JPH01259332A - Camera capable of using photographic and test modes selectively - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the performance test and adjustment of a camera and to prevent the malfunction of the camera by grounding a common DX detecting terminal, and switching a normal mode to a test mode and holding it. CONSTITUTION:A test mode switching means 30 is formed in such a way that a cord 32 is connected to the DX common terminal part 31(a). A cartridge 31 is mounted in a cartridge chamber 13 and the cord 32 is mounted to the metallic part of the camera, thereby grounding the DX detecting terminal 13a. A CPU sets the test mode when it detects the ground of the terminal 13a. The mode is maintained while the external conditions are held. The test modes are successively switched by repeatedly depushing the mode switching button 18, electrical conditions different from normality are established and the modes are switched and therefore, the performance test and adjustment are facilitated and malfunction is also prevented.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is a camera whose functions and operations are electrically controlled by a built-in CPU, and which has the functions and operations necessary for the user to load film and take pictures. In addition to the shooting mode, this camera has a test mode that corresponds to the behind-the-scenes functions necessary for the manufacturer to inspect and adjust the camera, and the two modes can be selectively used. It is.

[Background of the invention]

With an automatic camera that is electrically controlled and operated by a CPU, users simply load the DX Patrone into the camera, point it at the subject, and press the shutter button to quickly measure the distance to the subject and take pictures. Autofocus (AF) is performed by moving the lens, Dx information and subject brightness are read, and photography is performed using automatic exposure (AE). The built-in flash photography can also be controlled and
A photograph is taken. All of these are controlled by a program with memory built into the camera's CPU.

With automatic cameras like this, there are problems with whether the shooting conditions are correctly read by the program and whether the read and controlled conditions are functioning correctly, and a fully functional automatic camera can only be achieved if these things are adjusted correctly. . For example, when looking at AP, it is necessary to first make adjustments to ensure that the distance to the subject has been measured correctly, and that the photographic lens has been extended and moved correctly to focus on the measured subject position. be.

Such adjustments are not only necessary before assembling and shipping the camera, but also when repairing the camera after shipping.
Cameras that are designed to facilitate such adjustments have come to be provided.

For example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 62-22652 is an example of this, which proposes that a circuit check terminal be provided in a portion of the vertical surface of the camera that is covered by a cover. Although adjustments need to be made while the camera body is in an operable state, it is not desirable for the user to make such adjustments without permission. This is because the adjustments are set to the best conditions, and it is impossible for the user to make adjustments outside of the established test environment and conditions. Therefore, in the above proposal, the circuit check terminal is covered with a cover so that the user cannot easily touch it.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The present invention provides a test mode as a program for a camera controlled by a built-in CPU, in addition to a shooting mode necessary for loading and shooting ordinary film, as well as a test mode necessary for performing inspections and adjustments. It is possible to switch to test mode using the terminals that are used,
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a camera that can selectively use the photographing mode and the test mode, so that even if the user makes such a switch by mistake, this will not cause any inconvenience.

[Means for solving problems]

The above object is to provide a CPU-controlled camera that can selectively use a shooting mode and a test mode, in which one of the output terminals for the CPU is changed from a first electrical control condition in the shooting mode to a second electrical control condition. a switching means for switching to a specific control condition; a holding means for holding the switching condition fixed; a detection means for detecting the switching state; CPU
This is achieved by a camera capable of selectively using a shooting mode and a test mode, which is characterized by having an introduction means for introducing the image into the camera, and a test mode setting means for determining a signal from the introduction means and setting a test mode. Ru.

[Detailed description of the invention]

The camera according to the present invention is a CPU-controlled camera, and in addition to the control program for the shooting mode (normal mode), which is the original function, a test mode for checking and adjusting the camera operation is prepared. The camera is controlled by the shooting mode.

When testing the camera's operation, use a simple mode switching means to switch one of the output terminals for the CPU that is exposed on the camera surface, including the opening of the camera back cover, to normal mode switching. The first value maintained during shooting mode.
The first electrical control condition is switched to the second electrical control condition, and the switched electrical condition is fixed and maintained. Then, when the CPU in the camera detects that the output terminal has been switched from the first electrical control condition to the second electrical control condition, it switches from the shooting mode to the test mode. , the test mode is maintained while the second electrical control condition is maintained.

