JP2753689B2 - Camera with built-in self-timer - 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 built-in self-timer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a camera with a built-in self-timer, when a self-mode is set by, for example, pressing a self-button, a distance measurement of a subject distance is first performed. Had been started.
This is to determine whether or not flash light emission is to be performed before the self-timer starts counting time.

The purpose of determining whether or not to perform flash light emission before the start of timing of the self-timer is to prevent a failure in photographing due to an uncharged capacitor, and displays the uncharged state of the capacitor. Alternatively, by prohibiting the photographing operation, the charge of the capacitor is incomplete, that is, to warn the photographer that the flash photographing is impossible.

When determining whether or not to perform flash emission, the distance measurement information is required, for example, when the subject is located at a long distance close to infinity, that is, even when flash emission is performed, the subject is not affected by the subject. This is because when the flash does not reach, the flash is not emitted. This distance measurement operation is performed only once immediately after the self mode is set. Further, the determination as to whether or not to perform flash light emission requires not only the distance measurement information but also light measurement information (luminance information). In general, when the luminance is low, it is determined to emit light. Therefore, when the brightness is low and the subject is not far away but within a distance where the flash reaches sufficiently, it is determined that the flash is emitted.

[0005]

As described above, in the prior art, the distance measurement operation is performed after the self-operation button is operated and before the self-timer starts timing. Therefore, at this time, the distance measurement area is not originally an object to be photographed. When a subject is present, a distance measurement operation is performed so that the subject is in focus. This is remarkable, for example, when the self-operation button is arranged on the front of the camera body. That is, when the self-operation button is operated, the photographer's hand or finger covers the AF light emitting unit, so that erroneous distance measurement is likely to occur.

Therefore, there is a problem that a photograph in which the subject to be actually photographed is out of focus is obtained. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a camera with a built-in self-timer that can reliably obtain a focused photograph without performing erroneous distance measurement on a subject. .

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the self-photographing mode, the photometric means (200) is operated at the first time point after the generation of the photographing start signal, and the photometric signal obtained by this operation is calculated from When it is determined that the brightness of the subject is lower than the predetermined value, a necessary signal is generated, and the distance measuring means (300)
In the self-photographing mode, the operation is performed between the first time and the time before the photographing operation is started. In the second invention, the photometric unit (200) and the distance measuring unit (300) operate at the first point in time after the generation of the photographing start signal in both the normal photographing mode and the self photographing mode. Then, from the photometric signal and the ranging signal obtained by these,
When it is determined that the brightness of the subject is lower than a predetermined value and the distance to the subject is within the effective reach of the flash device, a necessary signal is generated. The operation is performed again between the first time point and the time point before the photographing operation is started, and a distance measurement signal for adjusting the focus of the photographing lens is obtained. In the third invention, in the self-photographing mode, a photometric signal obtained by operating the photometric means (200) at a first time after the generation of the photographing start signal and a photometric signal obtained without operating the distance measuring means (300). When it is determined that the brightness of the subject is lower than a predetermined value from the pseudo ranging signal to be obtained, a necessary signal is generated and the ranging means (30)
0) operates in the self-photographing mode between the first time point and the time point before the photographing operation is started.

In the second invention, the determination means (100)
Means that the light metering means (200) and the distance measuring means (300) are provided at a first point in time after the photographing start signal is generated in both the normal photographing mode and the self photographing mode.
Are operated, from the photometric signal and the ranging signal obtained by these, it was determined that the brightness of the subject is lower than a predetermined value and that the distance of the subject is within the effective reach of the flash device. Sometimes, the necessary signal is generated, and in the self-photographing mode, the distance measuring means (300) operates again between the first time point and a time point before the photographing operation is started. A distance measurement signal for adjusting the focus of the lens is obtained.

