JPH0232326A - Operation controller for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To constitute the title operation controller so that even a third person who does not know focus lock photographing can obtain a photograph which is focused to a desired object to be photographed by providing a focus lock holding means for continuing a focus lock even if a stand-by operation of a release operating member is released, and even if the stand-by operation is executed again thereafter. CONSTITUTION:The operation controller is provided with a focus lock means 103, and a focus lock holding means 105 for continuing a focus lock even if a stand-by operation of a release operating member 102 is released by an operation of a focus lock holding operating member 104, and even if the stand-by operation is executed again thereafter. Also, said controller is provided with a photographing means 106 for executing photographing in response to a release operation of the release operating member 102, and a voice generating means 107 for generating a voice after photographing is completed, when photographing is executed by the photographing means 106 in the course of operation of the focus lock holding means 105. In such a way, even when photographing is requested to a third person, a photograph which is focused to a desired object to be photographed is obtained surely.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an operation control device for a camera capable of focus lock photography.

B. Conventional technology For example, distance measurement information is stored when the release button is pressed halfway, and then when the framing is changed while the release button is pressed halfway and the release button is subsequently pressed fully, the distance measurement information is stored based on the stored distance information. 2. Description of the Related Art Cameras that are capable of so-called focus-lock photography, in which a photographic lens is driven to a focusing position and a shirt release is performed, are conventionally known.

In addition, in response to a half-press of the release button, the shooting lens is driven to the focusing position based on the distance measurement information at that time, and if the half-press continues, the shooting lens is fixed at that position and continues. There are also known cameras that perform a shirt release when the release button is fully pressed.

Note that distance measurement information is information that indicates the distance to the subject, but this distance measurement information is not calculated, and focus adjustment information that indicates the amount and direction of deviation between the image formation plane of the subject image and the planned image formation plane is used. There are also known cameras that perform such focus locking by calculating the focus adjustment information and driving the photographing lens to the focusing position based on this focus adjustment information.

Problems that the C0 invention aims to solve However, with conventional cameras like this, the focus lock is released by releasing the half-press operation, so it is difficult to maintain the focus lock state when asking a third party to take a picture. I can't hand over the camera without leaving it on. Therefore, if the third party requested to take the picture does not know about focus lock photography, and the main subject is not within the autofocus frame in the viewfinder, the main subject will not be in focus, resulting in an undesirable photo. is photographed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a camera operation control device that maintains the focus lock even when the half-press operation is released, and that ensures that the desired subject is in focus even when a third party is asked to take the photograph. Our goal is to provide the following.

To explain with reference to FIG. 1(a), which is a means-claim correspondence diagram for solving the D0 problem,
The camera operation control device according to the invention of claim 1 includes a focus adjustment information detection means 101 for detecting focus adjustment information for focusing a photographic lens on a subject, and a preliminary operation of a release operation member 102 prior to a release operation. Even if the preliminary operation of the release operation member 102 is canceled by the operation of the focus lock means 103 that locks the focus based on the detected focus adjustment information and the focus lock holding operation member 104, the preliminary operation is not performed again after that. A focus lock holding means 105 continues the focus lock even if the focus is locked, a photographing means 106 performs photographing in response to the release operation of the release operation member 102, and a photographing means 106 performs photographing while the focus lock holding means 105 is in operation. The camera also includes a sound generating means 107 that generates sound after the photographing is completed, thereby solving the above-mentioned problem.

Further, to explain with reference to FIG. 1(b), the camera operation control device according to the invention of claim 3 includes the above-mentioned focus adjustment information detection means 101, focus lock means 103, focus lock holding means 105, and an anti-theft device 201 that operates to prevent theft of the camera, and when the photographing means 106 performs photography while the focus lock holding means 105 is in operation, after the photographing is completed. , a control means 20 for activating the anti-theft bag [201] when a predetermined condition is met;
2, thereby solving the above-mentioned problems.

E1 Effect (1) Invention of Claim 1 The focus lock holding means 105 releases the release operating member 1 by operating the focus lock holding operating member 104.
Even if the preliminary operation of 02 is canceled.

Further, even if the preliminary operation is performed again after that, the focus lock is continued. The sound generating means 107 is.

