JPH01310336A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow a photographer to photograph with a desired pose by carrying out shutter trigger control operation after a certain delay time after a shutter trigger command signal from a remote controller is received by a device main body. CONSTITUTION:When the photographer takes out the remote controller 3 from the device main body 1 and presses a shutter trigger button 4 at the position to be photographed, the shutter trigger command signal is generated from an infrared ray emitting part 5, and the ray is received by an infrared ray receiving part 12 of the device main body. The signal of the received ray is converted into an electric signal, detected, code discriminated 41 after waveform shaped, and is sent to a control 42 and a timer 43. Since a shutter device 35 is operated after the delay time set by the timer 43, the photographer is photographed with the desired pose. It is also possible to photograph immediately by a trigger pulse generated by the trigger generating circuit 24 of the controller.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly to a remote control camera that can take pictures remotely using a remote controller.

[Prior Art] Cameras with a so-called self-timer mechanism, which start exposure after a predetermined period of time after a photographer presses a release button, are commonly used when photographing oneself. With this type of camera, the camera emits a sound or light just before taking a picture to notify the subject of the timing of the shot, and no technology has been developed to make the timing of the shot even easier to understand. However, no further progress has been made.

Therefore, there is a need for a camera having a self-release function by remote control, which allows a photographer who is a subject to remotely control the timing of photographing at his/her discretion from a photographing position away from the camera.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] Recently, many types of electrical equipment have become known that can be controlled remotely. Therefore, if such technology is applied to cameras, it will be possible to perform a self-release function using remote control. It is not difficult to provide a camera with However, in the case of other electronic devices, the purpose is simply to remotely control the electronic device, but with cameras that have a self-release function, unlike when controlling other electronic devices remotely, the remote controller operator (photographer) Since the subject is the subject, if the user starts the release immediately in response to a signal from the remote controller, the camera will be photographed in the same position in which the remote controller is operated, which is undesirable. However, in order to be able to perform normal photography, if photography is not performed by remote control, it is also necessary to be able to take a picture at the same time as pressing the release button.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of these problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera in which a photographer who is a subject performs a release operation using a remote controller, but after a certain period of time for taking a pose has elapsed, the photograph is taken. There is something to do.

[Means and effects for solving the problems] In the camera of the present invention, upon receiving a control signal issued from a remote controller, the timer is activated based on this control signal and performs a timer operation for a set time. After that, a predetermined exposure operation is performed.

Further, this camera includes a receiving means for receiving a shutter trigger command signal from a remote controller, and a control means for performing a shutter trigger control operation after a predetermined delay time after the receiving means receives the shutter trigger command signal. It will be equipped.

The camera also includes a receiving means for receiving a shutter trigger command signal from a remote controller that is detachably attached to the camera body, and a receiving means for receiving a shutter trigger command signal from the remote controller that is detached from the camera body. In this case, the shutter trigger control operation is performed with a predetermined delay time from the time of reception, and when the shutter trigger command signal is issued from the remote controller attached to the camera body, the delay time is not exceeded. and control means for performing a shutter trigger control operation.

Furthermore, the remote controller used for this camera includes a transmitting means that transmits a timer set signal to cause the corresponding camera to perform a time-limited operation, and this transmitting means transmits information related to the progress of the set time-limited operation. or display means.

[Embodiment] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. In normal use, as shown in Fig. 1, this camera has a grip that is shaped so that it can be easily held with the right hand on the front side of the camera body 1, to the side where the photographic lens barrel 2 is attached. A remote controller 3 is attached. This remote controller 3 is connected to the camera body 1
When attached to the camera, the upper part is inclined forward, and a shutter trigger button 4 is provided on the inclined surface, and an infrared light emitting section 5 is provided at the top end of the thin shape. Further, a trigger mode changeover switch 6 and a self-timer setting dial 7 are arranged on the side surface of the remote controller 3. The trigger mode selector switch 6 is used to switch between a normal shutter trigger mode without delay and a shutter trigger mode with a delay such as when taking self-shots, when the remote controller 3 is attached to the camera body 1. As shown in the figure, the operating portion 6c of the changeover switch 6 is switched to the upper position, that is, the forward position where there is no delay. The self-timer setting dial 7 is used to set the delay time during self-shooting, and when the remote controller 3 is attached to the camera body 1, the "normal" indicator 7a on the setting dial 7 is exposed to the front. Displayed.

