JP2003075901A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera performing warning display for camera shake easily recognized by a user without causing cost rise. SOLUTION: In this camera, exposure operation is performed by making a 2nd switch other than a release switch being a 1st switch function equally to a release button when the camera is set to a camera shake prevention mode in which the vibration of the camera is detected and the warning display is performed, The camera is equipped with a function for a self-timer photographing mode or a remote control photographing mode. By setting the camera shake prevention mode, the vibration state of the camera is detected by a vibration detection means and the existent display for the self-timer photographing mode or the remote control photographing mode by a display means is used as the detected vibration state of the camera.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for preventing hand-shake that occurs when shooting with a camera and for giving a vibration warning to a photographer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when a user holds a camera by hand to take a picture, if the shutter speed is slow or the zoom is set to a high magnification, the camera shakes during exposure, resulting in a failure photograph. , Shake may occur. In order to prevent this camera shake, various anti-vibration techniques have been studied. This anti-vibration technology is roughly classified into two technologies: detection of camera vibration and countermeasures against the detected vibration.

Among them, the technology for preventing vibration is further classified into a warning technology for making a user recognize that vibration is occurring and a technology for preventing image deterioration due to camera shake by driving and controlling a photographing lens. On the other hand, as a warning technique, for example, in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-201845 by the present applicant
By devising a display unit, we have proposed a camera that is robust against camera shake by notifying the user of the occurrence of camera shake to prevent unsuccessful photographs.

[0004]

However, some general users originally have no knowledge of camera shake and press the release button harder and deeper than necessary without recognizing the need to prevent camera shake. , Some people shake the camera and take a failed photo. For example, when the camera is entrusted and the exposure is requested in order to get another person to take a picture of himself / herself while traveling, the requested person is so devoted to depressing the release button that he / she does not.
As shown in (a) and (b), the camera was largely shaken with the operation, which often resulted in a failed photograph in which the subject was blurred.

Further, in the conventional camera for giving a handshake warning as described above, a dedicated display element provided in the viewfinder or a display element such as an LED showing another function is used to give a warning by lighting or blinking. A large number of techniques and the like make a user aware that hand-shake occurs if the user shoots the image as it is, by guiding sounds and voices with sound elements.

Of these, a display mark or LE for warning of camera shake is provided by using a dedicated display element or a dual-purpose display element.
Since D is provided in the frame area on the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the shooting screen in the viewfinder, it is a small mark that is difficult to see. Also, what is displayed by the LED that also displays other functions in the viewfinder is the photographer. It was a confusing display of what happened to. Therefore, there is a demand for a camera that has a simple structure and is capable of taking a picture with less influence of camera shake even when a user who does not pay attention to camera shake takes a picture.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when camera shake caused by a photographer occurs at the time of photographing, exposure is executed by using an existing switch member other than the release button, and it is easy to recognize in the vicinity of the finder by an existing display element. Display,
An object of the present invention is to provide a camera that displays a handshake warning that is easily recognized by the user without increasing the cost.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first detection of a pressing operation of a release button.
Switch, a second switch for detecting an operation other than a pressing operation of the release switch, and an exposure control means for executing an exposure operation in response to an operation detection signal of the release button from the first switch. When the camera is set to a specific mode, the exposure control means responds to the operation detection signal of the second switch instead of the first switch to execute the exposure operation. I will provide a. Here, the second switch is a switch whose state is changed by half-pressing the release button or operating the zoom button. In the specific mode, a mode in which a vibration of the camera is detected and a warning is displayed Is.

Further, in a camera in which a self-timer photographing mode or a remote control photographing mode can be set, a display means provided near the finder for displaying the operating state of the camera and a vibration detecting means for detecting the vibration state of the camera. And a camera for switching the display content of the display unit to the display content according to the vibration detection according to the detection result of the vibration detection unit when the self-timer shooting mode or the remote control shooting mode is set. To do.

