JP2002323717A - Camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera system where time correcting operation performed by a date select and set switch every time a battery is exchanged is omitted. SOLUTION: In a camera system which is provided with a time clocking device 1 driven by an attachable/detachable power source battery 2 and a camera main body having a storage circuit 22 storing a signal concerning the time by a clock device, and where the camera main body is controlled according to a transmission signal by a remote control transmitter 13; the remote control transmitter has a counter circuit 16, and the camera has a reception circuit 4 receiving the counter signal of the counter circuit transmitted from the remote control transmitter and a setting circuit 1 setting the time based on the signal concerning the time stored in the circuit 22 and the counter signal after replacing the power source battery.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera having a dating function and enabling the dating function to be used without modification even after battery replacement.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a camera having a date function, time correction performed every time a battery is replaced has become a troublesome problem. For this reason, date information is stored each time a camera operation is performed as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H07-077740.
As disclosed in JP-A-189530, it has been proposed to switch to a backup power supply when a battery is removed and to store date information in a nonvolatile memory. Also, JP-A-7-098
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 475, a proposal is made to warn the photographer every time the battery is replaced and to prompt the photographer to perform a correcting operation.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional camera with date, it is impossible to set the time accurately unless the time is set when the power supply battery is replaced. Was.

Therefore, an object of the first invention of the present application is to perform a remote control operation once without operating a date correction switch (set, select) so that the data is automatically set by counter information from the remote control. I have to.

An object of a second invention of the present application is to use a rechargeable battery with a memory as a power supply for a camera, and to count the time that the rechargeable battery is away from the camera using a charger, thereby resuming the camera. The camera uses this count time to correct the camera's date when it is inserted into the camera.

An object of the third invention of the present application is to replace the battery by using the counter information on the remote control transmission side so that both the camera control device and the remote control transmitter can perform bidirectional communication. The camera control device requests the remote control transmitter to transmit counter information, receives information from the transmitter, and corrects the date time.

As described above, an object of the present invention is to set a date function at an accurate time without complicated operation of a select / set switch which is a date correction switch performed every time a battery is replaced. .

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for counting a period during which a battery, which is a power source of a camera, is removed from the camera by using another device other than the camera body. When re-insertion is performed, the date time is accurately corrected and set based on the count information of this period.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a timekeeping device driven by a detachable power supply battery, a camera body having a storage circuit for storing a signal relating to time of the timepiece device, and a remote control transmitter for transmitting the signal. In a camera system for controlling a camera body, the remote control transmitter has a counter circuit, and after replacement of a power battery, the camera receives a counter signal of the counter circuit transmitted from the remote control transmitter, Another object of the present invention is to include a setting circuit for setting a time based on a signal related to the time stored in the storage circuit and the counter signal.

[0010] In particular, the storage circuit stores the time of the clock circuit when a previous transmission signal from the remote control transmitter is received.

[0011] Also, under a third object, the camera body is
After the power supply battery is installed, perform transmission to the remote control transmitter, the remote control transmitter receives a transmission signal from the camera body, thereby transmitting a counter signal of the counter circuit to the camera body side, The camera body corrects the time based on the stored signal of the storage circuit and the counter signal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided, for a second object, a timepiece driven by a detachable power supply battery, a camera body having a storage circuit for storing a time signal of the timepiece, and a power supply. A battery charger for charging a battery, wherein the power supply battery has a memory circuit for storing a time when the power supply battery is mounted on the charger, and when the power supply battery is mounted on the camera body, The present invention has a setting circuit for setting a time based on a memory signal and a signal related to time stored in the storage circuit.

By employing the above configuration, the date function can be set at an accurate time without complicated operation of the select and set switches, which are date correction switches performed every time the battery is replaced.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a camera with a date according to an embodiment of the present invention. A control microcomputer 1 controls the entire camera, and controls switch detection, photometry, distance measurement, lens barrel control, and feed control. 2
Is a battery which is a power source of the camera body. The control microcomputer 1 has a built-in timer (clock device) for measuring time based on the power of the battery 2. 3 is a light receiving sensor for receiving a remote control signal, and 4 is a receiving circuit for generating a light receiving signal. Reference numeral 5 denotes a feed motor control device for feeding the film, 6 denotes a feed motor, 7 denotes a lens barrel control device for driving the variable magnification lens barrel, and 8 denotes a motor for driving the lens barrel. A display device 9 displays time information, camera mode, film counter information, and the like. 10 is a set switch for correcting the date time and 1
1 is a select switch for correcting the date time. Reference numeral 22 denotes a nonvolatile memory EEPROM (storage circuit) for storing time information.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the remote control transmitter. Reference numeral 12 denotes a transmission LED, 13 denotes a transmitter for controlling a remote control transmitter, and 16 denotes a counter capable of counting a short time. Reference numeral 14 denotes a remote control transmission switch, and reference numeral 15 denotes a remote control mode changeover switch, which is used to switch a shooting mode such as an immediate shooting mode or a 2-second release mode.

