JP5762029B2 - Light emitting device and camera system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a light emitting device and a camera system having the light emitting device and an imaging device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a camera system is known that includes a camera and a light emitting device disposed at a position spatially separated from the camera. In such a camera system, for example, in Patent Document 1, strobe light emitted from a light emitting device is used as a remote control signal, reception determination is performed by photometric means mounted on the camera body, and remote control of the camera is performed. Technology is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-061109

  However, with the prior art disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document, it is possible to take a picture with a camera even when the charging state of the light emitting device is not completed, and as a result, there is a risk that the light emitting device does not emit light and the shooting fails. is there.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a light emitting device and a camera system that can prevent unsuccessful photographing due to the light emitting device not emitting light when the imaging device is remotely controlled by the light emitting device.

In order to achieve the above object, a light emitting device according to the present invention is a light emitting device capable of remotely controlling an imaging device, and operating means for receiving an operation for instructing the imaging device to perform a photographing operation; Transmitting means for transmitting a first signal instructing execution of the photographing operation to the imaging device, voltage detecting means for detecting a charging voltage of a main capacitor of the light emitting device, and the operation means accepting the operation. And a first control unit that controls whether or not to transmit the first signal from the transmission unit, and the first control unit receives the operation by the operation unit. In addition, when the charging voltage detected by the voltage detecting means is lower than a predetermined voltage, control is performed so as not to transmit the first signal from the transmitting means, and the operation is accepted by the operating means. When, if the charging voltage detected by the voltage detecting means is equal to or higher than the predetermined voltage and controlling so as to transmit the first signal from said transmitting means.

The camera system according to the present invention is a camera system having a light emitting device and an imaging device that can be remotely controlled by the light emitting device, the light emitting device for instructing the imaging device to perform a shooting operation. operation means for receiving an operation, a first transmission means for transmitting a first signal for instructing the execution of the photographing operation to the image sensing device, a voltage detecting means for detecting a charging voltage of the main capacitor of the light-emitting device, First control means for controlling whether or not to transmit the first signal from the first transmission means in response to receiving the operation by the operation means, and whether or not the light emitting device emits light. and a second control means for controlling said imaging device, instructs the light-emitting operation to the light emitting device in response to receiving the first signal transmitted from said first transmission means That a second transmission means for transmitting a second signal, said first control means, wherein upon receiving the operation by the operation means, the voltage detected by the detection means the charge voltage of a predetermined voltage The first signal is not transmitted from the first transmission means, and when the operation is accepted by the operation means, the charging voltage detected by the voltage detection means is the predetermined voltage. When the voltage is equal to or higher than the voltage, control is performed so that the first signal is transmitted from the first transmission unit, and the second control unit causes the light-emitting device to emit light when the second signal is received. It is characterized by controlling to .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when performing remote control of an imaging device with a light-emitting device, the failure photography by a light-emitting device not light-emitting can be prevented.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the camera in the camera system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a strobe device in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of a slave strobe at the time of imaging | photography by performing remote control of a camera with a slave strobe. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the camera at the time of imaging | photography by performing remote control of a camera with a slave strobe. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of a slave strobe when shooting is performed by remotely controlling the camera with the slave strobe in the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of a slave strobe when shooting is performed by remotely controlling the camera with the slave strobe in the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the charge completion estimated time of the charge and the light emission part in 2nd Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of a slave strobe when shooting by performing remote control of the camera with the slave strobe in the third embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  In the present embodiment, a camera system including a camera, a light emitting device (master strobe) built in or connected to the camera, and a light emitting device (slave strobe) disposed at a position spatially separated from the camera will be described.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a camera in the camera system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a camera that is an imaging apparatus includes a functional unit described below. That is, the MPU 101 is a camera control unit (second control unit) for controlling the system such as a shooting sequence. The image sensor 103 is composed of a CCD, a CMOS, or the like that converts reflected light from a subject into an electrical signal. The timing signal generation circuit 102 generates a timing signal necessary for operating the image sensor 103. The A / D converter 104 converts analog image data output from the image sensor 103 into digital image data. The memory controller 105 controls reading / writing of the memory, refresh operation of the buffer memory 106, and the like.

