JP3599419B2 - camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a camera capable of loading a film cartridge provided with a barcode disk that rotates integrally with a supply spool and capable of reading a barcode that records information about a film on the barcode disk. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
As this kind of technology, for example, there is JP-A-4-340943, in which an information reading means for optically reading a bar code (information about a film) recorded on a bar code disk, and an information reading means from the information reading means. A signal comparing a signal with a set value and determining whether or not the signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and a camera which issues a warning when the signal is determined to be equal to or less than the predetermined value are shown. I have. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-358137 discloses a technique in which a restart switch is provided in a camera which becomes inoperative when bar code reading becomes impossible.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described conventional technique is based on the premise that the film cartridge is manually loaded, and even if the bar code cannot be read, the user may forget to keep the loaded cartridge.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera in which the success or failure of bar code reading can be determined, and a film cartridge is automatically ejected when reading is impossible.
[0005]
Means and action for solving the problem
According to a configuration for realizing the object of the invention according to the present application, as described in claim 1, a supply spool around which a film is wound, and information about the film which rotates integrally with the supply spool and is recorded in a barcode. A camera loaded with a film cartridge provided with a barcode disk, the information reading means for optically reading a barcode recorded on the barcode disk, and the information reading means based on the reading result by the information reading means. The bar code section is provided with a discriminating means for judging the success or failure of reading, and a cartridge discharging means for automatically discharging the film cartridge from the camera body when the reading is judged to be impossible by the discriminating means.
[0006]
According to this configuration, the bar code on the bar code disk provided on the film cartridge is read, and the determination is performed according to the result of the reading. When the reading is determined to be unsuccessful (impossible), the determination is performed. , The film cartridge is automatically ejected from the camera body, and by this operation, the user can reliably know that the bar code cannot be read.
[0007]
In a specific configuration for realizing the object of the invention according to the present application, as described in claim 2, the execution of the cartridge discharging means is performed on the condition that the loading lid for the film cartridge is in a closed state. It can be carried out.
[0008]
According to this configuration, the operation of the loading lid switch that is turned on / off in conjunction with the opening / closing of the loading lid that is opened / closed when the film cartridge is attached / detached, that is, the cartridge is ejected on condition that the loading lid is in the closed state. Executing the cartridge ejection by the means effectively performs the automatic ejection operation of the cartridge.
[0009]
According to another specific configuration for realizing the object of the invention according to the present application, as set forth in claim 3, the determination unit determines success in reading the barcode based on all of the plurality of pieces of information being read. can do.
[0010]
According to this configuration, when the information recorded in the barcode includes a plurality of pieces of information, it is determined that the barcode has been successfully read when all of the plurality of pieces of information have been read. Based on the reading of all information, it can be considered that no barcode reading error occurs at all, and the barcode reading success can be determined with high reliability.
[0011]
Still another specific configuration for realizing the object of the invention according to the present application is that, as set forth in claim 4, the discriminating means determines that the specific information among a plurality of pieces of information has been read. Successful code reading can be determined.
[0012]
According to this configuration, of the plurality of pieces of information, particular important information is selected from the information recorded in the barcode, and the barcode reading success is determined based on the fact that this information has been read. Therefore, it is guaranteed that the camera is used in a state where the minimum necessary information is obtained.
[0013]
In a specific or still another configuration for realizing the object of the invention according to the present application, the specific information is at least one of film sensitivity information, film number information, and film type information. Can be selected.
[0014]
According to this configuration, by selecting at least one of the film sensitivity information, the number of films information, and the film type information as the specific information used for the determination, it is possible to execute photographing based on the minimum necessary information.
[0015]
According to still another specific configuration for realizing the object of the invention according to the present application, as set forth in claim 6, the determination unit reads the bar code by determining that the read information is undefined information. Impossibility can be determined.
[0016]
According to this configuration, when the read information detects undefined information, the determination unit determines that the barcode cannot be read and causes the automatic ejection of the film cartridge to be executed. Therefore, the user can surely know that the barcode cannot be read.
