JPH0222363B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement in an autofocus camera, that is, a camera in which focus adjustment is automatically performed before a shutter release operation, and a shutter release is performed thereafter. Regarding the improvement of the shutter release device of the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shutter release device for an autofocus camera that can easily adopt framing change photography and self-timer photography while adjusting the focus.

Autofocus cameras became widely popular with the release of Jiya Spin Konica (product name), and in terms of functionality, so-called focus lock cameras were used that could focus not only on the center of the screen, but also on subjects located at any position on the screen. Various improvements have been made, including improvements to the mechanism and operability. The most common type of focus lock mechanism is one in which only focusing is performed when the release button is pressed halfway, but the shutter release is not performed, and the shutter is released only when the release button is pressed deeply. It is.

By the way, the camera operating modes related to the pressing operation of the release button include the above-mentioned focus lock, focus lock, self-timer, low brightness lock, battery depletion lock, etc. to improve camera operability. As a result, the number of operating modes is increasing, and the number of operating modes that differ from the standard operating mode in which the shutter is released when the release button is pressed is increasing.

As the operations associated with pressing down the release button become more complex, the mechanisms and circuits surrounding the release button tend to become more complex.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention provides a camera release device that allows a simple mechanism to realize a wide variety of operating modes that occur when a release button is operated.

The invention is characterized by the use of one electromagnet as a kind of control center for operating the mechanisms for different operating modes in an autofocus camera. That is, the present invention
a release operation member; and a first release operation member of the release operation member.
In a shutter release device for an automatic focusing camera, which is operated by releasing the locking of the focus adjustment operating member upon completion of the step movement, the locking is released by the first step movement of the release operation member, and the locking is released through the focus adjustment member. a locking member that engages with a portion of the shutter operating member to stop the movement of the shutter operating member during the first and second stages of movement; and Electric power is supplied through the first switch, which is activated in accordance with the
an electromagnet whose power supply is cut off via a second switch that is activated upon completion of the first step movement; When the locking member and the shutter actuating member are disengaged from each other by being held in this position and the second stage movement is completed, the release operation is performed when the electromagnet is not activated. a release member that engages with the release member to prevent second and subsequent operations; and a release member that is interrupted by the first stage movement of the release operating member and closed by the return movement of the release operating member to the initial position; a third switch for controlling power supply to a motor for returning the adjustment member to its initial position via a power transmission system; A shutter release device for an automatic focusing camera is characterized in that the shutter release device for an automatic focusing camera has a displacement member that is operated at the final position to release the holding and return the release operation member to an initial state.

According to the shutter release device of the present invention, the focus adjustment actuating member is actuated by a constant displacement of the release operating member, and further displacement of the release operating member releases the blocking of the locking member by the electromagnet. By so doing, the framing can be changed by holding the displacement of the release operating member at the stage where the focus adjustment operating member is activated, and an appropriate delay circuit is connected to an appropriate electromagnetic circuit. If you do this, you can easily take pictures with a self-timer. Furthermore, when the power supply battery is exhausted and the electromagnet is no longer operated, the electromagnet can easily prevent the release operation member from being displaced.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a shutter release device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a motor drive control mechanism.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a release operation member, 2 is a release member, 3 is an electromagnet, 4 is a shutter locking member,
5 is a focus adjustment locking member, 6 is a focus adjustment actuation member,
7 is a focus adjustment ring, 8 is a focus locking claw, 9 is a focusing electromagnet, 10 is a shutter operating member, 11 is a displacement holding lever, 12 is a transmission/disconnection lever, 13 and 14 are integrated disconnection/disconnection gears, 15 is the motor, 16 is the motor gear, 17 is the transmission gear, 18 is the governor gear, S1, S
2 and S3 are switches, respectively. The illustrated state is a charge state before automatic focusing and shutter release are performed, and when the release operating member 1 is moved downward from the illustrated state against the bias of a spring (not shown), the switch is first activated. S1 is turned on, the electromagnet 3 is excited, and the release member 2 is held in the state shown.

Here, if the power supply battery that excites the electromagnet 3 is exhausted and the release member 2 is not held by the electromagnet 3, the release member 2 is held by its spring 2.
The lock arm 2c rotates counterclockwise around the shaft 2b due to the biasing force of the lever a, and the lock arm 2c comes to engage with the lock hook 1a of the release operating member 1. Therefore, the release operating member 1 cannot be moved downward any further, and neither shutter release nor automatic focusing is performed. When the lock hook 1a of the release operating member 1 engages with the lock arm 2c of the release member 2, the warning light circuit is closed and the warning light can easily be turned on. As a result of the above, the photographer knows when the power supply battery is depleted, and is prevented from taking unsuccessful shots due to the exhausted power supply battery.

