JP2001066670A - Camera with red-eye softening function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate need for arranging a space for radiating heat or a heat liberation member near a light source for softening a red eye and to obtain a higher red-eye softening effect without obstructing the miniaturization of a camera. SOLUTION: This camera is provided with a 1st timer means (#17) starting the counting of time at the same time that the light source for softening a red eye is started to be turned on and counting 1st prescribed time for continuously turning on the light source for softening a red eye, a 2nd timer means starting the counting of time at the same time that the light source for softening a red eye is turned off and counting 2nd prescribed time for keeping a turning- off state of the light source for softening a red eye and a control means (#13-#16) inhibiting the turning-on of the light source for softening a red eye till the 2nd prescribed time is counted by the 2nd timer means even when 1st- stage operation of a release member is executed again after the light source for softening a red eye is turned on in the 1st prescribed time counted by the 1st timer means in response to the 1st-stage operation of the release member.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention performs a photographing preparation operation including a start of turning on a red-eye reduction light source in response to a first-stage operation of a release member, and performs a photographing operation in response to a second-stage operation. The present invention relates to improvement of a camera having a red-eye reduction function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, in color photography using an electronic flash device, there has been a case where a red-eye phenomenon occurs in which human eyes shine red. This red-eye phenomenon occurs because the flash of the electronic flash device is reflected by the retina of the human eye, and the reflection is reflected on the film. The red image is due to capillaries existing in the retina, and this phenomenon is particularly likely to occur in the following cases. (1) When the pupil is open due to the dark imaging environment. (2) When the light reflected by the retina enters the imaging lens due to the short distance between the light emitting part of the electronic flash device and the optical axis of the imaging lens. In general, it is considered that the red-eye effect occurs when the angle at which the pupil of the subject looks at the flash tube and the photographing lens is 2 degrees or less.

In order to alleviate this red-eye effect, the photographing lens and the flashlight emitting portion are separated from each other. If the same focusing lens is used, the photographing distance at the angle at which the red-eye effect occurs becomes longer. The size is smaller, which is effective in making the red-eye effect less noticeable.

[0004] As a method for alleviating red-eye, a pre-irradiation lamp is used to pre-irradiate a subject by a pre-irradiation lamp only for a time necessary for a human pupil to perform a closing operation, thereby reducing the pupil diameter so as to be inconspicuous on a photograph. The method is disclosed in
No. 192235. Also, even if the first and second strokes of the release switch of the camera are performed, the red-eye reduction pre-emission light source is turned on for a predetermined time required for red-eye reduction as a photographing preparation operation, and the release switch operation is prohibited during this time. It is known that a shooting operation is performed by performing a second stroke operation after a predetermined time has elapsed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of such a conventional camera. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 7 denotes an irradiation window of a red-eye reduction lamp provided in the camera body 6 to be described later, 4 denotes a photographing lens, and 5 denotes a first stroke operation. Is a release switch for performing a shooting preparation operation and performing a shooting operation by a second stroke operation.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a light emitting circuit and a red-eye reduction lamp driving circuit provided in the camera shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3 denotes a red-eye reduction lamp;
Is a battery which is a power supply, 10 is a control circuit of a camera,
Reference numeral 11 denotes a transistor for turning on a red-eye reduction lamp, reference numeral 12 denotes a known DC-DC converter for boosting, reference numeral 13 denotes a main capacitor for light emission of the flash tube 1, and reference numeral 8 denotes a known trigger circuit.

The red-eye reduction lamp 3 is connected between the collector of the transistor 11 and the ground, the emitter of the transistor 11 is connected to the + side of the battery 9, the base is connected to the control circuit 10, and
Connected respectively. In such a configuration, the control circuit 10 supplies a signal L (meaning low level) to the base terminal of the transistor 11 to turn on the red-eye reduction lamp 3. Irradiation of the red-eye reduction lamp 3 is performed for a predetermined time period effective for red-eye reduction, and thereafter, the base terminal of the transistor 11 is controlled (signal H (meaning high level) is applied) to turn off the red-eye reduction lamp 3. Let it.

