JPH03294832A - Battery capacity shortage display device for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely warn that a battery is under a state that the capacity thereof is insufficient by making one part or the whole parts of the segments for displaying on a liquid crystal display device flicker in the case that the capacity of the battery is at a prescribed level or under at the time of checking the battery. CONSTITUTION:A main switch, a release button, a T/W change-over switch, a self-switch or the like are included in a switch part 4. Then, the turning-on/off signals of these switches are inputted in a controller 2. Besides, a signal for driving the liquid crystal display device (the LCD) 6 is outputted to the LCD 6 from the controller 2. Then, in the case that the capacity of the battery is at the prescribed level or under at the time of checking the battery, one part or the whole parts of the segments for displaying on the display device 6 are made to flicker. Thus, a photographer can surely recognize that the capacity of the battery is insufficient.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a method for detecting a problem in which when the power supply built into a camera is exhausted, the battery capacity is insufficient to operate the camera normally. The present invention relates to a camera battery capacity insufficient display device for warning a photographer that a camera is being put away.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, cameras equipped with an autofocus device, an autoexposure device, an automatic film feeder, etc., particularly compact cameras, have become popular in order to make photography easier. These film feeding devices and the like are powered by a battery built into the camera, and when this power battery runs out, it must be replaced with a new one.

If the camera is used without replacing the battery with a new one, there is a risk that, for example, the camera will not be able to release the camera, the motor will not be able to be driven, and the film will not be able to be wound up or rewound. If the film cannot be rewound, the film cannot be removed from the camera.

In order to prompt the photographer to replace the exhausted battery, a message indicating that the battery is exhausted is displayed on a display unit such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) of the camera.

In this conventional battery capacity insufficient display device, a segment representing the battery type is provided in a part of the LCD that displays the number of films and the shooting mode, and the battery segment is lit when the battery is exhausted.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, since the conventional display device described above lights up the battery segment, there is a risk that the photographer may overlook it. That is, when the photographer checks the LCD, for example, he or she can check the number of films remaining, check whether the strobe has finished charging, whether the strobe is not firing, or whether self-timer photography is enabled.

This is because the user may be distracted by checking these conditions, such as whether or not the film has been loaded, and may inadvertently overlook the display of the battery segment by simply checking the number of remaining films, for example.

Therefore, when the photographer checks the LCD, the present invention can reliably warn the photographer that the battery is low in capacity, and can certainly prompt the photographer to replace the battery with a new one. It is an object of the present invention to provide a battery capacity insufficient display device for a camera.

[Means to solve the problem]

For the above purpose, the battery capacity insufficient display device according to the present invention can display the number of remaining films, display the strobe light emission state,
In a camera equipped with a liquid crystal display device having segments for displaying shooting date and time, if the battery capacity is below a predetermined level when checking the battery, some or all of the display segments on the liquid crystal display device blink. It is characterized by

[For production]

For example, check the battery before setting the first frame when loading film or before releasing the camera, or for cameras with a variable focus device, check the T/W drive or zoom when switching the shooting lens position between short focus position and long focus position. This is done before driving. At this time, if the battery capacity is below a predetermined level, the camera control flow switches from the normal shooting standby flow to the insufficient battery capacity display flow, and some segments of the liquid crystal display device, e.g. The segment that was displaying the camera status up to that point, or all segments, flashes.

If this segment is flashing and the photographer looks at the LCD display to check other displays, at least he will know that the camera is not in its normal state and that this is due to insufficient battery capacity. I understand.

〔Example〕

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the battery capacity insufficient display device for a camera according to the present invention will be specifically explained based on the illustrated preferred embodiment.

Figure 1 shows the general configuration of this display device, with CP
It is mainly configured with a controller 2 including U.

The switch section 4 includes a main switch, a release button,
It includes a T/W changeover switch, a self-switch, etc., and ON-OFF signals of these switches are input to the controller 2.

Additionally, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 6 is connected to the controller 2.
A signal for driving the LCD 6 is outputted to the LCD 6.

As shown in FIG. 1, this LCD 6 includes a segment 6a for displaying the number of remaining films, a segment 6b for displaying flash photography, a segment 6c for displaying flash non-emission, a segment 6d for displaying self-timer photography, and a segment 6d for displaying film feeding status. A segment 6e, a segment 6f for displaying the shooting date and time, a segment 6g for displaying the remaining battery level, etc. are appropriately arranged and displayed. The remaining film number display segment 6a lights up to display the number of remaining film frames that can be shot, and the strobe shooting display segment 6b is normally off, but lights up when the strobe mode is selected. to indicate that it is flash photography. The strobe non-emission display segment 6C is always off, and even when flash photography is performed based on the subject brightness detection data of the automatic exposure device, the strobe will not fire if the strobe non-emission mode is selected. This segment 6C lights up to indicate this. The self-timer photographing display segment 6d is normally off and turns on when the self-timer mode is selected.