In the camera configured as described above, when the camera shake prevention mode for detecting the vibration of the camera and displaying the warning is set, the second switch other than the release button which is the first switch is operated. The exposure operation is executed by making the function equivalent to that of the release button. Further, it has a function of a self-timer shooting mode or a remote control shooting mode, the vibration detection means detects the vibration state of the camera by setting the camera shake prevention mode, and the display means is for the self-timer shooting mode or the remote control shooting mode. The existing display is displayed as the vibration state of the detected camera.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. First, the gist of the camera according to the present invention will be described. In an embodiment of the invention,
Includes a liquid crystal display that displays the shooting range (viewfinder field) according to the shooting mode provided in the camera viewfinder by changing the light transmittance and a monolithic accelerometer, etc. to detect camera vibration and suggest the occurrence of camera shake And a vibration detector. When camera shake occurs, the transmittance of the display area of the existing liquid crystal display unit is changed in a pattern to make it easy for the user to recognize the occurrence of camera shake, and the existing light emission for notifying the status of other functions. This is a technology for notifying the state of occurrence of camera shake by switching and using elements and the like.

The above-mentioned monolithic accelerometer is integrally formed on an IC chip, and is a device for detecting vibration by utilizing a capacitance change generated between a movable pattern and an immovable pattern. In the present invention, for example, JP-A-8
It is possible to use the technology proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 178954.

As its constitution, both patterns are both formed of a polysilicon member on a silicon substrate,
A pair of capacitors is formed with one electrode movable and responsive to acceleration, while the other electrode is stationary with respect to acceleration. When acceleration is applied to such a silicon substrate, the capacitance of one capacitor increases and the capacitance of the other capacitor decreases. A signal processing circuit for converting these differential capacitances into voltage signals is required, and these movable electrodes, capacitors, and signal processing circuits are monolithically formed on the same substrate.

Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-178954 discloses a technique for operating a safety device such as a braking system and an airbag of a vehicle. By making it monolithic, dimensional cost, required power, Although it has been described that the reliability and the like are excellent, the present invention effectively arranges and controls such elements, while maintaining the above characteristics,
By taking into account the situation peculiar to the camera, we realize a highly accurate and effective anti-vibration camera.

1 and 2 show an example of the configuration of a camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 (a)
Shows an external appearance of the camera and an internal structure of a part thereof, and FIGS. 2B and 2C show a hard printed circuit board and a flexible printed circuit board of the present embodiment (hereinafter referred to as a flexible printed circuit).
FIG. 2D is a diagram for explaining the influence of camera shake, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an electrical block configuration of the camera of the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1A, on the front surface of the camera 10, in addition to the taking lens 9 and the strobe 8, a finder objective lens 15 and a light receiving lens of a distance measuring section for autofocus are arranged. . Inside this camera, an electronic circuit for fully automatic operation of the camera is provided.
This electronic circuit also includes the above-described monolithic accelerometer (acceleration IC) 3 mounted on the rigid printed board 14, and FIG.
In (a), a part of the internal structure is shown to be visible.

In addition to the acceleration IC 3, a one-chip microcomputer (CPU) 1 for controlling the operation relating to photographing of the entire camera and an actuator such as a motor are operated on the hard printed circuit board 14 to operate the mechanical mechanism section. An interface IC (IFIC) 2 for driving the device is mounted. Further, in the vicinity of the CPU 1, for example, an EEPROM is provided as a memory 4 for storing adjustment data for component variations in the camera assembly process.

FIG. 1B shows the relationship between the rigid printed board 14 and the flexible board 7 when the camera is viewed from the lateral direction. Since the rigid printed circuit board 14 cannot be bent along the curved surface inside the camera, the flexible circuit board 7 is used in that portion and is connected by the connector 12.

On this flexible substrate 7, a display element (LC
D) 6 is mounted, and a communication line with the autofocus (AF) sensor 5 and a switch pattern 13 are formed. The flexible board 7 goes around to the rear surface of the camera, and a notification element such as a sounding element PCV or an LED constituting a warning display portion 11 as shown in FIG. 1B is mounted.
In addition to transmitting the signal output from the CPU 1 to these members, the AF IC 5a is also provided with wiring for transmitting and receiving signals.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1C, the acceleration IC 3 may be arranged at the extended end of the flexible substrate 7. In this case, the acceleration IC 3 is placed on the back surface of the camera. This acceleration IC 3 is arranged on the front surface or the back surface of the camera, as shown in FIG. 1D, when the user 100 holds the camera for photographing, the camera 10 is moved to the X position during exposure.
It is determined that the camera shake that moves in the Y-direction or Y-direction is likely to occur, and that the subject such as a blur on the printed photograph is greatly affected. Further, even if the camera shake in the Z direction (front-back direction) has a small effect on the photograph, the camera shake detection in the Z direction may or may not be performed.

