JP2002148702A - Camera with data imprinting function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera with an imprinting function capable of imprinting data with high resolution in an image plane direction without disturbing the miniaturization and the reduction of cost of the camera nor requiring complicated mechanical constitution particularly. SOLUTION: This camera with an imprinting function is equipped with a data imprinting circuit 14 imprinting the data at a specified position on a film surface by selectively making plural light emitting elements emit light and an image plane direction detecting circuit 19 detecting whether a photographic image plane direction shows a vertical position or a horizontal position. Based on the detected result of the circuit 19, the light emitting pattern of the plural light emitting elements by the circuit 14 is changed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly to a camera having a data imprinting function capable of optically imprinting data such as date on a film.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 610 or the like, various techniques relating to a data imprinting device of a camera for optically recording data such as date and time on a photographed film have been proposed.

Here, it is generally easy to make a suitable composition by changing the orientation of the screen at the time of photographing to a vertical position or a horizontal position.

However, regardless of the orientation of the subject photographed in the vertical position, data such as date is imprinted on the premise of the horizontal position. It is undeniable that a sense of incongruity occurs in between.

In recent years, cameras have been increasingly miniaturized, and LEDs used for imprinting data have been arranged in one line from those of a seven-segment type in which the numeral "8" is formed. It has been changed to a dot type.

As a result, it has become possible to create and imprint arbitrary characters and symbols instead of imprinting data exclusively for date and time.

As described above, by increasing the number of dots, characters and symbols with higher complexity and higher resolution can of course be printed. This not only contributes to the multifunctionality of the camera but also to the camera. It is thought that this contributes to the improvement of operability and, in turn, to the merit of the user.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-52627, a sensor for detecting the vertical and horizontal orientation of a camera is used to selectively emit light from light emitting diodes arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions, thereby capturing the vertical and horizontal images of the camera. Techniques such as adjusting to a posture are disclosed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 52-149118 discloses a technique in which a combination of prisms and mirrors is optically used to change an optical path and to select data imprinting in accordance with the vertical and horizontal photographing posture of a camera. Is disclosed.

[0010]

However, in these prior arts, the use of a plurality of light emitting means and the use of a complicated optical system may cause a situation in which the size of the camera is increased and the cost is increased. There was a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to prevent a camera from being reduced in size and cost, and without requiring a particularly complicated mechanical structure. Another object of the present invention is to provide a camera with an imprint function capable of imprinting high-resolution data along a screen direction.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of light emitting elements are selectively caused to emit light, thereby printing data at a predetermined position on a film surface. Data imprinting means, and a screen direction detecting means for detecting whether the shooting screen direction is a vertical position or a horizontal position, based on a detection result of the screen direction detecting means,
A camera with a data imprinting function is provided, wherein a light emission pattern of the plurality of light emitting elements by the data imprinting means is changed.

In a second aspect, in the first aspect, the data imprinting means sets the light emission pattern to vertical when the detection result of the screen direction detecting means at the time of photographing is a vertical position direction. A camera with a data imprinting function characterized by being set as position characters is provided.

According to a third aspect, in the first aspect, the change of the light emission pattern is performed by controlling at least a light emission timing, a light emission time, and a light emission number of the plurality of light emitting elements. A camera with an imprinting function is provided.

According to the above-described first to third aspects, the following operations are provided.

That is, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the data is imprinted at a predetermined position on the film surface by selectively emitting the plurality of light emitting elements by the data imprinting means, and the screen direction detecting means is provided. Detects whether the shooting screen direction is the vertical position or the horizontal position, and changes the light emission pattern of the plurality of light emitting elements by the imprinting means based on the detection result of the screen direction detecting means.

In a second aspect, in the first aspect, if the data imprinting means detects that the screen direction detecting means at the time of photographing is in a vertical position direction, the light emission pattern is set to a vertical position. Set to position character.

According to a third aspect, in the first aspect, the light emission pattern is changed by controlling light emission timing, light emission time, and light emission frequency of at least the plurality of light emitting elements.

[0019]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a camera with a data imprinting function according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
, The microcomputer 1 includes ROM, RA
M, a timer, a counter, a D / A converter, an A / D converter, and the like are built in, and control the entire camera according to a program stored in a ROM in advance.

The microcomputer 1 includes a film feeding mechanism 2, a distance detection circuit 3, a power switch 4, a release switch 5, a zoom switch 6, a non-volatile memory 7 for external storage, a strobe charging circuit 8, a light emission amount control. In addition to the circuit 9, a variable focal length mechanism 10, a sector blade drive circuit 11, a driver circuit 13 for controlling the driving of the focus adjustment mechanism 12, etc., a film perforation detection circuit 17, a data projection circuit 14, a motor rotation detection circuit 15, and the like are provided. It is electrically connected.

The film feeding mechanism 2 includes a motor 16
A rotation detection blade for detecting the rotation of the film 23 is connected, and according to an instruction of the microcomputer 1, feeds and drives the film 23 and outputs a rotation signal of the motor 16 to the microcomputer 1.

