JP2912647B2 - Camera release switch - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a release switch in which a shutter operation or the like is performed using optical means, and a reaction force accompanying the shutter operation or the like can be easily optimized. .

"Prior art and its target point" A shutter button of a camera generally used at present starts a photometric unit, an auto-focusing unit and the like when pressed halfway, and activates an exposure unit when fully pressed. For this purpose, a conventional shutter button is provided with an interlocking member that is always interlocked in order to operate each means. The interlocking member is, for example, a lever in the case of a mechanical shutter, and is, for example, a contact in the case of an electromagnetic shutter.

Since the conventional interlocking member operates in conjunction with the pressing operation of the shutter button, the operation of the interlocking member reacts when the shutter is released. In particular, when the shutter button is fully pressed, the release button tends to be pushed until it stops, and thus a light-weight camera causes camera shake.

In order to eliminate the camera shake, the reaction force due to the pressing of the shutter button and the reaction force due to the operation of the member may be minimized. However, in order to optimize the reaction force, the operation of the member is required. Since it is necessary to adjust the operating force of various mechanisms that operate accordingly, it is technically very difficult.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a camera release switch that can easily set an operation force of a shutter button to an optimum one. I do.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a camera body having a release button movably held between an initial position and a pushed-in position and urged by an elastic member toward the initial position. , One of a light emitting element and a light receiving element is provided on the camera body, and the other is provided on the release button, and an optical path for optically connecting the light emitting element and the light receiving element at a predetermined position in a movable range of the release button is provided. And a control unit for executing a predetermined camera operation when the light receiving element is optically connected to the light emitting element.

According to this configuration, the operation force of the release button can be made to depend only on the biasing force of the elastic member. Therefore, the operation force required for pressing the release button can be easily optimized to the optimum value according to the weight of the camera and the like.

Further, the release button is provided with a contact for detecting that the release button has moved from an initial position, and when the release of the release button has been detected by the contact, a light emission control for causing the light emitting element to emit light. If the means is provided, the state of the release switch can be visually checked.

The release button is constituted by a light emitting element or a light receiving element itself, and further, an optical path for optically connecting the light emitting element and the light receiving element at a predetermined position in the moving direction of the release button is formed on the release button by a light shielding means. This eliminates the need to provide an optical path on the release button side, and allows a simple configuration.

If a plurality of optical paths for optically connecting the light emitting element and the light receiving element are formed stepwise in the moving direction of the release button, various signals can be obtained for each moving position accompanying the pressing operation of the release button. .

"Examples of the Invention" Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of a camera control system equipped with a release switch of the present invention.

The release button 1 is supported on a camera body (not shown) so as to be movable in the AB direction in the figure. The direction A is the direction of the most depressed position (pressed into the camera body), and the direction B is the direction of the initial value position (projected from the camera body). The release button 1 has a light emitting element 2 built in. The light emitting element 2 is optically connected to a light receiving element 4 provided in the camera body via a light path 3 schematically shown at the position shown in the figure. The light emission of the light emitting element 2 is controlled by the light emission control unit 9.

The light receiving element 4 is connected to a detection signal recognition unit 5 for detecting that light from the light emitting element 2 has been received. The detection signal recognition unit 5 includes a photometric focusing control unit 6 as a first control unit for controlling an automatic focusing operation and an exposure value setting operation, and a release control unit 7 as a second control unit for controlling the exposure operation. Is connected.

The detection signal recognition unit 5 detects whether the release button 1 has been half-pressed or fully pressed from the output of the light receiving element 4, and outputs an operation command to the photometric focusing control unit 6 when the half-press is detected. When the full press is detected, an operation command is output to the release control unit 7.

Upon receiving the operation command, the photometric focusing control unit 6 operates the photometric device 8a to set an exposure factor (aperture value and shutter speed), and activates the automatic focusing device 8b to operate an auto-focusing lens (not shown). Is driven to the in-focus position to focus on the subject.

The release control unit 7 is activated upon receiving an operation command, and operates a release device (aperture / shutter device) 8c based on the exposure factor set by the photometric focusing control unit 6 to execute release (exposure).

In the illustrated embodiment, the detection signal recognizing unit 5, the photometric focusing control unit 6, the release control unit 7, and the light emission control unit 9 are shown as separate members. However, this is constituted by a single member, for example, a microcomputer. You can also.

