JP3416277B2 - Optical device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a plurality of distance measuring fields.
The present invention relates to an optical device such as a camera capable of setting the distance measuring field of view.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a camera having a plurality of distance measuring fields, a method of selecting and setting a plurality of distance measuring fields within a viewfinder field is as follows. And then the release button,
The main dial in the vicinity is rotated to set the distance measuring field of view, the distance is measured at the distance measuring point based on the setting of the distance measuring field of view, the focus is adjusted, and the photographing sequence is entered.

Further, when the distance measuring field of view is set to an automatic selection distance measuring mode in which the camera automatically determines the distance measuring field and adjusts the focus, the movement of the object is followed even during continuous shooting. The camera is designed to focus.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when it is desired to immediately change the distance measuring field during photographing, the photographing operation must be interrupted once and the distance measuring field must be set again. There was a case where the shutter could not be released immediately because the desired angle of view was not released.

If the camera automatically determines the distance measuring field of view and is set to the automatic selection distance measuring mode in which the focus is adjusted, the focus follows the movement of the subject even during continuous shooting. Depending on the shooting scene, the camera will continue to determine the field of view that the photographer did not intend,
There were cases where it was not easy to use.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to set the distance measuring frame which is desired to be focused immediately at the angle of view desired by the photographer, and the distance measuring frame can be set easily even during the photographing operation. An optical device of the present invention is provided.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention according to the claims 1 includes a plurality of distance measuring field frame corresponding to a plurality of distance measuring visual field of the finder field of view, the double
Automatically select a ranging field frame from a number of ranging field frames
And the selected focus mode, and optional distance measurement mode in which the photographer to select an arbitrary distance measurement field frame from the distance measuring field frame of said plurality of, the free-
The dynamic selection distance measurement mode and one of the plurality of distance measurement field frames
The photographer can arbitrarily select the ranging field frame.
The first operation member and one of the plurality of distance measuring field frames are measured.
The second field that allows the photographer to arbitrarily select the distance field frame
An optical device comprising: an operating member .

Similarly, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 2 of the present application provides the second operation according to claim 1
The members are mounted on the back of the device or on the device.
It is provided on the lens member .

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

[0019]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a camera body 1 and a lens 2 embodying the present invention. Reference numeral 3 is a release for performing photometry, distance measurement, etc. by pressing the first stroke and performing a release operation by pressing the second stroke. Buttons, 4 are mode dials for changing the exposure mode of the camera, 5 are indicators for informing the photographer of the state of the camera, setting values, etc. 6 is for changing the setting values displayed on the display unit 5. The main dial, which is the first setting operation member to be performed, 7 is the distance measuring point selection button for setting the selection and setting mode of the distance measurement frame, 8 is the sub dial, which is the second setting operation member, Normally used to set the aperture value related to exposure control.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the camera shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 9 denotes a back lid that opens and closes when loading or unloading a film.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing each control system in the camera and the lens.

Reference numeral 10 is a microprocessing unit (MPU) for controlling the entire inside of the camera, and 11 is a signal input device which is an operation member for setting the camera, and includes a main dial 6, a sub dial 7, and others. There is a switch member 12 and the like. Reference numeral 13 denotes a display device for displaying the setting state of the camera, which is displayed on the external display unit 5 and the in-viewfinder display unit 14.

Reference numeral 15 is a storage means for storing the setting state of the camera. 16 is a first motor 17 for feeding the film.
And a motor control device for controlling the second motor 18 for mechanical charging of the shutter and the mirror, and 19 is the photometric device 2
A shutter drive device controlled by the calculation result of the MPU 10 based on the output of 0, 21 is a focus detection device, and 22 is an LED drive device that illuminates and displays the distance measuring field within the field of view of the finder.

Further, the MPU 10 has a communication function with the lens 2, and operates the lens driving device 24 and the diaphragm driving device 23 in the lens 2 according to the control from the camera.

Exposure control is performed by the diaphragm drive device 23 and shutter drive device 19, and automatic focus adjustment is performed by the lens drive device 24 and focus detection device 21, respectively .

FIG. 4 is a view showing the inside of the field of view of the finder, and 14 is a display in the finder using a liquid crystal display, and 3
Reference numeral 0 is a focusing screen, 31a to 31e are distance measuring field frames corresponding to a distance measuring field formed on a display member arranged in the vicinity of the focusing screen 30,
The LED drive device 22 illuminates and displays when the distance measuring field of view is set or when focusing is performed. This display method is a known method called superimpose display in a camera. Then, detailed description is omitted.

