JP3429947B2 - Information imprinting device for camera - 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 information imprinting apparatus capable of imprinting various information on a film in a camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some conventional cameras can be equipped with an accessory for imprinting the date and time of photographing or the day of the week (date, etc.) from Monday to Sunday. Recently, accessories for imprinting information on such films have evolved further, and in addition to information such as the date that conventional accessories can imprint, aperture value, shutter speed, shooting mode, number of frames, initials of photographer. Those having a function of being able to imprint various kinds of photographing information on a film have appeared. Hereinafter, of the above accessories, the former will be referred to as a small-function accessory, and the latter will be referred to as a multi-function accessory for convenience.

[0003]

However, in the multi-function accessory as described above, the kind of information that can be imprinted is certainly richer than the small-function accessories that existed before that, which is convenient. It takes time to select and switch the information content, which causes a problem that the frame feed speed in the continuous shooting mode may be reduced or that a perfect shutter chance may be missed.

That is, the multi-function accessory has a liquid crystal for displaying information like the low-function accessory,
In the case of information that changes very rarely, such as the date, it is always displayed when other information is not displayed, and because of this, the display is always maintained in a stable state, so the liquid crystal display after the release signal is generated. It is possible to perform the imprinting operation immediately without waiting for the image stabilization.

On the other hand, in the case of information that changes frequently such as the aperture value, the display of the liquid crystal changes because the display must be switched to the information to be imprinted instead of the display of the liquid crystal until then. It takes time for the image to stabilize and become clear. Especially when the shooting location is at a low temperature, it takes an extra long time, and the shooting can be performed only after such time elapses. There has been a problem that a shutter chance may be missed.

In view of the above problems, the present invention is capable of vividly imprinting information on a film by imprinting information after the liquid crystal display is stabilized, and at the same time, vividly imprinting information on the film. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information imprinting device for a camera, which enables immediate photographing without waiting for the display of the liquid crystal to stabilize when the user determines that immediate photographing is more important than the situation. .

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an information display means for displaying information to be imprinted on a film on a liquid crystal, a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of a photographing place, and the liquid crystal display. A storage unit that stores the relationship between the temperature and the waiting time until the display stabilizes after switching, and a progress of the waiting time read from the table based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit. In a camera information imprinting device, which comprises a timing means for timing and imprinting means for imprinting the information on a film, and when the timing means has completed the timing of the waiting time, the imprinting means notifies the camera of this fact. A first photographing method in which the imprinting command signal is transmitted from the camera after the waiting time has expired and the imprinting operation is performed; When transmitting a command signal imprinting from the camera without waiting for completion second performing operation imprinting this time
The shooting information can be selected and executed, and the information to be imprinted is information that changes infrequently such as the date, or changes frequently for each frame such as the aperture value. to a one of providing a discriminating means for discriminating the one of the information, when said determination means has determined that the information is information that changes very rarely are the imprinting means regardless of the waiting time copy immediately When it is determined that the information is in an imprintable state and the information is information that changes frequently, the imprintable state is set after a predetermined time.

According to the information imprinting apparatus for a camera having such a configuration, in the case of the first photographing method, the temperature detecting means detects the temperature of the photographing place, and the weight signal generating means detects the temperature based on the detected temperature. The waiting time required for the display of the information display means to stabilize after switching is read from the table of the storage means, a wait signal corresponding to the waiting time is generated and output to the time measuring means, and the imprinting means is used by the imprinting means. The information is displayed on the liquid crystal, and the imprinting means imprints the information when the time measuring means has completed the measurement of the waiting time. By imprinting the information after the display of the liquid crystal is stabilized, the information can be clearly imprinted on the film.

In the case of the second photographing method, for example, when it is judged that it is more important for the user to photograph immediately than to clearly photograph information on the film, the control means controls the photographing means and waits. Since the information can be imprinted without waiting for the expiration of the time measurement, it is possible to prevent the number of shooting frames per unit time from decreasing in the continuous shooting mode, and to prevent a great shutter chance from being missed. Is possible.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 are views showing a first embodiment of an information imprinting apparatus for a camera according to the present invention.

The imprinting device 1 in FIG. 1 is provided at a position facing the imprinting aperture of the back cover of the camera. Various photographing information is displayed on the imprinting data display section 3 of the imprinting apparatus 1 in FIG. 1A, the exposure correction value is shown in the 3a part, the shutter speed is in the 3b part, and the aperture value is in the 3c part. In the value 3d portion, the shooting mode, the initials of the photographer, etc. can be displayed collectively.