  The image display unit 107 displays an image based on the image data stored in the buffer memory 106. The recording medium I / F 108 is an interface for connection with the recording medium 109. The recording medium 109 is a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. Note that the recording medium 109 may be configured so that it can be inserted into and removed from the camera, or may be fixed in the camera. The EEPROM 110 is a memory for writing adjustment data and the like used when the MPU 101 controls the operation of the camera and reading the stored data.

  The motor control circuit 111 controls a motor (not shown) according to a signal from the MPU 101, thereby causing the mirror (not shown) to be raised and lowered and the shutter to be charged. The shutter control circuit 112 controls the travel of a shutter front curtain and a shutter rear curtain (not shown) according to a signal from the MPU 101. The photometry circuit 113 outputs to the MPU 101 the output from the multi-division photometry sensor 114 that divides the screen into a plurality of areas as the luminance signal of each area in the screen. The MPU 101 converts this luminance signal by the A / D converter 104 of 119, calculates the aperture value for adjusting the exposure of photographing, the calculation of the shutter speed, and the main light emission amount of the light emitting device at the time of exposure.

  The lens control circuit 115 communicates with the MPU 101 via a lens mount contact (not shown), operates a lens drive motor and a lens aperture motor (not shown), and performs lens focus adjustment and aperture control. The focus detection circuit 116 has a function of detecting a defocus amount with respect to a subject for AF (autofocus).

  SW1 is turned on by a first stroke (half-pressed) of a release button (not shown), and starts shooting preparation operations such as AF and photometry. SW2 is turned on by a second stroke (full press) of a release button (not shown) to start a photographing operation. By pressing a built-in strobe pop-up switch (not shown), the built-in strobe light emitting portion is exposed, and built-in strobe photography can be performed. The switch sense circuit 117 detects signals from SW1, SW2, a pop-up switch, and other operation units (not shown) of the camera, and outputs signals to the MPU 101.

  The infrared receiving circuit 118 receives an infrared pulse signal from the outside and outputs it to the MPU 101. Based on the interval and the number of times of the input continuous pulse signal, the MPU 101 can perform the same processing as when, for example, SW1 and SW2 are turned on, that is, the photographing preparation operation and the photographing operation. Hereinafter, the shooting preparation operation and the shooting operation are collectively referred to as a shooting-related operation.

  The built-in strobe charging / light emitting unit 121 is connected to the strobe control circuit 120, and a strobe light emitting circuit that emits strobe light in accordance with a main capacitor charged by a booster circuit (not shown) or a light emission signal from the strobe control circuit 120. (Not shown).

  The built-in strobe charging / light emitting unit 121 also functions as a transmitting unit that outputs a light pulse signal by performing continuous light emission for a short time according to the continuous light emission signal from the strobe control circuit 120. Then, when the slave strobe of FIG. 2 described later receives the optical pulse signal, the light emission control of the slave strobe is realized.

  The strobe voltage detecting unit 122 detects the charging voltage of the main capacitor of the built-in strobe charging / light emitting unit 121.

  The external interface 123 is an interface for connecting to a light emitting device (hereinafter referred to as “external strobe”) as an external device. The MPU 101 communicates with an external strobe (not shown) connected via the external interface 123. When an external strobe is attached to the camera, the external strobe functions as a master strobe.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the camera built-in strobe is a master strobe is described, but an external strobe connected to the external interface of the camera may be a master strobe.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a light emitting device (slave strobe) arranged at a position spatially separated from the camera in the embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, the slave strobe includes a functional unit described below. That is, the MPU 201 is a strobe control unit (first control unit) for controlling the system such as a light emission control sequence and a charging sequence. The charging / light emitting unit 203 includes a main capacitor that is charged by a booster circuit (not shown) and a strobe light emitting circuit (not shown) that emits strobe light in accordance with a light emission signal from the MPU 201. The voltage detection unit 204 detects the charging voltage of the main capacitor of the charging / light emitting unit 203. The light emission integral value and the charging voltage of the main capacitor are converted by the A / D converter 202 and used for the charging voltage level calculation and the light emission amount calculation.

