JP2004173100A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make time lag small from opening a barrier until starting of a camera which has the barrier that can manually open and close between a position covering a front surface of the lens and a position opening the barrier. <P>SOLUTION: The camera comprises a 1st detection switch which changes over its output between a barrier closing position and an opening position, and a 2nd detection switch which detects an opening position of the barrier. If change over of the 1st detection switch is detected, switch in of the main supply and detection of a memory are performed, and if change over of the 2nd detection switch is detected, the lens barrel is constituted to extend. By this means, the user does not almost feel time lag from opening of the barrier until start of extending the lens barrel. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus having a barrier member movable between a closed position covering a front surface of a photographing lens and an open position opening a front surface of the photographing lens.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art A camera having a barrier member movable between a closed position for covering a front surface of a photographing lens and an open position for opening the front surface of the photographing lens is conventionally known.
In particular, when the user manually moves the barrier member to move the shutter from the closed position to the open position, the power to the camera is normally turned on by detecting that the barrier member has reached the open position, The photographing lens is driven to a photographable position to complete photographing preparation.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such a camera startup sequence, when the barrier open position is detected, first, supply of main power to the control unit is started, but until a stable power supply that can operate the control unit is supplied. It takes some time.
[0004]
Further, in a case where an external storage memory such as a digital camera is mounted, the state of the mounted memory must be detected, and this operation requires a certain amount of time. In particular, when a large-capacity memory is mounted, the detection work also takes a corresponding time.
[0005]
After the activation of the power supply and the detection of the memory, the control unit determines that photographing is possible, and finally the photographing lens can be driven, and the photographing preparation is completed.
[0006]
As described above, the time lag from when the barrier is opened to when the camera is activated leads to causing the user to feel unnecessary stress or to miss a photo opportunity.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to claim 1 of the present invention, a photographing lens movable in an optical axis direction between a usable position and a storage position, a closed position covering the front surface of the photographing lens, and an open position opening the front surface of the photographing lens. A barrier member that is slidable or rotatable with respect to the camera body between the first and second cameras, wherein the camera further includes a second switch whose output is switched while the barrier member moves from the closed position to the open position. One detecting means, a second detecting means for detecting that the barrier member is at the open position, and a control means for controlling the camera, wherein a user operates the barrier at the closed position. When the switching of the output of the first detecting means is detected by the control means, the control means performs an initialization operation of the camera, and when the output of the second detecting means detects the opening position of the barrier, the use of the photographing lens is performed. By starting driving to the normal position, the time lag between opening the barrier and starting the camera can be reduced, and the user feels unnecessary stress or misses a photo opportunity. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging device that does not need to be performed.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the imaging device according to the first aspect further includes a power supply and a power supply circuit. In the initialization operation, the control unit starts supplying power from the power supply circuit. The present invention provides an imaging apparatus that can quickly start the control unit and start driving the lens without delay with respect to the output of the subsequent second detection unit. .
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the imaging device according to the first or second aspect, an external storage memory can be further mounted. The present invention provides an imaging apparatus in which a user does not feel a time lag even when a large-capacity external storage memory is mounted by including a configuration including detection of the state of the external storage device.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is an external view of a camera body showing an embodiment of the present invention.
[0011]
The camera body 1 is provided with a barrier 2 that can be manually moved by a user, and is configured to be slidable along the guide groove 1a. Further, a detection piece 2 a is provided inside the barrier 2.
[0012]
Reference numeral 3 denotes a lens barrel, which is extended when the barrier 2 is at a position retracted from the opening 1b of the main body 1 as shown in FIG.
[0013]
When the barrier 2 is at a position covering the front surface of the opening 1b as shown in FIG. 1A, the lens barrel 3 is retracted to the retracted position and is in a non-use state.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the position detection of the barrier 2. The first detection switch 4 is arranged so that the detection piece 2 a comes into contact with the barrier 2 in the non-use state when the barrier 2 is completely closed (see FIG. )), The second detection switch 5 is arranged so that the detection piece 2a abuts on the barrier 2 at the open position and is in the ON state (FIG. 2B).
[0015]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing electrical connection of a camera embodying the present invention.
[0016]
The lens barrel 3 is provided with a lens 6 and an actuator 7 for driving the lens 6, and an image sensor 8 is arranged at an image forming position.
[0017]
Reference numeral 9 denotes a driving circuit for driving the actuator 7; 10 a processing unit for performing predetermined processing such as color conversion and gamma processing on the signal of the image pickup device 8; 11 storing image information output from the processing unit 10; All of these memories are supplied with power from the power supply circuit 12 and are controlled by the control unit 13.