While the focus lock holding means 105 is in operation, the photographing means 1
When photographing is performed in step 06, a sound is generated after the photographing is completed. This voice, for example, expresses gratitude to the third party who requested the photography.

(2) The invention control means 202 of claim 3 is configured to prevent theft when a predetermined condition is satisfied after the photographing is completed when photographing is performed by the photographing means 106 while the focus lock holding means 105 is in operation. Bag 51201 is activated.

This predetermined condition is 1, for example, a predetermined condition after photographing. This may occur when the focus lock is not released even after a period of time has elapsed, or when the vibration of the camera exceeds a predetermined value.

F. Embodiment 1 First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 2 and 3.

In FIG. 2, a photometry circuit 2 and a distance measurement circuit 3 are connected to the CPUI. A light receiving element 4 that receives light from a subject is connected to the photometry circuit 2.
Luminance information regarding the luminance of the subject is calculated based on the detection signal and input to the CPUI. The distance measuring circuit 3 is connected to a light projector 6 that emits light toward a subject via a light projecting lens 5, and a light receiving element 8 that receives reflected light from the subject via a light receiving lens 7. Based on the detection signal No. 8, a distance measurement value corresponding to the distance to the subject is calculated and input to the CPUI.

The CPU also includes a motor drive circuit 11 for the focusing motor 9 and film winding/rewinding motor 10, an exposure control circuit 12, and a switch that is turned on in conjunction with the pressing operation of a release button (release operation member) not shown. SWI and SW2 are connected. switch SWI
is turned on by pressing the release button halfway (preliminary operation), and switch SW2 is turned on by pressing it fully (release operation) 6
When the switch SWI is turned on, the CPUL activates the photometry circuit 2 described above, and stores and holds the distance measurement value at that time in the storage area. In other words, focus lock is performed. Next, when the switch SW2 is turned on, the photometric circuit 2 is activated to read the luminance information, and the amount of movement of the photographing lens is calculated based on the stored distance measurement value, and the focusing motor 9 is operated via the motor drive circuit 11. , the photographing lens is moved by the calculated movement amount to perform focusing. Thereafter, an exposure value is calculated based on the read luminance information and the like, and based on this exposure value, exposure control members such as an aperture and a shutter are driven via an exposure control circuit 12 to take a picture. After photographing, the motor 10 winds the film one frame. Note that when it is detected that the film has been wound to the end when all frames have been photographed, the CPU rewinds the film using the motor 10.

Furthermore, the CPUI includes a display circuit 13 and a switch S.
W3. SW6 is connected, and the display circuit 13 is connected to the LED 15 in the viewfinder and the liquid crystal display device 25. The switch SW3 is a switch that is turned on in conjunction with the operation of a focus lock holding button (not shown), and when the switch SW3 is turned on, the CPU sets the focus lock holding mode and causes the LED 15 to blink through the display circuit 13. At the same time, the liquid crystal display device 25 displays a message indicating that the focus lock holding mode is in effect.

Also, when this focus lock holding mode is set, C
The PUI maintains the focus lock state described above. That is, even if the switch SWI is turned off by canceling the half-press operation, and even if the switch SWI is turned on again by a subsequent half-press operation, the focus lock state is maintained. Therefore, in the focus lock holding mode, even if the switch SW1 is turned on again, the distance measurement circuit 3 does not operate and the distance measurement information is not read. Also, if switch SW3 is turned on again in focus lock hold mode, C
PU1 releases the focus lock holding mode. Note that the above-mentioned LED 15 is normally turned on when distance measurement is completed.

The switch SW6 is a power switch that is linked to the photographing lens barrier that is opened and closed in front of the photographing lens, and is turned on when the photographing lens barrier is opened.

Furthermore, an audio generation circuit 30 is connected to the CPUI, and a speaker 31 is connected to this audio generation circuit 30. When the full-press switch SW2 is turned on and photography is performed while the above-mentioned focus lock is maintained, the CPU 1 outputs a sound generation signal upon completion of photography, activates the sound generation circuit 30, and outputs a sound generation signal from the speaker 31. to generate sound. This voice expresses gratitude to the champion who requested the photo shoot, and for example, the words "thank you" are used.

