JPH04346304A - Eyestart af camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To conduct auxiliary light AF by continuous AF in eyestart AF for an eyestart AF camera. CONSTITUTION:An eye-contact detection circuit EPD for detecting observation through a finder, a focus detection light receiving circuit AFCT for detecting a focusing position of a photographing lens upon the detection, an AF motor M1 for drive-controlling a focusing lens to the detected focusing position by means of a continuous Af and a drive circuit MD1 for the AF motor and the like are provided. An inside-body microcomputer muC1 is used as a sequence control means for controlling to perform autofocusing while the emission of the auxiliary light is repeated with a fixed time interval, by providing an auxiliary light emitting circuit AUXLE for emitting the auxiliary light in the case where a necessary photographing object for detection of the focus cannot be obtained.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an eye-start AF camera, and more particularly to an eye-start AF camera that has a function of performing automatic focusing (hereinafter also referred to as "AF") when the eye approaches the camera. It is.

0002

[Prior Art] In general, when you bring your eye close to a camera, functions such as AF and zoom automatically start, which is called eye-start. refers to the camera that starts.

[0003] In an eye-start AF camera, continuous AF is ideal as the eye-start AF in order to maintain focus at all times during preparations up to the release operation. Here, continuous AF refers to AF that operates to constantly focus on a moving subject (moving object).

0004

[Problem to be solved by the invention] In a camera that performs continuous AF with eye start, if the image of the subject necessary for focus detection cannot be obtained (such as when the subject is dark or has low contrast), the continuous AF Distance measurement cannot be done with light. In such a case, distance measurement can be made possible by increasing the brightness of the subject or adding contrast by emitting light from the auxiliary illumination means. Hereinafter, performing focus detection by emitting auxiliary light from the auxiliary illumination means and performing automatic focusing by driving and controlling the focusing lens will be referred to as auxiliary light AF. However, with continuous AF, auxiliary light A
If you try to use F, you will not be able to avoid repeating the flash until the main subject is determined, which will give you a poor feel when taking pictures. Further, since a light source such as an LED is required to have high durability, problems such as increased costs arise.

In order to solve this problem, US Pat. No. 4,801,962 discloses that during continuous AF, when the auxiliary light AF mode is activated, the mode is set to one-shot AF, and after a predetermined number of flashes, continuous AF without the auxiliary light is activated. A camera controlled to do this has been proposed.

[0006] However, with this control, if distance measurement is not possible when continuous AF is performed with eye start, continuous AF cannot be performed.
Further, there are problems such as the need to limit the number of times the light is emitted.

In view of these problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an eye-start AF camera that can perform auxiliary light AF with continuous AF in eye-start AF.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the eye-start AF camera of the present invention includes an eye-approach detection means for detecting that the photographer looks into the finder, and an eye-approach detection means that detects when the photographer looks into the finder. , a focus detection means for detecting the focus position of the photographing lens; an AF lens drive control means for driving and controlling the focusing lens by continuous AF to the focus position detected by the focus detection means; auxiliary illumination means that emits auxiliary light when an image of a subject necessary for detection cannot be obtained; and drive control of the focus detection means and AF lens while repeatedly emitting auxiliary light by the auxiliary illumination means at predetermined time intervals. and a sequence control means for controlling automatic focusing by the means.

[0009] It is preferable that the camera has a display means for displaying focus within the finder in accordance with the driving amount of the focusing lens.

Furthermore, a photographing preparation switch is provided to start preparation operations necessary for photographing, and when the photographing preparation switch is turned on, the sequence control means causes the auxiliary illumination means to emit auxiliary light and performs the automatic focusing. The sequence control means may be configured to prohibit the emission of the auxiliary light and terminate the automatic focus adjustment operation after the focus is detected, and the sequence control means may control the emission of the auxiliary light by the auxiliary illumination means. The configuration may be such that automatic focusing is performed in a state where the auxiliary light is not emitted while the auxiliary light is not being emitted. Furthermore, when the photographing preparation switch is turned off,
A configuration may also be adopted in which the prohibition of auxiliary light emission is canceled.

[0011]

[Operation] When the photographer looks through the finder, the eyepiece detection means detects the eyepiece state, and the focus detection means detects the in-focus position of the photographic lens. The AF lens drive control means drives and controls the focusing lens to the detected in-focus position using continuous AF to bring the photographing lens into focus. When the image of the subject required for detection by the focus detection means cannot be obtained, the auxiliary illumination means emits auxiliary light, and the sequence control means causes the auxiliary illumination means to emit the auxiliary light at predetermined time intervals. Since automatic focusing is controlled to be performed repeatedly, even in continuous AF, it is possible to perform auxiliary light AF by reducing the number of times unnecessary auxiliary light is emitted.

0012

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As a first embodiment of the present invention, a single-lens reflex camera system equipped with a zoom lens whose focal length can be changed by a motor will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a camera body B to which the present invention is applied.
2 shows the camera body BD viewed from the front, and FIG. 2 shows the camera body BD viewed from the rear. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the grip part GP of the camera body BD.

[Names and Functions of Each Part in the Camera Body] The names and functions of each part will be briefly explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Note that each switch will be described later in the description of the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 4.

111 is a main switch SM (to be described later).
When this slider 111 is in the ON position, the camera body BD is in an operable state, and when it is in the OFF position, the camera body BD is in an inoperable state.

Reference numeral 112 denotes a release button, and when pressed to the first step, a shooting preparation switch S1, which will be described later, is turned on.
Starts photometry, exposure calculation, and AF operations. Further, by pressing the button to the second stage, a release switch S2, which will be described later, is turned on and an exposure control operation is started.

A body display section 114 displays shutter speed, aperture value, etc. 16 is a switch (AF/MF changeover switch) for changing over between AF and manual focus MF. Reference numeral 17 denotes a window (light emitting window) for emitting auxiliary light used to assist focus detection, and an auxiliary light emitting section is located inside this window.

Reference numeral 118 denotes an AF area change switch that is operated when changing the AF area (distance measurement area). Reference numeral 19 provided on the lens LE is a zoom operation ring. The rotation of this ring and its direction drive a motor, which will be described later, to perform a wide-angle or telephoto zoom operation.

Reference numeral 20 is an LED serving as a light emitting portion, and reference numeral 21 is an SPC (silicon photocell) serving as a light receiving portion. These detect whether or not the photographer is looking into the finder (hereinafter, this detection will be referred to as "eye-close detection"). In other words,
When the photographer looks through the finder, light from the LED 20 is reflected, and the SPC 21 receives the reflected light, thereby performing eye proximity detection.

