JP3957891B2 - Strobe system and strobe device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention,A strobe system and strobe that controls the light emission of a slave strobe device located spatially away from the camera using a master strobe deviceapparatusIt is about.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventional wireless strobe devices arranged at positions away from the camera are known as follows.
[0003]
In JP-A-4-343341 as a first example, a strobe mounted on a camera body transmits a light emission start signal based on a plurality of light pulse signals at predetermined intervals to a slave strobe, and the slave strobe receives this light emission start signal. By repeating the intermittent flash, the reflected light from the subject of the slave strobe is integrated by the camera's dimming circuit. A wireless strobe system that transmits a light emission stop signal and terminates light emission is disclosed.
[0004]
Further, although not a wireless strobe, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-80594 discloses a preliminary light emission in order to obtain stable light emission in a strobe device that determines the main light emission amount by measuring the reflected light of the subject by the preliminary light emission. A strobe device that increases the initial light emission intensity is disclosed.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the wireless strobe system of the first example has the disadvantage that the strobe tuning time cannot be shortened due to intermittent light emission, and overexposure may occur when shooting with a small light emission amount at a short distance. Sex occurs.
[0006]
In addition, since it is not possible to perform wireless shooting with so-called flat flash, which can shoot at high shutter speeds faster than the flash synchronization time, wireless strobe shooting can be performed outdoors, especially where high shutter speeds are required. There is a drawback of not.
[0007]
Further, there is a drawback that the guide number is substantially reduced due to switching loss of the control circuit due to intermittent light emission.
[0008]
Also, in the second example, using a strobe device directly connected to the camera, in order to stabilize the light emission waveform of the preliminary light emission for performing the photometry by the strobe preliminary light emission, it is not possible to increase the light emission intensity at the initial stage of the preliminary light emission. Although disclosed, it is not disclosed to increase the main flash initial value in order to cause the slave strobe to emit light synchronously.
[0009]
In addition, the present applicant has proposed a strobe system that performs the main flash according to the flash mode and the flash amount according to the flash control information instructed from the master flash in advance when the slave flash detects the main flash of the master flash. However, in this case, if the flash mode with flat flash mode is selected and the master flash unit's main flash intensity is low, the master flash unit's main flash cannot be detected on the slave flash unit. There is a risk that the actual light emission will not be performed, resulting in a failure to shoot.
[0010]
  The purpose of the invention related to this application is,It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable strobe system and strobe device that can perform strobe shooting at a flash synchronization speed or higher and can reliably emit a slave strobe even at a flash speed higher than the flash synchronization speed.
[0011]
[TaskMeans for solving the problem]
  In order to achieve the above object, the first configuration of the strobe system according to the present application is:In a strobe system having a master strobe device and one or a plurality of slave strobe devices arranged at positions away from the master strobe device, and controlling the slave strobe device by flat light emission of the master strobe device, the master strobe device is , Having a first light emission control means for setting the initial light emission intensity of the flat light emission to a level higher than the appropriate light emission intensity set for the flat light emission, the slave strobe device is the initial light emission of the flat light emission from the master strobe device And detecting means for detecting the light emission state of the master strobe device.
[0013]
  In order to achieve the above object, the second configuration of the strobe system according to the present application is as follows:In a strobe system having a master strobe device and one or a plurality of slave strobe devices arranged at positions away from the master strobe device, and controlling the slave strobe device by flat light emission of the master strobe device, the master strobe device is , Having a first light emission control means for emitting light emission start pulse light having a light emission intensity higher than that of flat light emission before the flat light emission, and the slave strobe device emits light start pulse light from the master strobe device. And detecting means for detecting the light emission state of the master strobe device.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view mainly illustrating an optical configuration of a strobe control camera system implemented by applying the present invention to a single-lens reflex camera.
[0016]
Reference numeral 1 denotes a camera body in which optical parts, mechanical parts, electric circuits, films, and the like are housed so that photography can be performed. Reference numeral 2 denotes a main mirror, which is obliquely set in or removed from the photographing optical path according to the observation state and the photographing state. The main mirror 2 is a half mirror, and transmits about half of the light beam from the subject through a focus detection optical system described later. Reference numeral 3 denotes a focusing plate arranged on the planned imaging plane of the photographic lens 11, 4 a pentaprism for changing the finder optical path, 5 an eyepiece, and the photographer observes the focusing screen 3 through this window to observe the shooting screen I can do it. Reference numerals 6 and 7 denote an imaging lens and a photometric sensor for measuring the luminance of the object in the observation screen. The imaging lens 6 associates the focus plate 3 and the photometric sensor 7 in a conjugate manner via the reflected light path in the pentaprism 4. ing.
[0017]
A shutter 8 and a photosensitive member 9 are made of a silver salt film or the like. A sub-mirror 25 bends the light beam from the subject downward and guides it toward the focus detection unit 26.
[0018]
The focus detection unit 26 includes a secondary imaging mirror 27, a secondary imaging lens 28, a focus detection line sensor 29, and the like. The secondary imaging mirror 27 and the secondary imaging lens 28 form a focus detection optical system, and the secondary imaging surface of the photographing optical system is connected to the focus detection line sensor 29. The focus detection unit 26 realizes an automatic focus detection device by detecting the focus state of the subject in the shooting screen by a known phase difference detection method and controlling the focus adjustment mechanism of the shooting lens.
[0019]
Reference numeral 10 denotes a mount contact group as an interface between the camera and the lens, and 11 denotes a lens barrel attached to the camera body. Reference numerals 12 to 14 denote photographing lenses, and reference numeral 12 denotes a first group lens. The focus position of the photographing screen can be adjusted by moving back and forth on the optical axis. Reference numeral 13 denotes a two-group lens that moves back and forth on the optical axis to change the shooting screen and change the focal length of the shooting lens. Reference numeral 14 denotes a three-group fixed lens. Reference numeral 15 denotes a photographing lens aperture.
[0020]
Reference numeral 16 denotes a first group lens drive motor, which can automatically adjust the focus position by moving the first group lens back and forth in accordance with an automatic focus adjustment operation. Reference numeral 17 denotes a lens diaphragm drive motor, which can drive the photographing lens diaphragm to a desired diaphragm diameter.
[0021]
Reference numeral 18 denotes an external strobe (flash device) which is attached to the camera body 1 and performs light emission control in accordance with a signal from the camera. Reference numeral 19 denotes a xenon tube as a luminous tube, which converts current energy into luminous energy. Reference numerals 20 and 21 denote a reflector and a Fresnel lens, each of which plays a role of efficiently condensing light emission energy toward a subject. A strobe contact group 22 serves as an interface between the camera body 1 and the external strobe 18.
[0022]
Reference numeral 30 denotes a light transmission means such as a glass fiber, which is led to a light receiving element 31 as a first light receiving means such as a photodiode which is a light receiving means for monitoring the light emitted from the xenon tube 19, and is used for pre-flash emission of the strobe. The light intensity is directly measured. 32 is a light receiving element such as a photodiode, which is a second light receiving means for monitoring the light emitted from the xenon tube 19.
[0023]
The light emission of the xenon tube 19 is limited by the output of the light receiving element 32 to control flat light emission. Reference numerals 20a and 20b denote light guides integrated with the reflective shade 20, and reflect and guide the light of the xenon tube to the light receiving element 32 or 31.
[0024]
Next, FIG.2 and FIG.3 has shown the electric circuit block diagram of this invention. The members corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0025]
As a control means on the camera side, the camera microcomputer 100 performs an internal operation based on a clock generated by the oscillator 101.
