JP2585701B2 - camera - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a camera whose functions and operations are controlled by a CPU having a built-in electronic function, which requires a user to load a film and take a picture. In addition to the shooting mode, the camera has a test mode corresponding to a back function necessary for inspection and adjustment of the camera on the manufacturer side, and the camera can selectively use the two modes. It is.

[Background of the Invention]

For an automatic camera that is electrically controlled and operated by the CPU, the user simply loads the DX patrone into the camera, presses the shutter button toward the subject, and measures the distance to the subject position and the shooting lens based on this. Autofocus (AF) for movement is performed, DX information and subject brightness are read, and shooting is performed by automatic exposure (AE). Control and photography are similarly performed for the built-in flash photography. All of these are controlled by programs with memory built into the camera CPU.

In such an automatic camera, there is a problem that a photographing condition is read correctly by a program, and the read and controlled condition is functioning correctly. Only when these are correctly adjusted, a fully functioning automatic camera is obtained. .
For example, when looking at AF, it is necessary to make adjustments as to whether the subject distance has been measured correctly and whether the shooting lens has been extended correctly so that the measured subject position is in focus. is there.

Such adjustment is necessary not only prior to assembling and shipping the camera, but also during repair after shipping the camera, and cameras have been provided in advance with consideration given to facilitating such adjustment. For example, 62-265
No. 2 shows an example of this, and proposes to arrange a circuit check terminal in a portion of a camera which is covered by a vertical cover. The adjustment must be made while the camera body is operable, but it is not desirable for the user to make such adjustment without permission. This is because the adjustment is set to the best conditions, and it is impossible for the user to make adjustments except in the well-established test environment and conditions. Therefore, even in the above proposal, the circuit check terminal is covered with a cover so that the user does not easily touch the terminal.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

The present invention provides a program controlled by a built-in CPU, in addition to a shooting mode required for loading a general film and performing shooting, a test mode required for performing inspection and adjustment as a program. It is possible to switch to the test mode using the used terminal,
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a camera which can use a photographing mode and a test mode for selection so that no inconvenience is caused by this switching even if the user erroneously switches.

[Means for solving the problem]

The object is to provide a camera capable of switching between a photographing mode and a test mode, wherein a detecting means for detecting an electrical control condition of one of a plurality of DX input terminals is provided. Control means for switching the camera to a test mode when detecting that the first electric control condition is switched to a second electric control condition different from the first electric control condition. This is achieved by a camera characterized by having.

[Description of Configuration of the Invention]

The camera according to the present invention is a camera that performs CPU control, and in addition to a control program for a shooting mode (normal mode) that is an original function, a test mode for checking and adjusting the operation of the camera is prepared. The camera is controlled according to the shooting mode. Then, when trying to test the operation of the camera, one of the output terminals for the CPU exposed on the camera surface, including the place where the camera back lid is opened, is connected to the normal terminal using mode switching means in a simple form. The first electrical control condition maintained in the photographing mode is switched to the second electrical control condition, and the switched electrical condition is fixed and held. Then, when the CPU in the camera detects that the output terminal has switched from the first electrical control condition to the second electrical control condition, the CPU switches the shooting mode to the test mode. The test mode is maintained while the second electrical control condition is maintained.

When configuring to switch to the test mode by changing the electrical control conditions simply by operating the output terminal for the CPU exposed on the camera surface, the camera operator mistakenly reluctantly moves the camera from the shooting mode. Since it is possible to switch to the test mode, the electrical control conditions are switched to a specific output terminal using a simple switching means, and the switching to the test mode is maintained by holding this. Is made. In particular, in the embodiment, the operation is performed for the output terminal located at the position where the back cover of the camera is opened, so that an erroneous switching to the test mode during photographing cannot be performed.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the camera of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 (a) is a control circuit diagram mainly showing an IC of a control unit (CPU). FIG. 2B is a circuit diagram showing the DX introduction circuit.

The camera according to the present embodiment is a bifocal camera in which a photographing lens is switched between telephoto and wide by a TW button (not shown),
On the upper surface of the camera 1, there are a release button 12, an LCD display section 17, and a mode selection button 18. The LCD display section 17 displays the number of frames in a normal mode in which normal shooting is performed. When opened, there are a patrone chamber 13 and a film winding chamber 15 on both sides of the exposure frame 14. The patrone room 13 wall has ISO
A DX detection terminal 20 for reading DX information such as sensitivity is provided. The film take-up chamber 15 has a take-up spool 15a, which rotates in the take-up direction.

Camera 1 with camera back cover 11 open (back cover switch
At SB OFF), the patrone is loaded into the patrone chamber 13 with the film leading end slightly pulled out, and the camera back cover 11 is closed (back cover switch SB ON). CPU sets the CPU built-in switch to O
N to constitute a DX code detection circuit, the DX information attached to the patrone is read by contact with a DX detection terminal 20 provided on the inner surface of the patrone room 13, and the CPU stores the read ISO sensitivity. Becomes In this embodiment, the DX detection terminal 20
Consists of four contacts DX0 and DX2 to DX4, and 20 (DX
0) is a common terminal. Only when DX reading is performed, the CPU built-in switch turns ON and the terminal falls to GND. Terminal 20 (DX2)
2020 (DX4) are detection terminals for reading the DX code attached to the patrone.