The film feeding state display segment 6e lights up when the film is being wound up to the first frame when loading the film, pre-winding the film, or rewinding the film to take it out. The shooting date and time display segment 6f can be selected to be off or on.For example, if you want to include the date of shooting, the date will light up, if you want to include the time of shooting, the time will light up, and the date and time of shooting will be lit. If no time is being recorded, the light is off.

Further, the remaining battery capacity display segment 6g displays the remaining battery capacity, and is normally off.

Next, the operation of this battery capacity insufficient display device will be explained based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Figure 2 shows an outline of the operation of this display device. For example, with film loaded, the T/W switch is operated to change the focal length of the photographing lens to either a short focal length or a long focal length. A battery check process is performed when switching or before the shutter is driven by operating the release button (step 201). As a result of this battery check, if the battery capacity is insufficient below a predetermined level (BCNG), step 202
If the result is YES, the process proceeds to step 203. In step 203, the battery remaining amount display segment 6g is blinked, and the segment corresponding to the camera mode at that time is blinked. For example, when the number of remaining film frames is 12, "12" is displayed in the remaining film number display segment 6a, but if the result of the battery check (step 201) is BCNG at this time, The battery remaining amount display segment 6g flashes, and the remaining film number display segment 6a flashes.

Therefore, the photographer can recognize that the battery capacity is insufficient even though there is still enough film left in the camera to take 12 frames.

If it is not BCNG in the above step 202, the process proceeds to step 204, where the flashing segment 6g for displaying the battery remaining amount is turned off, and the segment that was flashing (segment 6a for displaying the remaining film number in the above example) is turned off. By lighting up, the photographer can know that the camera is ready for shooting. In such a case, the battery capacity will decrease while the flash is being charged, and the battery capacity may sometimes be displayed as insufficient, but when charging is finished, the battery capacity may be restored, or the photographer may For example, when a user notices that the battery capacity is insufficient and replaces the battery.

Next, the operation for blinking each segment will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Normally the camera is on standby (step 301
), it is waiting to be started in this state. When any switch A (for example, T/W switch) of the switch unit 4 is operated, the I10 port corresponding to the switch A is set (step 302), and then it is determined whether or not it has been activated by the switch. (Step 303).

At this time, since switch A is operated, it is determined as YES and the light is turned off in step 304.
CD6 resumes display. In this case, the segment corresponding to the camera status at that time lights up. for example,
The segment 6a for displaying the number of remaining film frames lights up to display the number of remaining film frames. Then, the activation flag is set (from 0 to 1) (step 305), and processing when the switch is activated (SW activation processing) is performed (step 30).
6), and performs a switch check (step 307).
), a battery check process (BC process) is performed (step 308).

Next, the battery capacity is compared with a predetermined level based on the result of the process in step 308, and it is determined whether it is equal to or higher than the level (whether it is BCNG or not) (step 309).

If the determination result in step 309 is No,
Since the battery capacity is sufficient, if the BCNG flag is set, reset it (step 3).
10) Processing (camera processing A) corresponding to the operated switch A is performed (step 311). In addition, if the battery capacity is insufficient as determined in step 309, the BCNG flag is set (0-1) (step 3
12) Camera processing corresponding to switch A is performed (step 311).

Then, the process proceeds from step 311 to step 321, where it is determined whether the activation flag is set or not. When activated by the switch, the activation flag is set in step 305, so the determination here is YES and the process proceeds to step 322 where the 250m5 timer is started, the wait mode is set (step 323), and the standby mode is set. The I10 port is set (step 327), and the standby state is entered (step 301).

Then, when 250m5 has passed in the standby state, it is started and I10 boat set is performed (step 302).
, it is determined whether or not it has been activated by the switch (step 303). In this case, since the activation occurred after the 250m5 timer had elapsed, unlike the case where the activation was performed by operating a switch, a negative determination is made in step 303 and the process proceeds to step 331, in which it is determined whether the BCNG flag is set or not. to judge. If the determination result in step 309 is YES, the battery capacity is above a predetermined level, so there is no need to warn the photographer, and therefore the determination result in step 331 is NO.
The process will proceed to step 333. In step 333, it is determined whether or not timer processing is required, and if so, the process advances to step 334 to perform camera processing such as charging processing, and then returns to step 321.