In FIG. 1, a known D for boosting the battery voltage by a switching operation and charging the main capacitor 13 is shown.
The description of the operation of the C-DC converter 12 and the details of the light emitting circuit that detects the charging voltage of the main capacitor 13 and applies a trigger voltage to the flash tube 1 to emit light will be omitted.

[0010]

In recent cameras, it has become physically difficult to dispose the photographing lens and the flash light emitting unit apart from each other as the size of the camera body becomes more compact. On the other hand, if the illuminance of the red-eye alleviation lamp 3 illuminated on the pupil is low, the effect is weak even if illuminated for the time required for closing the pupil. Is required to increase the illuminance. It is known that this method is more effective in reducing red-eye. However, when a high-brightness lamp is turned on, a larger current flows to generate more heat. However, depending on the arrangement when the lamp is mounted, the camera body may generate heat, which may have an adverse effect. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the lighting time of the red-eye reduction lamp 3 and the temperature rise (the details will be described later in comparison with FIG. 4). To prevent this, a space for heat radiation or a heat radiation measure provided with a heat radiating plate may be taken, but from the recent proposition of miniaturization of the camera, it is desired to omit a space dedicated to heat radiation where the camera body becomes large.

(Object of the Invention) It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the need for providing a space for heat radiation or a heat radiation member around a light source for alleviating red eyes, and to increase the size of the camera without hindering the miniaturization of the camera. An object of the present invention is to provide a camera with a red-eye reduction function capable of obtaining a red-eye reduction effect.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a light source for alleviating red-eye, and starts lighting of the light source for red-eye alleviation in response to a first-stage operation of a release member. In a camera with a red-eye mitigation function that performs a photographic preparation operation including a photographic operation and performs a photographic operation in response to a second-stage operation, time measurement is started simultaneously with the start of lighting of the red-eye reduction light source, and the red-eye reduction light source is continuously lit. A first timer means for measuring a first predetermined time to be performed; and a second timer for starting a time measurement simultaneously with turning off the red-eye alleviating light source and measuring a second predetermined time for keeping the red-eye mitigating light source off. Timer means, and the first timer means measures the red-eye reduction light source in response to a first-stage operation of the release member.
After the light is turned on for a predetermined time, even if the first-stage operation of the release member is performed again, until the second predetermined time is measured by the second timer means, the light source for red-eye reduction is stopped. This is a camera with a red-eye reduction function having a control unit that does not permit lighting.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part of a camera with a red-eye reduction function according to an embodiment of the present invention. The point is that a timer circuit 14 for measuring the light-off time is provided. Note that the appearance of the camera is the same as in FIG.

Next, the operation of the main part of the camera according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3 and FIGS. In the camera according to the present embodiment, a shooting preparation operation is performed by a first stroke operation of the release switch 5 (hereinafter, switch SW1 is turned on), and a second stroke operation (hereinafter, switch SW1) is performed.
2 is ON) to perform a shooting operation.

The control circuit 10 starts operation from step # 10. First, in step # 11, the switch SW
When it is detected that 1 has been turned on, the process proceeds to step # 12,
The accumulated time of the extinguishing time of the red-eye reduction lamp 3 up to the present is checked. Here, the timer circuit 14 is for measuring the extinguishing time and the continuous lighting time of the red-eye alleviating lamp (referred to as “red-eye lamp” in the flow) 3. "(Count-up time) is set. In the next step # 13, it is checked whether or not the timer circuit 14 is counting 30 seconds, for example, which is set as a count-up time of the extinguishing time of the red-eye alleviation lamp 3,
If the time has not been counted, it is determined that the camera exterior temperature due to the lighting of the red-eye reduction lamp 3 has not yet decreased to an optimum value equal to or lower than the design value, and the process returns to step # 11 again and returns to the state of waiting for the ON input of the switch SW1. .

Thereafter, when it is detected in step # 13 that the light-off time of 30 seconds or more has been measured, it is determined that the exterior temperature of the camera due to the lighting of the red-eye reduction lamp 3 has fallen below the design value, and the flow proceeds to step # 14. Then, the timer circuit 14 resets the counting of the extinguishing time described above. Then, in the next step # 15, the timer circuit 14 is set in order to measure the continuous lighting time of the red-eye reduction lamp 3. In the following step # 16, lighting of the red-eye alleviating lamp 3 by turning on the switch SW1 is started. At the same time, in the next step # 17, the timer circuit 14 for counting the continuous lighting time is started. Proceed to 18.

