JP2522329B2 - Camera with built-in electronic flash device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a camera incorporating an electronic flash device capable of changing an irradiation angle.

B. Conventional technology Conventionally, a camera with a built-in electronic flash device is known that prevents the red-eye phenomenon by popping up the light emitting part and separates it from the lens optical axis, or prevents vignetting of the irradiation light by the lens barrel part. Has been. Here, the pop-up position is called an exposure position and the pop-down position is called a storage position. At the storage position, the light emitting unit is stored in the camera body.

There is also known a camera with a built-in electronic flash device in which an irradiation angle from a light emitting unit is changed in association with a focal length of a lens mounted on the camera. This type of camera is equipped with a diffuser plate in front of the light emitting part, and when the telephoto lens is attached, the diffuser plate is separated from the light emitting part to narrow the distribution angle of the irradiation light (hereinafter referred to as the tele-zoom state. When a wide-angle lens is attached, the diffuser plate is moved closer to the light emitting portion to expand the light distribution angle (hereinafter referred to as a wide zoom state). For this reason,
In the tele-zoom state, the light emitting unit itself becomes large. Here, the light emitting unit is used as a concept including a diffusion plate and a light emitting unit, and an operation of changing a distance between the diffusion plate and the light emitting unit is called zooming.

Now, when configuring a camera having two functions as described above, the light emitting unit can be housed in the camera body in both the tele-zoom state and the wide-zoom state.

C. Problems to be Solved by the Invention Therefore, a large storage space for housing the light emitting unit in the tele-zoom state is required in the camera body, which hinders the miniaturization of this type of electronic flash device built-in camera. .

It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera with a built-in electronic flash device which is compact and easy to use because the light emitting unit can be made compact and can be stored in a small storage space during storage.

D. Means for Solving the Problems Explaining with reference to FIG. 1 showing a claim correspondence diagram, the camera with a built-in electronic flash device according to the present invention changes to a second shape F2 larger than the first shape F1. Light emitting unit that changes the irradiation angle and moves between the exposure position protruding from the camera body and the storage position stored in the camera body.
An electronic flash device 200 including 100, an actuator 300 for changing the light emitting unit 100 between a first shape F1 and a second shape F2, and start of movement of the light emitting unit 100 from an exposed position to a stored position. 400 that detects the light emission unit 100 in conjunction with the movement of the light emission unit 100, and the light emission unit by the detector 400
The control circuit 500 controls the actuator 300 so that the actuator 300 drives the light emitting unit 100 to the first shape F1 when the start of movement of the 100 from the exposed position to the storage position is detected.

E. Action When the light emitting unit 100 in the exposed position with the second shape F2 is started to move to the storage position, the detector 400 detects the start of movement. In response to a command from the control circuit 500 which responds to this detection, the actuator 300 causes the light emitting unit 100 to have the first shape F1. Therefore, the light emitting unit 100 can be housed in the small first shape F1, and the housing space in the camera body can be reduced.

F. Example (I) Configuration of Example (a) Light emitting unit FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are perspective views of the light emitting unit in the up position (exposure position), respectively, in a wide zoom state and a tele zoom. It shows the state.

The case 10 includes a pair of left and right substrates 12 provided with a rotating shaft 11 penetrating therethrough, and a cylindrical body 13 having a rectangular cross section that extends from the base 12 to the front of the camera. The rotating shaft 11 is a camera body (not shown). It is rotatably supported by. A torsion coil spring 41 is wound around the rotary shaft 11, and an arm 41a of the spring 41 is attached to a pin 14 implanted in the case 10, and an arm 41b is attached to a pin 15 provided on a camera body (not shown). The case 10 is locked and is biased in the clockwise direction C by this spring force. When the case 10 is rotated in the clockwise direction C, the end portion 12a of the case 10 is attached to the limiting pin 42 implanted in the camera body (not shown).
Is limited by the contact of the.

The light emitting unit 16 is screwed to the inner wall of the tubular body 13 so as to be surrounded by the protector 17 that moves forward and backward in the optical axis direction of the camera inside the tubular body 13. A diffuser plate 17a is provided on the front side of the protector 17 for the camera, and diffuses the irradiation light from the light emitting unit 16. The protector 17 is provided with a rack 17b and meshes with the gear 18. A gear 20 that rotates integrally with the gear 18 by a shaft 19 meshes with a gear 21. The gear 21 is fixed to the output shaft 22a of the motor 22. The motor 22 and shaft 19 are case 10
Supported by. By rotating the motor 22 forward and backward, the protector 17 moves forward and backward in the camera optical axis direction via the gear train. As a result, the diffuser plate 17a and the light emitting unit 16 are close to each other and the wide zoom state in which the light from the light emitting unit 16 is emitted at a wide light distribution angle, and the diffuser plate 17a and the light emitting unit 16 are separated from each other, and the light from the light emitting unit 16 is separated. A tele-zoom state in which light is emitted at a relatively narrow light distribution angle can be adopted.

