JP3411440B2 - camera - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to prevention of abnormal exposure in a camera, and more particularly to a camera in which the opening operation and the closing operation of a shutter during a long-time exposure operation are independently controlled electrically by a battery power source. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Electrically controlled shutters that electrically open and close a shutter by electric control using a battery as a power source are widely used. Conventionally, in such an electrically controlled shutter, the shutter is mechanically biased to a closed state by using a spring or the like, and the shutter opening operation and the shutter open state are electrically driven, and electrically driven. In general, the shutter closing operation is performed by releasing the holding of the shutter open state. In such an electrically controlled shutter, if it is attempted to realize a long-time exposure mode in which the shutter is kept open for a long time, such as a valve mode and a time mode, that is, a long-time exposure mode, the shutter is opened for a long time. Since the state must be maintained, the battery that serves as the power source is heavily consumed.

In order to deal with such a problem of battery consumption during long-time exposure, the shutter can be held in the open state without power supply so that the shutter does not need power for holding the open state. A camera using the shutter is proposed. In the case of such a shutter, since a biasing force is applied to the shutter by using a spring or the like to bias the shutter in the opening direction, when closing the shutter, the shutter is closed against the biasing force. Requires electrical energy to operate.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1-128051 discloses that in a camera that performs a battery check at the start of shooting, the battery check level at the start of shooting of an interval timer shooting that repeats shooting at a predetermined time interval is more Has also been shown to be set high. This is a technique for increasing the certainty of the operation of the interval timer shooting, which tends to consume more power than normal shooting.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-295241 discloses a camera capable of performing interval timer mode photography and long-time exposure photography, that is, interval timer photography, bulb mode photography, and time mode photography, without any inconvenience. To enable the setting, when the time mode is not set and the shutter speed is set to the valve (B), the setting of the interval timer shooting is disabled, and the shutter speed is not set to the valve. It is shown that sometimes the setting of the time mode shooting is disabled, and when the time mode shooting is set, the interval timer shooting can be set even if the shutter speed is set to the valve. This is a technique for eliminating the inconvenience that appropriate shutter control cannot be performed due to conflicting setting conditions, such as combined designation of bulb mode photography and interval timer photography.

[0006]

As described above, in order to deal with the problem of battery consumption during long-time exposure, the shutter open state can be maintained so that the shutter open state can be maintained without power supply. In a camera using a shutter having a configuration that does not require electric power (for example, a configuration using a self-holding type permanent electromagnet), the shutter is held in the open position against the biasing force using a spring or the like. Therefore, when closing the shutter, electric energy (for example, reverse excitation current) for closing the shutter against the biasing force is required.

On the other hand, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-128051, the battery check at the start of shooting of the interval timer shooting is set higher than usual so that the interval timer shooting can be performed only when there is a sufficient remaining battery power. I can do it. In addition, JP-A 1-29
The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5241 prevents abnormal combination designation of interval timer shooting and long exposure shooting, that is, interval timer shooting, bulb mode shooting, and time mode shooting, and causes an abnormal operation based on a contradiction of control conditions. Is to avoid.

By the way, in the prior art, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-12
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 8051, a battery check is performed before opening the shutter, and the shutter control is performed after confirming the remaining battery level. However, even in this way, after the battery check, As the shutter opens for a long time, if the shutter open time becomes very long, the battery will be exhausted due to temperature change in the battery during shutter open or power consumption due to time counting of the shutter open time, that is, time counting, etc. May decrease. In such a case, even when the time to close the shutter is reached and you try to close the shutter, the battery does not have enough power to execute the shutter close operation, and as a result, the shutter remains open. There will be a problem of becoming.

