JPH03154574A - Camera equipped with battery check function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent runaway of a controller due to voltage drop of a power supply at charging by inhibiting charging during a function of the camera other than a charging circuit and inhibiting the battery check at charging. CONSTITUTION:A controller 10 inhibits the charging from a power supply 1 to a charging circuit 43 from the start of operation of a camera function section to the end of operation and inhibits the battery check at the charging to a charging circuit 43 detected by a charging detection means 45. Then the runaway of the controller 10 due to the voltage drop at charging does not take place and the camera is operated normally and since the battery check of the power supply 1 is inhibited at charging, there is no problem even when the voltage drop of the power supply 1 is caused following the charging to the charging circuit 43.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Summary of the Invention In a camera equipped with a power supply that is commonly used for a charging circuit for strobe light emission and a camera function section other than the charging circuit, charging is not performed while the functions of the camera other than the charging circuit are in operation. 1.Prohibits battery check when charging. This makes it possible to prevent the CPU from running out of control due to a voltage drop in the power supply during charging, and to effectively use the capacity of the battery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera in which a common power source is used to charge a charging circuit for strobe light emission and to supply voltage to functional parts of the camera other than the charging circuit.

Prior Art and its Problems When photographing indoors, strobe photography is used to obtain appropriate exposure.

In addition, the battery that drives the camera is exhausted, and if the battery voltage is insufficient, abnormal operation may occur in the camera control device, so a battery check is performed as appropriate and the photographing sequence is prohibited when the voltage is below a certain level.

When the strobe charging circuit is being charged, a voltage drop occurs in the battery. Further, a camera control device, particularly a control device equipped with a CPU, will not operate unless a voltage higher than a certain voltage is applied, and there is a risk of runaway if the applied voltage is lower than a certain voltage. For this reason, in cameras where the battery used to charge the strobe's charging circuit and the battery that supplies the operating voltage to the camera's control device are common, even if the battery has sufficient voltage, when charging the strobe's charging circuit, The control device may go out of control. Furthermore, since a battery check is performed when charging the strobe charging circuit and the photographing sequence is prohibited, the camera will not operate normally even though the battery voltage is sufficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a camera that can perform a normal photographing sequence even when a strobe charging circuit is charged.

Structure and Effects of the Invention The present invention provides a power source commonly used for a charging circuit for strobe light emission and a camera functional unit other than the charging circuit, a battery check means for checking the battery of the power source, and a battery check means for checking the battery of the power source. and a means for prohibiting photographing when the output voltage of the power source drops below a predetermined value.

means for prohibiting charging of the charging circuit from the power supply from the start of operation of the camera function section by the processing detection means to the end of operation; charging detection means for detecting that the charging circuit is being charged; When charging the charging circuit detected by the charging detection means, the battery
It is characterized by having a means for prohibiting checking.

According to this invention, since charging is prohibited while the functional parts of the camera other than the charging circuit are in operation, the camera can operate normally without causing the control device to run out of control due to a voltage drop that occurs during charging. Furthermore, since a battery check of the power source is prohibited during charging, there is no problem even if a voltage drop in the power source occurs due to charging the charging circuit.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a still video camera that records images on a video floppy will be described in detail. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to a silver halide camera in which a common power source is used to drive other functional parts of the camera.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows part of the electrical configuration of a still video camera.

The overall operation of the still video camera is controlled by the control device 10.
supervised by. This control device 10 is.

It consists of a CPU, memory, interface, etc. This control device 10 has an operating state and a stop mode. The operating state is when processing based on camera functions other than charging the charging circuit 43 of the strobe 41 is performed, and the stop mode is other than this.

The still video camera includes a power supply 1. This power supply 1 drives the entire still/video camera, and controls the control device 10. It is supplied to other parts of the still video camera.

Further, the power source 1 charges a charging circuit 43 for causing the strobe 41 to emit light.

In this still video camera, a battery check of the power source 1 is performed by the control device 10. In the battery check, the voltage of the power source 1 is appropriately monitored and checked to ensure that it is below a certain voltage (for example, 5.6 V), since normal photography will not be possible even if the shutter release button 53 is pressed when the voltage of the power source 1 drops. When this happens, photography is prohibited.

The imaging optical system 30 includes an imaging lens system 31 and an aperture 32 for forming a subject image. A photometric element 33 is arranged in this optical system 30, and its A1
A signal representing the 1l constant illuminance is input to the control device 10. The aperture 32 is controlled by a control device IO.

