JP2001330879A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To illuminate a display part only when illumination is required with easy operation by preventing malfunction. SOLUTION: A touch panel sensor 5 is provided on the display part 4 provided nearly in the center of the back surface of a camera 1. When an operator puts his (her) finger on the sensor 5, a CPU turns on an illumination part constituted of an EL or the like so as to illuminate the display part 4. The operator easily confirms the position of the display part 4. Then, operation for illumination is easily performed and the malfunction is hardly caused.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera having an illumination function for illuminating an external display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as cameras have become more electronic,
A device having a display unit such as a D (liquid crystal display) has been widely used. Various shooting modes, setting modes, and the like can be displayed on the LCD display unit.

[0003] By the way, a camera having a strobe function can shoot even when sufficient illumination cannot be obtained by setting a shooting mode and a strobe setting suitable for a dark place, and can perform shooting indoors or at night. Will be

[0004] However, the LCD display section performs display by taking in external light, and when photographing in a dark place, the display cannot be seen unless the backlight is turned on.

Therefore, in Japanese Patent Application No. 6-7936 filed earlier by the present applicant, an EL display is provided on the back surface of the liquid crystal display device.
(Electro luminescence) A camera has been proposed in which a lighting device such as a backlight is arranged, and an operation button that does not function during normal use is used for lighting, so that the display content of the liquid crystal display device can be checked even in a dark place. I have.

[0006]

However, in a dark place, it is difficult to find an operation button for controlling the illumination of the display device. For this reason, there is a problem that another photographing mode button or the like is erroneously operated in an attempt to illuminate the display device, and there is a problem that the mode is changed to a mode not intended by the photographer. On the other hand, an operation button for lighting control may be pressed by an operation for changing a shooting mode or the like, and in this case, the lighting may be turned on under conditions that do not originally require lighting. This results in energy waste.

It is also conceivable to turn on the illumination in conjunction with various operations by the user so that the display can be surely confirmed during the operation. However, lighting is not always required during operation, and power may be consumed needlessly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a camera which can be easily operated, does not easily cause an erroneous operation, and can be turned on only when necessary. The purpose is to do.

[0009]

A camera according to the present invention comprises:
Display means for displaying a shooting state; illumination means for illuminating the display means; detection means provided on a surface including the display means for detecting contact or pressure on the surface; and detection from the detection means Lighting control means for turning on or off the lighting means based on the signal, wherein the lighting means can be turned on only while the display means is in a display state.

In the present invention, the detecting means is provided on a surface including the display means, and detects a contact or a pressure on the surface. Only when the display unit is in the display state, the illumination control unit turns on or off the illumination unit based on the detection signal of the detection unit. For example, the display unit is illuminated only when illumination is required by a simple operation such as contacting a detection unit provided on a surface including the display unit.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 9 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the camera 1 as viewed from the rear side. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the camera 1.

The camera 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a zoom camera having a variable focal length. A lens frame (not shown in FIG. 1) including a photographing optical system is arranged on the front surface of the camera 1, and a button-type release switch 9 for instructing start of a photographing operation is provided on the upper right side. . The release switch 9 has a two-stage configuration.

A flash light emitting unit 11 is provided on the upper left side of the front of the camera 1 so that a subject can be irradiated with flash light.

A finder 3 is provided at an upper portion on the back of the camera 1. A display unit 4 is disposed substantially at the center of the back of the camera 1 below the viewfinder 3. Display unit 4
Is constituted by, for example, an LCD, and displays photographing information and the like.

On the back of the camera 1, a button type mode switch 6 and a self / remote control switch 7 are juxtaposed below the display unit 4, and a rewind switch 8 is provided below the mode switch 6, A date switch 10 is provided below the remote control switch 7.

The mode switch 6 is for setting a photographing mode, and the self / remote control switch 7 is for setting a self-timer mode and a remote control mode. The rewind switch 8 is for rewinding the film, and the date switch 10 is for setting and correcting a date imprint mode.