The outer cover 23 of the grip part GP in FIG. 3 is made of elastic rubber, and conductive patterns 22a and 22b which are insulated from each other are provided inside the grip part GP. The rubber and conductive patterns 22a and 2
2b, conductive rubber (not shown) is arranged. The conductive wire patterns 22a and 22b are configured to be electrically connected via the conductive rubber by pressing the external cover 23 of the grip part GP. With this configuration, the grip part GP functions as a switch (hereinafter referred to as "grip switch").

[Circuit Configuration] Next, the circuit configuration of the camera system will be explained. {Configuration of in-body circuit} FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of an in-body circuit built into the camera body BD. First, the in-body circuit will be explained based on this diagram.

μC1 is an in-body microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as "in-body microcomputer") that controls the entire camera and performs various calculations.

The AFCT is a light receiving circuit for focus detection, which includes a CCD as an integral photosensor for focus detection that accumulates photocharge for a predetermined period of time, a CCD drive circuit, and processes and A/D converts the output of the CCD. is supplied to the microcomputer μC1 in the body (
It is connected to the in-body microcomputer μC1 via a data bus. This focus detection light receiving circuit AFCT provides information regarding the amount of defocus of the subject present in the distance measurement area.

LM is a photometric circuit provided in the finder optical path, which converts the photometric value into A/D and supplies it to the microcomputer μC1 in the body as luminance information.

DX is a film sensitivity reading device that reads film sensitivity data provided in the film container and serially outputs the data to the microcomputer μC1 in the body.

DISPC inputs display data and display control signals from the microcomputer μC1 inside the body, and displays the display section DISPI on the top surface of the camera body (display section 114 in FIGS. 1 and 2).
, a transmissive liquid crystal (LCD) display part DISPII, which is placed parallel to a focus plate (not shown) and whose display can be seen in a screen consisting of an image formed through a lens, and a display outside the screen in the infinder. This is a display circuit that causes a display section DISPIII on which a user can see a predetermined display to perform a predetermined display.

The EPD is an eye proximity detection circuit that performs eye proximity detection using the LED 20 and SPC 21.

M1 is an AF motor, which drives an AF lens provided in the lens LE (FIGS. 1 and 2) as a focusing lens for AF via an AF mechanism (not shown).

MD1 is a motor drive circuit that drives the AF motor M1 based on focus detection information, and its forward rotation, reverse rotation, and stop are controlled by commands from the microcomputer μC1 in the body.

ENC is an encoder for monitoring the rotation of the AF motor M1, and outputs a pulse to the counter input terminal CNT of the in-body microcomputer μC1 at every predetermined rotation angle. The in-body microcomputer μC1 counts these pulses, detects the amount of extension from the infinite (∞) position to the current lens position, and calculates the shooting distance of the subject (or object distance) from this amount of extension (number of extension pulses CT). calculate.

TVCT is a shutter control circuit that controls the shutter based on a control signal from the in-body microcomputer μC1.

AVCT is an aperture control circuit that controls the aperture based on a control signal from the microcomputer μC1 in the body.

M2 is a motor for winding and rewinding the film and charging the exposure control mechanism. Also,
MD2 is a motor drive circuit that drives the motor M2 based on commands from the in-body microcomputer μC1.

M3 is a motor that drives a mechanism (not shown) and also drives part or all of the lens to perform a zoom operation, and MD3 drives motor M3 based on a command from the microcomputer μC1 in the body. This is a motor drive circuit.

ZENC is an encoder that detects focal length. The zoom lens LE now has a focal length range of 35-400 mm.

AUXLE is an auxiliary light emitting circuit that emits an auxiliary light in response to an auxiliary light emitting signal from the in-body microcomputer μC1 in the auxiliary light mode. Note that the auxiliary light mode refers to a mode in which light is irradiated onto a subject in order to obtain an image of the subject necessary for AF when the subject has low brightness and low contrast.

Next, the configuration related to the power supply will be explained. E1 is a battery that serves as a power source for the camera body BD. Tr
Reference numeral 1 denotes a first power supply transistor that supplies power to a part of the circuit described above. DD is a DC/DC converter for stabilizing the voltage VDD supplied to the in-body microcomputer μC1, and operates when the power supply control terminal PW0 is at a high level.

VDD is the operating power supply voltage for the in-body microcomputer μC1, the film sensitivity reading circuit DX, and the display control circuit DISPC. VCC1 is the focus detection light receiving circuit AF
This is the operating power supply voltage of the CT and photometry circuit LM, and is supplied from the power supply battery E1 via the power supply transistor Tr1 under the control of a signal output from the power supply control terminal PW1. VCC0 is the eyepiece detection circuit EPD, motor drive circuit MD
1. Shutter control circuit TVCT, aperture control circuit AVC
T, and the operating power supply voltage of the motor drive circuits MD2 and MD3, and is directly supplied from the power supply battery E1.

D1 to D3 are a group of diodes for applying a voltage lower than voltage VDD to the in-body microcomputer μC1 when the DC/DC converter DD is inactive, thereby reducing power consumption. This low voltage is set to the lowest power supply voltage at which the in-body microcomputer μC1 can operate, and when the DC/DC converter DD stops operating, only the in-body microcomputer μC1 can operate.

Next, the switches will be explained. In Figure 4,
IP1 to 9 are microcontroller μ in the body that connects to each switch.
This is the terminal of C1. SAF is a normally open push switch for switching the AF area, which will be described later, and is turned on when the AF area change switch 118 described above is pressed.

[0041] SGR is O when grip part GP is grasped.
This is a grip switch that is turned on. PG2 is a one-shot circuit that generates a pulse when the grip switch SGR is turned on.

S1 is a photographing preparation switch that is turned on when the release button 112 is pressed down to the first step. This switch S1 is turned on, or the grip switch S
When GR is turned on, an interrupt signal is input to the interrupt terminal INT1 of the microcomputer μC1 in the body, and preparatory operations necessary for photographing such as photometry, distance measurement, and AF operation are performed.

[0043] SM is turned on when the slider 111 for enabling camera operation is in the ON position;
This is a main switch that turns OFF when it is in the FF position.