[0009]

According to the self-timer built-in camera of the present invention,
In the self-photographing mode, the distance measuring means operates between the first time after the generation of the photographing start signal and the time before the photographing operation is started, so that the time required from the distance measuring operation to the exposure operation is short. The probability of erroneous distance measurement becomes extremely small.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a camera with a built-in self-timer capable of reliably obtaining a photograph in focus on a subject.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. The control circuit 100 controls the operation of the entire camera. The photometric circuit 200 converts the luminance of light measured by an AE light receiving element (not shown) into an electric signal, and sends a signal corresponding to the photometric luminance to the control circuit 100. AF circuit 300
Performs a distance measurement operation, and sends distance information obtained by the operation to the control circuit 100. Here, as the distance measurement operation, distance information to a subject observed in a distance measurement zone provided at the center of the finder visual field is obtained. The SB circuit 400 causes an electronic flash device (not shown) to emit light in response to a signal from the control circuit 100, and sends a state signal indicating that charging is completed or uncharged to the control circuit 100. AF motor drive circuit 500 drives the motor M ₁ by the information control circuit 100 is obtained from the AF circuit 300, causes the feeding-Kukomi operated barrel to a predetermined position. Film motor drive circuit 600 is a circuit for driving the film motor M ₂ when the signal for instructing the winding and rewinding operation from the control circuit 100 film has been sent. The self-display means SEL LED is turned on before the self-timer starts counting the time when the self-photographing mode is set, and lights or blinks during the counting. The half-press switch SW1 is turned on by a half-press operation of the release button, and the release switch SW2 is turned on by a full-press operation of the release button. The self-switch SW3 is turned on by operating the self-operation button.

The operation of the self-timer built-in camera having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This program is started by turning on a half-press switch SW1 which is turned on in response to a half-press operation of the release button or a self-switch SW3 which is turned on in response to an operation of the self-button.

Here, the photographing modes that can be selected by the camera with a built-in self-timer of this embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, each of the four modes of the normal shooting mode, the flash shooting mode, the self shooting mode, and the self flash shooting mode can be selected.

The control procedure in each mode will be described below. -In the case of the normal shooting mode-First, the half-press switch SW corresponding to the half-press operation of the release button
When 1 is turned on, it is determined whether the self-switch SW3 is turned on, that is, whether the self-operation button is operated (step S1).

If step S1 is denied, that is, if it is determined that the self-operation button is not operated and the self-switch SW3 is not turned on, the subject distance is measured as AF processing (step S2), and photometric information is read. (Step S3). Then, based on the distance information and the photometric information read in steps S2 and S3, a determination process is performed as to whether or not the use of a flash device is necessary (step S4). In this determination processing, it is determined that the use of the flash device is necessary if the subject distance is within the distance range where the flash emission can sufficiently reach and the photometric information indicates low luminance.

Therefore, even if the brightness is low, if the subject distance is long, it is determined that the use of the flash device is unnecessary. However, in the backlight state, it is determined that the use of the flash unit is necessary even if the brightness is high. In this case, for example, the luminance difference between the central part and the peripheral part of the photographing screen is checked, and if the luminance difference is equal to or more than a predetermined value, it is determined that the object is in a backlight state. Well, step S
When a determination is made in step 4 as to whether or not the use of a flash is necessary, it is determined from the result of this determination whether the use of a flash is necessary (step S5). If step S5 is denied, that is, if it is determined that the use of the flash device is unnecessary, it is determined whether the photographing mode is the self photographing mode (step S6). This determination is made based on whether the self-switch SW3 is turned on.

If step S6 is denied, that is, if it is determined that the self-photographing mode is not set, the lens barrel is driven to a predetermined position based on the distance information obtained in step S2 (step S7). Then, it is determined whether the full-press switch SW2 according to the full-press operation of the release button is turned on (step S8). If step S8 is denied, that is, if the release button is not fully pressed, it is further determined whether the half-press switch SW1 is on (step S9). If step S9 is affirmed, that is, if it is determined that the release button has been half-pressed, the process returns to step S8. Is driven to the reset position (step S10), and the post-processing ends.