[0017]
In still another specific configuration for achieving the object of the invention according to the present application, the determination unit determines that the bar code cannot be read based on the fact that the read information is a parity error. Can be determined.
[0018]
According to this configuration, when the read information is a parity error, it is considered that the barcode record information cannot be used, and based on this, it is determined that the barcode portion cannot be read. As a result, the recorded information of the barcode can be regarded as unusable, and the cartridge is automatically ejected.
[0019]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a camera according to the present invention. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a film cartridge in the camera of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the camera, FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the camera in FIG. 3, and FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the loaded camera.
[0021]
First, FIGS. 2 to 5 will be described. Reference numeral 1 denotes a film cartridge having an engaging portion 1a that engages with the gear portion 13a of the fork 13 of the camera shown in FIG. Reference numeral 2 denotes a bar code disk on which film information such as film sensitivity and the number of specified frames of a film is printed by a bar code. The barcode disk 2 is configured to rotate integrally with the supply spool 1b of the film cartridge 1, as shown in FIG.
[0022]
Reference numeral 3 denotes a camera body, 4 denotes a release button, 5 denotes a film sensitivity display section 5a for displaying film sensitivity, and a liquid crystal display having a number display section 5b for displaying a specified number of films and the number of photographed images. Reference numeral 6 denotes a cartridge loading lid, and reference numeral 7 denotes a transparent portion integrally formed with the cartridge loading lid 6 for viewing a seal such as sensitivity of the cartridge. Reference numeral 7a denotes a malt plane attached to the cartridge loading lid 6 so that light from the transparent section 7 does not enter the film 1c. Reference numeral 8 denotes an opening / closing knob for opening and closing a cartridge loading lid 6 fixed to a lock lever 11 described later, and 9 denotes a shaft that rotatably supports the cartridge loading lid 6.
[0023]
Reference numeral 10 denotes a loading lid switch (SW10) that is turned on / off by the protrusion 6b of the cartridge loading lid 6, and is turned on (ON) when the cartridge loading lid 6 is opened, and is turned off (OFF) when closed. . In the state shown in FIG. 5, since the cartridge loading lid 6 is closed, it is in the off state. Reference numeral 11 denotes a lock lever, which is slidably supported by two pins 3b and 3c protruding from the camera body 3, and is always urged by a spring 12 in the right-hand direction in FIG. The lock lever 11 includes a lock portion 11a that locks the claw portion 6a of the cartridge loading lid 6.
[0024]
The rightward bias of the lock lever 11 by the spring 12 is restricted by the stopper 3a. When the cartridge loading lid 6 is closed, the locking portion 11a is moved in the direction of the arrow by the claw portion 6a, and then moves rightward in accordance with the bias of the spring 12, and locks the cartridge loading lid 6 as shown in FIG. . Reference numeral 14 denotes a gear, which transmits the output of the feed motor via a reduction gear train (not shown) and engages with the gear portion 13a. Reference numeral 15 denotes a printed circuit board, and reference numeral 16 denotes a photoreflector that reads a barcode from the barcode disk 2.
[0025]
Next, the configuration of FIG. 1 will be described.
[0026]
In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a battery as a power supply, and 101 denotes a microcomputer for controlling each operation of the camera. Reference numeral 102 denotes an AE / AF driving circuit for performing AE (automatic exposure) and AF (automatic focusing); 103, a shutter driving circuit for opening and closing a shutter; and 104, feeding for feeding the film 1c. This is a motor drive circuit that drives a motor 109 that is a drive source for driving the motor 108 and discharging the film cartridge 1. When the motor 109 is driven, the engagement between the claw portion 6a and the lock portion 11a is released. Further, 105 is a photo-reflector driving circuit for driving the photo-reflector 16, 106 is a comparison circuit for comparing a peak-to-peak difference of a barcode read signal, which is an analog signal from the photo-reflector 16, with a predetermined value, 107 is The display driving circuit drives the liquid crystal display 5.
[0027]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the microcomputer 101 after the film cartridge 1 is loaded into the camera and the camera reads the film information and displays the film information. In the following flowcharts, steps are represented by "S".
