JP2002207236A - Illuminator for photography - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To drastically reduce space and cost in comparison with the conventional strobe light emitting device and also to irradiate a subject with the proper quantity of irradiating light by using a plurality of white LEDs. SOLUTION: In this illuminator for photography 3, six white LEDs 3A to 3C and 3D to 3E are laterally and proximately arranged in upper and lower steps at the right upper part of a camera body CB. The respective white LEDs 3A to 3F have a light emitting irradiation angle nearly equal to or a little wider than the angle of view of a photographic lens. In the illuminator 3, the white LED emitting light in accordance with a photographic distance to a subject is selected by a light emission control means. For example, when the distance is short, the two white LEDs emit the light, when the distance is middle, the four white LEDs emit the light and when the distance is long, all of the six white LEDs emit the light respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention illuminates a subject with illumination light when photographing with a video camera using an illumination device such as a silver halide camera using a silver halide film, a digital camera, and a video camera. In particular, the present invention relates to a photographing lighting device suitable for photographing using a high-sensitivity film and photographing using a video device such as an electronic camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional illuminating device for photographing, a strobe for emitting light from a xenon (Xe) discharge tube is generally used. However, since a strobe usually needs to apply a high voltage of 300 V or more, a booster circuit such as a DC / DC converter is required, and a DC / D converter is required.
Since the output current of the C converter is extremely small, a large-capacity capacitor for storing a high voltage has been indispensable for generating a large current instantaneously. Further, complicated circuits such as a trigger circuit for causing the xenon discharge tube to emit light and a dimming circuit for appropriately controlling the amount of light emission are required, which hinders downsizing and cost reduction of the illumination device or a camera including the same. It was a big factor. Further, the conventional flash using a xenon discharge tube has many problems such as taking a long time to charge the above-mentioned large-capacity capacitor, increasing a shooting interval by flash shooting, and missing a chance to take a photo at a special angle. I was holding it. However, in recent years, the sensitivity of photographic films, so-called silver halide films, has been improved, and high-sensitivity films such as ISO speeds of 800 to 1600 have become generally available. Furthermore, even in electronic cameras called digital still cameras, etc., CC
The sensitivity of an image sensor such as a D (charge coupled device) image sensor has also been improved, and a large amount of light, such as a conventional strobe, is not always required for subject illumination.

[0003] Furthermore, the luminance of light emitting diodes (LEDs) (hereinafter referred to as "LEDs") has been remarkably improved, and red, green and blue, which are the three primary colors of light, have become available and have been used for various types of lighting. It has become. Recently, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-89318, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-235245, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-21703 have proposed photographic lighting devices using an LED as a light source. Japanese Patent 20
In JP-A-00-89318, a plurality of white LEDs are arranged in close proximity to each other with their light-emitting portions oriented substantially in the same direction, and a plurality of lenses respectively corresponding to each LED are integrally molded in front of these LEDs. It shows a configuration in which objects are arranged, and describes that it is used for illumination of a video camera. Among them, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-235245 discloses an apparatus in which red, blue, and green LEDs emit light for close-up photographing of a film with a lens.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-21703 discloses a configuration for obtaining a light source for illumination at a fixed short distance such as a visual inspection and the like, in which irradiation unevenness is reduced by an LED.

[0004]