A barrier switch 17 (see FIG. 2) not shown in FIG. 1 controls turning on and off of the power supply. A rear cover switch 18 (see FIG. 2), not shown in FIG. 1, is a switch for opening and closing a cartridge cover provided on the bottom side of the camera 1 in order to load a cartridge.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, a distance measuring sensor (hereinafter, referred to as an AF sensor) 13, a photometric sensor (hereinafter, referred to as an AE sensor) 14, and a photographing lens shown in FIG. 15 and a remote control sensor 16 are also provided.

An illumination unit 12 (see FIG. 2) for illuminating the display unit 4 is provided near the display unit 4. The illumination unit 12 is configured by, for example, an EL backlight or the like.

In the present embodiment, a touch panel sensor 5 is provided on a surface of a predetermined range including the display unit 4 on the back of the camera 1. When the operator touches the touch panel sensor 5 with a finger or the like, the display unit 4 can be illuminated by the illumination unit 12.

Note that, instead of the touch panel sensor 5,
A switch that has an operation unit and is turned on only while the operation unit is being pressed may be provided around the display unit 4.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram mainly showing an electric configuration of the camera 1. As shown in FIG.

Control circuit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 101
Is constituted by a microprocessor, and R
It has OM and RAM. The CPU 101 controls the operation of the entire camera by controlling peripheral circuits according to a program stored in the ROM.

The lens frame provided on the front side of the camera 1 is provided with a photographic lens 15 and an aperture / shutter 103 constituting a photographic optical system. The photographic lens 15 is a focusing optical system 104 for focus adjustment. And a zoom optical system 102 for changing the focal length.

The zoom optical control circuit 105 includes a CPU 10
Under the control of 1, the zoom optical system 102 is driven to adjust the focal length. The aperture / shutter control circuit 106 has a CP
Under the control of U101, the aperture / shutter 103 is driven to open and close. The focus optical control circuit 107 drives the focus optical system 104 under the control of the CPU 101.

The luminous flux from the subject is guided to the film 108 via the photographing lens 15. The feed / rewind control circuit 109 is controlled by the CPU 101,
The film 108 is wound up and rewound by one frame.

Note that the feed / rewind control circuit 109
Under the control of U101, automatic loading by loading the film 108 and forced rewinding by operating a rewinding switch 8 described later are also performed.

The AE sensor 14 detects light that has entered through the photometric lens. The AE drive circuit 111 is an AE sensor 1
4 to drive the photocurrent proportional to the brightness of the subject
Output to 101.

The AF sensor 13 is, for example, a passive AF
It is composed of a distance measuring unit of the system. AF drive circuit 110
Controls the AF sensor 13, calculates the distance to the subject, and outputs the calculated distance to the CPU 101. The CPU 101 calculates the extension amount of the focusing optical system 104 based on the distance measurement result.

The remote controller sensor 16 receives a signal from a remote controller. The remote control drive circuit 112 drives the remote control sensor 16, receives a remote control signal based on a remote control operation, and supplies the signal to the CPU 101.

In order to irradiate a subject with strobe light, a strobe light emitting section 11 is provided. Strobe light emitting unit 1
Reference numeral 1 denotes a capacitor (not shown) for storing electric charge for causing the strobe to emit light. Strobe control circuit 116
According to the instruction from the CPU 101, the capacitor is charged to enable strobe light emission.

The switch control circuit 113 detects the state of various switches and outputs it to the CPU 101. Two switches (zoom-up switch 2a and zoom-down switch 2b) that are turned on in conjunction with the operation of the seesaw-type zoom switch 2, a shooting mode switch 6, and a self / remote controller The switch 7 is turned on when the rewind switch 8 and the two-stage release switch 9 are pressed down to the first stage.
A release switch 9a, a two-release switch 9b that is turned on when pushed down to the second stage, a date switch 10, a barrier switch 17 that covers the entire surface of the camera and is linked to the opening and closing of a barrier (not shown) serving as a power switch;
Piglet switch 18 linked to opening and closing of the cartridge lid
Etc.

When the switch control circuit 113 detects that the barrier switch 17 is turned on, the CPU 101 recognizes that the user has opened the barrier of the camera, and extends the zoom optical system 102 from the collapsed state to the wide-angle end at which photography can be performed. Also, charging of the strobe is started. Conversely, when detecting that the barrier switch 17 is turned off, the CPU 101 retracts the zoom optical system 102. The display on the display unit 4 and the like to be described later is
Interlocks with 7.