A solid-state imaging device 34 such as a CCD is arranged on the focal plane of the optical system 30, and this device has three primary colors, R
It has imaging surfaces for (red), G (green), and B (blue). The video data of the subject imaged on the imaging device 34 is read out as three-color video signals in synchronization with a synchronization signal given by the control device 1o, and is read out as a three-color video signal by a preamplifier circuit (path shown), a variable gain amplifier circuit ( The signals are input to the process matrix circuit 12 through the color balance adjustment circuit 11 respectively. This circuit 12 generates a luminance signal Y and two color difference signals R-Y and B-Y, and these signals are then input to a recording signal processing circuit 13. This processing circuit 13 is
Line sequential circuit, pre-emphasis circuit, FM modulation circuit 1
This circuit 13 includes a synthesis circuit, etc., and an FM-modulated composite video signal is output from this circuit 13, and a gate circuit 14 for recording control.
sent to.

The video floppy disk 21 is rotationally driven by a disk φ motor 23. This disk motor 23- is controlled by a servo control circuit 24 to a constant rotation speed of, for example, 3600.
r, p, 11. Rotationally driven. Servo control circuit 24
Again. The motor 23 is started and stopped in accordance with commands from the control device 10.

A recording magnetic head 22 is in contact with the video floppy 21, and the video floppy 2
A phase detector 25, which generates one phase detection pulse PC for each rotation of the motor, is adjacent to the phase detector 25. The magnetic head 22 is transported in the radial direction of the video floppy disk 21 by its transport mechanism and positioned on a predetermined track. The phase detection pulse PG is given to the control device 10.

The signal charge accumulation time of the solid-state electronic imaging device 34 is controlled by the controller IO. That is, this still video camera employs an electronic shutter system in which the shutter open time can be arbitrarily set by controlling the signal charge accumulation time in the light receiving section of the solid-state electronic imaging device 34.

Strobe 41 for strobe photography. A charging circuit 43 stores charges for supplying the instantaneous drive current, and a charging current of the charging circuit 43 is applied to the strobe 41.

A strobe switch 42 for causing a strobe 41 to emit light, and a strobe charging switch 44 for supplying voltage from the power source 1 to a charging circuit 43 are provided. The charging circuit 43 is
It includes a circuit that detects that the charging voltage has reached a predetermined value and outputs a charging completion signal. switches 42 and 44
is controlled on and off by the control device 1o.

Whether or not the charging circuit 43 is being charged can be determined by the controller, for example, by controlling the strobe charging switch 44 on and off. And the control device 10 is a charging circuit 43
The battery check of the power source 1 is prohibited when charging is being performed, that is, when the strobe charging switch 44 is turned on.

The power supply 1 is connected to a voltage monitoring circuit 45 . The voltage monitoring circuit 45 monitors the voltage of the power supply 1 and outputs a signal only when the voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage (for example, 4.5 V). This signal is applied to one input terminal of AND gate 63.

Still video fist camera 1 is powered by Sui Sochi 51,
Opening/closing status of the packet containing the video Φ floppy 21 (
and, if necessary, the presence or absence of the video floppy 21).
A button 53 and various mode switches 54-56 are included. Signals from power switch 51 and packet switch 52 are applied via both edge detection circuits 61 and 62 to the other input terminal of AND gate B3. As a result, as described above, if the voltage of the power supply 1 is higher than the predetermined voltage and a signal is output from the voltage monitoring circuit 45, the power switch 51 and the packet switch 52
The signal from is given to the control device 1o as an interrupt signal.

Signals from the shutter release button 53 and various mode switches 54 to 5B are also input to the control device 10 as interrupt signals when these switches 53 to 5G are pressed by a pull-up resistor R connected to the power supply 1. . Furthermore, signals for processing based on various functions of the camera, such as a charging completion signal from the charging circuit 43 of the strobe 41, a clock correction signal for the still/video camera, a communication request signal from an external device, and a one-second signal for the calendar function, etc. is the control device IO
input as an interrupt signal.

Controller 1G is in a normal stop mode with only internal memory backed up. and strobe 4
Charging to the charging circuit 43 of No. 1 is stopped by the control device 10.
Allowed only when in mode. The control device IO in the stop mode is brought into operation by receiving an interrupt signal from the power switch 51, other switches 52-56, etc. When the control device IO is in operation, a battery check of the power source 1 is performed at predetermined intervals or as appropriate to confirm whether the camera can operate normally, and the switch 44 is turned off to charge the strobe 41 to the charging circuit 43. charging is prohibited.

When the power switch 51 is turned on, a pulse is generated, and this pulse is input to both edge detector circuits 61. Edge detection pulses are generated by both edge detection circuits 61 and applied to the base of transistor Q, thereby providing a signal to one input terminal of AND gate 63. The output signal from the voltage monitoring circuit 45 is applied to the other input terminal of the AND gate 83. Therefore, the signal passes through the AND gate 83 and is input to the control device IO as an interrupt signal only when the power supply 1 has sufficient voltage, so that processing based on the various functions of the camera can be executed appropriately. .

Also when packet switch 52 is turned on.