Next, the operation of setting the distance measuring frame will be described with reference to a flow chart. FIG. 5 is a flow chart for setting a distance measurement frame using the main dial 6 which is the first operation member, and the conventional camera mainly uses this setting method.

In FIG. 5, after the power of the camera is first turned on at # 100, the initial operation of the camera is set at # 10.
In step # 102, it is determined whether or not the operation member of the camera is operated by SW change. The standby # 101 and the SW change determination # 102 are performed until the SW changes.

If there is a change in SW, the process proceeds to # 103 to determine whether or not the button is the focus detection point selection button. If it is not the focus detection point selection button, the processing corresponding to various SWs is performed in # 104. However, the description is omitted because it is not particularly related to the present invention.

If the focus detection point selection button is # 103,
For the first time, the distance measuring field frame setting mode is entered, and the external display 5 and the distance measuring field frame 31 in the finder field are displayed at # 105.

The distance measuring field frame displayed at this time is set by the previous operation, remembers the distance measuring field frame to the storage device 15
Is .

Next, at # 106, a 6 second timer is started. This is for accepting the setting mode of the distance measuring field for 6 seconds to prevent power consumption. Then # 10
At 7, it is determined whether or not the distance measuring field (distance measuring point) is changed. The determination here is to detect the number of rotation clicks and the rotation direction of the main dial, which is the first setting operation member. When the main dial is rotated here, #
Returning to 105, the distance measuring point is displayed according to the rotation direction and the number of clicks, and the process proceeds to # 106 and # 107 again.

If there is no rotation of the main dial at # 107, the process proceeds to # 108 to check if there is a change in other operating members. If there is a change, the operation returns to the standby operation of # 101, # 102, # 103. Then, in step # 104, a process corresponding to the operation member is performed.

If there is no change in other operation members at # 108, it is judged at # 109 whether the 6 second timer set at # 106 is completed. If not, go to # 107. Go back and check if the AF point is changed.

If the timer is completed in # 109, it is considered that the distance measuring point is not changed, and the process returns to the standby in # 101.

The change of the distance measuring field frame display in this distance measuring field frame setting flow will be described with reference to FIG. Five frames in a horizontal row in the figure indicate the range-finding frame in the finder and the range-finding field frame displayed on the external display, that is, the range-finding point. The thick frame indicates the selection point and the broken-line frame indicates The selection points are shown.

In FIG. 7A, five points are set, but this is an automatic selection distance measurement mode in which the camera automatically determines the distance measurement field of view and adjusts the focus, and b to f are set by the photographer. This is an optional distance measuring mode in which focus adjustment is performed using an arbitrarily set distance measuring visual field.

When it is detected that the focus detection point selection button is pressed in # 103 of the flow of FIG. 5, any one of the previously set a to f of FIG. 7 is displayed first. For example, if the automatic selection distance measurement mode of a is previously set, the display of a is performed, and the left focus detection point is selected by rotating the main dial 1 click in the right direction at # 107.
Click to rotate to the right to move to the left middle AF point c, and continue to do so, the center AF point d, right middle AF point e,
Continuing to the right distance measuring point f and further rotating rightward by one click returns to the automatic selection distance measuring mode of a. When the main dial is rotated to the left, it will be set in the opposite direction of the arrow.

Next, the flow of setting the distance measuring frame by the sub dial 8 which is the second operation member according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when the power of the camera is turned on in # 200, the initial setting of the camera is performed, and in # 201, the state of the switch SW1 which is turned on in association with the half-pressed state of the release button is checked, and SW1 is turned on. This detection is repeated until.
When the switch SW1 is turned on, the MPU 10 first activates the photometric device 20 and calculates subject brightness corresponding to each area in the finder (# 202). The shutter speed or aperture value is displayed on the in-viewfinder display unit 14 or the external display unit 5 based on the calculated value and the ISO code of the film loaded in the camera or the open FNO of the lens (# 203).

