JP2006171280A - Automatic strobe device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic strobe device which reduces fluctuations in time starting from ionization of a substance in a discharge tube, to the emission of light. <P>SOLUTION: A first trigger voltage V10 is applied to the discharge tube 40, before preliminary emission of light, and the ionization of xenon gas in a xenon tube 42 proceeds. A second trigger voltage V11 is then applied to the discharge tube 40, a tube current I11 flows in the discharge tube 40, and the preliminary emission of light is performed. The light emission time of the primary emission of light is calculated by a light measurement control part 36, on the basis of the reflected light from an object measured by an imaging element 32 during the preliminary emission of light, and the regular emission of light is performed on the basis of the light emission time. Accordingly, fluctuations in the emission of light during the preliminary emission of light is reduced, and the stroboscopic lighting of the object is performed properly by properly performing the regular emission of light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an auto strobe device, and more particularly to an auto strobe device that illuminates a subject using a discharge tube.

  Conventionally, the strobe discharge tube emits light (pre-flash) before actual shooting, and the reflected light from the subject is measured using a light control sensor or image sensor. ) Is used (for example, Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 2 discloses a discharge tube having a transformer for applying a trigger voltage to the discharge tube to start discharge, and applying a continuous AC voltage to the discharge tube to start light emission. The light emission starting device is disclosed.
JP 2002-131810 A JP 2003-249396 A

  By the way, the conventional discharge tube emits light by ionizing a substance (for example, xenon gas) in the tube. However, the time from ionization to light emission and the ionization start position in the tube vary depending on how the voltage is applied. was there. In the dimming control method as described above, if the light emission amount at the time of pre-light emission varies, the light emission amount of the main light emission is affected. For example, when the pre-emission amount is large, the main emission becomes dark, and when the pre-emission amount is small, the main emission becomes bright. For this reason, there has been a problem that the brightness of the photographed image cannot be adjusted properly.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an auto strobe device capable of reducing variations in time from ionization to light emission of a substance in a discharge tube.

  In order to achieve the above object, an auto strobe device according to claim 1 includes: a discharge tube in which a predetermined material is sealed; and an ionization that ionizes the material in the discharge tube by applying a first trigger voltage to the discharge tube. And a pre-emission control for pre-lighting the discharge tube for a predetermined time by applying a second trigger voltage to the discharge tube within a period when the substance in the discharge tube is ionized and the discharge tube is not emitting light. Means for calculating the light emission time during main light emission by measuring reflected light from the subject during pre-light emission, and applying the third trigger voltage to the discharge tube to calculate the discharge tube. And a main light emission control means for performing main light emission for a longer light emission time.

  According to the auto strobe device of the first aspect, variation in light emission can be reduced by allowing ionization of the substance in the discharge tube before the trigger voltage is applied during pre-emission.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an auto strobe device according to the first aspect of the present invention, further comprising a single switch for controlling the application of the first, second and third trigger voltages and the pre-light emission time and the main light emission time. It is characterized by that.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the auto strobe device according to the first aspect, wherein the first switch for applying the first trigger voltage, the application of the second and third trigger voltages, and the pre-light emission time and And a second switch for controlling the main light emission time.

  According to the auto strobe device of the third aspect, by separately providing a switch for controlling the first trigger voltage and a switch for controlling the second and third trigger voltages, the application of the first trigger voltage is prevented. The timing for shifting to pre-light emission becomes easier, and the operability is improved.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the auto strobe device according to the first aspect, wherein the first switch for controlling the application of the first, second and third trigger voltages and the first switch are controlled to control the first switch. A light emission preventing means for restricting a current flowing through the discharge tube to prevent light emission of the discharge tube when the first, second and third trigger voltages are applied to the discharge tube; And a second switch for controlling the main light emission time.

  According to the auto strobe device of the fourth aspect, the light emission preventing means limits the current (tube current) flowing through the discharge tube when the trigger voltage is applied, thereby preventing erroneous light emission before the pre-emission of the discharge tube.

  The auto strobe device according to a fifth aspect is the auto strobe device according to the fourth aspect, wherein the light emission preventing means is disposed on a flow path of a current flowing through the discharge tube when the first trigger voltage is applied to the discharge tube. It is characterized by being a capacitor. In the fifth aspect, the light emission preventing means of the fourth aspect is limited to a capacitor.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the automatic strobe device according to the first to fifth aspects, the discharge tube includes a fixed application point for applying the first, second, and third trigger voltages. To do.