When the camera back cover 11 is closed, and then the release button 12 is pressed, the film feed motor rotates forward and the film is automatically loaded, and the film leader section takes up the take-up spool.
The first frame of film that has been wound and wound around 15a and not exposed is positioned on the exposure frame 14. At this time, the LCD display section 1
7 has a counter display of 1. By pressing the mode switching button 18 once, twice,..., The mode is sequentially switched from the auto strobe state to the strobe ON state, the strobe OFF state, and the self-timer state in a cycle. A sprocket 16 is provided near the exposure frame 14 and meshes with the perforation of the film. When the film moves by one frame, the sprocket 16 rotates with the movement of the film and generates a two-pulse signal.

The S1 and S2 switches are turned on while the release button 12 is being pressed.
The auto focus (AF) and auto exposure (AE) are measured when the S1 switch is turned on, the shutter is activated when the S2 switch is turned on, and the exposure on the film located in the exposure frame 14 is performed. Is performed. When the shutter operation is completed, the film feed motor rotates forward, and the take-up spool 15a moves the film in the take-up direction.

The sprocket 16 rotates with the movement of the film.
Generates a pulse signal. Upon receiving the second pulse signal, the control unit (CPU) issues a stop signal to immediately stop the film feeding mode.

1 is added to the LCD display section 17 to display 2. In this way, the film in the patrone is sequentially photographed one frame at a time, and when all the films have been photographed, the film feed motor rotates in reverse by automatic rewinding, and the take-up spool 15
All the film that has already been wound around a is rewound into the patrone.

In addition to the normal first electrical control condition in the photographing mode, that is, the outline of the operation described above, the camera of the present invention has a test mode as the second electrical control condition. , A camera that can be used selectively. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a flowchart, and FIG. 5 is a time chart.

In the present embodiment, a common DX detection terminal 20 (DX0) is used as an output terminal for switching from the first electrical control condition in the shooting mode to the second electrical control condition in the test mode, and the common DX detection terminal 20 ( DX1) is set to GND as an electrical condition that does not normally occur, and by maintaining this depressed state, switching from normal mode to test mode is maintained. The reason for using the common DX detection terminal 20 (DX0) is that reading ISO sensitivity of DX with two kinds of information, LOW or HIGH,
Since the detection is performed by the DX detection terminals 20 (DX2) to 20 (DX4), a code that does not cause a mistake when reading the ISO sensitivity is used.

The test mode switching means 30 shown in FIG. 1 is a DX common terminal portion 31a of the patrone 31 used exclusively for mode switching.
The cord 32 is electrically connected by soldering or brazing, etc.
After the cover is opened (back cover switch SBOFF), the patrone 31 is loaded into the patrone chamber 13, and the distal end 32a of the cord 32 is attached to a metal part of the camera body such as the exposure frame 14 or a rail surface, so that a common DX detection terminal is provided. 20 (DX0) means that the test mode condition (4-1) shown in the flowchart of FIG. When the CPU looks at the common DX detection terminal 20 (DX0) and detects that it is at GND due to an external condition, the test mode is set, and the test mode is maintained while the external condition is held .

Press mode switch button 18 (switch M) repeatedly (4-
2) As a result, the test mode is sequentially switched to a mode in which four kinds of adjustments particularly performed in the service process are performed, that is, the AE mode, the FM / DX mode, the AF mode, and the BULB mode (4-3). Further, by pressing the TW button (4-4), the TW of the photographing lens is switched from tele to wide or from wide to tele (4-5). Therefore, the test after the mode switching (4-3) is performed under the selected condition of either tele or wide. Next, the above four test modes and adjustment under these conditions will be described.

Press the mode switch button 18 (switch M) (4-2) to switch to the AE mode. Press the S1 switch (4-6) to switch to the AE mode.
A test (4-10) is performed. In this AE mode, the camera is switched to a camera operation in which shutter continuous shooting is repeated without repeating film metering without film winding, and the ISO sensitivity is read from the DX patrone (4-11). When the test is performed with the camera facing the standard brightness plate for exposure adjustment, the photometric result is LC
This is displayed on the D display unit 17 (4-13). An example of the display is shown in * 1. If the camera is properly adjusted and the ISO sensitivity is 100, for example, when facing a standard luminance plate of LV15, the shooting lens condition is wide. Is displayed on the LCD display unit 17 and 8 is displayed on the LCD display unit 17 (4-1).
3) Yes. By pressing the S2 switch (4-14), the shutter is opened and closed under these conditions, and exposure control is performed (4-15). This metering and exposure control is performed by the mode switch button 18.
The operation is repeated in a cycle until the (switch M) is pressed (4-16).

Press the mode switch button 18 (switch M) (4-16) to switch to FM / DX mode and press the S1 switch (4-
6) The FM / DX test (4-20) is performed. This FM /
In the DX mode, the ISO sensitivity of the DX patrone is read by the DX detection terminal 20 (4-21), and the read ISO sensitivity information is L
The information is displayed on the CD display unit 17 (4-22).

