JP2003195409A - Camera capable of carrying out remote control photography - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera capable of carrying out remote control photography with the release time lag kept down by using the remote control device provided with a 1 step type push button. <P>SOLUTION: In the camera, a release remote control signal 23 due to a pushing action of the release button 22 of the remote control device 21 is received at a remote control signal receiving part 31 of the camera 1 by setting a remote control without any lag photographing mode with a remote photography mode setting button 12. Then, preparatory actions for photographing are carried out such as AE, AF actions, the actual photographing action is carried out by detecting the gap in the release remote control signal by releasing of the release button and the remote control photography keeping down the release time lag can be obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera capable of remote control shooting, and more particularly to a camera capable of performing remote control shooting without a time lag using an ordinary remote control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a camera with an AE or AF function, the brightness of a subject is measured (photometry), the distance to the subject is measured (distance measurement), and the lens is driven so as to be in focus (focus drive). After that, move on to the shooting / recording operation. A predetermined operation time is required for the photometry, distance measurement, and lens driving. The operation time varies depending on factors such as the shooting scene and the state of the camera (the position of the lens that originally existed).

Conventionally, with respect to the problem of the variation in operating time, a general camera having an AE / AF function is provided with a two-stage shutter button. FIG. 7 shows a configuration of a camera with a general AE / AF function, and FIG. 8 shows a shooting sequence.
Shown in. When the shutter button 103 is not pressed, the camera 101 is in an idle state, and when taking a picture, the photographer points the lens 102 of the camera 101 to the subject,
Press the shutter button 103 halfway. By this operation, the camera performs AE and AF operations, drives the lens 102 to the in-focus position, and prepares for the actual shooting. At this time, a focusing sound is generated when the focusing operation is completed. Then, the half-pressed state in which the preparation for photographing is completed is maintained, and when the photographer thinks it is a shutter chance, he pushes the shutter button 103 all the way down, the photographing operation is performed in the camera, and the image (video) is recorded. By such an operation, since the preparation for photographing is completed when the half-pressed state is fully depressed, it is possible to perform the photographing with the release time lag minimized.

On the other hand, there are not a few cameras of the type that can be photographed by remote control using a remote control device. The remote control device may be a wired or wireless system. Among them, the remote operation by the infrared remote control device will be described. First, when a release button (or a trigger button) is pressed on the infrared remote control device, a prescribed infrared signal is transmitted from the transmitter. Then, when the conventional camera receives the infrared signal, it performs photometry and distance measurement, drives the lens to the in-focus position, and anticipates the time required for these operations (about 2 seconds), and then the main shooting operation. To move to.

However, in such remote control photographing by the remote control device, since the remote control device has a one-step push button, the photographer presses the release button of the infrared remote control device until the actual photographing is performed. Since the shooting preparation time for the AE, AF operations, etc. is included in the meantime, the desired shutter opportunity may be missed.

On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-89089, the release button of the infrared remote control transmitter is
It is disclosed that these problems are solved by adopting the same two-stage push button as the camera body.

[0007]

However, in the remote control system disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-89089, a remote control device having a two-stage push button must be specially manufactured, which leads to an increase in cost. . That is, in a general remote control device, in order to reduce the cost, 1
We have adopted a multi-stage push button, and a huge investment is required to change it to a two-stage push button type.
The cost of the product will be increased accordingly.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional camera capable of remote control photographing, and it uses a conventional remote control device having a one-step push button and has no time lag. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera capable of performing remote control photography capable of performing.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a camera capable of taking a remote control image based on a remote control signal received from a remote control device, the release button of the remote control device being used. It has a setting means capable of setting a time lagless remote control shooting mode for receiving a release remote control signal by a pressing operation, performing a shooting preparation operation such as an AE and AF operation, and determining a release button release operation to perform a main shooting operation. It is characterized by that.