When detecting that the rear cover switch 18 has changed from the on state to the off state, the CPU 101 determines that the user has loaded the film and closed the cartridge lid, and the so-called initial winding of the film to the first frame. Perform loading.

When it is detected that the release switch 9a is turned on, the CPU 101 enters a photographing preparation operation. That is, C
The PU 101 performs distance measurement, photometry, and the like, and holds data to prepare for photographing while the ON state of the 1 release switch 9a is continued.

Subsequently, upon detecting that the second release switch 9b is turned on, the CPU 101 extends the focusing optical system 104 based on the held data, and the aperture / shutter 1
03 is released for the time necessary for proper exposure of the film 108,
After the exposure is performed, the film is re-rolled based on the focusing optical system 104, and the film 108 is wound up by one frame. Also, CPU
When the strobe emission is required, the strobe 101 emits a strobe at a predetermined timing at which a light beam is guided to the film 108 by the aperture / shutter 103. CPU10
1 is to charge again when the strobe is fired,
Get ready for the next shoot.

When the ON of the zoom-up switch 2a is detected, the CPU 101 starts driving the zoom optical system 102 to the telephoto side. The driving is continued until the zoom-up switch 2a is detected to be off or the zoom optical system 102 reaches the telephoto end. Similarly, when ON of the zoom-down switch 2b is detected, the CPU 101 starts driving the zoom optical system 102 to the wide-angle side. The driving is continued until the zoom-down switch 2b is turned off or the zoom optical system 102 reaches the wide-angle end.

Each time the ON of the mode switch 6 is detected, the CPU 101 sequentially changes the photographing mode of the camera. That is, each time the user presses the mode switch 6, the mode of the camera is updated to the auto mode, the red-eye reduction mode, the strobe light emission inhibition mode, the strobe forced light emission mode, and the like, and the display is updated at the same time.

When the ON of the rewind switch 8 is detected,
The CPU 101 starts rewinding the film.

The display unit 4 is controlled by the CPU 101 to display photographing information and the like. The display unit 4 includes, for example, an LCD. The illumination unit 12 illuminates the display unit 4. The illumination unit 12 includes EL and the like. The illumination control circuit 114 is controlled by the CPU 101 to turn on or off the EL.

The illuminating section 12 is not only an EL, but also an L.
You may comprise by ED, a lamp, etc.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the touch panel sensor 5 is disposed on a surface of a predetermined range including the display unit 4. The detection circuit 115 detects that the touch panel sensor 5 has been touched or pressed by an object such as a finger, and outputs a detection signal to the CPU 10.
1 is output.

When the detection circuit 115 detects the contact of the object with the touch panel sensor 5 by the detection circuit 115, the CPU 101 controls the illumination control circuit 114 to turn on the illumination unit 12 for a predetermined time.

The battery check circuit 117 includes a CPU
According to the instruction of 101, the remaining amount of the battery, which is the power supply of the camera, is measured, and the measurement result is output to the CPU 101.

The date control circuit 118 sets a date mode in accordance with the state of the date switch 10 and
1 and the set date mode is set to the film 10
Exposure to 8 The EEPROM 119 stores various adjustment values of the camera, shooting information, and the like. Even if the battery is removed, the CPU 101 sets the EEPR when the battery is reloaded.
By reading the data of the OM 119, the state of the camera can be returned to the original state before the battery was removed.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 9 are flowcharts for explaining the basic processing operation of the control circuit 1. The symbols enclosed by circles in FIGS. 3 to 7 indicate the concatenation of the processes of the corresponding codes.

First, the basic processing of the camera 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. When a battery is loaded in the camera 1 or a barrier, a cartridge lid, or the like is operated, the CP
U101 executes the program stored in the ROM from "start" in FIG. The CPU proceeds to step S1
In step (1), data necessary for controlling the camera is read from the EEPROM 119 and loaded into the RAM.

In the next step S2, the CPU determines whether the barrier is open or closed, that is, the barrier switch (BRSW) 1
The on / off state of 7 is determined, and if on (barrier open), the display unit 4 is controlled in step S3 to start display. If the barrier switch 17 is off, the CP
U101 controls the illumination control circuit 114 to execute step S
After turning off the illuminating section 12 in step 4, the display on the display section 4 is turned off.

