JP2003057718A - Camera with lens cover - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce photographing failures caused by the opening/closing of a lens cover at a low cost. SOLUTION: A light guiding member 23 is arranged on the lens cover 12, where light emitted from a self-timer display window 16 when the lens cover 12 is made in a closed position is made incident on a photographic lens 14 by the light guiding member 23. The object luminance is measured based on image data picked up through a photographing lens in response to the state where the power source of the camera is turned on. In the case the photometric value is smaller than a normal luminance level value, a self-timer LED 24 is lighted. The object luminance is measured again in the midst of lighting, and in the case a difference between the photometric value and the first photometric value is larger than a prescribed threshold, it is determined that the lens cover 12 is not regularly open. In this case, a warning lamp is lighted so as to give a warning to a photographer.

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 lens cover for protecting a taking lens when not in use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A camera with a lens cover provided with a lens cover for protecting a taking lens is known. In this camera with a lens cover, for example, the lens cover is attached to the front surface of the lens barrel in which the taking lens is incorporated to open and close the taking window exposing the taking lens. Further, in a camera in which the lens barrel is retracted inside the camera body, there is one in which a lens cover is provided so that the lens barrel projects from the photographing window and opens and closes the photographing window when the lens barrel is retracted.

In such a camera with a lens cover,
Some are manually moved between the open position and the closed position, and some are moved by using the drive of an actuator, for example, a motor. In addition, in cameras such as electronic still cameras and video cameras that can switch between a playback mode and a shooting mode, it is known that the lens cover is opened when the playback mode is switched to the shooting mode (for example, , JP-A-6-22203). As a result, when the camera lens is not used while the camera is being carried or when an image is played back, the lens cover covers the camera lens to protect it.

[0004]

By the way, in the type in which the lens cover is opened and closed manually, the opening operation may be forgotten in the photographing mode. Also, in the automatic opening and closing type that uses the drive of the motor, when the power is turned on or the shooting mode is switched due to some obstacle such as foreign matter being caught or pressing the lens cover with a finger, The lens cover may not be opened normally. Further, after the lens cover is opened, the lens cover may be closed due to a shock on the camera body or the like.

When such an inconvenience occurs, if the user does not notice that the lens cover is not normally opened at the time of shooting, the shooting lens is partially or entirely covered with the lens cover. I will fail. Also,
Some cameras are equipped with a sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the lens cover and issue an abnormal warning when the lens cover is not normally opened, but the cost is increased because the sensor is separately provided.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a camera with a lens cover designed at a low cost so as to prevent the failure of photographing due to the open / closed state of the lens cover. To aim.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a movable structure between an open position for exposing the taking lens and a closed position for shielding the taking lens. A lens cover; an image pickup means for picking up the subject light that has passed through the taking lens; a display lamp incorporated in the front surface of the camera body; provided on the lens cover;
A light guide that allows light emitted from the display lamp to enter the photographic lens when the lens cover is in the closed position;
The lens cover is driven based on whether or not the image pickup means is driven in response to power-on or shift to the shooting mode, and whether the obtained image pickup data includes image pickup data by the light from the display lamp. And a determination means for determining whether or not it is in the closed position.

The display lamp may be a dedicated lamp provided for determining whether or not the lens cover is in the closed position, for example, a self-timer LED or the like.
The display lamp used elsewhere may also be used. Such a display lamp is incorporated in the front surface of the camera.
Therefore, the light guide can be easily incorporated. In addition,
The display lamp is not limited to the LED, but may be a neon tube or a miniature bulb. Speakers, lamps, and
Any LED or liquid crystal display board may be used as long as it can be displayed visually or visually.

As the judgment means, for example, the position of the display lamp or the color of the lamp is detected based on whether the image pickup data obtained from the image pickup means includes the image pickup data by the light from the display lamp. Whether or not the lens cover is in the closed position may be determined based on the above. Here, it is necessary to reliably make a distinction between nighttime shooting with the lens cover open and the lens cover closed state. Therefore, it is equipped with photometric means for photometrically measuring the subject brightness based on the imaging data, and when the subject brightness measured by the photometric means is below a predetermined value, the judging means drives the display lamp, and the imaging data captured before and after the driving. May be compared to determine whether or not the lens cover is in the closed position.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an electronic still camera 10 has a great circular slide plate 11 incorporated in the front surface of a body. On the front surface of the sliding plate 11, a half-moon shaped lens cover 12 having a diameter substantially the same as the contour circle is movably arranged. The sliding plate 11 is made of metal and has a flat front surface so that the lens cover 12 slides smoothly. The sliding plate 11 has a stroboscopic light emission window 13 in the center of the contour, and a photographing window 15 exposing the photographing lens 14 diagonally to the upper right of the contour center. The self-timer display windows 16 are provided so as to be exposed.