As shown in FIG. 2B, such an acceleration IC 3 is accelerated only in two directions, that is, the X direction or the Y direction in the area direction of the IC chip, rather than the direction connecting the acceleration IC 3 and the hard printed board 14. When is added, an acceleration determination signal is output. This is the acceleration I on the side or top of the camera.
Since the change in the Z direction is detected when C3 is arranged, the detection of the change in the Z direction, which is not so important, is omitted here. Therefore, in this embodiment, an example in which the acceleration IC is mounted on the front surface or the back surface of the camera is shown.

Here, the acceleration IC 3 will be described with reference to an example of the manufacturing process shown in FIG. First, an oxide film 21 is formed on a silicon substrate (IC chip) 20 (see FIG.
(A) and (b), a pattern by a resist mask is formed on the oxide film 21, the exposed portion is removed by etching, and an opening can be formed in an arbitrary portion (FIG. c)). After that, the polysilicon layer 22 is flatly deposited on the entire surface (FIG. 3D), and then the oxide film 21 is selectively removed by wet etching. Board 20
It is formed on top (FIG. 3 (e)). Impurities such as phosphorus are diffused into the polysilicon layer to make it conductive.
Due to the formation of such a bridge structure, the movable electrode 22 having pillar portions at four corners as shown in FIG. 4B is formed on the silicon substrate 20.

Also, on the silicon substrate 20, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), separate electrodes 24 and 25 are formed and arranged adjacent to the arm portions 23a and 23b of the movable electrode 22 described above, whereby the arm portion 23a, the electrode 24, and the arm portion 23 are formed.
A small capacitor capacitance is formed between b and the electrode 25.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, by forming an IC chip in which a large number of movable electrode structures are arranged on the silicon substrate 20, the capacitance of the capacitor becomes a desired capacitance, and bridges in different movable directions are formed. By using two types, it is possible to detect in the X direction and the Y direction.

Therefore, when this IC chip is mounted on a camera, acceleration in two directions can be determined as shown in FIG. 2 (b). Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, the processing circuit section 29 is formed on-chip on this chip together with the movable electrode capacitor constituted by the monolithic structure. This is to detect a capacitance component changing by the movable electrode 22 and output a signal according to the acceleration. Due to the movement of the movable electrode 22, one of the capacitances formed in the two electrodes increases and one decreases, so that the acceleration in the arrow direction of FIG. 4B can be detected.

FIG. 5A shows a configuration example of the processing circuit 29. As described above, the arm portion 23 included in the X and Y sensors 30 and 31 for detecting movements in the X and Y directions.
A capacitance component is formed between a and the electrode 24, and between the arm portion 23b and the electrode 25, and the capacitance changes due to the movement of the arm portions 23a and 23b. This capacitance change is converted into an electric signal by the processing circuit 29.

The processing circuit 29 demodulates a carrier wave generator (oscillation circuit) 32 that oscillates a carrier wave of a pulse waveform, and the respective oscillation waveforms changed by the capacitance changes of the X sensor 30 and the Y sensor 31 by full-wave switching rectification. Demodulation circuits 33 and 34, filter circuits 35 and 36 that output acceleration-dependent analog signals, and a PWM signal generation circuit 37 that performs analog-pulse width modulation (PWM) conversion. The output waveform is shown in FIG. In this way, the pulse duty ratio (T1 and T2
Ratio) changes.

Therefore, the acceleration IC 3 outputs a voltage signal proportional to the acceleration or a PWM signal proportional to the acceleration. The CPU 1 that can handle only digital signals can detect acceleration by demodulating a PWM signal using a built-in counter. The voltage signal proportional to the acceleration is A
An adjuster or the like having a / D converter may be used. Also,
If the PWM signal is used, it is not necessary to mount the A / D converter on the CPU 1. Note that the X, Y sensors 30 and 31 of the acceleration IC 3 have a large variation in characteristics due to manufacturing conditions due to complicated etching processing when forming a structure in a bridge, a film thickness error and a doping error in forming a bridge, and when used. It is necessary to fully consider the correction, which will be described later.