In the next step S6, the CPU 101
Determines whether the state of the barrier switch 17 has changed from off (barrier closed) to on (barrier open). If the barrier switch 17 has changed from off to on, CP
U101 turns on the illumination unit 12 in step S7.
If the barrier switch 17 has not been turned on, the process proceeds to step S8.

In the next step S8, the CPU 101
A battery check is performed to determine whether or not the operation of the camera can be guaranteed based on the voltage VE of the battery that supplies the power supply voltage VDD. If there is a voltage that can guarantee the operation of the camera, the process proceeds to the next step S9. .

In step S9, the CPU 101 sets the RA
The REWINDF (rewind execution flag) stored in M is checked. If "0", the process branches to step S14, and if "1", the process proceeds to step S10.

In step S10, the CPU 101 executes a film rewinding operation. That is, the CPU 101
Controls the feed / rewind control circuit 109 to rotate the fork member (not shown) that engages with the film cartridge, thereby executing the rewinding of the film 108.

When the rewind operation is completed, the CPU 101
Clears REWINDF in step S11 and REWINDEF (rewind end flag) in step S12.
Is set and stored in the EEPROM 119 (step S13).

Next, at step S14, the CPU 10
1 is LOADF (film loading execution flag)
Check. If LOADF is "0", the process proceeds to step S19. On the other hand, if LOADF is "1", the flow shifts to step S15 to execute film loading. Film loading is an operation of feeding the first frame of film to a shooting position.
The 101 controls the feed / rewind control circuit 109 to rotate a spool (not shown), thereby feeding the film 108 by one frame.

When the film loading is completed, the CP
U101 clears LOADF in step S16, clears REWINDEF in step S17, and writes data in the EEPROM 119 in step S18.

In the next step S19 (see FIG. 4),
The CPU 101 checks the WINDF, and
Is "0", the process proceeds to step S25, where W
If the INDF is "1", a film winding process is executed in step S20. Next, in step S21, the CPU
101 clears WINDF (winding execution flag).

In the next step S22, the CPU 101
Determines whether the film has reached the film end as a result of winding the film. If it is not the film end, the CPU 101 advances the process to step S25. If it is the film end, the CPU 101 executes a rewind operation later.
In step S23, REWINDF is set. In step S24, the data is written and stored in the EEPROM 119, and then the process returns to "Start".

In the next step S25, the CPU 101
The state of the barrier switch (BRSW) 17 is checked again. Here, if the barrier switch 17 is off,
Since it means that the barrier has been closed during the above series of processing, the CPU 101 branches to the processing of step S26, retracts the zoom optical system 102, turns off the illumination unit 12 in step S27, and further proceeds to step S28. After the display on the display unit 4 is turned off, the processing shifts to “Stop (stop)” processing. On the other hand, if the CPU determines in step S25 that the barrier switch 17 is on, the CPU continues the subsequent processing.

In step S29, the CPU 101 starts a display timer for determining the display time of the display unit 4. Further, in step S30, the CPU 101 starts an EL timer for determining the display time of the illumination unit 12.

Thereafter, the CPU 101 keeps displaying on the display unit 4 until the display timer times out. Similarly, when the illumination unit 12 is on, the CPU 101 continues illumination until the EL timer times out. It should be noted that the display timer time-up time> EL timer time-up time is set.

At step S31, the CPU 101 sets the CH
ARGF (strobe charge execution flag) is set. As will be described later, charging of the strobe light emission capacitor is performed according to the setting of the CHARGF.

The processing after step S32 is a loop processing with the camera barrier opened. First, CPU
101 updates the display timer in step S32. Next, in step S33, the CPU 101 checks the state of the rear cover switch (BKSW) 18. The rear cover switch 18 is a switch that is linked to the opening and closing of the cartridge lid of the camera, and is turned on when opened and turned off when closed. That is, when the state of the rear cover switch 18 changes from ON to OFF, it may be determined that the camera user has loaded the film cartridge. In this case, the CPU 101 branches to the process of step S34. , LOADF, and set EEPR in step S35.
After writing to the OM 119, the process returns to "Start". L
The OADF is checked in step S14, and thereafter, a film loading process is performed.