In the camera configured as described above, which is capable of remote control photography, by setting the time lagless remote control photography mode, a release remote control signal is received by pressing the release button of the remote control device to perform a preparatory operation for photography. Since the main shooting operation is performed by determining the release operation of the button, a remote control device having a normal one-stage release button can be used to perform remote control shooting with a reduced release time lag without missing a shutter chance. it can.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the camera capable of remote control photographing according to the first aspect, the release operation of the release button is determined based on a break of the release remote control signal. Is. With this configuration, it is possible to easily determine the release operation of the release button of the remote control device, and use this function to wait for a moving object between the remote control device and the camera and cross it. It is possible to easily take a picture of the state at the moment when it was taken.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the camera capable of remote control photography according to the first or second aspect, when the time lagless remote control photography mode is set, the remote control photography mode is set. It is characterized in that it further comprises warning means for issuing a warning. With this configuration, the photographer can easily confirm that the time lagless remote control shooting mode is set, and can reliably operate the remote control device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera capable of taking a remote control image on the basis of a remote control signal received from a remote control device, the camera receiving a release remote control signal by pressing a release button of the remote control device and performing a series of operations. A normal remote control shooting mode for shooting operation and a release remote control signal by pressing the release button of the remote control device are received, shooting preparation operations such as AE and AF operations are performed, and release operation of the release button is judged to perform main shooting. A remote control shooting mode selection setting means capable of selectively setting a time lagless remote control shooting mode to perform an operation, and a control means for controlling a shooting operation of the camera according to the remote control shooting mode selected and set by the remote control shooting mode selection setting means. It is characterized by having.

In the camera configured as described above, which is capable of remote control photography, the photographer can arbitrarily select and set the remote control photography mode and the time lagless remote control photography mode. .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the camera capable of remote control photography according to the fourth aspect, the release button release operation in the time lagless remote control photography mode is determined based on the interruption of the release remote control signal. It is characterized by that. With this configuration, it is possible to easily determine the release operation of the release button of the remote control device when the time lagless remote control shooting mode is selected and set, and to perform the special shooting similar to the invention according to claim 2. Is possible.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the camera capable of remote control photography according to the fourth or fifth aspect, when the time lagless remote control photography mode is selectively set, the remote control photography mode is selectively set. It is characterized by further comprising a warning means for issuing a warning. With this configuration, the photographer can easily confirm that the time lagless remote control shooting mode is selected and set, and the remote control device can be operated reliably.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments will be described. 1A to 1D are views showing an embodiment of a camera capable of remote control photographing according to the present invention, and FIG.
1 is an external perspective view of the front of the camera, FIG. 1B is an external perspective view of the rear of the camera, FIG. 1C is an external view of the viewfinder section seen from the rear of the camera, and FIG. It is an enlarged view of a camera display unit (control panel).

As shown in FIG. 1A, on the front surface of the camera 1, a photographing lens unit 2 including a focus lens and a zoom lens 2, a lens barrier 3 for protecting the photographing lens 2, and a remote control device are transmitted. Receive remote control signal /
A light receiving window 4 of a receiving unit for receiving is provided. In addition,
An optical signal such as infrared light is used for the remote control signal transmitted from the remote control device in the present embodiment.

On the upper surface of the camera, a zoom lever 5 for instructing to move the zoom lens position of the photographing lens unit 2 to a tele (telephoto) position or a wide (wide angle) position, a release button 6 for issuing a photographing instruction. A strobe 7, a camera display unit 8 and the like, which emit light when the subject is dark, are provided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, on the rear surface of the camera, a finder unit 9, a liquid crystal monitor 10 on which a photographed image and various menus are displayed, and a picked-up image and various menus are selected. There are provided a cross key button 11 for, and buttons 12, 13 for selecting and setting various shooting modes such as a remote control shooting mode and other predetermined instructions.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1C, the finder section 9 has an AF (Auto Focus) target mark 14 and a stroboscope which are used when the user decides which position to focus on. A finder LED 15a that emits light when flashing or when strobe lighting is required due to insufficient light intensity,
A finder LED 15b that emits light when adjusting the focus is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1D, the camera display section 8 has a flash mode display 8-1, a battery level display 8-2, a macro mode display 8-3, and a continuous shooting mode display 8. -4, image quality mode display 8-5, number of possible shots display 8-
6, remote control shooting mode display 8-7 is performed. In this remote control shooting mode display, the remote control display lights up when the normal remote control shooting mode is selected,
When the time lagless remote control shooting mode is selected, the remote control display blinks to give a warning.