As described above, when the film is rewound with the shutter still open, the portion already photographed is exposed and all the photographed portion is wasted. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and during a long-time exposure operation, a battery check is performed in parallel with time counting, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera capable of effectively preventing abnormal exposure due to shutter control failure or the like due to battery shortage during long-time exposure operation by performing protective measures such as generation of warnings.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a camera according to the present invention has a long-time exposure function, and at least a shutter for a long-time exposure operation. A shutter device for electrically controlling the closing operation by a battery power source, a battery check means for checking the remaining amount of the battery at least during the start to the end of the long-time exposure operation, and a check for the battery check means. and issued a warning to the user based on the results, the
A warning display means for canceling the warning display within a predetermined time is provided.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a camera according to a second aspect of the present invention has a long-time exposure function, and at least the shutter closing operation during the long-time exposure operation is performed by a battery. A shutter device electrically controlled by a power source, shutter opening / closing instruction means for giving the shutter device an instruction to open and close the shutter at least during the long-time exposure operation, and from the start of the long-time exposure operation. By the end, battery check means for checking the remaining amount of the battery and checking whether the battery can supply power for closing the shutter, and the result of the battery check by the battery check means. When the power that can be supplied by the remaining battery level is close to the minimum power required to close the shutter, the opening / closing instruction is issued. And protection control means for providing a closing operation instruction of the shutter to the shutter device regardless stages of instruction,
Based on the check result of the battery check means, the user
A warning to the user and cancel the warning display at a predetermined time
And a warning display means .

[0012] The warning display means may comprise means for emitting against the user a warning prior to the closing operation instruction of the shutter by the protection control means based on Chi Ekku result of the battery check means. The warning display means,
Means for issuing a warning after the shutter closing operation based on the shutter closing operation instruction of the protection control means may be included . Before Symbol warning display means, after warning display may further include means for re-alert when trying to set the exposure time length seconds.

The battery checking means includes means for checking, after the warning is displayed by the warning displaying means, whether or not the battery can supply electric power for long-time exposure, and the protection control means is provided for When it is determined as a result of the battery check after the warning is displayed that the remaining battery level is insufficient for long-time exposure, a means for prohibiting the long-time exposure setting may be included. By replacing the battery,
Battery replacement detection means for detecting that a new battery has been set, and means for canceling the re-warning after the warning is displayed by the warning display means when the new battery is detected by the battery replacement detection means. And may be further included.

A battery replacement detecting means for detecting that a new battery is set by the battery replacement, and a long-time exposure for detecting a new battery setting by the battery replacement detecting means. A means for checking again whether the battery can supply the electric power, and if this means determines that the battery can supply the electric power for the long-time exposure, the long-time exposure by the protection control means. It may further include means for canceling the prohibition of the setting.

[0015]

With the camera configured as described above, a battery check is performed in parallel with time counting and the like during long-time exposure operation, and a warning is issued when it becomes difficult to secure power for executing the shutter closing operation. Take protective measures such as occurrence of. By such a protective measure, it is possible to effectively prevent abnormal exposure due to shutter control failure or the like due to battery shortage during the long-time exposure operation.

A camera according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a shutter device having a long-time exposure function and electrically controlling at least a shutter closing operation during the long-time exposure operation by a battery power source. Then, by the battery check means, while at least from the start to the end of the long-time exposure operation, while checking the remaining amount of the battery,
Based on the check result of the battery check means,
The warning display means, and issued a warning to the user, the warning
The display is canceled at a predetermined time. Therefore, the user can know in advance that the battery level is low due to the warning, can perform an appropriate operation such as forcibly closing the shutter , and can display once.
Warning that the operation to cancel the displayed warning is unnecessary
Ru it is possible to achieve a saving of power consumption associated with the display.

