JPH03225330A - Autofocusing camera provided with remote control function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To evade that appropriate photographing can not be performed and to prevent a useless image blurring preventing action by stopping an image blurring preventing means from being actuated even when photographing by preventing image blurring is selected in the case of remote control photographing. CONSTITUTION:When a focusing state is obtained by autofocusing in the case that image blurring preventing photographing(IS mode) is selected, a blurring quantity on a range-finding sensor 16 is detected and a shutter time is set to be in place in the smallest blur circle based on the blurring quantity. However, in the case that remote control photographing is performed by outputting a remote control signal to a remote control reception circuit 41 side by the light projecting element 102 of a remote control transmission circuit 101, the above IS mode is cleared and ordinary photographing, for instance, photographing in a program mode is performed. Since a tripod is used in the case of remote control photographing, it is unnecessary to execute the prevention of the image blurring and the useless action is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Application of the Invention) The present invention provides a remote controller having an image blur prevention function that automatically sets a shutter speed that does not cause blur by detecting blur in a subject image on a sensor. This invention relates to improvements to automatic focusing cameras with control functions.

(Background of the Invention) Conventionally, by detecting blur in a subject image on a sensor,
Image blur prevention (Imag.
A camera having a function (denoted as e 5 tabilizer) is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-24419 and No.
-22420 etc. is proposed. When the IS mode is selected, for example, if the camera shake is large, a faster shutter speed is set, and if the camera shake is small, a slower shutter speed is set.

When a remote control function (hereinafter referred to as a remote control in the background of the invention and the description of the embodiments to be described later) is provided in the IS mode as described above, the following problems arise.

In other words, since this is remote control shooting, the camera is generally fixed on a tripod, etc., and although there is almost no camera shake, if the photographer sets the IS mode, the shutter speed will be set to a slower speed. will be set. Therefore, if the subject is moving, the photograph may become blurry.

(Objective of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to prevent the inability to take proper photographs and the unnecessary image blur prevention operation during remote control photography. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an autofocus camera with a remote control function.

(Characteristics of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image stabilization means that, when remote control shooting is instructed, even if shooting using image blur prevention is selected by the selection means, The present invention is characterized in that a prohibition means is provided for prohibiting the operation of the image blur prevention means, so that the image blur prevention means is not activated during remote control photography.

(Embodiments of the Invention) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 1 is a camera body, and 50 is the camera body 1.
This is a lens body that is detachably attached to the camera mount 1a and the lens mount 51a. 3 is a mirror, 4 is a pentaprism, 5 is an eyepiece lens, and 6 is a light receiving element for photometry. Reference numeral 7 denotes a photometric calculation circuit, which is connected to a film sensitivity information input circuit 8, a shutter control circuit 9, and a microcomputer 10. 34
is the focal brain shutter, 3a is the mirror rotation axis,
Reference numeral 3b denotes an operating bin, which faces the mirror drive cam 11. 12 is a mirror drive motor, and motor drive circuit 1
Connected to 3. A film feeding motor 14 is used for winding and rewinding the film, and is connected to a motor drive circuit 15. A distance measuring sensor 16 is connected to a distance measuring calculation circuit 17. 18 is the battery that operates the entire camera system, 19 is the main power switch,
20 is a DC/DC converter, which is connected from the battery 18 to the microcomputer 10. 21 is a photometering and distance measuring switch, and 22 is a release switch. Generally, the switches 21 and 22 are two-stage stroke switches, in which the first stroke of the release button turns the switch 21 ON, and the second stroke turns the switch 22 OFF.
It is configured to be N. 41 is a remote control receiving circuit built into the camera, and when the light receiving element 42 receives a remote control signal, the received signal is transmitted to the microcomputer 10.

5WBP is a back cover switch, 5WREW is a rewind switch, and SWFLM is a film operation switch linked to the perforations of the film. Further, SWMODE is a mode changeover switch for changing the photographing mode, and in this embodiment, in order to simplify the explanation, it is assumed that there are two types: program mode and IS mode.

