JP4021067B2 - Camera control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the photographing focused with an object standing at the position where a remote control signal does not reach from being executed by limiting the photographing of the object, irrespectively of the remote control signal in the case where a measured distance up to the object is longer than the stored remote control signal coverage distance. SOLUTION: In the case where the distance up to the object which is measured by a ranging circuit is longer than the remote control signal coverage distance which is previously stored in an EEPROM and sent from a remote controller 40, a self lamp flickers. On the other hand, in the case where the distance up to the object which is measured by the ranging circuit is shorter than the remote control signal coverage disrance which is sent from the remote controller 40, the self lamp is turned on. Thus, in the case of remote- photographing, a photographer holding the remote controller 40 as the object fully depresses the release button of the remote controller 40 after recognizing that the self lamp is turned on, then, the photographer can remotely photograph without a failure, and also, the photographer can recognize that photographing is not finished based on the flickering of the self lamp.

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a camera control device that controls exposure based on a comparison result between a distance to a subject and a reachable distance of a remote control signal sent from the remote control when shooting using a remote control (remote control shooting).
[0002]
[Prior art and its problems]
Conventionally, when shooting with a remote control in a camera that can measure a range of multiple ranging areas, the remote control is used to select the subject for which the closest distance is detected among the distances to the subjects obtained by the multiple ranging areas. It is considered that it is a human being used and is focused and photographed.
Therefore, for example, if the remote control user who is the subject is in a state where distance measurement is not possible, but the background farther than the remote control user can be measured, the subject closest to the background It is assumed that the user is (a person using a remote control), and the background is focused and a picture is taken.
[0003]
However, in such conventional remote control shooting, since the subject is determined only from distance measurement data from a plurality of distance measurement areas, the background is a person using the remote control as in the above example. An erroneous determination may be made, and if such an erroneous determination is made, an important person will appear blurred.
[0004]
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems. When remote control shooting is performed, the shutter is driven by comparing the distance to the subject and the reachable distance of the remote control signal sent from the remote control. An object of the present invention is to provide a camera control device for controlling the camera.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Considering that the remote control user is usually the subject when shooting with remote control, in addition to the distance measurement data, distance data from the camera to the remote control (specifically, the reachable distance of the remote control signal sent from the remote control) If the image is taken in consideration of the above, it should not occur that the image is taken while being focused on the background as described above.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera for executing a predetermined operation in response to a remote control signal output from a remote controller, and a distance measuring means for measuring a distance to a subject, and the remote controller. A photographing means for photographing the subject in response to a remote control signal output from the storage means, a storage means for storing a reachable distance of the remote control signal, and a distance measuring means upon receiving the remote control signal output from the remote control When the distance to the subject measured by is larger than the reachable distance of the remote control signal stored in the storage means, the photographing means is forcibly deactivated regardless of the remote control signal. And a restricting means for restricting the shooting of the image.
The present invention further includes a mode switch for selecting whether the limiting means is to function or not to function, and the limiting means functions only when the mode switch is selected to function by the mode switch. Can be.
The distance measuring means has a function of measuring each of subjects in a plurality of distance measuring areas, and is used to focus on a subject at the closest distance among the distances to the objects measured by the distance measuring means. A focusing unit, and the limiting unit includes a closest distance and a distance stored in the storage unit among the distances measured by the ranging unit when the photographing unit receives a remote control signal from the remote controller. distance compared with the, if towards the shortest distance is greater than the feasible distance limits the force the inoperative and for shooting of the subject to the imaging means.
When said imaging means is set to the distant view mode focusing on infinity, the limiting means stops the function.
Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a display means for displaying that the restricting means forcibly disables the photographing means to restrict photographing of the subject .
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a camera control apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
The camera control apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention selects and selects the closest distance measurement data from the distance measurement data up to the subject measured by a plurality of distance measurement areas during remote control shooting. The subject regarded as the main subject by comparing the distance measurement data to the subject, that is, the distance to the subject regarded as the subject and the reachable distance of the remote control signal sent from the remote controller stored in advance If the distance to the remote control signal is longer than the reachable distance of the remote control signal sent from the remote control, the subject's authenticity is suspected (the main subject is not likely to be a remote control user). To prevent shooting, and the cell lamp blinks to indicate that. However, such control is not performed when the distant view mode is selected.
[0007]
FIG. 1 is an external view of a camera on which the camera control device of the present embodiment is mounted. (A) is a front view of the camera, (B) is an upper surface of the camera, and (C) is the camera. The back of each is shown.