A camera according to a second aspect of the present invention has a long-time exposure function, and at least controls a shutter closing operation during the long-time exposure operation by electric power from a battery power source. And at least shutter opening / closing instructing means for giving instructions to the shutter device to open and close the shutter during the long-time exposure operation, and from the start to the end of the long-time exposure operation by the battery checking means. During, while performing a remaining amount check of the battery, to check whether the battery can supply power for closing operation of the shutter, as a result of the battery check by the battery check means,
If the available power according to the remaining amount of the battery becomes minimum required power near the closing operation of the shutter, warning
The notification display means gives a warning to the user, and the protection control means gives a shutter closing operation instruction to the shutter device irrespective of the instruction from the opening / closing instruction means.
After the closing operation of, the warning display is canceled within a predetermined time . Therefore, it is possible to automatically and extremely perform extreme abnormal exposure due to shutter control failure, etc., without the need for the operator to perform a special operation, and to save the power consumption associated with the warning display.
About Ru can be achieved.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The camera of the present invention will be described below in detail based on the embodiments with reference to the drawings. Figure 1
1 shows a configuration of a main part of an embodiment of a camera according to the present invention. The camera shown in FIG. 1 has a CPU (central processing unit) 1,
Interface section 2, shutter drive section 3, shutter 4, LCD (liquid crystal element) display section 5, warning LED 6, strobe LED 7, release switch 8, mode switch 9, strobe drive section 10, strobe light emission section 11, power supply system circuit. 12 and a battery storage unit 13.

The CPU 1 is used for controlling the entire camera such as shutter opening / closing control, aperture control, stroboscopic light emission control, film winding control, battery check control and warning display control, and controls all sequences. The interface unit 2 has a pre-driver function for controlling the shutter drive unit 3, and operates the shutter drive unit 3 based on a command given from the CPU 1. Further, the interface unit 2 has a battery check means having a battery check function, and gives the CPU 1 a value corresponding to the remaining amount of the battery when a predetermined constant load is applied to the power supply system circuit 12, for example, a load voltage. . When the voltage for battery check is given from the interface unit 2, the CPU 1 A / D (analog-digital) converts it and detects the result of the battery check as a value corresponding to the remaining battery level.

The shutter drive unit 3 has, for example, a shutter drive motor, and is driven by the interface unit 2 to operate the shutter 4. The shutter 4 is, for example, a spring (not shown) driven by a shutter drive motor.
It is configured to be held so as to be able to maintain the open state in which the shutter is biased, and the open state is maintained until the shutter drive unit 3 closes it. That is, the shutter drive unit 3 and the shutter 4 constitute an electrically controlled shutter device of a type that is in an open state unless it is electrically closed.

The LCD display unit 5 is drive-controlled by the CPU 1 to display a warning to the user and an elapsed time in the operation of the shutter 4. Warning LED6 is CP
Driven by U1, it warns the user. The strobe LED 7 displays a status such as charging, completion of charging, strobe light emission result, etc. of the power source for strobe light emission in the strobe drive unit 10. The release switch 8 is the CPU 1
Is a switch for giving a release operation signal to the CPU 1. In the long-time exposure mode, the CPU 1 is provided with instruction information for starting and ending the bulb photographing and the time photographing.

The mode switch 9 is a switch for giving information to the CPU 1 to set the photographing mode. In this case, it is possible to set the long exposure mode such as the bulb mode and the time mode as the photographing mode. is there.
The strobe drive unit 10 has a power supply unit for strobe light emission, and controls charging of the power supply unit and driving of the strobe light emission unit 11 (discharge of the power supply unit). The strobe light emitting section 11 generates a flash of light by the electric power supplied from the strobe driving section 10. The power supply system circuit 12 is a circuit of at least a part of a power supply system for the operation of the entire camera, and in this case, a circuit part including a part of the battery checking means. The battery storage unit 13 displays the battery attachment / detachment information as CP.
It has a function to give to U1.

In such a configuration, when the long-time exposure mode, for example, the time mode is set by the mode switch 9 and the release switch 8 is pressed, the CPU 1
A normal battery check operation is performed by the battery check means of the interface unit 2 via the. That is, the interface unit 2 applies a constant load to the power supply system circuit 12 to the extent that the battery is slightly consumed, performs a battery check, and gives the result to the CPU 1.
As a result of the battery check, the CPU 1 sets the long-time exposure operation if the battery has reached a predetermined remaining battery amount capable of long-time exposure, receives a control signal from a shutter opening / closing instruction means (not shown), and receives an interface unit. The shutter 4 is opened through the shutter 2 and the shutter drive unit 3 to open the shutter 4.