When taking self-photographs, the remote controller 3 is removed from the camera body 1 and used, as shown in FIG. facing the front of the camera body 1 when attached to the camera body 1;
A reset bin 9 is provided on the upper surface of the remote controller 3. This reset pin 9 is pushed and buried in the front surface of the camera body 1 when the remote controller 3 is attached to the camera body 1, and protrudes when it is removed from the camera body 1. The operation of the reset pin 9 is related to the operation of the self-timer setting dial 7, as will be described later. Further, the remote controller 3 is provided with a light emitting diode 10 and a buzzer 11 for displaying a warning at a position that will not be disturbed when the remote controller 3 is held by the operator.

On the other hand, an infrared light receiving section 12 for receiving infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting section 5 of the remote controller 3 is provided on the front surface of the camera body 1.

The self-timer setting dial 7 and reset pin 9 have the configuration shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The self-timer setting dial 7 has a gear 16 in mesh with a rack 15 which is biased in one direction between the fixed bin 13 and the fixed bin 13 in the remote controller 3. Setting dials 7 are connected so as to coaxially rotate together. gear 16
A mold gear 17 is coaxially and integrally provided with the mold gear 17, and a pawl 18b formed at the tip of one arm of the rotating member 18 is engaged with the mold gear 17.

The reset pin 9 is formed at the tip of the other arm of the rotating member 18 . This rotating member 18 is given the habit of rotating around a support shaft 18a in the direction in which the reset pin 9 projects from the remote controller 3 by a spring 19 stretched between it and the case of the remote controller 3. There is.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the remote controller 3 is attached to the camera body 1, the reset pin 9 is pushed by the camera body 1, and the rotating member 18 is rotated counterclockwise, and the claw 18b is rotated. The engagement with the mold gear 17 is now released. In this state, the self-timer setting dial 7 is at the rotational position indicating the "normal" indicator 7a.

When the remote controller 3 is removed from the camera body 1, the rotating member 18 rotates in the clockwise direction in which the reset pin 9 projects, as shown in FIG. 4, so that the pawl 18b engages with the mold gear 17. .

Therefore, when the remote controller 3 is removed from the camera body 1, the self-timer setting dial 7 is in the rotation position indicating the "normal" index 7a, but the self-timer setting dial 7 is rotated in the direction of arrow A. If the dial 7 is rotated, the dial 7 can be stopped at the rotated position.As will be described later, when the self-timer setting dial 7 is at the rotation position indicating the "normal" indicator 7a, the dial 7 can be stopped at the rotated position. The delay time during self-photography is set to about 2 seconds, and a longer delay time is set when the scale is rotated in the direction of the arrow.

Next, the electric circuit of the camera will be explained using FIG. 5.