[0026]
The EEPROM 100b as a storage means can store film counter and other shooting information. An A / D (analog-to-digital converter) 100c performs A / D conversion on analog signals from the focus detection circuit 105 and the photometry circuit 106, and the camera microcomputer 100 performs various signal processing on the A / D conversion values. Set the state.
[0027]
Connected to the camera microcomputer 100 are a focus detection circuit 105, a photometry circuit 106, a shutter control circuit 107, a motor control circuit 108, a film travel detection circuit 109, a switch sense circuit 110, an LCD drive circuit 111, and the like. Further, signals are transmitted to the microcomputer 112 as a lens control circuit disposed in the photographing lens via the mount contact 10, and the external strobe is connected to the strobe contact group 22 as processing means on the strobe side. Signals are transmitted to the strobe microcomputer 238.
[0028]
The focus detection circuit 105 performs accumulation control and readout control of the CCD line sensor 29 that is a known distance measuring element in accordance with a signal from the camera microcomputer 100, and outputs each pixel information to the camera microcomputer 100. The camera microcomputer 100 A / D converts this information and performs focus detection by a known phase difference detection method.
[0029]
The camera microcomputer 100 performs lens focus adjustment by exchanging signals with the lens microcomputer 112 based on the focus detection information.
[0030]
The photometry circuit 106 outputs an output from the photometry sensor 7 to the camera microcomputer 100 as a luminance signal of the subject. The photometry circuit 106 outputs a luminance signal in both the steady state where the strobe light is not pre-flashed toward the subject and the pre-flash state where the flash is pre-flashed, and the camera microcomputer 100 performs A / D conversion of the luminance signal. Then, the aperture value and shutter speed for adjusting the exposure for shooting are calculated, and the flash emission amount at the time of exposure is calculated.
[0031]
The shutter control circuit 107 runs the shutter front curtain drive magnet MG-1 and the shutter rear curtain drive magnet MG-2 constituting the focal plane shutter 8 in accordance with a signal from the camera microcomputer 100, and performs an exposure operation.
[0032]
The motor control circuit 108 controls the motor in accordance with a signal from the camera microcomputer 100 to perform up / down of the main mirror 2, charge of the shutter, and feeding of the film.
[0033]
The film running detection circuit 109 detects whether or not the film has been wound up by one frame when the film is fed, and sends a signal to the camera microcomputer 100.
[0034]
SW1 is turned on by a first stroke of a release button (not shown), and serves as a switch for starting photometry and AF. SW2 is turned on by the second stroke of the release button and serves as a switch for starting an exposure operation. SWFELK is a switch that performs pre-emission independently. Signals from SW1, SW2, SWFELK, and other camera operation members (not shown) are detected by the switch sense circuit 110 and sent to the camera microcomputer 100.
[0035]
The liquid crystal display circuit 111 controls display on the in-viewfinder LCD 24 and the monitor LCD 42 according to signals from the camera microcomputer 100. SWX is a strobe light emission start switch, which is turned on simultaneously with the completion of shutter front curtain travel.
[0036]
Next, the flash and lens interface terminals of the camera microcomputer 100 will be described.
[0037]
SCK is a synchronous clock output terminal for serial communication with the strobe, SDO is a serial data output terminal for serial communication with the strobe, SDI is a data input terminal for serial communication with the strobe, and SCHG is a strobe of the strobe. Input terminal for detecting the possibility of light emission, LCK is an output terminal of a synchronous clock for serial communication with the lens, LDO is a serial data output terminal for serial communication with the lens, and LDI is a serial communication terminal with the lens. This is a data input terminal.
[0038]
Next, the configuration of the lens will be described. The camera body and the lens are electrically connected to each other via the lens mount contact 10. This lens mount contact 10 is L0 which is a power contact for the focus drive motor 16 and the aperture drive motor 17 in the lens, L1 which is a power contact for the lens microcomputer 112 as lens control means, and known serial data communication. Contact L2 for clock transmission, L3 contact for data transmission from the camera to the lens, L4 contact for data transmission from the lens to the camera, L5 which is the ground contact for the motor to the power supply for the motor, the power supply for the lens microcomputer 112 It is comprised by L6 which is a ground contact with respect to.
[0039]
The lens microcomputer 112 is connected to the camera microcomputer 100 through these lens mount contacts 10 and operates the first lens drive motor 16 and the lens aperture motor 17 to control the focus adjustment and the aperture of the lens.
[0040]
Reference numerals 35 and 36 denote a photodetector and a pulse plate. The lens microcomputer 112 counts the number of pulses, whereby position information of the first group lens can be obtained, and the focus of the lens can be adjusted.
[0041]
Next, the structure of the strobe will be described with reference to FIG.
[0042]
A battery 201 is a power source, and a known DC-DC converter 202 boosts the battery voltage to several hundred volts. Reference numeral 203 denotes a main capacitor for accumulating light emission energy, and 204 and 205 denote resistors, which divide the voltage of the main capacitor 203 into a predetermined ratio.
[0043]
  206 is a first coil for limiting the light emission current, 207 is a first diode for absorbing the back electromotive voltage generated when light emission is stopped, 208 is a second coil for limiting the light emission current, and 209 is Second diode for absorbing the back electromotive voltage generated in the coil 8 when light emission is stoppedIs.
[0044]
Reference numeral 19 denotes a light emitting means, an Xe tube serving as a slave strobe control information output means, 211 a trigger generation circuit, and 212 a light emission control circuit such as an IGBT.
[0045]
In the present embodiment, reference numeral 213 denotes a thyristor that is a switching element for bypassing the coil 208. When the Xe tube 19 is used to perform wireless communication with the slave strobe, a short light pulse is generated from the Xe tube 19. In addition, the thyristor 213 bypasses the light emission current so that no current flows in the coil 208 when improving the stop controllability at the time of light emission stop during flash light emission.
[0046]
  A resistor 214 is used to turn on the thyristor 213, and a current is supplied to the gate as a control pole of the thyristor 213. A resistor 215 prevents the thyristor 213 from being turned on when noise is applied to the gate of the thyristor 213. A gate potential stabilization resistor 216, a capacitor 216 for quickly turning on the thyristor 213, and 217ThyristorA noise absorbing capacitor 218 for preventing the thyristor 213 from being turned on when noise is applied to the gate of the thyristor 213 is a transistor for switching the gate current of the thyristor 213.
[0047]
219 and 220 are resistors, 221 is a transistor for switching the transistor 218, and 222 and 223 are resistors. A data selector 230 selects D0, D1, and D2 and outputs them to Y by a combination of two inputs Y0 and Y1.
[0048]
231 is a comparator for controlling light emission intensity of flat light emission, 232 is a comparator for controlling light emission amount during flash light emission, 32 is a photodiode which is a light receiving sensor for flat light emission control, and is an Xe tube 19 which is a light emitting means. Monitor the light output.
[0049]
234 is a photometric circuit that amplifies a minute current flowing through the photodiode 32 and converts the photocurrent into a voltage, and 31 is a photodiode that is a light receiving sensor for controlling flash emission, and the light of the Xe tube 19 that is a light emitting means. Monitor the output.
[0050]
Reference numeral 236 denotes a photometric integration circuit for logarithmically compressing the photocurrent flowing through the photodiode 31 and compressing and integrating the light emission amount of the Xe tube 19. Reference numeral 238 denotes a microcomputer that controls the operation of the entire strobe, and reference numeral 22 denotes a contact group provided on the hot shoe to communicate with the camera body.