[0028]
First, the film cartridge 1 is loaded into the camera and the cartridge loading lid 6 is closed, so that the loading lid switch 10 is turned off. The operation state of the loading lid switch 10 is determined (S201). Here, if it is determined that the cartridge is off (meaning that the cartridge loading lid 6 is closed as shown in FIG. 5), the motor drive circuit 104 drives the feeding motor 108 in the reverse direction (S202). The reason for performing the reverse drive is to prevent the film 1c from going out of the film cartridge 1 from the inside of the film cartridge 1 during the barcode reading operation.
[0029]
Next, the photoreflector 16 is driven via the photoreflector drive circuit 105 to start an operation for reading a barcode from the barcode disk 2 provided on the film cartridge 1 rotating integrally with the supply spool 1b. (S203). Further, the peak value of the analog signal of the white portion in the monochrome pattern read by the photo reflector 16 is stored (S204). At this time, two peak values are stored. After the peak value of a certain white portion is stored, the peak value of the next white portion is stored after, for example, the barcode disk 2 rotates half a turn. This is because when the bar code portion is dirty, the whole is hardly dirty and only a part of the bar code portion. Therefore, it is necessary to store the peak value in the dirty portion and the peak value in the non-dirty portion and compare them. Because there is.
[0030]
Further, the comparison circuit 106 compares the difference between the peak values stored in S204 and a predetermined value (reference value). If the difference is larger than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to S206. Move to. If the difference value is larger than the predetermined value, it is preferable that the process proceeds to S206 after confirming that there is no parity error in the signal obtained by digitizing the black and white analog signal at the threshold level. Alternatively, the read signal may be decoded, and when all of the plurality of pieces of information can be recognized, the process may proceed to the next step. Alternatively, the read signal may be decoded, and if at least one of the plurality of pieces of information can be recognized, the process may proceed to the next step. Furthermore, the read signal may be decoded, and the process may proceed to the next step if the code is information defined, and may be regarded as an error if the code is not defined.
[0031]
The above-mentioned predetermined value is set to a signal level at which the bar code or the photoreflector 16 on the bar code disk 2 is dirty to some extent and the bar code can be finally read. Therefore, the fact that the difference value is larger than the above-mentioned predetermined value means that the barcode or the photoreflector 16 is not contaminated and the barcode can be read with a margin (with no possibility of causing a reading error). It is possible. From this, the fact that the difference value is smaller than the predetermined value means that at least one of the barcode and the photoreflector 16 is slightly soiled and the barcode can be read gradually (the difference value is slightly smaller than the predetermined value). Or when at least one of the bar code and the photo reflector 16 is so dirty that the bar code cannot be read at all (when the difference value is much smaller than a predetermined value).
[0032]
Further, information read from the bar code on the bar code disk 2 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 (S206). At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the film sensitivity is displayed on the film sensitivity display section 5a (in the example of FIG. 3, the film sensitivity is "100"), and the specified number of films is displayed on the number display section 5b (in the example of FIG. The number is displayed as "36"). Next, the reverse rotation of the feed motor 108 is stopped by the motor drive circuit 104, and thereafter, the feed motor 108 is rotated forward to start a known auto-loading (S207). Thereafter, a normal photographing operation is performed.
[0033]
On the other hand, if the difference between the two peak values is smaller than the predetermined value in S205, the process proceeds to S208 as described above. The display on the liquid crystal display 5 blinks (S208), and it is determined whether at least one of the barcode and the photoreflector 16 is slightly stained. Warning that no action is expected. At this time, if the bar code is read somehow, the numerical value is blinked and displayed (S208). If no data can be read, a message such as "NG" blinks on each display. In such a case, particularly in the latter case, a warning or sound may be used as a warning.
[0034]
Thereafter, the reception of the activation signal of the release button 4 and the like is prohibited, the feed motor 108 is stopped (S209), and the operation of the camera is disabled. Further, the motor 109 for discharging the cartridge is activated by the motor driving circuit 104 to discharge the film cartridge 1 (S210).