On the remote controller 3 side, the frequency signal emitted from the oscillation circuit 20 is divided by the frequency dividing circuit 21, and then guided to the timing circuit 22 to generate a timing signal, and this timing signal is input to the dial input circuit 23. ing. A delay time corresponding to the amount of rotation of the self-timer setting dial 7, that is, a timer time, is input to the dial input circuit 23 in an analog quantity. However, when the self-timer setting dial 7 is in the rotational position where the "normal degree" indicator 7a is exposed, a timer time of about 2 seconds is input and set to the dial input circuit 23. The timer time input and set to the dial input circuit 23 is input to a code conversion circuit 25, which is an encoder, via the trigger mode changeover switch 6, and the signal is encoded according to the timer time. , when the shutter trigger button 4 is pressed, the trigger generation circuit 2
A trigger pulse is emitted from 4, and the pulse is guided to a contact terminal 6a of a trigger mode changeover switch 6, but this trigger mode changeover switch 6 is connected to a contact terminal 6b on the dial input circuit 23 side as shown in the figure. In this state, the output of the trigger generation circuit 24 is not input to the code conversion circuit 25. Code conversion circuit 2
The contents encoded in step 5 are sent to the data register 26 by a timing signal from the timing circuit 22 and stored in the data register 26. The timer time stored in the data register 26 is sent to the output circuit 27 and the timer 28 when the trigger pulse from the trigger generation circuit 24 is input to the data register 26. The output circuit 27 amplifies and sends the encoded signal to the transistor 29 for side operation of the light emitting section and the display output circuit 30, drives the light emitting element 5a of the infrared light emitting section 5 to emit light as encoded pulsed light, and also outputs the signal for display. A light emitting diode 10 and a buzzer 11 connected to an output circuit 30 are driven. The timer 28 is used to know the timing operation at hand when operating the remote controller 3, and the trigger pulse from the trigger generation circuit 24 is sent to the data register 2.
When the timer time stored in the data register 26 is counted, a timekeeping operation end signal is sent to the display output circuit 30, and the display operation by the light emitting diode 10 and the buzzer 11 is ended. do.

Further, the trigger pulse from the trigger generation circuit 24 is also output to the electrical contact terminal 33. This electrical contact terminal 33 is connected to the electrical contact terminal 34 on the camera body 1 side when the remote controller 3 is attached to the camera body 1. This electrical contact terminal 34
is connected to the shutter device 35 in the camera body 1 so that the shutter release is performed without delay when the trigger pulse is emitted from the trigger generation circuit 24.

On the camera body 1 side, when infrared light from the infrared light emitting unit 5 is incident on the infrared light receiving unit 12, the photocurrent flowing to the light receiving element 12a passes through a time constant circuit consisting of a resistor 36 and a capacitor 37 to an amplifier circuit 38. After being amplified by the detection circuit 39
．． The signal is detected and shaped by a waveform shaping circuit 40, and the timer time is read out by a code discrimination circuit 41, which is a decoder. The read timer time is input to the control circuit 42 and timer 43. The control circuit 42 sends strobe control signals to a strobe, a photometering circuit, a distance measuring circuit, etc. (not shown), respectively.

Outputs ITIJ optical control signals, AF control signals, etc. The timer 43 performs actual timing operation based on the signal read from the code discrimination circuit 41, and drives the shutter device 35 based on its output.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment during self-photography will be described with reference to FIG. 6, which shows a flowchart of the remote controller 3, and FIG. 7, which shows a flowchart of the camera body 1.

First, when taking a self-photograph, the remote controller 3 is removed from the camera body 1. At this time, the operating portion 6c of the trigger mode changeover switch 6 shown in FIG. 1 is switched to the lower position where a delay is applied, and in FIG. 5, the trigger mode changeover switch 6 is switched to the contact terminal 6b side. When the remote controller 3 is removed, the timer time can be set using the self-timer setting dial 7, but if the self-timer setting dial 7 is not rotated, the timer time of about 2 seconds is set by the dial input circuit 23. is input. If a longer timer time is desired, the desired timer time is input to the dial input circuit 23 by turning the setting dial 7. This timer time is encoded by the code conversion circuit 25 and then set in the data register 26.

Here, the operator who is the subject grasps the remote controller 3 that has been removed from the camera body 1, and presses the shutter trigger button 4 while pointing the infrared light emitting section 5 toward the infrared light receiving section 12 of the camera body 1. Then, a trigger pulse is generated from the trigger generation circuit 24, and in synchronization with this trigger pulse, a coded signal of the timer time set in the data register 26 is sent to the output circuit 27, and at the same time, the timer 28 starts operating. Then, the transistor 29 is driven by the output circuit 27, and data is transmitted using infrared light from the infrared light emitting section 5.