Next, the configurations of the remote control device used in the present embodiment, the remote control signal receiving section on the camera side, and the related parts of the camera control section will be described. FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing a correspondence relationship between the remote control device and the camera. The remote control device 21 has a remote control transmission unit (not shown) incorporated therein. By pressing the release button 22, the release remote controller is operated. The signal 23 is transmitted to the camera 1. And remote control device
The release remote control signal 23 from 21 is received by the remote control signal receiving unit via the light receiving window 4 of the camera 1.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the relevant portions of the remote control signal receiving section and the camera control section in the camera 1. The remote control signal receiving unit 31 includes a light receiving unit 32 that receives the release remote control signal 23 from the remote control device 21 and converts it into an electric pulse signal, a detection unit 33 that detects the pulse signal from the light receiving unit 32, and a detection unit 33. Timer 34 used to detect pulse intervals such as breaks in the pulse signal of
It has and. Then, in the camera control unit 35 in the camera, based on the detection signal from the detection unit 33 of the remote control signal reception unit 31, control of shooting preparation operations such as AE and AF operations of the camera based on the reception of the release remote control signal 23, and the like. , The main photographing operation is controlled by the judgment of the interruption of the release remote control signal 23.

Further, the camera control section 35 selectively controls execution of the normal remote control shooting mode operation and the time lagless remote control shooting mode operation in accordance with the remote control shooting mode setting input from the remote control shooting mode selection setting button 12. In addition, the camera control unit 35 lights up the camera display unit 8 when the normal remote control shooting mode is selected, and flashes on the camera display unit 8 when the time lagless remote control shooting mode is selected and set. It is designed to display a warning. Further, in the camera control unit 35, various menus are input from the menu key button 11.

Next, an outline of the remote control operation of the camera by the remote control device when the time lagless remote control shooting mode is set on the camera side will be described based on the timing chart shown in FIG. Remote control device 21
In, when the release button 22 is not pressed and released, the release remote control signal 23 from the remote control device 21 is not transmitted, and the camera side is in the idle state. When the release button 22 of the remote control device 21 is pressed, transmission of the release remote control signal 23 is started, and the remote control signal receiving unit 31 on the camera side receives the release remote control signal 23, and the AE for photometry / distance measurement and lens drive, The AF operation is executed, the focusing operation is completed, and the shooting preparation operation is completed. Here, when the focusing operation is completed, a focusing sound such as "beep" may be generated.

The remote control device in the ready-to-shoot state
21 Release button 22 is released Release remote control signal 23
Is interrupted, the remote control signal receiving unit 31 detects the interruption, and based on the detection signal, the camera side starts the main photographing operation, and photographing / recording is executed.

4A to 4C are enlarged views of the release remote control signal 23. The release remote control signal 23 is shown in FIG.
4 is composed of a pulse signal having a predetermined cycle t of, for example, about 0.1 seconds as shown in FIG. 4A, and when the release button 22 of the remote control device 21 is released, as shown in FIG. The release remote control signal is interrupted, but the timer 34 is used to detect that the next pulse does not appear even after the lapse of a predetermined time t, and the camera control unit side recognizes the interruption of the release remote control signal pulse. Has become. Also,
Each pulse forming the release remote control signal 23 is, as shown in FIG. 4C, a remote control signal based on the operation of the release button 22 in order to distinguish it from a remote control signal from another remote control button such as zoom drive. It is formed by a mass of release button identification signals indicating that there is a release button identification signal.

Next, the remote control operation of the camera by the remote control device 21 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart showing the processing operation of the infrared remote control signal receiving section 31 of FIG. 5 and the flowchart showing the processing operation of the camera control section 35 of FIG. Explained. First, the processing operation on the infrared remote control signal receiving section side will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The remote control signal receiving section 31 first determines whether or not a remote control signal (key signal) is received, that is, whether or not a remote control button is pressed on the remote control device 21 (step S1). ), If the remote control signal has not been received, the determination operation of step S1 is repeated, and the control waits until the remote control button is pressed.

If it is determined in the determination operation in step S1 that the remote control signal (key signal) is received, then it is determined whether the received remote control signal is a release remote control signal by operating the release button 22 of the remote control device 21. Is determined (step S2). If the received remote control signal is not the release remote control signal, the determination operations of steps S1 and S2 are repeatedly executed, and the release button 22 is awaited to be pressed. If the received remote control signal is the release remote control signal, then it is determined whether or not the time lagless remote control shooting mode is set on the camera side (step S3).