It should be noted that the motor rotation detection circuit 15
6, a rotating member having a plurality of slits, a photo-interrupter (hereinafter referred to as PI) arranged to sandwich the rotating member, and the PI
And a circuit for waveform shaping the signal. That is, the motor 1
A clock signal synchronized with the rotation of No. 6 is output to the microcomputer 1 (see FIG. 2). Microcomputer 1
Performs data imprinting control based on the clock signal, as will be described in detail later.

Here, an example using a perforation counter and a feed motor rotation speed counter as the PI has been described. However, detection by a mechanical member such as a sprocket or a roller driven by the moving amount of the film, Of course, the same effect can be obtained by using a timer built in the microcomputer.

The power switch 4 is a power switch for sending a signal to the microcomputer 1 in order to shift from a state where the camera shooting operation is prohibited to a state where the camera is ready for shooting. The release switch 5 is a switch that is turned on in conjunction with a two-stage release button, detects a half-pressed state of the release button, enters a shooting preparation operation, detects a state in which the release button is pressed, and performs an exposure. Start operation.

The zoom switch 6 has a seesaw type switch structure, and is turned on when the user selects the change of the focal length, and changes the focal length.

The non-volatile memory 7 is electrically rewritable, and exchanges data with the microcomputer 1 by communication. Sector blade drive circuit 11
Controls the drive of the lens shutter 21 also serving as the aperture.

The focus adjustment mechanism 12 includes a photographing lens 22
Drive control.

The film perforation detecting circuit 13 comprises a photoreflector (hereinafter, referred to as PR) and a waveform shaping circuit. The film perforation detecting circuit 13 detects the film perforation while the film 23 is being fed, and can count.

The data imprinting circuit 14 is composed of 7-dot LEDs arranged in a line, and the microcomputer 1 selectively emits the LEDs while the film 23 is being fed, so that the Imprint characters and symbols on The data lens 18 is connected to the L of the data
The ED light emission pattern is imaged on the film 23.

The flash charging circuit 8 charges the flash light emission voltage of the flash 20 at the time of exposure, and controls light emission by the light emission amount control circuit 9.

These are controlled by the microcomputer 1 respectively.

The distance detecting circuit 3 controls the distance measuring sensor 24 by communicating with the microcomputer 1, obtains subject distance data, and transmits the data to the microcomputer 1.

The screen direction detecting circuit 19 detects the posture using a sensor such as a mercury switch, for example. The attitude data is sent from the screen direction detection circuit 19 to the microcomputer 1, and the microcomputer 1 stores the attitude information in the nonvolatile memory 7.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a mechanical configuration of each part around the motor 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, the power of the motor 16 is transmitted to the film take-up spool 15 through the reduction gear train 24, and the film 23 is wound.

On the other hand, a rotating flat plate having a plurality of slits (hereinafter referred to as a PI blade) is provided at the other end of the shaft of the motor 16.
25 is press-fitted and synchronized with the rotation of the motor 16,
Rotate. PI 26 so that this PI blade 25 is sandwiched
Are arranged.

The PI 26 has a built-in infrared LED 26a and a phototransistor 26b, which are opposed to each other. The phototransistor 26b receives infrared light emitted from the infrared LED 26a and converts it into a current. It is configured as follows.

The anode of the infrared LED 26a is connected to a power supply, the cathode is grounded via a current control resistor R1, the collector of the phototransistor 26b is connected to a power supply, and the emitter is a load resistor R2 for current-voltage conversion and a waveform shaping. The other end of the load resistor R2 is connected to the circuit 27 and is grounded.

The PI blade 25 rotates, and the slit provided on the PI blade 25 is connected to the infrared LED 26 of the PI 26.
By repeating transmission and blocking of the light path composed of a and the phototransistor 26b, a current synchronous with the rotation of the motor 16 flows through the phototransistor 26b.

The current is converted into a voltage by the load resistor R 2, further converted into a digital signal by the waveform shaping circuit 27, and then output to the microcomputer 1.

Thus, the microcomputer 1
Can detect the rotation amount and the rotation speed of the motor 16 as the number of clocks and the frequency of the clock signal.

The clock signal output from the motor rotation detection circuit can be considered as a clock signal substantially synchronized with the feeding of the film, for example, if it is limited to the feeding of one frame of the film. It is.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a data imprinting position photograph when the image is photographed using the camera with a data imprinting function according to the present embodiment.

That is, for example, when the data imprinting position at the time of horizontal shooting 26 of a certain camera is the area 27 (see FIG. 3A), the data imprinting position at the time of vertical shooting 28 of the same camera is This becomes the area 29 (see FIG. 3B).

FIG. 4 is a sample diagram of the imprinted state when date information is used as data.

That is, FIG.
4 shows an imprint sample 30 of the date information of FIG.
(B) and (c) show imprint samples 31 and 32 of the date information at the time of shooting 28 in the vertical position.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of data imprinting using 7-dot LEDs.

Since the dot LED is used, not only when the posture at the time of photographing is in the horizontal direction (imprint sample 30) but also in the vertical direction (imprint sample 31) by using the Chinese numerals, it can be selectively used. By emitting the LED, it is possible to change the reading direction of the imprinted data.

By increasing the number of dots, the display in the vertical direction can be made to look like the imprint sample 32.

Hereinafter, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
A part of the photographing operation of the camera with a data imprinting function according to the embodiment will be described.

When the power switch 4 of the camera is turned off, the camera performs a minimum operation. On the other hand, when the power switch 4 is turned on, the camera operates the release switch 5 under the control of the microcomputer 1. Until is turned on, the camera stands by in a shooting preparation state called "main processing" (step S1).

When the user turns on the release switch 5 at a desired photographing timing (step S2), the distance detection circuit 3 detects the subject distance and the photometric circuit (not shown) measures the luminance of the field, and adjusts the focus. The taking lens 22 is driven to the in-focus position via the mechanism 12, the lens shutter 21 is opened and closed via the sector blade driving mechanism 11, and exposure is performed (step S3).

When the exposure is completed, the screen direction is detected by the screen direction detecting circuit 19 (step S).
4) If the screen direction is the horizontal position, the horizontal position information is stored in the nonvolatile memory 7 (step S5). If the screen direction is the vertical position, the vertical position information is stored in the nonvolatile memory 7. (Step S6).

In this way, a feeding operation described later is started (step S7), and when the feeding operation is completed, step S1 is performed.
Return to the shooting preparation state.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The one-frame film feeding process performed in step S7 of FIG. 6 will be described.

In this process, winding of the film by the film feed mechanism 2 is started under the control of the microcomputer 1 (step S11), and the information on the screen direction stored in the nonvolatile memory 7 is read out. Perform (Step S12).

Subsequently, the microcomputer 1 determines whether or not the information relates to a vertical position (step S13).

Here, when the information is the horizontal position, the horizontal position data is referred to (step S14), and when the information is the vertical position, the vertical position data is referred to (step S14). .

Subsequently, the film sensitivity input by the film sensitivity detection circuit (not shown) and the non-volatile memory 7
Based on the reference light emission time data stored as an adjustment value, an LED light emission time corresponding to the film sensitivity is calculated (step S16).

At this time, the screen direction information detected and stored by the screen direction detection circuit 19 is stored in the nonvolatile memory 7.
The calculation is performed using a data table in which the read characters and symbols that have been read out and matched in the vertical or horizontal direction are converted into LED light emission patterns.

Then, the process enters a feed loop process to start data imprinting, and the data imprinting circuit 14
According to the imprint data previously generated in step S16, the output of the data imprint circuit terminal of FIG.
The dot LED is selectively caused to emit light, and after the set time has elapsed, the process ends.

When the process is completed, the process goes through to step S18 to continue the feeding process (step S1).
7). Then, rotation control of the feeding motor 16 during feeding and perforation of the film 23 are detected (step S18).

Thus, the end of one frame is determined based on the perforation count value (step S1).
9) When one frame is completed, the feeding is completed (step S20).

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, without using a complicated mechanical configuration or an optical system,
It is possible to provide a camera capable of imprinting high-resolution data in accordance with the photographing direction of the user.

[0066]

According to the present invention, it is possible to print high-resolution data along the screen direction without hindering downsizing and cost reduction of a camera, and without particularly requiring a complicated mechanical structure. It is possible to provide a camera with an imprinting function.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a camera with a data imprinting function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a mechanical configuration of each part around a motor 16;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a data imprint position photograph when photographing is performed using the camera with a data imprint function according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sample diagram of an imprinted state when date information is used as data.

FIG. 5 is a data imprinting circuit diagram using a 7-dot LED.

FIG. 6 illustrates a part of a photographing operation of the camera with a data imprinting function according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a one-frame film feeding process performed in step S7 of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Microcomputer 2 Film feeding mechanism 3 Distance detection circuit 4 Power switch 5 Release switch 6 Zoom switch 7 Non-volatile memory 8 Charging circuit 9 Light quantity control circuit 10 Variable focal length mechanism 11 Sector blade drive mechanism 12 Focus adjustment mechanism 13 Driver circuit 14 Data imprinting circuit 15 Motor rotation detecting circuit 16 Motor 17 Perforation detecting circuit 18 Data lens 19 Screen direction detecting circuit 20 Strobe 21 Lens shutter 22 Shooting lens 23 Film 24 Distance measuring sensor

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A data imprinting means for imprinting data at a predetermined position on a film surface by selectively causing a plurality of light emitting elements to emit light, and a screen direction for detecting whether a shooting screen direction is a vertical position or a horizontal position. A camera having a data imprinting function, comprising: changing a light emission pattern of the plurality of light emitting elements by the data imprinting means based on a detection result of the screen direction detecting means. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data imprinting means sets the light emitting pattern to a vertical position character when a detection result of the screen direction detecting means at the time of photographing is a vertical position direction. The camera with a data imprinting function according to claim 1. 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the light emission pattern is changed by controlling at least light emission timing, light emission time, and light emission frequency of the plurality of light emitting elements. .