Reference numerals 23a to 23e are a group of contact point bins on the side of the camera body 1, which are arranged near the mount 1a. Reference numerals 528 to 52e represent a contact bin group on the lens body 50 side, which faces the contact bin groups 23a to 23e on the camera side.

Gl and G2 are optical lenses for photographing. 53 is a lens drive motor used for focus adjustment, and a lens drive circuit 54
is connected to. As the lens drive motor 53 rotates, the number of pulses is input to the counter 57 via the ratchet 60. Note that the counter 57 is set to be incremented when the lens G1 moves in the {circle around (2)} direction. Reference numeral 61 denotes an aperture drive circuit, which is connected to the microcomputer 55 and to a known pulse motor 56, by which the aperture is driven.

Reference numeral 101 denotes a remote control transmitting circuit that outputs a remote control signal to the remote control receiving circuit 41 side through a light projecting element 102.

Next, the operation of the camera having the above configuration will be explained.

First, the operation in a general shooting mode (program mode) will be described. By turning on the main power switch 19 of the camera body 1 and exciting the DC/DC converter 20, the converter 20 supplies a constant voltage to the microcomputer 10 so that it can operate. Next, when the photometric and distance measuring switch 21 is pressed, the amount of light detected by the photometric light receiving element 6 is transmitted to the photometric calculation circuit 7, and the exposure amount is stored in a known manner. Furthermore, since the photometering and distance measurement switch 21 also serves as a trigger switch for automatic distance measurement, when the photometer and distance measurement switch 21 is pressed, the distance measurement sensor 16 is activated according to instructions from the microcomputer IO, and In this method, distance measurement calculation (detecting the focus detection state and calculating the defocus amount) is performed by the distance measurement calculation circuit 17, and the amount of lens extension is determined. Serial communication is performed, and the direction of rotation of the drive motor 53 is instructed to the lens drive circuit 54, so that the photographing optical system Gl is moved. At this time, the contents of the counter 57 are changed by the ratchet 60 in response to the movement of the lens, and the amount of movement of the lens can be detected by the microcomputer 55 reading the number of pulses. The photographing optical system (hereinafter simply referred to as lens) Gl is moved according to the instructed movement amount, and the lens Gl is stopped at the in-focus position. Generally, distance measurement is performed again, and when it is determined that the camera is in focus, an in-focus display is performed on the camera body 1 side or a focus sound is emitted.

Next, the general operation when the IS mode is selected will be explained.

In the IS mode, when the camera is in focus by the autofocus operation, the amount of blur on the distance measurement sensor 16 is detected,
The shutter speed is changed based on the amount of blur (the shutter speed is set within the circle of least confusion).

However, when photographing is performed using a remote control signal from the remote control transmitting circuit 101 side, the IS mode is cleared and photographing is performed in a normal program mode, for example.

Next, the detailed operation of the camera will be explained using the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 1-1, 1-2, and 3 to 7.

The microcomputer lo is provided with a film frame number register FRAMER for storing the number of film frames, a count register C0IJNT for counting the number of on/off times of the film operation switch SWFLM, and memory registers MOVI and MOV2 for storing image information. . Furthermore, a back cover flag BP that memorizes the state of the back cover
F (back cover closed when rlJ (7)), IS mode flag ISF that stores "l" when IS mode is selected with the mode selector switch SWMODE, stores "1" by receiving a remote control signal remote control flag REMF, which instructs remote control shooting; focus flag JFF, which memorizes "l" when the autofocus operation focuses; and when rewind is set with rewind switch 5WREW, or when the film It has a rewind flag REWF that stores "1" in the tension state.

In the following description of the embodiments, the photometric and distance measuring switch 21 will be referred to as a switch SWI, and the release switch 22 will be referred to as a switch SW2.

Here, the main power switch 19 is turned on and the D C/D
When the C converter 20 is excited, a constant voltage that enables operation is supplied from the converter 20 to the microcomputer 10, and the microcomputer 10 starts operating from step 1 in FIG. 1-1. It is assumed that the back cover is now open and all switches are turned off.

[Step 1] Initialize all flags and registers.

[Step 2] Determine the state of the back cover sweetch 5WBP. The back cover is now open, so move on to step 3.