If step S8 is affirmed, that is, if it is determined that the release button has been fully pressed,
The photometric information is read again (step S11). Subsequently, an exposure appropriate for photographing is calculated as an AE calculation based on the photometric information read in step S11 (step S12). Next, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to use the flash device based on the determination result of step S4 (step S13). If step S13 is denied, that is, if it is determined that the flash is not used, the shutter is opened (step S14) and the elapse of the exposure time is waited (step S1).
5) After that, the shutter is closed (step S1)
6). Subsequently, the lens barrel is driven to the reset position (step S17), and a single-frame winding process of the film is performed (step S18), and the series of processes ends.

In the case of the flash photography mode In the flash photography mode, if a positive result is obtained in step S5 through steps S1 to S4 in the loop of the normal photography mode described above, that is, it is determined that the use of the flash device is necessary. Then, charging of the capacitor is started (step S
19) After that, it waits until charging is completed (step S20), and stops charging when charging is completed (step S20).
21), and proceed to step S6. That is, step S20 is repeatedly performed until the charging of the capacitor is completed, thereby prohibiting the subsequent photographing operation. This is to prevent photographing failure due to uncharged capacitors. In this case, the photographer may be warned that the capacitor is in an uncharged state by performing some kind of display using a display member disposed outside the camera.

Further, the processing is performed from steps S6 to S7, S
If it is determined in step S13 that the use of the flash device is necessary after steps S8, S11, and S12, the shutter is opened (step S22) and flash light emission is performed (step S23). Further, exposure is performed (step S2).
4) After that, the shutter is closed (step S2)
5). Subsequently, the lens barrel is driven to the reset position (step S17), and a single-frame winding process of the film is performed (step S18), and the series of processes ends.

-Self-Shooting Mode- In the self-shooting mode, the self-shooting mode is set by turning on the self-switch SW3 in response to the operation of the self-operation button in step S1 (step S1).
26). Subsequently, a pseudo subject distance with the subject distance set to 3 m is read (step S27). This subject distance 3
m is the most probable subject distance, that is, the distance that the subject is most likely to be present. This is because, in the self-photographing mode, photographing is generally performed on a person.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to steps S3 to S6, and in step S6, it is determined whether or not the camera is in a self-photographing mode. If a positive result is obtained, the self LED disposed on the front of the camera is turned on. The self-photographing mode is notified to the subject by turning on the light (step S2).
Along with 8), the self-timer starts measuring time (about 10 seconds) (step S29).

When the counting of the self-timer is completed, the self-LED changes from on to off (step S3).
0) After that, the AF circuit 300 is operated to measure the actual subject distance as the AF processing (step S31).
Further, after the AF process of step S31 is performed, it is determined whether or not the use of the flash device is necessary (step S3).
2). This determination is based on the determination result in step S4. Here, if the result of the determination is affirmative, that is, it is determined that the use of the flash device is necessary, the object distance measured in step S31 is compared with the effective flash reach distance to determine whether the flash reaches the object distance sufficiently. (Step S
33). If a negative result is obtained in step S33, that is, if it is determined that the subject distance is not within the distance range enough to reach the flash, the determination result in step S4 that the use of the flash is necessary is made. Is replaced with the result of determination that it is unnecessary (step S34).

That is, even if it is determined in step S4 that the use of a flash is necessary, the subject distance actually measured in the AF processing in step S31 is within a sufficient distance range for the flash to reach. When there is no flash light emission is not performed. This is because, for example, when the subject distance is a long distance, the flash emission does not reach the subject, and the flash emission is wasted.

Thereafter, the lens barrel is driven to a predetermined position based on the distance information measured in step S31 (step S35). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S11, in which a procedure similar to the above-described processing loop in the normal shooting mode is executed. If a negative result is determined in step S32, that is, if it is determined that the use of the flash device is unnecessary, step S35 is performed.
Proceed to.