  An auto strobe device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the auto strobe device according to the first to fifth aspects, wherein the discharge tube includes a reflector for reflecting emitted light, and the reflector includes the first, second, and third triggers. A fixed application point for applying a voltage to the discharge tube is provided.

  According to the auto strobe device of the sixth and seventh aspects, since the ionization start position of the substance in the discharge tube is fixed by fixing the application point of the trigger voltage, the light emission variation at the pre-light emission and the main light emission is fixed. Can be reduced.

  An auto strobe device according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the auto strobe device according to the first to seventh aspects, wherein the discharge tube is a xenon tube filled with xenon gas. The eighth aspect limits the discharge tube according to the first to seventh aspects to a xenon tube.

  According to the present invention, the emission variation can be reduced by allowing ionization of the substance in the discharge tube before the application of the trigger voltage (second trigger voltage) at the time of pre-emission. In addition, by fixing the application point of the trigger voltage of the discharge tube, the ionization start position of the substance in the discharge tube is fixed, so that variations in light emission during pre-light emission and main light emission can be reduced.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an auto strobe device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital camera including an auto strobe device according to an embodiment of the present invention. A digital camera 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes an interface for connecting a CPU 12, an operation unit 14, a ROM 16, a RAM 18, a power supply device 20, an imaging unit 22, an auto strobe device 24, a monitor 26, and a memory card 28. (I / F) 30.

  The CPU 12 is a general control unit that controls each block of the digital camera 10. The operation unit 14 is a block including operation input means such as a power switch, a release switch, and various setting buttons.

  The ROM 16 stores programs processed by the CPU 12, various data necessary for control, and the like. In addition to the image processing area, the RAM 18 has a work area in which the CPU 12 performs various arithmetic processes.

  The power supply device 20 is a block for supplying power to each block of the digital camera 10, and is, for example, an external power supply such as a battery or an AC power supply. The power supply device 20 includes a DC / DC converter, converts power supplied from a battery or the like into a required voltage, and supplies power to each circuit block.

  The imaging unit 22 is a block for imaging a subject, and includes a lens (not shown) and an imaging element 32 (for example, a CCD). The auto strobe device 24 will be described later. Image data captured by the imaging unit 22 is processed by the digital signal processing unit 34 of the CPU 12 and stored in the memory card 28.

  Further, the image sensor 32 measures reflected light from the subject when the auto strobe device 24 performs pre-emission. The photometry control unit 36 performs dimming control of the auto strobe device 24 based on the reflected light from the subject detected by the image sensor 32 during pre-emission.

  The monitor 26 can be used as an electronic viewfinder for checking the angle of view at the time of shooting, and displays a preview image of the shot image, a reproduced image read from the memory card 28 loaded in the digital camera 10, and the like.

  Next, the auto strobe device 24 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the auto strobe device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the auto strobe device 24 of this embodiment includes a discharge tube 40, a switch SW1, a trigger transformer T1, a trigger capacitor C1, and a main capacitor C2. The terminals A and C are connected to the power supply device 20 (see FIG. 1), and the terminal B is grounded.

  The switch (IGBT) SW1 is controlled to be turned on / off by a control voltage VC input to the terminal C from the power supply device 20, and controls the application of the trigger voltage V1 applied to the discharge tube 40. The pre-light emission time and the main light emission time are controlled by controlling the flowing current I1 (the time during which I11 and I12 flow). While the switch SW1 is OFF, charges are accumulated in the trigger capacitor C1 and the main capacitor C2 by the power supplied from the power supply device 20 to the terminal A. Then, when a control voltage is applied from the power supply device 20 to the terminal C and the switch SW1 is turned on, the charge accumulated in the trigger capacitor C1 is discharged through the primary winding of the trigger transformer T1, and its secondary A high frequency high voltage (trigger voltage) is generated in the winding. This trigger voltage V1 is applied to a voltage application point (reference numeral 46 in FIG. 4) of the discharge tube 40, and the xenon gas in the discharge tube 40 is ionized. Then, the electric charge accumulated in the main capacitor C2 is discharged, and a tube current I1 flows through the discharge tube 40 to give light emission energy.

