JP2003295296A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To correct the time in a camera by forcibly receiving a standard radio wave signal in environment of a good reception state. <P>SOLUTION: The camera having a timer means which receives the standard radio wave and can correct the time according to the standard time as data of the signal, is equipped with a light measuring means 16 which measures ambient luminance of the camera 10 and a luminance decision means which compares the luminance measured by the light measuring means with specified reference luminance to judge whether the measured luminance is lower than the specified luminance and is characterized in that when it is decided that the measured luminance is lower than the specified luminance, the standard radio wave signal is received. When the measured luminance is lower than the reference luminance, i.e., when it is darker, the standard radio wave signal can be received. The standard radio wave signal can, therefore, be received in the night when reception environment for a radio wave is good by setting the luminance and the standard radio wave signal can excellently be received. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly to a camera having a clock means capable of correcting the time by using a standard radio signal. Here, the standard radio wave signal is a signal transmitted by radio waves as a signal in which the standard time in Japan or a foreign country is encoded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The time displayed on a camera is the time that is once input to the camera by an operator or the like, and is updated based on the oscillation of a constant period such as an oscillator provided inside the camera. . However, the oscillation of the oscillator or the like varies in cycle due to the ambient temperature condition and the like, so that a time difference occurs. In order to correct such a shift, it is conceivable to correct the time inside the device using a standard radio signal. An apparatus having a function of receiving a standard radio signal and re-adjusting the time inside the apparatus based on the standard time which is the data of the standard radio signal is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-208.
An optical disk video recording device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 877 is known.

[0003]

However, in this optical disk video recording apparatus, the standard radio signal is received at regular intervals to correct the time inside the apparatus, but during the daytime there is much noise and the standard radio signal is good. There was a problem that I could not receive.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to receive a standard radio wave signal in a good reception environment.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a clock means capable of receiving a standard radio signal and correcting the time based on the standard time which is the data of the standard radio signal. In a camera having, whether the brightness measured by the photometric means is lower than the reference brightness by comparing the brightness measured by the photometric means with a predetermined reference brightness. Brightness determining means for determining whether or not the standard radio signal is received to correct the time of the clock means when the brightness determined by the photometric means by the brightness determining means is lower than the reference brightness. It is characterized by being.

With such a configuration, the standard radio signal can be received and the time in the camera can be corrected only when the brightness around the camera is lower than the reference brightness, that is, when the brightness is darker than the set brightness.

Further, as described above, the reception condition of the standard radio wave signal is good because the noise is reduced in the daytime and the reception condition is bad, but the noise is reduced in the nighttime compared to the daytime. Therefore, setting the reference luminance to be the luminance around the camera at night is preferable in that the standard radio signal can be received at night when the reception environment is good.

[0008] Further, it is provided with a photographing judging means for judging that the photographing is carried out, and when the luminance judging means judges that the luminance from the photometric means is lower than the reference luminance, the photographing judging means It is also preferable to receive the standard radio signal immediately after it is determined that the image capturing has been performed, because the time is corrected only when the image capturing is performed, so that the power consumption is reduced.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The camera 10 in this embodiment is a ROM
CPU1 which is a microprocessor equipped with RAM and RAM
2 and is controlled by the CPU 12. The CPU 12 includes a power switch 14, a light detecting element (photometric means) 16,
Reception circuit 18, shutter button 20, date imprinting section 2
2 etc. are connected.

The power switch 14 is the main switch of the camera 10. When the power switch 14 is pressed and is in the on state, the camera 10 connected to the CPU 12 is connected.
The above-mentioned various functions of are functioning.

The photo-detecting element 16 performs so-called photometry, which measures the brightness of the field (subject) at the time of shooting, that is, the brightness around the camera 10. Photodetector 16
Is provided inside the body of the camera 10, and the camera 1
The light incident inside 0 is detected and output as brightness to the CPU 12. In this embodiment, CdS is used as the photodetector.
(Cadmium sulfide) is used.

An antenna 19 for receiving a radio signal is connected to the receiving circuit 18. The receiving circuit 18 is
The standard radio wave signal is selected from various radio wave signals reaching the antenna 19 and output to the CPU 12 (hereinafter referred to as “receiving the standard radio wave signal”). The standard radio signal includes hours, minutes, total day (total day when January 1 is 1),
Information such as the year (last two digits of the year) is included.

The shutter button 20 outputs to the CPU 12 an SP1 signal for starting photometry and an SP2 signal for photographing. The SP1 signal is sent to the CPU 12 when the shutter button 20 is pressed halfway.
The SP2 signal is output to the CPU 12 when the shutter button 20 is further pressed from the half-pressed state. In this specification, SP1
The state in which the signal is output to the CPU 12 is called SP1 being in the ON state, and the state in which the signal SP2 is output to the CPU 12 is called SP2 being in the ON state.