-In the case of the self-flash photographing mode- In the self-flash photographing mode, a positive result is obtained in step S13 through the processing loop in the above-described flash photographing mode and the self photographing mode, in which it is determined whether or not the use of the flash unit is necessary. That is, the use of a flash device is required.

As described above, the determination as to whether or not it is necessary to use the flash in step S13 is made in step S13.
The determination is made based on the determination result in step 4. That is, in the normal shooting mode, it is determined whether or not the use of the flash device is necessary based on the distance information and the photometry information read in steps S2 and S3. In step 27, a pseudo subject distance of 3 m (distance where the subject is most likely to exist) is read as distance information in step 27.

Therefore, in the self-photographing mode, it is determined whether or not the use of the flash is necessary based on only the photometric information. That is, in the self-photographing mode, the pseudo object distance (3 m) is read regardless of the actual object distance (for example, a long distance), and is regarded as the object distance to reach the flash light emission. Looking at the brightness alone will determine whether the use of a flash is necessary.

When the determination processing in step S13 is completed, the process proceeds to step S22, and the subsequent step S22
To 25, S17 and S18. As mentioned above,
In the self-photographing mode, when the self-photographing mode is set in response to the operation of the self-operation button, a pseudo subject distance with the subject distance set to 3 m is read, and a flash device is set based on the subject distance and photometric information read thereafter. It is determined whether or not it is necessary to use. Then, the distance measurement operation of the actual subject distance is performed immediately after the completion of the time measurement of the self-timer.

According to this, the time required from the distance measurement operation to the exposure operation is shortened, and the probability of erroneous distance measurement is extremely reduced. The cause of the erroneous distance measurement is that if the time required from the distance measurement operation to the exposure operation becomes longer, the subject moves in the front-rear direction with respect to the camera until the required time elapses. By the way, in the self-flash photographing mode, the self-timer starts counting the time after the charging of the capacitor is completed. However, it is conceivable that the time counting of the self-timer and the charging of the capacitor are performed in parallel. That is, if the charging of the capacitor is completed before the self-timer finishes measuring the time, the photographing operation can be started without waiting for the charging time.

However, the reason for not starting the self-timer until the charging of the capacitor is completed in the present embodiment is as follows. This is because the charging time of the capacitor is not always constant, but changes depending on the power supply voltage of the camera. When the power supply voltage decreases, the charging time needs to be longer. In other words, there is no problem if the charging of the capacitor is completed within the time measured by the self-timer, but if the charging is not completed even though the time measured by the self-timer has elapsed, the time measurement of the self-timer will not occur. The waiting time from the start to the transition to the actual shooting operation is extended. The reason why the self-timer is started after the completion of charging of the capacitor in this embodiment is to prevent the above-mentioned extension of the standby time.

In the above-described embodiment, the pseudo subject distance is read in step S27 in order to determine whether or not the use of the flash device is necessary.
The distance measurement operation may be performed at step S7. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the self-photographing mode is set by the operation of the self-operation button, and the timing of the self-timer is started.However, the present invention is not limited to this. The self-photographing mode is set by the operation, and the timing is started when the release button is pressed.

In the above embodiment, the AF circuit 3
00 is a center distance measurement method that obtains distance information to a subject to be observed in a distance measurement zone provided in the center of the viewfinder field as a distance measurement operation. When a subject is present, there is often a possibility that the subject may be defocused. In view of this point, another embodiment is directed to a multi-point distance measuring method in which an AF circuit measures a distance in a plurality of areas in a screen. Since the basic configuration and the principle of distance measurement in this multipoint distance measurement are already known technologies, detailed description will be omitted.