If the rear cover switch 18 has not changed from ON to OFF, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S36.
Then, the state of the rewind switch (RWSW) 8 is checked. The rewind switch 8 is for forcibly rewinding the film before the film is used up to the last frame. When the rewind switch 8 changes from off to on, it is determined that the forced rewind has been instructed. Is done. In this case, the CPU 101 branches the process to step S37, sets REWINDF, and sets EEP in step S38.
After writing to the ROM 119, the process returns to "Start".
REWINDF is checked in step S9,
Thereafter, a film rewinding process is performed.

If the rewind switch 8 has not changed from off to on, the CPU 101 checks the state of the barrier switch (BRSW) 17 in step S39.
If the barrier switch 17 is turned off, the process proceeds to “Sta
rt ". The barrier switch is checked in steps S2 and S25, and the process shifts to" Stop "processing.

In this embodiment, the CPU 101
Checks the state of the touch panel sensor 5 in step S40 (see FIG. 5) where the barrier switch 17 is on. If the touch panel sensor 5 is off, the process proceeds to step S44,
It is determined whether or not the timer has expired.

In step S25, the barrier switch 17
If the touch panel sensor 5 is not turned on until the time-up time elapses from the start of counting of the EL timer and the display timer after the ON of the touch panel is detected, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S44.
The L timer is terminated, and the lighting unit 12 is turned off. Further, when determining that the display timer has expired in step S46, the CPU 101 turns off the display of the display unit 4 in step S47.

If the EL timer and the display timer have not yet expired, the lighting of the illumination unit 12 and the display on the display unit 4 are continued until the time is up, even if the touch panel sensor 5 is off.

Now, only the EL timer or both the EL timer and the display timer have timed out, and the lighting unit 1
It is assumed that only 2 or the illumination unit 12 and the display unit 4 are turned off. In this state, the operator or the like touches the touch panel sensor 5 with a finger.

Then, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S
At 40, it is detected that the touch panel sensor 5 is turned on, and at step S41, the illumination unit 12 is turned on. At steps S42 and S43, the display timer and E
Start L timer.

In steps S44 and S46, E
Until it is detected that the L timer and the display timer have expired, the lighting of the illumination unit 12 and the display of the display unit 4 are continued.

Thus, by touching the touch panel sensor 5 with a finger, the user can turn on the illuminating unit 12 at an arbitrary timing to check the display and automatically turn off the light in a time-up time.

The CPU 101 determines in step S46 that
If it is determined that the display timer has not expired, it is determined in the next step S48 whether REWINDEF is "1". If REWINDEF is “1”, the CPU 101 returns the process to step S32 in FIG. In other words, when the film rewinding has been completed, no operation other than the barrier operation, the cartridge lid operation, and the rewinding operation is accepted.

In step S48, REWINDEF is "0".
In step S49, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the zoom optical system 102 has been extended. CP
If U101 determines that the zoom optical system 102 has already been advanced to the shooting area, the process proceeds to step S51,
If it is determined that the zoom lens is still in the collapsed state, in the next step S50, the zoom optical system 102 is extended to the wide-angle end, the focal optical system 104 is extended to the infinite position, and reset.

The CPU 101 sets C in step S51.
Check HARGF. CHARGF is set in step S31 when a barrier or the like is operated, and is set in step S72 (FIG. 7) after the exposure operation. If CHARGF is "0", the CPU 101 advances the process to step S55 (FIG. 6). If CHARGF is "1", the strobe needs to be charged.
After performing a battery check in 52 and charging in step S53, CHARGF is cleared in step S54, and the process proceeds to step S55.

In step S55 of FIG.
1 checks the state of the 1 release switch (1RSW) 9a. That is, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the shutter release switch 9 has been pressed to the first stage. If the first release switch 9a is off, the process branches to step S76.

When the user releases the shutter release switch 9
Is pressed to the first stage, the first release switch 9a is turned on, and the CPU 101 sets the shutter release switch 9
Is determined, and the process proceeds to step S56 in preparation for shooting.

