JP2581828Y2 - Camera with remote control - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera with a remote controller, and more particularly to a camera with a remote controller having a remote control unit detachable from a camera body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, cameras equipped with a remote control unit (hereinafter abbreviated as "remote control") have increased.
This makes it possible to easily capture images even at a position away from the camera, contributing to the expansion of photography applications. On the other hand, it is also required that a remote control is detachably built in the camera body. According to this, there is no need to carry the remote control separately, and there is an advantage that handling is easy.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the increase in the number of operation switches associated with the recent multi-functionality has placed great restrictions on the installation space for operation buttons and the position of a built-in remote controller, and has been a major obstacle to downsizing the camera. ing.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in a camera with a remote controller having a detachable remote controller, the number of operation switches, operation buttons, and the like is small even when the camera is multifunctional. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera with a remote controller.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, a camera with a remote controller according to the present invention is a remote control unit that is detachably mounted on a camera body, and is provided in the remote control unit. A remote control unit for outputting an operation signal for controlling the operation of the camera body in accordance with an operation of an operation member, detachment detection means for detecting detachment of the remote control unit and the camera body, and the remote control unit A signal receiving unit that receives an operation signal from the remote control unit when the remote control unit is attached to the main body and when the remote control unit is detached from the camera main body; Is the camera When the signal receiving unit receives the operation signal, depending on whether it is detected that the remote control unit is attached to the main body and when it is detected that the remote control unit is detached from the camera main body, Control means for executing different operations of the camera body. Therefore, the operation performed in response to the operation signal output by operating the operation member when the remote control unit is mounted on the camera body, and the operation of the operation member when the remote control unit is removed from the camera body. Since the operations performed according to the operation signals output by the camera are different, multiple functions can be assigned to the operation buttons of the remote control unit.
It is possible to reduce the number of buttons.

Here, the signal receiving unit is configured to receive the operation signal when the remote control unit is mounted on the camera body, and the remote control unit is removed from the camera body. In this case, another receiving unit for receiving the operation signal may be provided, and one of the receiving units may have a function of the attachment / detachment detection unit.

The remote control unit has at least a plurality of output terminals for outputting the operation signal when the remote control unit is mounted on the camera body, and the signal receiving unit includes a remote control unit. A plurality of receiving terminals connected to the plurality of output terminals when the unit is mounted on the camera body, wherein the attachment / detachment detecting means is configured to determine the potential level of a predetermined terminal among the plurality of receiving terminals according to a potential level of the terminal; The attachment / detachment of the remote control unit may be detected.

[0008]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera with a remote controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera with a remote controller of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of a circuit configuration of the camera with a remote controller of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the camera body 24 has AF detection windows 28A, 28B,
A finder 30, a strobe 32, a zoom lens 37, a shutter button 35 and the like are provided. Further, the remote controller 22 is detachable from the camera main body 24 by a known attaching / detaching means, and usually performs photographing while being attached to the camera main body 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the circuit of the camera with a remote controller according to the present embodiment is mainly composed of a camera main unit CPU 10. The camera main unit CPU 10 includes a remote controller detachment detecting unit 12, a mode / drive switching unit 14, , A shutter drive circuit 16, a zoom motor drive circuit 18, a remote control receiver 20, and the like.

Remote attachment / detachment detection section (detachment detection means) 12
When the operator detaches the remote controller 22 from the camera body 24, the remote controller 22 outputs a remote controller detachment detection signal to the camera body CPU 10 to make the camera body CPU 10 recognize the detachment of the remote controller 22. Mode / drive switching unit 1
Numeral 4 changes a film winding mode to a continuous shooting mode or a single mode in response to a switch signal of a mode switch (not shown) or an exposure mode switch operated by a photographer, and changes an exposure mode to a strobe forced light emission mode or the like. For example, a film winding motor (not shown), a strobe light emitting circuit, and a shutter drive circuit 16 are controlled in accordance with the selected mode.

Further, the camera body CPU 10 determines an aperture value and a shutter speed according to the exposure mode from a photometric value input from a photometric circuit (not shown), and determines the aperture value and the shutter speed determined for the shutter driving circuit 16. Input the exposure control signal. The zoom motor drive circuit 18 is a circuit that outputs a drive signal of the zoom motor, and drives the zoom lens 37 to a desired amount to either the tele side or the wide side in accordance with the operation of the zoom switch.

The remote control receiving section 20 is a receiving section for receiving a remote control transmission signal transmitted from the remote control 22, and is connected to the remote control receiving window (first operation signal detecting means) 26 shown in FIG. The remote control receiving section 20 receives the infrared light emitted from the remote control 22 through the remote control receiving window 26, and transmits it as an operation signal to the camera CPU 10 through predetermined signal processing. In response to this signal, the camera body CPU 10 outputs a drive signal to the shutter drive circuit 16, the mode / drive switching unit 14, and the like, and causes each circuit to execute the operation desired by the photographer.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the remote controller 22 removed from the camera body 24, FIG. 4 is a side view of the remote controller 22, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a relationship between a PU 42 and a camera body CPU 10. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
2, a connection pin (second operation signal input means) 34 is implanted. When the remote control 22 is attached to the camera body 24, the connection contact (the second operation signal) on the camera body 24 side shown in FIG. (Signal detecting means) 39.