During the long-time exposure operation, the CPU 1 is idle to save power consumption, and periodically, for example, several ms to 1
At a cycle of about once every s, the CPU 1 starts by itself to count the time for exposure time measurement and the LCD display unit 5.
The elapsed time display is updated. CPU1 described above
At the time of regular startup, the CPU 1 performs a battery check via the interface unit 2 and verifies whether or not the battery has enough power to close the shutter 4.

As a result of the periodical battery check, when the battery remaining amount corresponds to sufficient electric power for closing the shutter 4, the exposure is continued for a long time, and in the case of a battery error, that is, the battery remaining amount is When there is only the electric power close to the minimum required for the closing operation of the shutter 4, the shutter 4 is quickly closed via the shutter drive unit 3 by the protection control means which gives the shutter device a shutter closing operation instruction.
In this case, immediately before the shutter 4 is closed, the warning LED 6 as the warning display means blinks or the LCD display unit 5 is activated.
The user is made to recognize that it is an urgent shutter closing operation by blinking display of. In this case, not only the visual display but also the warning display by sound such as an electronic buzzer may be performed.

It should be noted that even if the user is away from the vicinity of the camera during the long-time exposure, the user can know the cause of the closing operation of the shutter 4 even after the closing operation of the shutter 4 for warning. It is desirable that the warning display of the emergency shutter closing operation is performed by blinking the LED 6 or the LCD display section 5. In this case, in order to save the subsequent operation and power consumption, the warning display is canceled at a predetermined time (predetermined time).

After that, when the user again operates the mode switch 9 to set the long-time exposure mode, the battery check means is set at a predetermined level which is set higher than the normal case in advance. Check the battery of. When the battery check means determines that the remaining battery level is insufficient, the protection control means (not shown) again displays a warning display similar to the above, and cancels the setting of the long-time exposure (prohibition). ) Do. If it is determined by the battery check after this battery error has occurred that the remaining battery level is sufficient, the previous history of the battery error in the battery check described above is canceled, and then the normal state is restored. To do.

Further, when a battery with a small amount of remaining battery charge is replaced and a new battery is loaded, the battery can be supplied with power for long-time exposure by the battery replacement detection means (not shown). If it is determined that, the previous history of the battery error is canceled and the normal state is restored.

Next, the above operation will be specifically described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. In this case, the processing shown in each flowchart is mainly executed by the CPU 1. FIG. 2 shows the operation when the mode switch 9 is operated to set the time mode. When the mode switch 9 is operated, it is first checked whether or not a warning has already been issued once, that is, whether or not there is a previous history of issuing a warning from the warning display means (step S1).
1) If there is no previous history of warning occurrence, the CPU 1 performs the time mode setting process (step S12) and returns to the steady state.

When it is determined in step S11 that there is a history of warning occurrence, the CPU 1 performs a battery check of a higher level than usual via the interface unit 2 to check whether or not the time mode photographing operation is possible. If the remaining battery level is sufficient (step S13), the previous history of warning occurrence is cleared, that is, the previous history of battery error occurrence is canceled (step S14), the process proceeds to step S12, and the time mode is set. And return. When a battery error is detected in the battery check in step S13, the LCD display unit 5 and the warning LED 6
A warning is given again by at least one of the above (step S15) and the process returns.

FIG. 3 shows the operation when the release switch 8 is operated to perform a photographing operation. When the release switch 8 is turned on, first, the usual battery check, photometry and distance measurement are performed (step S2).
1), it is determined whether or not the shooting mode set by the mode switch 9 is the time mode (step S2).
2) In the time mode, the shutter 4 is opened through the interface unit 2 and the shutter drive unit 3 (step S23).

