JP2001209111A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that a user is forced to do a very complicated work, because the user has to set the initialization of year, time and minute by himself/herself in the case of starting up a date information recording function loaded to a conventional camera. SOLUTION: As for the camera, a standard time wave is read when a power source is loaded and when a power switch is turned on/off, and then, the date information is automatically corrected. In operation of reading the standard time wave, an action causing a noise is stopped, and in the case it is impossible to read a signal showing the head of the standard time wave, the date information is not corrected if the parity by the date information is not coincident with parity data obtained by the standard time wave. Only when the standard time wave is accurately detected, or only when the date information is manually corrected, the date information is imprinted on a film.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to correction of date information of a camera or the like, and in particular, to display a clock using the date information and to record the date information on a recording medium loaded in the camera. Regarding the camera to do.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, there is a silver halide camera having a recording function of optically imprinting date information simultaneously with photographing on one corner of a frame of a film in order to confirm the date and time at the time of photographing. A camera using a film having a magnetic recording medium has a function of magnetically recording.

Further, a digital camera has a similar date information recording function, and date information is recorded in a flash memory or a magnetic material. The date information recording function described above is very convenient because date information at the time of shooting is automatically recorded at the time of film winding or image data transfer.

[0004]

However, in the above-described camera, the initial setting for starting the recording of date information requires input of year, hour, minute, and the like. For example, when a new camera is purchased, the user has to make settings while looking at the instruction manual of the camera. For this reason, the user is forced to perform very complicated work on a camera whose usage is not yet understood. In addition, the user has to set the date information change when the user crosses the date change line.

On the other hand, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 77773
Japanese Patent Publication No. 7 discloses a technique having a standard time detecting means and correcting time data by a standard time signal received by the standard time detecting means.

However, in the technology disclosed in this publication, the timing of receiving radio waves is not clarified, and there is a possibility that shooting may be performed without setting date information. An object of the present invention is to provide a camera having a date information recording function of updating to new date information based on a standard time radio wave received when a power supply of the camera is loaded or a power switch is input.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a receiving means for receiving a radio wave indicating a standard time, and a power supply detecting means for detecting that a power supply is loaded in a camera. Power switch means for turning on / off the camera operation, and clock means for counting the reference clock and updating the date information, wherein the power supply detection means detects that the camera is powered on. If the power switch is operated and turned on while the camera is powered on, the receiver starts receiving the standard time radio wave and corrects the date including the hour and minute from the received data. Provide a camera to do.

In the camera having the above-mentioned configuration, the standard time radio wave is read by the receiving means when the power supply is turned on or the power switch is turned on / off, and is automatically corrected to new date information by the clock means. Also, while reading the standard time radio wave, the operation that can be a noise source is stopped, and if the signal indicating the beginning of the standard time radio wave can not be read, the parity according to the date information and the parity data obtained from the standard time radio wave match Otherwise, the date information will not be modified. Further, the date information is imprinted on the film only when the standard time radio wave is correctly detected or when the date information is corrected by a manual operation.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a silver halide camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This camera has a CPU 1 which is a one-chip microcomputer, and stores a program stored in a storage element (ROM) provided therein based on a clock output from a reference clock generation circuit 2. Are sequentially and sequentially executed to control operations of peripheral integrated circuits and the like. In addition, the CPU 1 calculates the time based on the clock output from the reference clock
The date is counted up and the date information is updated. The power supply detection circuit 3 is a circuit for detecting that a new battery has been loaded in the camera, as will be described later (described in detail in FIG. 3).

The date imprinting circuit 4 is a circuit for recording date information at the time of photographing on a film loaded in the camera. If the loaded film is a roll film, there is a type in which date information is optically printed or magnetically recorded by the output of an LED. In the case of a digital camera or a video camera, the data is stored in a magnetic material or a non-volatile memory serving as an image memory. Since these techniques are well-known, description thereof is omitted here.

The battery check circuit 5 is a circuit for detecting a battery voltage with a predetermined load connected to the battery.
This is used to warn the user to replace the battery before the camera becomes inoperable due to a low battery level, or to notify the user that the camera has become inoperable.