[0008]
As shown in FIG. 1A, a zoom lens 11 is provided on the front side of the camera 10 substantially at the center lower side. A finder window 12 is provided above the zoom lens 11, and a photometric window 13 is provided to the right of the finder window 12. Subject light incident from the photometric window 13 is guided to the photometric sensor 53 (see FIG. 3), and the luminance of the subject is increased. Measured. In addition, the remote control light receiving unit 14 detects a remote control signal (release signal) transmitted by infrared rays from the remote control 40 shown in FIG. 2 by an infrared sensor (not shown).
[0009]
The self lamp 16 is a lamp having a function as an indicator that blinks when the distance to the measured subject is farther than the remote control signal reach distance and lights when the distance is close . The self lamp 16 functions as display means.
The passive AF sensor unit 18 is a passive AF sensor that measures the distance (subject distance or photographing distance) from the camera 10 to the subject based on the principle of the so-called triangulation method. A multi AF sensor 55 (see FIG. 3) capable of measuring the distance independently is provided. The distance measurement data used for focusing is distance measurement data corresponding to the shortest distance among the distance measurement data for the plurality of distance measurement areas. The multi AF sensor 55 functions as a distance measuring unit.
The AF auxiliary light projecting unit 20 is a part for projecting auxiliary light for assisting distance measurement when the surroundings are dark and the multi AF sensor 55 cannot perform distance measurement to the subject. The strobe light emitting unit 22 is a part that emits strobe light for assisting photographing when the surroundings are dark.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 1B, a release button 24 is provided on the upper surface of the camera 10. The release button 24 can be half-pressed and fully pressed. In the half-pressed state, preparations necessary for photographing such as photometry and distance measurement are made. On the other hand, when the release button 24 is fully pressed, the focusing lens group is moved to the in-focus position by the focusing means, the aperture and the shutter are operated, the film is exposed, and the film is wound up. The mode switch 26 is a switch for selecting whether to operate the camera 10 using the function of the present invention or vice versa.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 1C, a finder eyepiece 28 is provided on the back surface of the camera 10. The finder eyepiece 28 is an opening that is looked into in order to determine the composition of photographing. The green lamp 30 and the red lamp 32 that are vertically arranged on the right side of the finder eyepiece 28 are lamps that function as indicators. In the present embodiment, the green lamp 30 is selected when the distant view mode is selected. The red lamp 32 is lit when the built-in flash is fully charged.
[0012]
FIG. 2 is an external view of the remote controller. The remote control 40 is provided with a release button 42 for instructing the camera 10 to drive the shutter, and an infrared irradiation window 44 for outputting a remote control signal (release signal) by infrared when the release button 42 is pressed. Yes. Therefore, when the release button 42 is pressed, infrared rays, which are remote control signals, are emitted from the infrared irradiation window 44, and the infrared rays are incident on the remote control light receiving unit 14 of the camera 10 to perform remote control photographing.
[0013]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the camera control device according to the present invention.
A power switch 50 in the figure is a main switch (ON / OFF switch in FIG. 1C) for causing the camera 10 to function. The mode switch 26 is the switch shown in FIG. The metering switch SWS and the release switch SWR are linked to the release button 24, and the metering switch SWS is turned on when the release button 24 is half-pressed, and the release switch SWR is turned on when the release button 24 is fully pressed.
[0014]
The remote control receiving circuit 52 is a circuit that detects infrared rays (remote control signals) emitted from the remote control 40 based on a signal from an infrared sensor (not shown), and the photometric circuit 54 is a photometric window 13 (see FIG. This is a circuit for measuring the luminance of the subject based on the light incident on (A).
[0015]
The distance measuring circuit 56 is a circuit for measuring the distance to the subject in the distance measuring area divided into a plurality based on a signal from the multi AF sensor 55 provided in the passive AF sensor unit 18. The distance measuring circuit 56 functions as distance measuring means. The strobe circuit 58 is a circuit that causes the strobe light emitting unit 22 of the camera 10 (see FIG. 1A) to emit light. The AF auxiliary light projecting unit 20 (see FIG. 1A) emits light according to a signal from the CPU 100.
[0016]
The focus lens driving circuit 60 is a circuit that rotates the focus motor 62 according to the distance to the subject measured by the distance measuring circuit 56 and drives the focus adjustment lens of the camera 10 to focus on the subject. The shutter drive circuit 64 rotates the shutter motor 66 to release the shutter when the release switch SWR of the camera 10 is turned on (when the release button is fully pressed) or when the release button 42 of the remote controller 40 is pressed. Circuit. The focus lens driving circuit 60 and the shutter driving circuit 64 function as photographing means.