If the camera operator is configured to switch to test mode by simply manipulating the output terminal for the CPU exposed on the camera surface and changing the electrical control conditions, the camera operator may accidentally switch the camera from shooting mode. Since switching to test mode may occur, a simple switching means is used to switch the electrical control conditions for a specific output terminal, and by holding this, switching to and maintaining test mode is possible. will be done. In particular, in the embodiment, the test mode is configured to be applied to the output terminal located when the back cover of the camera is opened, so that erroneous switching to the test mode during photographing is impossible.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows a rear perspective view of the camera of this embodiment, and FIG. 2(a) shows a control circuit diagram centered on the IC of the control unit (CPU). b) is its DX
It is a circuit diagram showing an extracted introduction circuit.

The camera of this embodiment is a bifocal camera whose photographic lens can be switched between telephoto and wide by a TW button (not shown).
On the top of the camera, there is a release button 12, an LCD display section 17,
There is a mode selection button 18, and an LCD display section 17 displays the number of frames in the normal mode for normal shooting.When the camera back cover 11 is opened, there are cartridge chambers 13 on both sides of the exposure frame 14. There is a film winding chamber 15. A DX detection terminal 20 for reading DX information such as ISO sensitivity is provided on the wall of the patrone chamber 13. Further, the film take-up chamber 15 has a take-up spool 15a which rotates in the winding direction.

With the camera back 11 open (back cover switch SB 0FF), pull out the leading edge of the film slightly;
In this state, the cartridge is loaded into the cartridge chamber 13 and the camera back cover 11 is closed (back cover switch 5BON). The CPU turns on the CPU built-in switch to configure the DX code detection circuit and sends the DX information attached to the cartridge to the cartridge room 1.
The ISO sensitivity is read by contact with the DX detection terminal 20 provided on the inner surface of the ISO sensitivity sensor 3, and the CPU stores the read ISO sensitivity. In this embodiment, the DX detection terminal 20 is
It consists of 4 contacts, O and DX2 to DX4, and 20 (
DXO) is a common terminal, which turns on the CPU built-in switch and drops to GND only when DX reading is performed, and terminals 20 (DX2) to 20 (DX4) are detection terminals that read the DX code attached to the cartridge. be.

When the camera back cover 11 is closed and the release button 12 is then pressed, the film feed motor rotates forward to automatically load the film, and the film leader is wound around the take-up spool 15a and unexposed. The lth frame of the film is positioned in the exposure frame 14. At this time, LC
A counter of 1 is displayed on the D display section 17. By pressing the mode switching button 18 once, twice, etc., you can switch from auto strobe to strobe ON to strobe OF.
The F state, the self-timer state, and the mode are sequentially switched cyclically. A sprocket 16 is located near the exposure frame 14.
When the sprocket 16 engages with the perforation of the film and the film moves by one frame, the sprocket 16 rotates as the film moves and generates a two-pulse signal.

The release button 12 has a structure in which the switches SL and 32 are turned ON when the release button 12 is pressed down, and when the SL switch is turned on, auto7 focus (AF) and automatic exposure (AE) measurements are performed, and when the S2 switch is turned on, the automatic exposure (AE) is measured. The shutter is activated and the film positioned in the exposure frame 14 is exposed. When the shutter operation ends, the film feeding motor rotates forward, and the take-up spool 15a moves the film in the winding direction.

The tin rocket 16 rotates as the film moves, and the 2
Generates a pulse signal. Upon receiving the second pulse signal, the control unit (CPU) issues a stop signal to suddenly stop the film feeding motor.

1 is added to the LCD display section 17 and 2 is displayed.

In this way, the film in the cartridge is photographed one frame at a time, and when all the films have been photographed, the film feed motor is rotated in the reverse direction by automatic rewinding, and the photographed film wound around the take-up spool 15a is removed. All the films are rewound into the cartridge.

In addition to the normal first electrical control condition in the shooting mode whose operation has been outlined above, the camera of the present invention has a test mode as a second electrical control condition. , a camera that can be used selectively. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a flow chart, and FIG. 5 is a time chart.