[Step 3] Set the film frame number register FRAMER to rOJ.

[Step 4] Clear the back cover flag BPF.

[Step 5] The state of the rewind flag REWF is determined. Here, since it has been cleared in step 1, the process proceeds to step 6.

[Step 6] Determine whether the IS mode is selected by the mode changeover switch SWMODE. Here, it is assumed that the program mode is selected. Therefore,
Proceed to step 7.

[Step 7] The remote control flag REM determines whether remote control photography is instructed via the remote control receiving circuit 41.
Discrimination is made in the F state. Here, remote control shooting is not set and rREMF=OJ, so step 8
Proceed to.

[Step 8] Determine the state of switch SWI. Since it is off here, proceed to step 9.

[Step 9] If lens G1 is operating, stop it.

[Step 10] Clear the focus flag JFF.

[Step 11] Waits here until any switch is operated. Here, the input from the remote control receiving circuit 41 is also treated as a switch input.

Here, when the photographer loads the film and closes the back cover, the state of the back cover switch 5WBP changes, so step 1
Proceed from step 1 to step 12.

[Step 12] It is determined whether remote control receiving circuit 41 has instructed remote control photography.

Since no instructions are given here, return to step 2.

After this, the process proceeds from step 2 to step 3, and since the back cover is closed this time, the process proceeds to step 13.

[Step 13] Check the state of the back cover flag BPF.

Since rBPF=OJ is set in step 4, the process proceeds to step 13.

[Step 14] Set the back cover flag BPF to "1".

[Step 15] Here, the film blank feed subroutine shown in FIG. 5 is called to perform a blank feed operation.

Here, this idle feeding operation will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG.

[Steps 125, 126, 127] The film winding subroutine shown in FIG. 6, which will be described later, is called three times.

This completes the empty feeding of three frames of film. The process then proceeds to step 128.

[Step 128J Film frame number register FRAME
Set R to "1" and set the information that it is exactly the first frame.

When the above-mentioned idle feeding operation is completed, proceed to step 5, and thereafter proceed to step 5-6-7-8-9-10→11 in the same manner as described above.
Then, it enters the state where it waits for the switch to change.

At this point, point the photographer at the subject he or she wants to photograph and press the switch S.
When WI is pressed, the process advances to step 11 → 12-2.
Since the lid is currently closed, the process proceeds from step 2 to step 13 as described above, and here the state of the back lid flag BPF is determined, but the flag BPF was set to "l" in step 14. So now step 1
Proceed to 6.

[Step 16] Determine the state of the rewind switch 5WREW. Since it is off here, proceed to step 5.

In this manner, by using the back cover flag BPF, it is possible to perform a blank feed only once when the back cover is closed.

After this, the process proceeds to step 5-6-7-8, where the state of switch SW1 is determined as described above.
Since the switch SW1 is turned on here, the process now proceeds to step 17.

[Step 17] Here, the autofocus subroutine shown in FIG. 3 is called to perform an autofocus operation, so that the lens Gl is moved to the in-focus position of the subject. Note that details of the autofocus operation will be described later.

When the autofocus operation is completed, the process returns to the main routine again and starts operations from step 18.

[Step 18] The brightness of the subject is measured, the EV value is determined, and the process proceeds to step 21.

[Step 21] Here, the state of the IS mode flag SF is determined, but since rIsF=OJ, the process proceeds to step 19.

[Step 19] The shutter time (TV) and aperture value (AV) are calculated from the EV value. Since the current shooting mode is the program mode, each value suitable for the mode is determined in a known manner.

[Step 20] Here, the remote control flag REMF
However, since rREMF=OJ, the process advances to step 21.

[Step 21] Here, the depth mode flag DEP
The state of F is determined, but since rDEPF=OJ, the process advances to step 22.

[Step 22] Here, the state of the switch SW2 is determined, but since the switch SW2 is off, the process returns to step 2.

In this way, while the switch SWI is pressed, autofocus operation and photometry operation are repeatedly performed. Further, when the switch SW1 is turned off, the process proceeds from step 8 to step 9, where the driving of the lens G1 is stopped, and in the next step 10, the focus flag JFF is cleared, and the process proceeds to step 11, where the process described above is The system enters a state where it waits for a change in one of the switches.