In recent years, although the brightness of LEDs has been increasing, unless a plurality of LEDs are used, it is not possible to obtain a sufficient amount of light for use in photographing, and furthermore, a small amount of light is emitted. Needs to be reduced. Further, since the illumination light is attenuated according to the distance to the subject, it is necessary to adjust the amount of emitted light. In addition, in controlling the amount of light emitted from the LED, it is necessary to make the configuration as simple as possible and inexpensive. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and uses a plurality of discrete-type white LEDs in which a lens is formed on the front surface of a light emitting unit, and adjusts the irradiation angle of the lens formed on the front surface to the image of the photographing lens. It is an object of the present invention to provide a photographing illumination device capable of realizing size reduction and cost reduction by combining a white LED which is substantially the same as or slightly wider than a corner. The object of the first aspect of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive and compact configuration by using a plurality of white LEDs having a relatively wide irradiation angle in combination.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a photographing illumination device that can reduce the recycle time in continuous light emission and can easily and variably control the light emission amount of the illumination device.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a photographing illumination device which improves irradiation unevenness caused by a plurality of white LEDs, and in which a shadow of a subject which is a problem in conventional flash photography hardly occurs. It is in. Claim 3 of the present invention
A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device for photographing which can easily variably control the amount of light emitted from the lighting device, and can minimize the influence of the parallax on the irradiation range and the photographing range depending on the position of the white light emitting diode. It is in. An object of claim 6 of the present invention is to provide a photographing illumination device that can open a diaphragm aperture of a photographing lens, that is, make the aperture maximum, and use the light amount of the white LED without waste when illuminating a subject with a white LED. To provide. An object of claims 7 to 8 of the present invention is to realize a reduction in size and cost by using a white LED for illumination for other displays such as a self-timer. An object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device for photographing.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographing illumination device according to the present invention, wherein a white light emitting diode of a discrete type having a lens formed on a front surface of a light emitting section is provided to achieve the above object. In a photographing illumination device for illuminating a photographing visual field by using a plurality of light emitting devices, a plurality of white light emitting diodes having a light emitting irradiation angle substantially equal to or slightly wider than the angle of view of the photographing lens are used. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above-described object, the plurality of white light emitting diodes are respectively disposed on the left and right above the optical axis of the camera's taking lens. It is characterized by. In the lighting device for photography according to the present invention described in claim 3, the plurality of white light emitting diodes are located above the optical axis of the photographing lens of the camera and in order from a position near the optical axis of the photographing lens to a position far from the optical axis. It is characterized by being arranged.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographing illumination apparatus according to the present invention, wherein a distance measuring means for measuring a copy body distance, and the plurality of white light emitting diodes are selectively selected based on a result of distance measurement by the distance measuring means. A light-emitting diode disposed at a position close to the photographing optical axis when the distance measurement result of the distance measuring means is a short distance. As the distance measurement result changes from a short distance to a long distance, a white light emitting diode arranged at a position far from the white light emitting diode arranged at a position close to the photographing optical axis is selected according to the photographing distance. It is characterized in that it is configured to emit light selectively.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographing illumination device according to the present invention, wherein a light amount control means for variably controlling light amounts of a plurality of white light emitting diodes, a distance measuring means for measuring a subject distance, and a film sensitivity to be applied. Further comprising: a film sensitivity detecting means for detecting the distance; and a light amount calculating means for calculating an irradiation light amount to be irradiated on the subject based on the distance measurement result by the distance measuring means and the film sensitivity detected by the film sensitivity detecting means. In addition, the light emission control means is configured to select the white light emitting diode to emit light and variably control the light emission amount of the white light emitting diode to emit light based on the calculation result of the light quantity calculation means.
The illuminating device for photographing according to the present invention as set forth in claim 6, wherein the diaphragm means for controlling the aperture of the photographing lens, and when the white light emitting diode is illuminated as the subject illumination, the diaphragm aperture by the diaphragm means is reduced. Aperture control means for controlling the aperture to open.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the photographing illumination device, one or more of the plurality of white light emitting diodes are also used for another display such as a self-timer. And The photographing illumination device according to the present invention as set forth in claim 8, wherein the light emission control means includes:
A light amount control unit that variably controls a light emission amount of the white light emitting diode, and the light amount control unit changes the light emission amount in the case of the other display, such as a self-timer, as compared with the case of subject illumination. It is characterized by:

[0010]

That is, the illumination device for photographing according to the first aspect of the present invention has a light emitting irradiation angle when illuminating the photographing visual field by using a plurality of discrete white light emitting diodes each having a lens formed on the front surface of the light emitting portion. A plurality of white light emitting diodes having an irradiation angle substantially equal to or slightly wider than the angle of view of the taking lens are used. With such a configuration, miniaturization and cost reduction are realized, and there is no waste of the irradiation field.
Appropriate and efficient illumination is possible. In a lighting device for photography according to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of white light emitting diodes are respectively arranged on the left and right above the optical axis of the photography lens of the camera. With such a configuration, it is possible to provide a lighting device for a camera that can obtain a photograph without a shadow of a subject, which has been difficult to solve in conventional flash photography. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the photographing illumination device, the plurality of white light emitting diodes are sequentially arranged at a position above the optical axis of the photographing lens of the camera and far from a position near the optical axis of the photographing lens. With such a configuration, in particular, the influence of parallax on the irradiation range and the imaging range depending on the position of the white light emitting diode can be reduced.