In this embodiment, the common DX detection terminal 20 (DXO) is used as the output terminal for switching from the first electrical control condition in the shooting mode to the second electrical control condition in the test mode. DXi) to GND as an electrical condition that does not normally occur, and by keeping this grounded state, you can switch from normal mode to test mode.
I decided to keep it. Common DX detection terminal 20 (DX
The reason for using DX detection terminal 20 (DX
2) to 20 (DX4), so we used a code that would not cause a mistake when reading the ISO sensitivity.

The test mode switching means 30 shown in FIG. 1 has a cord 32 electrically connected to the DX common terminal 31a of a cartridge 31 used exclusively for mode switching by soldering or brazing. After opening the camera back cover 11 (back cover switch 5BOFF), load the cartridge 31 into the cartridge chamber 13 and enter the code 3.
The end portion 32a of 2 is attached to a metal part of the camera body, such as the exposure frame 14 or the rail surface. -1
) has been set. The CPU checks the common DX detection terminal 20 (DXO) and detects GN depending on external conditions.
When it is detected that the condition D has fallen, the test mode is set, and the test mode is maintained as long as this external condition is maintained.

Press mode switching button 18 (switch M) repeatedly (4-2
), there are four types of adjustment modes that are particularly frequently performed in service processes: AE mode, FM/DX.
mode, AF mode, and BULB mode (4-3).

Further, by pressing the TW button (4-4), the photographic lens is switched from telephoto to wide, or from wide to telephoto (4-5). Therefore, the test after mode switching (4-3) is performed under the selected conditions of either tele or wide.

Next, the above four test modes and adjustment under these conditions will be explained.

By pressing the mode change button i8 (switch M) (4-2), the AE mode is set, and by pressing the S1 switch (4-6), the AE test (4-10) is performed. In this AE mode, the camera operation is switched to continuous shutter shooting in which photometry is repeated without film winding, and the ISO sensitivity is read from the DX cartridge (4-11). When a test is performed with the camera placed opposite to a standard brightness plate for exposure adjustment, the photometry results are displayed on the LCD display section 17 (4-13).

An example of this display is as shown in *l,
If the camera is properly adjusted, when the ISO sensitivity is set to 100 and it is placed facing a standard brightness plate of LV15, for example,
If the shooting lens condition is wide, it will be 8 degrees, if it is tele, it will be 12.
is displayed on the LCD display section 17 (4-13). S2
By pressing the switch (4-14), the shutter is opened and closed under these conditions, and exposure control is performed (4-1)
5). This photometry and exposure control are performed cyclically until the mode change button 18 (switch M) is pressed (4-16).

By pressing the mode change button 18 (switch M) (4-16), the mode is switched to the FM/DX mode, and by pressing the Sl switch (4-6), the FM/DX test (4-20) is performed. In this FM/DX mode, the DX Patrone IS
O sensitivity is read by the DX detection terminal 20 (4-21
), the read ISO sensitivity information is displayed on the LCD display section 17 (4-22).

An example of this display is as shown in *2,
The contact status (electrical connection conditions) of the DX detection terminal 20 with the cartridge is checked.

For example, when the 15O400 DX cartridge is loaded, if the electrical connections and circuits are properly formed, the LCD
4 (4-22) is displayed on the display section 17. S2
When the switch is pressed (4-23), the camera enters the FM mode for strobe photography (4-24), and the aperture diameter of the photographic lens becomes equivalent to a wide lens FNO of 8.

By providing a pinhole in the center of the exposure frame 14 and measuring from the front of the lens, it is checked whether the aperture diameter set by the CPU is correctly achieved. This aperture diameter is maintained during the strobe charging time (4-25), and when the strobe charging is completed, the FM/DX test is repeated and the mode selection button 18 (switch M) is pressed (4-26
) to switch to AF mode.

By pressing the Sl switch (4-6), AF test 1-(
4-30) is done. That is, the subject distance is 1m, 2m,
..., when placing the camera in a clear position, the distance measurement (4-31) result is displayed on the LCD display section 17 (4-32).
) to be done.