When the time lagless remote control photographing mode is set, an AE / AF operation start instruction is sent to the camera control section 35 (step S4). After sending this AE / AF operation start instruction to the camera control unit 35, the timer 34 is started to start time measurement of the pulse cycle of the release remote control signal (step S5). Next, it is determined whether or not the remote control signal is continuously received (step S6). If the remote control signal is received, steps S5 and S6 are performed.
The operation is repeatedly performed, and while the remote control button is continuously pressed, it waits until the remote control button is released.

When the reception of the remote control signal is interrupted, it is determined whether or not t time has elapsed after the interruption (step S7). In the determination of step S7,
If the time t has not elapsed after the interruption, the operations of steps S6 and S7 are repeated, and the controller waits for the interruption of the remote control signal. In the determination in step S7, if the time that exceeds t time has elapsed after the reception of the remote control signal has elapsed, it is determined that the remote control signal is interrupted, and a main shooting operation start instruction is sent to the camera control unit 35 (step S8), and the next shooting is performed. Prepare for In step S3 of determining whether the time lagless remote control shooting mode is set, if the time lagless remote control shooting mode is not set, the process directly moves to step S8 to execute the normal remote control shooting operation. The instruction to start the main photographing operation is sent to the camera controller 35.

Next, the processing operation on the side of the camera controller will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, on the camera control unit side, the remote control shooting mode setting button 12 is operated to set the remote control shooting mode input (step S11). Next, it is determined whether or not the input remote-controlled shooting mode is the time-lagless remote-controlled shooting mode (step S12). In the case of the time-lagless remote-controlled shooting mode, the remote-control display on the camera display unit 8 is made to blink. , Warning display that the time lagless remote control shooting mode is selected and set (step S
13).

Next, AE / A in step S4 based on the reception of the release remote control signal from the remote control signal receiving section side.
It is determined whether or not the F start instruction has been sent (step S14), and the remote control signal receiving section AE / A
If the F start instruction has not been sent, the above determination step S14 is repeated until the instruction is sent. When the AE / AF start instruction is sent from the remote control signal receiving unit side, first the AE process is performed (step S15), then the AF process is performed (step S16), and the focus operation is completed. Output a focus sound (step S1
7).

Next, step S8 based on the interruption of the reception of the release remote control signal from the remote control signal receiving section side.
It is determined whether or not the main shooting operation start instruction has been sent (step S18), and if the main shooting operation start instruction has not been sent yet, the determination operation in step S18 is repeated. , Waits for the instruction to start the main shooting operation. When the instruction to start the main photographing operation is sent, the main photographing processing operation is executed (step S23) to prepare for the next photographing.

If it is determined in step S12 whether the set remote control shooting mode is the time lagless remote control shooting mode and the normal remote control shooting mode is set instead of the time lagless remote control shooting mode, the camera display is displayed. The remote control display in the section 8 is turned on to indicate that the normal remote control shooting mode is selected and set (step S19). Next, it is determined whether or not the main shooting operation start instruction of step S8 based on the reception of the release remote control signal is sent from the remote control receiving unit side (step S20), and the main shooting operation start instruction is still sent. If not, this step S20
The above-mentioned determination operation is repeated, and the apparatus waits for the instruction to start the main shooting operation to be sent. When the instruction to start the main photographing operation is sent, AE processing is first performed (step S21), AF processing is subsequently performed (step S22), main photographing processing operation is executed (step S23), and the next Prepare for shooting.

In the above embodiment, the remote control shooting mode setting button is used to selectively set the normal remote control shooting mode and the time lagless remote control shooting mode. However, in the present invention, the remote control shooting mode is set. May be configured to set only the time lagless remote control shooting mode. Further, although the present embodiment has been described on the assumption that the present invention is applied to a digital camera, the present invention can also be applied to a silver salt camera, and similar operational effects can be obtained.

