and in step 704, an initial value corresponding to 2 seconds is set. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 702 that the distance measurement has been properly performed, the process proceeds from step 702 to step 705, where the green lamp 38 is turned on.

In step 706, photometric processing is performed to determine a photometric value. In step 707, AE (automatic exposure) calculation processing is executed based on the photometric value,
Next, at step 708, it is determined based on the result of the AE calculation process whether or not strobe light emission is necessary. If strobe emission is required, proceed to step 709, where the strobe circuit 76 is charged. When the power switch 50 is turned on or after the strobe light is emitted, the charging of the charging capacitor of the strobe circuit 76 is performed only once. Thereafter, a part of the charge is discharged. This is to compensate for the discharge. During execution of the charging process in step 709, the red lamp 40 is blinked until the charging is completed, and when the charging is completed, the red lamp 40 shifts from the blinking state to the lighting state.

In step 710, it is determined whether or not the photometry switch 64 is in the ON state, that is, whether or not the release button 28 has been half-pressed. If the photometric switch 64 is turned off, that is, if the release button is half-pressed, the process proceeds to step 711, where the green lamp 46 and the red lamp 48 are turned off. Thereafter, the process returns to the main processing routine of FIGS.

On the other hand, at step 710, the photometric switch 64
If the is in the ON state, the process proceeds to step 712, where it is determined whether or not the photographing distance obtained in the distance measuring process in step 701 is appropriate. If the shooting distance is not appropriate, that is, if the green lamp 38 is blinking, the process proceeds to step 713, where it is determined whether or not the time measurement by the timer function (step 704) has reached 2 seconds. . If two seconds have not elapsed, the process returns to step 710, and the same routine is repeated. Therefore, as long as the photometric switch 64 is on, the blinking of the green lamp 46 is continued. If it is determined in step 712 that the shooting distance is appropriate, or if it is confirmed in step 713 that the time measurement by the timer function has reached 2 seconds, the process proceeds to step 714, in which the release switch 66 is turned on. It is determined whether or not the release button 28 has been fully pressed. If the release switch 66 is not turned on, the process returns to step 710 again, and the same routine is repeated.

The above steps 710 to 71
If the result of the distance measurement is not proper according to the processing in step 4, even if the release switch 66 is turned on, the ON signal is invalidated, and a warning display (green lamp 3
6 blinking) can be noticed. Therefore, when the photographing of the out-of-focus image is not desired, the photographing of the out-of-focus image can be avoided by releasing the pressing of the release button 28. On the other hand, when the result of the distance measurement is proper, the ON signal issued when the release switch 66 is turned ON is not invalidated, and the normal photographing operation is performed.

When it is confirmed in step 714 that the release switch 66 has been turned on, the flow advances to step 715 where it is determined whether the self-timer function has been selected.
If the self-timer function has been selected, the process proceeds to step 716, where a self-timer process is executed. That is, the self-timer lamp 22 is turned on for 7 seconds after the release switch 66 is turned on, and thereafter, is turned on and off for 3 seconds. On the other hand, if the self-timer function is not selected, the process proceeds from step 715 to step 717, where the green lamp 38 and the red lamp 40 are turned off. Even if the self-timer function is selected, after 10 seconds have elapsed after the release switch 66 is turned on, the process proceeds to step 717, where the green lamp 38 and the red lamp 40 are turned off.

In step 718, it is determined whether or not strobe light emission is required. If strobe light emission is required, the process proceeds to step 719, where FM calculation processing is performed. That is, the shutter aperture at the time of flash emission for obtaining an appropriate exposure is calculated. Next, at step 720, an exposure control process is executed based on the result of the AE calculation process (step 707) and the result of the FM calculation process (step 719). On the other hand, if it is determined in step 718 that strobe light emission is not required, the process immediately proceeds from step 718 to step 720, where exposure control processing is executed based on the AE calculation result. In any case, in the exposure control process executed in step 720, the shutter drive motor 96 is driven by the shutter drive circuit 94, and a photographing operation with a predetermined shutter exposure or a predetermined shutter aperture is performed based on each calculation result. The photographing operation accompanied by the strobe light emission is executed.

After the photographing operation is completed, the process proceeds to step 721, where a film winding process is executed. That is, the film is wound up by one frame, and the next frame is pulled out to the shooting position. As described above, the film feed for one frame is performed by driving the film feed motor 74 by the film feed circuit 72 and detecting the amount of film drawn by the film feed signal input circuit 98. Will be Then, Step 7
At 22, it is determined whether or not a predetermined number of frames of the film have been photographed. If the predetermined number of frames has been photographed, the flow proceeds to step 723 to execute an automatic rewinding process, whereby the film is transferred to the cartridge. Rewind. If the photographing for the predetermined number of frames has not been completed, the process immediately returns to the main processing routine of FIGS.

