JP2603934B2 - Camera with self-check function - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a camera having a self-checking function, and more particularly, to a so-called automatic camera equipped with a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as a microcomputer). The present invention relates to a camera having a self-check function for self-checking the operation.

[Prior art] Conventionally, when an abnormal operation occurs in a camera, this is a trigger to prevent further abnormalities.
Although measures such as operation prohibition were taken, the abnormal state was not displayed or displayed on the camera itself, so the user had to rely on the instruction manual etc. to determine whether or not it was really abnormal. There was no way to know. Further, even when the camera breaks down, it is difficult to know the location of the camera break down.

Therefore, in order to improve the situation as much as possible, the camera self-check is performed when the memory that stores the ISO value when determining the film sensitivity is abnormal,
That is, there is known a method of rechecking when contents other than the set ISO value are stored (see JP-A-60-31122). Adjustment device: Japanese Patent Application No. 61-60386
(Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-217228) and a device for automatically correcting the battery voltage. Japanese Patent Application No. 61-234049 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-85723).
No.) and others.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in each of the above-described conventional examples, when a self-check of the camera operation is performed, if there is an abnormality in the operation, this abnormal state is positively displayed when the abnormality occurs. Also, it does not indicate the location where the abnormality occurred for the purpose of repairing the failure after the occurrence of the abnormality.

In the present invention, focusing on the above points, the camera operation and its self-check procedure are stored in the memory of the microcomputer attached to the camera, and the self-check for abnormality or normal is always performed along with the camera operation. In the case of an abnormal operation, a camera having a self-check function for displaying the abnormal state so that the user can immediately respond to the abnormal state, or enabling the user to easily find the location of the failure after the failure has occurred is provided. With the goal.

[Means for Solving the Problem] A camera having a self-check function according to the present invention is a camera whose camera operation is controlled by a microcomputer. A check unit for checking whether there is an abnormal state, and an abnormal state detecting unit for displaying and / or storing an abnormal state corresponding to each operation when the result of the check is abnormal. In a camera whose camera operation is controlled by a microcomputer, it checks whether the camera operation is normal or abnormal during normal camera control operation, and if an abnormality is detected, the abnormality is detected. First abnormality check means for storing the presence of the error, and a program for self-check when connected to an external check device. Characterized by comprising a second abnormality checking means for performing a gram.

[Operation] The microcomputer for controlling the camera operation stores the self-check procedure for each camera operation in advance.
Then, as shown in FIG. 1, when an operation command for each camera operation is given from the microcomputer, the operation is monitored, and if there is no abnormality, the operation shifts to the next camera operation. If abnormal, the camera operation is stopped and an abnormal state (abnormal location, abnormal code number, etc.) is displayed on the camera itself, or the code number of the abnormal location is stored in the memory. In this way, a self-check is performed for all camera operations forming a closed loop. If an abnormality is detected during a normal camera control operation, the abnormality is stored in the first abnormality check means, and when connected to an external checking device, a program for self-check is executed. I do.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a camera having a self-check function according to the present invention. In FIG.
Is an adjustment device arranged outside the camera, which is necessary for automatic adjustment or automatic check performed at the time of production or repair of the camera. The adjustment device is connected to the microcomputer 1 mounted on the camera. To send and receive.

In the E2-PROM ² which is connected to the microcomputer 1 and transmits and receives data by serial communication, each adjustment data such as lens coefficient and shutter adjustment data at the time of AF (auto focus) in the production process is written. , The microcomputer 1
The E ² reads data of -PROM2, sequentially performs the necessary camera operation. Since the DX terminal 20 for reading the DX code of the film is connected to the E ² -PROM ^{2, the} microcomputer 1 reads the DX code together with the above data. Further, when the user uses the camera sends frame number signal and an empty film, abnormal code when the state signal such as hoisting-unwinding is and abnormal operation has occurred, E by the microcomputer 1 ² - It is written to PROM2. If an abnormality code to the E ² -PROM2 is written, the abnormality code when connected to the checker 21 to the camera,
The data is transmitted to and read from the checker 21 through the microcomputer 1.

A liquid crystal display (hereinafter abbreviated as LCD) 3 has a film frame number as shown in FIG.
30, a film mark 32 composed of each frame of a patrone and a film, a battery mark 31 composed of a dry battery and a battery holder accommodating the dry battery, and each mode of the camera (self-timer, strobe light emission inhibition, etc.) are displayed. Further, when an operation abnormality occurs, a failure mark having the shape of the driver 33 and an abnormality code indicating an abnormal point are displayed on the LCD 3 to indicate that the operation is abnormal. Further, an instruction from the microcomputer 1 is given to the information imprinting device 4 to imprint the date, time and the like on the film. Further, when the strobe 5 is used, a command from the microcomputer 1 is also given to the strobe 5 to start charging, and a charge end signal is returned from the strobe 5 to the microcomputer 1 to complete charging. When a trigger signal is sent from the microcomputer 1 to the strobe 5 after charging is completed, the strobe 5 emits light. The light-emitting diode (hereinafter abbreviated as LED) 6 displays a self-state, a strobe notice, an in-focus state, and the like according to a command from the microcomputer 1. The operation switch unit 7 includes various operation switches such as a release switch, a rewind switch, a zoom switch, and a mode switch. The user operates these switches to perform various operations of the camera.