The liquid crystal panel 6 is an identification display section provided outside the camera, and based on a control signal of the CPU 1,
It displays the number of film frames of the camera, the shooting mode, date information related to the present invention, and the like. The AFIC 7 has a charge accumulation type sensor array, and an image obtained by dividing a subject image incident through a not-shown photographing lens into two images is formed on the sensor array. A value obtained by quantizing the light intensity of the two images is formed by the AFIC 7 and transferred to the CPU 1. The above C
The PU 1 drives a focus device 17 to be described later to adjust the focus of the photographing lens by a known technique of a phase difference detection method. The strobe 8 irradiates the subject with strobe light during exposure when the brightness of the subject is low, when the subject is in a backlight state, or when color balance correction described later is necessary.

The SW input device 9 is a device that detects the operation states of a key switch (not shown) and a mechanical switch that opens and closes according to the operation of the camera.

The key switch is used for a first release switch which is turned on in conjunction with a so-called shallow depression of a release button of a camera, a second release switch which is turned on in conjunction with a full depression of a release button, and a power switch operation of a camera. There are switches that are turned on / off in conjunction with each other, and switches that are turned on / off in conjunction with a manual operation for correcting date information.

The standard radio wave receiving circuit 10 is a circuit for receiving a standard time radio wave transmitted from a standard radio station, and will be described in detail with reference to FIG. EEPROM1
Reference numeral 1 denotes a non-volatile memory for storing correction data for correcting photometric values and AF data that vary for each camera.

The remote control light receiving circuit 12 is
CPU 3 after shaping the waveform of the remote control signal transmitted from
It has the function of transferring to The remote control device 13 transmits data set by the operator on the remote control device to the camera body, and transmits a predetermined transmission code to determine the exposure start timing of the camera.

The photometric circuit 14 is a device for detecting the brightness of the subject light incident through a photographic lens (not shown) and determining the aperture value and shutter speed at the time of automatic exposure. The motor driver 15 is an integrated circuit for driving a motor built in the camera based on a signal from the CPU 1.

In each drive section, the LDM 16
Is a motor for driving a focus device 17 in the photographing lens, ZM 18 is a motor for driving a zoom device 19 for changing the focal length of the photographing lens, and WSM 20
Operates a winding device 21 for winding a film, a spring charge for running a focal plane shutter in a shutter device 22, and selectively operates to guide a photographing light beam to a finder (not shown) or a film surface. A motor that drives a mirror mechanism (not shown)
Reference numeral 23 denotes a motor for driving an aperture device 24 for restricting a photographing light beam.

FIG. 2 shows a specific configuration example of the standard radio wave receiving circuit 10 shown in FIG. The standard radio wave receiving circuit 10 includes a power control circuit 2 for supplying power to each block circuit before receiving the standard radio wave.
5, an antenna 26 for receiving the standard radio wave, and converting the standard radio wave received by the antenna 26 into an electric signal, amplifying and passing the electric signal, thereby cutting a signal outside the band of the standard radio wave, and amplifying the signal. An amplification band-pass filter circuit (BPF) 27 to perform, a full-wave rectification circuit 28 for rectifying full-wave, a low-pass filter circuit (LPF) 29 for cutting noise included in the rectified signal,
A waveform shaping circuit 30 for shaping the signal into a signal that can be input to the CPU 1.

FIG. 3 shows the power supply detection circuit 3 shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example for detecting loading of a power supply including a power supply. The power supply detection circuit 3 detects a so-called low voltage and outputs a reset to the CPU 1. When a battery is loaded in the camera, the power supply detection circuit 3 resets the CPU 1 until the power supply voltage in the camera reaches a predetermined voltage value. When the power supply voltage becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage value while maintaining the state, the reset state is released. When the reset state is released, the CPU 1 executes the processing program from a predetermined address. That is, when the power supply is detected, the CPU 1 can execute the processing program from a predetermined address.

In this embodiment, the power supply detection circuit 3 is constituted by a low voltage detection circuit. However, it may be detected that a battery is loaded using a mechanical switch or the like. On the + side of the battery 31, the anode terminal of the Schottky barrier diode D1 and the + electrode of the capacitor C1 for stabilizing the power supply voltage (Vcc) are read.

A constant current source I1 is connected to the power supply voltage Vcc, and the supplied constant current is supplied to a GN via a resistor R1.
It flows to the D terminal, and flows to the minus side of the battery 31 via this GND terminal.