[0011] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the photographing illumination device, the distance measurement result of the distance measurement means is determined by the light emission control means.
If it is a short distance, the white light emitting diode arranged at a position close to the imaging optical axis is made to emit light, and as the distance measurement result is changed from a short distance to a long distance, the white light emitting diode is arranged at a position close to the imaging optical axis. A white light emitting diode arranged at a position far from the white light emitting diode selectively emits light in accordance with a shooting distance. With such a configuration, in particular, the influence of parallax on the irradiation range and the imaging range depending on the position of the white light emitting diode can be reduced. In the illumination device for photographing according to claim 5 of the present invention, the light emission control means variably controls the selection of the white light emitting diode to emit light and the light emission amount of the white light emitting diode to emit light based on the calculation result of the light quantity calculation means. With such a configuration, the amount of emitted light can be easily variably controlled according to the subject distance and the film sensitivity, and the influence of the parallax of the irradiation range and the photographing range due to the position of the white light emitting diode can be avoided as much as possible.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the illuminating apparatus for photography according to the present invention, the aperture means controls the aperture of the photographing lens, and the aperture control means causes the white light emitting diode to emit light as a subject illumination. Is controlled to open the aperture. With such a configuration, it is possible to use the light amount of the white light emitting diode when illuminating the subject with the white light emitting diode without waste. The photographing illumination device according to claim 7 of the present invention, wherein the plurality of white light-emitting diodes have another display, such as a self-timer.
Also used for In the illumination device for photographing according to claim 8 of the present invention, the light emission control means includes a light quantity control means for variably controlling a light emission quantity of the white light emitting diode, and the light quantity control means performs the other display such as a self-display. In the case of timer shooting, preliminary light emission for preventing red-eye effect, and the like, the amount of emitted light is changed as compared with the case of subject illumination. With such a configuration, in particular, the white light-emitting diode for illumination is used for other displays such as a self-timer and the amount of emitted light is changed, so that the visibility is reduced while reducing the size and cost. And power saving can be realized.

[0013]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a photographing illumination device according to the present invention. FIG.
1 shows a schematic configuration of a camera equipped with a photographing illumination device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a configuration of a camera in which a plurality of (in this case, six) white light-emitting diodes (hereinafter, referred to as “white LEDs”) are arranged at the upper right of the taking lens. The camera shown in FIG. 1 has a photographing lens 1, a release button 2, and a photographing illumination device 3, and these are a camera body C
B is housed and mounted. The taking lens 1 has a lens barrier 1a that opens and closes to protect the objective surface. The release button 2 is pressed during shooting. The photographing illumination device 3 includes a plurality of, in this case, six white LEDs 3
A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E and 3F are arranged close to the upper right of the taking lens 1 as shown in the figure. Each of the white LEDs 3A to 3F has an irradiation angle substantially equal to or slightly wider than the angle of view of the photographing lens 1.

The white LEDs 3A and 3D, the white LEDs 3B and 3E, and the white LED 3
C and 3F are basically arranged so as to be directed in the same direction, but are preferably arranged so that the irradiation range matches in accordance with the subject distance.
The white LEDs 3A to 3C are arranged with their light emitting optical axes slightly shifted from each other with respect to
The white LEDs 3D to 3F are arranged with slightly different light emission optical axes. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the photographing visual field range is made substantially common and illumination is performed by six white LEDs 3A to 3F. As shown, six white LEDs 3A to 3F are arranged on the upper right as viewed from the front of the camera body CB, to constitute the photographing illumination device 3. As described above, the white LEDs 3A to 3F are respectively connected to the photographing lens 1
Are mounted at appropriate angles in the vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the optical axis of each white LED.
The irradiation field covers the entire photographing range even in the entire area of 3F.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, six white LEDs are used to illuminate the entire photographing range. However, more or less white LEDs may be used. In addition, the white LEDs 3A to 3C constituting the photographing illumination device 3 do not have to be collectively arranged in one place as shown in FIG. 1, and any part of the camera body CB can be illuminated with a common photographing range. It may be arranged. In addition, among the white LEDs 3A to 3F, the white LEDs 3A and 3B emit light when the subject is at a short distance, and the white LEDs 3A, 3B, 3D,
3E emits light, and in the case of a long distance, all white LEDs 3A
-3F may emit light. In this case, for example, the irradiation range of each white LED may be adjusted to a direction corresponding to a short distance, a medium distance, or a long distance. In this embodiment, a white LED of a discrete type is used, and the irradiation angle of a lens provided on the front surface of a package molded integrally with the white LED is determined by the photographing lens 1.
The angle of view is approximately the same or slightly larger, so there is no need to add a new lens, and the three primary color LEDs
Since a member for color mixing is not required as in the case of using, the configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