Now, the operation of a camera employing this multipoint ranging method will be described. Here, the operation of this embodiment is almost the same as the flowchart shown in FIG.
Since only the AF processing in S31 is different, the description using the flowchart is omitted, and the description will be made with reference to FIGS. First, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a finder visual field. A light spot emitted from the first light emitting element 330a is located in a distance measuring area 1S at the center of the screen in the photographing visual field frame 10, and the second light emitting elements 330b and 330c. Are located in left and right distance measurement areas 2S and 3S slightly away from the center distance measurement area 1S. Therefore, when the subjects 20 and 21 are present in the distance measurement areas 1S and 3S in the screen, as shown in FIG. 4, the reflected spot light from the subjects 20 and 21 irradiated with the spot light is the first and third light receiving elements. 34
0b and 340c, and a plurality of distance information is obtained. Then, the lens position is set to, for example, the shortest distance based on the distance information.

According to the camera employing the multi-point distance measuring method, it is possible to reliably focus on a subject other than the center of the screen, which cannot be achieved by the center distance measuring method. . On the other hand, in the camera that adopts the center distance measurement method described above, in the self-photographing mode, the distance measurement operation is performed immediately after the completion of the self-timer timing, and the subject is measured from the start of the time measurement to immediately before the release. It has been considered not to cause a defocus even if the camera has moved in the front-rear direction with respect to the camera.

However, in the case of the center distance measuring method, if the object moves in the left-right direction with respect to the camera, the object is likely to be out of the distance measuring zone, resulting in defocus. I will. So, originally,
In the center distance measuring method (assuming only the distance measuring area 1S at the center of the screen in the photographing field frame 10 shown in FIG. 3), for example, when focusing on the subjects 20 and 21, the photographing field frame is used. The distance information is stored in a state where the distance measurement area 1S is matched with one of the subjects 20 and 21 by shifting the object 10, and the photographing visual field frame 10 is kept in the original state while maintaining this storage, that is, the state shown in FIG. That is, a so-called focus lock, such as performing a shooting operation by returning to the normal state, must be performed.

However, even though the distance information corresponding to the subjects 20 and 21 is stored, if the distance measurement operation is performed again immediately before the release, the photographing field of view frame 10 will not be as shown in FIG.
, The distance information does not correspond to the subjects 20 and 21, and the distance information does not correspond to the subjects 20 and 21.
Incorrect distance information corresponding to the background 1 is read.

On the other hand, in the camera adopting the multi-point distance measuring method, erroneous distance measurement is not performed for the subjects 20 and 21 and the distance measuring operation is performed immediately after the self-timer is completed in the self-photographing mode. Is effective.

[0039]

According to the self-timer built-in camera of the present invention, in the self-photographing mode, the distance measuring means is provided between the first time after the photographing start signal is generated and the time before the photographing operation is started. Since the operation is performed, the time required from the distance measurement operation to the exposure operation is reduced, and the probability of erroneous distance measurement is extremely reduced.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a self-timer built-in camera capable of obtaining a photograph in focus on a subject.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a distance measurement area in a finder visual field in another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a principle of distance measurement according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100: control circuit 200: photometric circuit 300: AF circuit 400: SB circuit SW3: self-switch