The CPU 101 performs a battery check in step S56, measures a temperature in step S57, and measures a distance in step S58. That is, the output of the AF sensor 13 is given to the AF drive circuit 110,
PU 101 is based on the output of AF drive circuit 110,
The distance to the subject and the extension amount of the focusing optical system 104 are calculated. The AE sensor 14 supplies a photocurrent proportional to the luminance of the subject to the AE drive circuit 111, and the CPU 101
In the next step S59, the luminance of the subject is measured based on the output of the AE drive circuit 111.

The CPU 101 calculates shutter release time, necessity of strobe light emission, strobe light emission timing, strobe light emission time, and the like based on film sensitivity data of the film 108, setting mode, subject distance data, and the like.

As described above, the CPU 1 is ready for shooting.
01 checks whether the 2 release switch (2RSW) 9b is on, that is, whether the release switch 9 has been pressed down to the second stage (step S6 in FIG. 7).
0). When the user presses the release switch 9 to the second stage to turn on the second release switch 9b, the CPU 101 shifts to the photographing operation after step S62. If the 2 release switch 9b is off, C
In step S61, the PU 101 checks the state of the 1 release switch (1RSW) 9a, and while it is on, in step S60 the 2 release switch (2RSW)
W) Continue to monitor the state of 9b, 1 release switch 9
When a is turned off, it is determined that the release switch 9 has been released, and the process proceeds to step S74.

When the user presses the release switch 9 to the second level, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S62.
In, the focusing optical system 104 is moved out based on the already calculated data. Next, the CPU 101 sets WINDF in step S63, and sets EEPR in step S64.
The data is written in the OM 119, and exposure to the film is executed in a step S65. Further, the CPU 101 winds up the film by one frame in step S66, and
Clear NDF.

In the next step S68, the CPU 101
It is determined whether the end of the film is reached as a result of winding the film. If it is not the film end, the CPU 101 advances the process to step S70. If it is the film end, the CPU 101 sets REWINDF in step S69 to execute the rewinding operation later, and writes and stores it in the EEPROM 119 in step S70. Let it.

Next, the CPU 101 sets R in step S71.
Check EWINDF, and if it is "1", return to "Start" to execute rewinding of the film,
If "0", the process proceeds to step S72. The CPU 101
In step S72, CHARGF is set. Thus, the strobe is charged in the next loop processing.

The CPU 101 determines in step S73
The first release switch 9a is checked, and step S73 is repeated while the release switch 9a is on. When the power is turned off, the CPU 10
1 judges that the release switch 9 has been released, shifts the processing to step S74, returns the processing from step S74, S75 to step S32, and repeats the loop processing.

In step S74, the display timer is started, and in step S75, the EL timer is started.

If the release switch 9 has not been pressed, it is detected in step S55 of FIG. 6 that the one release switch (1RSW) 9a has been turned off. In this case, the CPU 101 shifts the processing to step S76 and checks the state of the zoom-up switch (ZUSW) 2a. When the zoom-up switch 2a is on, the zoom switch 2 has been operated to the telephoto side. Therefore, the CPU 101 performs a battery check in step S77, and then switches the zoom optical system 102 in step S78. Drive to the telephoto side. Step S78
Is terminated when the zoom-up switch 2a is turned off or when the zoom optical system 102 reaches the telephoto end. That is, the CPU 101 determines in step S
At step 79, the zoom-up switch 2a is checked, and step S78 is repeated while the switch is on. If it is turned off, it is determined that the zoom switch 2 has been released, so the flow returns to step S32 via steps S74 and S75 to continue the loop processing.

The processing from step S80 to step S83 is the same as the processing from step S76 to step S79 when the zoom optical system 102 is moved to the wide angle side.

If the user has not operated either the release switch 9 or the zoom switch 2 and none of the 1 release switch 9a, the zoom up switch 2a and the zoom down switch 2b has been turned on, the CPU 1
01 is the mode switch (MDSW) 6 in step S84.
Check the status of. If the mode switch 6 is off, the CPU 101 returns the process to step S32. If the mode switch 6 is on, the CPU 101 changes the operation mode of the camera in step S85, and repeats step S85 until the mode switch 6 is turned off. The process returns from step S86 to step S32.

By the way, in this embodiment, in order to reduce power consumption, display and illumination are turned off even when the battery capacity is small. The check of the battery capacity is performed in step S52 of FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the battery check in step S52 in FIG. 5 in detail.