Next, as described above, when the switch SWI is pressed and the switch SW2 is further pressed, the process proceeds from step 22 to the release sequence starting from step 23 in FIGS. 1-2.

[Step 23] Stop the lens G1 that has been driven by autofocus operation.

[Step 24] The mirror drive motor 12 is energized to start mirror-up operation.

[Step 25] Serial communication is carried out to the micro-combiner 55 on the lens body side 50, and the aperture is adjusted according to step 19.
Narrow it down to the value found in .

[Step 26] The process waits for the mirror-up operation started in step 24 to be completed, and upon completion, proceeds to step 27.

[Step 27] Stop energizing the mirror drive motor 12.

[Step 28] The shutter leading curtain is run via the shutter control circuit 9.

[Step 29] Wait for the shutter time determined in step 19, and when the time ends, step 30
Proceed to.

[Step 30] The shutter trailing curtain is run via the shutter control circuit 9.

[Step 31] Serial communication is made to the microcomputer 55 on the lens body side 50 to open the aperture.

[Step 32] The mirror drive motor 12 is energized to start mirror down and shutter charging.

[Step 33] Wait for shutter charging to be completed, and once completed, proceed to step 34.

[Step 34] Apply a brake to the mirror drive motor 12.

[Step 35] Here, the film winding subroutine shown in FIG. 6 is called to wind, for example, one frame of film.

Here, this film winding operation and the like will be explained using FIG. 6. The operation begins at step 110.

[Step 110] The film frame number and fill read by the DX code reading circuit (not shown) are also stored in the frame number register FR.
The values of AVER are compared, and if they are equal, the process goes to 123. If they are not equal, the process goes to 11.

[Step 111] The film feeding motor 14 is rotated in the normal direction to start winding the film.

[Step 112] Clear count register C0tlNT.

[Step 113] Set 400 to the film tension timer.
Set m5.

[Step 114] If the timer has completed counting, proceed to step 123; if not, proceed to step 115.

[Step 115] Film operation switch SWFLM
If it is on, the process returns to step 114, and if it is off, the process proceeds to step 116.

Therefore, if the film is being wound and the film operating switch SWFLM is turned from on to off during the 400 m5, the process proceeds to step 116;
If M is on for 400 m5, the process proceeds to step 123.

[Step 116] Set 400 to the film tension timer.
Set m5.

[Step 117] If the timer has completed counting, proceed to step 123; otherwise, proceed to step 118.

[Step 118] Film operation switch SWFLM
If it is off, the process returns to step 117, and if it is on, the process proceeds to step 119.

Steps 116 to 118 are the opposite of steps 113 to 115, and wait for the film operation switch SWFLM to be turned on from off.

[Step 119] Set count register C0INT to "
l” increases.

[Step 120] It is determined whether the contents of the count register C0UNT have reached "8" or not. If the content has reached "8", the process proceeds to step 121; if not, the process returns to step 113. That is, if the film operating switch SWFLM is turned on and off eight times between step 113 and step 120, the process proceeds to step 121.

[Step 121] Since one frame of film has been wound, the brake is applied to the film feeding motor 14.

[Step 122] Film frame number register FRAME
Increase R by "1".

If the film tension or the number of film frames reaches the number of film frames by DX, the process advances to step 123.

[Step 123] Apply a brake to the film feeding motor 14.

[Step 124] Set the rewind flag REWF to "1" and return to the main routine.

When the film rewinding operation is completed, the operation starts again from step 36 in FIG. 1-2.

[Step 36] Determine the state of the rewind flag REWF, and when rREWF=IJ, that is, if one frame of film has not been wound in the film winding operation, return to step 2, and when rREWF=OJ. Proceeds to step 38.

First, in step 36, the rewind flag REWF is set.
is "1" and the subsequent operation when the process returns to step 2 will be explained.

In this case, proceed to steps 2 → 13 → 16 → 5,
Here, the state of the rewind flag REWF is determined, and in step 36 the rewind flag REWF is set to "
1", the process advances to step 37.