Although not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, the first operation of the photographing preparation operation is performed by turning on the switch SW1.
Needless to say, camera operations such as AE and AF, which are stage operations, are also performed. In the setting mode of the camera, the condition is not limited to a condition in which the red-eye reduction lamp is not turned on regardless of the luminance around the subject, or a condition in which the peripheral luminance is high and light emission is unnecessary.

In step # 18 of FIG. 3, it is detected whether or not the switch SW1 is turned off. If the red-eye reduction lamp 3 remains lit by turning on the switch SW1, the process proceeds to step # 19. If it has been turned off, the process proceeds to step # 26, where the red-eye alleviating lamp 3 is turned off. At the same time, in the next step # 27, the lighting time of the red-eye alleviating lamp 3 in the timer circuit 14 is reset. It returns to the start sequence of 10.

On the other hand, in step # 18, the switch S
If W1 remains ON and the red-eye reduction lamp 3 remains lit, the process proceeds to step # 19, as described above, and it is detected whether the switch SW2 has been turned ON.
If so, the process immediately proceeds to step # 25 to execute a known photographing operation.

If the switch SW2 is OFF, the process proceeds to step # 20, where it is checked whether or not the continuous lighting time (for example, one minute) of the red-eye alleviating lamp 3 has been counted up. Returning to # 18, the same operation is repeated thereafter.

Thereafter, at step # 18, the switch SW
1 is not turned off, and the switch SW is
When No. 2 is not turned on and it is detected in step # 20 that the lighting time of the red-eye alleviation lamp 3, for example, one minute has elapsed, the process proceeds to step # 21. Here, the lighting cutoff time by the red-eye reduction lamp 3 is set to 1 minute, but the set time is uniquely set according to the specifications of the camera. The conditions are set for the purpose of preventing the temperature from exceeding the design temperature value due to heat generation.

When proceeding to step # 21, the red-eye reduction lamp 3 is turned off. At the same time, in the next step # 22, the turning-off time of the red-eye reduction lamp 3 is set. Start counting off time. Then, in the next step # 24, it is checked whether or not the switch SW2 is ON. If the switch SW2 is ON, the process proceeds to step # 25 to execute a known photographing operation.

On the other hand, in step # 24, the switch S
If W2 is OFF, the process returns to steps # 11 to # 13 in FIG. 2, and even if the switch SW1 is turned ON again, as described above, the red-eye reduction lamp 3 remains turned on until the extinguishing time by the timer circuit 14 is counted up. Do not allow lighting.

That is, after the count-up time of one minute due to the lighting of the red-eye reduction lamp 3, the switch SW
Even if it is desired to turn on the LED 1, the red-eye reduction lamp 3 cannot be turned on again unless the light-off time (30 seconds) has elapsed.

Next, the effects of the embodiment of the present invention will be outlined with reference to FIG. 4 and the flowcharts of FIGS.

First, the view of FIG. 4 will be briefly described. The horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents a temperature rise ΔT ° C. of a predetermined portion of the exterior body of the camera or the inside of the camera. ΔTmax ° C. on the vertical axis is a design value of the maximum temperature rise at a predetermined location which should not be exceeded in any use condition in the camera specification.

Next, a brief description will be given in conjunction with the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3 described above.
= T ₀ (see FIG. 4), if it is ON, the process proceeds from step # 11 of FIG. 2 to step # 12, where the integrated time of the extinguishing time of the red-eye reduction lamp 3 up to the present is checked. Here, as described above, the continuous lighting time of the red-eye reduction lamp 3 (1 minute = first predetermined time) and the integrated time of extinguishing (30 seconds = second predetermined time) are set as design values.