PG1 is a pulse generator that outputs a low level pulse every time the switch SM changes from ON to OFF or from OFF to ON. This pulse generator PG
The output of 1 is the interrupt terminal I of the microcomputer μC1 in the body.
It is input to NT2 as an interrupt signal.

SZU and SZD are switches that are turned on and off by rotating the zoom operation ring 19 to the left or right, and when SZU is turned on, the zoom is increased, and when SZD is turned on, it is zoomed down.

S2 is a release switch that is turned on when the release button 112 is pressed down to the second step. When this switch S2 is turned on, a photographing operation is performed.

S3 is a mirror-up completion detection switch that is turned ON when a mirror (not shown) is raised to a predetermined position due to the release operation.

[0048] SAF/M is auto focus (AF)
/This is a switch for switching manual focus (MF).

SRE1 is a battery attachment detection switch that turns OFF when the battery E1 is attached to the camera body BD. When the battery E1 is installed, the battery installation detection switch S
When RE1 is turned off, the capacitor C1 is charged via the resistor R1, and the reset terminal RE1 of the in-body microcomputer μC1 changes from low level to high level. As a result, the in-body microcomputer μC1 executes a reset routine to be described later.

Next, the configuration for serial data communication will be explained. The photometry circuit LM, film sensitivity reading circuit DX and display control circuit DISPC are connected to the serial input SI.
N, serial output SOUT and serial clock SCK
Serial data communication is performed with the in-body microcomputer μC1 via each signal line.

The objects of communication with the microcomputer μC1 in the body are the chip select terminals CSLM, CSDX, and CS.
Selected by DISP. That is, when the terminal CSLM is at a low level, the photometric circuit LM is selected, and the terminal CSD
When X is at a low level, the film sensitivity reading circuit DX is selected, and when the terminal CSDISP is at a low level, the display control circuit DISPC is selected.

[Software Configuration] {Software of the in-body microcomputer} First, the software of the in-body microcomputer μC1 will be explained. When the battery E1 is attached to the camera body BD, the battery attachment detection switch SRE1 is activated in the internal circuit of the body shown in FIG.
is turned OFF, and the reset capacitor C1 is connected to the resistor R.
A reset signal that changes from a low level to a high level is input to a reset terminal RE1 of an in-body microcomputer μC1 that controls the entire camera. Upon input of this reset signal, the in-body microcomputer μC1 starts generating a clock using internal hardware, operates the DC/DC converter DD, is supplied with a driveable voltage VDD, and performs the reset routine shown in FIG. Execute.

[0053] In the sleep state (stop state) described later, the clock of the microcomputer μC1 in the body stops,
The DC/DC converter DD has also stopped operating, but in this interrupt-based control from the sleep state, at the same time as the battery is installed, the internal hardware of the microcomputer μC1 in the body generates the clock and starts the DC/DC converter. Start DD operation.

In the reset routine shown in FIG. 5, first, all interrupts are prohibited and various ports and registers are reset (steps #5 to #10). Then, in step #20, it is determined whether the main switch SM is turned on. Also, the main switch SM is turned from ON to OFF.
or from OFF to ON, an interrupt SMINT is generated by operating the main switch, and the execution starts from step #20.

[0055] At step #20, main switch SM is turned OFF.
If it is determined that it is N, all interrupts are enabled (step #25), and the output ports PW1, which are power supply control terminals, are set high in order to turn on the transistor Tr1 for supplying power to each circuit. level (step #35).

Next, in step #40, an AF lens renormalization subroutine is executed. This subroutine is shown in Figure 6.
Shown below. When this subroutine is called, first the counter N1 indicating the amount of drive is set to 0 (step #1
50), speed limit LDVmax to 16V1 (16 of V1)
(step #151). Next, the value of the counter ND indicating the driving amount of the AF lens for performing focusing is set to -NLG (a negative value with a large absolute value) (step #152), and the lens driving subroutine for the AF lens is executed. Execute (step #155).

Here, the lens driving subroutine is shown in FIG.
Shown in 1. When the same subroutine is called, it is determined whether the sign of the lens drive amount ND is positive (the first bit is 1).
(step #1197), and if it is positive, the feeding direction is set, and if it is not, the feeding direction is set as the lens driving direction, and the respective signals are output to the motor drive circuit MD1, and the lens is driven. A flag LMVF indicating this is set (steps #1198 to #1200), and the process returns.

In this embodiment, the driving of the AF lens is controlled by counter interrupt II and timer interrupt II. Here, counter interrupt II is encoder EN
A timer interrupt II is generated when a pulse indicating driving of the AF lens is input from C (FIG. 4), and a timer interrupt II is generated when there is no next counter interrupt II within a certain period of time after a counter interrupt II is performed. Then, by this timer interrupt II, it is detected that the lens has reached the end (infinity or the closest end). That is, step #152 in FIG.
When a large absolute value is set as the drive amount ND, the lens is always driven to the end without stopping midway, and the reaching of the end is detected by the timer interrupt II that occurs thereafter.

The routines of the counter interrupt II and timer interrupt II are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and will be explained with reference to these figures.

First, the counter interrupt II routine will be explained. When a pulse from the encoder ENC is input, a counter interrupt II is generated, and the counter interrupt II routine shown in FIG. 7 is executed.

Counter N1 indicating the amount of lens drive (number of rotations) of the AF lens driven in step #250 is set to N1.
+1, and in step #255, N1 is subtracted from the drive amount ND to find the remaining drive amount (remaining number of rotations) ΔN. In step #260, it is determined whether the camera is in the eyepiece mode, which will be described later. Here, the eye proximity detection mode refers to processing when the eye proximity detection section (EPD) detects when the user grasps the grip without pressing the first step of the release switch (S1ON) and looks through the finder. In this process, the flow of S1ON is executed (AF, AE, etc.), but the AF is slower than the processing by S1ON, which is the highest speed of the lens. In other respects, the processing is different from the processing at the time of S1ON.

If it is the eyepiece mode (EPF=1), the AF lens driving speed LDV is calculated from the lens driving amount (N1) and the remaining driving amount (ΔN) according to Table 2 (TA3) described later (step #265). , proceed to step #275. If it is not eyepiece mode (EPF1=0), Table 2 (T
The AF lens driving speed LDV is determined from the lens driving amount (N1) driven according to A4) and the remaining driving amount (ΔN) (step #270), and the process proceeds to step #275. here,
The number of rotations N1 controls the speed at which the lens rises from activation, and the remaining drive amount ΔN controls the speed for stopping the lens. Based on the speed V1, the AF lens drive speed LDV is a multiple of this
It shows.