[Step 37] Here, the film rewinding subroutine shown in FIG. 7 is called to start the film rewinding operation.

Here, this film rewinding operation will be explained using FIG. 7. The operation begins at step 130.

[Step 130] The film feeding motor 14 is reversed to start rewinding the film.

[Step 131] Set the timer to 400m5.

[Step 132] When the timer completes counting 400 m5, the process proceeds to step 137, and unless the timer completes counting, the process proceeds to step 133.

[Step 133] Film operation switch S'WFL
While M is off, steps 132 and 133 are repeated, and the timer does not complete counting 400 m5;
Step 1 is performed by turning on the switch SWFLM.
Proceed to 34.

[Step 134] Set the timer to 400m5.

[Step 135] When the timer completes counting of 400 m5, the process proceeds to step 137, and unless the timer completes counting, the process proceeds to step 136.

[Step 136] Film operation switch SWFLM
While OFF, steps 132 and 133 are repeatedly executed. That is, while the film is being rewound,
Since the switch SWFLM is on and off, the loop from step 131 to step 136 is repeatedly executed. When film rewinding is completed, the switch SWFLM
Since no longer changes, the 400m5 timer completes counting and the process proceeds to step 137.

[Step 137] Since rewinding is complete, the film feeding motor 14 is braked.

[Step 138] Clear the rewind flag REWF.

[Step 139] Step 13 until the back cover is opened
Repeat step 9.

On the other hand, in step 36, the rewind flag REW
If F is "0", the process proceeds from step 36 to step 38 as described above.

[Step 38] Here, wait until switch SW2 is turned off.

[Step 39] Here, the remote control flag REMF is cleared and the process proceeds to step 41.

[Step 41] Here, the IS mode flag ISF is cleared. Then return to step 2.

Next, the operation when the IS mode is selected by the mode changeover switch SWMO[1E] will be described.

Assuming that the IS mode is selected by the mode changeover switch SWMODE and the switch SW1 is pressed down toward the subject, steps 11-12-2→13 shown in FIG. 1-1
→Proceed to step 16 → 5-6, where it is determined whether or not the IS mode is selected. Since IS mode is currently selected, step 6
Then proceed to step 42.

[Step 42] Here, the IS mode flag SF is set to "1".

After that, the process proceeds to steps 42→7→8, where the state of the switch SW1 is determined, but since the switch SWI is on, the process proceeds to steps 8→17, where the autofocus subroutine is called, Start autofocus operation.

Here, this autofocus operation will be explained using FIG. 3. This operation starts at step 6O.

[Step 60] Here, an accumulation operation is performed in the distance measuring sensor 16, and the process proceeds to step 61.

[Step 61: The distance measurement calculation circuit 17 performs distance measurement calculation, and the process proceeds to step 62.

[Step 62] Here, it is determined whether the focus is on or not. If the focus is not on, the process goes to step 63, and if the focus is on, the process goes to step 64.
Proceed to.

[Step 63] Serial communication is performed with the microcomputer 55 on the lens body 5o side to drive the lens G1.

After this, return to the main routine and step 18-
The process proceeds to step 21, where the IS mode flag ISF is determined, but since rIsF=IJ, the process proceeds to step 4o.

[Step 40] Here, the focus flag JFF is determined, but since it is currently out of focus (rJFF=OJ), the process proceeds to step 19.

In this step 19, since the camera is in an out-of-focus state, the TV and AV values of the program mode are temporarily set.

After this, the process proceeds to steps 19-20→22, and since the switch SW2 is off, the process returns to step 2.

On the other hand, if the focus is determined in step 62, the process proceeds to step 63.

[Step 64] Here, focus flag JFF is set to "1".
Set to .

After this, return to the main routine and step 18→
The process advances to step 21-40, where the focus flag JFF is determined, but since rlJ has been set in step 64, step 43, that is, the camera shake detection subroutine shown in FIG. 4 is called. Start camera shake detection operation.

Here, this camera shake detection operation will be explained using FIG. 4. The operation begins at step 80. Note that the autofocus in this embodiment assumes a phase difference detection method.