FIG. 2A shows such an acceleration IC 3
A block circuit diagram of a camera mounted with will be described. In this configuration, the CPU that controls the entire camera
1, IFIC2, monolithic accelerometer (acceleration I
C) 3 and a memory (EEPRO) for storing adjustment data.
M) 4, an auto-focus (AF) unit 5a, a photometric unit 5b, a liquid crystal display element (LCD) 6 for displaying the setting state of the camera and information related to shooting, and information related to shooting provided in the viewfinder. In viewfinder L
A CD 6a, a flash unit 8 including an arc tube for emitting auxiliary light, a main capacitor 8a for charging electric charges for causing the arc tube to emit light, a photographing lens 9 having a zooming function, and a warning display section including an LED. 11, a resistor 11a connected in series to the warning display unit 11, and a switch 13a for starting a photographing sequence of the camera,
13b, a motor 18 for driving a drive mechanism such as a photographing lens, a shutter, and a film feeding device, a rotary blade 16 that rotates in conjunction with the motor 18, and a rotary blade 16 that rotates for drive control of the motor 18. It is composed of a photo interrupter 17 that optically detects a hole.

Further, the motor 18 may switch the drive destination by a switching mechanism when driving each drive mechanism,
Each drive mechanism may be provided with a separate motor.

In this structure, the CPU 1 controls the photographing sequence of the camera according to the operating states of the switches 13a and 13b. That is, in addition to the output of the monolithic accelerometer 3, the warning display by the in-F LCD 6a for camera shake warning, the distance measuring section 5a for autofocus at the time of shooting, and the photometric circuit 5b for measuring the brightness of the subject for exposure control are driven. Then, it receives the necessary signal and controls the motor 18 via the IFIC 2 described above. At this time, the rotation of the motor 18 is transmitted to the rotary blade 16, the IFIC 2 waveform-shapes the signal output from the photo interrupter 17 according to the position of the adjustment hole, and the CPU 1 monitors the rotation state of the motor 18. Also, if necessary, the flash unit 8
To emit auxiliary light.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a warning pattern displayed on the LCD 6a in the finder. Here, the LCD 6a in the finder uses a member used for a screen display in the panorama mode, a blackout display indicating that the shutter is released, and the like. The pattern of screens A → B → C shown in FIG. 7 uses a light-shielding pattern displayed at the time of panorama shooting setting. First, as shown in screen A, only the upper region is shielded from light, and then the screen B is displayed. As described above, only the central area showing the shooting range during panorama shooting is shielded from light, and finally the screen C
The pattern [Pattern 0] in which only the lower region of the panorama light shielding portion is sequentially and repeatedly shielded as shown in FIG.

By repeating this display form,
A user looking through the viewfinder can be made aware of the occurrence of camera shake (the blackout display can be made by simultaneously shielding the patterns A, B, and C). With such a pattern display, it is possible to express a feeling that the viewfinder screen is swaying. Therefore, when the user re-holds the camera and the camera shake does not occur, the screen D in FIG. 8A or the screen D in FIG.
The screen E of (b) is returned to, and the subject can be monitored.

Further, FIG. 9 shows an example of the display [pattern 1] of the shake warning displayed on the LCD 6a. Like the pattern 0 described with reference to FIG. 7, this pattern 1 uses the light-shielding portion displayed when the panoramic shooting is set.
In this pattern, the upper and lower light-shielding portions are alternately displayed as screen A and screen C.

Unlike the pattern 0 described above, this pattern 1 does not obscure the facial expression of the subject because the central part of the screen is always visible. Further, since the blinking is performed, unlike the normal display in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the user does not misunderstand. Furthermore, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 11A, in the display [pattern 2] as shown in FIG. 11, a switch SW13c for inputting to the CPU 1 whether or not the panorama mode is provided is additionally provided. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10B, when vibration is detected (step S1), it is determined whether or not the panoramic shooting mode is set (step S2), and when the panoramic shooting mode is set (YES), as shown in FIG. Display [Pattern 2]
Is displayed (step S3), and when the panorama shooting mode is not set (NO), the display [pattern 1] as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed (step S4). In this way, when the panorama shooting mode is set, the display is performed with [Pattern 2], and when the normal shooting mode is set, a warning is given with [Pattern 1], the user can determine whether the currently set shooting mode is Panorama or Normal. It can be discriminated and the warning display can be recognized.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are views showing the internal state of a negative type polymer dispersed LCD used as the in-finder LCD 6a in this embodiment.
The LCD 6a includes a pair of light distribution films 62a and 62b and a pair of electrodes 63a and 63b with a polymer particle 61 interposed therebetween.
And has a sandwich structure in which a pair of glass substrates 64a and 64b are sequentially arranged.