[0038]

As described above based on the embodiments, the invention according to claim 1 receives the release remote control signal by the pressing operation of the release button of the remote control device to perform the shooting preparation operation, and the release operation. Since the main photographing operation is performed by judging the release operation of the button, the release time lag that does not miss the shutter opportunity is suppressed by using the remote control device having the normal one-step release button. It is possible to perform remote control shooting. In the invention according to claim 2, the release button release operation is determined based on the interruption of the release remote control signal. Therefore, the release button release operation of the remote control device can be easily determined. By using the function, it becomes possible to stand by for a moving object between the remote control device and the camera and easily photograph the state at the moment of crossing. According to the third aspect of the invention, the warning means allows the photographer to easily confirm that the time lagless remote control photographing mode is set, and the remote control device can be operated reliably. According to the invention of claim 4, the photographer can arbitrarily select and set the normal remote control shooting mode and the time lagless remote control shooting mode, and miss the photo opportunity when the time lagless remote control shooting mode is set. It is possible to perform remote control shooting with a minimal release time lag. According to the invention of claim 5, it is possible to easily determine the release operation of the release button of the remote controller when the time lagless remote control shooting mode is selected and set, and the special shooting similar to the invention of claim 2 is performed. It becomes possible to do. According to the invention of claim 6, it is possible to easily confirm that the time lagless remote control shooting mode is selected and set by the warning means, and the remote control device can be operated reliably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a camera capable of remote control photography according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a correspondence relationship between a remote control signal receiving unit, a camera control unit, and a remote control device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining the remote control operation of the camera when the time lagless remote control shooting mode is set.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a release remote control signal of the remote control device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of a remote control signal receiving section.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of a camera control unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a general camera with an AE / AF function and an operation mode of a shutter button thereof.

8 is a diagram showing a shooting sequence of the camera shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 camera 2 Shooting lens section 3 lens barrier 4 Remote control signal receiving window 5 Zoom lever 6 Release button 7 Strobe 8 Camera display (control panel) 8-1 Flash mode display 8-2 Battery level display 8-3 Macro mode display 8-4 Continuous shooting mode display 8-5 Image quality mode display 8-6 Number of shots display 8-7 Remote control shooting mode display 9 Finder section 10 LCD monitor 11 Four-way controller button 12, 13 Setting / instruction buttons 14 target mark 15a, 15b finder LED 21 Remote control device 22 Release button 23 Release remote control signal 31 Remote control signal receiver 32 Receiver 33 Detector 34 timer 35 Camera control section

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 101: 00 H04N 101: 00 F term (reference) 2H020 FB01 FB03 FC00 2H102 AA66 BB08 BB26 CA01 5C022 AA13 AB65 AC18 AC32 AC52 AC69 CA00 5K048 AA04 BA10 DB04 EB02 FB05 HA04

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A camera capable of performing remote-control shooting based on a remote-control signal received from a remote-control device, the release remote-control signal being received by pressing a release button of the remote-control device, and a shooting preparation operation such as AE or AF operation. The remote-controllable camera, which has a setting means capable of setting the time lagless remote-control shooting mode for performing the main shooting operation by determining the release button release operation. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the release operation of the release button is determined based on a break of the release remote control signal. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising warning means for issuing a warning that the remote control shooting mode is set when the time lagless remote control shooting mode is set. A camera capable of remote control shooting according to 2. 4. A camera capable of remote-control shooting based on a remote control signal received from a remote control device, the normal remote control performing a series of shooting operations by receiving a release remote control signal by a pressing operation of a release button of the remote control device. A mode is received when the shooting mode and the release remote control signal by pressing the release button of the remote control device are received.
A remote control shooting mode selection setting means capable of selectively setting a time lagless remote control shooting mode in which a shooting preparation operation such as E and AF operation is performed, and a release button release operation is determined to perform a main shooting operation, and the remote control shooting mode selection A camera capable of remote control shooting, comprising: a control means for controlling a shooting operation of the camera according to a remote control shooting mode selectively set by the setting means. 5. The camera capable of remote control shooting according to claim 4, wherein the release button release operation in the time lagless remote control shooting mode is determined based on a break of the release remote control signal. 6. When the time lagless remote control shooting mode is selected and set, a warning unit is further provided for giving a warning that the remote control shooting mode is selected and set. A camera capable of remote control photography according to 4 or 5.