A control flow according to the present invention constituted as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, it is determined in step 101 whether or not the mode is the remote control mode. In the case of the remote control mode, the process waits at step 102 until a remote control signal is received. Step 103 when the remote control signal is received by the receiving circuit 4
Then, it is determined whether or not it is the first reception after battery replacement.
When it is determined that the battery has been replaced for the first time, the photographing by the remote controller is prohibited, and the clock time is corrected by the remote controller signal.

In cases other than the first shot after battery replacement, the camera may be controlled by a normal remote control operation, and time correction control is performed only for the first time. If it is determined that it is the first time after battery replacement, the process proceeds to step 104, where counter information is read from the remote control transmission signal. This counter information is the time difference from the previously transmitted signal to the current transmission, and this is used to correct the date time (step 105). Also, the previous remote control reception time is determined by EEP in step 106 described later.
It is stored in the ROM 22. In step 105, the previous remote control reception time (the time stored in S106) is added to the count transmitted from the remote control this time, and this is a new set time.

For example, if a counter that counts one per second is prepared, if the count is 120, it takes two minutes. When this count is transmitted from the remote control transmitter, the time obtained by adding this information to the date information (memory time) stored in the camera (EEPROM 22) is set as a new time. This operation is Step 105.

Next, the time set in step 106 is set to 2
2 in the non-volatile memory. If it is not determined in step 103 that the first remote control reception has been performed after battery replacement, the process proceeds to step 107 and later to perform normal remote control reception.
In step 109, the shutter operation is performed, in step 110, the lens is initially set, and in step 111, one frame of the film is wound up.
It is stored in the PROM 22.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, in the control of the remote control transmitter, the change of the switch of the remote control transmission button 14 is confirmed in step 150, and if the switch is pressed, the counter information is transmitted together with the remote control signal in step 151. Send. When the transmission is completed, the counter is reset in step 152, and the counter is restarted in step 153. This makes it possible to check the time difference between the previous remote control operation and the current remote control operation.

As described above, by providing a counter in an accessory such as a remote controller, it is possible to prevent troublesome operation of setting a date time after battery replacement and to set an accurate time.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the present invention. The following is a specific description based on this flowchart. 5 and 6 show the configuration diagrams.
FIGS. 5 and 6 are almost the same as FIG. 1 except that a power source (battery) is used.
19 has been changed to have a secondary battery memory. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, a power source (battery) is connected to the 20 chargers for charging.

First, how to charge the secondary battery is described. In step 220, the secondary battery is set in the charger 20. At the same time as the setting is made, the time count is started at the same time as the charging operation is started in step 221. This count time is the time used for correction when the secondary battery is connected to the camera. Step 222 after charging starts
To check whether the charging is completed.

If charging has been completed, the counter information is stored in a memory inside the secondary battery in step 224.
If the charging has not been completed, the charging operation is continued at step 223. Even while the charging operation is continued, the counter information is always stored in memory in step 224 in consideration of the fact that the secondary battery is removed from the charger.

The operations of steps 222 to 224 are repeated unless the secondary battery is removed from the charging stand in step 225. If the secondary battery is removed, charging is completed in step 225. When the secondary battery is removed from the charging station, the counter information is stored in a memory inside the secondary battery.

When this information is connected to the camera again as shown in FIG. 5, it is transferred to the camera control device, and by adding the counter information to the time stored in the EEPROM, an accurate time can be set. it can. In addition, EEPR
The OM stores the time immediately before the power battery is removed. In addition, it is assumed that the secondary battery is connected to the charging stand and charged from the moment the secondary battery is removed from the main body to the time the secondary battery is re-inserted.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the memory is provided inside the secondary battery, and is connected to the charging stand while the secondary battery is detached from the camera body. The charging stand has a counter, and stores the time connected to the stand in the memory of the secondary battery.