Other image pickup information can be displayed on the imprinted data display section 3, such as the number of frames taken, the date and time, or the day of the week (date etc.). Therefore, the imprinting device 1
Has become a multi-function accessory that can capture various types of information. In principle, the date and the like are always displayed on the imprinted data display section 3 unless other information is selected.

At the upper left of the imprinted data display section 3, there is a status display section 4 in which the current status is displayed. For example, when the display of the PRINT display unit 4a is lit, the fact that the photographing information imprinting mode is set is
When the display of the RINT display section 4a is blinking, it indicates that the photographing information is currently being imprinted on the film of a predetermined frame. Further, when the display of the INT display unit 4b adjacent to the PRINT display unit 4a is lit, it indicates that the interval shooting mode is set,
In this case, information such as the interval time is also displayed on the imprinted data display unit 3.

The operation buttons 2 of the imprinting apparatus 1 include a button 2a for selecting the imprinting of information on the film, a button 2b for selecting the interval photographing,
Buttons 2c to 2e for changing the set value such as the date, time or interval time, a wait stop button 2f described later, and a button 2 for selecting a copy of various information.
g, a button 2h for sending a release signal, etc.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the optical system for imprinting the photographing information on the film 9 comprises a light source 5 (imaging lamp), a lens 6 and a mirror 7, and a liquid crystal display (information display). Means) 8 (photographing information similar to that displayed on the imprint data display section 3) is displayed on the film 9 through a mask aperture (back cover) 10 of the camera. Imprinted in.

FIG. 2 shows the imprinting device 1 shown in FIG.
3 is a diagram showing an internal optical system in the front view of FIG. When the photographing information is imprinted on the film 9, the light source 5 is turned on, the light flux from the light source 5 is spread by the lens 6, and the light flux bent by a mirror (not shown) passes through the aperture 10a, so that the aperture 10a The shooting information displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 8 in the foreground is imprinted on the film 9.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the imprinting apparatus 1. The imprinting device 1, which is integrally provided on the back cover side of the camera body 12, includes a controller (control unit, discriminating unit, last-minute information discriminating unit) 15, a transcribing unit (imprinting unit) 16, and imprinting data display. It has a unit 3, operation buttons 2, a weight signal generation circuit (weight signal generation means) 18, a memory (storage means) 20, a sensor (temperature detection means) 22, and a timer (time measurement means) 24. The imprinting section 16 has the optical system, that is, the light source 5, the lens 6, the mirror 7, the liquid crystal display section 8 and the like.

The sensor 22 detects the temperature of the photographing location. The memory 20 stores the relationship between the temperature of the photographing place detected by the sensor 22 and the waiting time until the display of the liquid crystal display unit 8 becomes stable after switching, as a table. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the waiting time is 100 ms (milliseconds) when the temperature is 25 ° C., and the waiting time is 5 when the temperature is 0 ° C.
1 second (sec) at 00ms and -10 ° C, -20 ° C
In case of, it is stored that the time is 2 sec so that it can be easily read from the table. At other temperatures, waiting time data corresponding to each temperature is formed and stored in the table.

The weight signal generation circuit 18 generates a weight signal corresponding to the waiting time read from the memory 20 based on the temperature detected by the sensor 22, and outputs this weight signal to the timer 24. The timer 24 measures the progress of the waiting time based on the wait signal from the wait signal generation circuit 18.

The operation of such an imprinting apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the controller 15 determines whether the weight stop button 2f of the operation button 2 has been operated (step S1). If it is determined that the weight stop button 2f has not been operated, then the imprinted data display section 3 and the liquid crystal display section 8 are displayed. It is determined whether or not the imprint information displayed on the screen is information that changes frequently such as the aperture value (step S2). In the case of YES, the controller 15 inputs the imprint information such as the aperture value from the camera body 12 (step S3), and displays the imprint information on the imprint data display unit 3 and the liquid crystal display unit 8 (step S4).

In parallel with the operations of steps S3 and S4, the wait signal generating circuit 18 reads the waiting time from the temperature detected by the sensor 22 and the table in the memory 20 (step S5), and the wait corresponding to this waiting time. The signal is output from the weight signal generation circuit 18 to the timer 24 (step S6).

Next, the timer 24 measures the progress of the waiting time, and it is judged whether or not the timing operation has expired (step S7). In the case of NO, the timer 24 continues the time counting operation, and in the case of YES, next, it is judged whether or not the imprinting command synchronized with the release signal (or by the release signal itself) is received from the camera body 12 (step S).
8). In the case of NO, the process waits until the imprinting command comes, and in the case of YES when the imprinting command comes, the imprinting unit 16 executes the imprinting operation (step S9). As described above, when the imprinting operation is performed after the waiting time has expired and the liquid crystal display is sufficiently stabilized, clear information can be reliably imprinted on the film.