That is, when the shutter trigger button 4 is pressed, the infrared light emitting section 5 sends infrared light encoded with the timer time to the infrared light receiving section 12 . In the remote controller 3 itself, the display output circuit 30 is driven and the light emitting diode 10
blinks and the buzzer 11 sounds, thereby informing the photographer that infrared light has been emitted and a command to start timer photography has been issued.

On the camera body 1 side, when the coded data infrared light is received by the infrared light receiving section 12, it is converted into an electrical signal by the light receiving section 12, and the signal is converted into an electric signal by the amplifier circuit 38° detection circuit 39. The signal is inputted to a code discrimination circuit 41 via a waveform shaping circuit 40 and decoded. Then, when this decoded signal is input to the timer 43, the timer 43 selects a timer time according to the decoded signal and starts a timing operation. Here, if the shutter trigger button 4 is pressed while the self-timer setting dial 7 is set to the "Normal" position without rotating it, the timer time of approximately 2 seconds will be selected, and the self-timer setting dial 7 will be turned. When the scale is rotated to set an appropriate scale position, a timer time of up to 10 seconds is selected according to the set scale position. When this timer time expires, the shutter device 35
is driven and photography is performed.

During the time period from when the shutter trigger button 4 is pressed until the time is over, the light emitting diode 10 in the remote controller 3 blinks and the buzzer 11 continues to sound. When the time-out point approaches, the flashing cycle of the light-emitting diode 10 becomes faster, and the tone of the buzzer 11 changes, indicating to the operator, who is the subject, that the time to start shirt release is approaching. Let me know. Since these warning displays are displayed at hand, the operator can reliably know the timing status of the self-timer even if the operator is relatively far away from the camera body 1 or even if there is noisy surroundings. Therefore, the operator can safely create a pose for the subject within the time period from when the shutter trigger button 4 is pressed until the time has elapsed.

The timer time of approximately 2 seconds set at the "Normal 1" position of the self-timer setting dial 7 is the minimum time required for self-photography using the remote controller 3. Point the camera at camera body 1 and press shutter trigger button 4, then
This is the time required to withdraw the remote controller 3 and create a pose for normal snapshot photography. If the remote controller 3 is removed from the camera body 1 and the setting dial 7 is not rotated, the timer time of about 2 seconds is secured, so the operator should be especially conscious of setting the timer time. Even if you do not do this, self-photography using the remote controller 3 can be performed without failure. For example, if a difficult pose is required and the timer time of approximately 2 seconds is deemed to be short, the setting dial may be rotated to select an arbitrary timer time.

Furthermore, in addition to self-photography using the remote controller 3, this embodiment can also be applied to the case of photographing a subject such as an animal or child approaching the camera from a distance without the subject noticing. There is. When the remote controller 3 is removed from the camera body 1, the operating section 6c of the trigger mode changeover switch 6 is switched to the lower position in FIG.
is switched to the contact terminal 6b side as shown in FIG. This allows the trigger mode changeover switch 6 to be switched to the contact terminal 6a side. Therefore, when the shutter trigger button 4 is pressed after removing the remote controller 3 from the camera body 1 and switching the operating section 6C of the trigger mode changeover switch 6 to the upper position, the trigger pulse emitted from the trigger generation circuit 24 is transferred to the data register. At this time, a signal indicating that the timer time is 0 is sent to the output circuit 27, which outputs the transistor 2.
9 is driven, and the infrared light emitting section 5 transmits light to the infrared light receiving section 12 of the camera body 1.

On the camera body 1 side, the signal received by the infrared light receiving section 12 is transmitted to the amplifier circuit 38. Detection circuit 39. A demodulation system consisting of a waveform shaping circuit 40 and a code discrimination circuit 41 and a timer 43
However, since the timer time is 0, the shutter release is performed at the same time as the infrared light is received from the remote controller 3.