The lens cover 12 is slidable along a direction (horizontal direction) H orthogonal to the photographing optical axis 17, and when in the open position shown in FIG. The window 15 and the self-timer display window 16 are exposed, and cover the strobe light emission window 13, the photographing window 15, and the self-timer display window 16 in the closed position shown in FIG. A viewfinder objective window 18 is provided on the upper right of the sliding plate 11, and a power button 1 is provided on the upper surface of the camera body.
9, a shutter button 20, and a mode changeover switch 21 are arranged respectively. The mode switching switch 21 is a switch for switching between a shooting mode and a reproduction mode. In the reproduction mode, a captured image is displayed on a liquid crystal display plate (not shown) provided on the back surface of the camera body. The finder is an optical finder including an objective lens and an eyepiece lens. On the viewfinder eyepiece window, there is provided a warning lamp 22 that lights up when photographing is performed with the lens cover 12 in the closed position. If you display it at this position, you can check it while looking through the viewfinder.

The lens cover 12 is opened and closed by manual operation. The lens cover 12 is biased toward the open position by the biasing means, and is locked at the closed position against the bias of the biasing means by the lock mechanism. The lock mechanism moves the lens cover 12 from the open position to the closed position,
The lens cover 12 is locked in the closed position by performing a pushing operation in which the lens cover 12 is moved to the lock switching position beyond the closed position along the direction, and the lens cover 12 is returned to the lock switching position from the closed position. 1
The lens cover 12 is moved by pushing the lens cover 12
Release the lock at the closed position. In this way, the pushing operation for locking the lens cover 12 in the closed position and the pushing operation for unlocking the lens cover 12 in the closed position are operations directed in the same direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, a recess 12a for mounting a transparent light guide 23 is formed on the inner surface of the lens cover 12. The light guide 23 is 90
It is made of a plastic material in a shape having two roof-type reflecting surfaces for bending, and when the lens cover 12 is in the closed position, the light emitted from the self-timer display window 16 is refracted to allow the photographing window 15 to be refracted. It is made incident on the photographing lens 16 through. The self-timer display window 16 is a transparent window. LED2 in the back of the self-timer display window 16
4 are arranged. As the LED 24, a high brightness LED whose emission color is red is adopted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 30 includes a ROM
Each part of the electronic still camera 10 is controlled according to the program written in 30a. In the ROM 30a,
A playback mode program and a shooting mode program for the playback mode are stored, and are read and executed individually according to the playback or shooting mode.

The taking lens 13 is focused by an autofocus mechanism (not shown). Behind the taking lens 14, a CCD image sensor 31, an amplifier 3
3, an A / D converter 34, a data processing circuit 35, and the like are arranged. In the light receiving area of the CCD image sensor 31, a subject image is formed by the taking lens 14. The CCD image sensor 31 is driven by a CCD driver 32, converts an optical subject image into an electrical image pickup signal, and outputs it.

On the light-receiving surface of the CCD image sensor 31, minute R, G, and B micro color filters are arranged in a matrix, and the photographing signal serially output for each color is amplified by an amplifier 33 to an appropriate level. And then A / D
The converter 34 digitally converts the image data into red, green, and blue image data.

The data processing circuit 35 performs various data processing such as white balance adjustment and gamma correction on the image data. The image data from the data processing circuit 35 is also sent to the AE processing circuit 37. The AE processing circuit 37 receives the input image data and CC at that time.
The photometric value of the subject brightness of the CCD image sensor 31 is calculated based on the charge accumulation time of the CCD image sensor 31 set in the D dry 32, that is, the shutter speed of the electronic shutter. Then, the control unit 30 determines the shutter time of the new electronic shutter based on this photometric value, and feeds back this shutter time to the CCD driver 32, whereby the CCD image sensor 31.
Drive is adjusted and AE control is performed.