The constant voltage generated at the connection point between the constant current source I1 and the resistor R1 is a non-inverting input terminal (+ input terminal) of the AMP1.
Applied to the side. Further, a resistor R2 is connected to the power supply voltage Vcc, and a resistor R3 and a resistor R4 are connected in series to the resistor R2. The voltage of the power supply voltage Vcc is divided by the combined resistance of the resistor R2, the resistor R3, and the resistor R4.
And the voltage divided by the combined resistance (R3 + R4) is A
The signal is input to the inverting input terminal (−input terminal) of MP1.

The AMP 1 functions as a comparator, compares the reference voltage input to the + input terminal with a voltage obtained by dividing the power supply voltage Vcc, and outputs a comparison result. The output of this AMP1 is the transistor T
The signal is input to the base terminal of r2, and the collector terminal of the transistor Tr2 is connected to the reset input terminal RST of the CPU 1. The transistor Tr1 is a determination threshold switching transistor.

When the output of AMP1 is at the H level, the transistor Tr1 is turned on, and both ends of the resistor R4 are short-circuited. The voltage obtained by dividing the power supply voltage Vcc by the resistors R2 and R3 is supplied to the negative input terminal of AMP1. Is entered. So-called AMP1
Function as a comparator having a hysteresis characteristic.

With such a configuration, immediately after the battery 31 is loaded into the camera, the L level signal is output from the power supply detection circuit 3 and the CPU 1 is reset. The reset state is a state in which the CPU 1 has stopped the sequential processing. When the output from the power supply detection circuit 3 changes from L level to H level, the CPU 1
Starts execution of the processing program from a predetermined address.

A subroutine for executing the main sequence of the camera will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When a battery is loaded in the camera, the output from the power supply detection circuit 3 changes from L level to H level, the CPU 1 starts operating, and a subroutine "main sequence" described below is executed. You.

First, a flag (not shown) built in the CPU 1 is cleared (step S1). At this time, flags F_TIMEMAN and F_TIMEAUT described later are also cleared. Then, it is determined whether or not a power switch (not shown) provided on the camera exterior is turned on (step S2). If it is not turned on (NO), the display other than the date information displayed on the liquid crystal panel 6 is turned off (step S3).

Next, a subroutine "read standard radio wave"
Is called, the standard radio wave is detected, and the date information is automatically corrected (step S4), and then the standby process 1 is performed (step S5). This standby processing 1
Before stopping the operation of the so-called CPU 1, the CPU 1 sets conditions so that the CPU 1 can start the operation again, and shifts to the standby 1. The standby 1 is set to start operation when the power switch is turned on. And CP
The operation of U1 is stopped. When the standby 1 is released, the subroutine "main sequence" is executed from the beginning. However, only the clock function for counting the clock output output from the reference clock generating circuit 2 and updating the date information continues to operate without stopping.

On the other hand, in the determination in step S2,
If the power switch is on (YES), the subroutine "read standard radio wave" is performed in the same manner as in step S4.
Is called, the standard radio wave is detected, and the date information is automatically corrected (step S6).

Next, various processes performed at the time of moving the power of the photographing lens (not shown) from the retracted position (not shown) to the wide position and executing the power-on are executed (step S7). And
The main capacitor (not shown) included in the strobe circuit 8 is charged (step S8), and the timer 1 built in the CPU 1 starts counting (step S9).
This timer is a counter that is counted up every predetermined time. The counter value is cleared (reset) to “0”, and counting is started.

When the release button (not shown) is pressed, it is first determined whether or not the first release switch has been turned on (step S10). If it is determined that the first release switch has been turned on (YES), photometry is performed by the photometry circuit 14 (step S11), and the subject brightness value obtained by the photometry is determined by the CPU.
1 is output.

Next, the CPU 1 measures a subject distance by a known technique of a phase difference detection method, calculates a focus adjustment amount from the subject distance, and drives the focusing device 17 to adjust the focus of the photographing lens. (Step S1
2). Also, based on the subject luminance value obtained by the photometry, a program chart (not shown), and a film sensitivity detected by a film sensitivity detection circuit (not shown), an aperture value and a shutter that can obtain an appropriate exposure by a known technique. The speed is calculated (step S13).