[Step 80] Here, an accumulation operation is performed in the distance measuring sensor 16, and the process proceeds to step 81.

[Step 81] The image information obtained by the accumulation operation is stored in the memory register MOV l.

[Step 82] Here, wait for a certain period of time.

[Step 83] The accumulation operation in the distance measuring sensor 16 is performed again, and the process proceeds to step 84.

[Step 84] The image information obtained by the accumulation operation is stored in the memory register MOV2.

[Step 85] The image information of the memory register MOVI and the memory register frontage (2) are compared to determine the amount of blur.

[Step 86] Based on the amount of blur, the shutter speed that falls within the circle of least confusion is determined, and the process returns to the main routine.

After that, the process proceeds to step 86-19, where an AV value is calculated from the shutter time (TV value) obtained in step 86 based on the EV value that has already been obtained, and step 2
Proceed to 0-22.

When the photographer turns on the switch SW2, the process advances to the release sequence and IS photography is executed as described above. In steps 39.41, the remote control flags REMF, I
The S mode flag ISF is initialized.

Next, an explanation will be given of the operation when remote control photography is further instructed while the IS mode is selected.

In step 11, while waiting for a change in some switch, a remote control signal is transmitted from the remote control transmitting circuit 101 via the light projecting element 102, and the remote control receiving circuit 41 sends the remote control signal to the microcomputer 10 via the light receiving element 42 for remote control photography. is transmitted, step 12
Since remote control photography is now being instructed, the process advances to step 44.

[Step 44] Here, the remote control flag REMF is set to "1" and the process returns to step 2.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to steps 2-13-16-5-6→42-7, where the state of the remote control flag REMF is determined. Since rREMF=IJ has been set in step 44, the process then proceeds to step 45.

[Step 45] Here, the IS mode flag ISF is cleared to "0".

Therefore, no matter how much the IS mode is selected, if remote control photography is also instructed, the photography mode will be forcibly switched to the program mode.

After this, step 45 → 17 → 18 → 21-19-20
The state of the remote control flag REMF is determined here, but since rREMF=IJ, the process proceeds to step 23, which is the release sequence in Figure 1-2.After this, the process is the same as in the program mode. Since the operation is repeated, further explanation of the operation will be omitted.

According to this embodiment, if the IS mode is selected and remote control photography is also instructed, photography in the engineering S mode is prohibited and the camera is automatically switched to the program mode. Step 7-45 in Figure 1) When taking pictures with a remote control, since the camera is fixed on a tripod or the like, no camera shake occurs, and therefore, meaningless IS operations are not performed. Further, since the IS operation is prohibited and the mode is automatically switched to the program mode, the shutter speed is not changed, so that even if a moving subject is photographed, it is possible to properly take a picture with the remote control.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, when remote control photography is instructed, even if photography using image blur prevention is selected by the selection means, the image blur prevention means We have set up a prohibition means to prohibit the operation of the above-mentioned blur prevention means during remote control shooting, so that it may not be possible to take a proper photo or images may be wasted during remote control shooting. It is possible to prevent the shake prevention operation from being performed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1-1 and 1-2 are main flowcharts showing the operation in one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a camera showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. A flowchart showing autofocus operation in an example,
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the camera shake detection operation in this embodiment, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the film empty feeding operation in this embodiment, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the film winding operation in this embodiment, and FIG. is a flowchart showing the film rewinding operation in this embodiment. lO...Microcomputer, 41-...
...Remote control receiving circuit, 42...Receiving circuit, 1
01...Remote control transmitting circuit, 102...
・Light emitter, SWMODE...Mode selector switch, REMF...Remote control flag, ISF...
...IS mode flag, JFF...Focus flag.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Image blur prevention means that detects the amount of blur in the subject image on the distance measurement sensor and sets a shutter time that does not cause blur on the exposure surface based on the amount of blur, and photography in which the image blur prevention means is activated. In an autofocus camera with a remote control function, when remote control photography is instructed, even if photography using image blur prevention is selected by the selection means, the image An automatic focusing camera with a remote control function, characterized by having a prohibition means for prohibiting the operation of the shake prevention means.