Next, in step #275, drive speed LDV
It is determined whether or not is larger than the driving speed limit LDVmax. If it is larger, the drive speed LDV is set to the limit LDVmax (step #280), and if it is larger, nothing is done and the process proceeds to step #285. In step #285, the speed LDV is controlled to be the set speed LDV. Here, the speed control method is omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention.

Next, in step #290, the remaining drive amount ΔN
It is determined whether or not becomes 0 or less. A if less than 0
Stop the F lens (step #292), reset and start the end detection timer T1 (step #295)
), return. If ΔN is not less than 0, the AF lens is not stopped and the process proceeds to step #295 to return. Note that the lens driving speed in the eyepiece mode is slower than when not in the eyepiece mode, but this will be described later.

Next, the routine of timer interrupt II will be explained. When the timer T1 (step #295 in FIG. 7), which is started after being reset in the counter interrupt II routine described above, reaches a predetermined value, the timer interrupt II routine shown in FIG. 8 is executed. In other words, when the AF lens reaches the terminal end (infinity end or nearest end), the AF
Execute the lens stop subroutine (step #300
), sets a flag LEEDF indicating that this flow has been passed (step #305).

[0066] Here, the above steps #292 and #30
Figure 9 shows the AF lens stop subroutine called at 0.
Shown below. When this subroutine is called, first
In order to stop the F motor M1, a control signal that shorts both ends of the AF motor M1 is sent to the motor drive circuit MD1 for 10 m.
It outputs for sec (step #350). And A
A control signal for turning off the power to the F motor M1 is output to the motor drive circuit MD1 (step #355), and a flag LMVF indicating that the lens is being driven is reset (LMVF
=0, step #356), return.

Returning to FIG. 8, in step #307 it is determined whether a flag LCSF indicating low contrast scan mode is set. Here, what is low contrast scan?
If focus cannot be detected due to lack of contrast, AF
Low contrast scan mode refers to repeating focus detection (distance measurement) while driving the lens, and low contrast scan mode refers to the mode when performing low contrast scan.

[0068] When the flag LCSF is set (
LCSF=1), that is, when the low contrast scan mode is selected, the process proceeds to step #310, and it is determined whether the lens drive is in the extension mode. Note that the extension mode is a mode when the AF lens is extended, and the retraction mode is a mode when the AF lens is retracted.

In step #310, if it is the feeding mode (FLDF=1), this flag FLDF is reset (FLDF=0), the drive amount ND is set to -NLG in step #320, and the lens drive (
21) and return. In step #310, when the feed-out mode is not (FLDF=0), that is, when the feed-in mode is in effect, focus detection is not possible even after both feed-out and feed-in operations are performed, and a flag is flagged in step #330 to indicate this. LCEF is set (LCEF=1), timer interrupt II is disabled in step #335, and the process returns. To disable Timer Interrupt II, execute this flow again after the specified processing is completed (
The timer is running). At step #307, a flag LC indicating low contrast scan mode is
If SF is not set (LCSF=0), the process proceeds to step #335, disables timer interrupt II, and then returns.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 6, the explanation will be continued. Upon returning from the lens drive subroutine (FIG. 21), timer interrupt II is enabled (step #
160), flag LE indicating that the lens has reached its end
Wait until EDF is set (LEEDF=1) (step #165).

By the way, since the driving amount ND is set to a negative value -NLG with a large absolute value in step #152, ΔN will not become 0 due to the counter interrupt II before the lens reaches the end. Therefore, the lens does not stop midway. That is, ND=-NL
By setting G, the lens will definitely reach the end (infinity position) without stopping midway, and the flag LEEDF will be set by the interrupt routine of timer interrupt II that occurs thereafter. This flag LE
When it is detected in step #165 that the EDF has been set, the process advances to step #170. Then, assuming that the lens is retracted to the infinity position, a counter that counts the amount of extension NF of the lens from the infinity position is reset (step #170), and the flag LEEDF is reset (step #175). Return.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 5, the explanation will be continued. Upon returning from the AF lens loading subroutine (FIG. 6), the process proceeds to step #50, where it is determined whether or not the photography preparation switch S1 is turned on. As a result of this determination, if the photographing preparation switch S1 is not turned on, the process proceeds to step #62 to execute a subroutine for detecting eye proximity, which will be described later, and then proceeds to step #73 to wait for an interrupt.

The eye proximity detection subroutine and timer interrupt III related thereto will be explained with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the eye proximity detection subroutine is called, first the grip switch SGR is set to O.
It is determined whether or not it is N (step #200).

If grip switch SGR is not turned on, timer interrupt I is prohibited (step #235).
), resets the flag S1ONF, which is set when the shooting preparation switch S1 is on or when 5 seconds have not elapsed since it was turned off (S1ONF=0, step #
236), resets the flag EPF indicating the eyepiece mode (EPF=0, step #237), and returns.

If the grip switch SGR is turned on, a signal indicating the start of light emission is output to the eye proximity detection circuit EPD (step #205). As a result, the eye proximity detection circuit EPD emits infrared light from the LED 20. Thereafter, the timer interrupt III, which waits for 50 msec to stabilize the infrared light detection circuit, is enabled (step #210), the timer is reset and started (step #215), and the process returns.

When 50 msec has elapsed, timer interrupt III shown in FIG. 11 is executed. First, step #2
16 disables timer interrupt III, step #21
Enable eyepiece timer interrupt I at step 7, and step #2
At step 18, the timer TINT is reset and started.

Then, in step #220, it is determined from the detection signal input from the eye proximity detection circuit EPD whether or not eye proximity has been detected, that is, whether the photographer has looked into the finder. If peeking is detected, step #2
22, set the flag EPF indicating this (EPF=1
), it is determined in step #224 whether a flag S1ONF indicating that the S1ON subroutine is being executed is set. If it is set (S1ONF
=1) Return, and if it is not set, proceed to step #55 (FIG. 5) to execute the S1ON subroutine (step #226).

If it is not detected in step #220 that someone is looking through the finder, the flag indicating eye proximity detection is reset (EPF=0) in step #228, and the process returns.

Timer interrupt I occurs every 250 msec, and when the interrupt occurs, as shown in FIG. 12, in step #240 the eye proximity detection subroutine (FIG. 10) is executed.
After executing, return.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 5, the case where it is determined in step #50 that the photographing preparation switch S1 is turned on will be described.