Then, a subroutine "exposure sequence" to be described later is called, and photographing is performed (step S1).
4). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S10 that the first release switch has not been turned on (N
O), it is determined whether or not a switch that is turned on / off in conjunction with a manual operation for correcting date information has changed (step S15). If this switch has changed (YES), the date information is corrected according to the manual operation (step S16). The function of correcting the date information by manual operation is mounted on a general camera and known. Then, after the date information was manually corrected,
The flag F_TIMEMAN is set to 1 (step S1
7). After the completion of this setting or in step S15
If the switch has not changed in the determination of (NO),
It is determined whether the power switch of the camera is on (step S18). If the power switch has not been turned on (NO), the process returns to step S3. On the other hand, if it has been turned on (YES), counting of the timer 1 is started, and it is determined whether or not the predetermined time has elapsed and the timer 1 overflows (step S19). This judgment is
If the operation switch such as the power switch is not operated after the lapse of the predetermined time, the CPU 1 is set to the standby state for energy saving.

If it is determined that the timer 1 has not overflown (NO), the process returns to step S10. However, when the overflow occurs (YES), the display other than the date information displayed on the liquid crystal panel 6 is turned off (step S20), and the standby process 2 is performed (step S21). This standby processing 2 is performed in step S5
Similarly to the above, before the operation of the CPU 1 is stopped, the conditions are set so that the CPU 1 can start the operation again, and the process shifts to the standby 2.

In the standby 2, the operation is set to start by a change in a power switch and a switch linked to an operation button (release, date information correction, etc.). Then, the operation of the CPU 1 is stopped.

When the standby is released, the process is executed from the step S8. However, the step S5
Similarly, during standby, only the clock function for counting the clock output from the reference clock generation circuit 2 and updating the date information continues to operate.

The subroutine "read standard radio wave" will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the standard radio wave receiving circuit 10 is turned on, and the standard radio wave can be received (step S31).
Then, the timer 2 built in the CPU 1 starts counting (step S32). The timer 2 is a counter that counts up every predetermined time. The counter value is cleared (reset) to “0”, and counting is started.

Next, counting of the timer 2 is started, and it is determined whether or not the predetermined time has elapsed and the timer 2 overflows (step S33). In this determination, timer 2
Overflows (YES), the detection and reading of the standard radio wave are interrupted, and the process returns to the subroutine "main sequence". However, if the timer 2 does not overflow (NO), a signal (marker) indicating the head of the date information included in the standard radio wave is detected (step S34).

Then, it is determined whether or not a marker indicating the head of the date information has been detected (step S35). If not detected (NO), the process returns to step S33, and the detection is repeated until the timer 2 overflows. Done. However, if it is detected (YES), the minute, hour, date, year, and day of the week information included after the signal indicating the head of the date information will be detected.

First, "minute" information is detected (step S36), and "hour" information is detected (step S3).
7) Parity information of "hour" and "minute" is detected (step S38). Then, in step S36,
It is determined whether or not the information of “hour” and “minute” obtained in S37 matches the parity information obtained in step S38 (step S39).

If the information of "hour" and "minute" does not match the parity information (NO), the detection and reading of the standard radio wave are interrupted and the process returns to the subroutine "main sequence". But if they match (YE
S), "day" information is detected (step S40),
"Year" information is detected (step S41). Further, "day of the week" information is detected (step S4).
2).

Next, the date information inside the CPU 1 is corrected based on the date information obtained by the processing so far (step S43). Thereafter, the standard time radio wave is detected, and the date information set in the camera has been correctly corrected, so that the flag F_TIMEAUT is set to 1 (step S4).
4) Return to the subroutine "main sequence".

Next, the subroutine "photographing sequence" will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, it is determined whether or not the second release switch has been turned on (step S51). If the second release switch has not been turned on (NO), it is determined whether or not the first release switch has been turned on (step S51). Step S52). If the first release switch has been turned on, the process returns to step S51, and if not (NO), the process returns to the subroutine "main routine". On the other hand, step S5
If the second release switch is on in the determination of (1) (Y
ES), the battery voltage is measured by the battery check circuit 5 (step S53), and it is checked whether the battery voltage is sufficient for performing the subsequent photographing operation.

Next, the mirror (not shown) is raised by the motor WSM20 and retracted out of the optical path for photographing, whereby the photographing light beam is guided to the film surface (not shown) (step S54). Then, the aperture device 24 is driven by the motor AVM 23 so that the aperture value becomes the aperture value determined in step S13 shown in FIG. 4 (step S55), and the shutter device 22 is moved so that the shutter speed becomes similarly determined. Opening / closing is controlled (step S56).