In the configuration of the above embodiment, the distance measuring circuit 3 functions as the focus adjustment information detection means 101, and the CPUI functions as the focus locking means 103. Focus lock holding means 105. Photography means 1
06, the CPUI and the sound generation circuit 30 constitute the sound generation means 107, respectively.

Next, the control procedure performed within the CPUI will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, this program is started when the power switch SW6 linked to the photographing lens barrier is turned on, and first, in step S51, a timer is started.Next, in step S52, it is determined whether or not the power switch SW6 is on. , if a negative determination is made, the process is terminated, and if an affirmative determination is made, the process proceeds to step S53. In step S53, it is determined whether the half-press switch SWI is on, and if the determination is negative, it is determined in step S54 whether the switch SW3 is on. If step S54 is denied, step S55
Then, it is determined whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the timer was started. If the determination in step S55 is negative, the process returns to step S52, and if the determination in step S55 is affirmative, the process is terminated.

In step S54, the focus lock holding switch SW3 is
If it is determined that is on, the process advances to step S56, and it is determined whether the focus lock holding mode is set. If a negative determination is made, the focus lock holding mode is set in step S57, and the focus lock holding mode is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 25 in step 5101, and the process proceeds to step S59. If an affirmative determination is made in step S56, a normal mode in which focus lock is not maintained is set in step 858, and the normal mode is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 25 in step 5102.
The process proceeds to step S59.

In step S59, the focus lock holding switch SW
3 is on or not, and if a positive determination is made, the process remains in step S59 until a negative determination is made, and if a negative determination is made, the process returns to step S51 and the above-described process is repeated.

Here, in step S53, the half-press switch SWI
When it is determined that the distance measuring circuit 3 is on, the process advances to step S61, and distance measurement information from the distance measurement circuit 3 is read and stored in the storage area. In other words, focus lock is performed. Then step 51
In step 03, it is determined whether or not the focus lock holding mode is selected, and if it is affirmative, in step 5104, the L in the viewfinder is
The ED15 is made to blink and the process proceeds to step S62. Step 5
If 103 is negative, the LED 15 in the finder is turned on in step 5105, and the process proceeds to step S62. In step S62, it is determined whether or not the electronic flash device needs to emit light, and then the process proceeds to step S63.

In step S63, it is determined whether the fully pressed switch SW2 is on, and if the answer is negative, the process proceeds to step S64. In step S64, the half-press switch SW1 is turned on.
It is determined whether or not, and if a positive determination is made, the process returns to step S63, and if a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step S65. In step 86.5, it is determined whether the power switch SW6 is on. If the determination is negative, the process is terminated, and if the determination is affirmative, it is determined in step 866 whether or not the switch SW3 is on. If step S66 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 356, and if negative, it is determined in step S67 whether or not the focus lock holding mode is set. If step S67 is affirmed, the process returns to step S63, and if negative, the process returns to step S51.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S63 that the fully pressed switch SW2 is on, the LED in the viewfinder is turned on in step 5106.
15 is turned off, the brightness information from the photometric circuit 2 is read in step 868, and the process proceeds to step S69.

In step S69, the amount of lens movement is calculated based on the measured distance value stored in step S61, and based on the calculation result, the photographing lens is driven by the motor 9 via the motor drive circuit 11 to the focusing position. Next, in step S70, an exposure value is calculated based on the brightness information etc. read in step S68, and based on the calculation result, exposure control members such as an aperture and a shutter are driven via the exposure control circuit 12 to take a picture. . Then step 52
00, it is determined whether the focus lock holding mode is set, and if the determination is negative, the process advances to step S71. If an affirmative determination is made, a voice generation signal is output in step 5201, and the voice generation circuit 30 is activated to cause the speaker 31 to generate a voice such as "Thank you".

In step 871, the motor 10 winds up one frame of the film via the motor drive circuit 11, and then in step S72 the normal mode is set, and in step 51
In step S07, normal mode display is performed on the liquid crystal display device 25, and the process returns to step S51.

According to the above procedure, when the normal mode has already been set, if it is determined in step S54 that switch SW3 is turned on by operating the focus lock holding operation button, step 856 is negative, and focus lock holding is performed in step S57. mode is set. Thereafter, when the switch SWI is turned on by pressing the release button halfway, step S53 is affirmed, the distance measurement value is read and stored in step S61, and the LED 15 blinks in step 5104. Thereafter, if the switch SWI is turned off and the switch SW2 is not turned on, the process repeats a loop of steps S63 to S67 and S63. Also.