2 and 4 illustrate the basic concept of the release switch according to the present invention in an easily understood manner. The release switch shown in FIG. 2 includes a light emitting element 2 and a light receiving element 4 provided on the camera body 15 and a release button 1.
And an optical path 3b for optically connecting / disconnecting the light emitting element 2 and the light receiving element 4 to the light emitting element 2. Release button 1
Is configured to be movable in the AB direction in the figure with respect to the camera body. A coil spring 10 is provided below the release button 1 as an elastic member that constantly biases the release button 1 to move in the B direction.

The optical path 3b is provided across the release button 1, and the camera body is provided with optical paths 3a and 3c having end faces facing both end faces of the optical path 3b. And light path 3
A light emitting element 2 and a light receiving element 4 as optical elements are provided so as to face the other end faces of a and 3c. Therefore, the optical paths 3a, 3b, 3c are optically interrupted when the end face of the optical path 3b and the end face of the optical paths 3a, 3c are not opposed to each other, and optically activated when the release button 1 is pushed into a predetermined position and opposed. The light receiving element 3 receives the light of the light emitting element 2 when connected. If the optical paths 3a, 3b, 3c are formed of flexible optical fibers, the arrangement positions of the light emitting element 2 and the light receiving element 4 can be freely determined.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the light emitting element 2 is provided in the release button 33, and the light receiving element 4 is provided in the camera body 15. The release button 33 has an optical path 3d for guiding the light of the light emitting element 2 to the outside of the release button 33.
Are formed in the camera body 15, and an optical path 3e for guiding the light emitted from the optical path 3d to the light receiving element 4 is formed. The optical paths 3d and 3e can be formed by optical fibers or the like.

Since the release button 33 can be moved up and down in the figure, the light from the light emitting element 2
As shown in FIG. 3, this is when the optical path 3d of the release button 33 coincides with the optical path 3e on the camera body 15 side.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the release button 34 itself is formed of a light emitting element, and unnecessary portions for forming an optical path 3d for guiding the light emitting element 4 from which the release button 34 emits light are coated with a light-shielding film. Covered by 12, it has the same function as that shown in FIG.

When the release switch is configured using the above technical concept, the operating force required to press the release buttons 1, 33, and 34 can depend only on the repulsion characteristics of the spring 10 provided thereunder. Operability can be optimized relatively easily.

Next, a specific embodiment of the release switch will be described.

The release switch shown in FIG.
It has the same structure as the release switch shown in the figure, except that the camera body 15
The contact point 20b is provided in contact with the contact point 20a, and the optical path 3d formed by the light-shielding coating film 12 is formed longer in the direction in which the release button 35 is pushed.

This release switch usually has a coil spring 10
The release button 35 is held at the initial position by the urging force of the contact point, and the contacts 20a and 20b are in contact. From this state, the photographer starts to press the release button 35, and the contact 20a and the contact 20b
When the button is released, the state is half-pressed (the state as shown in FIG. 5), the release button 35 emits light, and the light is received by the light receiving element 4. The output signal of the light receiving element 4 is the first
It is input to the detection signal recognition unit 5 shown in the figure. Upon receiving this signal, the detection signal recognition unit 5 issues an operation command to the photometric focusing control unit 6, and the photometric focusing control unit 6 causes the photometric device 8a and the automatic focusing device 8b to perform exposure value setting and focusing operation. .

When the release button 35 is further depressed and fully pressed, the optical path 3d and the optical path 3e are completely disengaged, and the light receiving element 4 does not receive light from the release button 35. This change is detected by the detection signal recognizing unit 5, and an operation command is output to the release control unit 7 to cause the release device 8c to perform a release operation.

When the finger is released from the release button 35, the release button 35 moves in the projecting direction by the urging force of the coil spring 10, and is reset when the settings 20a and 20b come into contact with each other, and returns to the initial state. In order to make the release button 33 emit light by separating the contacts 20a and 20b, as an example,
A circuit as shown in FIGS.

The above operation is illustrated in the timing chart of FIG. 11A. FIG. 11A is a timing chart in the case where the light emission control section 9 stops the light emission of the light emitting element 2 after the release operation and does not release the finger from the release button 35 so that the next release operation is not performed. The contact 20 is also provided so that photometry can be performed even when the release button is half-pressed after the release operation.
The light emission control unit 9 may be configured to operate according to the states of a and 20b. The timing chart in this case is shown in FIG.
This is shown in Figure B.

Further, the operation of the light emission control unit 9 may be selectively used for the above two cases depending on, for example, the continuous shooting mode or the single shooting mode of the camera.

It should be noted that the release button 35 may be constituted by a light receiving element, and the light receiving element on the camera body side may function as a light emitting element in the same manner as described above. Furthermore, when a two-color light-emitting element is used as the light-emitting element, by changing the emission color during or during the exposure, the photographer or a third party can be informed that the shutter is released. Can be easily recognized. Such a display is a particularly effective function when the self-timer shooting using a tripod or the like or when the photographer takes his / her eyes off the viewfinder and presses the shutter button.