The battery check is performed by the battery check circuit 117. The battery check circuit 117, for example, applies a current to a load resistor (dummy load) and measures the battery voltage in this state,
Check battery capacity. The CPU 101 determines whether or not the operation of the camera can be executed thereafter based on the measurement result of the battery check circuit 117.

That is, in step S101 of FIG. 8, dummy loading is started. Battery check circuit 11
7 measures the power supply voltage in step S102,
At 103, the dummy load is stopped.

In step S104, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the result of the measurement of the power supply voltage, that is, whether or not the capacity of the battery is equal to or higher than the level 1 at which the camera operation is guaranteed.
If the level is equal to or higher than 1, the battery check is terminated and the process returns to step S53 in FIG.

On the other hand, if the battery capacity is not level 1 or more, the CPU 101 determines in step S105
It is determined whether or not shooting is possible, but the level is 2 or more indicating that the battery capacity is low.

If the CPU 101 determines that the battery level is higher than level 2, a warning is displayed in step S106 indicating that the battery capacity is low, and the battery check ends.

If the level is not level 2 or higher,
The CPU 101 makes an NG display indicating that the battery has run out in step S107, and starts a display timer in step S108.

In step S109, the CPU 101 checks the state of the barrier switch 17, and shifts to "Start" if there is a change.

If there is no change in the state of the barrier switch 17, the CPU 101 determines in step S110 whether the display timer has ended. CPU101
Repeats the processing in step S109 until the display timer times out.

When the display timer times out, the CP
U101 turns off the illumination unit 12 in step S111, and turns off the display of the display unit 4 in step S112.

Next, the CPU 101 shifts to a stop (STOP) mode in step S113. The stop mode is a mode in which the operation clock of the CPU 101 is stopped to reduce current consumption.

The CPU 101 is set to be activated by a change in the state of the barrier switch 17. The user operates the barrier and the barrier switch (BRSW) 17
When the state changes, the process exits the stop mode from step S114 and proceeds to "Start" processing.

As described above, when the remaining capacity of the battery is smaller than the level 2, after the NG display is performed for a predetermined time, the display unit 4 and the illumination unit 12 are turned off, and the operation switches other than the barrier are accepted. By not having
We are trying to reduce power consumption.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the "STOP mode" processing of FIG. 8 in detail.

In step S201, stop (STOP)
Set the mode. Stop mode is basically
And the same processing as in the stop mode of FIG.
As the activation factor of U101, the touch panel sensor 5 and the operation switch are set in addition to the barrier switch 17. That is, even when the camera turns off the display and enters the power saving mode, the CPU 101 is activated in response to a user operation.

In step S202, the rear cover switch 18
Is changed from on to off. If the rear cover switch 18 has changed from on to off, LOADF is set in step S203 and step S206.
After writing in the EEPROM 119, "Start"
Return to If the rear cover switch 18 has not changed from on to off, the process proceeds to step S204.

In step S204, it is determined whether or not the rewind switch 8 has changed from off to on. CPU10
If it is determined that the rewind switch 8 has changed from on to off, REWINDF is set in step S205, and the process proceeds to step S206.

On the other hand, if the rewind switch 8 has not changed from on to off, the CPU 101 shifts the processing to step S207 and judges the state of the barrier switch 17. When the state of the barrier switch 17 has changed, the state returns to “Start”.
The process moves to step S208.

In step S208, the CPU 101 checks the state of the touch panel sensor 5, and returns to "Start" if the touch panel sensor 5 is on, and proceeds to step S209 if it is off.

In step S209, the state of each operation switch is checked.
Returning to t ", if it has been turned off, the flow returns to step S201.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the lighting control of the illumination unit that illuminates the display unit is performed using the touch panel sensor. Since the touch panel sensor is arranged on a predetermined surface including the display unit, the operator can securely confirm the position of the touch panel sensor even in a dark place, and furthermore, operate the touch panel sensor without visual recognition. It is also easy to do. Therefore, even in a dark place, the operator can reliably operate the touch panel sensor without erroneously operating other operation buttons and the like. Thus, it is possible to prevent the photographer from erroneously operating another shooting mode button or the like in an attempt to illuminate the display device, and to change to a mode not intended by the photographer. It is possible to prevent the energy from being wasted by turning on the illumination under conditions that do not originally require illumination. Further, the lighting can be turned on only when the operator needs the lighting.