[0017]
The green lamp 30 and the red lamp 32 are lamps (see FIG. 1C) provided on the right side of the finder 28 of the camera 10, and as described above, indicators that indicate a case where the distant view mode is set. It is a lamp that functions as The lamps 30 and 32 are turned on by a signal from the CPU 100.
[0018]
In addition to the display in the self-photographing mode, the self-lamp 16 has a function as an indicator that displays whether the measured subject distance is within or outside the reach of the remote control signal (( (See A). As schematically shown in FIG. 4, when the distance to the subject measured by the distance measuring circuit 56 is longer than the reachable distance of the remote control signal sent from the remote control, which is stored in the EEPROM 102 in advance (remote control Flashes when the signal is outside the signal reachable range) or when the distance to the subject measured by the distance measuring circuit 56 is closer than the reachable distance of the remote control signal sent from the remote control (within the remote control signal reachable range) Light. The self lamp 16 is also controlled to be turned on and blinked by a signal from the CPU 100.
Therefore, when shooting with the remote control, if the person who is the subject having the remote control 40 confirms that the self lamp 16 is turned on and fully presses the release button 42 of the remote control 40 , remote control shooting without failure can be performed . in addition, Ru can be confirmed that not been shot in the blink of an self-lamp 16.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 100 inputs signals from all input devices (various sensors, switches, etc.) connected thereto, and is connected to each output device based on a stored program. It controls the operation of (various circuits, lamps, etc.) and functions as a distance measuring means, a photographing means, a limiting means, and the like. The EEPROM 102 functions as a storage means for the reachable distance of the remote control signal sent from the remote controller.
[0020]
The schematic configuration of the camera control apparatus according to the present invention is as described above. Next, the specific operation will be described in detail based on a flowchart.
FIG. 5 is a main flowchart of the camera control apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of distance measurement processing in the main flowchart of FIG. These flowcharts are flowcharts that are processed in a mode in which the present invention functions, that is, in a state where the mode switch 26 is in the remote control mode. Therefore, when the mode switch 26 is turned on, the CPU 100 functions as a limiting unit, and when it is off, it does not function as a limiting unit.
[0021]
The shooting process shown in the main flowchart of FIG. 5 is a process that is started by a half-pressing operation of the release button 24 (ON of the photometry switch SWS) or a half-pressing operation (ranging operation) of the push button 42 of the remote control 40. When the photographing process starts, the CPU 100 calculates the luminance of the subject based on the signal from the photometric sensor 53 that has received the subject light incident from the photometric window 13 of the camera 10 (S1). When the camera is set to the distant view mode (S2; Y), lens driving data (LL data) for moving the focus adjustment lens group to the infinite focus position is set (S3), and the green lamp 30 is set. Is lit (S4). When the distant view mode is selected, the CPU 100 does not function as a limiting unit.
[0022]
Then, the timer for time measurement is activated (S13), the release signal (output when the push button 42 is fully pressed) is not output from the remote controller 40, and the release switch SWR is ON. if (S14; N), or a release signal from the remote control 40 until the time is up is output, one waits for the release switch SWR is ON.
[0023]
When a release signal is output from the remote controller 40 or the release switch SWR is turned on (S14; Y), the green lamp 30 and the red lamp 32 are turned off (S16), and exposure control processing is performed. That is, the CPU 100 operates the focus lens driving circuit 60 based on the set LL data and moves the focus motor 62 to focus at infinity, operates the shutter driving circuit 64 and moves the shutter motor 66 to cut the shutter. Then, the film is wound up and returned (S17, S18). In step S18, if there is no remaining film, the entire film is rewound.
[0024]
On the other hand, when the distant view mode is not set, distance measurement processing for measuring the distance to the subject is performed. Detailed processing of the distance measurement processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6, but the outline of the processing is as follows. That is, the closest distance measurement data is selected from the distance measurement data measured by a plurality of distance measurement areas, and set as the distance to the subject (S5).