Next, the sleep mode is set (step S24), the camera suspends operations other than the battery check and the release switch operation detection, and it is checked whether or not the power necessary for closing the shutter remains in the battery. A battery check for determination is performed (step S2
5). As a result of the battery check in step S25, if there is a required battery remaining amount, it is determined whether or not the release switch 8 has been turned on again (step S26). If the release switch 8 has been turned on again, the shutter 4 Is closed (step S27), and normal processing is started.

If the release switch 8 has not been turned on again in step S26, the process returns to step S24. Unless a battery error is detected in step S25, the release switch 8 is turned on at a predetermined repetition cycle. The above operation is repeated. Step S25
If a battery error is detected as a result of the battery check of, the warning is given by at least one of the LCD display unit 5 and the warning LED 6 (step S2).
8) Immediately forcibly close the shutter 4 (step S29), and again the LCD display unit 5 and the warning LED 6
According to at least one of the above, a re-warning is performed for a few seconds (step S30), and the process proceeds to the normal process.

FIG. 4 shows the operation for battery replacement. When the battery is removed, the process begins,
A new battery has been loaded (step S4
When the battery replacement detection means detects 1), the power-on reset processing is performed (step S42), the previous history of the warning due to the detection of the battery error by the warning display means is canceled, and the processing returns to the normal processing. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be variously modified and implemented within a scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above, the warning display is L
Although it has been described that the operation is performed by at least one of the CD display unit 5 and the warning LED 6, the CPU 1, for example, the strobe light emitting unit 11 via the strobe driving unit 10.
May be made to emit light weaker than normal light emission to warn the user. Further, a warning display by a buzzer, a warning display by a voice display by an electronic sound, and the like may be appropriately combined.

In the above description, the protective action is taken such as forcibly closing the shutter at the same time when the warning is issued. However, as the protective action, only the warning is issued and the user manually operates. Just encouraging is also effective. By the above operation, the shutter 4 remains in the open state due to the change of the battery state due to the temperature change, particularly the temperature drop that deteriorates the performance of the battery, and the photographing fails, or the shutter is released thereafter. It is possible to prevent the problem of rewinding the film having been photographed while the film is opened and wasting all the photographed portions of the film.

Further, by prohibiting the repetition of the same inappropriate operation, it is possible to prevent the repeated exposure for a long time shorter than the time intended by the user. Furthermore, since the above-mentioned camera can be configured by using the existing control circuit and operation unit, it can be manufactured without increasing the cost or complicating the configuration.

[0038]

As described above , according to the invention described in claim 1, it has a long-time exposure function and at least a long-time exposure function.
When the shutter is closed during the exposure operation, the battery power
An electronically controlled shutter device and at least the long seconds
During the period from the start to the end of the exposure operation,
A battery check means for checking the remaining amount and the battery
Based on the check result of the terry check method,
Warning table that issues a warning and cancels the warning display in a predetermined time
Since it is configured to include the indicating means ,
By checking the remaining amount of the battery from the start to the end and taking protective measures such as issuing a warning at the time when securing the power for executing the shutter closing operation becomes critical,
If it can effectively prevent abnormal exposure by the shutter uncontrolled like due to low battery in long-time during an exposure operation
In addition, a predetermined warning display is given to the user who once issued the warning.
Because it is configured to disconnect after being connected for a time
Eliminates the need for the operator to cancel the warning display
At the same time, it is possible to provide a camera that can save power consumption . Moreover, according to the invention described in claim 2,
It has the exposure function at the time of second,
The closing operation of the cutter is controlled electrically by battery power.
Shutter device, and at least before the long-time exposure operation
The shutter opening and closing operations are instructed by the shutter.
Shutter opening / closing instruction means to be given to the apparatus and the long-time exposure
From the start to the end of the operation, the battery level check
Check that the battery is
Battery check to see if it can supply power for
Check means and the battery check means.
As a result of recheck, supply is possible depending on the remaining battery level
The power is near the minimum power required to close the shutter.
If it does, regardless of the instructions of the opening and closing instruction means,
A protective system that gives a shutter closing instruction to the shutter device.
Control means and the check result of the battery check means
A warning is issued to the user based on the warning display at a predetermined time
By providing a warning display means for releasing between
As a result of the battery check by the battery check means,
The amount of power that can be supplied due to the remaining amount of battery is necessary for the closing operation of the shutter.
When the power is near the required level, the warning display means
The user is alerted and the protective control means is used to
Regardless of the means shown, the shutter closing
Is given, and the above warning display is given at a predetermined time after the shutter is closed.
Since it is configured to be released between the
Without operating the shutter control
Abnormal exposure can be done automatically and in advance.
If the operator does not need to cancel the warning display,
To provide a camera that can save power consumption.
Wear.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a main part of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an operation mainly related to a CPU at the time of mode switching of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation mainly related to a CPU in a time mode of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation mainly related to a CPU when the battery of the camera of FIG. 1 is replaced.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU (central processing unit) 2 Interface section 3 Shutter driver 4 shutter 5 LCD display 6 Warning LED 7 Strobe LED 8 Release switch 9 Mode switch 10 Strobe drive 11 Strobe emission part 12 power supply circuit 13 Battery storage