When it is determined in step S1 that the weight cancel button 2f of the operation button 2 is operated (YES), the timer 24 immediately shifts to step S8 without waiting for the waiting time to be counted. ,
When a print command is received from the camera body 12 (step S
8), the imprinting section 16 can be immediately caused to perform the imprinting operation (step S9).

With this operation, even if the imprinting information is frequently changed, the imprinting operation can be performed without waiting for the waiting time to expire by operating the wait stop button 2f. Therefore, it is possible to increase the number of frames to be photographed per unit time in the continuous shooting mode, and it is possible to prevent a great shutter chance from being lost.

When it is determined in step S2 that the displayed information is not information that frequently changes (NO), that is, it is determined that the displayed information is information that does not change frequently, such as the date. If step S3
Without S7, the process immediately shifts to step S8, and when the imprinting command comes from the camera body 12 (step S8).
YES), the imprinting section 16 is immediately caused to perform the imprinting operation (step S9).

That is, since information such as the date is always displayed on the imprinted data display section 3 and the liquid crystal display section 8, there is no need to switch or redisplay the information, so that signals can be exchanged with the camera body 12. This is because it is not necessary to wait until the display of the liquid crystal becomes stable, and the imprinting operation can be performed immediately with the display of the date and the like.

In the above embodiment, the weight signal generation circuit 18 is configured to output the wait signal to the timer 24 even if the imprint information is information that changes very rarely. The wait signal generation circuit 18 may not generate the wait signal, and by doing so, useless operation can be prevented and power consumption can be reduced.

In addition to the mode for imprinting each frame of the film, the present invention also has a mode for imprinting information for a camera having a mode for imprinting photographing information relating to all the number of frames photographed on a particular frame. It may be used in a device.
In that case, in the mode in which the imprinting is performed for each frame, the imprinting operation is performed without waiting for the expiration of the time count, thereby increasing the number of frames to be photographed per unit time in the continuous shooting mode. It is possible to prevent losing a good shutter chance. Also, in the mode in which the imprinting is collectively performed on the specific frames, it is possible to spend a lot of time when not photographing, so the imprinting operation should be performed after the waiting time has expired. Thus, clear information can be surely imprinted on the film.

Further, when the imprinting information is input from the camera body 12 in step S3 of FIG. 4, when the controller 15 determines that the imprinting information has the same content as the last (immediately before), the liquid crystal display Since the imprinting information having the same content is already displayed and stable in the section 8, it is not necessary to switch it, and if the imprinting information is displayed again, the same time as switching is required until it becomes stable. Therefore, the controller 15 does not perform the operation of redisplaying the image on the imprinting unit 16, and the controller 15 does not perform the step S
It is also possible to omit step 4 to step S7 and perform the imprinting using the display as it is. In this case, the imprinted information can be clearly imprinted and the photographing can be started quickly.

[0030]

As described above, according to the information imprinting apparatus for a camera of the present invention, the imprinting of information is performed after the waiting time has expired, so that the liquid crystal display is displayed like in winter. Even when it takes a long time for the state to stabilize, or when the information changes frequently, the information can be clearly printed on the film. Further, when the temperature is high, it takes less time until the display state of the liquid crystal stabilizes, so that the shooting can be performed quickly and the information can be clearly imprinted on the film.

Further, for example, when it is desired to take an image immediately, the information can be imprinted without waiting for the expiration of the waiting time, even if the information changes frequently. It is possible to prevent a decrease in the number of shooting frames per unit time in the shooting mode, and it is possible to prevent a great shutter chance from being missed.

Further, even in the case of a date when information changes very rarely, it is not necessary to wait for the waiting time to expire, so that the information can be imprinted immediately. It is possible to prevent a decrease in the number of frames taken per unit time and to prevent a great shutter chance.

By preventing the wait signal generation circuit 18 from generating a wait signal, it is possible to prevent useless operation and reduce power consumption.

Further, in addition to the mode for imprinting each frame of the film, the information imprinting device for a camera having a mode for imprinting photographing information concerning all the number of frames photographed on a specific frame As a result, in the mode of imprinting each frame, by performing the imprinting operation without waiting for the expiration of the timing, it is possible to increase the number of frames to be photographed per unit time in the continuous shooting mode. , It is possible to prevent a great shutter chance from being lost, and in the mode of collectively imprinting on the specific frame, it is possible to take a long time during non-photographing, so By performing the imprinting operation after the expiration, it is possible to reliably imprint clear information on the film.