Further, when the remote controller 3 is attached to the camera body 1, the remote controller 3 becomes a grip of the camera, and is similar to a commonly used camera. That is, in this case, since the contact terminals 33 and 34 shown in FIG. The electric signal is directly transmitted as an electric signal to the camera body 1 and inputted to the shutter device 35, so that photography is performed without delay.

In the camera of the above embodiment, the infrared light receiving section 12 is exclusively for receiving infrared light from the infrared light emitting section 5 of the remote controller 3. The function of the light receiving section 12 may also be used.

In this case, the signal processing circuit on the camera body side is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the output terminal of the light receiving circuit 45 in the photometric light receiving section is equipped with a changeover switch 46.
is connected. In addition, the light receiving circuit 45 includes the same light receiving circuit 4.
A pulse detection circuit 47 is connected to detect an infrared light pulse for the remote control by detecting and waveform-shaping the signal inputted to 5. When the detection circuit 47 detects an infrared light pulse, the detection output The changeover switch 46 switches the connection to the contact terminal 46a side. Since the remote control signal detection circuit 48 is connected to the contact terminal 46a, when the infrared light received by the light receiving circuit 45 is input to this remote control signal detection circuit 48, the output of the detection circuit 48 is transmitted to the microcomputer. In the same microcomputer 50, the code of the received light signal is determined and a timer is activated.

When the pulse detection circuit 47 does not detect an infrared light pulse, the changeover switch 46 switches the connection to the contact terminal 46b side. Since the Δ-1-1 light processing circuit 49 is connected to the contact terminal 46b, the signal of the subject light received by the light receiving circuit 45 is manually input to the microcomputer 50 via the δ-1 light processing circuit 49, where it is input to the microcomputer 50. , exposure control is performed based on the results of photometric calculations.

Therefore, in this case, the configuration is simplified and costs can be reduced.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, self-photography can be performed using a remote controller, and the shutter trigger control operation is performed after a predetermined delay time from the shutter trigger command signal. , during this delay time the remote controller can be withdrawn to create a pause. Furthermore, when self-photography is not required, shutter triggering without delay can be performed as before.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera showing an embodiment of the present invention in normal use, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera shown in FIG. 1 during self-timer shooting, and FIG. 3 is a remote control An enlarged sectional view showing the relationship between the self-timer setting dial and reset pin in Figure 2 above when the controller is attached to the camera body, and Figure 4 shows the self-timer setting dial when the remote controller is removed from the camera body. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the electric circuit of the camera according to the above embodiment, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the relationship between FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an overview of the operation of the electric circuit on the camera body side in FIG. FIG. 3...Remote controller 4...
......Shutter trigger button 5...Infrared light emitting section (transmission means) 7...Self-timer setting dial 10...Light emitting diode (display) Means) 11... Buzzer (alarm means)

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A camera characterized in that it receives a control signal issued from a remote controller, starts a timing means based on this control signal, performs a timing operation for a set time, and then performs a predetermined exposure operation. . (2) A receiving means for receiving a shutter trigger command signal from a remote controller, and a control means for performing a shutter trigger control operation with a predetermined delay time after the receiving means receives the shutter trigger command signal. A camera. (3) a receiving means for receiving a shutter trigger command signal from a remote controller that is detachably attached to the camera body; and when the receiving means receives a shutter trigger command signal from the remote controller that is detached from the camera body; The shutter trigger control operation is performed after a predetermined delay time from the time of reception, and when a shutter trigger command signal is issued from the remote controller attached to the camera body, the shutter trigger is performed without the above delay time. A camera comprising: a control means for performing a control operation. (4) A transmitting means for transmitting a timer set signal for causing a corresponding camera to perform a time-limited operation, and a means for issuing or displaying information related to the progress of the time-limited operation set by the transmitting means. A remote controller.