When the release member 2 is held by the electromagnet 3, the release operation member 1 can be pressed down without any problem.
Then, the connection/disconnection hook 1b is connected to the transmission/disconnection lever 12.
Press to rotate counterclockwise to remove the disconnection gears 13 and 14 from the transmission gear 17 and the governor gear 18. Then, the focus adjustment hook 1c pushes the focus adjustment locking member 5 and rotates it counterclockwise to release it from the lock of the focus adjustment actuating member 6. Thereby, the focus adjustment actuating member 6 is rotated counterclockwise by the bias of the spring 6a. The rotation is performed under the control action of the speed control gear 18. That is, the governor gear 18
A known governor mechanism is attached as necessary. When the focus adjustment operating member 6 rotates, a known distance measurement device (not shown) performs distance measurement scanning, and when the focus position is detected, the focus electromagnet 9 is activated.
is activated to cause the focusing claw 8 to jump into the locking tooth portion 7a of the focus adjustment ring 7 that is driven by the focus adjustment operation member 6, and the rotation of the focus adjustment ring 7 is stopped at the focus position. The focus adjustment member 6 continues to rotate and is locked when the focus adjustment ring 7 has rotated by more than the maximum rotation amount. Further, when the focus adjustment actuating member 6 rotates counterclockwise, the shutter actuating member 10 also springs 1.
0a and tries to move leftward, but the leftward movement is stopped by the shutter locking member 4. Therefore, in the above steps, only focusing is performed and no shutter release is performed. That is, by holding the release operation member 1 in a state where it has been pressed down to the above-mentioned stage, the framing can be changed.

Shutter operating member 1 by shutter locking member 4
0 is released when the release operating member 1 is further pressed down, its displacement holding hook 1d exceeds the engagement arm 11a of the displacement holding lever 11, and the displacement holding lever 11 is pulled clockwise by the spring 11b. When the switch S2 is turned on, the electromagnet 3 is deenergized. That is, when the excitation of the electromagnet 3 is released, the release member 2 is pulled by the spring 2a and rotates counterclockwise.
When the tip operating portion 2d pushes the shutter locking member 4 and rotates it counterclockwise, the shutter locking member 4 is released from the lock of the shutter operating member 10. Thereupon, the shutter operating member 10 is pulled by the spring 10a and moves to the left, causing a shutter (not shown) to perform a shutter operation. Here, if a delay circuit for delaying the ON signal of the switch S2 by a predetermined time is connected to the circuit of the switch S2, self-timer photography can be easily performed.

Note that even if you release the push of the release operation member 1 at the stage where the release operation member 1 starts the shutter release as described above, the release operation member 1
, the displacement retaining hook 1d is the displacement retaining lever 1.
It is caught by the first engaging arm 11a and is prevented from restoring. This inhibition ensures that the restoring charge by the motor 15, which will be described later, is fully performed pending completion of the shutter operation. This blocking is released when the shutter operating member 10 operates the shutter and moves further to the left, and the tip of the shutter operating member 10 pushes the displacement holding lever 11 to rotate it counterclockwise. As a result, the release operating member 1 is restored to the illustrated position, and along with this, the transmission/disconnection lever 12 is also restored, and the transmission/disconnection gears 13 and 14 are connected to the transmission gear 17 and the governor gear 1.
8, the focus adjustment locking member 5 is released from being pushed, and the release member 2 is also pushed by the pin 1e of the release operation member 1 and rotated clockwise to return to the position shown.

When the release operating member 1 is restored, the switch S3, which had been turned off by pressing down, is turned on again. Turning on the switch S3 starts the motor 15, and its rotation is controlled by the motor gear 16. The clockwise rotation of the focus adjustment actuation member 6 is transmitted through a gear train of the transmission gear 17, the engagement/disconnection gears 13 and 14, and the speed governor gear 18, so that the focus adjustment actuation member 6 is locked in focus adjustment as shown in the figure. It is stopped when the member 5 becomes locked.

The switch S is turned on when the release operation member 1 is restored, is turned off when the release operation member 1 is pressed, and is turned on again when the release operation member 1 is restored.
The situation in which the above-mentioned driving of the motor 15 is performed by turning on the restoration in step 3 will be explained with reference to FIG.

Similarly to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 also shows a charged state, and the same functional members are designated by the same reference numerals. Then, S4 switches the drive circuit of the motor 15 to switch S3.
A switch installed in series with the switch actuating member 2.
1 is in the illustrated position, it is off, and the switch actuating member 21 is pushed by the counterclockwise rotation of the focus adjustment actuating member 6 and rotates counterclockwise against the spring bias. It turns on. Reference numeral 22 denotes an on-holding lever that keeps the switch S4 of the switch actuating member 21 in a rotating state in which it is turned on.