In this structure, FIG. 12A shows a non-transmissive state when no pulse voltage is applied,
Incident light 65 is output as scattered light 66. Further, FIG. 12B shows a transmission state when the pulse voltage 67 is applied to the above-mentioned structure, and the incident light 65 is output as the non-scattered outgoing light 68.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between the drive pulse voltage of the LCD 6a and the transmittance. As shown,
There is a relationship that the transmittance increases as the applied voltage increases. In this embodiment, a non-transmissive state having the first transmittance, a transmissive state having the third transmittance, and a second transmittance which is an intermediate transmittance between them are used. Although a negative type LCD is adopted in this embodiment, a positive polymer dispersion type LCD as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 165017/1993 may be used.

FIG. 14A shows the lower glass substrate 6
A segment pattern is shown on 4b, and is composed of a pattern 71 related to the SEG1 electrode, a pattern 72 related to the SEG2 electrode, and a pattern 73 related to the COM electrode. The pattern 71 is further provided with three openings 71a, 71b, 71c. Further, a connecting portion 74 is provided. FIG. 14B shows the common pattern 75 on the upper glass substrate 64a, which has a connecting portion 74a connected to the connecting portion 74 described above.

FIG. 14C is a diagram showing a normal viewfinder display, in which the three segment patterns 71 to 73 and the openings 71a to 71c shown in FIG. 14A are displayed. Further, FIG. 14D shows a panoramic display, in which the patterns 72 and 73 are in a non-transmissive (light-shielding) state, and the pattern 71 is in a transmissive (transparent) state. Further, FIG. 14E shows a blackout display, in which all patterns are in a non-transmissive (transparent) state, and nothing is visible even when looking through the finder.

According to the embodiment as described above, the panoramic display LCD provided in the viewfinder is effectively used to realize space saving and cost reduction, and at the same time, to prevent camera shake by an easy-to-understand display. .

FIGS. 15A and 15B show a conceptual structure of a release button of a general camera. As shown in FIG. 15A, a spring 52 is fitted in the release button 51, one end of the spring 52 is fixed to the recess 53 of the camera exterior 10, and the release button 51 is pushed up. ing. Below the release button 51, each switch 1
3a and 13b are arranged, and these are in the OFF state. Then, when the user pushes the release button 51 from above with the finger 100, the switches 13a and 13b are sequentially turned on as shown in FIG. 15B, and the CPU 1 detects that the user has operated.

During the pushing of the release button 51, the first switch 13a (1st release switch) is closed and turned on, and when the pushing is completed, the second switch 13b (2
The nd release switch) is closed and turned on so that the timing before pushing can be detected. Usually 1
Distance measurement, photometry, etc. are performed at the timing when the st release SW is turned on, and focusing and exposure are started at the timing when the 2nd release SW is turned on.

Deep pressing of the release button 51 until the second release SW is turned on may increase the probability of camera shake. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the shooting is performed by detecting the ON of the 1st release switch that is turned on by a shallower and lighter operation, and the occurrence of camera shake due to exposure is suppressed.

FIG. 16 (a) shows the LCD display section 6 provided on the upper surface of the camera. In the normal mode, the number of photographed frames 6a is displayed. However, the mode switch 13
When the camera shake mode display 6b is displayed by operating c, as shown in FIG. 16B, the CPU detects the operation of the mode switch 13c and the camera shake prevention mode is set.

The main sequence of such a camera will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, by the operation shown in FIG. 16B, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the user has set the image stabilization mode (step S11). If the image stabilization mode has not been set (NO), step S18. Move to. That is, on the in-viewfinder LCD 6a, it is determined whether or not the panorama mode is set (step S18). If not set (NO), the frameless display is made (step S19), and if one is set (step S19). If YES, the frame display is performed (step S20), and the switching control is performed.