An example of the display is as indicated by * 2, and the quality of contact information (electrical connection conditions) of the DX detection terminal 20 with the cartridge is checked. For example, if the electrical connection and the circuit are correctly formed when the DX patrone of ISO400 is loaded, the display 4 (4-2)
2) is made. S2 pressing the switch (4-23) and serve as FM mode when flash photography (4-24), the aperture diameter of the photographic lens is the wide lens F _NO is the 8 equivalent. By providing a pinhole at the center of the exposure frame 14 and measuring from the front of the lens,
It is checked whether or not the aperture diameter set by the CPU is correctly realized. This aperture diameter is maintained for the duration of the flash charging (4-25). When the flash charging is completed, the FM / DX test is repeated. When the mode switch button 18 (switch M) is pressed (4-26), the AF mode is set. Switch.

By pressing the S1 switch (4-6), the AF test (4-
30) is made. That is, when the camera is placed at a position where the subject distance is clearly defined as 1 m, 2 m,...
It is displayed on the LCD display unit 17 (4-32).

An example of the display is as indicated by * 3, and it is checked whether or not the distance measurement is correctly performed. For example, if the object distance is 4 m and the display (4-32) of 8 on the LCD display unit 17 is made, it indicates that the correct distance measurement has been performed.

When the S2 switch is pressed (4-33), the lens is extended based on the distance measurement result (4-34), and the shutter open state (4-35) is maintained until the S1 switch is turned off. Therefore, by setting a chart at the position of the subject to be measured for distance, providing a ground glass at the film position of the camera, and observing the image formation state using a loupe, it is determined whether the shooting lens has been correctly extended and moved based on the distance measurement result. Is checked. Of course, it is also possible to directly measure the lens movement amount. By turning off the S1 switch (4-36), the shutter is closed and the extended lens returns to its original position, and the AF test is repeated again. Here, when the mode switching button 18 (switch M) is pressed (4-37), the mode is switched to the BULB mode (4-40), and the S1 switch is pressed (4-6). 4-42) It is held, and in this state of the valve, the focusing lens is extended and returned from the initial position (4-43). Press the TW button (4
-44) Thus, switching from tele to wide or from wide to tele is performed, and the lens is extended and returned in the wide or tele state, thereby facilitating focus adjustment of the photographing lens. In the BULB mode, the shutter is closed when the set time is exceeded or the mode switch button 18 (switch M) is pressed (4-45) even during the set time, and the photographing lens returns to the initial position. The mode is switched to the AE mode described above.

The block diagram shown in FIG. 3 and the time chart shown in FIG. 5 show the operation performed by the CPU and the exchange of information between the CPU and the DX detection terminal 20. That is, first, the common DX detection terminal 20 (DX0) is connected to GND on the CPU side (DX0 ← 0), and the CPU checks the DX detection terminals 20 (DX2) to 20 (DX4) for connection to the DX patrone. Read and set the ISO sensitivity by reading. Then C
The PU opens the switch of the terminal 20 (DX0) which is set to GND in the CPU (DX0 ← 1), and then the common DX detection terminal 20 (DX0) falls to GND by external switching means. Go to CPU to see if (TEST
READ) It was read that it was dropped to GND here (TEST =
0): test mode, open state (TEST = 1)
If so, it is determined that the mode is the normal mode, and the operation of the camera is performed according to the mode.

In this embodiment, the common DX detection terminal 20 (DX0) is used as an output terminal for the CPU, and the common DX detection terminal 20 (DX0) is dropped to GND to switch to the test mode. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is included in the present invention as long as it provides an electrical condition which does not normally occur to the output terminal so as to give information different from the normal to the output terminal, and the CPU can read it and switch to the test mode. .

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, not only when assembling and adjusting the camera but also at the service station or the like, the test and adjustment of the camera performance become extremely easy without disassembling the camera or removing the camera outer shell. In addition, a camera excellent in production and adjustment is provided that does not require a special test terminal or the like and does not accidentally switch to the test mode during normal shooting.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a camera back and test mode switching means according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram. FIG. 2 (a) is a control circuit diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 (b) is a circuit diagram showing the DX introducing circuit taken out, FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a flowchart diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. FIG. 5 is a time chart showing one embodiment of the present invention. 10 Camera body 11 Camera back lid 12 Release button 13 Patrone room 17 LCD display section 18 Mode switch button 20 DX detection terminal 20 (DX0) Common DX Detection terminal 30: Test mode switching means

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A camera capable of switching between a photographing mode and a test mode, comprising: detecting means for detecting an electrical control condition of one of a plurality of DX input terminals; Control means for switching the camera to a test mode when detecting that the first electric control condition at the time has been switched to a second electric control condition different from the first electric control condition. A camera comprising: 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said control means maintains said test mode while said terminal is switched to said second electrical control condition. 3. The camera has a camera back cover open / closed state detecting means, and the control means sets the camera back cover only when the camera open / closed state detecting means detects that the camera back cover is open. 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera is switched to the test mode. 4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said one terminal is a common terminal for a DX terminal.