An infrared light projector (first operation signal input means) 36 is disposed above the remote controller 22. When a switch 38 or 40, which will be described later, is operated during remote control image capturing, an infrared light projector is provided. The infrared light of the pulse code corresponding to the switch operated from the unit 36 is emitted. The projected infrared light is received by a remote control reception window (first operation signal detection means) 26 on the camera body 24 side, and the operation signal is transmitted to the camera body CPU 10 through the remote control reception unit 20 shown in FIG. Is input to

Further, a switch 38,
A switch 38 is provided on the remote controller 22.
When the remote controller 22 is detached from the camera main body 24, it functions as a release switch, and when the remote controller 22 is attached to the camera main body 24, it functions as a mode switch. The switch 40 functions as a zoom switch when the remote controller 22 is detached from the camera body 24, and functions as a drive changeover switch when the remote controller 22 is attached to the camera body 24. These switching operations are performed based on a detachment detection signal detected by the remote controller detachment detection unit 12 described above.

As shown in FIG. 5, the remote controller 22 has a built-in remote controller CPU 42 for controlling transmission and reception of operation signals of the remote controller 22. When the remote controller 22 is mounted on the camera body, the switch 12A of the remote controller detachment detection unit 12 connected to the camera body CPU 10 is turned on, and the connection pin 34 and the connection contact 39 come into contact with each other.
The camera body CPU 10 and the remote control CPU 42 are connected. The switch 12A is connected to the remote control 22
4 is a mechanical attachment / detachment detection switch that allows the camera body CPU 10 to recognize that the camera
A push switch or the like that is turned on by a pressing force generated when the camera 2 is mounted on the camera body 24 is preferable.

The connection pins 34 include three pins 34A to 34A.
C, the connection contact 39 is composed of three contacts 39A to 39C, respectively.
34B and 34C are contacts 39A, 39B and 39C, respectively.
And the remote control CPU 42 and the camera body CPU 10
It becomes possible to transmit and receive operation signals to and from. Pin 34
A and 34B are at a predetermined potential level “H” when a voltage of a constant voltage source (not shown) provided in the remote controller 22 is applied via a pull-up resistor. Contacts 39A, 39B
Similarly, the voltage of a constant voltage source (not shown) provided in the camera body 24 is applied via a pull-up resistor, and has a predetermined potential level “H”. Pin 34C is contact 39
C and are grounded so that the remote controller and the camera body have the same ground potential.

The pin 34 A and the contact 39 A have a function of transmitting an operation signal according to the operation of the switch 38 shown in FIG. 3 to the camera main body CPU 10. When the switch 38 is turned on, the potential of the contact 39 A becomes “ The level changes from “H” level to ground level “L”. Thereby, the camera body CPU 10 detects that the switch 38 has been turned on,
A mode change instruction signal is output to mode / drive switching section 14 shown in FIG. The pin 34B and the contact 39B
As in the case of the switch 38, the operation state of the switch 40 is recognized by the camera body CPU 10. The camera body CPU 10 receives the operation signal of the switch 40 and causes the mode / drive switching unit 14 to change the film feeding mode. To instruct. The pin 34C and the contact 39C are connected to the pin 3
4A and one end of the pin 34B are connected to the ground.

On the other hand, when the remote controller 22 is detached from the camera body 24, the switch 12A
Is turned off, and the camera main body CPU 10 recognizes that the remote control 22 has been removed from the camera main body 24 and has shifted to remote control shooting. In this case, the camera body CPU 10
A switching signal is output to the remote control receiving unit 20 so that the remote control receiving unit 2 can receive infrared light from the remote control receiving window 26.
0 is a standby state.

In this state, the switch 38 functions as a release switch for remote control photographing. When the photographer turns on the switch 38, the potential of the pin 34A changes from “H” level to “L” level.
The remote control CPU 42 recognizes that the switch 38 has been operated, and emits infrared light from the infrared light projecting unit 36 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to the remote control receiving window 26,
Switch 3 via the remote control receiver 20
The camera body CPU 10 recognizes that the operation signal 8 has been operated.
Is input to The camera body CPU 10 includes a switch 12
A is off, and it is recognized that the remote control is not attached to the camera body. Therefore, this input is recognized as a release signal, a drive signal is output to the shutter drive circuit 16, and the release is performed at a predetermined shutter speed. Is controlled to be performed. The switch 40 functions as a zoom switch at the time of so-called remote control shooting in which the remote control 22 is detached from the camera body 24, and the zoom lens 37 can be driven by remote control.

