JP2731249B2 - How to drive a zoom lens - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a driving method of a zoom lens, and more particularly, to a driving method of a zoom lens in a zoom lens camera having at least two photographable areas and a non-photographable area between them. About the method.

2. Description of the Related Art A zoom device that rotates a zoom motor in response to an operation signal of a zoom-up or zoom-down switch and thereby changes a focal length is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-265632. It is already known. This JP
No. 265632 discloses a “zoom lens system driving device in a lens shutter type zoom lens camera” which is a lens shutter type having an imaging optical system that automatically adjusts a focus in accordance with a subject distance detected by a distance measuring device. In a camera, a photographing optical system includes a zoom lens system that continuously changes a focal length, and a driving unit that drives a zoom motor that is a driving source of the zoom lens only when a zoom switch is on, and a zoom motor. And stop means for stopping the rotation of the zoom motor when the zoom switch is turned from on to off when rotating in one predetermined rotation direction, and the zoom switch is turned on. When the zoom lens system continues to be driven and the zoom switch is turned off from on, the zoom lens system stops immediately. When the zoom switch is turned off from on while the motor is rotating in one of the predetermined rotation directions, the rotation of the zoom motor is once reversed, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the rotation is stopped. The backlash of the drive system of the zoom motor is removed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the zoom device disclosed in the above-mentioned publication relates to an operation in an optical system in which a focal length changes continuously, and can continuously shoot from a telephoto end to a wide end. A single photographable area (hereinafter, referred to as a second photographable area) such as an over-telephoto end or an over-wide end is provided separately from an area (hereinafter, referred to as a first photographable area). No operation of the zoom device is disclosed.

By the way, in a zoom device having a second photographable area corresponding to one focal length such as an over telephoto end or an over wide end, the second photographing can be performed as it is on the first photographable area where the focal length changes continuously. When applied to an area, the image cannot reach the second photographable area unless it passes through an optically non-photographable area (hereinafter, referred to as a non-photographable area), which is not preferable for zoom operation.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem, temporarily stop the zoom motor at the transition from the first photographable area to the second photographable area, and perform the second photographing only when the user waits for operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a zoom lens driving method in which zooming is performed to a possible area and a favorable zoom operation is obtained.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A driving method of a zoom lens according to the present invention comprises: an optically compensated first photographable area capable of continuously changing a focal length; An operating member having a non-capturable area provided adjacently and a second optically compensable area provided adjacent to the non-capturable area within an adjustable focal length range; In the method of driving a zoom lens in which the focal length is changed by a driving source corresponding to the operation of (1), one of the first photographable area or the second photographable area exceeds the non-photographable area and the other area. When changing to, the drive source is stopped at the end of the one area on the side of the non-shooting area, and if the operation member is operated in the same direction for a fixed time, shooting is automatically disabled. The other area beyond the area The focal length is changed to the side.

[Operation] In this method of driving a zoom lens, a zoom encoder for determining the first photographable area, the second photographable area, and the non-photographable area is provided, and a zoom-up or zoom-down switch is operated. When the end of the first photographable area is detected, the zoom motor is temporarily stopped. Then, only when it is determined that the zoom-up or zoom-down switch is kept depressed, the zoom motor is further rotated to shift to the second photographable area, where the zoom motor is stopped. On the other hand, when it is in the second photographable area, zooming is performed only when the switch for zooming in the direction of the first photographable area is kept pressed for a certain time.

When it is determined that the zoom device is in the non-shooting area when the power is turned on or when the power switch is turned on, zooming is performed to the first shooting area at forced time.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated examples. First,
Prior to describing the embodiment of the present invention, the block configuration and the schematic operation of the zoom lens camera to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. The configuration of the zoom lens barrel
Each will be described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a zoom lens camera to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, a CPU 101 is a microcomputer that controls the overall operation of the camera, and controls sequence of camera operation, AF / AE calculation, A / D conversion, LCD / LED
It is in charge of control and switch input control.

The LCD panel 102 displays the number of film frames, strobe mode,
The liquid crystal display panel displays a drive mode, an exposure correction value, a shooting mode, a battery check result, and the like.

Reference numeral 103 denotes a switch operation unit, "1R" is a switch for making a make when the release button is half-pressed, for AF / AE lock, and "2R" is a switch for making a make when the release button is fully pressed, for shutter release. , "Z-UP" is a switch for zooming up, "Z-DOWN" is a switch for zoom button, and "SPOT" is a switch for spot metering.
Press "FLASH" once to switch to strobe off mode.
When the switch is pressed next time, the switch becomes the forced light emission mode, and when further pressed, the switch returns to the strobe auto mode.