  The SW outputs a signal by operating a button or a switch that is an operation unit of the strobe, and a detection signal is sent from the switch sense circuit 205 to the MPU 201. Further, when a remote release button (not shown) is pressed, an infrared pulse signal is generated based on a clock signal generated from a crystal oscillator (not shown) built in the MPU 201, and an infrared transmission circuit 208 A pulse signal is output. As described above, the infrared pulse signal can be used to execute the same processing as when the release button is pressed on the camera. In other words, by using the infrared pulse signal, it is possible to instruct execution of photographing related operations of the camera by remote control with the slave strobe.

  A display unit 206 is a display unit provided in the slave strobe. When the charging level at which light emission is possible is reached, an LED lamp (not shown) on the display unit 206 is turned on to notify the user that light emission is possible. The light receiving circuit 207 is a light receiving circuit for receiving control information (light pulse signal) from the master strobe.

  The external interface 209 is an interface for connecting to a camera. The MPU 201 communicates with a camera connected via the external interface 209. When a strobe with this configuration is attached to the camera, it functions as a master strobe.

  Next, processing of the slave strobe when shooting by performing remote control of the camera with the slave strobe will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the slave strobe. Each step of the flowchart is performed by the MPU 201 reading a program in a ROM (not shown) into the RAM and executing it.

  In step S301, the MPU 201 detects the state of a remote release button (not shown) via the switch sense circuit 205. If it is determined that the remote release button has been operated, the process proceeds to step S302. On the other hand, if not operated, the state detection of the remote release button is continued.

  In step S302, the MPU 201 confirms its own wireless setting. If the multi-light wireless control mode, which is a mode in which the camera itself emits light in synchronization with shooting by the camera, is set, the process proceeds to step S303, and various processes for emitting light are performed. On the other hand, if the multi-light wireless control mode is not set, the process proceeds to step S307, and only the process for remotely controlling the camera is performed.

  In step S303, the MPU 201 causes the charging / light emitting unit 203 to start charging so that charging is performed until a charging voltage necessary for strobe light emission is reached. In step S304, the MPU 201 causes the voltage detection unit 204 to detect the current charging voltage of the charging / light emitting unit 203 and obtains the charging voltage.

  In step S305, the MPU 201 determines whether or not the charging voltage of the charging / light emitting unit 203 acquired in step S304 has reached a voltage permitting strobe light emission (light emission permission voltage). Note that the light emission permission voltage is set to a predetermined voltage that is equal to or higher than the voltage at which light emission is possible at the maximum light emission amount during main light emission, and the MPU 201 performs light emission permission when the charging voltage becomes equal to or higher than the light emission permission voltage.

  If it is determined that the light emission permission voltage has not been reached, the MPU 201 cancels the operation of the remote release button because the slave strobe cannot emit light (step S311), and the process returns to step S301. On the other hand, if it is determined that the MPU 201 has reached the light emission permission voltage, the process proceeds to step S306. As described above, when the remote release button is operated before the slave strobe reaches the light emission permission voltage, the operation of the remote release button is canceled until the light emission permission voltage is reached.

  In step S306, the MPU 201 notifies the user that the slave strobe is ready to emit light by turning on an LED lamp (not shown) of the display unit 206. Next, in step S307, the MPU 201 generates an infrared pulse signal based on a clock signal generated from a built-in crystal oscillator (not shown), and causes the infrared transmission circuit 208 to start outputting the infrared pulse signal. .

  In step S308, the MPU 201 confirms its own wireless setting again in the same manner as in step S302. When the multi-light wireless control mode is set, the process proceeds to step S309.

  In step S 309, the MPU 201 receives the light pulse signal from the built-in flash charging / light emitting unit 121 on the camera side by the light receiving circuit 207. The MPU 201 decodes information such as a light emission time and a light emission amount from the received optical pulse signal, and performs desired light emission control in step S310.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of camera processing when shooting is performed by remotely controlling the camera with a slave strobe. Each step of the flowchart is performed by the MPU 101 reading a program in a ROM (not shown) into the RAM. Done by running.