In order to detect the wide zoom state and the tele zoom state, the cylindrical body 13 is provided with a wide detection switch 23 and a tele detection switch 24, and the wide detection switch 23 is in contact with the contracted end 17c of the protector 17. The tele detection switch 24 is turned on when the pieces 23a and 23b are brought into contact with each other, and the tele detection switch 24 is turned on when the end 17d of the extending protector 17 is brought into contact with the contact pieces 24a and 24b. An up switch 25 that turns on the case 10 at the up position is provided on the camera body side. This up switch 25 is for the case 10 in the up position.
The end portion 12b is turned on by bringing the contact pieces 25a and 25b into contact with each other.

Further, the case 10 is provided with a claw portion 13a below the cylindrical body 13, and the claw portion 13a can be engaged with a claw member 43 provided on the camera body at a down position (storage position). Claw member 43
An operating member 45 is integrally provided by the shaft 44. The shaft 44 is provided with a torsion coil spring 46, one end of which is hooked on the spring hooking portion 43a of the pawl member 43 and the other end of which is hooked on a pin 47 which is planted in the camera body (not shown). Member 43
Is configured to be biased in the counterclockwise direction U by the torsion coil spring 46. The limit pin 48 is a limit for rotation of the claw member 43, and the limit pin 49 is a limit for rotating the claw member 43 in the clockwise direction by operating the operation member 45. Now the operation member
When 45 is turned in the direction of the arrow of the indicator 45a, the pawl member 43 rotates in the clockwise direction C against the force of the torsion coil spring 46. However, the rotation is limited at the position where the claw member 43 contacts the limiting pin 49.

(B) Electric circuit diagram FIG. 5 is a control circuit block diagram of a camera with a built-in electronic flash device to which the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 5, a microcomputer 50 for controlling the sequential operation of the camera includes a relays switch 51, a half-push switch 52, an up switch 25, a tele detection switch 24, a wide detection switch 23, a timer circuit 53, a battery check circuit 54, Signals are respectively input from the film sensitivity reading circuit 55 and the focal length signal output circuit 56. A pull-up resistor R is provided between each switch and the microcomputer 50 so that the switch input of the microcomputer 50 becomes high level when each switch is turned off.

Here, the half-push switch 52 is turned on by the first stroke of the release button (not shown), and the release switch 51
Is to be turned on by the second stroke of the release button. The half-push switch has a half-push timer function in which the switch is automatically turned off after a predetermined time by a pulse from a timer circuit 53 described later. Tele detection switch
The 24 and the wide detection switch 23 are switches that are turned on in the tele-zoom state and the wide-zoom state, respectively, as described above. The up switch 25 is a switch that turns on the light emitting unit at the up position as described above.

Further, the timer circuit 53 divides the vibration of the oscillator and sends a pulse to the microcomputer 50. The battery check circuit 54 monitors the power supply voltage of the camera and informs the microcomputer 50 of whether the voltage level is lowered or not.
Send to. The film sensitivity reading circuit 55 reads the film sensitivity from the signal pattern provided on the cartridge,
Alternatively, the manually input film sensitivity is read and a signal is sent to the microcomputer 50. The focal length signal output circuit 56 is provided in the interchangeable lens, and sends the information to the microcomputer 50 by discriminating whether the focal length of the mounted lens is a telephoto system or a wide angle system.

Further, the microcomputer 50 has a motor drive circuit 5
7, and the dimming control circuit 58 in the camera body is also connected,
Each circuit is driven by an output signal from the microcomputer 50. The motor drive circuit 57 also receives a motor drive signal and a signal indicating the rotation direction of the motor 22 from the microcomputer 50, and drives the motor 22. Film sensitivity information (hereinafter referred to as ISO information) is sent from the microcomputer 50 to the dimming control circuit 58. The dimming control circuit 58 is
During flash photography, the output from the well-known TTL dimming light receiving element 59 (hereafter called TTL dimming SPD) is amplified and the value is integrated. When the integrated value reaches a certain level, it is sent to the light emitting circuit 60. Send a light emission stop signal. The integration start switch 61 (hereinafter,
The integration is started at the timing at which the f switch changes from the f terminal to the g terminal when the shutter (not shown) completes running the front curtain. Further, in response to the IS switch 61 being switched to the g terminal, the light emitting circuit 60 causes the xenon tube 16a constituting the light emitting section 16 to emit light. In FIG. 5, 16b is a reflective shade, LE
Is a lens and FI is a film.