[0025]
Next, an AE calculation process is performed to calculate the exposure amount of the subject (S6). In the process in step S5, the distance to the subject due to reasons such as inability to measure distances or obtaining an effective subject distance. Cannot be determined and a distance measurement error has occurred (S7; Y), or the distance to the subject considered to be the subject in the process of step S5, and the remote controller stored in the EEPROM 102 in advance Is compared with the reachable distance (for example, 15 m) of the remote control signal sent from the remote control signal, when the distance to the subject regarded as the subject is farther than the reachable distance of the remote control signal sent from the remote control (S8), Since the credibility of the subject recognized as the main subject is suspected, the CPU 100 causes the self lamp 16 to blink at a certain period (S9), and a certain time has elapsed. It turned off to (S10).
[0026]
On the other hand, in the process of step S5, the subject is measured for distance and no distance measurement error occurs (S7; N). In the process of step S5, the distance to the subject considered to be the subject is determined in advance. When the reachable distance of the remote control signal sent from the stored remote control is compared and the distance to the subject regarded as the subject is closer than the reachable distance of the signal sent from the remote control (S8), The CPU 100 turns on the self lamp 16 (S11), and turns off the light after a certain period of time (S12). Then, a timer is started (S13), and when a remote control release signal is received or the release switch SWR is turned on (S14; Y), the green lamp 30 and the red lamp 32 are turned off (S16), and exposure control processing is performed. The film is wound up (S17, S18). That is, the CPU 100 operates the focus lens driving circuit 60 based on the selected distance measurement data and moves the focus motor 62 to focus on the subject, operates the shutter driving circuit 64 and moves the shutter motor 66 to release the shutter, Roll up one film. If there is no remaining film, rewind the entire film.
[0027]
Therefore, when shooting using the remote control 40, the remote control user can recognize that the self lamp 16 is not in focus at least by looking at the blinking state of the self lamp 16, and change his / her standing position. Depending on the lighting state of the self lamp 16, it is possible to perform remote control shooting after finally confirming the in-focus state.
Next, distance measurement processing in the main flowchart of FIG. 5 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
[0028]
The area to be measured via the multi AF sensor 55 is divided into, for example, six distance measuring areas, and the distance to the subject is uniquely detected in each area. The luminance of the subject is detected by the divided photometric sensor 53 through the photometric window 13 .
The CPU 100 reads preset setting data (emission data serving as a criterion for determining whether or not to perform auxiliary projection from the AF auxiliary projection unit 20) (S31), and this setting data and a plurality of areas (for example, two areas) Or, among the brightness of the subject detected in each of the three areas), the photometry value (main photometry value) selected as the main is compared with the setting data (S32), and if the main photometry value is larger than the setting data, Since the brightness of the subject is sufficient for distance measurement, if the auxiliary light projection is not emitted from the AF auxiliary light projecting unit 20 and the main photometric value is equal to or less than the setting data, the auxiliary light projection is performed from the AF auxiliary light projecting unit 20. Irradiate (S33, S34).
[0029]
Next, the CPU 100 sets the value of the counter i to 0 (S35), and resets the multi AF sensor 55 (S36).
The CPU 100 sets a first ranging area among the above-described six ranging areas (S37), inputs sensor data of the area, and calculates the distance to the subject in the area (S38, S39). . The processing from S37 to S39 is performed for all the distance measurement areas from the first distance measurement area to the sixth distance measurement area (S40), and the distance measurement data of the objects measured by the six distance measurement areas is obtained. Of these, the closest distance measurement data is selected (S41).
[0030]
Next, if the value of the counter is 0 (S42), the CPU 100 increments the value of the counter i and sets it to 1 (S43). In the processing from S37 to S39, the CPU 100 starts from the first ranging area. In other words, when a distance measurement error occurs in all the distance measurement areas up to 6 (the distance to the subject cannot be obtained), in other words, the distance to the subject is obtained in any distance measurement area. If not (S44; Y), the auxiliary light projection unit 20 emits auxiliary light (S45), and the processing from S36 to S42 is performed. That is, the auxiliary light projection is applied and the distance to the subject is measured again.
[0031]
In the first distance measurement (when i = 0), one of the ranging area Razz Motomema the distance to the subject also, (S42; i = 0, S43, S44; N), th 2nd Ranging (when i = 1) has been performed (S44; Y, S36 to S42; i = 1), but when the distance to the subject has not been obtained in all ranging areas (S46; Y), measurement is performed. The distance error process is executed and the process returns to the main flowchart (S47). In the distance measurement error process, for example, lens driving data (LL data) is set so as to focus on a predetermined distance (for example, 2 m) with a high probability that the main subject exists .