[0052]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when it is determined that the shooting distance is not appropriate at the time of release, a warning display (flashing of a green lamp) is output for a predetermined time. In addition, it is possible not only to prevent the photographer from performing unintended out-of-focus shooting, but also to perform shooting as necessary even if the shooting distance is inappropriate.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera incorporating a release operation control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a part of a flowchart of a main processing routine executed by the control circuit shown in FIG. 4;

6 is the remaining part of the flowchart of the main processing routine executed by the control circuit shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a part of a flowchart of a shooting processing routine executed by the control circuit shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is the remaining part of the flowchart of the shooting processing routine executed by the control circuit shown in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Camera body 12 Lens tube 14 Viewfinder window 16 Viewfinder viewing window 18 Passive AF (autofocus) window 19 AF auxiliary light emission window 20 Metering window 28 Release button 30 Mode selection switch button 32 Drive switch button 38 Green lamp 40 Red lamp 42 Power supply ON / OFF slider 48 Control circuit 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 6
6 switch

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] December 15, 1999 (1999.12.
15)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0020

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The switch 50 is a power switch, and the on / off operation of the power switch 50 is performed by a power on / off slider 42. That is, in FIG. 3 , the power on / off slider 42 is placed on the OFF side, but the power switch 50 is turned on by moving the power on / off slider 42 from the OFF side to the ON side. . When the power switch 50 is turned on, the control circuit 48 starts operating, all functions of the camera become operable, and the LCD panel 36 is also in a state where various display items can be displayed. The control circuit 48 is connected to the power switch 5
Even when the power is off, power is always supplied from the battery 68, and the necessary minimum operation is performed in a low power consumption state. However, when the power switch 50 is turned on, a process required for the photographing operation is started.

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0021

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The switch 52 is a back cover switch. The back cover switch 52 is turned off when the back cover 44 is opened by operating the back cover opening lever 46, and when the back cover 44 is completely closed after the film cartridge is loaded. It turns on. When the back cover switch 52 is turned on, the first
At the same time, the sensitivity data is read from the film cartridge by the DX code input circuit 70 and taken into the control circuit 48.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0028

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

When the photographing operation by the full press of the release button 28 is completed, the film feed motor 74 is driven in the winding direction by the film feed circuit 72, and the film is pulled out from the film cartridge by one frame (one frame). When the drawing of one frame of film is detected by the film feeding signal input circuit 98, the driving of the film feeding motor 74 by the film feeding circuit 72 is stopped.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0040

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In step 521, it is determined whether the remote control function is selected (steps 515 and 516). If the remote control function is selected, the process proceeds to step 522, where a predetermined remote operation check is performed. Processing is performed. Next, at step 523, it is monitored whether or not a release signal has been received from the remote controller. When the release signal has been received, the process proceeds to step 520, where a photographing process (FIGS. 7 and 8) is executed. Also, if when a release signal is not received, the process proceeds to step 524, where it is determined whether or not it is necessary to charge the charging capacitor of the strobe circuit 76, if if necessary charging, step 525
Then, the main charging process is executed, and charging of the charging capacitor of the strobe circuit 76 is started.
On the other hand, the remote control function in step 521 if not selected, skips from step 521 to step 524.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0043

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In step 701, the distance measuring process is executed by turning on the photometric switch 64 by half-pressing the release button 28 (step 519 in the main processing routine). Next, at step 702, it is determined whether or not the distance measurement has been properly performed. That is, it is determined whether or not the shooting distance (the distance between the camera and the subject) detected by the distance measurement is equal to or longer than a predetermined distance. For example, when the shortest shooting distance of the camera is set to 60 cm, and when the shooting distance detected by the distance measurement is 60 cm or less, the distance measurement is determined to be inappropriate.
From step 02, the process proceeds to step 703, where the green lamp 38 is blinked, thereby notifying the photographer that the distance measurement is inappropriate. Here, the green lamp 38 is used.
For the flashing, that have come to be allowed to continue until the off processing is executed (step 711 and step 717).

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0048

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The above steps 710 to 71
If the result of the distance measurement is not proper according to the processing in step 4, even if the release switch 66 is turned on, the ON signal is invalidated, and a warning display (green lamp 3
8 flashing) can be noticed. Therefore, when the photographing of the out-of-focus image is not desired, the photographing of the out-of-focus image can be avoided by releasing the pressing of the release button 28. On the other hand, when the result of the distance measurement is proper, the ON signal issued when the release switch 66 is turned ON is not invalidated, and the normal photographing operation is performed.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A release operation control device for a camera, which displays a warning when it is determined that the shooting distance is inappropriate at the time of release, performs a shooting operation when a release operation is continued for a predetermined time or more during the warning display. A release operation control device. 2. The release operation control device according to claim 1, further comprising: a release button and a release switch for a release operation, and the release switch is turned on to execute a photographing operation by pressing the release button. The release operation control device, wherein when the shooting distance is inappropriate, the release switch is turned off for the predetermined time. 3. The release operation control device according to claim 2, further comprising: a distance measuring sensor for detecting the photographing distance; and a distance measuring switch for operating the distance measuring sensor. A release operation control device, wherein when the shutter button is half-pressed, the distance measurement switch is turned on, and when the release button is fully pressed, the release switch is turned on. 4. The release operation control device according to claim 3, wherein a timer function is provided for measuring the predetermined time, and the timer function is started together with output of a warning display when an object distance is inappropriate. And releasing the release switch after the measurement of the predetermined time by the timer function is completed. 5. The release operation control device according to claim 1, wherein the warning display is performed by flashing a lamp, and when it is determined that the photographing distance is appropriate. The release operation control device, wherein the lamp is turned on.