[0051]
240 is a liquid crystal display which is a display means for displaying the operation state of the strobe, 241 is a wireless selector switch for setting the wireless operation state of the strobe, 242 is a power switch for controlling power on / off of the strobe, 243 is completion of charging of the strobe LEDs 244 are dimming display LEDs for displaying that the strobe has been photographed with an appropriate amount of light.
[0052]
  245 is a known motor control circuit, 246 is a motor for moving the Xe tube 19 and the reflective shade 20 in accordance with the focal length of the lens mounted on the camera body, and 247 is a liquid crystal.displayA backlight lighting switch using an EL or LED (not shown) for illuminating 240, 248 is a mode switch for selecting the flash mode of the strobe, 249 is a parameter associated with the flash mode (for example, the amount of light emitted during manual flash, etc.) ) Is a switch for increasing the parameter setting value, 251 is a down switch for decreasing the parameter, 252 is a zoom switch for manually setting the light emission angle, 253 Reference numerals 254 and 255 denote encoders indicating the positions of light emission angles, 256 denotes photodiodes which are means for receiving control information from the camera side, and 257 denotes photodiodes 256.InIt is a light receiving circuit that amplifies the flowing photocurrent and converts it into a voltage.
[0053]
Next, each terminal of the microcomputer 238 will be described.
[0054]
  CNT is a DC / DC converter202LCDS is a group of wires for lighting the liquid crystal 240, COM1 is a control output terminal corresponding to the ground potential of the switch 241, and NORM is a strobe operating state in a normal shooting state (in wireless mode) This is the input terminal selected at the time.
[0055]
MASTER is an input terminal selected when the operation state of the strobe is in the wireless master mode, that is, a state in which the camera is connected to the camera using the camera hot shoe contact group 22 and controls the operation of the wireless slave strobe, and SLAVE is the operation state of the strobe. Is an input terminal that is selected in the wireless slave mode, that is, at a position away from the camera, in a state in which the light emission control light signal from the master strobe is received by the light receiving element 256 and the light emission of the strobe is controlled.
[0056]
Next, COM2 is a control output terminal corresponding to the ground potential of the switch 242, OFF is an input terminal that is selected when the strobe is turned off, ON is an input terminal that is selected when the strobe is turned on, and SE is a strobe that has passed a predetermined time. This input terminal is selected when the power is turned off later.
[0057]
CLK is a synchronization clock input terminal for serial communication with the camera, DO is a serial data output terminal for transferring serial data from the strobe to the camera in synchronization with the synchronization clock, and DI is a synchronization clock from the camera to the strobe. A serial data input terminal for transferring serial data to X, X is an input terminal of an X contact of the camera, and PI is an input terminal of a wireless optical signal which is input information.
[0058]
  M0 and M1 are output terminals for controlling four types of operation states (CW drive, CCW drive, motor off, motor brake) of the motor driver. ZOOM0, ZOOM1, and ZOOM2 are the encoders 253, 254, and 255 that indicate the zoom position described above.Output signal, COM0 is a control output terminal corresponding to the ground potential of the zoom encoder or the like, ZOOM is an input terminal of the zoom position setting switch 252, and DOWN is an input terminal of the light emission parameter reduction switch 251.
[0059]
UP is the input terminal of the light emission parameter increase switch 250, SEL / SET is the input terminal of the data selection switch 249, MODE is the input terminal of the light emission mode selection switch 248, and LIGHT is the input terminal of the light switch 247. , YIN are input terminals for detecting the output state of the data selector 230, INT is an integration control output terminal of the photometric integration circuit 236, and AD0 is an A / D for reading an integration voltage indicating the light emission amount of the photometry integration circuit 236. DA0 is a conversion input terminal, and DA0 is a digital to analog output terminal (D / A output terminal) for outputting the comparator 231 and 232 comparator voltages.
[0060]
Y0 and Y1 are selection state setting output terminals of the data selector 230, TRIG is a light emission trigger generation output terminal, and SCR_CTRL is a control output terminal of the thyristor 213.
[0061]
Next, FIG. 4 is an external view of the strobe device according to the present embodiment. Each switch, display, and the like are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. Reference numeral 258 denotes a light receiving window of the photodiode 256 as the information receiving means described above, and the photodiode is disposed therein.
[0062]
Next, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of wireless photographing using the master strobe MS and one slave strobe SS.
[0063]
The master strobe MS connected to the camera 1 has the aforementioned wireless mode selection switch 242 set to MASTER, and the slave strobe SS has the aforementioned wireless mode selection switch 241 set to SLAVE.
[0064]
The light emission control light of the master strobe MS is reflected by the subject and received from the light receiving window 258 to control the light emission of the slave strobe SS.
[0065]
The master strobe MS can be set in two modes: a mode in which the master strobe itself emits light (master light emission mode) and a mode in which the master strobe itself controls only the slave strobe (control only mode).
[0066]
In the present embodiment, the master light emission mode will be described.
[0067]
<Description of wireless communication>
Next, wireless communication for transmitting light emission information from the master strobe to the slave strobe will be described with reference to FIG.
[0068]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a wireless light control signal generated by the master strobe MS when the slave strobe is pre-flashed.
[0069]
  A) From the camera mentioned aboveMasterThis is a synchronous clock signal for serial communication to the strobe. B) is from the above camera.MasterData output signal to strobe, C)MasterData output signal from the strobe to the camera.
[0070]
D) and E) are wireless optical communication signals to the slave strobe generated by the master strobe causing the Xe tube 19 to emit light intermittently. D) is the light emission signal when the master strobe is in the control-only mode. E) shows the light emission signal when the master strobe is in the master light emission mode, and F) shows the light emission of the slave strobe.
[0071]
In the figure, when a pre-flash instruction is given from the camera via the serial communication line, the master strobe generates a wireless optical communication signal shown in D) or E).
[0072]
The first byte is composed of a START pulse, a CH pulse, and data of 10 bits in total including D7 to D0. The START and CH intervals indicate a channel identification signal, and D7 to D0 of the following predetermined intervals are 1 byte data. The 1-byte data is a combination of light pulses of D7 to D0, such as the light emission mode (pre-light emission, main light emission, manual light emission, multi-light emission), flash or flat light emission mode, light emission time in flat light emission, etc. The information is compressed and configured. The contents of this command will be described later.
[0073]
From the second byte onward, a START pulse at a predetermined interval and D7 to D0 indicate 1-byte data, and indicate data such as the light emission amount according to the above-described light emission mode. The communication data length of the wireless optical communication signal is defined as a predetermined length according to the light emission mode. The pre-light emission communication shown in FIG. 6 has a length of 2 bytes. The reason for superimposing the channel identification signal only on the first byte and not assigning the second and subsequent bytes is to shorten the communication length.
[0074]
The master strobe MS drops the DO communication line to the low level during the wireless transmission, and returns to the high level when the transmission is completed.
[0075]
At time t2, the camera recognizes that the DO communication line has returned to high level, and at time t3 pulls down the CLK signal line to instruct the start of pre-emission.
[0076]
The master strobe MS detects that the CLK communication line has fallen, and generates the light emission start light pulse shown in FIG. 6 (3) in the control-only mode, and FIG. 6 (4) in the master light-emitting mode. The light emission with a predetermined light emission intensity is performed for a predetermined time instructed from the camera shown in FIG.
[0077]
On the other hand, the slave strobe receives the first and second bytes of the wireless optical communication pulse from the master strobe MS and decodes information such as channel code, light emission mode, light emission time, light emission amount, etc. In synchronism, pre-emission with a predetermined amount of light and a predetermined emission time shown in FIG. 6 (5) is performed.