As described above, in the electronic still camera 10 of the present embodiment, the brightness of the object is measured by the TTL (Through The Lens) photometric method using the CCD image sensor 31 as a light receiving sensor. The aperture value may be changed with the shutter speed of the electronic shutter. When the aperture value is changed, the aperture value is taken into consideration to calculate the photometric value according to the subject brightness.

By pressing the power button 19, the power of the electronic still camera 10 is turned on / off.
When the power is turned on, the mode program is read and executed based on the selected position of the shooting mode switching SW21. When the shooting mode is selected and the power is turned on, the shooting mode program is started. At the beginning of the shooting mode program, a lens cover closing determination program for determining whether the lens cover 12 is in the closed position is executed.

The shutter button 20 can be operated half-pressed and fully pressed further from this half-pressed. When the shutter button 20 is pressed halfway, AE lock and AF lock are performed at that point. That is, the shutter speed of the electronic shutter according to the brightness of the subject and the taking lens 1
The focus position of 4 is held. When the shutter button 20 is pressed all the way down again, once the shutter speed is held, one shot is taken by the CCD image sensor 31 arranged in the back of the taking lens 14 under the focus position, and this shot is obtained. The image data for one frame is stored in the memory card 38.

In the shooting mode, self-timer shooting can be selected. When the self-timer photographing is selected and the full-press operation is performed, the control unit 30 drives the timer circuit 39 in response to the selection and the LED 41 for the self-timer blinks via the driver 41.
L at the time when the predetermined time set in advance has expired
The blinking of the ED 24 is stopped and one image is taken.

The warning lamp 22 is turned on by the control unit 30 when it is determined that the lens cover is in the closed position as a result of executing the lens cover closing determination inspection program 45.

A lid (not shown) is provided on the side surface of the camera body 2 so as to be openable and closable. Memory card 38
Can be inserted into and removed from the memory slot by opening the lid.

When the half-press operation is performed as described above, the shutter time corresponding to the subject brightness at that time is determined and held, and in response to the full-press operation, the shutter time determined at the time of the half-press operation. CCD image sensor 3 in seconds
1 is driven and an image for one frame is captured. The image data for one frame is stored in the memory card 3
8 is written and saved.

An LCD panel is provided on the back surface of the electronic still camera. In the playback mode, the image data for one frame read from the memory card 38 is LC
The stored image is displayed on the LCD panel 40 by being sent to the D driver 36.

When the photographing mode is selected and the power button 19 is turned on, a photographing mode program is read and executed as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, a lens cover closing determination program 45 is first executed in the shooting mode program. The determination program 45 measures the subject brightness based on the image data captured by the control unit 30 from the CCD image sensor 31 after a certain period of time has elapsed since the power button 19 was turned on. The measured value L1 at this time is stored in the RAM 30b. Next, the measured value L1 is compared with a predetermined prescribed brightness level value X to determine whether or not the measured value L1 exceeds the prescribed brightness level value X. Then, when the measured value L1 exceeds the specified brightness level value X, it is determined to be nighttime shooting, and the shooting start inspection program 45 is executed.

On the other hand, when the measured value L1 does not exceed the specified brightness level value X, the control unit 30 turns on the self-timer LED 24 for a certain period of time via the driver 41. Next, the subject brightness is measured based on the image data captured again during the lighting. Set the photometric value at this time to "L
2 ". Then, the previously obtained photometric value L1 is subtracted from the photometric value L2, and the subtracted value is compared with a predetermined threshold value (threshold value) Y. If the subtracted value exceeds the threshold value Y, the lens cover 1
2 is in the closed position, the control unit 30 turns on the warning lamp 22. Then, when it is determined that the subtracted value does not exceed the threshold value Y, it is determined to be night shooting, and the shooting start program is executed.

The warning lamp 22 is turned off after a certain period of time has passed. Then, after the light is turned off, the lens cover closing determination program 45 is executed again. That is, the warning lamp 22
After is turned on, the lens cover closing determination program 45 is repeatedly executed at regular intervals. In this way, when the warning lamp 22 is turned on, the process for starting shooting is stopped.

Next, the operation of the above structure will be described with reference to FIG. First, when the power button 19 of the camera 10 is pressed, the power is turned on. When the power is turned on, the control unit 30 reads the program and parameters required for control from the ROM 30a based on the selection made by the mode selection switching SW 21, and activates the shooting or reproduction mode program.