Various directional characteristics of the cylindrical LED are commercially available depending on the shape of the resin lens on the front surface of the light emitting section. Incidentally, the angle of view of the imaging optical system of the camera is often 50 to 70 degrees. On the other hand, LEDs marketed by LED manufacturers have an irradiation angle of 10 degrees to 8 degrees.
Since there is a zero-degree LED, an LED with an irradiation angle of 50 to 70 degrees corresponding to the angle of view of a camera is readily available. Next, a second embodiment corresponding to claim 2 will be described with reference to FIG. Also in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a common photographing visual field range is set to six white LEs.
At D, it is illuminated. In this case, the white LEDs 4A to 4C and the white LEDs 4D to 4F whose irradiation angles are approximately equal to or slightly wider than the angle of view of the photographing lens 1 and are arranged three by three on the upper left and right sides of the photographing lens 1, respectively, The photographing illumination device 4 is configured. Each irradiation range of these six white LEDs 4A to 4F is assumed to be almost the entire photographing visual field range. Thus, the six white LEDs 4A
4F to 4F, the light is scattered on the left and right above the taking lens 1, so that it is located on one side of the subject due to irradiation light emitted from one place as in the case of taking a picture using a conventional strobe device. Overcoming the shadowing difficulties.

Next, the configuration of a camera incorporating a photographic lighting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the front view shown in FIG. This figure 3
Also in the third embodiment shown in FIG.
5 to 5H, the emission angle of the light emission is substantially equal to or slightly wider than the angle of view of the photographing lens 1.
In the case of this embodiment, the photographing illumination device 5 includes eight white LEDs 5A to 5H that are arranged horizontally above the optical axis of the photographing lens 1 of the camera body CB and farther away from a position closer to the optical axis. They are arranged in a line. More specifically, among the eight white LEDs, four white LEDs 5A to 5A to
5D is the left four white LEDs 5E to 5E on the left side of the optical axis.
5H is disposed on the right side of the optical axis. Furthermore, the white LED 5D on the left and the white LE on the right are closest to the optical axis.
D5E, on the contrary, farthest from the optical axis are a left white LED 5A and a right white LED 5H, and a white LED 5C and a white LED 5B are arranged in the middle of the left,
A white LED 5F and a white LED 5G are arranged in the middle on the right side, respectively, and their light emission is selectively controlled by a light emission control unit described later in accordance with the subject distance.
By arranging a plurality of white LEDs in this way, the shadow of the subject can be eliminated, and the light amount can be controlled according to the subject distance.

FIG. 4 will be described with reference to a front view showing a schematic configuration of a camera incorporating a photographing illumination device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention corresponding to claims 1 and 3. In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.
Each of the white LEDs 6A to 6H has a light emission irradiation angle substantially equal to or slightly wider than the angle of view of the photographing lens 1. The plurality of white LEDs, in the case of this embodiment, eight white LEDs 6A to 6H are arranged above the camera body CB, deviated to the right side, and sequentially arranged in a row from a position closer to the optical axis to a position farther from the optical axis. It is located in. That is, the white LE closest to the optical axis
D is 6A and the farthest white LED is 6H. Apart from the white LEDs 6A to 6G arranged in a horizontal line, the white LEDs 6H arranged below the white LEDs 6F and 6G are also used for a self-timer and other displays, for example, and are displayed as a self-timer. In this case, the light is emitted with a low light quantity by the light emission control means described later.