(II) Comparison between Configuration of Embodiment and Configuration of Invention The motor 22 and the gear train configure the actuator 300, the up switch 25 configures the detector 400, and the microcomputer 50 and the motor drive circuit 57 configure the control circuit 500.

(III) Operation of the embodiment When the relays button (not shown) is half-pressed, the half-press switch 52
Is turned on, whereby the power of the camera is turned on and the light emitting circuit 60 starts charging. Further, the microcomputer 50 receives the focal length information of the mounted lens from the focal length signal output circuit 56, the power supply voltage level information from the battery check circuit 54 and the case from the up switch 25.
It receives a signal indicating whether or not 10 is in the up position, and also receives a signal indicating the current zooming position of the light emitting unit from the tele detection switch 24 and the wide detection switch 23. Based on these signals, the microcomputer 50 determines whether the motor 22 can be driven and the motor rotation direction, and sends a motor drive signal to the motor drive circuit 57.

Here, the zooming control of the light emitting unit will be described in detail with reference to the motor control processing procedure shown in FIG.

First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the up switch 25 is on. If it is not turned on, the process proceeds to step S2 and it is determined whether or not the wide detection switch 23 is turned on. If it is on, the process returns to step S1 without doing anything, and if it is off, the process proceeds to step S3. That is, the state in which the up switch 25 is off and the wide detection switch 23 is off is when the light emitting unit is moved from the up position to the down position, and the motor 22 is rotated in the reverse direction in step S3, 17a is brought close to the light emitting unit 16 to bring the light emitting unit into a small shape, that is, a wide zoom state. When the wide detection switch 23 is turned on in step S4, the motor 22 is stopped in step S5.

On the other hand, if the up switch 25 is on, the process proceeds from step S1 to step S6, and it is determined whether or not the tele-zoom state is set based on the information regarding the mounted lens. If it is determined to be in the tele-zoom state, the process proceeds to step S7, and it is determined whether or not the tele detection switch 24 is on. If it is on, the light emitting unit is already in the tele-zoom state, and the process returns to step S1 without doing anything. If the tele detection switch 24 is off, the motor 22 is normally rotated in step S8 to move the diffusion plate 17a away from the light emitting unit 16. When it is detected that the tele detection switch 24 is turned on in step S9, the motor 22 is stopped in step S10.

If it is determined in step S6 that the tele-zoom state is not set, the process proceeds to step S11, and it is determined whether or not the wide-zoom state should be set. If it is determined that the wide zoom state should be set in step S11, it is determined in step S12 whether or not the wide detection switch 23 is turned on. If it is turned on, the wide zoom state is already set. Without returning to step S1. Wide detection switch
If 23 is off, the motor 22 is reversed in step S13, and the motor 22 is reversed in step S14 until it is detected that the wide detection switch 23 is on. When the wide detection switch 23 is turned on, the motor 22 is stopped in step S15.

That is, according to such a processing procedure, the light emitting unit operates as follows.

(I) When the light emitting unit is in the storage position as shown by the solid line in FIG. 4: The up switch 25 is off, the process proceeds from step S1 to S2, and the wide detection switch 23 is on in the storage position, so the motor 22 is not driven.

(II) As shown in FIG. 2, when the light emitting unit is in the up position and is in the wide zoom state and is rotated to the retracted position: The up switch 25 is on before the retracting operation, but the up switch 25 is turned on when the operation starts. 25 turns off, so step
Go from step S1 to step S2. Since the light emitting unit is already in the wide zoom state, the wide detection switch 23 is turned on, and the motor is not driven in this case as well.