"DRV" is a drive mode switch,
Once pressed from normal mode, it will be in continuous shooting mode,
When the button is pressed next time, the mode is set to the multiple exposure mode.

“SUB” is used for switching the shooting mode, and is switched from normal to macro to auto zoom to infinite shooting to normal. Note that the auto zoom is a mode in which the zoom lens is automatically moved based on the result of distance measurement so that the human image has a fixed angle of view with respect to the shooting screen.

“+/-” is a switch for exposure compensation, and the compensation value is 0 → +
0.5 → + 1.0 → + 1.5 → + 1.0 → + 0.5 → 0 → −0.5 → −1.0
This switch switches from -1.5 to -1.0 to -0.5 to 0. “SELF” is a switch for the self mode. When the switch is pressed once, the self mode is set. When the switch is pressed next time, the self mode is released. “CAP” is a switch that turns on and off when the lens protection cap is attached. When the cap is provided, release and zoom operations are prohibited.

“POWER” is a power switch, and when turned on, displays on the LCD to enable shooting of the entire camera. “CL” is a mode reset switch. When this switch is pressed, the set mode is canceled and the mode is changed to the normal mode.
"RW" is a rewind switch for rewinding during shooting. "BK" detects that the back cover is closed with the back cover open / close switch and performs idle feeding. “RST” is for system hard reset in the event that the camera goes out of control, and if this switch “RST” is not operated for a certain period of time, the CPU 101 enters the standby mode and enters the low current consumption mode. “AF”,
“AE” is a switch for controlling the shutter.

Reference numeral 105 denotes an AF-IC for distance measurement, which performs distance measurement based on a control signal from the CPU 101. Then, the obtained distance measurement data is sent to the CPU 101 via the serial data bus. At this time, if the subject is dark and the distance cannot be measured, the AF auxiliary light 104 is emitted and the distance is measured.

The EEPROM 106 is an electrically erasable ROM that stores various adjustment values such as the number of film frames, exposure correction information, strobe charging voltage information, and battery check information.

107 is a data back unit for imprinting a date.

Reference numeral 108 denotes a strobe unit, which starts charging when a charge signal is given from the CPU 101, sends the charge voltage to the CPU 101, performs A / D conversion, compares it with the charge voltage information in the EEPROM 106, and determines whether or not the charge is completed. Checked.

109 is an LED display for strobe flash warning / AF lock,
In addition to notifying the photographer of spot metering and the like, a red-eye warning or self-display by using a strobe at a short distance is also performed.

111 is an interface IC, LED drive circuit,
A circuit for performing photometry by the split-type SPD 110, a photo interrupter detection circuit, a motor drive circuit, a reference voltage circuit, and the like are included. In the above-mentioned split-type SPD 110, spot photometry is performed on the central SPD in the two-part SPD, and average photometry is performed on the peripheral SPD. When the difference between the spot photometry value performed by the central SPD and the average photometry value performed by the peripheral SPD reaches a certain value or more, it is determined that the subject is backlit, and strobe light is automatically emitted. Has become. 11
Reference numerals 2 and 113 denote motor driving ICs, which are supplied to the driving ICs 112 and 113 after the motor driving signal sent from the CPU 101 is once decoded in the IF-IC 111. Then, the zoom motor 18, AE
Either the AF motor 115 or the hoist / rewind motor 116 is selected and driven. AE
The AF motor 115 and the winding / rewinding motor 116 are provided with photointerrupters (hereinafter abbreviated as PI) 118 and 119, respectively, and the CPU 101 controls the motors 115 and 116 while reading the signals of the PIs 118 and 119.

The zoom motor 18 is provided with a zoom encoder 21. When the focal length is changed by zoom-up and zoom-down operations, an encoder value corresponding to the focal length is changed to a CP value.
Communicated to U101. Therefore, the CPU 101 calculates a focus shift amount by a program diagram or zooming based on the encoder value.

An automatic adjuster 120 is used as a checker when performing AF, AE, battery check, and strobe adjustment at a factory. Each data is sent to the CPU 101 through the serial data bus, and the adjustment value is stored in the EEPROM 106.

The DX code of the film is read directly into the CPU, but if the film is not compatible with the DX code, it is set to a specific value in the CPU. This DX information is used as a calculation value for determining the exposure value.

Reference numeral 121 denotes a sector opening / closing magnet, and reference numeral 122 denotes a disconnection detection circuit of the magnet 121.