  In step S <b> 321, the MPU 101 performs charging until the charging voltage required for the strobe light emission is reached by the strobe charging / light emitting unit 121, and the strobe voltage detecting unit 122 detects the charging voltage of the strobe charging / light emitting unit 121. Then, the charging voltage level is acquired via the strobe control circuit 120.

  In step S322, the MPU 101 waits to receive an infrared pulse signal from the outside by the infrared receiving circuit 118. When the infrared pulse signal is received, the MPU 101 determines whether to immediately proceed to step S323 or to transition after a predetermined time based on the interval and the number of continuous pulses in the infrared pulse signal. In the present embodiment, the predetermined time is 2 seconds.

  In step S323, the MPU 101 performs focus detection by a known method from the displacement of the subject image formed on the focus detection line sensor in the focus detection unit (not shown) including the focus detection circuit 116. Then, the lens driving amount up to the in-focus position is calculated, and the focus of the lens is adjusted via the lens control circuit 115.

  Next, when the focus detection result is determined to be in focus in step S324, the process proceeds to step S325. On the other hand, if it is determined to be out of focus, the process ends.

  In step S325, the MPU 101 acquires the current subject luminance measured by the multi-division photometry sensor 114 as a luminance signal via the photometry circuit 113. Then, the MPU 101 converts this luminance signal by the A / D converter 104, performs calculation for exposure control of photographing, and determines an exposure control value such as an aperture value and a shutter time.

  In step S326, the MPU 101 detects the state of the strobe pop-up switch via the switch sense circuit 117. When the strobe is popped up, the built-in strobe can emit light, and the process proceeds to step S328. On the other hand, if the strobe is not popped up, the process proceeds to step S327.

  In step S327, the MPU 101 performs motor control (not shown) by the motor control circuit 111, and performs pop-up control of the built-in strobe. In step S328, the MPU 101 confirms the wireless setting of the slave strobe. If the multi-light wireless control mode is not set, the optical pulse signal necessary for controlling the slave strobe is not transmitted, and the process proceeds to step S330.

  In step S329, the MPU 101 causes the built-in strobe charging / light emitting unit 121 to intermittently emit light in a pulse manner, outputs a light pulse signal to the slave strobe, and transmits light emission information to the slave strobe.

  In step S330, the MPU 101 starts running the front curtain by the shutter control circuit 112, and starts running the rear curtain after performing the calculated shutter second exposure. Thereafter, output of analog image data from the image sensor 103 is started in accordance with the timing signal generated by the timing signal generation circuit 102. Then, after the output of all the image sensors is completed, digital image data is created by the A / D converter 104, the image data is recorded on the recording medium 109, and the photographing operation is completed.

  As described above, when performing remote control of the camera with the slave flash and shooting with the slave flash firing synchronized, operations are performed to remotely control the camera when the slave flash is lower than the flash enable voltage. Even if it is, the camera is not instructed to execute the shooting-related operation. Specifically, as described above, even if an operation for remote control of the camera is performed when the slave strobe is lower than the emission permission voltage, the operation is canceled and the camera is associated with the shooting. Do not output the infrared pulse signal that instructs the execution of the operation. By controlling the slave strobe, it is possible to prevent unsuccessful shooting due to the light emitting device not emitting light when the light emitting device performs remote control of the imaging device.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the camera system according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as those in the first embodiment. Description is omitted. In the following, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are flowcharts showing the flow of processing of the slave strobe when shooting is performed by remote control of the camera with the slave strobe in the second embodiment. Each step in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6 is performed by the MPU 201 reading a program in a ROM (not shown) into the RAM and executing it.

  In step S401, the MPU 201 detects the state of the remote release button via the switch sense circuit 205. If it is determined that the remote release button has been operated, the process proceeds to step S402. On the other hand, if not operated, the state detection of the remote release button is continued.

  In step S402, the MPU 201 checks its own wireless setting. When the multi-light wireless control mode is not set, the process proceeds to step S403, and only the process for remotely controlling the camera is performed. On the other hand, when the multi-light wireless control mode is set, the process proceeds to step S406, and various processes for emitting light are performed.