If it is determined in step # 13 that the second predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step # 14, in which the light-off time is reset, and in step # 15,
At t = t _{0, the} lighting time is set, and at the same time, Step # 1
At 7, the timing of the first predetermined time is started. Thereafter, when the lighting time has counted the first predetermined time in step # 20 in FIG. 3, the red-eye reduction lamp 20 is turned off in the next step # 21, and the turning-off time is set in the next step # 25. Is performed, and in the next step # 23, the counting of the second predetermined time is started. Then, if the switch SW2 is not turned on in the next step # 24, FIG.
In step # 13, if the second predetermined time has not elapsed, the operation associated with turning on the switch SW1 is not permitted again. That is, the first predetermined time (1 min), after continuous lighting, (until past the t = t ₂₎ until again be switch SW1 is ON, the second predetermined time elapses, again red The relaxation lamp 3 is not turned on.

Here, the second predetermined time is a design value in which the exterior of the red-eye reduction lamp 3 is turned off, or the temperature of the predetermined portion is sufficiently lowered, so that the switch SW1 is turned on again to turn on the second predetermined time. Even if the light is turned on until the termination time (t ₃ ), ΔTmax will not be exceeded.

The above operation avoids the following problems shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 7, a design value (referred to as ΔTmax) of the temperature rise inside the camera body or the camera is set, and the continuous lighting time t ₀ of the red-eye reduction lamp is set.
~t ₁ If you set only a (censored time △ T ₁₎ is,
The switch SW1 OFF (t ₁₎ to, again switch S
If the turning-off time (ΔT ₂ ) when W1 is turned on (t ₄ ) is not sufficient, the switch SW1 is turned on (t ₄ ) again to turn on the red-eye alleviation lamp 3, and the time before the lighting cut-off time is reached. (T ₅ ) is the design temperature rise value (ΔTmax
).

With the configuration as in the above-described embodiment, the flash tube 1 and the reflection shade (not shown) and the red-eye reduction lamp 3 are provided in the reflection shade in the heat generated by the continuous lighting of the red-eye reduction lamp 3. Even if the red-eye alleviating lamp 3 is arranged near the light emitting unit or the outer cover of the camera body, the heat generated by the lighting of the red-eye alleviating lamp 3 can be used as a heat radiation space or a heat radiation. It is not necessary to provide a plate or the like, which is effective in reducing costs and reducing the size of the camera.

Further, even when the red-eye reduction lamp 3 is arranged near the light emitting unit or the exterior cover inside the camera body, the inside of the camera or the camera exterior is continuously turned on by the red-eye reduction lamp 3. The above effects can be obtained more reliably by appropriately managing the temperature (the extinction time and the (continuous) lighting time) in the above-described two time periods (the temperature can be arbitrarily changed depending on the configuration of the camera). .

Furthermore, since the continuous lighting time and the extinguishing time of the red-eye alleviating lamp 3 are measured by using a single timer circuit, this also contributes to downsizing.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention,
There is no need to provide a heat radiation space or heat radiation member around the red-eye reduction light source, and a camera with a red-eye reduction function that can achieve a higher red-eye reduction effect without hindering downsizing of the camera. It can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a main part of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a part of an operation of a main part of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the operation in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an effect of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a camera according to the related art and the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part of a conventional camera.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a problem of a conventional camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flash tube 3 Red-eye reduction lamp 10 Control circuit 14 Timer circuit

Claims (2)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus includes a red-eye reducing light source, performs a photographing preparation operation including a start of turning on the red-eye reducing light source in response to a first-stage operation of a release member, and responds to a second-stage operation. In a camera with a red-eye alleviation function that performs a shooting operation, timing starts simultaneously with the start of lighting of the light source for red-eye reduction,
A first timer means for measuring a first predetermined time for continuously turning on the red-eye reduction light source; and a second timer for starting time measurement simultaneously with turning off the red-eye reduction light source and turning off the red-eye reduction light source. Second timer means for measuring a predetermined time, and lighting of the red-eye reduction light source in response to a first-stage operation of the release member for the first predetermined time which is measured by the first timer means. After that, even if the first-stage operation of the release member is performed again, the lighting of the light source for red-eye reduction is not permitted until the second predetermined time is measured by the second timer means. A camera with a red-eye reduction function, comprising: a control unit. 2. The camera according to claim 2, wherein the first predetermined time and the second predetermined time are arbitrarily set depending on a configuration of the camera.