As described above, the camera with the remote controller according to the present embodiment uses the switches 38 and 40 as a release switch and a zoom switch respectively at the time of remote controller photographing, and performs the mode at the time of normal photographing with the remote controller 22 attached to the camera body 24. They are used as changeover switches and drive changeover switches. Therefore, when the remote control 22 is mounted on the camera main body 24, the switches 38 and 40 of the remote control 22 function as switches of the camera main body 24, not switches for the remote control. As a result, the switches can be integrated, and the camera body 2
4, the number of operation switches to be arranged can be reduced.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which the attachment / detachment between the remote controller 22 and the camera body 24 is electrically detected.
In this embodiment, a new pin 3
4D is attached to the camera
A contact 39D for attachment / detachment detection, which is connected to 4D, is provided. The contact 39D is connected to a constant voltage source of the camera body via a pull-up resistor like the contacts 39A and 39B. Therefore, the contact 39D is at the “H” level when the remote controller 22 is detached from the camera main body, and is grounded via the pin 34D when the remote controller 22 is connected to the camera main body. Become.
The camera body CPU 10 monitors the state of the contact 39D, and determines whether or not the remote control 22 is attached to the camera body.

In this embodiment, the remote controller 22 is provided with two switches 38 and 40 which are respectively switched to a release switch, a mode changeover switch, a drive changeover switch and a zoom changeover switch. It is not limited and can be set arbitrarily.

In this embodiment, the camera body 2 is used as the second operation signal detecting means and the second operation signal input means.
4, a connection contact 39 is provided on the remote controller 22, and a connection pin 34 is provided on the remote controller 22. May be provided as second operation signal detection means, and the infrared light projecting section 36 may be used also as the first and second operation signal input means. According to this, when the remote controller 22 is mounted, the operation signal is transmitted by the infrared light emitted from the infrared light projector 36, so that the camera body 24
There is an advantage that the connection contact 39 and the connection pin 34 for connecting the remote controller 22 to the remote controller 22 are not required, and it is not necessary to separately provide the second operation signal input means.

Further, in the present embodiment, the function of the camera based on the operation signal of the remote controller 22 is switched according to the detection result of the remote controller attachment / detachment detector 12 or the connection pin 34D and the connection contact 39D. 26, or the presence or absence of an input of an operation signal to the connection contact 39D may be detected by the camera body CPU 10, and the function of the camera may be switched according to the detection result. According to this, it is not necessary to separately provide a remote control attachment / detachment detection means, and the structure can be simplified.

[0027]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the camera with the remote control according to the present invention, the detachment of the remote control is detected by the camera body, and the normal remote control with the remote control is mounted and the remote control with the remote control removed from the camera At the time of use, each switch of the remote control is controlled so as to have a separate function. For this reason, the number of switches, buttons, and the like can be reduced, so that the degree of freedom in arranging the switches, buttons, and the like is increased, which contributes to a compact camera.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera with a remote controller according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of a circuit configuration of the camera with a remote controller according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the remote controller removed from the camera body.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the remote controller removed from the camera body.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a relationship between a remote control CPU and a camera body CPU.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a relationship between a remote control CPU and a camera body CPU according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Camera main body CPU (control means) 12 ... Remote control attachment / detachment detection part (attachment / detachment detection means) 14 ... Mode drive switching part 20 ... Remote control reception part 22 ... Remote control 24 ... Camera main body 26 ... Remote control reception window (first Operation signal detecting means) 34 connection pin (second operation signal input means) 36 infrared light emitting section (first operation signal input means) 38, 40 switch 39 connection contact (second operation signal) Detection means) 44 Remote control CPU

Claims (3)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A remote control unit detachably mounted on a camera main body, the remote control unit outputting an operation signal for controlling operation of the camera main body in response to an operation of an operation member provided on the remote control unit. A control unit, detachment detection means for detecting detachment between the remote control unit and the camera body, when the remote control unit is mounted on the camera body, and when the remote control unit is detached from the camera body. If
Signal receiving means for receiving an operation signal from the remote control unit; and when the detachment detection means detects that the remote control unit is attached to the camera body, and when the remote control unit is attached to the camera body. When the signal receiving means receives the operation signal, in response to the case where it is detected that the operation signal has been removed,
And a control unit for executing different operations of the camera body. 2. The signal receiving means according to claim 1, wherein said signal receiving means receives said operation signal when said remote control unit is mounted on said camera body, and said signal receiving means is provided when said remote control unit is detached from said camera body. 2. The remote control-equipped camera according to claim 1, further comprising another receiving unit for receiving the operation signal, wherein one of the receiving units has a function of the attachment / detachment detection unit. 3. The remote control unit includes at least a plurality of output terminals for outputting the operation signal when the remote control unit is mounted on the camera body, and the signal receiving unit includes: A plurality of receiving terminals connected to the plurality of output terminals when the unit is mounted on the camera body, wherein the attachment / detachment detecting means is configured to determine the potential level of a predetermined terminal among the plurality of receiving terminals according to a potential level of the terminal; The camera with a remote controller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detachment of the remote control unit is detected.