In the present embodiment, an operation of touching the touch panel sensor 5 with, for example, a finger (ON operation)
Has been described only to turn on the lighting unit, but the lighting unit may be turned on by turning on the touch panel sensor 5 and turned off by the next turning on operation.

FIGS. 10 to 14 are flowcharts for explaining the basic processing operation employed in the camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The hardware configuration in the present embodiment is the same as in FIGS. In FIGS. 10 to 14, the symbols surrounded by a circle indicate the connection of the processes of the corresponding codes. 10 to 14, the same steps as those in FIGS. 3 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

Steps S1 to S86 in FIGS. 11 to 14 are the same processes as steps S1 to S86 in FIGS. 3 to 7, respectively. In the present embodiment, step S6 in FIG.
Steps S301 and S302 are provided between step S7 and step S7, and steps S40 and S302 in FIG.
The difference from the operation flow of FIGS. 3 to 7 is that the processes of steps S303 and S304 are provided between the steps 41 and 41.

At step S6 in FIG.
Checks whether the barrier switch 17 has changed from off to on. If the barrier switch 17 has not changed from off to on, the process proceeds to step S8 as in FIG. On the other hand, when the barrier switch 17 changes from off to on, the CPU 101 performs photometry in the next step S301.

In the next step S302, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the obtained photometric value is equal to or lower than a predetermined luminance. If the photometric value is not less than the predetermined luminance, the process proceeds to step S8. If the photometric value is equal to or less than the predetermined luminance, the illumination unit 12 is turned on in the next step S7.

Therefore, when the surrounding brightness is sufficiently bright, the lighting section 12 is not turned on. Thereby, the display unit 4
Power consumption can be reduced without compromising the legibility of the device.

The same processing is performed when the touch panel sensor 5 is touched. That is, the CPU 101
If it is detected in step S40 that the touch panel sensor 5 is turned on, photometry is performed in the next step S303. In the next step S304, the CPU
101 determines whether the photometric value is equal to or less than a predetermined luminance. If the brightness is equal to or lower than the predetermined brightness, the CPU 101 turns on the illumination unit 12 in the next step S41. Thus, even in a dark place, the display unit 4 can be illuminated by a simple and reliable operation of touching the touch panel sensor 5, and the display on the display unit 4 can be easily viewed.

On the other hand, if the photometric value is not less than the predetermined luminance, the CPU 101 shifts the processing to step S44.
Thus, the lighting process of the lighting unit 12 is not performed. That is, when the surrounding brightness is sufficient, the lighting process is omitted, so that the power consumption can be reduced without impairing the visibility of the display unit 4.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the lighting of the lighting unit is controlled in accordance with the surrounding brightness. By turning on only the light, power consumption can be reduced.

[0118]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily perform an erroneous operation with a simple operation and to turn on the illumination only when the illumination is required.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the camera 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a basic processing operation employed in the camera according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a basic processing operation employed in the camera according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining a basic processing operation adopted in the camera according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a basic processing operation employed in the camera according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a basic processing operation employed in the camera according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... camera, 4 ... display unit, 5 ... touch panel sensor,

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H102 BA01 BB06 BB09 3K073 AA13 AA49 AA83 AB07 CA05 CD04 CF16 CG18 CG58 CJ22 5G435 AA00 AA01 AA18 BB12 DD10 DD13 EE02 EE21 FF12 LL14

Claims (3)

[Claims] A display means for displaying a shooting state; an illuminating means for illuminating the display means; a detecting means provided on a surface including the display means for detecting contact or pressure on the surface; A camera, comprising: lighting control means for turning on or off the lighting means based on a detection signal from the detecting means, wherein the lighting means can be turned on only while the display means is in a display state. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a photometer for measuring a brightness state of the subject; and a brightness determination unit for determining whether a brightness state from the photometer is equal to or less than a predetermined value. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the illuminating means can be turned on based on a detection signal from the detecting means only while the determination is made. 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is a touch panel sensor disposed on a display surface of the display unit.