Further, when the controller 15 determines that the imprinting information input from the camera body 12 has the same content as the previous one, the controller 15 causes the imprinting section 16 to display the imprinting information of the liquid crystal display section 8. The imprinting information can be clearly imprinted and the photographing can be started quickly by performing the imprinting using the display as it is without performing the re-execution operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first information imprinting apparatus for a camera according to the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the imprinting apparatus 1 which concerns on embodiment of FIG. 1, FIG.1 (a) is a front view of the imprinting apparatus 1, FIG.1 (b) is FIG.
It is a BB line sectional view of the imprinting device 1 shown in (a).

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal optical system in a front view of the imprinting device 1 shown in FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the imprinting device 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation procedure of the imprinting device 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a table showing the relationship between the temperature stored in the memory 20 and the time taken until the display of the liquid crystal is stabilized.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Imprinting device 2 Operation button 2a Imprinting selection button 2b Interval shooting selection button 2c to 2e Setting value change button 2f Date, time, interval time, etc. Wait stop button 2g Button 2h for selecting a collective transmission Sending a release signal Button 3 for imprinting data display section 3a exposure correction value display section 3b shutter speed display section 3c aperture value display section 3d display section such as shooting mode 4 status display section 4a PRINT display section 4b INT display section 5 light source 6 lens 7 mirror 8 Liquid Crystal Display 9 Film 10 Mask Plate 10a Imprint Aperture 12 Camera Body 15 Controller 16 Imprinting Part 18 Weight Signal Generation Circuit 20 Memory 22 Sensor 24 Timer

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page       (56) Reference JP-A-5-210161 (JP, A)                 JP-A-6-347889 (JP, A)                 JP-A-3-120523 (JP, A)                 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-103026 (JP, A)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An information display means for displaying information to be imprinted on a film on a liquid crystal, a temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of a photographing place, a waiting time until the display of the liquid crystal becomes stable after switching, and the temperature. Storage means for storing the relationship as a table, timing means for timing the progress of the waiting time read from the table based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection means, and imprinting for imprinting the information on a film A camera information imprinting device for notifying the camera of this from the imprinting means when the timing means has completed the timing of the waiting time, and imprinting from the camera after waiting for the expiration of the timing of the waiting time. A first photographing method in which a command signal is transmitted to perform a recording operation, and a camera transmits a recording command signal without waiting for the waiting time to expire. It is possible to select and execute one of the second imaging method for performing an operation narrowing this time copy Once either the copy Komu information is rare changing information such as date or A discriminating means for discriminating whether the information is one that frequently changes for each frame such as an aperture value is provided, and when the discriminating means discriminates that the information changes very rarely, the waiting A camera characterized in that the imprinting means immediately becomes imprintable regardless of time, and when it is determined that the information is information that changes frequently, it becomes imprintable after a predetermined time. Information imprinting device. Claim 2. When the information said discrimination means imprint said is determined to be information that changes very rarely is the clock means is characterized in that so as not to count the progress of the waiting time 1 The information imprinting device for the camera described in. 3. Information displayed on a film is displayed on a liquid crystal.
Information display means, temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the shooting location, and waiting time until the display of the liquid crystal becomes stable after switching.
Storage means for storing a relationship between the temperature in the tables
And the table based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means.
Clocking the progress of the waiting time read from the
Means and an imprinting means for imprinting the information on a film, and when the time measuring means completes the time measurement of the waiting time,
The camera information that informs the camera of the
In the information imprinting device, imprint from the camera after the waiting time has expired
The first shooting method in which a command signal is transmitted and the imprinting operation is performed
And the image from the camera without waiting for the expiration of the waiting time
When the only command signal is sent, the imprinting operation is performed at this time
It is possible to select and execute either of the second shooting methods.
It is possible, in addition to the mode for imprinting for each frame of the film, has a mode for imprinting collectively shooting information about all number of frames taken on a particular frame, the imprinting for each of the one frame The second mode when the mode is set
The information imprinting apparatus for a camera, characterized in that the processing of the first photographing method is performed in a mode in which the processing of the first photographing method is performed and the processing is collectively performed on the specific frame. 4. An immediately preceding information discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the imprinted information from the camera is the same as the information imprinted on the immediately preceding frame, wherein the immediately preceding information discriminating means is the frame immediately before the imprinted information from the camera. 2. When it is determined that the information is the same as the information imprinted on the display, the display of the information display means is not displayed again and is used as it is.
The information imprinting device for a camera according to claim 3 .