Next, the configuration of an electric system of a camera incorporating a photographing illumination device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG. The camera shown in FIG. 5 includes a photographing illumination device 5 (corresponding to the third embodiment), a CPU (central control device) 6, and an LE
D driver 7, distance measuring means 8, film sensitivity detecting means 9,
An aperture control unit 10 and a battery 11 as a power supply are provided. In this case, the white LE constituting the photographing illumination device 5
D5A to 5H are arranged in order from a position close to the optical axis of the photographing lens 1 to a position far from the optical axis of the photographing lens 1 as shown in FIG. 3, for example, and have an illumination angle approximately equal to or slightly wider than the angle of view of the photographing lens. It is an LED (claims 1 and 3). The white LEDs 5A to 5H constituting the photographing illumination device 5 are C
Light emission control is selectively performed by the PU 6 via the LED driver 7.

The CPU 6 stores "correspondence data between the subject distance and the white LED to be selectively illuminated, and data corresponding to the subject distance, the irradiation light amount and the white LED to be selectively illuminated" in the built-in storage device. This irradiation light amount information changes according to the film sensitivity output of the film sensitivity detecting means 9.
The CPU 6 controls the white LEDs 5 </ b> A to 5 </ b> F constituting the photographing illumination device 5 according to the subject distance measured by the distance measuring unit 8.
The corresponding white LED is selected by an LED selection signal and emits light while a shutter (not shown) is open. That is, the storage device (not shown) built in the CPU 6 includes, for example, a white LED to be illuminated in the photographing illumination device 5 in accordance with three states of the subject distance: a short distance, a medium distance, and a long distance. Is stored. Therefore, for example, the release button 2 is pressed, and the CPU 6
When a distance measurement signal indicating that the subject is at a short distance is obtained from the distance measurement means 8 which has received the distance measurement control signal from the CPU 6, the CPU 6
The corresponding LED selection signal is output from the light emission control means to the LED driver 7, and the white LED 5D and LE arranged at the position closest to the optical axis by the LED driver 7 are output.
While two D5Es are selected and the shutter is open,
Emits light.

Next, when a distance measurement signal indicating that the subject is at an intermediate distance is obtained from the distance measurement means 8 which receives a distance measurement control signal from the CPU 6, the light emission control means responds to the signal. An LED selection signal to be output, that is, a selection signal for selecting four LEDs located near the optical axis, is output to the LED driver 7, and the LED driver 7 outputs four signals of the white LED 5 </ b> C and the white LED 5 </ b> D and the white LED 5 </ b> E and the white LED 5 </ b> F.
An individual is selected and emits light while the shutter is open.
Next, when a distance measurement signal indicating that the subject is at a long distance is obtained from the distance measurement means 8, the white LEDs 5A to 5
All of H are selected and light is emitted while the shutter is open. As described above, since more white LEDs are emitted as the distance to the subject increases, the light amount control based on the distance is executed, so that an appropriate light amount can be obtained from a short distance to a long distance. Become.

Here, the light emission control of the white LEDs 5A to 5H in the photographing illumination device 5 shown in FIG. 3 has been described. However, the white LED of the photographing illumination device 3 shown in FIGS. Is similarly controlled. For example, in the photographing illumination device 3 shown in FIG. 1, when the distance measurement result by the distance measurement means 8 is a short distance, two white LEDs 3A and white LEDs 3D
White LED3A, white LED3B, white LED3
D, when the white LED 3E is at a long distance, 6 white LEs
D3A to white LED 3F are selected and emitted by the emission control means in CPU 6, respectively. FIG. 2 or FIG.
Similarly, for the photographing illumination device 4 or 6, the light emission control unit determines that the distance measurement result of the distance measurement unit 8 is a short distance.
White LED arranged near the optical axis of the taking lens 1
4C, white LED4F or white LED6A, white LE
D6B respectively emit light, and as the distance measurement result of the distance measuring means 8 changes from a short distance to a long distance, the white LED 4C, the white LED 4F, or the white L arranged at a position closer to the photographing optical axis.
White LED 4 located farthest from ED6A
A, out of the white LED 4E or the white LED 6G,
Light is selectively emitted in the manner described above according to the shooting distance.