[0078]
Next, typical commands of the above-described wireless communication will be described using the communication table of FIG.
[0079]
FIG. 7 is a table showing typical communication modes of wireless communication in the present embodiment.
[0080]
The first byte is a command, which is displayed for each bit for detailed explanation. Further, D7 to D0 in the first byte correspond to D7 to D0 in FIG.
[0081]
The FS described in the D7 bit of the first byte is a bit indicating flash light emission and flat light emission, and is 0 for flash light emission and 1 for flat light emission. In addition, multi-emission is 0 because it is performed by flash emission.
[0082]
The D2 to D0 bits indicate the light emission time, and represent 8 different times by combining 3 bits of T2, T1, and T0. The flat pre-light emission indicates the pre-light emission time, and the main light emission indicates the shutter speed and the curtain speed. The light emission time of flat light emission in accordance with is shown.
[0083]
  Data from the 2nd byte to the 5th byte is data following each light emission command, and has a length corresponding to the command, light emission amount, frequency of multiple light emission, number of times of multiple light emissionetcIt is data of.
[0084]
In addition, F / C in the third to fifth bytes at the time of multi-emission is data indicating the frequency of multi-emission and the number of times of emission, and each byte is divided into 4 bits to express the frequency and the number of times of emission. Yes.
[0085]
The combination of these commands and data is used to control the light emission of the slave strobe.
[0086]
Next, the slave strobe information receiving operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0087]
[Step 01] When the slave strobe receives the wireless information signal from the master strobe by the photodiode 256 as the receiving means, the signal is amplified and filtered through the light receiving circuit 257, and only the signal having a fast rise such as an optical pulse is received. Is input to the PI terminal of the microcomputer 238 and enters the internal buffer.
[0088]
[Step 02] The first byte of data received is the first START pulse, CH. Since the pulse interval represents a channel, the interval is measured to identify the channel and analyze whether the remaining data D7 to D0 match the command of FIG. [Step 03] If the received first byte command does not match the command table of FIG. 7, the process branches to Step 13 as a command error.
[0089]
[Step 04] The remaining reception length to be received is set according to the received command.
[0090]
[Step 05] If the remaining data to be received is 0, the data reception process is terminated, and the process branches to Step 07.
[0091]
[Step 06] The remaining data is received.
[0092]
[Step 07] It is determined whether the received data is appropriate. If the received data is not appropriate, the process proceeds to Step 13 without proceeding to the light emission process.
[0093]
[Step 08] If the start of light emission of the master strobe is detected, the process proceeds to Step 10, and if not detected, the process branches to Step 09.
[0094]
[Step 09] If the start of light emission from the master strobe cannot be detected for a predetermined time, the process branches to step 13 as a timeout.
[0095]
[Step 10] If the channel identified in Step 02 does not match the channel of the slave strobe, the process proceeds to Step 13 without performing the light emission process.
[0096]
[Step 11] A light emission process is performed according to the received command and data.
[0097]
[Step 12] The liquid crystal display 240 displays the light emission state (light emission mode: flash light emission, flat light emission, light emission mode: automatic light adjustment, manual light emission, multi-light emission, light emission parameter: light emission amount, number of times of light emission, light emission frequency, etc.) To do.
[0098]
  [Step 13] In the case of a command error, data error, etc., the light emission process is not performed and a predetermined time is waiteddidLater, it waits for reception of the next data.
[0099]
Next, the light emission operation of the camera and the strobe during wireless flat automatic flash photography in the master light emission mode will be described with reference to timing charts of FIGS.
[0100]
  9 and 10 are timing charts showing the operation when the main light emission is flat light emission, FIG. 9 is an example in which the light emission intensity of the flat light emission of the master strobe is constant, and FIG. 10 shows the embodiment. Is characteristicMaLuminous intensity at the start of flat flash emission of star strobe(Initial luminous intensity)This is an example of increasing the value.
[0101]
In FIGS. 9 and 10, A) to C) are serial communication lines for the camera and strobe, which are the same as those in FIG. D) shows the operation of the mirror 2 of the camera body. The low level indicates the mirror down and the high level indicates the mirror up.
[0102]
E) shows the running state of the front curtain of the shutter 8 of the camera body, and F) shows the running state of the rear curtain of the shutter 8. The low level shows before running and the high level shows after running. G) is an X contact of the camera body, where the high level indicates an open state and the low level indicates a short state. The X contact is in a short state when the shutter front curtain is opened, and is in an open state when the rear curtain of the shutter is completed.
[0103]
  H) and I) are the master flash emission waveforms in the master flash mode, and H) is the main flash.(Flat emission)Is the case where the luminous intensity of is high, I)Real light emissionThis is a case where the luminous intensity is low. J) is a light emission waveform of the slave strobe.
[0104]
[Timing t0] The camera performs predetermined serial communication with the master strobe to instruct wireless pre-flash.
[0105]
[Timing t1] The master strobe MS causes the Xe tube 19 to emit light and transmits command 1 (1) in the command table of FIG.
[0106]
[Timing t2] The master strobe MS transmits the luminous intensity data (2) in the same manner.
[0107]
[Timing t3] When transmission ends, the master strobe returns the DO terminal to high.
[0108]
[Timing t4] The camera drops the CLK terminal to a low level for a predetermined time in order to start pre-emission.
[0109]
On the other hand, the master strobe MS detects that the CLK terminal has become low, and performs pre-emission (4) with a predetermined emission intensity for a predetermined emission time instructed by the camera.
[0110]
On the other hand, the slave strobe performs pre-emission (5) for a predetermined emission time and predetermined emission intensity instructed by the master flash in synchronization with the pre-emission of the master flash.
On the other hand, the camera measures the reflected light of the subject while the master flash or slave flash is pre-flash, and calculates and obtains the proper main flash amount.
[0111]
[Timing t5] When the pre-flash is finished, the master strobe returns the DO terminal to high.
[0112]
[Timing t6] The main flash unit is controlled by serial communication with the master flash, whether or not the main flash can be controlled, the main flash mode (flash flash and flat flash), and the shutter speed set by the camera. In the case of light emission, the light emission intensity and the light emission time are transmitted.
[0113]
[Timing t7] The master strobe MS causes the Xe tube 19 to emit a pulse and transmits the command 5 (6) shown in FIG. On the other hand, the camera starts mirror up to start shooting.
[0114]
[Timing t8] The master strobe MS transmits the luminous intensity data (7) in the same manner.
[0115]
[Timing t9] When transmission ends, the master strobe returns the DO terminal to high.
[0116]
[Timing t10] When the mirror up is completed, the camera starts running the shutter front curtain and drops the CLK terminal to a low level to notify the master strobe that the shutter front curtain has started running, while the master strobe is the CLK terminal. Is detected, and flat main light emission (8) or (9) with a predetermined light emission time and a predetermined light emission intensity instructed from the camera is started.
[0117]
Here, as described above, (8) is when the luminous intensity of the main light emission is high, that is, when the subject is far away, when the lens aperture is narrowed, or when using a low-sensitivity film, and (9) This corresponds to the case where the luminous intensity of the main light emission is low, that is, the case where the subject is close, the case where the lens aperture is opened, or the case where a high sensitivity film is used.