The AF unit 8 measures the distance to the subject using a distance measuring sensor (not shown). When the distance measurement data from the AF unit 8 is input to the microcomputer 1, the microcomputer 1 calculates the distance measurement data E ^{2 − The} lens drive amount is calculated from the lens coefficient data in PROM2, and a motor drive device (hereinafter referred to as MD)
The lens motor 11 is driven by 10).

An exposure control circuit unit (hereinafter abbreviated as an AE unit) 9 performs photometry, and when photometric data from the AE unit 9 is input to the microcomputer 1, the microcomputer 1 transmits the photometric data to the microcomputer 1.
From the DX data, the shutter motor 13 is controlled to set the exposure properly. The AE unit 9 also checks the voltage, and when the voltage drops sharply, notifies the microcomputer 1 of the sudden drop to prevent runaway of the microcomputer. The AE unit 9 further serves as an interface between the MD 10 and the microcomputer 1, thereby contributing to reducing the number of ports of the microcomputer 1. MD10
Selects and drives one of the four motors 11 to 14 according to a signal from the AE unit 9. When the film is rotating, the film winding / rewinding motor 14 turns on a switch 18 linked to a driven sprocket (not shown) for each frame, and outputs an ON signal to the microcomputer 1.
The shutter motor 13 controls the shutter of the microcomputer 1 by feeding back the output of the encoder 17 that generates one pulse per unit movement amount of the shutter to the AE unit 9. The zoom motor 12 is controlled by the microcomputer 1 by the output of the encoder 16 linked to zooming being fed back to the AE unit 9. The lens motor 11 is driven based on the distance measurement data from the AF unit 8, feeds back the output of the encoder 15 to the AE unit 9, and is controlled by the microcomputer 1. The encoders 15 to 17 are composed of a photo interrupter or a photo reflector. When a motor is selected in the AE section 9, an encoder output linked to the motor is automatically input to the microcomputer 1. Film switch
Reference numeral 19 denotes a switch which is turned on when the film is pulled out from the patrone and present in the exposed portion (aperture portion), and turned off when the film is wound into the patrone.

Next, the operation of the thus-configured camera having a self-check function according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the program starts when the power is turned on or the barrier covering the front surface of the taking lens is opened. First, whether or not the check mode is set is determined based on whether or not the serial signal transmitted from the checker 21 is in the check mode. In addition to the serial signal from the checker 21, a signal may be input using a vacant terminal of the DX terminal 20 of the E ² -PROM ² , or directly input to the port of the microcomputer 1 using a switch or the like. You may. Here, when the check mode is not set, the process moves to a main loop ML surrounded by a two-dot chain line, and a normal camera operation is performed. In the main loop ML, an abnormality check, which is a first abnormality check unit, is performed for each operation. If the operation is normal, the operation proceeds to the next camera operation. If the operation is abnormal, the operation is stopped and an abnormality occurs. Increment code memory. An abnormal memory map is already allocated in the microcomputer 1 for each code. For example, in the case of a 4-bit microcomputer, for example, as shown in FIG.
Digit bits b ₀ and b ₁ are the upper two digits of error code 1
₃ and b ₄ store the count numbers of the abnormal code 2 respectively. In this way, the upper two bits b ₃ and b _{4 of} “NOT3” store the number of abnormalities of the abnormal code 6. In the example of FIG. 4, the number of abnormalities can be counted up to three times of 01 → 10 → 11 for two bits, but checking N times in this way is a means for avoiding erroneous recognition and using the same code If the number of abnormalities is less than N (three in FIG. 4), the process returns to the determination of <check mode>, and each camera operation of the main loop ML is performed again. On the other hand, when the number of abnormalities of the same code is N
If the operation continues, an error is displayed as a real error and the camera operation is stopped. Then, the abnormal count of the microcomputer 1 is transferred from time to time E ² -PROM2.

In the case of the check mode, which check item is determined. The instruction of the check item can be easily performed by changing the check mode signal into several kinds of signals corresponding to the check item and selecting and operating the several kinds of check mode signals.

Here, when <check 1> is selected, a self-operation check of the camera is performed. The self-check of <Check 1> constitutes a second abnormality checking means in the present invention. In this case, as shown in FIG.
After the BV is set at a position separated from the reference subject 26 by the distance l, the self-check program operation shown in FIG. 6 is performed. When this program operation starts,
A <film skipping> check is performed, and if this is normal, the flow advances to the next camera operation check <winding up>. However, in the case of an abnormality, <code 1> is set, and then the process proceeds to <winding> check.