In this case, proceed to step #55 and proceed to S1O.
The subroutine N is executed, and in step #60 it is determined whether or not a flag S1ONF, which is set when the photographing preparation switch S1 is turned on or 5 seconds have not elapsed since it was turned off, is set. As a result of this judgment,
If the flag S1ONF is set (S1ONF=
1) Return to step #55 and repeat the S1ON subroutine until the flag S1ONF is reset.

On the other hand, if the flag S1ONF is not set (S1ONF=0), the process advances to step #65 and the power supply control terminal P is set to turn off the power supply transistor Tr1.
Both W1 are set to low level, and DC/D is set at step #70.
In order to stop the operation of the C converter DD, the power supply control terminal PW0 is set to a low level, and an interrupt is waited for in step #73. Note that when the grip switch SGR or the photographing preparation switch S1 is turned from OFF to ON, an interrupt S1INT is generated, and the process is executed from step #50.

The subroutine of the above S1ON is shown in FIGS. 13 to 15. Note that this S1ON subroutine is
flow (Figure 13), V flow (Figure 14) and W flow (
Figure 15). When the subroutine is called, first, it is determined whether a flag S1ONF indicating that this routine has been executed is set (step #500).

If the flag S1ONF is not set (S1ONF=0), this flag S1ONF is set (S1ONF=1) in step #501. Next, the timer TAF used during AF is reset and started (step #501-1), the interrupt TEPINT for shake detection is enabled (step #501-2), and the timer TEP for this interrupt is reset and started. (Step #501-3), resets the variable NAF for counting the number of focus detections (NAF=0, Step #501-4), and executes the main subject determination mode (see subroutine in Figure 35). A flag MSF is set (MSF=1, step #501-5).

[0086] Then, a flag I indicating that the focus has been reached is displayed.
Reset NFF (INFF=0, step #501
-6), resets the flag S1INFF indicating that the camera is in focus after turning on the shooting preparation switch S1 (S1INFF).
FF=0, step #501-7), 1 in eyepiece mode
A flag EP1F indicating the third lens drive is reset (EP1F=0, step #501-8).

Next, set the AF mode to an undefined "2" (A
FM=2, step #501-9), and set ASZF to perform auto standby zoom, which will be described later (ASZF=
1, step #501-10), proceed to step #502. Also when S1ONF is set in step #500 (S1ONF=1), the process proceeds to step #502. In addition, in AF mode (see moving object detection in Figure 37), A
When FM=1, AF lock (still (subject)), AFM=
2 indicates that the stationary/moving object is undefined, and AFM=3 indicates a moving object.

In step #502, it is determined whether the AF area change switch SAF has been turned from OFF to ON. If it changes from OFF to ON, the AF area will be set to wide (Mode 1: AFARM=1) and spot (Mode 2:
AFARM=2) (step #50
3), proceed to display control step #590 (step #
503-1). If it has not changed from OFF to ON, the process advances to step #504. In step #504, it is determined whether the photographing preparation switch S1 is ON.

If switch S1 is ON, step #
503 disables timer interrupt I, step #505
-1 resets the flag EPF indicating eye proximity detection (EPF
F=0), proceed to step #506 of the V flow (FIG. 14). If the switch S1 is not turned on, it is determined in step #504-1 whether the switch S1 has changed from on to off. When the switch S1 changes from ON to OFF, the process proceeds to step #504-2 to perform eye proximity detection, and then, in step #504-3, AF with S1 ON is performed.
To reset the mode, set the mode to an undefined “2” (A
FM=2), proceed to step #506. Step #50
If the switch S1 has not been turned from ON to OFF in step 4-1 (currently in the OFF state), the process directly proceeds to step #506.

At step #506, the interrupt S1INT
Thereafter, in step #510, the power supply terminal PW1 is set to a high level in order to turn on the power supply transistor Tr1.

Next, in step #532, it is determined whether a flag EPF indicating that the photographer is looking through the finder is set. When the EPF is set (EPF=1), the process advances to step #540 and an AF control subroutine is executed. If flag EPF is not set (EPF=0), step #535
It is determined whether or not the photographing preparation switch S1 is turned on. If the photographing preparation switch S1 is turned on, the process proceeds to step #540, where a subroutine for AF control (automatic focusing operation control) is executed, and then the process proceeds to step #542, where a subroutine for zoom control is executed. The case where the photographing preparation switch S1 is not turned on will be described later.

Next, AF control and display (in-screen area display, focus display, etc.) will be explained. First, AF
FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the main configuration related to display and display, and the explanation will be given based on this figure. In the figure, light incident through a photographic lens 9 is reflected by a finder mirror 4, enters a pentaprism 1 via a focus plate 3 and a transmission liquid crystal (LCD) 2, and then enters a finder lens 18. The light passes through and enters the photographer's eye as an image.

On the other hand, a portion of the light incident on the finder mirror 4 in an amount necessary for focus detection passes through the mirror 4 and enters the focus detection section 8 via the submirror 5. The focus detection section 8 is equipped with an optical system necessary for performing focus detection, and includes a sensor, a data output section, and the like. The data output from the focus detection section 8 is input to the control circuit 7, and the control circuit 7 outputs data for controlling the focus detection sensor, sequence, and LCD drive circuit 6 based on the input data. The LCD drive circuit 6 controls the transmissive liquid crystal 2 based on the control data output from the control circuit 7, and performs various liquid crystal displays.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of the focus detection section 8 of FIG. 16. In the figure, the light reflected from the sub-mirror 5 in FIG.
An image is formed on the substrate 11. The AF method in this embodiment is a known phase difference detection method. here,
The aperture mask 13 is set so as to overlap the re-imaging lens 12, and its aperture allows the condenser lens 14 to be
Remove unnecessary light for focus detection that comes from the lens. CCD board 1
1 includes focus detection (distance measurement) areas a, b, and c, which will be explained later.
A pair of line sensors 11-a, 11-b, 11-c and 11 are provided respectively corresponding to the four detection areas consisting of and d.
-d is formed on it.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the state of the photographing screen of the camera of this embodiment. In the same figure, on the photographing screen 15, distance measurement areas a to 11-d corresponding to each of the line sensors 11-a to 11-d formed on the CCD board 11 in FIG. 17 are shown.
d is shown.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of the line sensors 11-a to 11-d on the CCD board 11 shown in FIG. 17. In the same figure, the reference part is 1-
Consisting of 1, 2-1, 3-1 and 4-1, the reference part is 1-
It consists of 2, 2-2, 3-2 and 4-2. Reference numbers 1-1 and 1-2, 2-1 and 2-2, 3-1 and 3
Each set of -2, 4-1 and 4-2 is a corresponding standard part and reference part, and by taking the correlation while shifting the image of the standard part with respect to the image of the reference part, the focus is Detection takes place.