In the illustrated charge state, even though switch S3 is on, switch S4 is off, so the motor 15 does not perform charge rotation. When the release operation member 1 is pressed down, the switch S3 is turned off and the focus adjustment locking member 5 is rotated counterclockwise to release the focus adjustment operation member 6 from locking. Then, the focus adjustment actuating member 6 begins to rotate counterclockwise. Pushed by the counterclockwise rotation of the focus adjustment actuation member 6, the switch actuation member 21 also turns counterclockwise, and the switch S4 is switched from off to on. And the switch operating member 2
1 is an on-hold state in which the focus adjustment locking member 5 is rotated counterclockwise, so that the push of the focus adjustment locking member 5 is released, and the spring is biased to rotate the focus adjustment locking member 5 in the clockwise direction. It rotates until it is stopped by the lever 22, and the turned state is stopped by the on-holding lever 22. Therefore, switch S4 remains on. However, since the switch S3 is off, the motor 15 still does not rotate. Then, as mentioned in Figure 1, the shutter movement is carried out,
Or even before the Shyatsuta movement takes place,
When the release operation member 1 is restored, the switch S3
is turned on, the motor 15 begins to rotate, and at the same time, the focus adjustment actuating member 6 rotates clockwise. When the release operation member 1 is restored, the focus adjustment locking member 5 is released from the push of the release operation member 1 and rotates clockwise due to the spring bias, but the focus adjustment locking member 5 is rotated clockwise when the release operation member 6 returns to its original state. The large diameter portion of the focus adjustment actuating member 6 cannot be completely rotated to the initial state until the focus adjustment actuating member 6 reaches the position shown in FIG. Therefore, the on-holding lever 22 continues to lock the switch actuating member 21 due to the spring bias, and the switch S4 is maintained in the on state. When the focus adjustment actuating member 6 reaches the original position, the focus adjustment locking member 5
falls into the small diameter part of the focus adjustment actuating member and rotates to the initial state, and the on-holding lever 22 is rotated counterclockwise against the spring bias to release it from the lock of the switch actuating member 21. As a result, the switch actuating member 21 is rotated clockwise by the spring bias until its tip comes into contact with the actuating arm of the focusing actuating member 6, and at the same time, the switch S4 is turned off and the rotation of the motor 15 is stopped. When the rotation of the motor 15 stops, the focus adjustment operating member 6 rotates back due to the bias of the spring, and its rotation is stopped by the focus adjustment locking member 5, completely returning to the original charge state. .

According to the above motor drive control mechanism, the rotation of the motor 15 is stopped immediately when the focus adjustment actuating member 6 becomes locked, so that the power consumption of the power source battery can be minimized.

When the focus adjustment actuating member 6 is rotated to return as described above, if the shutter operation has been performed, the first
The shutter operating member 10 in the figure also has a focus adjustment operating member 6.
is restored to the first illustrated position. As a result, the entire device is completely returned to the illustrated charging state.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform framing change photography and self-timer photography with a simple device, it is also possible to perform release lock when the power battery is exhausted, and furthermore, it is possible to perform shutter operation. Many convenient functions can be added to an autofocus camera, such as being able to redo focus adjustment by simply releasing the button on the release operating member.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a shutter release device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a motor drive control mechanism. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Release operation member, 2... Release member, 3... Electromagnet, 4... Shutter locking member, 5... Focus adjustment locking member, 6... Focus adjustment actuating member, 7... Focus adjustment ring, 8... Focusing claw, 9 ... Focusing electromagnet, 10... Shutter operating member, 11... Displacement holding lever, 12... Transmission/disconnection lever, 13, 14... Disconnection/disconnection gear, 15... Motor, 16... Motor gear, 17... Transmission gear, 18...
Governor gear, 21... switch operating member, 22... on holding lever, S1 to S4... switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A shutter release device for an automatic focusing camera that operates by releasing a focus adjustment operating member upon completion of a first stage movement of the release operating member, comprising the steps of: The movement of the shutter operating member, which is unlocked by the first stage movement of the operating member and is operated via the focusing member, is controlled by engaging a portion of the shutter operating member to cause the first and second stage movements. Electric power is supplied through a locking member that is stopped for a period of time and a first switch that is activated when the first stage movement of the release operation member starts, and a second switch of the release operation member is supplied with power.
an electromagnet whose power supply is cut off via a second switch that is activated upon completion of the first step movement; When the locking member and the shutter actuating member are disengaged from each other by being held in this position and the second stage movement is completed, the release operation is performed when the electromagnet is not activated. a release member that engages with the release member to prevent second and subsequent operations; and a release member that is interrupted by the first stage movement of the release operating member and closed by the return movement of the release operating member to the initial position, and a third switch for controlling power supply to a motor for returning the adjustment member to its initial position via a power transmission system; A shutter release device for an automatic focusing camera, comprising a displacement member that is operated at the final position to release the holding and return the release operation member to an initial state.