Edge detection pulses are generated by both edge detection circuits 62, and when the voltage of the power supply 1 exceeds a predetermined value, an interrupt signal is given to the control device 1°, and the control device 1° changes from the stop mode to the operating state.

A charge completion signal generated upon completion of charging to the charging circuit 43;
Processing based on various functions of the camera, such as correction signals for the clock contained within the still video camera, communication request signals from external devices connected to the still video camera, and 1-second signals for the calendar function. The signals are applied to capacitors C1-C4, respectively. Capacitor 01~C4
and a pull-up resistor R connected to power supply 1 constitute a differentiating circuit, and each signal changes from H level to L level.
Edges in the signal that change in level create pulses,
Control device 1 as an interrupt signal via AND gate 63
given to 0.

Lines connected to the shutter release button 53 and various mode switches 54 to 56 are set to H level by a pull-up resistor R connected to the power supply 1. Therefore, when these switches 53 to 56 are pressed, the voltage applied to the line connected to the pressed switch changes from H level to L level. Then, a pulse is generated by a differentiating circuit constituted by a capacitor C and a pull-up resistor R, and is applied to the control device 10 via an AND gate 63 as an interrupt signal.

A pulse is generated by the differentiating circuit made up of capacitors 01 to C4 and pull-up resistor R even when a strobe charge completion signal, a correction signal for the 2-axis meter, a communication request signal from an external device, and a 1-second signal from the calendar are input. And
It is applied to the control device 10 via the gate 63 as an interrupt signal. As a result, the control device 10 wakes up from the stop mode and enters the operating state.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the operating state of the control device IO, the state of the strobe charging switch 44, and the voltage VB of the power source 1. Further, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the control device 10.

When the power supply 1 is attached, the control device 10 is reset and started, and initialization processing including processing such as setting the clear 1 boat state of the RAM included in the control device 10 is performed (steps 71 and 72). When the initial setting process is completed (YES in step 73), the control device 1
0 is stop mode.

Charging of the charging circuit 43 is permitted when the control device 10 is in the stop mode (step 74).

If the charging command for the charging circuit 43 is not given to the control device 10 (step 75: 1), it is determined whether there is a 1 interrupt signal (step 77). Still video cameras have a calendar function. For this purpose, a signal is generated every second, and the control device 10 is put into operation. If charging is not being performed at this time (NO at step 78), counting processing etc. for the calendar function are performed (step 80). When the processing is completed, the mode returns to stop mode (YES in step 81, step 74).

When in stop mode (step 74)
When a charging command is given (YES in step 75)
, the strobe charging switch 44 is turned on and charging is started by the power source 1. Also, battery check is prohibited during charging (step 76). During charging, a voltage drop occurs in the power supply 1 as shown in FIG. 2, but no problem occurs because the battery is not checked. When charging to the charging circuit 43 is completed, the charging circuit 4
A charging completion signal is output from the controller 3 and is given to the control device 10 as an interrupt signal (YES in step 77). As a result, the control device 10 enters the operating state and displays the completion of charging on the LCD panel (as shown in the diagram) (NO in step 78, step 80).

When the shutter release button 53 is pressed, the control device 10 becomes operational, and a predetermined photographing sequence such as recording on the video floppy 21 is performed. When the shooting sequence ends, the camera returns to stop mode.

If a charging command is received while the control device IO is in the stop mode, the strobe charging switch 44 is turned on and the charging circuit 43 is charged. If an interrupt signal such as a communication request from the outside is input to the control device IO before charging to the charging circuit 43 is completed, the control device IO becomes operational and strobe charging is performed to prohibit charging to the charging circuit 43. Switch 44 is turned off (step 79). As a result, the voltage VB of the power supply 1 rises as shown by the solid line A in FIG. Therefore, even if the control device IO is in the operating state and the battery check of the power source 1 is performed, no problem will occur.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a time chart showing the relationship between the operating state of the control device, the strobe charging switch, and the power supply voltage, and Fig. 3 shows the processing procedure of the control device. It is a flowchart. 1...Power supply. IO...control device. 41... Strobe. 43...Jun 7 is a circuit. 44... Strobe charging switch. 51...Power switch. 52...Bake Soto Kensui Sochi. 53...Shutter release button. 54-56...Various mode switches. that's all

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A power supply commonly used for a charging circuit for strobe light emission and a camera functional unit other than the charging circuit, a battery check means for checking the battery of the power supply, and a battery check means for performing a battery check of the power supply; In a camera equipped with means for prohibiting photography when the output voltage of a power supply drops below a predetermined value. Processing detection means for detecting the start and end of operation of the camera function section; Means for prohibiting charging from the power supply to the charging circuit from the start of operation of the camera function section by the processing detection means until the end of the operation; and the charging circuit. A camera with a battery check function, comprising: charging detection means for detecting that charging is being performed in the charging circuit; and means for prohibiting a battery check when the charging circuit is being charged, which is detected by the charging detection means.