FIG. 20 shows all the displays in the finder. In the figure, a display 31 shows a ranging frame in a wide state (mode I),
Display 32 shows a distance measurement frame in a spot state (mode II). Note that the broken line corresponds to the distance measurement area in FIG. 18, and is not actually displayed in the finder. Displays 32 to 35 are displayed when the subject in each ranging frame is within the depth of field during manual focus (M.FOCUS). The display 36 turns on, off, and blinks in relation to in-focus, out-of-focus, a moving object, inability to detect focus, and the like.

As described above, the finder has various display functions, which allow the photographer to accurately grasp the shooting situation and improve usability.

FIG. 23 shows the subroutine for the AF control described above. AF control is integral control (step #1300)
, an algorithm for calculating the DF (defocus) amount based on the CCD data after the completion of the integration and determining a moving object/static object (step #1305), and an AF lens drive based on the DF amount obtained by the result of the algorithm (step #1305) Step #1310). Below, they will be explained in order.

FIG. 24 shows the flow of integral control. first,
In step #1350, double speed/normal speed determination is performed. here,
Double speed/normal speed will be explained below.

[0101] When high-speed AF processing is required, if the data dump time becomes extremely long, it is inappropriate as an AF system. Therefore, for the output from the CCD (OS terminal) in FIG. 25, the transfer clocks φ1 and φ2 are set to twice the normal speed (FIG. 26) as shown in FIG. Output once. Therefore, data for two pixels is added as data for one pixel using hardware and output, and in order to halve the doubled output, AGC (auto gain control) is halved. As a result, the number of pixels is apparently reduced by half, and the data dump time is reduced to half of the normal time. This is called double speed mode.

RS is a reset terminal for resetting the capacitor C1. ADS in FIGS. 26 and 27 indicates the timing of A/D conversion by A/D conversion (not shown). In addition, the above control (clock φ1, φ2, S/
(H, amplifier control) is performed by a signal from the microcomputer μC1.

A subroutine for double speed/normal speed determination is shown in FIG. 28 and will be explained. First, in step #1400, 1 is applied to AGC.
is set, and it is determined in step #1405 whether or not it is the first time of AF.

If it is the first AF (NAF=0), it is required to perform the AF process faster than the accuracy of the data, so the process proceeds to step #1430 to set the double speed mode. AGC is set to 1/2, set to double speed mode (clock) in step #1435, outputs AGC data and double speed/normal speed data (steps #1440 and #1445),
Return.

[0105] When it is not the first AF (NAF≠0),
Proceeding to step #1410, it is determined whether or not the eyepiece mode is set (step #1410). If it is the eyepiece mode (EPF=1), it is determined in step #1415 whether or not it is the main subject determination mode. In main subject detection mode (
MSF=1), Step #1430 to set double speed mode
Proceed to. The reason why the double-speed mode is used is that high-speed processing is required more than AF accuracy even in the main subject determination mode. Furthermore, the final focus is achieved in normal speed mode.

[0106] In step #1410 or #1415, if the camera is not in the eyepiece mode (EPF=0) or if it is not in the main subject mode (MSF=0), the process advances to step #1420, and it is determined whether or not it is in the auxiliary light mode. .

If it is auxiliary light mode (auxiliary light MF=1)
In step #1425, it is determined whether AGC switching is necessary. If AGC switching is not necessary (AGCCHF
= 0), Step #1430 to set normal double speed mode
When AGC switching is necessary (AGCCHF=1
), the AGC is left as it is and the process proceeds to step #1435. Here, the double speed mode is used in fill light mode because in fill light mode, many low brightness subjects are photographed, and low brightness subjects are often low frequency subjects, and in double speed mode, which adds the outputs of two elements, low frequency subjects are photographed. It's to become stronger. And when AGC is set to "1" (AG
CCHF=1), when the subject is dark and the integration time is limited (8
When the output from the CCD at 0 msec) is small, the AGF is set to "1" instead of "1/2" to improve the ability to photograph low-luminance objects.

[0108] In step #1420, if it is not the auxiliary light mode (auxiliary light MF≠1), step #1450
to determine whether zooming is in progress.

[0109] If zooming (ZMVF=1), AF
Step #1 to enable double speed mode to speed up processing
Proceed to 430. If you want to speed up AF processing while zooming,
If you are zooming, the image of the subject will be on the image plane (film plane) (
This is because the size) changes. In other words, the speed is doubled in order to quickly follow this change. In addition, in the case of a varifocal lens, the image is shifted in the optical axis direction, so there is a strong need to speed up the processing.

[0110] If zooming is not in progress in step #1450 (ZMVF≠1), proceed to step #1455;
Determine whether low contrast scanning is in progress. If low contrast scanning is in progress (LCSF=1), the image changes during integration due to focus detection while driving the lens.
Requires high-speed processing. Therefore, the process advances to step #1430 to set the variable magnification mode. On the other hand, if it is not the low contrast scan mode (LCSF≠1), step #146
After setting the normal speed mode to 0, output AGC data and double speed/normal speed data (steps #1440 and #144).
5), Return.

Returning to the integral control flow shown in FIG. 24, the explanation will be continued. After completing the double speed/normal speed determination routine in step #1350, it is determined in step #1355 whether or not the auxiliary light mode is active.

[0112] If it is auxiliary light mode (auxiliary light MF=1)
, sends an auxiliary light emission signal to the auxiliary light emission circuit (AUXLE) to cause the auxiliary light to emit (step #1360), and proceeds to step #1365. When the mode is not the auxiliary light mode (auxiliary light MF≠1), the process also proceeds to step #1365.

In step #1365, an integration start signal is output to the AF circuit AFCT to start integration. Next, in step #1370, a timer TAF, which will be described later and is used during AF, is reset and started. It is determined whether an integration end signal from the AF circuit is input or whether the integration time reaches 80 msec (TAF=80 msec) (steps #1375, #1380). If the microcomputer μC1 detects either of these, it outputs the integration end signal as A.
Output to F circuit and finish integration (step #1385)
.