The release switch shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B has two optical paths 3d and 3f formed on the release button 36 by the light-shielding coating film 12 as shown in FIG. Optical paths 3e and 3g corresponding to 3f are provided.
The light receiving element 4 is attached to 3g. Although one light-receiving element 4 is illustrated, two light-receiving elements 4 are provided corresponding to the respective optical paths 3g and 3e so that the light from each of the optical paths 3e and 3g can be independently received.
It may be provided individually.

This release switch allows the operator to release the release button 36.
When the contacts 20a and 20b are separated from each other, that is, when the contacts are half-pressed (the state as shown in FIG. 6A)
The release button 36 emits light, and the optical path on the release button side
The light receiving element 4 receives light from the release button 36 when 3f and the optical path 3e on the camera body side match as shown in FIG. 6A. This light receiving state is detected by the detection signal recognition unit 5 shown in FIG. 1, and the photometric focusing control unit 6 causes the photometric device 8a and the automatic focusing device 8b to perform an exposure value setting operation and a focusing operation.

When the release button 36 is further depressed and fully pressed as shown in FIG. 6B, the optical path 3d and
3e and the optical paths 3f and 3g match, and the light receiving element 4
Receives light from the release button 36 which is stronger than when half-pressed. This state is detected by the detection signal recognition section 5, and the release control section 7 causes the release device 8c to perform a release operation.

As described above, in order to perform the above-described control by digitally changing the level of light received by the light receiving element 4, the detection signal recognizing unit 5 has a function of detecting such digital change in light. Of course, you must have In addition, as described above, when light receiving elements are provided corresponding to the respective optical paths 3e and 3g, when one of the light receiving elements detects light, the focusing and exposure value setting operations are performed. The detection signal recognition unit 5 may be configured to perform a release operation when the light receiving element detects light. Illustrating the above operation, 12A
As shown in the timing chart of FIG.

FIG. 12B shows a timing chart when two light receiving elements are provided. In this case, when the first light receiving element receives light, a focusing operation, a photometric operation, and the like are performed, and when the first light receiving element stops receiving light, the photometric operation and the like are stopped. Thereafter, when the first and second light receiving elements receive light, a release operation is performed, and when the release operation ends, light emission of the light emitting element is stopped. And the contacts 20a, 20b
Reset when is closed.

The release switch shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B has almost the same structure as the release switch shown in FIG. 6A,
The difference is that the optical paths 3d and 3f of the release button 37 are coated with filters having different transmission wavelengths or transmittances, respectively, and the optical path of the camera body 15 is only one optical path 3e. Since the optical paths 3d and 3f are coated with filters having different transmission wavelengths or transmittances as described above, the optical path 3e and the optical path 3f coincide with each other when the half-pressing shown in FIG. In the case of full press shown in FIG. 7B in which the light path 3d matches the light path 3d, the light path 3e
, The intensity of light input to the light receiving element 4 via the light receiving element 4 differs. The detection signal recognizing unit 5 recognizes the intensity of the light that changes digitally, and performs control of focusing and setting of an exposure value, and control of exposure. If a light receiving element having a different sensitivity depending on the wavelength of light to be received is used as the light receiving element 4, the output level can be more easily distinguished.

The above operation is illustrated in the timing chart of FIG. Note that, in this timing chart, an example is shown in which the light output from the optical path 3f is set to be weaker than the light output from the optical path 3d, but the intensity of the light output from both optical paths is If it is the opposite, the waveform will be in the opposite arrangement.

The release switch shown in FIGS.8A and 8B is a modification of the release switch shown in FIG.6A, in which the optical paths 3d and 3f of the release button 38 are displaced in the circumferential direction of the release button 38, respectively. This optical path 3d, 3f on the camera body 15
Optical paths 3e and 3g corresponding to the optical paths 3e and 3g, respectively.
The light receiving elements 4a and 4b are mounted on the light emitting element.

In the release switch thus configured, the optical path 3f and the optical path 3g match when the shutter switch is half-pressed as shown in FIG. 8A, and the light receiving element 4b receives light. The detection signal recognition unit 5 detects the light receiving state of the light receiving element 4b, and the exposure focusing control unit 6 causes the photometric device 8a and the automatic focusing device 8b to perform an exposure value setting operation and a focusing operation.