(III) When the light emitting unit is rotated to the storage position when the light emitting unit is in the up position and in the tele-zoom state as shown in FIG. 3, the up switch 25 is turned on before the storage operation as described above, but the operation is started. Accordingly, the up switch 25 is turned off, and the process proceeds from step S1 to step S2. At this time, since the light emitting unit is in the tele-zoom state, the wide detection switch 23 is off. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S3, the motor 22 is rotated in the reverse direction, and driving is continued until the wide detection switch 23 is turned on. When the wide detection switch 23 is turned on, the motor 22 is stopped at step S5. According to this processing procedure,
As shown in the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, when the light emitting unit that is up in the tele-zoom state is stored and operated, the protector 17 immediately retracts, so that the light emitting unit can be reliably stored in the camera body during storage. Therefore, the storage space in the camera body can be reduced. In FIG. 4, 71 is a camera body and 72 is a pentaprism.

Next, a motor control processing procedure at the time of shooting and a shooting sequence will be described.

(I) When the light emitting unit is in the up position and the telephoto lens is attached: When the telephoto lens is currently attached and the light emitting unit is already in the tele-zoom state, the half-push switch 52 is turned on. Then, the focal length signal output circuit 56 sends the information of the telephoto lens attachment to the microcomputer 50, and the process proceeds from step S1, step S6 to step S7. The motor 22 is not driven because the tele detection switch 24 is turned on because the light emitting unit is already in the tele-zoom state. On the other hand, when the light emitting unit is in the wide zoom state under the above conditions, steps S1 to S6 are the same as above, but since the tele detection switch 24 is off in step S7, the process proceeds to step S8. The motor 22 is normally rotated to continue driving until the tele detection switch 24 is turned on. When the tele detection switch 24 is turned on, the motor 22 is stopped in step S10. As a result, the light emitting unit becomes the tele-zoom state.

(II) When the light emitting unit is in the up position and the wide-angle lens is attached: When the wide-angle lens is attached and the light emitting unit is already in the wide zoom state, the focal length signal output circuit
From 56, information on wide-angle lens mounting is microcomputer
Since it is sent to 50, the process proceeds to steps S1 → S6 → S11 → S12. Since the light emitting unit is already in the wide zoom state and the wide detection switch 23 is turned on, step S12 is positive and the motor 22 is not driven. Next, if the light emitting unit is in the tele-zoom state under the above conditions, step S1
The same is true up to S11, but since the wide detection switch 23 is turned off in step S12, the process proceeds to step S13. Here, the motor 22 is reversely rotated and driven until the wide detection switch 23 is turned on, and when the wide detection switch 23 is turned on, the motor 22 is stopped at step S15. This allows
The light emitting unit is in the wide zoom state.

Subsequently, when a release button (not shown) is further pressed, the release switch 51 is turned on and the shutter (not shown) starts traveling. When the shutter front curtain finishes traveling, the IS switch 61 separates from the f terminal. By this switching, the dimming control circuit 58 starts the integration operation. Also, the IS switch 61 is g
When the terminal is touched, the g terminal of the light emitting circuit 60 falls to the ground, and the light emitting circuit 60 gives a known trigger signal to the light emitting section 16,
The light emitting unit 16 starts emitting light. The TTL dimming SPD 59 receives the light reflected from the film and outputs a photocurrent to the dimming control circuit 58. The dimming control circuit 58, which has already started the integration operation by the switching of the IS switch 61, integrates the output of the photocurrent, and when the integrated value reaches a certain level, the light emitting circuit.
Send a signal to stop light emission to 60. Thereafter, a shutter rear curtain (not shown) runs, and thereafter, known camera operations such as film winding and shutter charging are performed.

-Second Embodiment- Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 7 shows a motor drive control processing procedure in the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the light emitting unit is always in the wide zoom state when it is in the up position but not in the half-pushed state.

That is, the process proceeds from step S1 to step S16, and if it is determined that it is not in the half-pressed state, the process proceeds to step S2 of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the tele-zoom state, step S2 is denied, so that the light emitting unit is placed in the wide-zoom state through steps S3 to S5 described above. On the other hand, step S1
When it is determined in step 6 that the button is half pressed, step S of the first embodiment
Proceed to step 6 and perform zooming according to the focal length of the mounted lens.

-Third Embodiment- Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 8 shows a motor drive control processing procedure in the third embodiment. In this embodiment, when the power supply voltage drops, the light emitting unit is placed in the wide zoom state.

That is, when the light emitting unit is in the up position and the process proceeds from step S1 to step S17, it is determined whether or not the power supply voltage has dropped. If it has decreased, the process proceeds to step S2 of the first embodiment. If step S2 is denied, the light emitting unit is placed in the wide zoom state through steps S3 to S5 described above. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S17 that the power supply voltage has not dropped, step S6 of the first embodiment.
Then, the zooming operation is performed according to the focal length of the mounted lens.