Even with such light emission control, for example, when the subject is at a very short distance, such as in macro photography, the white L
Even if two EDs are used, the light amount may be excessive. Further, when the distance measuring step by the distance measuring means 8 is more than the three states of short distance, middle distance, and long distance, only by changing the number of white LEDs to emit light, it is possible to control the fine light emission amount corresponding to the object distance. Can not. Furthermore, even at the same object distance, the light amount changes due to the difference in film sensitivity. Therefore, the lighting device for photography according to the present invention,
In consideration of such circumstances, a white LED to emit light
By changing the number of light emitting diodes and changing the light emission amount of the white LED itself, fine light amount control is performed, and an appropriate light amount can be obtained over a wide range. That is, based on the result of the distance measurement by the distance measuring means 8, the number of white LEDs required to illuminate the subject at the distance measured by the light emission control means is selected. The light amount calculating means (not shown) in the CPU 6 determines whether or not the subject located at the distance measured by the white LED selected in this way can be properly irradiated. The calculation is performed based on the film sensitivity detected by the means 9.

Based on the calculation result of the light amount calculation means,
The light emission control means changes the number of white LEDs to emit light, or variably controls the light emission amount of the selected white LED. For example, a white LED selected based on the distance measurement result
If an appropriate amount of light cannot be obtained even when the light is emitted at the maximum luminance, an LED selection signal is given to the LED driver 7 so as to increase the number of white LEDs to be emitted by the light emission control means. Based on the increased white LED in this manner, the proper light emission amount is calculated again by the light amount calculation means, and the LED light amount control signal is output to the LED.
Give to driver 7. Conversely, if the white LED selected on the basis of the distance measurement result emits light with the minimum luminance, but the amount of light is excessive, reduce the number of white LEDs to emit light, and calculate the appropriate amount of light emission again at the time of the reduction, An LED light amount control signal corresponding to the calculation result is provided to the LED driver 7. In this way, the LED driver 7 receiving the LED selection signal and the LED light amount control signal causes the white LED calculated by the operation to emit light with the light emission amount controlled by the LED light amount control signal.

The control device of the light emission amount of the white LED is not particularly shown, but, for example, a method of changing the current for driving the white LED, a method of changing the light emission time of the white LED, or both of them. A well-known technique such as a method combining the above can be used. Also,
The aperture control means 10 shown in FIG. 5 is for variably controlling the aperture of the photographing lens 1 in accordance with the brightness of the subject and in accordance with the distance. Control. For example,
The aperture control unit receives an aperture control signal from the CPU 10 and emits a white LED as object illumination.
The aperture opening of the aperture means is controlled to be open. As described above, when the aperture of the imaging lens 1 is maximized, that is, when the aperture is opened, the light amount control by the imaging illumination device using the white LED can be maximized.

When the shutter opening / closing blade itself is a type of shutter that doubles as an aperture stop, the shutter may be controlled to be fully opened. further,
In FIG. 5, when a function such as a self-timer or red-eye reduction is selected by means (not shown), an LED is displayed.
The driver 7 drives and emits a specific white LED. For example, one or more of the white LEDs 5A to 5H may emit light simultaneously via the LED driver 7. For example, when displaying a self-timer, the eight white LEDs 5A to 5H in FIG. 3 are sequentially turned on from the right every second, and the shutter is released when the leftmost white LED 5A is turned on after being turned off. Or, conversely, there is no conventional camera in which all the white LEDs 5A to 5H are first turned on and then turned off one by one with the passage of time, and the shutter is released when all are turned off. Various methods can be adopted. By adopting such a display method, a display that is easier to understand than before can be provided without providing a dedicated display device.

Further, the light emission control means includes a light quantity control means for variably controlling the light emission quantity of the white LED, and the light quantity control means is used for other displays, for example, a self-timer or the like, in the case of subject illumination. In contrast, the white LED functions to change the amount of light emitted, that is, to reduce the amount of light. This is a white LED that illuminates the subject to perform functions such as self-timer and red-eye reduction.
This is because the light emission amount is not necessary, and unnecessary power consumption is suppressed. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, but can be implemented in various modifications without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, although not shown, photometric means for measuring the range of the photographing visual field is provided, the photometric result is input to the light quantity control means of the CPU 6, and the photometric information input by the light quantity control means The number of white LEDs to be emitted and / or the amount of emitted white LEDs may be calculated based on the distance measurement information of the photometry unit 8 and the film sensitivity information. Also,
Each of the light emitting optical axes of the plurality of white LEDs may be set to be different depending on the distance of the subject to be irradiated.