The above is the outline of the block configuration in the zoom lens camera to which the present invention is applied. Next, the operation of the zoom lens camera shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a subroutine of "power-on reset" when power is supplied to the zoom lens camera. In the figure, when a battery is inserted or a power switch is switched, a power-on reset is applied to the CPU and a camera operation is started. When the "power-on reset" subroutine is called, first, in step S1
01: Initial setting of each port and RAM is performed.
In step S102, a “check” determination is made.
As a result of the “check”, the automatic adjuster 120 (see FIG. 2)
If it is connected to the PU, the process proceeds to step S103 to perform “communication with an external device”, and then the automatic adjuster 120
If not, the process immediately proceeds to step S104 to perform “battery check”. If the battery voltage is insufficient, a message is displayed on the LCD panel 102 (see FIG. 2) and all camera operations are prohibited.

In step S105, data is read from the EEPROM 106 (see FIG. 2), and the camera status before the power-on reset is checked in steps S106 to S112. That is, when the camera state before the power-on reset is "rewinding", "jumping", and "winding" of the film, each of these "rewinding", "jumping", and "winding" operation processing Is performed continuously. However, if the back cover is opened in step S106, these operation processes are ignored, and the process proceeds to step S113.

In this step S113, the power switch is checked. If the power switch is off, the process proceeds to steps S118 and S119, where the LCD display is turned off, and the switch "BK, RW interrupt" for opening / closing the back cover or forcibly rewinding is enabled, and then the "stop" state is set. If "power switch is on" in step S113, the process proceeds to step S114 to display the LCD, and in step S115, "flash is charged" to bring the apparatus into a state where photographing can be performed at any time.

In the "90-second timer setting" of step S116, the display time of the LCD is set to 90 seconds. Then, if the user operates any switch, the 90-second timer is set again. Next, it is determined by the 90-second timer whether 90 seconds have elapsed (step S120). If it has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S118, and if not, the process proceeds to step S117 to open and close the back cover. The switch "BK", the rewind switch "RW" and other operation switches (hereinafter abbreviated as "KEY") are enabled to interrupt, and then set to the "Halt" state.
When the switch for which the interrupt is permitted is pressed in the "stop" mode or the "halt" mode, a "standby release" subroutine shown in the following FIGS. 4A and 4B is executed.

4A and 4B are flowcharts of a subroutine "standby release". 4A and 4B, first, at step S121, the back cover switch "interrupt by BK" is checked. If there is this back cover switch “interrupt by BK”, the process proceeds to step S122 to determine whether or not “back cover closed”. If “back cover is not closed” in step S122, the process proceeds to step S124 to perform the process of “back cover open”, and then returns to the flow of FIG. If the case is "back lid closed", the process returns to the flow after performing "idling" in step S123. If the back cover is not closed or open, the above
The process returns to the main routine when there is no “BK interrupt” in S121.

In step S125, the rewind switch “RW interrupt”
Is checked. If there is this rewind switch "interrupt by RW", the flow advances to step S126 to check whether "rewind switch is on", that is, the state of the rewind switch RW. In step S126, the rewind switch RW
Is determined to be on, the flow proceeds to step S127 to perform a "rewind" operation, and returns to the above flow. If it is determined in step 126 that the switch is not “rewind switch on”, that is, it is determined to be off, it is determined that noise
Return to the main routine when there is no “RW interrupt” in S125.

In step S128, "timer interrupt" is checked. If there is a "timer interrupt" in step S128, the process proceeds to step S134 to return to the flow after performing the "display timer count" process. If it is not "timer interrupt" in step S128, the flow advances to step S129 to check "whether the rewinding has been completed or the idle feeding has failed". If “rewinding ends or jumping failure failed” in step S129, the process returns to the flow for disabling the camera. If “rewinding ends or jumping failure fails”, the process proceeds to step S130. In this step S130, the state of the power switch is checked, and if it is off, the flow returns to the flow. If it is on, the flow proceeds to step S131 to continue the main flow as it is.

In step S131, "KEY interrupt" is determined. That is, if each mode switch, which will be described later, is pressed and an interrupt occurs, the flow is executed, and if there is no interrupt, the process proceeds to step S132. In this step S132, it is checked whether or not "LCD is being displayed".
Proceeding to step 33, the operation switches "Enable interrupts of BK, RW, and KEY" are entered to stop. Also, the above step S132
To return to the flow if "LCD is being displayed". Note that “KEY” in steps S117, S131, and S133 is “1R”, “2R”, “Z-UP”, and “1R” in the switch operation unit 103 in FIG.
“Z-DOWN”, “SPOT”, “FLASH”, “DRV” “CL”, “SUB“,
Switches such as “+/−”, “SELF”, “CAP” and the like are collectively shown.

Next, a flow when an interruption by the operation switch “KEY” as described above is performed will be described with reference to FIG. 4B. First, proceeding to step S141, if there is a KEY interrupt, the LCD 102
(See FIG. 2). Then, the process proceeds to step S142, where the switch “CAP” is checked. If the cap is attached, the release is prohibited, and then the “LCD” in step S158 is performed.
The process proceeds to a flow of determining whether or not “displaying”.