On the other hand, when the distance to the subject is obtained in any distance measurement area in the first distance measurement (when i = 0) (S42; i = 0, S43, S44; N, S46; N), Alternatively, the distance to the subject could not be obtained for any distance measurement area at the first distance measurement (when i = 0), but any distance measurement area at the second distance measurement (i = 1). When the distance to the subject is obtained (S42; i = 0, S43, S44; N, S39 to 42; i = 1, S46;), the distance measurement data selected in step S41 is used as lens drive data. Based on this lens drive data, the CPU 100 operates the focus drive circuit 60 and moves the focus motor 62 to focus on the subject (S48).
[0032]
In the above embodiment, the shortest distance is selected from the distance data obtained by so-called multi-range measurement. However, a second closest distance or an intermediate distance may be selected. In either case, the selected distance is compared with the reach distance stored in the EEPROM 102.
In addition, when the measured subject distance is very close, for example, when focusing on a subject within 1.5 m, there is a high probability that the subject other than the photographer is focused. Can be configured. In this case, the short distance data may be stored in the EEPROM 102 and compared with whether or not it is closer than the short distance data as in step S8 of FIG.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
In the first aspect of the invention, when the distance to the subject measured by the distance measuring means is larger than the reachable distance of the remote control signal sent from the remote controller stored in the storage means, the presence / absence of the remote control signal is determined. Regardless, since the photographing means is forcibly disabled to restrict photographing of the subject, photographing that focuses on a subject at a distance where a remote control signal from a remote control not intended by the photographer does not reach is possible. Can be prevented.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the mode switch for selecting whether or not the limiting means is to be functioned is provided, selection according to necessity can be performed by turning the mode switch on and off.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the so-called multi-ranging, the limiting means is caused to function when the distance to the selected subject is longer than the reach distance of the remote control signal, so the remote control signal from the remote control that is not intended by the photographer It is possible to prevent shooting focused on a subject at a distance that cannot be reached.
In the invention described in claim 4, when the distant view mode for focusing at infinity is set, the restricting means stops its function, so that commemorative shooting with distant view is also hindered. Can be lost.
In the invention according to claim 5, since the limiting means is provided with a display means for displaying a state in which the photographing means is forcibly inactivated, a person operating the remote controller can indicate the state of the camera by the display means. It is easy to know and you can shoot with remote control while adjusting your standing position.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1A and 1B are external views of a camera equipped with a camera control device of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a front view of the camera, FIG. 1B is an upper surface of the camera, and FIG. FIG.
FIG. 2 is an external view of a remote control.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of a camera control device according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a schematic operation of a camera control device according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main flowchart of a camera control apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a ranging process subroutine in the main flowchart of FIG. 5;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Camera 13 Photometry window 14 Remote control light-receiving part 16 Self lamp 18 Passive AF sensor part 20 AF auxiliary light projection part 24 Release button 26 Mode switch 30 Green lamp 40 Remote control 42 Push button 53 Multi AF sensor 55 Division | segmentation photometry sensor 100 CPU

Claims (5)

A camera that receives a remote control signal output from a remote control and performs a predetermined operation,
Ranging means for measuring the distance to the subject;
A photographing means for photographing the subject in response to a remote control signal output from the remote control;
Storage means for storing the reachable distance of the remote control signal;
When the remote control signal output from the remote control is received and the distance to the subject measured by the ranging means is larger than the reachable distance of the remote control signal stored in the storage means, An apparatus for controlling a camera, comprising: restriction means for restricting photographing of the subject by forcibly disabling the photographing means regardless of a remote control signal. Further comprising a mode switch for selecting whether the limiting means is to function or not to function;
The camera control device according to claim 1, wherein the restriction unit functions only when the function of the restriction unit is selected by the mode switch. The distance measuring means has a function of measuring each of subjects in a plurality of distance measuring areas, and is used to focus on a subject at the closest distance among the distances to the objects measured by the distance measuring means. A focusing unit, and the limiting unit includes a closest distance and a distance stored in the storage unit among the distances measured by the ranging unit when the photographing unit receives a remote control signal from the remote controller. distance compared with the, if towards the shortest distance is greater than the feasible distance, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the camera limits the force the imaging of the object to inoperative said imaging means Control device. The imaging means, an infinite when set in the distant view mode focusing on a far, said limiting means control apparatus according to any one claim of the camera of claims 1 to 3, stop the function. 5. The camera control device according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a state in which the restriction means forcibly disables the photographing means to restrict photographing of the subject . 6.

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