[0114] Next, in step #1390, timer TA
F is memorized as TAF1, auxiliary light emission is stopped in step #1392, and a data read signal is sent to the integrating circuit in step #1395, and the data is input.

There are various methods for integral control, but they are not directly related to this embodiment and will therefore be omitted. Returning to FIG. 23, the explanation will be continued. After completing the integral control in step #1300, the algorithm routine in step #1305 is executed. The general flow of the algorithm is shown in FIG. 29 and will be explained.

First, based on the input CCD data, D
The F amount is calculated (step #1450), and it is determined whether or not the eyepiece mode is set (#1455). If in eyepiece mode (E
PF=1), and in step #1460 it is determined whether focus cannot be detected. If focus cannot be detected (LCF=0),
The main subject determination routine (step #1465) determines whether the main subject has been found, followed by the moving object determination routine (step #1470) that determines whether the subject is a moving body.
) and return. If focus cannot be detected (L
CF=1), it is determined that there is no detection result and both determinations cannot be made, and the process returns.

If it is determined in step #1455 that the camera is not in eyepiece mode (EPF=0), it is determined in step #1475 whether or not it is in focus.

[0118] If it is not in focus (S1INFF=0),
Return to drive the lens for focusing. If the object is in focus (S1INFF=1), an algorithm that determines whether the object is moving or still according to the state of the subject is used to perform one-shot/continuous for a still object and continuous for a moving object. A switching routine is performed and the process returns (step #1480).

Of the above algorithms, the subroutine for calculating the defocus amount will be explained first with reference to FIGS. 30 to 34. The subroutine for calculating the defocus amount is as follows:
It consists of P flow (FIG. 30), Qa flow (FIG. 31), Ra flow (FIG. 32), Sa flow (FIG. 33), and T flow (FIG. 34).

First, in step #1500, a flag AGCCHF indicating AGC switching is reset as an initial setting (AGCCHF=0). In order to store the past three DF amounts, the DF amount storage memory is shifted (steps #1505 to #1515). Set the flag LCF indicating that the focus cannot be detected for the entire area, the flags LCF1 to 4 that indicate the focus detection of each area, reset the flags INFF1 to 4 that indicate the in-focus state of each area, and the flag that indicates the auxiliary light mode. Reset MF (Step #15
20-1535).

Next, the number of AF operations NAF is set to NAF+1 (step #1540), and the predetermined reference value KDF for detecting focus is set to 80 μm (step #1542).
, a correlation calculation is performed for each focus detection area (first to fourth) (step #1545). The method of this correlation calculation is
Since it is not directly related to this embodiment, it will be omitted.

Based on this result, it is determined in step #1550 whether or not the focus cannot be detected in the first area. If the focus cannot be detected, the process proceeds to step #1575, and if possible, the DF amount (DF1) of the first area is calculated in step #1555, and the flag LCF1 indicating that the focus cannot be detected in this area is reset in step #1560. Step #15
Proceed to 65.

[0123] In step #1565, this DF amount (D
It is determined whether F1) is less than or equal to a predetermined value (KDF). If it is less than the predetermined value KDF, a flag INFF1 indicating focus is set in step #1570 (INFF1=1), and the process proceeds to step #1575. If the predetermined value KDF is exceeded, step #1570 is skipped and the process proceeds to step #1575. Proceed to 1575.

[0124] Steps #1575 to #1595 are the second area, steps #1600 to #1620 are the third area,
Steps #1625 to #1645 perform the same processing as steps #1550 to #1570 regarding the fourth area, so the explanation thereof will be omitted. Note that the first to fourth areas correspond to distance measurement areas 1-1 and 2 to 4-1 and 2 in FIG. 19 (corresponding to c, a, d, and b in FIG. 18).

[0125] When step #1645 is completed, it is determined in step #1647 whether or not manual focus is used. If it is manual focus (MF), return, otherwise proceed to step #1650.

At step #1650, it is determined whether all flags LCF1 to LCF4 indicating that focus detection is impossible for each area are set. If all are set (
LCF1-4=1), the focus is determined to be undetectable and the process proceeds to step #1750, which will be described later.

[0127] If at least one is not set, the process proceeds to step #1655 and resets the flag LCF indicating that the focus cannot be detected in all areas (LCF=0). Next, reset the flag indicating that focus cannot be detected even in low contrast scan or auxiliary light mode (LCEF=0,
Step #1660), the counter NLC indicating the number of times the focus cannot be detected is also reset (NLC=0, Step #166).
5), proceed to step #1675.

[0128] In step #1675, the above DF1-4
Find the maximum DF (DFmax) among them, and use this as DF
(Steps #1675, #1680). Maximum DF
The aim is to find the subject closest to the camera, and now the back focus side is set as a positive DF, and the front focus side is set as a negative DF.

Next, in step #1685, it is detected whether or not the eyepiece mode is set. If it is eyepiece mode (EPF=1),
In step #1690, the KDF is set to 300 μm to widen the focusing width, and if it is not the eyepiece mode (EPF≠1), the focusing width is narrowed in steps after step #1700. This is because the eyepiece mode is often in a continuous mode (even if the lens is in focus, if the lens is out of focus, the lens is driven). In other words, if the focusing width is narrow, the lens will be driven frequently, which will increase current consumption, and in eyepiece mode whose purpose is to provide a quiet feeling, the sound will make it impossible to achieve that purpose. It is. Therefore, in the eyepiece mode, the focusing width is widened.

Next, it is determined whether the absolute value of DF obtained in step #1700 is less than or equal to a predetermined value KDF. If it is less than the predetermined value, flag I indicating focus is set in step #1705.
Set NFF (INFF=1), step #171
If the value is 0, it is determined whether or not the eyepiece mode is set. If it is not eyepiece mode (EPF≠1), switch S1 is set in step #1712.
It is detected whether or not a flag S1INFF is set to bring the camera into focus. If it is not set (S1INFF≠1), set this flag in step #1715 (S1INFF=1), and step
At 1720, set the counter NAF that indicates the number of focus detections to "0"
Then, proceed to step #1725.

[0131] When not in focus at step #1700 (|
DF |
=1), proceed to step #1725.