[0018]
The power supply circuit 12 converts the power from the power supply 14 into a voltage or a current necessary for the above-described units and the control unit 13 and supplies the required voltage or current. Further, a command for the supply is received from the control unit 13.
[0019]
The sequence at the time of startup in the camera having the above configuration will be described below (FIG. 4).
[0020]
The closed state of the barrier shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 2A is the initial state, and the camera is not powered on. At this time, only the parts necessary for recognition of the operation members including the detection switches 4 and 5 are working on the control unit 13, and the other parts are in a sleep state. Only the minimum necessary weak current is supplied from the power supply circuit 12 to the control unit 13 (S101).
[0021]
When the user moves the barrier 2 to the open side and the output of the first detection switch 4 is switched (S102), the main power is supplied from the power supply circuit 12 to the control unit 13 and the memory 11 in response to a command from the control unit 13. Is started (S103).
[0022]
After a lapse of a predetermined time until the power supply becomes stable (S104), the control unit 13 checks the state of the memory 11 such as the capacity and the presence or absence of a file already written (S105). If the capacity of the loaded memory 11 is large, this check requires some time.
[0023]
Next, the state of the second detection switch is checked (S106). If it is detected that the barrier 2 has completely reached the open position, the lens barrel 3 is moved via the drive circuit 9 as shown in FIG. The camera is driven to the photographable position shown in b) (S107), and the photographing preparation completion state is reached (S108).
[0024]
In this way, since the main power can be turned on and the memory status can be checked while the user is operating the barrier, the user can operate the barrier to the open position and feel no time lag after operating the barrier to the open position. The tube will be extended.
[0025]
In the check of the second detection switch in S106, if the barrier 2 has not reached the open position, the first detection switch is checked again (S109), and it is confirmed that the barrier 2 has been returned to the fully closed position. If detected, the main power supply from the power supply circuit 12 to the control unit 13 and the memory 11 is stopped (S110), and the process returns to the initial state.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to claim 1 of the present invention, the taking lens movable in the optical axis direction between the usable position and the storage position, the closed position covering the front of the taking lens, and the front of the taking lens A camera having a barrier member capable of sliding, rotating, or the like with respect to the camera body between an open position to be opened, and the camera further comprising: a barrier member on the way from the closed position to the open position. First detection means for switching output, second detection means for detecting that the barrier member is at the open position, and control means for controlling the camera, wherein the user is at a closed position. When detecting the switching of the output of the first detecting means by operating the barrier, the control means performs an initialization operation of the camera, and when the output of the second detecting means detects the open position of the barrier. By configuring the recording lens to start driving to the usable position, the time lag from opening the barrier to starting the camera can be reduced, and the user feels unnecessary stress, or An imaging device which does not miss a photo opportunity can be provided.
[0027]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the imaging device according to the first aspect further includes a power supply and a power supply circuit. In the initialization operation, the control unit starts supplying power from the power supply circuit. With this configuration, the control unit can be quickly activated, and the driving of the lens can be started without delay with respect to the output of the subsequent second detection unit.
[0028]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the imaging device according to the first or second aspect, an external storage memory can be further mounted. , It is possible to provide an imaging apparatus in which a user does not feel a time lag even when an external storage memory having a large capacity is mounted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of a camera body showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating detection of a barrier position according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing electrical connection of the camera of the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a sequence at the time of startup of the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera main body 2 Barrier 4 First detection switch 5 Second detection switch 11 Memory 12 Power supply circuit 13 Control unit

Claims (3)

A photographing lens movable in the optical axis direction between a usable position and a storage position,
A camera having a barrier member that can slide or rotate with respect to the camera body between a closed position that covers the front surface of the photographing lens and an open position that opens the front surface of the photographing lens,
The camera further includes a first detection unit whose output is switched on the way of the barrier member from the closed position to the open position,
A second detection unit that detects that the barrier member is at the open position,
Control means for controlling the camera,
When the user operates the barrier in the closed position to detect switching of the output of the first detection unit, the control unit performs an initialization operation of the camera, and the output of the second detection unit detects the switching of the barrier. An imaging apparatus configured to start driving the photographing lens to a usable position when an open position is detected. 2. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply and a power supply circuit,
The imaging device, wherein the initialization operation includes starting power supply to the control unit from the power supply circuit. 3. The imaging device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an external storage memory,
3. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the initialization operation includes detecting the state of the external storage memory by the control unit.

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