If it is determined in step S142 that "CAP" is not mounted, the flow proceeds to step S143 to "release the first stage".
Check if the switch is pressed. If the “first release” switch has been pressed, step S1
The flow proceeds to the flow of "release processing" of 44, and returns to the flow after performing "release processing". If the “first-stage release” switch is off, step S145 proceeds to check whether the mode is the “macro mode”. If the mode is the “macro mode”, zoom-in or zoom-down is prohibited, and the process jumps to step S148. . On the other hand, if the mode is not the “macro mode”, the process proceeds to step S146 to determine “zoom up or zoom down”. If “zoom up or zoom down” is instructed, the process proceeds to step S147 to execute “zoom processing”. It returns to the flow after performing.

If the "zoom up or zoom down" instruction in step S146 has not been issued, the flow advances to step S148 to check whether or not "macro switching switch on", that is, whether or not the mode has been switched to the macro mode. If it has been switched, the process proceeds to step S149, and “macro processing”
Return to the flow after performing. If it is not “Macro switch on” in step S148 above, step
The process sequentially proceeds to S150, S152, S154, and S156 to check which of the first to fourth modes is set. That is, if “set to the first mode”, the process proceeds to step S151, and the “self mode” is set. If “set to the second mode”, the process proceeds to step S153 to select “photometric mode”. If “set to 3 mode”, the process proceeds to step S155, and if “set to 4th mode”, to step S157, the process proceeds to step S157 to perform each mode process of “camera mode”. After that, return to the flow. On the other hand, if the mode is not set to any of the first to fourth modes, it is determined that noise is present, and the process proceeds to step S158, where "LCD
Is displayed or not, or returns to the flow.

The above is the flow of the subroutine "standby release". The subroutine "release processing" of step S144 in the subroutine "release standby" shown in FIG. 4B will be described next with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, when “first release” (see step S143 in FIG. 4B) is performed, steps S161 and S16 are performed.
In step 2, "photometry" and "distance measurement" are performed, and the flow advances to step S163. In this step S163, it is determined whether or not the camera is in the “auto-zoom mode”. If the “auto-zoom mode” is selected, the process proceeds to step S164 to perform the “auto-zoom” process.
If it is determined in step S163 that the mode is not the “auto zoom mode”, the process directly proceeds to step S165. In step S165, the AE / AF motor 115 (see FIG. 2) is driven based on the distance measurement value, thereby performing "lens extension", and then proceeds to step S166.

In step S166, "second stage release" is checked. If it is off, the process proceeds to step S167, and "first stage release" is checked again. "1" in step S167
Step Release ”, that is, the switch operation unit 103 shown in FIG.
If the "1R" switch is turned on, the above step S166
The process returns to the "second-stage release" to wait for the full-press operation of the release button. During this time, the AF lock is performed. If the “first-stage release” in step S167 is off, the flow proceeds to a “lens reset” flow in step S178. If the "second release" of step S166 is pressed and the "2R" switch shown in FIG. 2 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S168 to perform "battery check" and determine whether or not the exposure flow can be performed. Check if.

In step S169, it is checked whether the mode is the “self mode”. If the mode is the “self mode”, the process proceeds to step S170 to activate the “self timer”. Then, proceeding to step S171, the AE motor 115 (see FIG. 2) is driven to perform "exposure". After the "exposure" is performed in step S171, the flow advances to step S172 to check whether or not the "multiple exposure mode" is set. If "multiple exposure mode" is determined in step S172, the flow advances to step S173 to determine whether or not "second shooting". If it is not "second shooting", that is, if it is the first shooting, the film is wound. Instead, the process proceeds to step S177.

Also, in the case of "second photographing" or when not in the "multiple exposure mode" in step S172, the flow advances to step 174 to "wind the film by one frame", and then in step S175
To determine whether the mode is the "continuous shooting mode". If the result of the determination in step S175 as to whether or not the "continuous shooting mode" is "continuous shooting mode", the flow proceeds to step S176, in which the "switch 2R" is activated when the release button is fully pressed.
(See FIG. 2) is ON or not. If the switch “2R” that operates when the release button is fully pressed is pressed, the flow returns to the “exposure” step S171 again. .

If it is not "second shooting" in step S173, if it is not "continuous shooting mode" in step S175, and if it is "switch" 2R "in step S176.
If not "on", both proceed to steps S177 and S178 to "reset self mode" and "reset lens".
To return to the initial position, and the "release processing" subroutine ends. In addition, AF switch is extended lens, A
The E switch is used as a timing signal in each exposure flow.