[0035]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of the camera after reading the film information and displaying the information after the film cartridge 1 is loaded in the camera in another embodiment of the present invention. The circuit configuration and the like are the same as in the above embodiment. In the present embodiment, a bar code on the bar code disk 2 is read at the time of automatic loading.
[0036]
First, it is determined whether the loading lid switch 10 is on or off (S301). If it is off, that is, if it is determined that the cartridge loading lid 6 is closed, the feed motor 108 is driven by the motor drive circuit 104 (S302), and the flow chart 1c is pushed out of the film cartridge 1 and the camera A winding operation around the film take-up spool, that is, a known auto-loading operation is started.
[0037]
Next, the photoreflector 16 is driven under the control of the photoreflector drive circuit 105, and an operation for reading a barcode from the barcode disk 2 provided on the rotating film cartridge 1 is started (S303). Thereafter, the two peak values of the analog signal of the white portion in the black and white pattern read by the photo reflector 16 are stored (S304). The difference value of each peak value stored here is compared with a predetermined value by the comparison circuit 106. If the difference value is larger than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to S306, and if the difference value is smaller than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to S308. Transition. The information read by the bar code on the bar code disk 2 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 (S306). Thereafter, when it is detected that the first photographed image has arrived at the aperture position (the configuration and the like are omitted), the normal rotation of the feed motor 108 is stopped (S307), and the automatic loading is ended. Thereafter, a normal photographing operation is performed.
[0038]
On the other hand, if the difference between the two peak values is smaller than the predetermined value in S305, the process proceeds to S308. Here, the display content of the liquid crystal display 5 is blinked (S308), and at least one of the barcode and the photoreflector 16 is slightly or very dirty, and the barcode cannot be read with sufficient margin. Warns that normal operation cannot be expected. Further, the feed motor 108 is rotated in the reverse direction by the motor drive circuit 104, and the film 1c is wound into the film cartridge 1 (S309). Thereafter, a start signal for the release button 4 or the like is not accepted, the feed motor 108 is stopped, and the camera is made inoperable (S310). Next, the motor 109 for discharging the cartridge is operated by the motor drive circuit 104 to discharge the film cartridge 1 (S311).
[0039]
According to the above embodiment, the difference between the peak of the analog signal, which is a bar code read signal, and the peak is determined, and the difference between the difference and a predetermined value is compared to determine whether the bar code or the photoreflector 16 is dirty. If the dirt interferes with the reading, or if there is a danger of this, a warning is displayed to warn of this fact and the film cartridge 1 is ejected, so that the photographer can operate the camera normally. You can know that there is no state.
[0040]
(Modification)
As described above, in S205 (or S305), the difference between the peak and the peak of the analog signal which is the read signal of the white portion in the black and white pattern of the bar code is obtained, and the difference is compared with a predetermined value. Although the degree of contamination of the barcode or the photoreflector 16 is determined and the process proceeds to S206 (or S306) or S208 (or S308) is determined, the present invention is not limited to this.
[0041]
For example, the peak value and the bottom value of an analog signal which is a read signal of a certain white and black portion of a bar code are stored, and then, for example, the white and black portion is read after the bar code disk 2 rotates half a turn. The peak value and the bottom value of the analog signal, which is a signal, are stored, and the difference between these values is compared with a predetermined value to determine whether the bar code or the photoreflector 16 is dirty, or that the bar is not dirty at all. The signal level of the white portion at that time is stored in advance as a predetermined value, and the peak value of the analog signal, which is a read signal of a certain white portion of the barcode, is compared with the predetermined value, and the barcode and the photoreflector are compared. It is also possible to determine the degree of contamination of No. 16 and determine whether to proceed to S206 (or S306) or to S208 (or S308).
[0042]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing in the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 8, the processing from S401 to S405 corresponds to S201 to S205 in FIG. 6 (or S301 to S305 in FIG. 7). Therefore, duplicate description is omitted below.
[0043]
In S405, the difference between the peak values is compared with a predetermined value, and if the difference is larger than the predetermined value, information is decoded (S406). Further, it is determined whether or not all the decoded information has been decoded (S407). If all of the decoded information has been decoded, it is determined whether or not the decoded information includes a code with a poor definition (S408). If there is no undefined code, the read information is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 (S409). Next, the reverse rotation of the feed motor 108 is stopped (S410), and thereafter, the feed motor 108 is rotated forward to start known auto-loading.