Next, it is determined whether or not "1" is set in the flag F_TIMEAUT (step S57). If it is set (YES), date information is imprinted on the film (not shown) by the output of the date imprint circuit 4 (step S59). The technique of this imprinting is well-known, and the description thereof is omitted here. The film (not shown) is wound by one frame by the winding device 21 (step S60). The date information may be imprinted when the film is stopped, or imprinted when the film is wound up.

Also, in the determination in step S57, the flag
If F_TIMEAUT is not set, that is, if it is "0" (NO), it is determined whether or not "1" is set in the flag F_TIMEMAN (step S58). If it has been set in this determination (YES), step S5
9 and if not set, that is, if it is "0" (NO), the process proceeds to step S60.

Next, the diaphragm device 24, which has been stopped down in step S55, is returned to the open state (step S61), and the movable mirror retracted in step S54 is returned to the normal position in the photographing optical path (step S61). Step S6
2). Thereafter, the process returns to the subroutine "main routine".

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the power switch is turned on or off, the standard time radio wave is read, and the date information is corrected.

If the signal indicating the head of the standard time radio wave cannot be read, the date information is not corrected. By detecting standard time radio waves, date information (minutes
) And its parity data. Parity is calculated from the date information, and if the parity data obtained from the standard time radio wave does not match, the date information is not corrected.

While the standard time radio wave is being read, mechanical operations that can be a noise source (for example, a focus device 17, a zoom device 19, a winding device 21, a shutter device 22, and an aperture device 24 driven by a motor or the like) are prohibited. You. The date is imprinted on the film only when the standard time radio wave is correctly detected or when the date information is manually corrected.

As described above, the camera according to the present invention can automatically correct the date information in the camera by detecting the standard time radio wave, so that the user can perform complicated operations related to the date correction. There is no compulsion.

Although the above embodiments have been described, the present invention includes the following inventions.

(1) Receiving means for receiving a radio wave indicating a standard time, power supply detecting means for detecting that the power is loaded in the camera, and power switch means for turning on / off the operation of the camera. Clock means for counting the reference clock and updating the date information, and when the power supply detection means detects that the camera is powered on, or when the camera is powered on. When the power switch is operated and turned on, the camera starts receiving the standard time radio wave by the receiving unit and corrects the date including the hour and minute from the received data.

(2) The camera according to the above (1), wherein other camera operations are prohibited during the reception processing of the standard time.

(3) It has date recording means for recording the date information on a recording medium, and after the power supply is detected by the power supply detection means, until the normal standard time can be received. The camera according to the above (1), wherein recording of date information on the recording medium is prohibited.

(4) The camera according to the item (3), further comprising means for manually setting the date information, wherein the recording of the date information is canceled when the date information is manually set.

[0063]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a camera having a date information recording function for updating to new date information based on the standard time radio wave received when the camera is powered on or when the power switch is turned on. Can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a silver halide camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of a standard radio wave reception circuit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example for detecting power supply including the power supply detection circuit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine for executing a camera main sequence.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a subroutine “read standard radio wave”;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine “photographing sequence”.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 CPU (one-chip microcomputer) 2 reference clock generation circuit 3 power supply detection circuit 4 date imprinting circuit 5 battery check circuit 6 liquid crystal panel 7 AFIC 8 strobe 9 SW input device 10 Standard radio wave receiving circuit 11 EEPROM 12 Remote control light receiving circuit 13 Remote control device 14 Photometry circuit 15 Motor driver 16 LDM 17 Focusing device 18 ZM 19 Zoom device 20 WSM 21 Winding device 22 Shutter device 23 ... AVM 24 ... Aperture device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A receiving means for receiving a standard time radio wave indicating a standard time; a power supply detecting means for detecting that a power supply is mounted on a camera; and a power switch means for turning on / off a camera operation. And clock means for updating the date information by counting a reference clock, wherein the power supply detection means detects that the camera is powered on, or a state in which the camera is powered on. When either one of the cases where the power switch is operated and turned on is detected, the receiving means starts receiving the standard time radio wave, and corrects the date including the hour and minute from the received data. A camera characterized in that: 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the date information is not corrected when a signal indicating the head of the standard time radio wave cannot be read by the receiving unit. 3. A parity check is performed by using parity check data included in the signal of the standard time radio wave received by the receiving means, and in the case of an error, the date information is not corrected. The camera according to claim 1, wherein: