JP2002162554A - Zoomable camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a zooming feasible camera capable of realizing sure detection, even when a user pushes in a lens frame. SOLUTION: A lens frame driving mechanism is equipped with a movable range for zoom, where a photographing feasible state is held and a movable range for housing a lens adjacent to the movable range for zoom and having an area, where a lens state is improper to photographing at a part of the range. A 1st position detection part (optical sensor: TPR 161) is provided at the terminal of the movable range opposite to the movable range for housing, and a 2nd position detection part (mechanical switch: WSW 162), where a consumed operating current is smaller than that in the 1st position detection part, is provided on a boundary between the movable range and the movable range for housing. The zoomable camera is equipped with an arithmetic control part (CPU) for setting an electrical circuit, from a power saving state to an operation feasible state, when there is output from a mechanical switch in the midst of the power-saving state by setting the state of lens frame in the movable range for zooming and setting the optical sensor to a non-operation state and the mechanical switch to an operation state in the power saving state. Then, detection for the zoom end of the collapsing side is on power-saving function.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a camera capable of zooming and having a function of detecting a zoom end (tele end, wide end).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a technique relating to recent zooming, there is, for example, an electric zoom apparatus taught in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-1733051, which has an optical sensor as a detecting means and performs a zooming movement by a zoom driving mechanism. When the drive position of the end (tele end: TELE (telephoto) end, wide end: WIDE (wide angle) end) comes near the end of the zoom movable range, this is detected and the drive motor is stopped. This prevents the part from colliding with another part.

[0003] The camera taught in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-123914 also has means for detecting that the drive position of the zoom end of the zoom drive mechanism is near the end of the zoom movable range. In the example, a contact switch (in this case, a code plate) is used. Control is performed so that contact and the like do not occur when the back cover and the lens barrier are opened and closed and when the lens barrel is extended and retracted.

[0004] Such a conventional so-called "zoom position detection switch" is an important component in the case of an electrically driven zoom camera. In particular, at the zoom end where the lens approaches the retracted state, if an external force is applied to the tip of the lens, there is an accident that the lens frame may be retracted. If photographing is performed as it is, normal photographing cannot be performed, resulting in a problem that an unclear image is photographed. These techniques have prevented the above-mentioned problems from occurring.

[0005]

However, the above two prior arts have the following problems.
First, the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-173051 is a method of performing non-contact detection using an optical sensor, so that there is no switch driving load, and as a result, there is no possibility of increasing the zoom driving load. However, since the optical sensor has a large power consumption rate,
There is a drawback that a large amount of current is required, and keeping the operation state for a long time increases the consumption of the battery. Therefore, it cannot be set to the always operating state. Further, in this method, even if the lens barrel is pushed forward and enters the collapsed area (impossible area), it cannot be detected, and the user may erroneously take a photograph with an image defect.

On the other hand, the technology of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-123914 is of a contact type, so there is a driving load for the switch, which may increase the zoom driving load. Since there is no need to emit light in this way, power consumption is low and it is suitable for use in a power saving state or the like. However, since this method uses a mechanical switch, if there are many detection points, a space (space) for the detection points is required, so that a restriction on a small camera is increased. Further, if the mechanical switches are additionally provided, the load at the time of driving the lens frame also increases, which is not preferable because the power consumption for driving increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a zoomable camera capable of realizing reliable detection even when a user pushes a lens frame.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to minimize power consumption in a power saving state and to reliably detect that a lens barrel has been pushed in. Another object of the present invention is to provide a camera capable of preventing the mechanism from being destroyed or the captured image from being deteriorated when the lens frame is pushed in.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention takes the following measures. According to the first invention, in a zoomable camera, a predetermined zoom movable range in which a photographable state is maintained, and a lens which exists adjacent to the zoom movable range and is provided at least partially in the movable range. A lens frame driving mechanism having a lens storage movable range having an area whose state is not suitable for shooting;
A first position detecting means provided at a terminal end of the movable range for zoom opposite to the movable range for storing the lens, and a boundary between the movable range for lens and the movable range for storing the lens, A second position detecting means having a lower operation current consumption than the first position detecting means; and a first position detecting means when the state of the lens frame of the camera is the movable range for zoom and the power saving state. When the output of the second position detecting means is issued during the power saving state, the entire electric circuit of the camera is changed from the power saving state. There is proposed a zoomable camera including: an arithmetic control unit that controls to shift to an operable state. Then, the retracted zoom end can be detected, and the front push detection is performed from the other zoom end with less power consumption.

In addition, when the output of the second position detecting means is issued other than during the zooming drive operation, the camera performs a zooming initialization operation so that the zooming member is surely present in the photographing permitted area. It is like.

The first position detecting means is an optical sensor, and the second position detecting means is a contact switch.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a camera capable of zooming, a lens frame driving mechanism in which the front end of the lens moves forward and backward in a predetermined movable range for zooming during zooming, and the lens in the movable range for zooming A first position detecting means provided at a terminal end on the side where the front end is extended most forward; and a first position detecting means provided at an end part on the side where the lens distal end is retracted most rearward in the zoom movable range.
A second position detecting unit which is more power-saving than the position detecting unit,
When the lens frame state of the camera is the zoom movable range and the state is the power saving state, the first position detecting means is deactivated, and the second position detecting means is kept in the operating state. A zoom-controllable camera, comprising: arithmetic control means for controlling the entire electric circuit of the camera to shift from the power-saving state to the operable state when the output of the second position detecting means is issued during the power state. Suggest. Then, the backward zoom end can be detected, and the front push detection is performed from the front zoom end with less power consumption.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to specific embodiments. First, the configuration of the camera of the present invention and the structure of main parts will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B show a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a state when this camera is operating, and FIG. 1B shows a state when this camera is not operating. Each state is shown in a perspective view.

FIG. 1A shows a state in which a power switch 105 provided on the upper surface of a camera main body as a main power supply SW is turned on, and the camera 100 is a lens-integrated zooming camera. A rotating frame 108 of a lens frame is protruded from the front surface of the lens 101, and a lens barrel 110 including a photographing lens 109 housed therein is configured to be extended.

A release button 102, a zoom-up switch 103, a zoom-down switch 104, and a power switch 105 are disposed at predetermined positions on the upper surface of the camera body 101, and an LCD display 111 is provided near the center thereof. It is provided to display the number of frames and various other shooting information.

A finder optical path extending from the upper rear part of the camera body 101 to the finder window 106 at the upper front part is arranged so that a subject in front of the camera can be observed. Further, a flash window 107 having a built-in flash unit is provided in the upper part of the front surface.

By pressing the zoom up switch 103 or the zoom down switch 104 as desired, a zooming operation from a wide angle (wide: WIDE) to a telephoto (tele: TELE) can be performed. Then, the lens barrel 11
In the telephoto state, 0 indicates the extended state indicated by a solid line, and in the wide state, the state is indicated by a broken line.

When the power switch 105 is turned off, as shown in FIG. 1B, the lens barrel 110 is moved to the position where the rotary frame is protruded, and the tip of the lens barrel 110 is retracted to collapse. And enters a sleep (pause) state.

FIG. 2 shows a rotating frame 108, a taking lens 109, and a lens barrel 110 of the camera frame of the present embodiment.
2 shows the internal structure and appearance of the camera body 101 related to these components as viewed from above with a part of the camera body 101 cut away. The lens barrel 110 has a cam groove 1 as a lens barrel driving mechanism.
01a is provided, and a cam pin 108b formed on the rotating frame 108 is engaged therewith. A gear 108 a is provided on the outer periphery of the rotating frame 108, and a gear 152 supported on a shaft of the zoom motor 151 is engaged with the gear 108 a. With the above-described mechanism, the power of the zoom motor 151 is transmitted to the lens barrel 110 via the rotating frame 108, and the lens barrel 110 can be extended and retracted.

A rotary slit plate 153 is provided on the rotary shaft of the zoom motor 151.
53 is monitored by a photo interrupter (ZPI) 154 and the amount of rotation of the zoom motor 151 is detected.

FIGS. 3A to 3C show the above-described rotating frame 1.
08, a photoreflector (TPR) 161 and a wide switch 162 for detecting the absolute rotational position of the switch 08 are shown in a perspective view. When zooming is in the tele position, rotating frame 1
08 is in the state of FIG. 3A, and the reflection plate is TPR161.
And this TPR is turned on.

When zooming is in the wide position, the rotating frame 1
08 is in the state of FIG. 3B, and TPR 161 is OFF.
And the wide switch (WSW) 162 is
8 is mechanically turned on by a protruding portion 163 protruding therefrom. In the retracted position, the rotating frame 108 is shown in FIG.
This is the state of (c), in which both the TPR 161 and the WSW 162 are OFF.

As shown in FIG. 3D, TPR1
The structure of 61 is such that a rectangular light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion are arranged on the same surface at a predetermined interval, and when light emitted from the light-emitting portion is reflected by a reflector provided at a predetermined portion of the rotating frame 108, the reflected light Is detected by the light receiving unit.
The presence or absence of the reflected light can detect that the rotating frame 108 is at a predetermined position (in this case, the tele position).

In other words, in such a zoom camera of the present invention, a zoom movable range in which a photographable state can be maintained and a lens adjacent to this movable range and having an area where the lens state is inappropriate for photographing in a part of this range. The movable range for storage is configured to be zoomed by a lens frame driving mechanism having a cam groove 101a and the like, and an optical sensor (for example, a first position detecting unit) is provided at the end opposite to the movable range for storage. A photoreflector (TPR) 161) is provided, and a mechanical switch (for example, WSW162) as a second position detector having a smaller operation current consumption than the optical sensor is further provided on the boundary with the movable range for storage. Then, the first position detecting means and the second position detecting unit are appropriately used for operation. That is, a CPU as an arithmetic control unit
The CPU 201 also has a lens frame state in the movable range for zooming, disables the optical sensor in the power saving state, activates the mechanical switch in the power saving state, and outputs the output of the mechanical switch during the power saving state. In this case, a control program (details will be described in detail later) that brings an electric circuit from a power-saving state to an operable state in a certain state is operated, and the retracted zoom end of the camera is detected with low power consumption. .

Next, the overall electrical configuration of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 schematically shows an electric circuit of the camera. A CPU 201 is a control unit for controlling the entire camera.
A release switch 102, a zoom-up (ZUP) switch 103, and a zoom-down (ZDN) switch 104 are connected to one port. Release switch 1 above
Reference numeral 02 denotes a two-stage switch. When the switch is half-pressed, 1RSW is turned on, and when fully pressed, 2RSW is turned on.

The WSW 162 is also connected to a predetermined port of the CPU 201.
The CPU 201 is connected to a hardware interrupt circuit having the function of "standby release". When the signal of this port is digitally changed after setting the standby release of this port and entering the standby state, the CPU 201 enters the standby mode. Is set to shift to the operation mode.

This port is connected to a pull-up resistor having a high resistance value, for example, a resistance of 1 MΩ, and always outputs an “H” (High) or “L” (Low) signal according to the state of SW. I do. For example, when the resistance is 1 MΩ and the power supply voltage is 3 V, the current consumption is almost zero A when “H”,
Since it is 3 μA when “L”, the current consumption is very low.

Further, the power switch 105 is also connected to the CP
U is connected to a predetermined port,
The CPU 201 is connected to a hardware interrupt circuit having a standby release function of U201. When the signal of this port is digitally changed after the standby release is set and the standby state is set for this port, the CPU 201 switches from the standby mode. The circuit is configured to shift to the operation mode.

A battery 202 supplies power to each section as a main power supply of the camera, and a DC / DC converter 203 boosts the battery voltage to maintain a power supply voltage of a control system. The power driver 204 drives various motors 205 based on a control signal from the CPU 201.

Further, the other ports of the CPU 201
The F circuit module 206, the LCD display 207, the strobe circuit 208, and the PI / PR drive circuit 210 are connected. The AF circuit module 206 is a known passive AF module, and is controlled by the CPU 201, and can detect the distance of the subject. LCD display 20
Reference numeral 7 denotes an LCD display, which is driven by an LCD driver built in the CPU 101. A strobe circuit 208 is a strobe circuit that charges a strobe capacitor and drives a strobe device 209 to emit light. PI / P
The R drive circuit 210 is a drive circuit for PI / PR,
The drive of the PR 161 and the ZPI 151 is controlled.

The control of the TPR 161 and the ZPI 151 is performed by turning on / off the processing circuit 210 in accordance with a control signal of the CPU 201.
The current for causing the ED element to emit light is usually about 5 mA. In the case of this level of current consumption, since the battery life is greatly affected if the power is constantly turned on, the control program of the CPU 201 is set so that the power is turned on only during zooming driving.

Here, the relationship between the operation of the lens barrel of the present embodiment and the signal of the detection system will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. Point A in this chart is the retracted position, and when the rotating frame is rotated by θ1 from this position, it reaches point B, which is the wide position. And from there, θ2
When the rotating frame is rotated only, the camera reaches the telephoto position C. With this series of zooming operations, ZPI, WS
A signal is generated at a predetermined timing in W and TPR.

However, in the section from A to B, since the lens position is not suitable for photographing, it is preferable that photographing is not executed in this section. During this time, ZPI
151 outputs a pulse signal proportional to the number of rotations of the motor. The CPU 201 can recognize the state (position) of the lens frame by counting (addition / subtraction) the pulse signal.

The output signal of the WSW goes into an "H" state across the point B. At other points, WSW is ON
Therefore, it is in the “L” state. Further, the output signal of the TPR becomes “H” from just before the tele end C, and is “L” at other points.

The CPU 201 resets the count value of the ZPI pulse to the value to be held at the wide position when the output of the WSW is present, and sets the value to be held at the tele position when the TPR becomes "H". Try again. This allows
If the ZPI count value of the CPU 201 is not monitored, or the ZPI is not activated, the count value can be corrected even when there is a state change due to an external force of the lens frame or the like. is there.

FIG. 6 shows the external force applied to the camera,
That is, it indicates a state in which the lens barrel is pushed forward. That is, the thick arrow indicates the direction of the external force that pushes the lens barrel in the retracting direction from the telephoto state during zooming. Similarly, the forward push receives a force in the same direction from the standard position and the wide position. When such a pushing force is received, if the force exceeds the holding force of the lens frame, the rotating frame starts to rotate, and the lens frame retreats in the retracting direction. In order to prevent this, the present invention monitors the following signal change to prevent the retracting in the retracted direction.

7 (a) to 7 (c) are signal waveform diagrams showing signal changes at the time of detection of the front pushing of the lens frame in this embodiment, and FIG. 7 (a) shows that the lens frame moves forward from the tele position. When the signal change received by pressing is indicated, the reverse rotation of the rotating frame causes TP
R changes from “H” to “L” if it is in the operating state (however, if it is not in the operating state, the signal state remains at “L” and does not change). After transitioning from the ON state ("L") to the WSW state, the WSW is turned OFF ("H") near the wide position, and is again turned on ("L") beyond the wide position to the collapsed position.

FIG. 7B shows a change in a signal when the lens barrel is pushed forward from the wide position. The TPR is in the “L” state when in the operating state (however, when not in the operating state, the signal state remains at “L” and does not change). WSW is OF
Although it is in the F (“H”) state, it enters the ON state (“L”) when it enters the collapsing area by pushing forward.

FIG. 7C shows a change in the signal when the lens barrel is pushed forward from the standard position. The TPR is in the “L” state when in the operating state (however, when not in the operating state, the signal state remains at “L” and does not change). WSW changes to ON state (“L”) and then turns OFF near the wide position.
("H") state, and is turned on again ("L") from the wide position to the retracted position.

7A to 7C, it can be seen that a falling edge of the WSW occurs. Therefore, if the falling edge of the WSW is connected to the interrupt function of the CPU, it is possible to detect any pre-press in any case.

Next, the control procedure of the camera according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, FIG. 8 shows a camera sequence in the CPU 201 of the camera. When the power switch 105 of the camera is turned on in the lens retracted state and the standby state (S1)
01), the CPU 201 initializes each port (S
102), setup related to zoom is performed (S10).
3). Next, LCD display is performed (S104), and a standby state is entered until a release operation is performed.

In the standby state of step S105,
First, it is determined whether 1RSW is turned on (S105).
If the operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step S108, and if not, the process proceeds to the next step S106. In step S106, whether a zoom operation has been performed (that is, ZUPS
(Which of W or ZDNSW is pressed) (S1
06) If there is an operation, proceed to step S113,
If there is no operation, the process proceeds to the next step S107.

In step S107, it is determined whether or not the PWSW operation has been performed (S107). If the operation has been performed (ie, if the switch has been turned ON), the flow advances to the next step S116 to perform the collapsing operation (S116), which will be described later. Step S
It moves to 117. If there is no operation, the above step S10
Return to 5. In step S106, it is determined whether or not the 2RSW has been pressed.
Proceed to.

The release operation (photographing operation) starts from step S109. Here, it is determined whether or not an interruption of the wide switch (WSW) is made based on the state of the interruption flag (S109). Since there is a possibility that the lens frame may be in the non-shooting area (that is, between the wide position and the retracted position) due to the forward push, the zoom reset operation for once returning the zoom-related member to the retracted position and setting up the zoom again is performed. This is performed (S110), and the interrupt flag is cleared (S111). Step S1 above
After the completion of step 11, and if it is determined in step S109 that there was no interruption of the WSW, a photographing operation is performed (S112), and the process returns to step S105.

In step S113, the user operates the zoom up (ZUP) switch or the zoom down (Z
(DN) switch is checked (S113). Zoom up (Z
In the case of the (UP) switch, the zoom-up operation is performed (S1).
14), and return to step S105. Zoom down
In the case of (ZDN) SW, the zoom-down operation is performed (S1
15) Return to step S105. Step S11
At 7, the LCD is turned off (S117), and the process returns to the standby mode and waits (S118).

FIG. 9 shows the U of the zoom buttons 103 and 104.
The zoom operation control by the P / DOWN operation is shown, which is the details of the routine corresponding to steps S114 and S115 in FIG. 8 described above. That is, when the zoom operation is started, the CPU 201 first turns on the ZPI and the TPR. However, since the WSW is always on, there is no need to turn it on here.

From step S301, when the zoom operation routine is entered (S301), TPR and ZPI are turned on (S302), and then the zoom driving motor is turned on (S303). Next, from step S304, it is determined whether or not the operation of the zoom button has been completed (S30).
4) If the operation has stopped, step S308 described later
If not stopped, the process proceeds to the next step S305.

In step S305, it is determined whether the tele end (TELE: telephoto end) or the wide end (WIDE: wide angle end) or not (S305). For example, the process proceeds to step S308, and if neither the tele end nor the wide end, the process proceeds to the next step S306. In step S306, it is determined whether a ZPI pulse has been generated (S306). If it is determined that a new pulse has been generated, pulse counting is performed in step S307 (S306).
307) If no pulse is generated, the process returns to step S304 without counting the pulse.

After step S308, the flow of the driving stop processing is performed. That is, the zoom drive motor is turned off.
(S308), and subsequently, the TPR,
The LED of the ZPI is turned off (S309). Further W
The interrupt flag of SW is cleared (S310). In addition,
This is because, even with the normal zoom drive described above, there is a possibility that an interrupt flag may be raised when passing through the WSW, and this is not an abnormal operation that requires recovery such as pushing the lens barrel forward. Conversely, it is erroneously determined that the clearing has not been performed, so that the clearing process is necessary here. Then, the operation of the zoom drive ends.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, of the position detection sensors required for zoom drive, sensor means (for example, a wide switch:
WSW), zoom-related position detection sensors (TPR for tele end detection, ZPI for zoom drive pulse detection)
Since it is constituted by the non-contact detecting means, the load of the zoom drive can be reduced.

Further, among the position detection sensors necessary for the zoom drive, the means (ie, WSW) for detecting whether or not the position has deviated from the photographing area is constituted by low power consumption. Battery consumption is low. In addition, since the low power consumption detection means (WSW) is disposed on the collapsed side of the zoom area, in other words, on the back side / rear side when pressed from the front, the front-end push as an abnormal operation that the user easily commits is performed. Can be reliably detected.

Further, since the optical sensors such as TPR and ZPI, which consume a large amount of power, are turned off except during the zoom operation, the battery consumption of the camera can be suppressed. To detect whether or not the photographing area is deviated, C is used.
Since a latch signal, which is a PU interrupt flag, is used, detection is possible regardless of the operation in the middle of the CPU.

When the zoom member is depressed more than necessary by an external force and deviates from the photographing area, the zoom is reset, so that high-resolution photographing is possible even in such a case. Therefore, power consumption in the power saving state can be minimized, and it is possible to reliably detect that the lens is pushed into the lens frame and detect it. It is possible to provide a camera that can prevent image deterioration before it occurs.

(Modification) The above embodiment may be modified as follows. For example, in the present invention, the camera may be a digital camera or a video camera in addition to a silver halide camera using a film.

The zoom drive is not limited to a motor dedicated to zooming, but may be a motor used for driving other mechanisms.
The configuration is not limited to the configuration of I, TPR, and WSW, and may be a combination of other switches, sensors, and the like. In addition, what corresponds to the WSW (that is, the detection means for detecting whether or not deviated from the photographing area) may be a sensor of another type instead of the mechanical switch as long as the power consumption is low.

By these modified embodiments, the same or higher operational effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be expected. In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention includes the following inventions. (1) In a zoom camera, a camming groove includes a zoom movable range in which a photographable state can be maintained and a lens housing movable range adjacent to the movable range and having a region in which a lens state is inappropriate for photographing in a part of the range. A lens frame driving mechanism using 101a or the like is configured to be capable of zooming drive, and an optical sensor (photo reflector (TPR)) is provided at an end opposite to the movable range for storage, and a boundary with the movable range for storage is provided. Is further provided with a mechanical switch (WSW), the lens frame is in the movable range for zooming, the optical sensor is inoperative in the power saving state, the mechanical switch is in the operating state, and the output of the mechanical switch is in the power saving state. In some cases, it is possible to provide a zoom camera that further includes a CPU that runs a control program that changes an electric circuit from a power saving state to an operable state.

(2) During zooming, the CPU
Both TPR and WSW are operated in real time, and when not zooming, TPR is turned off to save power, WSW is pulled up with high resistance to save power, rises by a predetermined interrupt signal, and WSW flag is set. If so, the camera described in (1) can be provided, in which it is determined that there is an advance push and the zoom is set up again.

(3) In a camera in which a photographing lens is housed in a lens barrel and can be driven by zooming with a predetermined cam mechanism in conjunction with a rotating lens frame that can be driven for rotational zooming, it is detected whether or not the camera has deviated from the photographing area. Having a sensor,
It is possible to provide a camera comprising a low power consumption mechanical sensor and a zoom-related position detection sensor for detecting a zoom position, wherein the sensor is a non-contact detector.

(4) The mechanical sensor is a mechanical switch as a power-saving detecting means for detecting and detecting a wide position, and other sensors for detecting and detecting a zoom position are non-power-saving detecting means. The camera according to (3), which is an optical sensor, can be provided.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, space saving and
An object of the present invention is to provide a zoomable camera capable of realizing reliable detection even when a user pushes a lens frame.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) show a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 (a) is a perspective view showing an operation state of the camera, and FIG. The perspective view which shows the state at the time of non-operation.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the appearance of a lens barrel and a lens barrel related to zooming of the camera according to the embodiment and an internal structure with a part of a body cut away.

3 (a) to 3 (c) are perspective views showing a rotating frame and a photo reflector and a wide switch for detecting an absolute rotating position of the rotating frame, and FIG. 3 (d) shows a structure of the photo reflector. Perspective view.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an electric circuit of the camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between an operation of a lens barrel of the camera of the embodiment and signals of a detection system by a graph and a timing chart.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a mirror frame front pushing load is applied to the camera.

7 (a) to 7 (c) show signal changes when the lens frame is pushed forward, and FIG. 7 (a) is a signal waveform diagram showing changes when the lens barrel is pushed forward from the tele position. FIG. 7 (b) is a signal waveform diagram showing a signal change when the signal is pushed forward from the wide position.
FIG. 7C is a signal waveform diagram showing a signal change when the signal is pushed forward from the standard position.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of the camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a zoom operation control procedure by a zoom up / down operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

100: Camera, 101: Camera body (body), 10
2. Release switch (1RSW, 2RSW), 103
... Zoom up switch (ZUP), 104 ... Zoom down switch (ZDN), 105 ... Power switch (P
WSW), 106: finder window, 107: strobe window, 108: rotating frame, 108a: gear, 108
b: cam pin, 109: taking lens, 110: lens barrel (lens frame), 151: zoom motor, 152: gear, 153: rotating slit plate, 154: photo interrupter (ZPI), 161: photo reflector (TP)
R), 162: Wide switch (WSW), 163: Projection (switch knob), 201: CPU (calculation control means), 202: Battery (battery), 203: DC / DC
Converter, 204: power driver, 205: motors, 206: AF circuit module (passive type), 20
7 LCD display, 208 strobe circuit, 209 strobe device (flash light emitter), 210 PI / PR drive processing circuit. S101 to S118: Camera control procedure, S3
01 to S311: Control procedure of zoom operation.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A zoomable camera, comprising: a predetermined zoom movable range in which a photographable state is maintained;
A lens frame driving mechanism, which is provided adjacent to the zoom movable range and includes a lens housing movable range having an area in which the lens state is not suitable for photographing in at least a part of the movable range; A first position detection means provided at a terminal end of the movable range opposite to the lens storage movable range, and a first position detection means provided at a boundary between the zoom storage range and the lens storage movable range; A second position detecting means having a lower operation current consumption than the position detecting means, and a lens frame state of the camera is the zoom movable range,
When the power saving state is established, the first position detecting means is deactivated and the second position detecting means is kept operating, and the output of the second position detecting means is generated during the power saving state. And an arithmetic control unit that controls the entire electric circuit of the camera to transition from the power saving state to the operable state when the camera is operated. 2. The camera according to claim 2, wherein when the output of the second position detecting means is issued other than during the zooming driving operation, the camera performs a zooming initialization operation so that the zooming member is present in the photographing permitted area. The feature of claim 1
The camera according to. 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said first position detecting means is an optical sensor, and said second position detecting means is a contact switch. 4. A camera capable of zooming, wherein, during zooming, a lens frame drive mechanism in which a lens tip moves forward and backward within a predetermined zoom movable range, and wherein the lens tip of the zoom movable range is the most forward. A first position detecting means provided at a terminal end on a side where the lens is extended, and a first position detecting means provided at a terminal end of the movable range for zoom on which the front end of the lens is retracted most rearward. A second position detection unit that saves power, and a mirror frame state of the camera is the movable range for zooming.
When the power saving state is established, the first position detecting means is deactivated and the second position detecting means is kept operating, and the output of the second position detecting means is generated during the power saving state. And an arithmetic control unit that controls the entire electric circuit of the camera to transition from the power saving state to the operable state when the camera is operated.