The above is the outline of the block configuration and operation of the zoom lens camera to which the present invention is applied. Next, the configuration of a zoom lens barrel used in the zoom lens camera will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the zoom lens barrel, showing a case where each lens group is at the wide end. In the figure, the zoom lens barrel of the three-group configuration is formed of a cylindrical body and has a flange 2a at the end on the mount side.
Is screwed into the camera body 1 through the FC spacer 3 for FC adjustment.
A fixed frame 2 fixed by screws at 30, a cylindrical cam ring 4 which is a cam frame rotatably fitted to the outer periphery of the fixed frame 2, and an outer periphery of the cam ring 4 The drive frame 16 is screwed with screws 31 and 32 in the fitted state, and a zoom gear 16a is formed on the outer peripheral portion, and a not-shown zoom cam surface for a finder is formed on both end surfaces in the optical axis o direction. A first group frame 7 slidably fitted in the direction of the optical axis o near the mount-side end of the inner peripheral portion of the fixed frame 2;
The light-shielding ring 6 disposed in the front end portion of the first group frame 7 on the subject side, and the middle of the inner peripheral portion of the first group frame 7 and the end near the mount side are slidably fitted respectively. A second group frame 9, a third group frame 11, a first group lens 13, a second group lens 14, and a third group lens 15 supported by the first group frame 7, the second group frame 9, and the third group frame 11, respectively; And a gear train 17 meshing with the zoom gear 16a as a zooming drive unit, and a zoom motor 18 as a drive source thereof. The second group frame 9 is provided with a shutter mechanism and a lens driving mechanism (not shown) in addition to the second group lens 14.

The movement of the cam ring 4 in the optical axis o direction is such that the rear end of the mount side is in contact with the flange surface 2a of the fixed frame 2 and the front end is in contact with the C-ring 5 fitted to the front end of the fixed frame 2. Are regulated by: Therefore, this cam ring 4
In response to the rotation of the zoom motor 18, only a rotational movement about the optical axis o is possible. Also, the first group frame 7
Has a first lens drive pin 8 of the first lens on its outer periphery.
The three drive pins 8 are fixedly planted at every 0 °, and the drive pins 8 pass through a first straight guide groove (not shown) in the direction of the optical axis o provided in the fixed frame 2. Further, the cam ring 4 is fitted into the first lens cam groove 4a. Also, the second group frame 9 and the third group frame 11 are fixedly planted so that the second group lens drive pins 10 and the third group lens drive pins 12 are respectively planted on the outer periphery of the three groups. It penetrates straight guide grooves (not shown) provided in the frame 7 and the fixed frame 2, respectively, and further fits into the second and third lens cam grooves 4b and 4c of the cam ring 4, respectively. Note that the lens drive pins 10 and 12 for the second and third lens groups
The portion which contacts the straight guide groove (not shown) of the fixed frame 2 and the first group frame 7 has a roller structure, and occurs when the drive pins 10 and 12 move along the cam grooves 4b and 4c of the cam ring 4. It is designed to reduce friction. A zoom flexible substrate 19 is attached to the outer periphery of the cam ring 4, and a zoom encoder 21 integrally provided with a zoom contact piece 20 slidably in contact with the pattern surface of the substrate 19 is fixed to a fixed frame by screws 33.
It is fixed at 21.

Here, the relationship between the shapes of the first, second and third lens cam grooves 4a, 4b and 4c and their rotation angles will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, the vertical axis X ₁ represents an optical axis o direction, curve l _01, l _02, l ₀₃ indicates 1,2,3 group lens cam grooves 4a, respectively, 4b, the shape of 4c.
W indicates the position of the wide end in the focal length, and T indicates the tele end. OT indicates the position of the over telephoto, and M indicates the position of the macro. Tele end T
Rotation angle theta ₁ of the range of the cam leading to over-telephoto position OT from the optical performance is captured impossible area switching range uncompensated, the rotation angle theta ₂ sandwiching the over tele position OT
Is a range for maintaining the focal length of the over tele position OT. Further, the rotation angle theta ₃ is a shooting non region optical performance is not compensated by the switching range for switching from the over telephoto position OT to the macro position M, the range of the rotation angle theta ₄ sandwiching the macro location M macro This is a range in which the state of the position M is maintained. In the range of the cam rotation angle, θ ₀ from the wide end W to the telephoto end T forms a first photographable area, and θ ₂ and θ ₄ form a second photographable area.

In the zoom lens barrel having such a configuration, when the drive frame 16 is rotated by the zoom motor 18, the cam ring 4 also rotates around the outer periphery of the fixed frame 2. Then, the first, second and third group lens driving pins 8, 10, and 12 are driven by the first, second and third group lens cam grooves 4a, 4b and 4c formed in the cam ring 4, whereby the 1,2,3
The desired zooming operation is performed by extending the third group lenses 13, 14, and 15.