[0028]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of discrete type white LEDs having a lens formed on the front surface of a light emitting unit are used to illuminate a field of view for photographing. The lighting device is configured to use a plurality of white light emitting diodes having a light emission angle of illumination that is substantially equal to or slightly wider than the angle of view of the photographing lens. A circuit, a main condenser, a reflector, and the like become unnecessary, and a photographing illumination device capable of efficiently illuminating a photographing visual field with an appropriate amount of light can be provided while reducing the size and cost of the camera.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since a plurality of white light emitting diodes are arranged on the left and right above the optical axis of the photographing lens of the camera, there is a problem when photographing with a conventional strobe. It is possible to provide an inexpensive photographing lighting device capable of taking a picture without a shadow of the subject. That is, in a conventional strobe, for example, providing two light-emitting portions and a reflector on both sides of a camera increases space and cost, lacks practicality, has no marketability, and has not been realized. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the plurality of white light emitting diodes are arranged above the optical axis of the photographing lens of the camera and in order from a position near the optical axis of the photographing lens to a position far from the optical axis of the photographing lens. The effect of parallax on the illumination range depending on the position of the light emitting diode and the shooting range with the shooting lens can be reduced as much as possible, and the amount of emitted light is adjusted by appropriately increasing or decreasing the number of white light emitting diodes that emit light according to the subject distance It is possible to provide a lighting device for photographing that can be performed.

According to the illuminating device for photographing of the present invention, the distance measuring means for measuring the copy body distance and the plurality of white light emitting diodes are selectively selected based on the distance measurement result by the distance measuring means. Emission control means for emitting light, and the emission control means causes the white light emitting diode arranged at a position close to the photographing optical axis to emit light when the distance measurement result of the distance measurement means is a short distance. As the result of the distance measurement changes from a short distance to a long distance, a white light emitting diode disposed at a position far from the white light emitting diode disposed at a position close to the photographing optical axis is selectively lit according to a photographing distance. Large parallax appears in the illumination range by the white light emitting diode and the imaging range by the imaging lens, especially for a subject at a short distance, but the white color arranged at the position closest to the optical axis Due to the light emission of the photodiode, the parallax hardly occurs, and the white light-emitting diode arranged in relation to the subject distance is selectively made to emit light. Can be provided.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the light emission control means is configured to irradiate the object with an irradiation light amount based on the result of the distance measurement by the distance measurement means and the film sensitivity detected by the film sensitivity detection means. Since the configuration is such that the white light emitting diode to emit light and the light emission amount of the white light emitting diode to emit light are variably controlled based on the calculation result of the light amount calculation means for calculating In particular, in order to variably control the amount of irradiation based on the shooting distance and film sensitivity, an inexpensive circuit can be used without using complicated and expensive circuits such as IGBTs and SCRs like conventional strobes. By changing the number of white light emitting diodes that emit light in the configuration, and even changing the light emission amount of the white light emitting diode, it is possible to irradiate more accurate irradiation light amount It is possible to provide a illumination device for photographing. According to the illuminating device for photographing of claim 6 of the present invention, the diaphragm means for controlling the aperture of the photographing lens, and when the white light emitting diode is illuminated as the subject illumination, the diaphragm aperture by the diaphragm means is set to the full aperture. Since the iris is provided with an aperture control means for controlling, when illuminating the subject with the white light emitting diode, the aperture of the photographic lens is opened, that is, the aperture is set to the maximum aperture, and the illuminating light for illuminating the light of the white light emitting diode without waste. An apparatus can be provided.