After starting the shooting mode program,
The lens cover closing determination program 45 is executed.
The control unit 30 measures the subject brightness after a lapse of a certain time from turning on the power button 19. Subject brightness is measured by C
The data processing circuit 3 receives the photographing signal output from the CD image sensor 31 via the amplifier 33 and the A / D converter 34.
5, the image data captured here is subjected to various data processing such as white balance adjustment and gamma correction. The image data is transferred from the data processing circuit 25 to A
Based on each image data which is sent to the E processing circuit 37 and is input here, and the charge accumulation time of the CCD image sensor 31 set in the CCD driver 32 at that time, that is, the shutter time of the electronic shutter. The photometric value of the subject brightness of the CCD image sensor 31 is calculated. Then, the control unit 30 compares the photometric value L1 with a predetermined prescribed brightness level value X to determine whether or not the measured value L1 exceeds the prescribed brightness level value X.

When the measured value L1 does not exceed the specified brightness level value X, the control unit 30 turns on the LED 24 for the self-timer for a certain period of time via the driver 41. Next, the subject brightness is measured again during the lighting. The photometric value at this time is “L2”. Here, the lens cover 12
LED is for self-timer when is in closed position
Since the light emitted from the light source 4 is incident on the taking lens 14 by the light guide 23, the brightness of the light is measured. Therefore, when the lens cover 12 is in the closed position, the photometric value L is larger than the photometric value L1. Further, when the lens cover 12 is in the open position and during daytime or nighttime shooting, the measured values L1 and L2 are substantially the same value.

Therefore, the previously obtained photometric value L1 is subtracted from the photometric value L2, and the subtracted value is compared with a predetermined threshold value Y. Then, when the subtracted value exceeds the threshold value Y, it is determined that the lens cover 12 is at the closed position, and the control unit 30 turns on the warning lamp 22. By turning on the warning lamp 22, the photographer can know that the lens cover 12 is not open. Then, in this case, the lens cover 12 is manually operated to move it to the open position.

As described above, the light guide 23 for making the light of the LED 24 incident on the taking lens 14 when the lens cover 12 is in the closed position is provided, and the photometric value L1 when the LED 24 is turned off and the photometric value L2 when the LED 24 is turned on are set. Since it is determined whether or not the lens cover 12 is in the closed position based on the difference between the two, reliable detection can be performed.

The warning lamp 22 is displayed for a fixed time. After the light is turned off, the lens cover closing inspection program 45 is executed at a constant cycle. Then, only when the measured value L1 exceeds the specified luminance level value X, or when it is determined that the subtracted value does not exceed the threshold value Y,
After exiting the lens cover close inspection program 45, the photographing start program is executed.

As in the electronic still camera up to now, the photographing start program is such that the image data of the subject image photographed by the CCD image sensor 31 is continuously processed by the data processing circuit 3.
5, the processed image data is sent to the LCD driver 3
Sent to 6. As a result, the subject image being photographed is displayed on the LCD panel 40 as a moving image.

Further, by sending the image data from the data processing circuit 35 to the AE processing circuit 37, a photometric value is calculated according to the subject brightness based on this image data and the current shutter speed of the electronic shutter. Then, a new shutter speed is determined based on this photometric value. And
Based on this shutter speed, the CCD image sensor 31
The driving of is controlled by the CCD driver 32. Further, the photographing lens 14 is focused so that the main subject is in focus. These shutter speed adjustments and focusing are continuously performed, and if the subject brightness and the shooting distance change, they are followed.

The photographer looks through the viewfinder to determine the framing and presses the shutter button 20. When the shutter button 20 is pressed halfway down, the control unit 30 locks the AE so that the CCD driver 32 holds the shutter time determined by the AE processing circuit 37 at this time, and the CCD is released at this shutter time. The image sensor 31 is controlled so as to be continuously driven. Next, AF lock is performed to fix the focus position of the taking lens 14.

Subsequently, when the shutter button 20 is fully pressed, the control unit 30 writes the image data of the subject image for one frame obtained at that time into the memory card 38 and completes one photographing process. To do. When the reproduction mode is selected, it is not necessary to execute the lens cover close detection program 45.