Further, when the release button 1 is further depressed and fully pressed as shown in FIG. 8B, the light path 3d and the light path 3e match, so that the light emitted by the light emitting element 2 is received by the light receiving element 4a. Receive light. The detection signal recognition unit 5 detects the light receiving state of the light receiving element 4a, and the release control unit 7 causes the release device 8c to perform a release operation. The above operation is illustrated in the timing chart of FIG.

9A and 9B has the same basic configuration as that shown in FIG. 5, except that the optical path 3d provided on the release button 39 is different from the release button 39.
The difference is that the optical path 3e reaching the light receiving element 4 is formed in a large divergent shape so that the half-pressed state and the fully-pressed state can be detected. ing. The release switch thus configured operates as follows.

The operator starts pressing the release button 39, and the contact 20a
The release button 39 emits light when and 20b are separated.
Then, as the pressing of the release button 39 advances, the overlapping area between the optical path 3d of the release button 39 and the optical path 3e of the camera body 15 increases and the optical joining state becomes denser, the light received by the light receiving element 4 becomes smaller. The level gradually increases.

When the level of the light received by the light receiving element 4 becomes equal to or higher than a preset first level, the detection signal recognizing unit 5 determines that a half-pressed state has occurred. Then, the detection signal recognition unit 5 issues a command to set the exposure value and the focusing operation to the photometric focusing control unit 6 and activates the photometric device 8a and the automatic focusing device 8b to perform the exposure value setting operation and the focusing operation. Let them do it.

When the release button 39 is further depressed and fully pressed as shown in FIG. 9B, the light receiving element 4
Has a higher level of light received, and this level is equal to or higher than a preset second level.
This level is detected by the detection signal recognizing section 5, and this time, the release control section 7 issues a command to start the release operation.
Then, the release control section 7 receiving this command causes the release device 8c to perform a release operation.

As described above, in order to perform the above-described control based on the intensity of the light that is received by the light receiving element 4 and that changes in an analog manner, the detection signal recognition unit 5 detects such an analog change in the light. Of course, it must have functions. The above operation is illustrated as shown in the timing chart of FIG.

FIG. 10 shows the same configuration as the release switch shown in FIG. 4 except that the release button 40 is provided with two optical paths 3d and 3f at different levels, and that the release button 40 itself is A filter that passes the first color but does not pass the second color through each of the optical paths 3d and 3f, and vice versa.
The difference is that a filter that does not pass color is attached. FIG. 17 is a schematic configuration diagram of a control system of the camera in the present embodiment. In the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the color of the light emitting element is changed by the light emission control unit 9 using the output from the photometry focusing control unit. The point is that it has a configuration.

In this embodiment, a filter that allows the first color to pass but does not allow the second color to pass through the optical path 3d, and a filter that allows the second color to pass but does not pass the first color to the optical path 3f are attached. The operation will be described on the assumption that the light receiving and stopping of the light receiving element by the light emitting control unit are performed in conjunction with the states of the contacts 20a and 20b.

When shooting, the operator starts pressing the release button 40,
When the contacts 20a and 20b separate, the release button 40 emits light in the first color. Then, the pressing of the release button 40 advances, and the optical path 3d of the release button 40 and the optical path of the camera body 15
3e, a filter that passes the first color but not the second color is attached to the optical path 3d.
Receives light from the release button 40 and outputs a signal to the detection signal recognition unit 5. The detection signal recognizing unit 5 determines that the half-pressed state has been entered by inputting this signal, and issues an operation command to the photometric focusing control unit 6. Then, the photometric focusing control unit 6 receiving this command operates the photometric device 8a and the release device to execute the exposure value setting and the focusing operation. At this time, the light emission control unit 9 changes the light emission color of the release button 40 to the second color.

When the release button 40 is further depressed and the optical path 3f of the release button 40 matches the optical path 3e of the camera body 15, a filter that allows the second color but does not transmit the first color is attached to the optical path 3f. Therefore, the light receiving element 4 receives the light from the release button 40 and outputs a signal to the detection signal recognition unit 5. The detection signal recognizing unit 5 determines that the signal is fully pressed by inputting this signal, and issues an operation command to the release control unit 7 this time. Then, upon receiving the operation command, the release control unit 7 executes the exposure operation.