[0118]
  On the other hand, the slave strobe is the master strobe MSBookIn sync with the flash, the master-The light emission element of the strobe light is received by the light receiving element 256, the rising light is detected, and the flat main light emission (12) having the predetermined light emission time and the predetermined light emission intensity instructed from the master strobe is performed.DoHowever, as shown in FIG.Master Strobe MSWhen the emission intensity of the flat main emission is large (8), that is, when the emission intensity of the wireless communication pulse is the same or larger, the slave strobe detects the emission of the master strobe and based on the emission information sent from the master strobe Although it is possible to emit light,Master Strobe MSWhen the flat light emission intensity is low (9), that is, when the upper limit value of the light emission intensity is lower than the wireless communication pulse, the slave strobe cannot detect the light emission of the master strobe, and the slave strobe cannot emit light in synchronization.
[0119]
Here, as the cause of low luminous intensity, when the subject is close, the distance between the slave strobe and the master strobe seems to be relatively close, so it is easy to detect the light emission of the master strobe. There is a high possibility that the master flash cannot be detected.
[0120]
Considering the case of shooting with flat light emission, there is a high possibility that the image is taken outdoors where the brightness of external light is high. Therefore, it becomes increasingly difficult to detect the light emission of the master strobe due to external light.
[0121]
Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in (1) of FIG. 10, the master strobe can detect the start of the master strobe without fail by increasing the light emission intensity for a predetermined time for the start of flat light emission. I am doing so.
[0122]
The control of the master strobe at this time will be described in detail later. Further, since this high luminous intensity emission is performed immediately before the shutter front curtain shows a face on the shooting screen, the shooting screen does not become uneven.
[0123]
[Timing t11] The camera starts running on the rear curtain after the end of a predetermined shutter speed.
[0124]
[Timing t12] When the shutter front curtain of the camera completes running, the X contact is turned on.
[0125]
[Timing t13] When the rear curtain of the shutter finishes running, the X contact is cut off, and then the film winding, shutter charge, mirror down, and other operations are performed, and the series of processing ends.
[0126]
  In this embodiment, pre-emission is performed.(Flat emission)Time is,thisAlthough the process of increasing the luminous intensity is not performed at the start of light emission and the process of increasing the luminous intensity is performed only during the main flash, pre-flash is used for camera photometry, so if the luminous intensity is increased at the beginning of light emission, Since there is a possibility of erroneous metering, this is to prevent it, and since the luminous intensity of the pre-flash is stable to measure the light, the slave strobe has a predetermined size that can detect the emission. The luminous intensity is not variable. However, if the camera prescribes that the predetermined time at the beginning of the pre-flash is not used for photometry, a process for increasing the luminous intensity may be performed as in the case of the main flash.
[0127]
  Also, to get proper exposureMain flash (Flat light emission)Needless to say, if the luminous intensity is higher than the predetermined luminous intensity required for wireless communication, light may be emitted with the luminous intensity corresponding to the appropriate exposure amount from the beginning.
[0128]
Next, the circuit operation of the master strobe or slave strobe in the above description will be described with reference to FIG.
[0129]
<Wireless communication light emission operation>
When the master strobe microcomputer 238 receives a wireless communication instruction from the camera, the master strobe microcomputer 238 generates a predetermined voltage corresponding to the amount of light pulses necessary for wireless optical communication from the DA0 output terminal.
[0130]
  Next, Y0 is set to low and Y1 is set to high level, and the D2 input of the data selector 230 is selected. At this time, since the Xe tube 19 does not emit light, no photocurrent flows through the sensor 32.PhotometrySince the output of the circuit 234 is at a low level, the output of the comparator 231 is at a high level, and the light emission control circuit 211 is turned on.
[0131]
Further, when the SCR_CTRL terminal is set to a high level and the transistors 221 and 218 are turned on, the gate current flows to the gate of the thyristor 231 through the transistor 218 and the resistor 214, and the thyristor 213 is turned on for a predetermined time from the TRIG terminal. When the high signal is output, since the light emission control circuit 212 is in a conductive state, the Xe tube 19 starts to emit light.
[0132]
At this time, the current flowing through the Xe tube 19 flows through the capacitor 203, the coil 206, and the thyristor 213. In other words, by bypassing the coil 208 with the thyristor 213, an optical pulse with a sharp rise necessary for high-speed wireless communication can be obtained.
[0133]
When light emission starts and current flows through the Xe tube, the amount of light gradually increases, and when the output of the sensor 32 that monitors light emission reaches a predetermined voltage, the output of the comparator 231 is inverted from high level to low level, and the output is D2. , The light emission control circuit 212 is cut off through Y, and the light emission is stopped. At the same time, the microcomputer 238 detects that the Y output monitored at the YIN terminal has become low level, sets the Y1 and Y0 terminals to low and low level, and forcibly stops the light emission.
[0134]
Thereafter, in the same manner, the first byte of transmission is the channel identification signal CH. appear. This channel identification signal is used to prevent interference by selecting a channel when there are a plurality of slave strobes SS. Subsequently, necessary bits D7 to D0 are emitted at equal intervals according to the contents of the transmission data.
[0135]
After the second byte of communication, necessary bits D7 to D0 are emitted at equal intervals according to the content of transmission data after the start pulse.
[0136]
<Flat light emission>
Since flat light emission control is a feature of this embodiment, it will be described in detail with reference to the timing charts of FIGS.
[0137]
FIG. 11 shows an example of a light emission waveform in which the light emission intensity of flat light emission is continuously varied.
[0138]
FIG. 12 shows an example of a light emission waveform in which pulse light emission is added before flat light emission.
[0139]
FIG. 13 shows an example in which the luminous intensity of the first pulse of flat light emission by the intermittent pulse is varied.
[0140]
In each figure, A) is the Y1 output of the microcomputer 238, B) is the Y0 output of the microcomputer 238, C) is the SCR_CTRL output of the microcomputer 238, D) is the TRIG output of the microcomputer 238, and E) Is the output of the trigger circuit 131 applied to the trigger electrode of the Xe tube 19, F) is the DA0 output of the microcomputer 238, and G) is the output voltage of the light receiving circuit 234 corresponding to the optical output of the Xe tube 19, and H ) Is an output of the comparator 231 and is input to the light emission control circuit 212 and the microcomputer YIN through the data selector 230.
[0141]
Hereinafter, description will be made in order from FIG.
[0142]
[Timing t1] The strobe microcomputer 238 sets a predetermined voltage V1 to the DA0 output for light emission preparation. This voltage corresponds to the voltage of DA0 that controls each light emission pulse at the time of the wireless communication, and corresponds to the light emission intensity that can be sufficiently received by the slave strobe similar to the wireless communication.
[0143]
At the same time, Y0 is set to low level, Y1 is set to high level, and the D2 input of the data selector 230 is selected. At this time, since the Xe tube 19 does not emit light, no photocurrent flows through the sensor 32, and the output of the comparator 231 is at a low level. Therefore, the output of the comparator 231, that is, the H) YIN input shown in FIG. Therefore, the light emission control circuit 211 is turned on.
[0144]
At the same time, when a high signal is output from the TRIG terminal for a predetermined time, the light emission control circuit 212 is in a conductive state, so the Xe tube 19 starts to emit light.
[0145]
At this time, since the SCR_CTRL terminal is set to the low level, the transistors 221 and 218 are in the off state, and the thyristor 213 is also in the off state. Therefore, the current flowing through the Xe tube 19 is the capacitor 203, the coil 206, and the coil 208. Flowing through.
[0146]
[Timing t2] When the light emission is started, the luminous intensity of the Xe tube 19 is increased, and the minus input voltage of the comparator 231 is higher than the voltage set to DA0 via the light receiving sensor 32, that is, when the luminous intensity is set. The comparator 231 is inverted, and its output becomes a low level and is input to the YIN of the microcomputer via the D2 input of the data selector, so that the YIN input becomes a low level.