In the above embodiment, the manual lens cover 12 is used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to an electronic still camera that employs an automatic lens cover using an actuator such as a motor. . For example, in the case of the type in which the lens cover is moved to the open position in conjunction with the power button on operation, the above-described lens cover close determination program 45 is executed after the scheduled time from the power button on operation to the lens cover opening. Just run it. With this configuration, it is possible to easily recognize that the lens cover is not normally moved to the open position due to some obstacle such as a foreign object being caught or a finger pressing the lens cover.

Further, although the lens cover closing determination program 45 is executed in response to the ON operation of the power button 19, for example, it is executed in response to the half-press operation of the shutter button 20 or the standby in the photographing mode. It may be executed periodically by interruption.

Further, although the lens cover closing determination program 45 makes the determination based on the subject brightness, the present invention is not limited to this, and the CCD image sensor 3 is not limited to this.
The determination may be made based on the image pickup data acquired from 1. In this case, since the image pickup data when the lens cover 12 is at the closed position includes the image pickup data in which the light of the LED 24 is captured, the image pickup data is subjected to image processing to obtain a color pattern or a luminance distribution. You may judge.

Although the lens cover 12 for opening and closing the photographing window 15 has been described, the zoom lens barrel is housed in the camera body and is provided so as to open and close the opening of the camera body for projecting the lens barrel. It is also possible to use the lens cover provided.

Further, although the self-timer LED 24 is provided at a position where it is closed when the lens cover is in the closed position, it may be provided at the front surface of the camera and at a position where it is not closed. Furthermore, the closed position of the lens cover 12 is determined using the light of the self-timer LED 24.
The determination may be made using a display lamp other than the self-timer LED. In this case, it is desirable that the lamp is also used as a lamp arranged on the front surface of the camera in order to easily bridge with a light guide incorporated in the lens cover.

In the above embodiment, the warning lamp is turned on when it is determined that the lens cover is in the closed position, but it may be blinking. The shutter release may be locked instead of displaying a warning lamp when it is determined that the lens cover is in the closed position.

In each of the above embodiments, an example of an electronic still camera has been described, but the present invention can be applied to various cameras such as a video camera as long as it is a type that measures subject brightness with TTL.

[0046]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a light guide for allowing the light emitted from the display lamp to enter the photographing lens at the closed position is provided on the lens cover, and the light guide is obtained from the image pickup means. Since it is determined whether the lens cover is closed or not based on whether or not the captured image data obtained by the light from the display lamp is included in the captured image data, a separate switch for detecting the lens cover opening / closing, etc. It is possible to achieve this at low cost because it is not necessary to provide. Further, since it can be surely distinguished from the case of shooting at night, the failure of shooting can be surely prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electronic still camera embodying the present invention, showing a state where a lens cover is in an open position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the electronic still camera with a lens cover in a closed position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a light guide as viewed from the back side of the camera.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an electronic still camera.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of a program executed when a power button is turned on.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a lens cover closing determination program incorporated in a shooting mode program.

[Explanation of symbols]

19 power button 21 Mode switching SW 20 shutter button 12 lens cover 15 shooting window 14 Shooting lens 23 Light Guide 16 Self-timer display window 24 LED 31 CCD image sensor

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) // H04N 101: 00 H04N 101: 00

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A lens cover that is movable between an open position that exposes the taking lens and a closed position that shields the taking lens, an imaging means for taking an image of subject light that has passed through the taking lens, and a front surface of the camera body. A built-in display lamp, a light guide that is provided on the lens cover and that allows the light emitted from the display lamp to enter the shooting lens when the lens cover is in the closed position, and the power is turned on or the shooting mode is switched to. In response to the above, the image pickup means is driven, and it is determined whether or not the lens cover is in the closed position based on whether or not the obtained image pickup data includes the image pickup data by the light from the display lamp. A camera with a lens cover, characterized by comprising: 2. A photometric means for measuring the subject brightness based on image pickup data obtained from the image pickup means, wherein the judging means displays the display when the subject brightness measured by the photometric means is a predetermined value or less. The driving lamp is driven, and it is determined whether or not the lens cover is at the closed position by comparing each image pickup data obtained from the image pickup means before and after the driving of the display lamp. A camera with the described lens cover. 3. The camera with a lens cover according to claim 1, wherein the display lamp is also used as an LED for indicating that the self-timer is operating.