  In step S403, the MPU 201 detects the state of a release timing setting button (not shown) via the switch sense circuit 205. If the camera receives an infrared pulse signal and determines that it is an immediate release setting for performing an immediate shooting-related operation, the process proceeds to step S404. On the other hand, if it is determined that the release setting is 2 seconds after the camera receives the infrared pulse signal and the shooting-related operation is performed 2 seconds later, the process proceeds to step S405.

  In step S404, the MPU 201 causes the infrared transmission circuit 208 to start outputting an infrared pulse signal for performing an immediate photographing related operation.

  In step S405, the MPU 201 causes the infrared transmission circuit 208 to start outputting an infrared pulse signal for performing an imaging-related operation after 2 seconds.

  The infrared pulse signal output in step S404 or step S405 is received by the infrared receiving circuit 118 on the camera side and output to the MPU 101. The MPU 101 determines whether to perform an immediate imaging-related operation or to perform an imaging-related operation after 2 seconds based on the interval and the number of continuous pulses of the input infrared pulse signal.

  Note that when the release setting is set after 2 seconds, the shooting operation only needs to start after 2 seconds. Therefore, the shooting preparation operation performed prior to the shooting operation may be performed immediately after the camera receives the infrared pulse signal. I do not care. In that case, an infrared pulse signal in which the start timing of the shooting preparation operation and the start timing of the shooting operation are set may be output.

  In step S <b> 406, the MPU 201 starts charging so that charging is performed until the charging / light emitting unit 203 reaches a charging voltage necessary for strobe light emission. In step S407, the MPU 201 causes the voltage detection unit 204 to detect the current charging voltage of the charging / light emitting unit 203, and acquires the charging voltage.

  In step S408, the MPU 201 determines whether or not the release setting is 2 seconds later. If the release setting is immediate, the process proceeds to step S409. If the release setting is 2 seconds later, the process proceeds to step S412.

  In step S409, the MPU 201 determines whether or not the charging voltage of the charging / light emitting unit 203 acquired in step S407 has reached the light emission permission voltage. If it is determined that the light emission permission voltage has not been reached, the MPU 201 cancels the operation of the remote release button because the slave strobe cannot emit light (step S418), and the process returns to step S401.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the MPU 201 has reached the light emission permission voltage, the process proceeds to step S410. In the case of the immediate release setting as described above, when the remote release button is operated before the slave strobe reaches the light emission permission voltage, the operation of the remote release button is canceled until the light emission permission voltage is reached.

  In step S410, the MPU 201 notifies the user that the slave strobe is ready to emit light by turning on an LED lamp (not shown) of the display unit 206.

  Next, in step S411, the MPU 201 causes the infrared transmission circuit 208 to start outputting an infrared pulse signal for performing an immediate imaging-related operation.

  In step S412, the MPU 201 performs a charge completion prediction time calculation. As shown in FIG. 7, the MPU 201 measures charging times Ta, Tb, and Tc for the charging voltages Va, Vb, and Vc immediately after the strobe power supply is activated, and determines the charging time from the Ta, Tb, and Tc to the emission permission voltage Vok. Create the battery characteristics. The MPU 201 calculates a charging voltage level Vcurrent at which T2−T1 = 2 seconds by using a graph in which the charging time up to Vok is predicted.

  In step S413, the MPU 201 determines whether or not the charging voltage of the charging / light emitting unit 203 acquired in step S407 reaches the charging permission voltage after 2 seconds. That is, if it is determined that the charging voltage acquired in step S407 is equal to or higher than the Vcurrent calculated in step S412, the MPU 201 considers that the charging voltage reaches the emission permission voltage before starting the photographing operation after 2 seconds. The process proceeds to S414. On the other hand, if it is determined that the charging voltage is less than Vcurrent, the MPU 201 determines that the charging voltage does not reach the emission permission voltage after 2 seconds, and proceeds to step S419. In step S419, the operation of the remote release button is canceled, and the process returns to step S401.

  In step S414, the MPU 201 notifies the user that light emission is possible by turning on the LED lamp (not shown) of the display unit 206 if it is Vok or more and blinking if it is less than Vok. That is, in the form different from the information indicating that the light emission permission voltage has already been reached and can emit light, the light emission permission voltage is not reached yet, but it is expected that the light emission permission voltage will be reached in 2 seconds. Information indicating that transmission is possible is broadcast.