Next, it is judged whether or not the 1st release SW is turned on (step S21). If it is not turned on in this judgment (NO), the process returns to step S11, and if it is turned on (YES), the measurement is performed. After performing distance and photometry (step S2
2) It is determined whether or not the 2nd release SW is turned on (step S23). If the 2nd release SW is not on in this determination, it is determined whether or not the 1st release SW is still in the on state (step S24). If it is not on (NO), the process returns to step S11 and is turned on. If yes, wait.

Then, if the second release SW is subsequently turned on (YES), focusing is performed (step S).
25). After that, blackout display is performed on the LCD in the viewfinder (step S26), exposure is performed (step S27), the blackout display is canceled (step S28), and the series of sequences is ended. On the other hand, if the camera shake prevention mode is set in step S11 (YES), it is determined whether or not vibration (camera shake) is detected (step S12). Here, when camera shake is detected (YES), the LCD 6 in the finder is displayed.
The display blinks as shown in FIG. 7 at "a" to inform the user that the camera shake has occurred. This is shown in FIG. 9 and FIG.
Various patterns including the pattern described in No. 1 are used to give the user a feeling as if the camera is shaking. Then, by instructing to hold the camera firmly until the shaking due to such display disappears, even a user who does not know how to prevent camera shake can use the camera with peace of mind.
In addition, even a user who does not know that a camera shake will recognize the importance of holding the camera firmly, and will try to take a photograph without shaking.

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the 1st release SW is turned on (step S14). If the determination is not on (NO), the process returns to step S11, and if it is on (YES), the distance measurement is performed.・ After photometry (Step S
15), focusing is performed (step S16), and exposure is performed (step S17).

This is 2n by pressing the release button.
d Set the shutter to be released even if the release SW is not detected to be ON, and simply touch the release button lightly to determine the 1st release SW to be ON.
Since a series of shooting sequences of focusing and exposure are performed, vibration due to pushing is prevented, and it is possible to take a photograph as much as possible without being affected by camera shake.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
LC in the viewfinder originally installed for panorama display
By utilizing D, it is also used for camera shake determination display in the camera shake mode, so that even a user who does not know the camera shake can recognize the risk of a failure photo due to camera shake, and when camera shake occurs, Since the shooting sequence is switched so that the exposure is performed without pressing the release button deeply, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of camera shake due to the pressing of the release button. In addition, a user who can cope with camera shake does not have to set this camera shake prevention mode, and the viewfinder display as in the past does not disperse the attention, and the focus lock or AE by the 1st release SW is performed.
You can take higher-level shots while effectively utilizing the lock function.

The present invention is not particularly limited to the in-finder LCD or the 1st release SW as the notifying member, but the LED 11 and the like arranged near the finder connecting portion 61 on the rear surface of the camera as shown in FIG. The same report may be made by using the above light emitting device to emit light in a pattern. The LED 11 is a member normally used for strobe charging completion display and OK display during distance measurement.

Next, a configuration example of the camera according to the second embodiment will be shown and described. As shown in FIG. 19, a zoom SW 5 for zooming the lens 63 is provided on the front surface of the camera.
It can also be applied to a camera provided with 4. As shown in FIG. 20A, the zoom SW 54 is a two-contact switch in which the center of the switch terminal 55 is fixed and is rotatable like a seesaw. Also, the contact terminal 5
Protrusions 56a and 56b are provided at the respective ends of 5.

When one end of the zoom SW 54 is pushed, the projection 56a pushes the contact 57a to bring it into a conducting state (ON), and the CPU 1 detects these states.
Similarly, the contact 57b is turned on at the protrusion 56b. Note that, in FIG. 12, a remote control light receiving unit 65, a remote control transmitting unit 66, a flash light emitting unit 62, and a finder objective lens 64 are shown.

Since such a zoom SW does not require pressing as compared with the pressing operation of the release button, it operates by a light operation, so that the release can be performed in a state in which hand shake is less likely to occur. In the present embodiment, this zoom SW is used for exposure in the camera shake prevention mode.

Referring to the flow chart shown in FIG. 21,
The main routine of the second embodiment will be described. First, it is determined whether or not the self-timer shooting mode (or remote control shooting mode) is set (step S3).
1). If the self-timer shooting mode is set in this determination (YES), vibration detection is performed to determine whether or not vibration is detected (step S32). On the other hand, if it is not set (NO), Step S42 described later
Move to. If vibration is detected in this vibration detection (YES), the LED 11 arranged near the finder as shown in FIG. 18 is caused to blink in a certain pattern (step S33).