-Fourth Embodiment- Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 9 shows a motor drive control processing procedure in the fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, in addition to the functions of the second and third embodiments, the light emitting unit is always placed in the wide-zoom state when the power supply voltage is lowered due to the half-pressed state.

First, when the light emitting unit is not in the up position or in the half-pushed state, the process proceeds to step S2 of the first embodiment via step S1 or step S18 as in the second embodiment. If it is in the half-pressed state, the process proceeds to step S19, it is determined whether or not the power supply voltage of the camera is lowered, and if the voltage is lowered, the process proceeds to step S2 of the first embodiment and the third embodiment is performed. Similarly, the light emitting unit is set to the wide zoom state. If the voltage has not dropped, the process proceeds to step S6.

In the above, the light emitting unit is fixed, the protector 17 is movable, and the wide zoom state is smaller than that in the tele zoom state.However, the light emitting unit is not limited to this configuration, and the light emitting unit is made small during storage. Any light emitting unit may be used as long as the tele zoom state is smaller than the wide zoom state. That is, the storage shape may be in the tele-zoom state. In the present embodiment, the switching between the tele-zoom state and the wide-zoom state is realized by fixing the light emitting unit and moving the protector.
Not limited to this, the protector is fixed, the light emitting part is movable,
The present invention can be applied to a system that switches between a tele-zoom state and a wide-zoom state.

Further, in the present embodiment, switching between the wide zoom state and the tele zoom state at the time of shooting is controlled by the focal length information of the mounted lens, but not only this, but it is controlled by signals from separately provided tele, wide selection buttons and the like. May be.

Further, in the present embodiment, the light emitting unit has two stages of the tele-zoom state and the wide-zoom state, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the zooming operation may be performed steplessly.

Further, in this embodiment, the zooming of the light emitting unit is controlled by turning on / off the half-press timer state, but not limited to the half-press timer, it is linked to a separately provided power switch member for turning the power on / off. You may control zooming.

G. Effect of the Invention According to the present invention, when the light emitting unit is housed, the light emitting unit is always small, so that the storage space can be made small, which contributes to downsizing of the entire camera. Also, when it is detected that the light emitting unit starts moving from the exposed position to the storage position, the first shape is obtained, and even if the second shape is forcibly set to the storage position by hand, it is always stored in a small shape. Therefore, not only does the light emitting unit become unfittable in the camera body, but also the storage space in the camera body can be reduced.

Further, according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the light emitting unit is made small when the camera is not in the half-pressed state. Therefore, when the light emitting unit is housed when the power of the camera is stopped, the motor is not used. Does not need to be driven, which contributes to energy consumption.

Further, according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the light emitting unit is reduced in size when the power supply voltage drops,
It is possible to prevent a situation where the light emitting unit cannot be made small and cannot be housed due to a voltage drop, and a highly safe and easy-to-use camera can be provided.

Furthermore, according to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 9, in addition to the function of reducing the size of the light emitting unit when not in the half-pushed state or when the power supply voltage is lowered, the power-supply voltage is reduced during the half-pushed state. Since the light emitting unit becomes smaller even when the power consumption decreases, it is possible to prevent the light emitting unit from being unable to be housed due to the voltage drop during half-pressing, and it is possible to provide a highly reliable camera.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to claims. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the light emitting unit, FIG. 2 shows a wide zoom state, and FIG. 3 shows a tele zoom state. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a housed state of the light emitting unit,
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an electric circuit, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a motor drive control processing procedure for zooming. FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show a second embodiment of the present invention,
It is a flowchart corresponding to FIG. 6 which respectively shows 3rd Example and 4th Example. 10: Case, 16: Light emitting part 17: Protector, 17a: Diffuser 22: Motor 23: Wide detection switch 24: Tele detection switch 25: Up switch 50: Microcomputer 51: Release switch 52: Half press switch, 53: Timer Circuit 54: Battery check circuit 55: Film sensitivity reading circuit 56: Focal length signal output circuit 57: Motor drive circuit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first shape and a second shape larger than the first shape.
An electronic flash device including a light emitting unit that moves between an exposure position protruding from the camera body and a storage position housed in the camera body by changing the irradiation angle by changing the shape. An actuator that changes the unit between a first shape and a second shape, and detection that detects the start of movement of the light emitting unit from the exposed position to the storage position in conjunction with the movement of the light emitting unit. And a control circuit for driving the light emitting unit into the first shape by the actuator when the detector detects the start of movement of the light emitting unit. camera.