  Next, the dimming control method of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the dimming control method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. First, as shown in FIG. 3, the control voltage VC0 is applied from the power supply device 20 to the terminal C, and the switch SW1 is turned on. Then, the first trigger voltage V10 is applied to the discharge tube 40 before application of the trigger voltage (second trigger voltage V11) at the time of pre-light emission, and ionization of the xenon gas in the xenon tube 42 proceeds. Next, pre-emission is performed. At the time of pre-emission, the control voltage VC1 is applied to the terminal C for a predetermined period (pre-emission period), the switch SW1 is turned on again, the second trigger voltage V11 is applied to the discharge tube 40, and the tube is inserted into the discharge tube 40. A current I11 flows. Based on the reflected light from the subject measured by the image sensor 32 during the pre-emission, the light emission time of the main emission is calculated by the photometry control unit 36. Then, based on the calculated light emission time, the period during which the control voltage VC2 is applied (main light emission period) is controlled to control the main light emission time. Thereby, the light emission variation at the time of pre-light emission is reduced, the main light emission is appropriately performed, and the strobe illumination of the subject can be appropriately performed.

  In the present embodiment, the auto strobe device 24 is built in the digital camera 10, but the present invention can also be applied to a single strobe device. In the case of a single strobe device, it may be configured to include a photometric sensor for measuring the reflected light from the subject at the time of pre-emission and the photometric control unit 36.

  Here, the discharge tube 40 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the discharge tube. A discharge tube 40 shown in FIG. 4 includes a xenon tube 42 filled with xenon gas, and a reflector (reflecting mirror) 44 for irradiating a subject with light emitted from the xenon tube 42. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, four voltage application points 46 for applying the trigger voltage V1 are arranged on the surface of the xenon tube 42 facing the reflector 44. In the example shown in FIG. 4B, four voltage application points 46 are arranged on the surface of the reflector 44 that contacts the xenon tube 42. In the discharge tube 40 of the present embodiment, since the voltage application point 46 is fixed, the position where the ionization of the xenon gas is started in the xenon tube 42 is fixed, and the emission variation can be reduced.

  Next, another embodiment of the auto strobe device 24 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an auto strobe device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the same components as those in FIG. 2 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The auto strobe device 24 of this embodiment further includes a switch SW2. The switch (IGBT) SW <b> 2 is controlled to be turned on / off by a control voltage VD input from the terminal D from the power supply device 20.

  In the present embodiment, the switch (IGBT) SW2 controls application of the first trigger voltage V10. The switch (IGBT) SW1 controls the application of the second and third trigger voltages V11 and V12, and also controls the current I1 (I11, I12) flowing through the discharge tube 40 to pre-light emission time and main light emission time. To control.

  FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing a dimming control method according to the second embodiment of the present invention. First, as shown in FIG. 6, the control voltage VD0 is applied from the power supply device 20 to the terminal D, and the switch SW2 is turned on. Then, the first trigger voltage V10 is applied to the discharge tube 40, and ionization of the xenon gas in the xenon tube 42 proceeds. Similarly to the above embodiment, the control voltage VC1 is applied to the terminal C for a predetermined period (pre-light emission period), the switch SW1 is turned on, the second trigger voltage V11 is applied to the discharge tube 40, and the discharge is performed. A tube current I11 flows in the tube 40 and pre-emission is performed. Based on the reflected light from the subject measured by the image sensor 32 during the pre-emission, the light emission time of the main emission is calculated by the photometry control unit 36. Then, based on the calculated light emission time, the period during which the control voltage VC2 is applied (main light emission period) is controlled to control the main light emission time.

  According to this embodiment, the switch SW2 for applying the first trigger voltage V10 before the pre-light emission is provided separately from the switch SW1 for applying the second trigger voltage V11 and the third trigger voltage V12. As a result, the application timing of the first trigger voltage V10 can be easily adjusted, and the transition from the application period of the first trigger voltage V10 to the pre-light emission period can be performed smoothly.

  Next, a third embodiment of the auto strobe device 24 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing an auto strobe device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the same components as those in FIG. 5 are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. The auto strobe device 24 of this embodiment further includes a capacitor C3 between the discharge tube 40 and the switch SW2.

  In the present embodiment, the switch (IGBT) SW1 controls application of the first, second, and third trigger voltages V10 to V12. The switch (IGBT) SW2 controls the pre-light emission time and the main light emission time by controlling the current I1 (I11, I12) flowing through the discharge tube 40.

  FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing a dimming control method according to the third embodiment of the present invention. First, as shown in FIG. 8, the control voltage VD0 is applied from the power supply device 20 to the terminal D, and the switch SW2 is turned on. Then, the first trigger voltage V10 is applied to the discharge tube 40, and ionization of the xenon gas in the xenon tube 42 proceeds. Note that the tube current I1 flowing through the discharge tube 40 when the first trigger voltage V10 is applied is limited to the capacity of the capacitor C3. Next, the control voltages VC1 and VD1 are applied to the terminals C and D, respectively, for a predetermined period (pre-light emission period), the switches SW1 and SW2 are turned on, the second trigger voltage V11 is applied to the discharge tube 40, and the discharge is performed. A tube current I11 flows in the tube 40 and pre-emission is performed. Based on the reflected light from the subject measured by the image sensor 32 during the pre-emission, the light emission time of the main emission is calculated by the photometry control unit 36. Based on the calculated light emission time, the period during which the control voltages VC2 and VD2 are applied (main light emission period) is controlled to control the main light emission time.

  According to the present embodiment, the capacitor C3 is provided between the discharge tube 40 and the switch SW2, and the tube current I1 flowing through the discharge tube 40 when the first trigger voltage V10 is applied is limited. It is possible to prevent erroneous light emission.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the auto strobe device 24 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing an auto strobe device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the same components as those in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The auto strobe device 24 of this embodiment further includes a capacitor C3 'on the downstream side of the switch SW2. Note that the timing chart of the dimming control method of the present embodiment is the same as that of the third embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  According to the present embodiment, similarly to the third embodiment, the tube current I1 flowing in the discharge tube 40 is limited by the capacitor C3 ′ when the first trigger voltage V10 is applied, and the discharge tube 40 emits light erroneously. Can be prevented.

1 is a block diagram showing a digital camera including an auto strobe device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an auto strobe device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Timing chart showing a dimming control method according to the first embodiment of the present invention Diagram showing the configuration of the discharge tube The circuit diagram which shows the auto strobe apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Timing chart showing a dimming control method according to a second embodiment of the present invention A circuit diagram showing an auto strobe device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Timing chart showing a dimming control method according to a third embodiment of the present invention A circuit diagram showing an auto strobe device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital camera, 12 ... CPU, 14 ... Operation part, 16 ... ROM, 18 ... RAM, 20 ... Power supply device, 22 ... Imaging part, 24 ... Auto strobe device, 26 ... Monitor, 28 ... Memory card, 30 ... Memory Card connection interface (I / F), 32 ... imaging device, 34 ... digital signal processing unit, 36 ... photometry control unit, SW1, SW2 ... switch, T1 ... trigger transformer, C1 ... trigger capacitor, C2 ... main capacitor , C3, C3 ′: tube current limiting capacitor, 40: discharge tube, 42: xenon tube, 44: reflector (reflector), 46: voltage application point

Claims (8)

A discharge tube filled with a predetermined substance;
Ionization control means for ionizing a substance in the discharge tube by applying a first trigger voltage to the discharge tube;
Pre-emission control means for applying a second trigger voltage to the discharge tube and pre-emission the discharge tube for a predetermined time within a period in which the substance in the discharge tube is ionized and the discharge tube is not emitting light;
A calculation means for measuring the reflected light from the subject at the time of the pre-light emission and calculating the light emission time at the time of the main light emission;
A main light emission control means for applying a third trigger voltage to the discharge tube to cause the discharge tube to emit light for the calculated light emission time;
An auto strobe device comprising:   The auto strobe device according to claim 1, further comprising a single switch for controlling the application of the first, second and third trigger voltages and the pre-light emission time and the main light emission time. A first switch for applying the first trigger voltage;
A second switch for controlling the application of the second and third trigger voltages and the pre-light emission time and the main light emission time;
The auto strobe device according to claim 1, further comprising: A first switch for controlling application of the first, second and third trigger voltages;
When the first, second, and third trigger voltages are applied to the discharge tube by controlling the first switch, the current flowing through the discharge tube is limited to prevent light emission of the discharge tube. Light emission prevention means,
A second switch for controlling the pre-light emission time and the main light emission time;
The auto strobe device according to claim 1, further comprising:   5. The auto according to claim 4, wherein the light emission preventing means is a capacitor disposed on a flow path of a current flowing through the discharge tube when the first trigger voltage is applied to the discharge tube. Strobe device.   6. The auto strobe device according to claim 1, wherein the discharge tube includes a fixed application point for applying the first, second, and third trigger voltages. The discharge tube includes a reflector for reflecting the emitted light,
6. The auto according to claim 1, wherein the reflector includes a fixed application point for applying the first, second and third trigger voltages to the discharge tube. Strobe device.   8. The auto strobe device according to claim 1, wherein the discharge tube is a xenon tube filled with xenon gas.

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