An example of this display is shown in *3,
A check is made to see if distance measurement is accurate. For example, if the subject distance is 4 m and the LCD display section 17 displays 8 (4-32), this indicates that correct distance measurement has been performed.

When the S2 switch is pressed (4-33), the lens is advanced based on the distance measurement result (4-34), and the shutter open state (4-35) continues until the S1 switch is turned off. Therefore, set up a chart at the position of the subject to be measured,
By installing a ground glass at the film position of the camera and observing the state of image formation using a magnifying glass, it is possible to check whether the photographing lens has been moved correctly based on the distance measurement results. Of course, it is also possible to directly measure the amount of lens movement. Turn off the Sl switch (4-3
6) As a result, the shirt shirt is closed, the extended lens is returned to its original position, and the AF test is repeated again. Now press the mode change button 18 (switch M) (4-37) and
By switching to ULB mode (4-40) and pressing the Sl switch (4-6), the shutter open condition is held for the set time (4-42), and the focusing lens is in this bulb state. Extending and returning from the initial position 4-43
) is done. This is done by pressing the TW button (4-44) to switch from tele to wide or from wide to tele, and by extending and returning the lens in the wide or tele state, the shooting 1/lens This makes it easy to adjust the focus. In BULB mode, if the set time exceeds the set time, or even if the set time is within the set time, by pressing the mode change button 18 (switch M) (4-45), the shirt will close.
After the photographic lens returns to its initial position,
Switch to E mode.

The block diagram shown in FIG. 3 and the time chart shown in FIG.
This figure shows the operations and information exchange performed by the system. That is, first, connect the common DX detection terminal 20 (DXO) to GND on the CPU side (DXO-0), and then connect the DX detection terminals 20 (DX2) to 20 (Dx4) to the CPU side.
reads and sets the ISO sensitivity by checking and reading whether there is a connection with the DX cartridge. Then the CPU
is terminal 20 (DXO) which was connected to GND in the CPU.
Open the switch section of DXO←1), and then open the common DX detection terminal 20 (D
Check whether XO) has fallen to GND.
Go to PU to watch < (TEST READ) G here
When it is read that it is in the ND state (TEST-0), it is determined that it is in the test mode, and if it is in the open state (TEST"1), it is determined that it is in the normal mode, and the camera operates according to that mode.

In this embodiment, the common DX detection terminal 20 (DXO) is used as an output terminal for the CPU, and switching to the test mode is performed by lowering it to GND, but the present invention is not limited to this. CP
tJ is included in the present invention as long as it can be recognized and switched to the test mode.

〔Effect of the invention〕

With the present invention, not only when assembling and adjusting the camera, but also when assembling and adjusting the camera,
It has become extremely easy to test and adjust camera performance at service stations, etc., without having to disassemble the camera or remove the camera shell. Moreover, a camera that is superior in terms of production and adjustment, which does not require any special terminals for testing and which does not accidentally switch to test mode during normal shooting, has been provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the back of the camera and test mode switching means in an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram, and Fig. 2 (a, ) is a control circuit diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2(b) is a circuit diagram showing the DX introducing circuit, FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a time chart diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.
. IO...Camera body 11...Camera back cover 1
2... Release button 13... Patrone chamber 1
7...LCD display section 18...Mode switching button 2
0...DX detection terminal 20 (DX O)...Common DX detection terminal 30.
・Test mode switching means

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a CPU-controlled camera that can selectively use a shooting mode and a test mode, one of the output terminals for the CPU is changed from the first electrical control condition in the shooting mode to the second electrical control condition. a switching means for switching to a control condition; a holding means for holding the switching condition fixed;
a detection means for detecting the switching state; an introduction means for introducing the information into the CPU when the detection means detects the switching of the state; and a test for determining a signal from the introduction means and setting a test mode. A camera capable of selectively using a shooting mode and a test mode, characterized by having a mode setting means. (2) The detection means for detecting the switching state is configured to detect when the camera back cover is opened or opened by inputting a switch to open or close the camera back cover. A camera that can selectively use the shooting mode and the test mode described in scope 1. (3) A camera capable of selectively using a shooting mode and a test mode according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the output terminal is a common terminal for DX.