At this time, when switch SWI is turned on again, step S
64 is affirmed and the process returns to step S63.

Step S63. The process of S64 is repeated.

Therefore, even if you release the release button halfway and turn off the switch SWI when setting the focus lock hold mode, the focus lock state will be maintained, and even if you press the release button halfway again, the distance measurement data will not be read or stored. It won't happen. In other words, the focus lock state is maintained.

Further, if the switch SW2 is turned on while the focus lock is held and the process is going through the above-mentioned loop, the process will skip this loop from step S63 to step 8.
Proceeding to step 106, the LED 15 is turned on and off, and then the photographing process of steps S68 to S70 is performed. Thereafter, since step 5200 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 5201, where audio is generated. Then, in step S71, the film is rewound, and in step S72.
In step S5107, the normal mode is set and displayed, and the process returns to step S51. That is, when the release is fully pressed and photography is completed, the focus lock state is released. Furthermore, if step S54 is affirmative and step S56 is affirmative, that is, if switch SW3 is turned on during focus lock holding mode, focus lock holding mode is canceled.

-Second Embodiment- Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 4 and 5. Note that in FIG. 4, parts similar to those in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and explanations thereof will be omitted.

The CPU includes an anti-theft device 32 and a vibration detection device 3.
The vibration detection device 33 to which the camera 3 is connected detects the vibration of the camera and inputs the detection signal to the CPU 1, and the anti-theft device 32 is activated by an activation signal from the CPU. This anti-theft bag @32 may be composed of, for example, the sound generating circuit 30 and the speaker 31 shown in FIG. 2, or may be a buzzer that simply generates a sound.

Next, the control procedure by the CPU 1 will be explained based on the flowchart in FIG. This program is also started by turning on the switch SW6 linked to the lens barrier, and steps similar to those in FIG. 3 will be described with the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 5, when photographing is performed in step S70,
The process proceeds to step 5200, where it is determined whether the focus lock holding mode is set.

If step 5200 is denied, the above step S71
The process proceeds to step 5210, and if the request is confirmed, the process proceeds to step 5210. In step 5210, an anti-theft timer is started, and then in step 5211 it is determined whether switch SW3 is on. If step 5211 is affirmed, step S7
1, and if the answer is negative, it is determined in step 5212 whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the anti-theft timer was started. If step 5212 is denied, the process returns to step 5211, and if affirmed, the anti-theft device 3 is returned to step 5213.
An activation signal is output to 2 to activate it. That is, for example, the words "Thieves J" are generated by voice, or a buzzer is sounded.

After that, in step 5214, it is determined whether the switch SW3 is on, and if the determination is negative, the process returns to step S13,
If an affirmative determination is made, the process advances to step S71.

According to the above procedure, photography is performed in the focus lock retention mode, and when the focus lock retention mode is not released even after a predetermined period of time has passed since the end of photography, the anti-theft device 32 is activated. In other words, when a third party is asked to take a picture and the third party returns the camera after the picture is taken, the focus lock button is normally operated again to release the focus lock hold mode, but a predetermined period of time has passed after the picture has been taken. If the mode is not released even after repeated attempts, it is determined that the third party has not returned the camera and the anti-theft device is activated.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, if the vibration of the camera exceeds a predetermined value within a predetermined time after taking a picture, it is determined that a third party has fled with the camera and the anti-theft device 32 is activated. It may be activated.

That is, in FIG. 6, when photographing is performed in step S70, the process proceeds to step 5200, and it is determined whether the focus lock holding mode is set. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S71, and if the determination is affirmative, the timer is started in step S5211. Next, in step 5222, a detection signal related to camera vibration is read from the vibration detection device 33, and it is determined whether the value is larger than a predetermined value. Step 5222
If it is denied, the process advances to step 5223, and step 52
After the timer is started in step 11, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed. If step 5223 is negative, the process returns to step 5222, and if it is affirmative, the process returns to step S71.