The date imprinting section 22 is for imprinting the date and time when the image was taken on the film that was taken. The displayed date and time is the signal output from the clock means in the CPU 12 converted into the date and time. Although not shown, the signal output from the clock means is the camera 10
It is also sent to a clock display or the like provided on the case back and displayed as the date and time.

The CPU 12 processes the program written in the ROM to determine whether the power switch 14 is in the ON state or not. The brightness determination (hereinafter, referred to as "measurement brightness") is lower than a predetermined reference brightness, and a brightness determination for determining whether or not shooting is performed can be performed. Further, the CPU 12 has a clock means. The clock means counts time based on an oscillation signal of a constant cycle generated by an oscillator (hereinafter, the counted time is referred to as “time signal”). Further, the clock means converts the data of the standard radio signal into time information (hereinafter referred to as “standard time signal”) when the standard radio signal is received,
When comparing the time signal and the standard time signal and there is a difference,
The time signal is corrected by the standard time signal.

FIG. 2 shows a procedure for adjusting the time of the camera 10 by the CPU 12. According to FIG. 2, the camera 1
The operation related to the time adjustment processing of 0 will be described. When the CPU 12 determines that the power switch 14 is in the on state (“YES” in S100), the shutter button 20 is half-pressed to turn on SP1 (10
2 "YES"), photometry is performed by the light detection element 16 (S104), and the brightness around the camera 10 is determined by the CPU 12.
Entered in. Then, the measured brightness obtained by the photodetector 16 is compared with a predetermined reference brightness, and it is determined whether the measured brightness is lower than the reference brightness (S106).
The reference brightness is a preset fixed value. In the present embodiment, the reference brightness is set to the brightness around the camera 10 at night. The CPU 12 further determines the shutter speed and the like based on the measured brightness.

A case where the measured luminance is determined to be lower than the reference luminance ("YES" in S106) will be described.

In this case, it is again determined whether SP1 is in the ON state (S107). When it is determined that SP1 is in the on state (“YES” in S107), it is determined whether SP2 is in the on state (S108). Here, if the shutter button 20 is further pressed from the half-pressed state and the SP2 is turned on (“YES” in S108),
Imaging is performed (S110). Then, when it is determined that the shooting is performed because the SP2 is in the ON state,
The standard radio signal is received (S112). If SP2 is not on (“NO” in S108), S10
Return to step 7.

The received standard radio wave signal is input to the CPU 12 and the data of the standard radio wave signal is converted into a standard time signal. When the reception of the standard radio signal is established (S114
"YES"), the time signal is compared with the standard time signal and if there is a deviation, the time signal is corrected by the standard time signal (S116). The corrected time signal is displayed on the film or the like as the shooting date and time via the date shooting unit 22.

Further, when the reception of the standard radio signal is not established ("NO" in S114), the time signal in the camera 10 is not corrected by the standard radio signal.

Next, the case where the measured luminance is determined to be higher than the reference luminance (“NO” in S106) will be described.

In this case, it is again determined whether SP1 is in the on state (S117). If SP1 is in the ON state ("YES" in S117), it is determined whether SP2 is in the ON state (S118). Here, the shutter button 20 is further pressed from the half-pressed state and SP2
When is turned on (“YES” in S118), shooting is performed (S120), the standard time signal is not received, and the time adjustment process ends. If SP2 is not in the ON state (“NO” in S118), the procedure returns to S117. If SP1 is not in the ON state ("N" in S117).
O)), the time adjustment process ends without taking a picture and receiving no standard radio signal.

Further, the CPU 12 controls the power switch 14
When it is determined that is not turned on (S100
"NO"), or if SP1 is not on (S
If “NO” at 102 and “NO” at S107), the standard radio signal is not received and the time signal is not corrected.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the time signal updated inside the camera 10 is corrected using the standard radio signal only when the brightness around the camera 10 is lower than the reference brightness. Since the reference brightness is set to the brightness around the camera 10 at night, the standard radio signal can be received at night when the reception condition of the standard radio signal is good.
Further, since the forced reception is performed only when the above conditions are satisfied, it is possible to suppress power consumption.