[0044]
If all the codes cannot be decoded in S407 (or if an undefined code is detected in S408), the display of the liquid crystal display 5 blinks (S411), and a warning that the barcode cannot be read is issued. Do. Thereafter, the operation of the feed motor 108 is stopped (S412), and the motor 109 for driving the cartridge is driven by the motor drive circuit 104 to discharge the cartridge (S413).
[0045]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing in the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 9, steps S401 to S406 and S408 to S413 are exactly the same as the description of FIG. 8, and therefore, redundant description will be omitted below. The present embodiment is characterized in that S501 for determining whether or not the number information of the film 1c has been decoded is provided between S406 and S408. The reading is considered to be OK when some of the barcode information has been read, and the subsequent sequence is to be executed. The present embodiment is not limited to the number information, but may be film sensitivity information or film type information.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a supply spool around which a film is wound, and a bar code which rotates integrally with the supply spool and records information about the film in a bar code. In a camera loaded with a film cartridge having a disk, information reading means for optically reading a bar code recorded on the bar code disk, and reading of the bar code portion based on a result of reading by the information reading means. And a cartridge discharging means for automatically discharging the film cartridge from the camera body when the reading is determined to be impossible by the determining means. Know that the bar code information of the loaded film cartridge cannot be read Door can be.
[0047]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the execution of the cartridge discharging means is performed on condition that the loading lid for the film cartridge is in a closed state, so that the automatic discharging operation of the cartridge is effective. It is done on a regular basis.
[0048]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the determination means determines the success of reading the barcode based on the fact that all of the plurality of information has been read, the success of reading the barcode is determined with high reliability. can do.
[0049]
According to the invention as set forth in claim 4, since the determination means determines the success of reading the barcode based on the fact that specific information of a plurality of information has been read, the minimum necessary information is determined. Can be assured to use the camera in a state where is obtained.
[0050]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the specific information is at least one of film sensitivity information, film number information, and film type information, so that photographing can be performed based on minimum necessary information.
[0051]
According to the invention described in claim 6, the discriminating means determines that the barcode portion cannot be read based on the fact that the read information is undefined information. It is possible to know that it is impossible.
[0052]
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the determination means determines that the bar code portion cannot be read based on the fact that the read information is a parity error. It is possible to surely know that the bar code information of the film cartridge being read cannot be read.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a film cartridge in the camera of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the camera.
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the camera of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a camera loaded with the film cartridge of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing from reading of film information by the camera to display of the film information after the film cartridge 1 is loaded into the camera.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing from reading of film information to information display after the film cartridge 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention is loaded in the camera.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 film cartridge 1 b supply spool 1 c film 2 barcode disk 3 camera body 5 liquid crystal display 10 loading lid switch 16 photoreflector 101 microcomputer 104 motor drive circuit 105 photoreflector drive circuit 106 comparison circuit 107 display drive circuit 108 feed motor 109 motor

Claims (7)

In a camera in which a film cartridge equipped with a supply spool around which a film is wound and a bar code disk which rotates integrally with the supply spool and in which information about the film is recorded in a bar code,
Information reading means for optically reading a bar code recorded on the bar code disk; determining means for determining success or failure of reading the bar code based on a result of reading by the information reading means; A camera discharging means for automatically discharging the film cartridge from the camera body when it is determined that the film cartridge cannot be used. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the execution of the cartridge discharging unit is performed on condition that a loading lid for the film cartridge is in a closed state. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that the barcode has been successfully read when all of the plurality of pieces of information have been read. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that the barcode has been successfully read based on reading of specific information among a plurality of pieces of information. The camera according to claim 4, wherein the specific information is at least one of film sensitivity information, film number information, and film type information. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that the barcode cannot be read based on the fact that the read information is undefined information. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that the barcode cannot be read based on the fact that the read information is a parity error.

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