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Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A shutter device having a long-time exposure function, which electrically controls a shutter closing operation at least during the long-time exposure operation by a battery power source, and at least from the start to the end of the long-time exposure operation. until a battery checking means for performing residual quantity check of the battery, and emitting a warning to the user based on the check result of the battery check means, to release the warning display at a given time
That warning display unit and the camera, characterized by comprising. 2. A shutter device having a long-time exposure function and electrically controlling the closing operation of the shutter at least during the long-time exposure operation by a battery power source, and at least the shutter device during the long-time exposure operation. Shutter opening / closing instruction means for giving an instruction of opening operation and closing operation to the shutter device, and a remaining amount check of the battery is performed between the start and the end of the long-time exposure operation, and the battery closes the shutter. Battery check means for checking whether or not it is possible to supply electric power for operation, and as a result of the battery check by the battery check means, the supplyable electric power depending on the remaining amount of the battery is the minimum electric power necessary for the closing operation of the shutter. If it is near,
A protection control means for giving a shutter closing operation instruction to the shutter device regardless of an instruction of the opening / closing instruction means, and a user based on a check result of the battery check means.
A warning to the user and cancel the warning display at a predetermined time
And a warning display means . Wherein said warning display means, based on the check result of the battery check means, characterized in that it comprises a means for emitting against the user a warning prior to the closing operation instruction of the shutter by the protection and control unit The camera according to claim 2. Wherein said warning display means, according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises means for issuing a warning after the closing operation of the shutter based on the closing operation instruction of the shutter of the protection and control unit
Or the camera described in 3. 5. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the warning display means further includes means for re-warning when an attempt is made to set long-time exposure after the warning is displayed. . Wherein said battery checking means, after a warning display by the warning display means comprises means for the battery power is checked whether the possible supply for the long shutter exposure,
And wherein the protection control means, the warning of the battery check after displaying results, if the remaining battery level is determined to be insufficient in the exposure time of the long-time, that it includes means for inhibiting the setting of the exposure time of the long sec The camera according to claim 2, wherein: By 7. battery replacement, a battery exchange detection means for detecting that a new battery is set, by the battery change detection means, when the new set of battery is detected, by said warning display means The camera according to claim 5 , further comprising means for canceling the re-warning after the warning is displayed. 8. A battery replacement detecting means for detecting that a new battery has been set by replacing the battery, and a long-second exposure when the new battery setting is detected by the battery replacement detecting means. means for the battery power is checked whether the possible re-supplied for by this means, if the power for exposure long shutter is determined that the battery can be supplied, the length by the protection and control unit 7. The camera according to claim 6 , further comprising means for releasing prohibition of setting of second exposure.