[0147]
The microcomputer 238 detects this and thereafter outputs a voltage corresponding to the appropriate light emission intensity to the DA0 terminal in order to perform flat light emission with the appropriate light emission intensity instructed from the camera.
[0148]
On the other hand, when the output of the comparator 231 becomes a low level, the light emission control circuit 212 is cut off, the current flowing through the Xe tube 19 is circulated through the diode 207, and the light emission intensity of the Xe tube gradually decreases.
[0149]
In the subsequent flat light emission control, the luminous intensity of the Xe tube is controlled based on the DA0 voltage corresponding to the appropriate light emission amount.
[0150]
[Timing t3] When the luminous intensity decreases and the −input voltage of the comparator 231 becomes lower than the + input voltage, the output of the comparator 231 is inverted again to the high level, the light emission control circuit 212 becomes conductive, and the light emission current of the Xe tube is When the overshoot is settled through the light emission control circuit 212, the luminous intensity increases.
[0151]
[Timing t4] When the luminous intensity increases again and the -input voltage of the comparator 231 becomes higher than the + input voltage, the output of the comparator 231 is inverted again to the low level, and the light emission control circuit 212 is cut off and the overshoot is stopped. The luminous intensity decreases.
[0152]
Thereafter, by repeating the operations at t3 and t4, the Xe tube continues to emit light at a substantially constant luminous intensity.
[0153]
[Timing t5] When the predetermined light emission time instructed by the camera is ended, the light emission control circuit 212 is cut off by setting Y1 to low level and Y0 to low level, and light emission is ended.
[0154]
Next, FIG. 12 will be described. In FIG. 12, pulse light emission for starting light emission of the slave strobe is added immediately before flat light emission is performed. The description of the same part as in FIG. 11 is omitted.
[0155]
[Timing t1] The strobe microcomputer 238 sets a predetermined voltage V1 to the DA0 output for light emission preparation. At the same time, Y0 is set low and Y1 is set high.
[0156]
At the same time, when a high signal is output from the TRIG terminal for a predetermined time, the light emission control circuit 212 is in a conductive state, so the Xe tube 19 starts to emit light. At this time, since the SCR_CTRL terminal is set to the high level, the transistors 221 and 218 are in the on state, and the thyristor 213 is also in the on state, so that the current flowing through the Xe tube 19 is the capacitor 203, the coil 206, and the thyristor 213. As a result, the light pulses that are steeper than the example described in FIG.
[0157]
[Timing t2] When the light emission is started and the light emission intensity of the Xe tube 19 is increased to a predetermined light emission intensity, the comparator 231 is reversed to interrupt the current flowing through the Xe tube, and the Xe tube 19 stops light emission.
[0158]
On the other hand, in the microcomputer, when the comparator is inverted and the YIN input becomes low level, the microcomputer 238 subsequently outputs a voltage corresponding to the appropriate light intensity to the DA0 terminal in order to perform flat light emission of the appropriate light intensity instructed from the camera. At the same time, the SCR_CTRL terminal is returned to the low level.
[0159]
  [Timing t3] Y1 terminal is again high level, Y0 terminal is low level againSet to. By setting the TRIG terminal to a high level for a predetermined time, light emission is started, and thereafter flat light emission with a predetermined light emission intensity is performed until t4 when the predetermined light emission time ends as described in FIG.
[0160]
  Next, FIG. 13 will be described. In FIG. 13, the luminous intensity of the first pulse of flat light emission due to intermittent pulses is shown.bigThis is an example.
[0161]
The flat light emission may be an intermittent pulse as shown in FIG.
[0162]
When flat light emission is performed by repeating such pulse light emission, the current limiting coils 206 and 208 are small, which contributes to the miniaturization of the strobe device.
[0163]
[Timing t1] The strobe microcomputer 238 sets a predetermined voltage V1 to the DA0 output for light emission preparation. At the same time, Y0 is set low, Y1 is set high, and SCR_CTRL is set high.
[0164]
At the same time, when a high signal is output from the TRIG terminal for a predetermined time, the light emission control circuit 212 is in a conductive state, so the Xe tube 19 starts to emit light. At this time, since the SCR_CTRL terminal is set to the high level, the transistors 221 and 218 are in the on state, and the thyristor 213 is also in the on state, so that the current flowing through the Xe tube 19 is the capacitor 203, the coil 206, and the thyristor 213. As it flows through, a steep light pulse is produced.
[0165]
  [Timing t2] Light emission is started, the light emission intensity of the Xe tube 19 is increased, and a predetermined light emission intensity is obtained.(Luminous luminous intensity greater than proper luminous intensity)Then, the comparator 231 is inverted and the current flowing through the Xe tube is cut off. Since no current flows through the re-coil 208, energy stored in the coil 206 is discharged through the diode 207.Xe tube 19Stops light emission rapidly.
[0166]
On the other hand, when the comparator is inverted and the YIN input becomes low level, the microcomputer 238 outputs a voltage corresponding to the appropriate light emission intensity to the DA0 terminal in order to perform flat light emission with the appropriate light emission intensity instructed from the camera. , Y1 terminal is also returned to a low level to cut off light emission.
[0167]
After [Timing t3], until the predetermined light emission time ends, t4 is set to a high level for a predetermined time and Y1 is set to a high level for each period tf, whereby flat light emission of the pulse light emission type is performed.
[0168]
In the example of FIG. 13, since the coil 208 is bypassed by the thyristor 313, it is not necessary to add a light emission waveform changing circuit (a portion surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. 3) including the coil 208, and the circuit is simplified. Can contribute to
[0169]
As described above, the first embodiment has the following effects.
[0170]
  Main flash (Flat light emission)Is done,BookIncreasing the luminous intensity of the initial light emission,OrBookSlave before firingStrobeLight emission pulse that starts light emission(Emission pulse with emission intensity greater than emission intensity of main emission)By generatingBookEven if the emission intensity is low, thisBookLight emission(Flat emission)By receiving a light emission start signal with high luminous intensity prior to,Surely strobeTheSync light emissionTo letit can.
[0171]
(Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, a slave strobe control signal is generated by using a strobe built in the camera to generate a slave strobe control signal, thereby controlling a slave strobe installed at a position away from the camera.
[0172]
FIG. 14 shows a cross section of the camera according to the second embodiment. The same reference numerals are given to members corresponding to those in FIG.
[0173]
In the figure, reference numerals 118 and 119 denote a Fresnel lens and a reflecting plate, respectively, which serve to condense light emission energy toward the subject efficiently. Reference numeral 120 denotes a xenon tube as a light emitting means.
[0174]
121 is a light control sensor for monitoring the reflected light of the film surface for performing TTL automatic light control of the built-in strobe light, and 122 is a lens for forming an image of the film surface on the light control sensor. 123 is a light receiving element for directly monitoring the light emission amount of the Xe tube 120.
[0175]
FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a circuit in the second embodiment. The same reference numerals are given to members corresponding to those in FIG.
[0176]
In the figure, reference numeral 113 denotes a strobe light emission circuit for performing strobe light emission control. This circuit will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0177]
FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram illustrating the inside of the strobe light emission control circuit 113.
[0178]
In the figure, 121 is a light receiving sensor for receiving light reflected from the film surface by a strobe to perform TTL light control, 123 is a light receiving sensor for directly monitoring the light emission of the Xe tube 120, and 124 is a power source. A battery 125 is a known DC-DC converter, and boosts the battery voltage to several hundred volts.