Next, it is determined whether or not the zoom SW 54 has been operated (step S34), and if it is turned on by the operation (YES), distance measurement / photometry is performed (step S3).
5) Subsequently, the focusing sequence (step S36) and the exposure photographing sequence are performed (step S37). On the other hand, if the zoom SW 54 is not operated (NO), counting is started up to a predetermined time (step S38), and during the counting, it is determined whether or not the self-timer shooting mode is released (step S39). If it is canceled in this determination (YES), the process returns to step 31. On the other hand, if it is not canceled (NO), it is determined whether or not the counting has been completed until the predetermined time (step S40). If the counting is not completed (NO), the remote control transmission unit 66
It is determined whether or not the remote control signal transmitted from is detected (step S41). Further, if the counting is completed in step S40 (YES), or step S41
If the remote control signal is detected at (YES), the process proceeds to step S35 to execute the above-described shooting sequence.

As described above, the self-timer photographing mode or the remote control photographing mode is effective without depending on the operation of the zoom SW, so that the photographing sequence of step S35 and the following steps is performed during a predetermined count time. The presence or absence of a remote control signal is detected, and the signal transmitted from the remote control transmission unit 66 is received as shown in FIG.
You may transfer to the imaging sequence after step S35. In the above-described exposure operation, since a photograph can be taken with a light operation of the zoom SW, the occurrence of camera shake is suppressed.

If the self-timer photographing mode is not set in step S31 (NO), it is determined whether or not strobe charging (energy charging for strobe emission) is being performed (step S42). In this determination, if strobe charging is in progress (YES), the LED 11 arranged near the finder is blinked in a certain pattern (step S43).

Next, it is determined whether or not the 1st release SW is turned on (step S44), and if it is turned on (YES), distance measurement / photometry is performed (step S45), and proper distance measurement is performed here. It is determined whether it has been performed (step S46). If the distance is proper (YES), the LED 11 arranged near the finder is turned on (step S47). However, if the distance is not proper (NO), L
Blink ED11 (step S48), step S
Returning to 45, distance measurement is performed again. This is because the LED and the like perform their original functions when they are normally used, but in the image stabilization mode, it is only necessary to be careful not to shake the image without distracting such other information. In step S33 without operating the function of
It is used for vibration detection warning.

Next, focusing is performed based on the distance measurement (step S49), and similarly to the normal operation, the release button is further pushed to turn on the second release SW (steps S50 and S51), and the exposure is performed at step S37. Is done.

Although the mode setting display is shared, in the self-timer shooting mode and the remote control shooting mode, since the photographer is far from the camera and does not shoot while looking at the LED near the viewfinder, it is also used. But there is no problem. Needless to say, the substitute release switch using these parts can be easily applied to other parts than the parts described above. For example, in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6 (b), even if the LCD is not provided with a special image stabilization mode pattern, as shown in FIG. 16 (c),
The timer display 6c may be displayed so that, for example, the self-timer photographing mode and the camera shake prevention mode can be combined. Alternatively, the same effect can be obtained in the remote control shooting mode.

Further, in the hand-shake preventing mode, applications such as fixed focus, stroboscopic light emission, and zooming to the wide side may be added.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the LEDs for confirming the operation of the auto focus (AF) and the strobe are diverted, and the mode setting display is also used for other modes such as the self-timer photographing mode and the remote control photographing mode. Because
No need to install new parts, no major design changes,
A camera with an anti-shake function can be provided.

In particular, in situations where camera shake is a concern, such as when asking someone else to take a picture, if the camera shake prevention mode is set, a warning will be issued when camera shake occurs, and a switch operation that does not cause camera shake can be performed to release the image. Even if a user who is unable to do so operates, a beautiful photo without camera shake can be taken.

Although the above embodiments have been described, the present invention also includes the following inventions. 1. In response to a first switch that detects the pressing operation of the release button, a second switch that detects an operation other than the pressing operation of the release switch, and a release button operation detection signal from the first switch. Exposure control means for performing an exposure operation, the exposure control means detecting the operation of the second switch instead of the first switch when the camera is set to a specific mode. A camera characterized in that the exposure operation is executed in response to a signal.