The above is the outline of the configuration of the zoom lens barrel. next,
A first embodiment of the zoom lens driving method according to the present invention will be described. Since the first embodiment is applied to the zoom lens camera shown in FIG. 2 having the zoom lens barrel shown in FIG. 6 and having the block configuration shown in FIG. 2, the zoom lens camera and its lens mirror are used. The description of the cylinder is omitted, and the movement and flow of the zoom lens unit according to the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1A is a diagram showing the movement trajectory of a three-unit zoom lens group (see FIG. 6) in the first embodiment. A first photographable area, a non-photographable area corresponding to the cam rotation angles θ ₁ and θ ₃ existing on the extension of the telephoto end T, and an over tele position.
This is applied to a zoom lens camera having an OT or a second photographable area including a macro position M. Therefore, in FIG. 1 (A) illustrating the loci of the lens units below the first view (A), 1 lens, as shown by the curve l _11, first reaches the telephoto end T from the wide end W The lens movement amount Δ1 moves in one photographable area, and the second group lens has a curve l _12.
Δ2,3 lens group as shown in the Δ3 As shown in the curve l _13, respectively move. Since the range of the movement amounts Δ1, Δ2, Δ3 is a region where the optical performance is compensated, the focal length can be set freely.

Next, a focal length of over tele (OT) is provided beyond the tele end T. Range theta ₁ of OT from the T, since not satisfied optically, can not be taken in its focal length, the focal length of the OT has become possible shooting because satisfactory optically. The amount of movement of each lens unit from T at this time is Δ1 ′, Δ2 ′, Δ3 ′.

Furthermore, it has a macro (M) focal length at a position beyond the OT. Since θ ₃ between OT and M is not optically compensated, photographing is not possible. However, at M, the optically compensated focal length allows close-up photographing. The amount of movement of each lens group from the OT at this time is Δ1 ″, Δ2 ″, Δ3 ″
It has become.

The lens position of such a zoom lens system is detected by a zoom encoder 21 as shown in FIG. 1 (B). That is, as described in FIG. 6, the 8-bit code pattern corresponding to the lens position such as WT, OT, M, etc. is provided on the zoom flexible substrate 19 attached to the cam ring 4 (see FIG. 6). Is printed, and the lens position is detected by an electric signal obtained from the eight zoom contact pieces 20a, 20b,..., 20h provided so as to be in sliding contact with the code pattern on the flexible substrate 19. It has become.

Prior to describing the operation of the first embodiment having the above-described configuration, the basics of zooming will be briefly described here. The zoom up switch “Z-UP” or the zoom down “Z-DOW” of the switch operation unit 103 (see FIG. 2)
When “N” is pressed, the CPU 101 sends the zoom motor 1 to the IF-IC 111.
Send a signal to rotate 8. Then, when the zoom-up switch "Z-UP" is turned on, the zoom motor 18 rotates in the forward direction, whereby the zoom lens group moves in the direction from the wide end W toward the telephoto end T, and the zoom-down switch "Z-UP".
When "DOWN" is turned on, the zoom motor 18 rotates in the reverse direction and the tele end T
Is zoomed in the direction from the camera toward the wide end W. The lens position during zooming is detected by the zoom encoder 21 and supplied to the CPU 101 as described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the "zoom process" in the first embodiment. In the figure, first, step S181
It is checked whether or not the zoom-up switch "Z-UP is turned on". If the CPU 101 determines that the zoom-up switch "ZU is turned on" in step S181, the zooming direction is from W to T.
The CPU 101 checks whether the position is the "tele position" or not. If the CPU 101 determines that the zoom lens group has reached the telephoto position, it temporarily stops the zoom motor 18 and then proceeds to step S186. This step S186 is the gist of the present invention, and it is checked whether the zoom-up switch "Z-UP is on for one second". If the zoom-up switch “Z-UP” is turned off from on within one second, the camera operator wants to zoom to the telephoto end T,
Since the CPU 101 determines that there is no intention to zoom to the over tele position or the macro position beyond the tele end T, the process proceeds to step S189 via a terminal, and the “motor is stopped” again to move to the tele position. It will be zoomed.

On the other hand, in this step S186, the zoom-up switch "Z
If the -UP is kept on for one second, the CPU 101 determines that the camera operator wants to perform zooming beyond the telephoto end, so the zoom motor 18 is restarted and step S18 is performed.
Go to 7, S188. Then, the zoom motor 18 is "decelerated drive"
After "change by one pulse", the "motor stop" in step S189 is performed. As a result, the lens group can be moved to the second photographable area without stopping in the photographing impossible area shown in FIG. it can. In other words, the travel time from the tele end T to the over tele position OT is considerably long,
The telephoto end T determines whether or not the photographer of the camera intends to zoom up to the over tele position OT. Then, it is intended to perform the zoom movement without stopping in the photographing impossible area between the tele end T and the over tele position OT.