Note that the timer processing (step 333) is performed by counting a 5-minute timer.

Then, the determination result in step 331 is YES.
, that is, when the battery capacity is below a predetermined level, B
If the CNG flag is set (step 312
), proceed to step 332. In step 332, the segment displayed on the LCD 6 at that time is inverted. That is, if the segment is lit at that time, it is turned off, and if it is off, it is turned on.

When the determination result in step 333 is NO, the process advances to step 335 and determines whether the 5-minute timer has elapsed. If the 5-minute timer has not elapsed, the process returns to step 321. Then, if 5 minutes have elapsed, reset the startup flag (step 336), BCNG
After resetting the flag (step 337) and sleeving the camera to make it inactive (step 33)
8), return to step 321. In this case, since the activation flag has been reset (step 336), the determination result in step 321 is No, and the process proceeds to step 324, where the status of the LCD 6, that is, the status of the camera such as the number of remaining films is stored. Then, the LCD 6 is turned off (step 325), and the stop mode is set (step 326). When the camera is in this stop mode, the camera is immobile. Then, after setting up the I10 boat for standby (step 3
27), enters standby state (step 301)
. Therefore, in standby, the camera is in wait mode or stop mode. Further, when in the stop mode, the operation is started when the switch of the switch section 4 is activated.

That is, if the battery capacity is insufficient, by passing through step 332, the segment of the LCD 6 corresponding to the current mode will blink. Note that since it is activated from the standby state by the count of the 250m5 timer (step 322), the period of this blinking is 500m5.

In this embodiment, a case has been described in which, among the segments of the LCD 6, the segment 6g for displaying the remaining battery amount and the display segment (segment 6a for displaying the remaining film number) corresponding to the mode at the time are made to blink. , other segments of the LCD 6 may be displayed.

When the film is loaded, preliminary winding is carried out, but before this preliminary winding, a battery check is carried out, and at this time, the segment log g for displaying the battery remaining amount blinks. When the film is loaded, the segment 6a for displaying the number of remaining films displays the number of films remaining, and if desired, the segment 6f for displaying the shooting date and time displays the shooting date, and if desired, the self-timer shooting display is displayed. segment 6
Because d is showing that it is in self-shooting mode,
When the T/W switch is operated and becomes BCNG, these segments 6a, 6f, and 6d blink together with the battery remaining amount display segment 6g.

In addition, the battery check performed before release
If the result is NG, the segments displaying the mode status at that time, such as segments 6a, 6f,
6d blinks together with the battery remaining amount display segment 6g.

In addition, regardless of the segment displayed at the time, B
During CNG, all segments 6a, 6 on LCD 6
b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, and 6g may be made to blink. In this case, although it is not possible to determine what mode the camera is in at the time, it is possible to strongly warn the photographer that the battery capacity is insufficient.

Furthermore, the battery remaining amount display segment 6g shown in this embodiment may be abolished. That is, by making all segments on the LCD 6 flash during BCNG, it is possible to warn the photographer that the battery capacity is insufficient.

Moreover, since one of the segments on the LCD 6 can be eliminated, one output port of the CPU of the controller 2 can be omitted.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the camera battery capacity insufficient display device according to the present invention, when the battery capacity is insufficient, the camera information such as the number of remaining films, strobe light emission state, shooting date and time on the liquid crystal display device, etc. Since some or all of the segments displaying the status blink, the photographer can reliably recognize that the battery capacity is insufficient. Therefore, the camera does not operate unexpectedly, and the user can enjoy taking pictures.

Moreover, since the insufficient battery capacity can be displayed without providing a segment for displaying the remaining battery capacity on the liquid crystal display device, this segment can be omitted.
Therefore, the output port of the CPU can be omitted, or the output port can be used for other signals. Therefore, the CPU can be made smaller, and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the display device according to the invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of this display device. FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart for explaining the operation of the display device, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart more in line with the actual operation. 2... Controller 4... Switch section 6.
...Liquid crystal display device (LCD) 6a... Segment 6b for displaying the number of remaining films... Segment 6c for displaying strobe photography... Segment 6d for displaying strobe non-light emission... Segment 6e for displaying self-timer shooting...・Segment 6f for displaying film feeding status...Segment for displaying shooting date and time

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a camera equipped with a liquid crystal display device having segments for displaying the number of remaining films, strobe light emission status, shooting date and time, etc., if the battery capacity is below a predetermined level when checking the battery, , A battery capacity insufficient display device for a camera, characterized in that some or all display segments of the liquid crystal display device blink.