By using the stored time as a correction time when the camera is connected to the camera, it is possible to prevent troublesome operation of setting the date time after battery replacement and to set an accurate time.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a third embodiment of the present invention, which will be specifically described below with reference to this flowchart. 8 and 9 show the configuration diagrams. FIGS. 8 and 9 are almost the same as FIG. 1, except that the camera control device is connected to 18 transmission circuits and 17 transmission LEDs 2 so as to enable two-way communication. Nineteen receiving sensors 2 are connected to the remote control transmitter side.

First, at step 330, it is determined whether or not a battery has been inserted. When the battery is turned on, step 33
At 1, the camera control device performs an initial operation. When the initial operation is completed, in step 332, the camera control device sends a request for transmission of counter information to the remote control transmitter via the transmission circuit 18 in step 333. When the remote control transmitter receives this transmission signal from the camera body at 19, it returns the return count information automatically. The count information sent from the remote control transmitter is received in step 334, and the clock information is corrected in step 335 based on this information.
Before the battery is removed from the camera body, the camera sends a signal to start counting to the remote control transmitter, and stores the time at this time in the EEPROM. This timing may be performed at the time of the previous reception by the remote control transmitter as in the first embodiment.

As described above, in the third embodiment, since the camera control device and the remote control transmitter enable bidirectional communication, the count information of the remote control transmitter can be acquired completely automatically, and the battery replacement time can be reduced. This prevents troublesome operation of setting the date time and enables accurate setting of the time.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, in order to simplify the time correction operation performed by the date select and the set switch every time the battery is replaced, a remote control transmitting device as a peripheral device or a charging device is required. The container has a counter function and the battery has a memory function. In this way, the time during which the battery is removed from the camera body is counted, and this count information is corrected for the time during which the battery was removed from the camera body, so that the date select and set switch operations are not performed. It is possible to set the exact time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the present case.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the present case (remote control transmitter).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the remote control transmitter.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing a second embodiment of the present invention (charger).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically showing a third embodiment of the present invention (remote control transmitter).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera control microcomputer (CPU) 2 Battery 3 Remote control light receiving sensor 4 Remote control receiving circuit 5 Feed control device 6 Feed control motor 7 Lens control device 8 Lens control motor 9 Display device (liquid crystal) 10 Date set switch 11 Date Select switch 12 Remote control transmission LED 13 Remote control transmission device 14 Remote control transmission button 15 Remote control mode switch 16 Counter 17 Remote control transmission LED 2 18 Remote control transmission circuit 19 Remote control reception sensor 2 20 Charger with counter 21 Secondary battery with memory 22 EEPROM

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G04G 1/00 319 G04G 1/00 319C 2H105 5/00 5/00 Z 5C022 H04N 5/225 H04N 5/225 FF term (reference) 2F002 AA05 AD06 AE04 BA26 FA12 GA09 2H020 FB00 FB03 2H100 DD00 DD07 DD13 DD14 2H102 AA71 2H103 AA11 BA21 BA25 BA41 BA42 BA43 BA44 ZA31 ZA33 ZA41 ZA42 ZA43 2H105 EE00 EE27 AC72 A73AC73

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A timer device driven by a detachable power supply battery, a camera body having a storage circuit for storing a signal relating to time of the clock device, and a camera controlling the camera body by a transmission signal from a remote control transmitter. In the system, the remote control transmitter has a counter circuit, and after replacement of a power supply battery, the camera receives a counter signal of the counter circuit transmitted from the remote control transmitter, and is stored in the storage circuit. A camera system comprising a setting circuit for setting a time based on a signal relating to time and the counter signal. 2. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the storage circuit stores a time of the clock circuit when a previous transmission signal from the remote control transmitter is received. 3. The camera main body transmits to the remote control transmitter after the power battery is mounted, and the remote control transmitter receives a transmission signal from the camera main body, thereby transmitting to the camera main body side. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein a counter signal of the counter circuit is transmitted. 4. A camera system comprising: a timekeeping device driven by a detachable power supply battery; a camera body having a storage circuit for storing a signal relating to time of the clock device; and a charger for charging the power supply battery. The power supply battery has a memory circuit for storing the time when the power supply battery is mounted on the battery charger, and when the power supply battery is mounted on the camera main body, the memory circuit relates to the memory signal of the memory circuit and the time stored in the storage circuit. A camera system comprising a setting circuit for setting a time based on a signal.