Next, the change of the sub dial as the second distance measuring frame setting operation member according to the present invention is detected (# 20).
4). If the sub dial is operated at this time, the process proceeds to step # 205 to determine whether or not the previously set focus detection point is in the focus detection point automatic selection mode (distance measurement AUTO), and the previous setting is the focus detection AUTO. No, that is, if it is the focus detection point arbitrary selection mode, the process proceeds to step # 206, and the storage device 1 set last time
The distance measuring point stored in 5 is changed to an arbitrary distance measuring point according to the rotation direction of the sub dial and the number of clicks. If the previous setting in # 205 is AF point AUTO,
At # 207, the distance measuring point is set to the center. This is because there are few cases where the sub-dial is turned carelessly, or when the AF point AUTO is changed to the left AF point or the right AF point immediately before taking a picture. This is because it is preferable to use the central distance measuring point for the change.

Subsequently, in # 209, the LDE driving device 22 illuminates the distance measuring field frame in the viewfinder with the display of the distance measuring point set above, and in # 210, the distance measuring field corresponding to the distance measuring field is measured. Focus detection is performed by the focus detection device 21 at the distance point, and the lens drive device 24 is operated to perform the distance measurement operation.

If the operation of changing the focus detection point is not performed in # 204, the flow shifts to # 208 to determine whether the focus detection point previously set was in the focus detection point automatic selection mode, and the focus detection point arbitrary selection mode is selected. If there is, the arbitrary focus detection point is displayed at # 209. If the focus detection point automatic selection mode is set, the focus detection point display is not performed, and the process proceeds to step # 210 to perform the focus detection operation in the focus detection point automatic selection mode. Do. Here, the reason why the distance measuring point selected in the distance measuring point automatic selection mode is not displayed is that it is bothersome for the photographer because all the distance measuring points are displayed, and it may be difficult for the photographer to display the focus point to be described later. Since it is displayed, it is difficult to determine the in-focus point.

[0045] performs a distance measurement operation in the distance measurement points set in # 210 through to focus, at a focus focus control operation is stopped, to lock the focus position of the lens. At this locked focus position, the brightness of each area in the finder with respect to the subject image is measured by the multi-divided photometric device 20 (# 211), and the measured value is also locked like the focus position.

[0046] that it has focused on the distance measuring point is set then, based on the photometric value at # 211, LED driving one of the distance measurement frame 31a~31e in brightness corresponding to the distance measuring point focus displayed by device 22 (# 212), the the display unit 14 or the external display unit 5 viewfinder displays the shutter speed and aperture value rather based on the photometric value at # 211 (#
213).

The shutter speed and aperture value are also determined by weighting the brightness corresponding to the set focus detection point as in the in-focus display (# 212).

If the distance measuring point is AUTO in # 208, #
In the distance measurement at 210, the camera detects the optimum subject,
If the subject and the subject are within a certain defocus, it is determined that the subject is within the in-focus range, and in the in-focus display in # 212, all focus detection points within the in-focus range are displayed. However,
Since one basic focus range has been determined, # 21
The photometry of No. 1 is performed according to the determined distance measuring point.

At the subsequent step # 214, it is determined whether or not the locked focus position and the photometric value are to be held as the photographing conditions by the state of the switch SW1, and it is desired to interrupt the photographing, that is, if the switch SW1 is OFF, the step # 201. Return to and enter standby mode.

If the switch SW1 is ON in # 214, it is determined whether or not the exposure operation is performed under the conditions .
Examine the condition of the eye switch SW2 (# 215). If the switch SW2 is ON here, exposure control (# 216)
After that, the mirrors are retracted, the diaphragm drive device 23 and the shutter drive device 19 are controlled, and then the motor control device 16 rotates the first motor 17 to feed the exposed film (# 217). Then, mechanical charging (# 218) to the initial positions of the shutter and the mirror is performed by rotating the second motor 18 from the motor control device 16, and when completed, the process returns to # 201 and returns to the standby state.

If the switch SW2 is OFF in # 215, the distance measuring point can be changed and accepted again in # 2.
Return to 04 and check whether the focus detection point has been changed. At this time, if the previously set AF point is AUTO and the sub dial is rotated,
The central focus detection point is set at # 207. In this way, if the previous distance-measuring AUTO is set and the sub dial is not rotated, the operation in the distance-measuring AUTO is performed as it is.
If the sub-dial is rotated even once, an arbitrary selection is made, and during continuous shooting or when the switch SW1 is ON, the change is accepted in the arbitrary selection mode.