Returning to step S182, if it is determined that the lens group is not at the "telephoto position", it means that the lens group has already passed through the telephoto position and is in the non-photographable area or in the first photographable area that does not reach the telephoto position. In S183, it is checked whether it is the “OT position”. If it is determined in this step S183 that the "OT position" has been reached, the process proceeds to step S1 in the same manner as step S186.
Go to 89 and stop at the “OT position”. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S183 that it is not the “OT position”, the process proceeds to step S184 to continue “motor forward rotation”, and in step S185 whether the zoom-up switch “Z-UP” is kept on. Is checked. This step S185
If the zoom-up switch "Z-UP is on", the process returns to step S182 to repeat the above operation, but the zoom-up switch "Z-UP is on".
If not, it is considered that the operator of the camera wants to zoom to the position where the depression of the zoom-up switch “Z-UP” in the first photographable area from the wide end W to the tele end T is stopped. Proceeding to S187, S188, S189, the camera operator operates the zoom-up switch "Z-UP"
The zoom motor 18 is decelerated from the zoom position where the hand is released, and is stopped at the zoom position that is changed by one pattern from the position where the hand is released.

Further, there is a macro position M before the over tele position OT. When the user operates the drive mode changeover switch DRV (see FIG. 2) of the switch operation unit 103 to set the macro mode, the CPU 101 automatically zooms to the over tele position OT.

Next, the photographing operation in the macro area will be described, but this flow is omitted. When the release operation is performed by pressing the second-stage relays switch "2R", if the subject distance is in the macro range, zoom up further from the OT position, move to the macro position M, shoot, and end shooting Later, it returns to the over tele position OT. If it is determined that the subject distance is not in the macro range, shooting is performed at the over tele position OT.

In addition, during the movement from the telephoto end T to the over tele position OT or the movement from the over tele position OT to the macro area M, the release operation is prohibited when the camera is in a shooting impossible area that does not reach the over tele position OT or the macro area M. It is supposed to.

Next, a zoom-down operation, that is, a zooming operation in a direction from the telephoto end T to the wide-angle end W by rotating the zoom motor 18 in the reverse direction will be described. In this case, returning to step S181, the zoom-up switch “Z-
Since UP is not turned on, the process proceeds to step S190 to check whether or not the zoom down switch "Z-DOWN is turned on." If "Z-DOWN is not turned on" in this step S190, The camera operator returns because there is no intention of zooming or it is considered that the zoom operation signal has been masked due to noise, but the zoom operation has been performed.

In the above step S190, the zoom down switch “Z-DOWN”
Is ON, the flow advances to step S191 to check whether the current position is the "wide position". If the current position is the wide position, the flow advances to step S189 to stop the motor.
Proceed to S192. In this step S192, it is checked whether the position is the "OT position". If the position is the "OT position", the position must be the "OT position" through the check routine for determining whether the zoom-down switch "Z-DOWN is ON" in the step S194. If so, the process directly proceeds to step S193. In step S193, the “motor reverse rotation” drive, that is, the zoom-down operation is continued, and the process proceeds to step S195. In this step S195, it is checked whether or not the zoom down switch “Z-DOWN is on”.
If it is on, the process returns to step S191 to continue the zoom-down operation, and if it is off, it returns to steps S187, S188, and S189.
Then, the respective routines of "deceleration drive", "pulse change" and "motor stop" are processed and the routine returns.