When the operator's finger is released from the release button 4, the release button 40 returns to the projecting direction by the urging force of the spring 10. During the return movement, the optical path of the release button 40
When 3f and the optical path 3e of the camera body 15 are cut off, the release button 40 changes the emission color to the first color. The above operation is illustrated as a timing chart shown in FIG.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since a contact point, a lever, or the like is not pressed during the operation of pressing down the release button, a constant pressing operation force can be applied only by the coil spring 10. The elastic member of the present invention is not limited to the coil spring 10, but may use a leaf spring, sponge, rubber, or the like.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the configuration in which the release button side is used as the light receiving element and the camera body side is used as the light receiving element has been mainly described. Conversely, the release button side is used as the light receiving element, and the camera body side is used as the light receiving element. It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a light emitting element.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, in the present invention, the release switch is constituted by optical means, and the operating force required to press the shutter button is made to depend only on the elastic member. The ON / OFF reaction force associated with the mechanical switch can be removed, and a release switch having an optimum reaction force can be provided.

Since the operating force at the time of release can be made optimal in consideration of the weight of the camera and the like, camera shake can be prevented in a lightweight camera. In addition, since the switch is a contactless switch, optimal operability in consideration of the ease of pressing the release switch and the like can be obtained relatively easily.

Further, by configuring the release switch with the light emitting element itself, the operation state of the camera can be visually confirmed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a control system of a camera using a release switch of the present invention. FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are schematic structural diagrams of a release switch according to the present invention. FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing a first embodiment of the release switch according to the present invention; FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing a second embodiment of the release switch according to the present invention; FIGS. 7A and 7B; FIGS. 8A and 8B are views showing a third embodiment of the release switch according to the present invention; FIGS. 8A and 8B are views showing a fourth embodiment of the release switch according to the present invention; FIGS. 9A and 9B; FIG. 10 is a view showing a fifth embodiment of the release switch according to the present invention; FIG. 10 is a view showing a sixth embodiment of the release switch according to the present invention; FIGS. FIG. 12A is a time chart showing an example of different operations of the release switch shown in FIG. FIG. 12B is a time chart of the release switch shown in FIG. 6B, FIG. 12B is a time chart of a modified example of the release switch shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B with two light receiving elements, and FIG. FIG. 14 is a time chart of the release switch shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, FIG. 14 is a time chart of the release switch shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, and FIG. 15 is a view shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. FIG. 16A, FIG. 16B, FIG. 16C, and FIG. 16D are diagrams showing an example of a control circuit for causing the release switch to emit light, and FIG. 17 is a control circuit for a two-color light emitting element. FIG. 18 is a time chart of a release switch for two-color light emission. 1. Release button, 2. Light emitting element, 3. Optical path (3a-3)
g), 4 ... light receiving element (4a, 4b), 5 ... detection signal recognition unit,
Reference numeral 6: photometric focusing control unit (first control unit), 7: release control unit (second control unit), 8a: photometric device, 8b: automatic focusing device, 8c: release device, 9: light emission control unit (light emission control) Means), 10: coil spring (elastic member), 12: light-shielding coating, 20a, 20b: contact. 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 ... Release button

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G03B 17/18 G02B 7/11 B

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A camera body having a release button movably held between an initial position and a depressed position and urged by an elastic member toward the initial position, wherein one of a light emitting element and a light receiving element is provided. In the camera body,
The other is provided on each of the release buttons, and an optical path for optically connecting the light emitting element and the light receiving element is provided at a predetermined position in a movable range of the release button, and the light receiving element is optically connected to the light emitting element. A release switch for a camera, comprising control means for executing a predetermined camera operation at times. 2. The release switch according to claim 1, wherein said light emitting element and said light receiving element are optically connected at least in two different positions while said release button moves from said initial position toward said depressed position. And the control means calculates an exposure factor when optically connected at a first position close to the initial position.
A release switch for a camera, comprising: control means; and second control means for controlling exposure when optically connected at a second position far from the initial position. 3. The release switch for a camera according to claim 1, wherein said release button is constituted by a light emitting element or a light receiving element itself, and an optical path of said release button is limited by a light blocking means. Camera release switch. 4. A release switch for a camera according to claim 2, wherein two of said light receiving elements are provided at different positions in the direction of movement of said release button, and one of said light receiving elements is connected to first control means. And a second control means connected to the other light receiving element. 5. A release switch for a camera according to claim 1, wherein said release button is constituted by a light emitting element itself emitting a different color, and said light emitting element changes a light emitting color in a predetermined range in a moving direction of said release button. A camera release switch comprising color control means. 6. A release switch for a camera according to claim 5, wherein said control means varies according to the color of light received by said light receiving element when said light emitting element and said light receiving element are optically connected. Camera release switch that performs camera operation. 7. A release switch for a camera according to claim 1, wherein said optical path is formed such that an amount of light received by said light receiving element changes in accordance with a moving position of said release button. A camera release switch formed to execute different camera operations according to the amount of received light.