[0179]
  Reference numeral 126 denotes a main capacitor for accumulating light emission energy, and 127 and 128 denote resistors, which divide the voltage of the main capacitor 126 into a predetermined ratio. Reference numeral 129 denotes a first coil for limiting the light emission current, and reference numeral 130 denotes a first diode that absorbs a back electromotive voltage generated in the coil 129 when light emission is stopped.Is. 131 is a trigger generation circuit, 132 is a light emission control circuit such as an IGBT, and 133 is a data selector. D0, D1, and D2 are selected and output to Y by a combination of two inputs Y0 and Y1.
[0180]
134 is a comparator for adjusting the light emission amount of the Xe tube 120 at the time of wireless pulse light emission, 135 is a comparator for adjusting the light emission amount of the Xe tube 120 by a predetermined light emission amount at the time of TTL dimming control, 136 is to the light receiving sensor 123 A photometric circuit 137 for amplifying the flowing minute current and converting the photocurrent into a voltage, 137 is an integrating circuit for integrating the subject reflected light received by the light receiving sensor 121.
[0181]
  308 is a second coil for limiting the light emission current, and 309 is a diode for circulating back electromotive voltage generated in the coil 308 when light emission is stopped.Is. A thyristor 313 is a switching element for bypassing the coil 308.
[0182]
  314 is a thyristor 313TheA resistor for passing a current to the gate which is a control pole of the thyristor 313 in order to turn it on, 315 is a gate potential stabilization for preventing the thyristor 313 from being turned on when noise is applied to the gate of the thyristor 313 Resistance 316 is a capacitor for rapidly turning on the thyristor 313, 317 isSA noise absorbing capacitor for preventing the thyristor 313 from being turned on when noise is applied to the gate of the thyristor 313, 318 is a transistor for switching the gate current of the thyristor 313, 319 and 320 are resistors, 321 Are transistors for switching the transistor 318, and 322 and 23 are resistors.
[0183]
The circuit configuration of the camera built-in strobe is basically the same as the strobe described in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0184]
  Next, FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a photographing example using the wireless strobe system in the second embodiment.Camera as master strobeThis is an example of controlling a slave strobe using a built-in strobe. In the second embodiment, the strobe built in the camera generates a wireless optical signal for controlling the slave strobe, as in the first embodiment, and is disposed at a position away from the camera body. Send control information toBy doingSlaveControl the strobe.
[0185]
Next, the light emission operation of the camera and the strobe when performing wireless flat automatic flash photography with the built-in strobe of the camera will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG.
[0186]
In FIG. 18, A) shows the state of the release start switch SW2 of the camera, and B) shows the operation of the mirror 2 of the camera body, with the low level indicating mirror down and the high level indicating mirror up. C) shows the running state of the front curtain of the shutter 8 of the camera body, and D) shows the running state of the rear curtain of the shutter 8. The low level indicates before running and the high level indicates after running. E) is an X contact of the camera body, where the high level indicates an open state and the low level indicates a short state. The X contact is in a short state when the shutter front curtain is opened, and is in an open state when the rear curtain of the shutter is completed.
[0187]
  F) and G) are the emission waveforms of the built-in flash, and F) is the main emission.(Flat emission)Is the case where the luminous intensity of is high, G)Real light emissionThis is a case where the luminous intensity is low. H) is a light emission waveform of the slave strobe.
[0188]
  [Timing t0] When the release start switch SW2 is turned on, the cameraSlaveStart the strobe control operation.
[0189]
  [Timing t1] The camera is the same as in the first embodiment.,To pre-flash the slave strobe,The built-in Xe tube 120 is caused to emit pulses, and the command 1 shown in FIG. 18 is transmitted (1).
[0190]
[Timing t2] Similarly, the luminous intensity data (2) is transmitted.
[0191]
  [Timing t3] CameraBuilt-in flashPerforms pre-emission with a predetermined emission intensity and a predetermined emission time. on the other hand,SlaveThe strobe is a predetermined flash time instructed from the camera in synchronization with the flash start signal of the camera.andPre-emission (4) with a predetermined luminous intensity is performed.
[0192]
On the other hand, the camera measures subject reflected light while the slave strobe is pre-flash.
[0193]
[Timing t4] The camera starts mirror-up to start photographing, and causes the built-in Xe tube 120 to emit light in order to instruct the slave strobe to perform main light emission, and transmits the command 5 shown in FIG. (5).
[0194]
  [Timing t5] The camera is the samestrobeEmission data (6)Slave flashSend.
[0195]
[Timing t6] Upon completion of mirror up, the camera starts running on the shutter front curtain and starts flat main light emission (7) or (8) with a predetermined light emission time and a predetermined light emission intensity. As in the first embodiment, (7) is the case where the emission intensity of the main emission is high, and (8) is the case where the emission intensity of the main emission is low.
[0196]
  On the other hand, the slave strobeBuilt-in flashIn sync withBuilt-in cameraThe flat main light emission (9) having a predetermined light emission time and a predetermined light emission intensity instructed from the strobe is emitted. As in the first embodiment, when the light emission intensity of the flat light emission is low.1 roundAs shown inBuilt-in cameraThe strobe is a predetermined time for starting flat flash,By increasing the luminous intensity, the slave strobeBuilt-in cameraThe flash start can be detected. Further, since this light emission is performed immediately before the shutter front curtain shows a face on the shooting screen, there is no occurrence of unevenness in the shooting screen.
[0197]
[Timing t7] The camera starts running on the trailing shutter curtain after a predetermined shutter speed.
[0198]
[Timing t8] When the rear curtain of the shutter completes running, the X-contact is turned off, and then the film winding, shutter charging, mirror down, and other operations are performed, and the series of processing ends.
[0199]
  Here, the operation of the camera built-in strobe in the second embodiment is basically described in the first embodiment.MasterSince it is the same as the operation of the strobe, the description is omitted. Further, the light emission waveform may be any of those described with reference to FIGS. As described above, the second embodiment has the following effects.
[0200]
  Main flash (Flat light emission)Is done,BookIncreasing the luminous intensity of the initial light emission,OrBookLight emission(Flat emission)Prior to slaveStrobeLight emission pulse that starts light emission(Emission pulse with emission intensity higher than flat emission intensity)By generatingBookEven if the emission intensity is low, thisBookLight emission(Flat emission)By receiving a light emission start signal with high luminous intensity prior to,Surely strobeTheSync light emissionTo letit can.
[0202]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention has the following effects.
[0203]
  Surely strobeTheSync light emissionMakeThings are possible.
[0204]
  Even when the intensity of the flat light emission is low, this flat light emission is preceded.That is, than the luminous intensity of flat light emissionA light emission start signal with high luminous intensitySendBy doing,Surely strobeTheSync light emissionMakeThings are possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a strobe control camera system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an electric circuit block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the camera and lens of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an electric circuit block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the strobe of FIG.