If the zoom-down switch "Z-DOWN" is kept pressed for a certain period of time when the zoom device is at the over-telephoto position OT, the camera returns to the telephoto end T without stopping in the shooting impossible area. Further, when the zoom-down switch “Z-DOWN” is pressed, the zoom device continues to move the lens from the telephoto end T toward the wide end W.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the locus of movement of the zoom lens group in a second embodiment of the driving method of the zoom lens according to the present invention. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the second embodiment does not have a macro range. Instead, in the first embodiment, the over-telephoto position OT having only a specific focal length is changed to the first telephoto position. from the over telephoto position OT ₁ is to have to provide a continuous over-tele area reaches the second over-tele position OT _2. In other words, following the continuous zooming first photographable region ranging from the wide-angle end W to the telephoto end T, the imaging non region of the rotation angle theta ₅ of the cam extending from the telephoto end T to the first over the tele position OT ₁ placed, moreover, by providing a continuous zooming range extending from the first over the tele position OT ₁ in the second over the tele position OT ₂ as the second imaging region. The movement loci of the zoom lens group in each of these regions, the first lens group is curve l _21, 2
Groups lens curve l _22, 3 lens unit is a curve l _23, so that the respectively shown. The lens position of each of these lens groups is determined by the flexible substrate for zoom 19, the contact pieces 20a, 2
.. 20h, which are detected by the same zoom encoder 21 as in the first embodiment and processed by the CPU 101 (see FIG. 2). That is, in the second embodiment, there is no difference from the first embodiment except that the second photographable area is changed from a specific focal length to an over tele area capable of continuous zooming. Action,
There is no difference in the effect, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the movement locus of a zoom lens group in a third embodiment of the zoom lens driving method according to the present invention. The difference between the third embodiment and the first and second embodiments is that the third embodiment has the first photographable area on the extension of the telephoto end T in the extension of the wide end W. It has an over-wide position OW that is wider than the wide end W across the non-shooting area of the cam rotation angle θ ₆ from the wide end W to the over-wide position OW. It has a macro position M for the mode.
In other words, it has an overwide position OW in contact with a continuous first photographable area from the wide end W to the telephoto end T via a non-photographable area with a cam rotation angle θ ₆ . Further we have a macro position M via the taking non region of the rotation angle theta ₇ of the cam. The movement loci of the zoom lens group in each of these regions, the first lens group is curve l _31, the second lens group is curve l _32, the third group lens curve l _33, as shown, respectively It has become. The lens positions of these lens groups are determined by the zoom flexible substrate 19, the contact pieces 20a, 20b,.
The detection is performed by the CPU 101 (see FIG. 2) by the same zoom encoder 21 as in the first and second embodiments. That is, in the third embodiment, except for the point that the second photographable area is composed of the over-wide position OW existing on the extension of the wide end W and the macro area M located on the extension of the tele end T, Since there is no difference from the first and second embodiments, there is no difference in operation and effect, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted. Note that, in the third embodiment, the overwide position OW may be configured to have a certain zooming range as in the second embodiment.

By the way, as commonly applied to the above-described first to third embodiments, when an operation such as a mode change or a release operation is performed when the zoom lens group is in the shooting impossible area, the The operation such as the mode change or the release operation can be accepted at the time of entering the photographable area beyond the photographable area. When the power is turned on while the zoom lens group is stopped in the non-shooting area, the initial reset is performed after the zoom lens group is forcibly moved to the shooting area.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, in the operation of the zoom device having the non-capturable area, the zoom motor is temporarily stopped at the transition from the first available area to the second available area, and the camera is stopped. Only when the photographer operates with will, zooming is performed to the second photographable area so that the photographer does not inadvertently move from the first photographable area to the second photographable area. Since it does not stop, a remarkable effect that a good zoom operation feeling can be given to the photographer is exhibited.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a diagram showing the locus of movement of each zoom lens group in the first embodiment of the driving method of the zoom lens according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a development view of a zoom flexible substrate and a zoom contact piece that slides on the encoder pattern surface in a zoom encoder that detects the lens position of FIG. 2; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a zoom lens camera to which the present invention is applied; The figure shows a subroutine "power-on reset" when the power is turned on to the zoom lens camera shown in FIG.
FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show the "holt" in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the subroutine "release of standby" when the switch permitted to interrupt in the "stop" mode is depressed, FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the subroutine "release processing" in FIG. 4B, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a zoom lens barrel used in the zoom lens camera shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the shapes of the first, second and third lens cam grooves in FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of “zoom processing” in the first embodiment in which the movement trajectory of the lens group is shown in FIG. 1A, and FIG. 9 is a drive of the zoom lens of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a moving locus of each zoom lens group in the second embodiment of the method. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a moving locus of each zoom lens group in the third embodiment of the driving method of the zoom lens according to the present invention. That. 18 Zoom motor (drive source) 103 Switch operation unit (operation member)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An optically compensated first photographable region capable of continuously changing a focal length, a photographing impossible region provided adjacent to the first photographable region, and the photographing impossible A second optically compensable area provided adjacent to the area and having an optical compensation within a range of a variable focal length, wherein the focal length is changed by a driving source corresponding to the operation of the operation member. In the method of driving a lens, when changing from one of the first photographable area or the second photographable area to the other area beyond the non-photographable area, the photographing of the one area is disabled. The drive source is stopped at the end on the area side, and when the operation member is operated in the same direction for a certain time, the focal length is automatically changed to the other area side beyond the shooting impossible area. Zoom lens Driving method. 2. When various operations such as a zoom operation are performed while passing through a non-shooting area, an operation corresponding to the operation is performed when the camera enters the shooting area beyond the non-shooting area. The method according to claim 1, wherein the driving is performed. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the power of the camera body is turned on, if the focal length is in the non-photographable area, the focal length is forcibly changed to the photographable area. Driving method of zoom lens.