In the flow of FIG. 6, the description has been made in a series of operations so that the determination of the change of the distance measuring point can be easily understood. However, since the detection of the sub-dial is actually accepted as an interrupt, the distance measuring (#
210) and during photometry (# 211), the photographer looks in the viewfinder field and within the range where the subject is visible (# 20).
Between 4 and # 214), the changing operation is immediately performed. Further, even during film feeding (# 217) and mechanical charge (# 218), if the rotation direction and the number of clicks of the sub dial are stored, the next distance measurement will be the changed distance measurement by the stored amount. I try to do it in points.

The change in the display of the distance measuring frame in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIG. The display of the figure is the same as that of FIG.

When the sub dial is rotated one click to the right or left at the distance measuring point AUTO in the previous setting, the process moves to d in FIG. If the previous setting is the left AF point and there is no rotation operation of the sub dial, the display at # 209 in FIG. 6 displays the AF point position as it is as in FIG.
When it is rotated in the right direction by clicking, it is changed and displayed in the order of c → d → e → f. Even if it is rotated one click further to the right at that position, the setting does not change to b and the setting remains as it is. This is to cope with an operation error or quick rotation. Further, the change from that position to the left is similar to the right, and even if the position is further changed to the left at the b position, it remains at the b position.

In order to change the setting from an arbitrary focus detection point to an automatic focus detection point in the flow of FIG. 6, it is necessary to interrupt the shooting operation and set again as shown in the flow of FIG. Thus, if the focus detection point selection button 7 or the like is pressed so that the focus detection point can be automatically set, it can be easily changed even during the shooting operation.

Further, when it is desired to use the operation of the sub dial as the aperture value changing dial for exposure control,
The mode dial 4 has a CF mode (not shown) in which the photographer can set his or her favorite function, and the sub dial is used in advance to set the number of whether to use the AF point setting or the aperture value setting. Therefore, the photographer can select any of the numbers in the CF mode and select either one.

If the sub dial is selected to set the aperture value, the distance measuring point change setting is made only by the distance measuring point selection button and the main dial shown in the flow of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a second embodiment, which is an example in which a second operating member for setting the distance measuring field is arranged on the lens.

In the figure, 2 is a lens, 40 is a zooming ring for changing the photographing angle of view, 41 is a manual focus ring for the photographer to manually focus, and 42 is a distance measuring point setting ring. Unlike the manual focus ring, this focus detection point setting ring has the same click as the sub dial, and the operating force to operate it is different, so it is unlikely that it will be accidentally operated with the manual focus ring. This distance measuring point setting ring is also operated in the same manner as the operation described with the sub dial.

Further, since it can be used in combination with the sub-dial, it is possible to set the aperture value setting for exposure control by the sub-dial with the setting ring of the lens.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to set the range-finding frame that the photographer desires.
Along with it, it is easy to use the rangefinder field frame setting even during shooting
We can provide an optical device such as a camera that can perform well.
It

[0062]

[0063]

[0064]

[0065]

[0066]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a single-lens reflex camera and a lens showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing each control device in the camera and the lens in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the inside of a viewfinder of the camera of FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing a distance measuring frame setting operation by the first operation member of the camera of FIG.

6 is a flowchart showing a distance measuring frame setting operation by the second operation member of the camera of FIG.

7A and 7B are views showing a change of a distance measuring frame display by a first operation member of the camera of FIG.

8A and 8B are views showing a change of a distance measuring frame display by a second operation member of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a single-lens reflex camera and a lens showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Camera 2 ... Lens 3 ... Release button 4 ... Mode dial 5 ... External display 6 ... Main dial 7 ... Distance measuring point selection button 8 ... Sub dial 14 ... In viewfinder display 31 ... Distance measuring field frame 40 ... Zooming ring 41 ... Manual focus ring 42 ... AF point selection lens

Front page continuation (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03B 17/20 G03B 13/02-13/36

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of ranging field frames corresponding to a plurality of ranging fields within a viewfinder field, and an automatic selection ranging mode for automatically selecting a ranging field frame from the plurality of ranging field frames. An optional distance measurement mode in which the photographer arbitrarily selects a distance measurement field frame from the plurality of distance measurement field frames, an automatic selection distance measurement mode, and one of the plurality of distance measurement field frames And a first operation member that the photographer can arbitrarily select, and a second operation that allows the photographer to arbitrarily select one of the plurality of distance measuring field frames. An optical device comprising: a member. 2. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the second operation member is provided on a back surface of the apparatus body or a lens member attached to the apparatus body.