  In step S415, the MPU 201 starts to output an infrared pulse signal for performing an imaging-related operation after 2 seconds from the infrared transmission circuit 208. In this way, when the release setting is 2 seconds later, an infrared pulse signal is output if the charging voltage reaches the light emission permission voltage after 2 seconds even if the charging voltage is lower than the light emission permission voltage when the remote release button is operated. To do.

  Next, in step S 416, the light receiving circuit 207 receives a light pulse signal from the built-in strobe charging / light emitting unit 121 on the camera side. The MPU 201 decodes information such as the light emission time and the light emission amount from the received optical pulse signal, and performs desired light emission control in step S417.

  Since the processing flow of the camera in the second embodiment is the same as the flowchart described in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, when the camera is remotely controlled to start shooting after a preset predetermined time, if the slave strobe is not the light emission enable voltage, the time required to reach the light emission enable voltage is predicted, and the predicted time is predetermined. If it is less than the time, the camera is instructed to perform a shooting-related operation. In other words, even if the slave strobe is not the light emission permission voltage, if the charging voltage becomes equal to or higher than the light emission permission voltage after a predetermined time, the camera is instructed to perform a photographing related operation. By controlling the slave strobe, it is possible to prevent unsuccessful shooting due to the light emitting device not emitting light when the light emitting device performs remote control of the imaging device. Further, when the slave strobe is not at the light emission permission voltage, the charging waiting time of the slave strobe can be used efficiently.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the camera system according to the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Description is omitted. In the following, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of the slave strobe when shooting is performed by remotely controlling the camera with the slave strobe in the third embodiment. Each step of the flowchart of FIG. 8 is performed by the MPU 201 reading a program in a ROM (not shown) into the RAM and executing it.

  Steps S501 to S504 and S506 to S510 are the same controls as steps S301 to S304 and S306 to S310 of FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment.

  In step S505, the MPU 201 determines whether or not the charging voltage of the charging / light emitting unit 203 acquired in step S504 has reached the light emission permission voltage. If it is determined that the light emission permission voltage has not been reached, the slave strobe cannot emit light, and the process returns to step S504 to perform charge detection. Then, the charging voltage is monitored until the charging voltage reaches the light emission permission voltage, and when the light emission permission voltage is reached, the process proceeds to step S506.

  Since the processing flow of the camera in the third embodiment is the same as the flowchart described in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, if an operation to remotely control the camera is performed when the slave strobe is lower than the flash enable voltage, it waits for the camera to instruct the camera to execute shooting-related operations until the flash enable voltage is reached. Instructing the execution of the photographing-related operation after reaching the light emission permission voltage. By controlling the slave strobe, it is possible to prevent unsuccessful shooting due to the light emitting device not emitting light when the light emitting device performs remote control of the imaging device. Also, the user can perform an operation for remotely controlling the camera without worrying about the charging voltage of the slave strobe.

  In the above three embodiments, the camera system has been described in which an optical signal is transmitted from the camera side to the slave strobe side and an infrared signal is transmitted from the slave strobe side to the camera side. However, communication between the camera side and the slave strobe side is described. The method is not limited to these. For example, a camera system that performs both communication from the camera side to the slave strobe side and communication from the slave strobe side to the camera side by radio signals may be used.

  In the above three embodiments, the configuration in which the control information of the slave strobe is transmitted via the strobe built in the camera has been described. However, a communication device that does not have a strobe function is connected to the external interface of the camera. It may be configured to communicate with a slave strobe.

  In the above-described three embodiments, the case where the shooting preparation operation such as AF and photometry is performed before the shooting operation has been described. However, it is not always necessary to perform the shooting preparation operation before the shooting operation. AF is not necessary when the focus mode is set. Alternatively, metering may not be performed when the manual exposure control mode is set or when the exposure fixed mode is set. In other words, any configuration may be used as long as the remote release button of the slave strobe is operated to instruct at least the execution of the photographing operation of the camera.