2. The camera according to (1) above, wherein the specific mode is a self-timer shooting mode or a remote control shooting mode. 3. The camera according to the item (1), wherein the specific mode is a mode in which vibration of the camera is detected and a warning is displayed. 4. The warning display is a display by an LCD provided in the finder optical path of the camera, or a display by an LED provided near the finder, and is not related to the vibration warning display in modes other than the specific mode. The camera according to the above item (3), which displays.

5. In a camera capable of setting a self-timer shooting mode or a remote control shooting mode, the camera is provided in the vicinity of a finder and has a display unit for displaying an operation state of the camera and a vibration detection unit for detecting a vibration state of the camera, A camera characterized in that when the self-timer photographing mode or the remote control photographing mode is set, the display content of the display means is switched to the display content according to the vibration detection according to the detection result of the vibration detection means.

6. The camera according to item (4) above, wherein the operation state display of the camera is a panoramic shooting display, a strobe charging display, or an AF operation state display. 7. Vibration detection means having a function of a self-timer shooting mode or a remote control shooting mode, and detecting the vibration state of the camera when the camera shake prevention mode is set, and the self-timer shooting mode or the above according to the setting of the camera shake prevention mode. And a display unit for switching the display for the remote control photographing mode and displaying the detection result of the vibration detection unit as the vibration state of the camera.

[0069]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, when a camera shake caused by a photographer occurs at the time of photographing, exposure is executed by using an existing switch member other than the release button, and the existing It is possible to provide a camera that displays easily in the vicinity of the finder by the display element and provides a camera shake warning display that is easily recognized by the user without increasing the cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A is an external view of a camera and an internal structure of a part thereof, and FIGS. 1B and 1C are positional relationships between a hard printed circuit board and a flexible printed circuit board.
(D) is a figure for explaining the influence of camera shake.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an electrical block configuration of the camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a manufacturing process of an acceleration IC.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an acceleration IC.

5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the processing circuit shown in FIG. 4 and an output waveform thereof.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining that a photograph becomes a failure due to camera shake.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a warning pattern displayed on the in-viewfinder LCD.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a normal screen and a panoramic screen displayed in a finder.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example [pattern 1] of a camera shake warning.

FIG. 10 (a) shows a configuration example for displaying in a finder, and FIG. 10 (b) is for explaining that a camera shake warning is displayed according to a normal screen and a panoramic screen. It is a flowchart of.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example [pattern 2] of a camera shake warning.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an internal state of a negative type polymer dispersion type LCD used as an in-finder LCD.

13 is a diagram showing the relationship between the drive pulse voltage and the transmittance of the LCD shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of an LCD segment pattern and finder display.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a release button of a general camera.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a display example of an LCD display unit provided on the upper surface of the camera.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a main sequence of the camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of an existing light emitting element for notifying occurrence of camera shake.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a camera according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of a zoom SW.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining a main routine of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... One-chip microcomputer (CPU) 2 ... Interface IC (IFIC) 3 ... Acceleration IC 4 ... Memory 5 ... Auto focus (AF) sensor 6 ... Display element (LCD) 7 ... Flexible substrate 8 ... Strobe 9 ... Shooting lens 10 ... Camera 11 ... Warning display section 12 ... Connector 13 ... Switch pattern 14 ... Rigid printed circuit board 15 ... Finder objective lens

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first switch for detecting a pressing operation of a release button, a second switch for detecting an operation other than a pressing operation of the release switch, and an operation of the release button by the first switch. Exposure control means for performing an exposure operation in response to a detection signal, wherein the exposure control means replaces the first switch with the first switch when the camera is set to a specific mode. A camera characterized in that the exposure operation is executed in response to an operation detection signal of the switch No. 2. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the second switch is a switch whose state is changed by half-pressing the release button or operating a zoom button. 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the specific mode is a camera shake prevention mode in which vibration of the camera is detected and a warning is displayed. 4. In a camera capable of setting a self-timer shooting mode or a remote control shooting mode, a display means provided near a finder for displaying an operation state of the camera, and a vibration detection means for detecting a vibration state of the camera. When the self-timer shooting mode or the remote control shooting mode is set, the display content of the display means is switched to the display content according to the vibration detection according to the detection result of the vibration detection means. Characteristic camera.