According to the illuminating device for photographing of the present invention, a specific one or more of the plurality of white light emitting diodes are used also for other displays such as a self-timer, so that a new one is newly provided. It is not necessary to provide a dedicated display, and it is possible to provide a photographing illumination device that can be reduced in size and cost. According to the invention described in claim 8, the light emission control means includes a light quantity control means for variably controlling the light emission quantity of the white light emitting diode, and the light quantity control means is used when the other display, such as a self-timer, is performed. Is configured to change the amount of emitted light as compared to the case of subject illumination, so there is no need to provide a new dedicated display, and space and cost can be reduced by that amount. It is possible to provide a lighting device for photographing that enables a display that is easily recognizable by using a white light emitting diode.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing an external configuration of a camera equipped with a photographing illumination device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing an external configuration of a camera equipped with a photographing illumination device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view schematically showing an external configuration of a camera equipped with a photographing illumination device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view schematically showing a configuration of a camera equipped with a photographing illumination device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a circuit configuration of a main part of a camera equipped with a photographing illumination device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 shooting lens 1a lens barrier 2 release button 3, 4, 5 shooting lighting device 6 CPU (central control device) 7 LED (light emitting diode) driver 8 distance measuring means 9 film sensitivity detecting means 10 aperture control means 11 batteries 3A to 3F , 4A-4F, 5A-5H, 6A-6H White light emitting diode (white LED) CB camera body

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03B 15/03 G03B 15/03 W 17/18 17/18 D H04N 5/238 H04N 5/238 Z H05B 37 / 02 H05B 37/02 Z // F21S 8/04 F21Y 101: 02 F21Y 101: 02 F21S 1/02 G F term (reference) 2H002 CD08 GA31 HA14 2H053 AA05 AA09 AD01 AD13 BA73 BA75 BA79 CA41 CA45 DA08 2H102 AB15 BB05 CA02 3K073 AA41 AA46 AA83 AB01 AB04 BA00 CA01 CF14 CG06 CG15 CG28 CJ00 CJ17 CJ19 5C022 AB15

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A photographing illumination device for illuminating a photographing visual field by using a plurality of discrete type white light emitting diodes having a lens formed on the front surface of a light emitting section, wherein the illumination angle is approximately equal to or slightly wider than the angle of view of the photographing lens. An illumination device for photographing, wherein a plurality of white light emitting diodes having an emission angle of light are used. 2. The photographing illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of white light emitting diodes are respectively arranged on the left and right above the optical axis of the photographing lens of the camera. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of white light emitting diodes are arranged above the optical axis of the taking lens of the camera and in order from a position near the optical axis of the taking lens to a position far from the optical axis. The lighting device for photography according to the above. 4. A distance measuring means for measuring a copy body distance; a light emission control means for selectively emitting light from the plurality of white light emitting diodes based on a distance measurement result by the distance measuring means;
And the light emission control means causes the white light emitting diode arranged at a position close to the photographing optical axis to emit light when the distance measurement result of the distance measurement means is a short distance, and the distance measurement result is close. As the distance from the distance increases, the white light emitting diode arranged at a position far from the white light emitting diode arranged at a position close to the photographing optical axis is configured to selectively emit light according to the photographing distance. The photographing lighting device according to claim 3. 5. A light quantity control means for variably controlling light quantities of a plurality of white light emitting diodes, a distance measuring means for measuring a subject distance, a film sensitivity detecting means for detecting an applied film sensitivity, and the distance measuring means. Light amount calculating means for calculating an irradiation light amount to be irradiated on a subject based on the distance measurement result and the film sensitivity detected by the film sensitivity detecting means, and the light emission control means is configured to calculate the light amount calculating means. The illumination device for photographing according to claim 4, wherein the white light emitting diode to emit light and the light emission amount of the white light emitting diode to emit light are variably controlled based on the result. 6. An aperture control means for controlling the aperture of the taking lens, and an aperture control means for controlling the aperture opening of the aperture means to open the aperture when the white light emitting diode is illuminated as a subject illumination. The photographing lighting device according to claim 4, wherein the photographing lighting device includes: 7. The display according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of white light emitting diodes are used for another display such as a self-timer. A lighting device for photography according to claim 1. 8. The light emission control unit includes a light amount control unit that variably controls a light emission amount of the white light emitting diode,
8. The photographing illumination device according to claim 7, wherein the light amount control unit changes the amount of emitted light at the time of the other display, such as a self-timer, as compared with the case of subject illumination.