In the same manner ^{<shutter>, <E 2 -PROM>,} <zooming>,<lensdriving>,<AF unit operation>, each camera <AE unit operation>, <rewind><strobeflash> and The operation and its check are sequentially performed, and if there is an abnormality in each of these camera operations, an abnormality code number corresponding to each operation is set. When the operation check of the last <rewind> is completed, <OK display> is performed if all of these operations are normally performed. A display is made, and then the presence or absence of <checker connection> is checked. If the checker 21 is connected, transfer the data to the checker 21 and then
The flow of <Check 1> ends. Checker
If No. 21 is not connected, the flow of <Check 1> is immediately terminated. Next, Table 1 shows the concept of the abnormality check for each item of the self-operation check.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 3, in the case of the routine of <check 2>, a switch operation check that cannot be performed by the routine of <check 1> is performed. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, in this check mode,
LCD3 is used as a monitor display for switch check. In FIG. 7, the number-of-frames display section 30 of the film comprises two 7-segment displays, and this display section 30 is also used as a display section for displaying the abnormal code. When the mode is set to the <check 2> mode, the segments of the 7-segment display are independently arranged in the operation switch section 7 by SW ₁ , SW ₂ , SW ₃ , SW ₄ ,. ... and one-to-one. That is, when the user presses the switch SW ₁ LCD3
Appears switch SW ₁ of the portion of the switch SW ₂ parts of LCD3 Pressing the switch SW ₂ is displayed. And
If the switch is out of order: (a) If no switch is displayed even if any switch is pressed, it is a contact failure.

(B) If any switch on the LCD3 continues to be displayed without pressing any switches, the contacts are not turned off but short-circuited.

It turns out that. In this way, it can be checked visually whether the switch is functioning properly.

In this check mode, only the switch check is performed, and the camera operation is not performed.

In the case of <Check 3>, the mode is a mode in which all the display units on the LCD 3 are displayed on a liquid crystal display. By displaying all the display units, the quality of the display units can be checked at a glance. Various other check modes are conceivable, and the number of check items can be increased.

The LCD 3A shown in FIG. 8 is an example in which an abnormal code display section 41 of a 2-digit 7-segment display is provided independently of the abnormal mark 40 symbolized by the driver. The display section 41 or the number-of-frames display section 30 may also be used as the display section of the film sensitivity.

The embodiment described above has the following advantages. (1) If there is a failure in the camera, it is displayed on the LCD 3 so that the failure status can be understood at a glance. (2) The failure content is
Since it is displayed on the LCD3 with a code number, etc., repair can be done quickly. (3) Since the camera itself performs self-check, the production jig and the number of personnel are very small for the manufacturer, and even if a defect occurs, the defect can be repaired on the production line.
(4) If the checker 21 is externally connected, all camera operations can be automatically checked. (5) When a failure occurs, the failure location is displayed on the LCD3, so there is no need to read the instruction manual.
The burden on the user is reduced accordingly. (6) When displaying the code number of the abnormal part, if it is also used as the frame number display part or the film sensitivity display part, there is no need to provide a separate abnormality code display part. (7) Even if a self-check function is added to the camera, there is no need to add or change software for this purpose or to change the conventional configuration.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the camera has a function of checking whether the camera operation is normal or abnormal, and can detect an abnormal state. You can easily know the abnormal condition of this camera and deal with it,
Further, a failure point can be easily found.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a schematic operation of a self-check function of a camera having a self-check function according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a camera having a self-check function showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart relating to a self-check of the operation of the camera shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a memory map in the microcomputer 1 shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a view shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a camera layout diagram for performing the routine of <Check 1> in the flowchart. FIG.
Check 1>, FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an example of the display unit pattern of the LCD in FIG. 2, and FIG. 8 is a plan view showing another example of the display unit pattern of the LCD. is there. 1 ...... microcomputer ² ...... E 2 -PROM 3,3A ...... liquid crystal display (LCD) 30 ...... fault code display unit shared with the frame number display section 33 ...... abnormal marks 41 ...... fault code display unit

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] In a camera whose camera operation is controlled by a microcomputer, a check means for checking whether the operation is normal or abnormal for each operation during continuous operation of the camera; A camera having a self-check function, comprising: an abnormal state detecting means for displaying and / or storing an abnormal state corresponding to each of the above operations. 2. The display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display of the abnormal state is displayed on a display section of the number of frames of the film or a display section of the film sensitivity in combination with these displays. A camera having the self-check function according to claim 1. 3. The abnormal state detecting means includes a memory comprising an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory element, and the abnormal state is stored in the memory. 2. A camera having a self-check function according to claim 1. 4. A camera having a self-check function according to claim 1, wherein said checking means automatically performs a self-check operation in response to a predetermined signal supplied from outside. . 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said abnormal state detecting means stores an abnormal state and prohibits the operation of said camera when said abnormal state is detected. A camera having the self-check function described. 6. An abnormal state detecting means for storing the number of times the abnormal state is determined by the checking means, and determining whether the number of times stored in the storing means exceeds a predetermined value. 2. A camera having a self-check function according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying or storing the abnormal state when the predetermined value is detected by the determination means. . 7. In a camera whose camera operation is controlled by a microcomputer, during a normal camera control operation, it is checked whether the camera operation is normal or abnormal.
A first abnormality check means for storing that an abnormality has occurred; and a second abnormality check means for executing a program for self-checking when connected to an external check device. Camera with self-check function. 8. The self-check function according to claim 7, wherein said first abnormality checking means inhibits the operation of said camera when said abnormality is detected. Having a camera.