On the other hand, if step 5222 is affirmed, step 522
4, the anti-theft device 32 is activated, and then, in step 5225, it is determined whether the switch SW3 is on,
If negative, the process returns to step 5224, and if affirmative, the process proceeds to step S71.

Note that in the above, the distance measurement value from the distance measurement circuit 2 is stored by pressing the release button halfway, and then the photographing lens is driven to the focusing position based on the memorized distance measurement value by pressing the release button fully. Then, a camera of the type that performs a shirt release is shown, but by pressing the release button halfway, the photographing lens is driven to the focusing position based on the distance value from the distance measurement circuit 2 and fixed at that position. The present invention can also be applied to a type of camera that performs a shirt release in response to a full press of the release button.

Furthermore, it can also be used in cameras that detect focus adjustment information that indicates the amount and direction of deviation between the image plane of the subject and the planned image plane, instead of the measured distance value, such as the TTL automatic focus adjustment device of an eye reflex camera. , the present invention is similarly applicable. In this case, the photographing lens is moved to the focusing position based on the focus adjustment information and fixed at that position to lock the focus.

G9 Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, by operating the focus lock holding operation member, it is possible to maintain the focus lock state even if the half-press operation of the release operation member is released and even if the release operation member is subsequently pressed halfway again. .

When you ask a third party to take a picture, if you lock the focus in advance so that it focuses on the desired subject and hold it in that state before handing over the camera, even a third party who does not know about focus lock shooting can press the release button. Just press the button to get a photo with the desired subject in focus.

Further, according to the invention of claim 1, when a photograph is taken while the focus lock is maintained, a sound expressing, for example, gratitude is generated after the photograph is taken, so that a third party who requested the photograph can be informed. He never lacks respect. Furthermore, according to the third aspect of the invention, when a photograph is taken while the focus lock is maintained, the anti-theft device is activated when a predetermined condition is met after the photograph is taken, so that a third party can This will prevent your camera from being stolen when you request a photo shoot.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are complaint correspondence diagrams. 2 and 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a camera operation control device according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a camera operation control device, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure, and FIG. 6 is a modification of the processing procedure. 3 is a flowchart showing an example. It is. 1: cPU 3: Distance measurement circuit 30: Sound generation circuit 32: Anti-theft device 33: Vibration detection device 101: Focus adjustment information detection means 102 Ni-release operation member 103: 104: 105: 106 = 107: 201: 202: Focus lock Means Focus lock holding operation member Focus lock holding means Photographing means Sound generating means Anti-theft device control means

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) Focus adjustment information detection means for detecting focus adjustment information for focusing a photographic lens on a subject; a focus lock means that performs a focus lock based on the focus lock, and a focus lock holding operation member that continues to maintain the focus lock even if the preliminary operation of the release operation member is released or even if the preliminary operation is performed again thereafter. a focus lock holding means for taking a picture in response to a release operation of the release operating member; and a photographing means for taking a picture in response to a release operation of the release operation member; when a picture is taken by the photographing means while the focus lock holding means is in operation, a sound is generated after the picture is taken. What is claimed is: 1. A camera operation control device, comprising: a sound generating means. 2) The camera operation control device according to claim 1, wherein the sound generated by the sound generating means expresses gratitude to the photographer. 3) Focus adjustment information detection means for detecting focus adjustment information for focusing the photographing lens on the subject, and focus locking based on the focus adjustment information detected in conjunction with preliminary operation of the release operation member prior to release operation. A focus lock holding means that continues the focus lock even if the preliminary operation of the release operation member is released by operation of the focus lock holding operation member and even if the preliminary operation is performed again after that. , a photographing means for taking a photograph in response to a release operation of the release operating member; an anti-theft device for performing an operation to prevent the camera from being stolen; and a photographing means for taking a photograph while the focus lock holding means is in operation. and a control means for activating the anti-theft device when a predetermined condition is satisfied after the photographing is completed. 4) A release operation member for instructing release of the focus lock holding, and the control means controls the anti-theft device when the focus lock holding means is not released even after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the completion of the photographing. 4. The camera operation control device according to claim 3, wherein the camera operation control device operates the camera. 5) A vibration detecting means for detecting vibration of the camera is provided, and the control means operates the anti-theft device when the detected vibration exceeds a predetermined amount after the photographing is completed. 3. The camera operation control device according to 3.