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI G03B 15/05 G02B 7/11 B 17/18 G03B 3/00 A (56) References JP-A-1-244436 (JP, A) JP JP-A-62-153840 (JP, A) JP-A-64-936 (JP, A) JP-A-1-117627 (JP, U)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A photographing start means for generating a photographing start signal, a light measuring means for measuring a subject to emit a light measuring signal, a distance measuring means for measuring a distance to a subject and issuing a distance measuring signal, Automatic focus adjustment means for adjusting the focus of the shooting lens; shooting means for performing a shooting operation; selecting means for selecting a normal shooting mode or a self-shooting mode; and in response to the shooting start signal in the self-shooting mode Timing means for starting time measurement and performing the photographing operation upon completion of the time measurement; a flash device for emitting a flash due to electric charges charged in a capacitor during the image capturing operation; and using the flash device for the image capturing operation. A determination means for determining whether or not the use of the flash device is necessary, and generating a required signal when it is determined that the use of the flash device is required; and detecting, when the required signal is generated, whether or not the charging of the capacitor is sufficient. Detecting means for prohibiting the photographing operation or detecting the minute when the minute is detected, the discriminating means, in the normal photographing mode, responding to the photographing start signal and the photometric means and By operating the distance measuring means, the luminance of the object is lower than a predetermined value and the distance of the object is within the effective reach of the flash device from the photometric signal and the distance measuring signal obtained thereby. When the self-photographing mode is determined, the photometric device is operated at a first time point after the generation of the photographing start signal, and the subject signal is obtained from the photometric signal obtained thereby. When it is determined that the brightness of the image is lower than a predetermined value, the necessary signal is generated.
A self-timer built-in camera that operates between a time point and a time point before the photographing operation is started. 2. A photographing start means for generating a photographing start signal, a photometric means for measuring a subject to emit a photometric signal, a distance measuring means for measuring a distance to a subject and issuing a distance measuring signal, Automatic focus adjustment means for adjusting the focus of the shooting lens; shooting means for performing a shooting operation; selecting means for selecting a normal shooting mode or a self-shooting mode; and in response to the shooting start signal in the self-shooting mode Timing means for starting time measurement and performing the photographing operation upon completion of the time measurement; a flash device for emitting a flash due to electric charges charged in a capacitor during the image capturing operation; and using the flash device for the image capturing operation. A determination means for determining whether or not the use of the flash device is necessary, and generating a required signal when it is determined that the use of the flash device is required; and detecting, when the required signal is generated, whether or not the charging of the capacitor is sufficient. Detecting means for prohibiting the photographing operation when the minute is detected, and the discriminating means, in any of the normal photographing mode and the self photographing mode, By operating the photometric means and the distance measuring means at a first point in time after the generation of the shooting start signal, from the photometric signal and the distance measuring signal obtained by them, the brightness of the subject is lower than a predetermined value, And when it is determined that the distance of the subject is within the effective reach of the flash device, the necessary signal is generated.
A camera with a built-in self-timer, which operates again between a time point and a time point before the photographing operation is started, and obtains a distance measurement signal for adjusting the focus of the photographing lens. 3. A photographing start means for generating a photographing start signal, a light measuring means for measuring a subject to emit a light measuring signal, and a distance measuring means for operating the distance measuring means to measure a distance to the subject to generate a distance measuring signal. Signal generating means for reading a pseudo object distance obtained without operating the distance measuring means and generating a distance measuring signal; automatic focus adjusting means for adjusting the focus of the photographing lens according to the distance measuring signal; and photographing means for performing a photographing operation. Selecting means for selecting a normal photographing mode and a self-photographing mode; and time-measuring means for starting time measurement in response to the photographing start signal in the self-photographing mode and performing the photographing operation upon completion of the time measurement. A flash device that emits a flash due to the electric charge charged in the capacitor during the shooting operation, and determines whether or not the flash device must be used during the shooting operation, and determines that the flash device needs to be used. A determination means for generating a necessary signal, and detecting, when the required signal is generated, whether or not the charging of the capacitor is sufficient, and detecting that the charging is insufficient, a warning to that effect or prohibiting the photographing operation. Means for determining, the self-photographing mode, the photometric signal obtained by operating the photometric means at a first time after the generation of the imaging start signal, and the pseudo ranging signal, From the above, when it is determined that the brightness of the subject is lower than a predetermined value,
Generating the necessary signal, wherein the signal generating means operates the distance measuring means between the first time point and a time point before the photographing operation is started in the self-photographing mode. A self-timer built-in camera. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distance measuring means measures a distance in a plurality of regions in the object scene and issues a corresponding distance measuring signal. Camera with built-in self-timer as described in Crab.