FIG. 4 is an external view of a strobe according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a photographing example in the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a timing chart illustrating wireless communication according to the first embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a wireless communication command according to the first embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the slave strobe of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a timing chart for explaining an inconvenient operation of the camera and strobe of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the camera and the strobe in the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of flat light emission of the master strobe in the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a timing chart for explaining another operation of the flat light emission of the master strobe in the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a timing chart for explaining another operation of flat light emission of the master strobe in the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a camera system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
15 is an electric circuit block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the camera and lens of FIG. 14;
16 is an electric circuit block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a strobe control circuit of the camera shown in FIG. 14;
FIG. 17 is a shooting example in the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 18 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the camera and strobe in the second embodiment of the present invention;
[Explanation of symbols]
19, 120 xenon tube
100 camera microcomputer
238 strobe microcomputer
212 light emission control circuit
256 photodiode
240 liquid crystal display device

Claims (27)

In a strobe system having a master strobe device and one or a plurality of slave strobe devices arranged at positions away from the master strobe device, and controlling the slave strobe device by flat light emission of the master strobe device,
The master strobe device has first light emission control means for setting an initial light emission intensity of the flat light emission to a level higher than an appropriate light emission intensity set for the flat light emission ,
The slave flash device, the flash system characterized by having a detecting means for detecting a light emission state in response the master flash device to the initial emission of the flat emission from the master flash device. In a strobe system having a master strobe device and one or a plurality of slave strobe devices arranged at positions away from the master strobe device , and controlling the slave strobe device by flat light emission of the master strobe device,
The master strobe device has first light emission control means for performing light emission of a light emission start pulse light having a light emission intensity higher than the light emission intensity of the flat light emission before the flat light emission,
The slave flash device, the flash system characterized by having a detecting means for detecting the light emission state of said receiving the emission start pulse light the master flash device from the master flash device. In a strobe system having a master strobe device and one or a plurality of slave strobe devices arranged at positions away from the master strobe device, and controlling the slave strobe device by light emitted from the master strobe device,
The master flash device, the slave transmitting means for transmitting the light emission control information including at least a main light emission amount information by the pre-emission information and flat emission instructing preflash against flash device, the flat at the time of pre-emission and main emission emission line Align, and a first light emission control means for setting an initial emission intensity of the flat emission when present emission level higher than the proper light emission intensity that is set for the flat emission,
The stroboscopic system according to claim 1, wherein the slave stroboscopic device includes second light emission control means for causing the slave stroboscopic device to emit light in response to rising light of flat light emission during main light emission from the master stroboscopic device. In a strobe system having a master strobe device and one or more slave strobe devices arranged at positions away from the master strobe device, and controlling the slave strobe device by light emission of the master strobe device,
The master flash device, the slave transmitting means for transmitting the light emission control information including at least a main light emission amount information by the pre-emission information and flat emission instructing preflash against flash device, the flat at the time of preliminary light emission and the emission emission lines Align, the light emission of emission start pulse light having a high emission intensity than the emission intensity of the flat emission when present emission and a first light emission control means for causing immediately before the flat emission,
The slave flash device, the flash system and having a second emission control means for emitting the slave flash device in response to the reception of the emission start pulse light from the master flash device. The first emission control means, wherein when the emission intensity of the flat emission is lower than the predetermined value, the strobe of claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the initial light emission intensity is higher than the adequate emission intensity system. The first light emitting control means, flash system according to claim 2 or 4 the emission intensity of the flat emission is lower than a predetermined value, characterized in that to perform the light emission of the emission start pulse light. The first light emitting control means, flash system according to claim 2, 4 or 6, characterized in that the waveform of the emission start pulse light the Ru made different from the flat emission waveform. The master flash device, the flash system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that that will be attached to the camera. The master flash device, the flash system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is built into the camera. In a strobe device that emits flat light,
Transmission means for transmitting the optical communication information by flat emission,
A strobe device comprising: a light emission control unit that emits light emission start pulse light having a light emission intensity higher than the flat light emission intensity before the flat light emission. In a strobe device that emits flat light during pre-flash and main flash,
Transmitting means for transmitting the light emission control information including at least a main light emission amount information by the pre-emission information and the flat emission instructing the pre-emission,
A strobe device comprising: a light emission control means for setting an initial light emission intensity of flat light emission during main light emission to a level higher than an appropriate light emission intensity set for the flat light emission . In a strobe device that emits flat light during pre-flash and main flash,
Transmitting means for transmitting the light emission control information including at least a main light emission amount information by the pre-emission information and the flat emission instructing the pre-emission,
A flash device characterized in that it comprises a light emission control means for causing the emission of emission start pulse light having a high emission intensity than the emission intensity of the flat emission when present emission just before the flat emission. Said light emission control means, a strobe device of claim 11, the emission intensity of the flat emission when the emission is lower than a predetermined value, characterized by higher than the adequate emission intensity of the initial light emission intensity . Said light emission control means, wherein when the emission intensity of the flat emission is lower than the predetermined value, the strobe apparatus according to claim 10 or 12, characterized in that to perform light emission of the emission start pulse light. It said light emission control means, electronic flash device according to claim 10, 12 or 14, characterized in that the waveform of the emission start pulse light the Ru made different from the flat emission waveform. In a strobe system having a master strobe device capable of communicating with a camera and a slave strobe device arranged at a position away from the master strobe device,
The camera has selection means for selecting flash light emission and flat light emission by the master strobe device ,
The master strobe device transmits light emission control information to the slave strobe device, and sets the initial light emission intensity of the flat light emission for the flat light emission when the flat light emission is selected by the selection means. The flat emission is performed at a higher than the appropriate emission intensity.
The slave flash device includes a receiving unit that receives the emission control information, and a flash light emitting means, to prepare the light emission of the flash light emitting means in response to the emission control information received by the receiving unit, the master strobe strobe system, characterized in that for emitting light corresponding to the light emission control information in synchronism with the flat emission of the device. The master strobe apparatus, when performing the flat light emission, the emission intensity of the flat emission, a shutter provided to set the first emission intensity before being released to the camera, the shutter is opened set the second emission intensity when shooting Te is performed,
Strobe system of claim 16, wherein the first light emitting intensity may be higher than the second emission intensity. The light emitting control information includes information for instructing the flash light and flat light emission, when the flat emission is selected, according to claim 16, characterized in that it comprises a light emission time corresponding to the shutter speed and the shutter curtain speed Strobe system. The light emitting control information is a serial data signal comprising a plurality of bytes, flash system according to claim 16, characterized in that the channel identification signal indicating the control channel only on the first byte is. Strobe system of claim 16 wherein the master flash device, which is a detachable to the camera. Strobe system of claim 16 wherein the master flash device, characterized in that built into the camera. In a strobe system having a master strobe device capable of communicating with a camera and a slave strobe device arranged at a position away from the master strobe device,
The camera has selection means for selecting flash emission and flat emission by the master strobe device ,
The master strobe device transmits light emission control information to the slave strobe device, and when the flat light emission is selected by the selection means, the light emission intensity of the flat light emission is determined before performing the flat light emission. Has a high luminous intensity, and emits a light emission start pulse light for synchronously emitting the slave strobe device,
The slave flash device includes a receiving unit that receives the emission control information, and a flash light emitting means in response to the received light emission control information by the receiving means, to prepare the light emission of the flash light emitting means, the master strobe system, characterized in that for emitting light corresponding to the light emission control information in synchronism with the emission of the emission start pulse light of the strobe device. The master flash device according to claim shutter provided in the camera performs light emission of the emission start pulse light before being opened, following the emission of the light emitting start pulse light and performing flat emission The strobe system according to 22 . The light emitting control information includes information for instructing the flash light and flat light emission, when the flat emission is selected, according to claim 22, characterized in that it comprises a light emission time corresponding to the shutter speed and the shutter curtain speed Strobe system. The light emitting control information is a serial data signal comprising a plurality of bytes, flash system according to claim 22, characterized in that the channel identification signal indicating the control channel only on the first byte is. Strobe system of claim 22 wherein the master flash device, which is a detachable to the camera. Strobe system of claim 22 wherein the master flash device, characterized in that built into the camera.

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