When SP1 is on,
The focus position is automatically adjusted and the shutter speed is determined for shooting. Therefore, if the standard radio wave signal is received in this state, the reception may become a noise source for the automatic adjustment of the focus position, and the automatic adjustment of the focal position becomes a noise source for the reception. There are cases. on the other hand,
In the present embodiment, the reception of the standard radio wave signal is started immediately after it is determined that the photographing is performed, and therefore the standard radio wave signal does not become a noise source for automatic adjustment of the focus position and the like. Furthermore, since the camera 10 is in a stable state after the shooting, it does not become a noise source even when receiving the standard radio signal.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the value preset as the reference brightness when determining whether the measured brightness is lower than the predetermined reference brightness is used as the fixed value. However, it is also possible to use the measured brightness at the time of the previous shooting as the reference brightness. In this case, the previously measured luminance may be stored in, for example, a storage area in the CPU 12.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart in the case of this embodiment. In FIG. 3, the operation from S100 to S104 is the same as that in FIG. 2, and photometry is performed when the power switch 14 is in the ON state and SP1 is in the ON state. Data (luminance) measured in S104
Is stored in the CPU 12 (S122). Then, it is determined whether the latest measured brightness is lower than the previous measured brightness (S124). When it is determined that the latest measured brightness is lower than the previous measured brightness (“YES” in S124), the standard radio signal is received according to the procedure of S107 to S116, and the time signal in the camera 10 is corrected. It

If the latest measured luminance is higher than the previous measured luminance ("NO" in S124), photographing is performed according to S117 to S120 as in FIG. When the power switch 14 is turned off (“YES” in S126), the time signal updated in the camera 10 is not corrected by the standard radio signal.

On the other hand, when the power switch 14 of the camera 10 is maintained in the ON state after the photographing is completed (“NO” in S126), the procedure returns to S102.

As described above, in this embodiment, by comparing the latest measured luminance with the previously measured luminance, when the latest measured luminance is lower than the last measured luminance, that is, the surroundings of the camera 10. The standard radio signal is received when is darker than the last time it was shot. Therefore, it becomes possible to receive the standard radio signal in a time zone closer to the night when the reception environment is good. When determining whether or not the luminance is low, a numerical value specific to the previously measured luminance may be added. This makes it possible to adjust the time at night without depending on the time zone in which the previous shooting was performed.

Further, in the above embodiment, CdS is used as the photodetecting element for measuring the brightness around the camera 10, but various photosensors can be used as the photodetecting element.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the camera that started the photometry by pressing the shutter button halfway is targeted, but the camera is not limited to such a camera, and other types of photometry are performed. The camera may be applied to, for example, a camera that reacts to voice.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, it is determined in the state of SP2 whether or not photographing has been performed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, various modes such as detecting the operation of the shutter itself can be considered.

In any of the embodiments, the camera may be any kind of camera such as a silver salt camera, a digital camera, a video camera and the like.

[0037]

According to the present invention, since the standard radio signal is received when the brightness around the camera is lower than the predetermined reference brightness, the standard radio signal is set at night in a good radio reception environment by setting the reference brightness. You can do it. Therefore, it is possible to properly receive the standard radio wave signal. Further, if the standard radio wave signal is received immediately after photographing, the power consumption can be reduced as compared with the case where the standard radio wave is received at regular intervals and the time is corrected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a camera 10 according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a time adjustment processing procedure of the camera 10 according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a time correction processing procedure when the previously measured luminance is used as the predetermined reference luminance in the operation of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Camera, 12 ... CPU, 14 ... Power switch, 1
6 ... Photodetector (photometric means), 18 ... Receiving circuit, 19 ...
Antenna, 20 ... Shutter button, 22 ... Date imprinting section

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Toru Ito             1-324 Uetakecho, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture             Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koichi Maruyama             1-324 Uetakecho, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture             Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Goseimei             3-11-46 Izumi, Asaka-shi, Saitama Prefecture, Fuji Photo             Shin Film Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H002 DB25 EB00 GA57                 2H103 AA11 BA44                 5C022 AA11 AC69

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A camera having clock means capable of receiving a standard radio signal and correcting the time based on the standard time which is the data of the standard radio signal, in a camera, a photometric means for measuring the brightness around the camera. And a brightness determination unit that determines whether the brightness is lower than the reference brightness by comparing the brightness measured by the photometric unit with a predetermined reference brightness, and the brightness determination unit A camera adapted to receive a standard radio wave signal for correcting the time of the clock means when the brightness measured by the photometric means is determined to be lower than the reference brightness. 2. A case where a brightness determining unit that determines whether or not a shooting is performed is provided, and the brightness measured by the photometric unit is lower than the reference brightness by the brightness determining unit. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the standard radio signal is received immediately after it is determined by the image capturing determination means that the image capturing has been completed. 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the reference luminance is luminance around the camera at night.