  The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

101, 201 MPU
118 Infrared Receiving Circuit 120 Strobe Control Circuit 121 Built-in Strobe Charging / Light Emitting Unit 122 Strobe Voltage Detection Unit 203 Charging / Light Emitting Unit 204 Voltage Detection Unit 206 Display Unit 207 Light Receiving Unit

Claims (8)

A light emitting device capable of remote control of an imaging device,
Operation means for accepting an operation for instructing the imaging apparatus to execute a photographing operation;
Transmitting means for transmitting a first signal instructing execution of the photographing operation to the imaging device;
Voltage detecting means for detecting a charging voltage of a main capacitor of the light emitting device;
First control means for controlling whether or not to transmit the first signal from the transmission means in response to receiving the operation by the operation means,
The first control unit does not cause the transmission unit to transmit the first signal when the operation voltage is detected by the voltage detection unit when the operation is accepted by the operation unit. If the charging voltage detected by the voltage detection means is equal to or higher than the predetermined voltage when the operation is received by the operation means, the first signal is transmitted from the transmission means. A light emitting device characterized by: Said first control means, upon receiving the operation by the pre-SL operating means, when the charging voltage detected by the voltage detecting means is lower than the predetermined voltage, the charging voltage by the charging of the main capacitor There emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls so as to transmit the first signal from the transmitting means according to particular said Tsu name above a predetermined voltage. Second control means for controlling whether or not the light emitting device emits light;
The second control means controls whether or not the light emitting device emits light according to whether or not the light emitting device is set to emit light in conjunction with the photographing operation.
It said first control means, said in the light emitting device, in the absence Tei is set for light emitting the light emitting device in conjunction with the photographing operation by the operation means regardless of the detection result of said voltage detecting means 3. The light emitting device according to claim 1 , wherein control is performed so that the first signal is transmitted from the transmission unit in response to accepting an operation. 4. Receiving means for receiving a second signal instructing a light emitting operation transmitted from the imaging device to the light emitting device in response to receiving the first signal;
The second control means is a case where the light emitting device is set to emit light in conjunction with the photographing operation, and the light emitting device is turned on when the second signal is received by the receiving means. The light emitting device according to claim 3, wherein the light emitting device is controlled to emit light. The predetermined voltage is, the light emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a light-emission enable voltage of the light emitting device. The light emitting device can remotely control the imaging device to execute the photographing operation after a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation means was operated,
The predetermined voltage is a value lower than a light emission permission voltage of the light emitting device, and is a voltage at which the charge voltage becomes the light emission permission voltage after the predetermined time has elapsed since the operation was received by charging the main capacitor. the light emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that. A camera system having a light emitting device and an imaging device that can be remotely controlled by the light emitting device,
The light emitting device
Operation means for accepting an operation for instructing the imaging apparatus to execute a photographing operation;
A first transmission means for transmitting a first signal for instructing the execution of the photographing operation to the image sensing device,
Voltage detecting means for detecting a charging voltage of a main capacitor of the light emitting device;
First control means for controlling whether to transmit the first signal from said first transmission means in response to acceptance of the operation by the operation means,
Second control means for controlling whether or not the light emitting device emits light ,
The imaging device
A second transmission unit configured to transmit a second signal instructing the light emitting device to perform a light emission operation in response to receiving the first signal transmitted from the first transmission unit;
The first control means receives the first signal from the first transmission means when the charge voltage detected by the voltage detection means is lower than a predetermined voltage when the operation is accepted by the operation means. If the charging voltage detected by the voltage detecting means is equal to or higher than the predetermined voltage when the operation is accepted by the operating means, the first signal is sent from the first transmitting means. Control to send
The camera system characterized in that the second control means controls the light emitting device to emit light when the second signal is received . The imaging apparatus includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the imaging apparatus is set to emit the light emitting device in conjunction with an imaging operation.
The second transmission unit transmits the second signal to the light emitting device when it is determined by the determination unit that the light emitting device is set to emit light in conjunction with a photographing operation, 8. The second signal is not transmitted to the light-emitting device when the determination unit determines that the light-emitting device is not set to emit light in conjunction with a shooting operation. The camera system described.

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