[0132] In step #1725, the average defocus amount DFAV indicating the average of the DF amounts of the past three times and this time is set as the previous average DF (LDFAV), and step #173
0, the average DF amount (DFAV) is (DF+L1DF+L2
DF+L3DF)/4, and in step #1735 it is determined whether the flag S1INFF is set. When flag S1INFF is not set, (S
1INFF≠1), return. Flag S1INFF
is set (S1INFF=1), it is determined in step #1740 whether the number of focus detections NAF after focusing is 4 (the number of focus detections is 4). If it is 4 (N
AF=4) In step #1745, return is made with the average DF amount DFAV as DFB. If not 4, (NAF≠
4) Return as is.

[0133] In step #1650, if focus cannot be detected (LCF1-4=1), the process proceeds to step #1750, and in step #1750 it is determined whether or not focus has been achieved. If it is after in-focus (INFF=1), calculate the number of consecutive times NLC is unable to detect the focus by NLC=NLC+1 (Step #1
754), returns. Unless it is in focus (INFF)
≠1), it is detected in step #1752 whether or not the auxiliary light mode flag (auxiliary light MF) is set.

If the auxiliary light MF is not set (auxiliary light MF≠1), the integral time TAF is set in step #1755.
1 is equal to or greater than TK (70 msec). If the integration time is TK or more (TAF1≧TK), it is determined that the focus cannot be detected because it is dark, and in step #1760, the auxiliary light mode flag (auxiliary light MF) is set (auxiliary light MF=1) and the process returns.

When the flag is set in step #1752 (auxiliary light MF=1), it is determined in step #1765 whether the gain AGC is "1". gain AGC
If is "1", in step #1770, it is determined that focus detection cannot be performed even if the gain is increased in the double speed mode, and the flag LCEF is set (LCEF=1), and the process returns. When the gain AGC is not "1", the input CC
Take the average of the input data from D (step #1775
), check whether this is greater than the predetermined value KLV in step #
Judgment is made at 1780.

[0136] If it is larger than a predetermined value (average value>KLV)
, the data from the CCD is large enough to perform focus detection, and the process proceeds to step #1770, setting a flag LCEF indicating that focus detection was not possible (LCEF
= 1), it is useless to change the gain, so return. If the average value is less than the predetermined value (average value≦KLV), the gain switching flag AGCCHF is set in step #1785 (AGCCHF=1) and the process returns.

[0137] If the integration time is less than the predetermined value in step #1755 (TAF1<TK), the process proceeds to step #1790, and it is determined whether a flag LCSF indicating low contrast scan mode is set. If set (LCSF=1), return. If it is not set (LCSF≠1), the flag FLDF is set to indicate the lens extension mode in step #1795 (
FLDF=1), and in step #1798, a flag LCSF indicating low contrast scan mode is set (LCSF=
1), return with the driving amount N set as NLG in step #1799.

[0138] Next, the main target determination subroutine of step #1465 (FIG. 29) will be explained based on FIG. First, it is determined whether the flag MSF, which is set when the main subject is determined in step #1800, is set.

If flag MSF is not set (
MSF≠1), it is assumed that the main subject has already been determined in step #1805, and the process returns. When the flag MSF is set (MSF=1), the process advances to step #1805 and the focal length f is read from the zoom encoder. In step #1810, a coefficient K is added to the determined defocus amount DF.
Multiply by N to find the lens movement amount N. Here, the coefficient K
N is a coefficient set in advance for converting the defocus amount DF into the drive amount N. Step #1
In 815, the N obtained in step #1810 is added to the current extraction amount NF to determine the lens extension amount ND until the main subject is brought into focus. And step #18
In step 20, the distance D to the subject is determined from this extension amount ND. Methods for obtaining this include a method using a ROM table, a method using a conversion coefficient, etc., but since these are not directly related to this embodiment, a detailed explanation will be omitted.

Next, in step #1825, the imaging magnification β is determined from the determined distance D and focal length f, and step #1
At 830, it is determined whether or not focus detection is being performed for the first time.

If it is the first time (NAF=1), it is determined whether the focal length f is 105 mm or less and the imaging magnification β is 1/25 or less (steps #1835 and #1840). If both conditions are met, it is assumed that the main subject has been determined, and this flag MSF is reset (MSF=0, step #1870).
), flag ASZ for performing auto standby zoom
Set F (ASZF=1, step #1875)
, return. Also, returns when one of the conditions is not satisfied.

In determining the main subject, a small photographic magnification means that the main subject is small. If the main subject is small, it will be easier to capture the subject within the screen, so it can be considered that the first AF will be able to sufficiently capture the subject. Also, if the focal length is short,
When you swing the camera from side to side, the main subject is less likely to be out of the frame compared to a long focal length, so it can be considered easier to capture the main subject.

[0143] In step #1830, if the focus detection is not the first time, the process proceeds to step #1845, and it is determined whether or not the focus detection is the second time. When it is the second time (NAF=2), in step #1850, the previous and current D
Find the difference ΔDF in the amount of F by ΔDF=|L1DF−DF|,
In step #1855, it is determined whether the focal length f is 210 mm or less.

[0144] If the focal length f is 210 mm or less (f
≦210), the photographing magnification β is set to 1/1 in step #1860.
Determine whether it is 5 or less. If the imaging magnification β is 1/15 or less (β≦1/15), it is determined in step #1865 whether the difference ΔDF in the DF amount is 500 μm or less.

[0145] If ΔDF is 500 μm or less (ΔDF
≦500μm), the main subject is determined, and step #
Reset the flag MSF at 1870 (MSF=0)
, flag ASZF for performing auto standby zoom
(ASZF=1, step #1875),
Return.

[0146] The above three judgments (steps #1855, #
1860, #1865), the process returns. Here, the reason why the difference in DF amount (ΔDF) is taken into consideration is because it is determined whether or not the main subject is changing. The detection level for the main subject is more relaxed than the first time, but this is because it becomes easier to find the main subject as time passes and the focus is achieved (AF is performed once). be.

[0147] In step #1845, if the focus detection is not the second time, the process proceeds to step #1877, and it is determined whether or not the focus detection is the fourth time. When it is the fourth time (NAF=
4), proceed to step #1880 and set the third DF amount (L
Find the difference ΔDF between 3DF) and the current DF amount, and this is 5
It is determined in step #1885 whether or not it is less than 00 μm. If it exceeds 500 μm, it is assumed that the subject has changed and the process returns. If within 500μm, step #189
Determine whether or not panning is performed with 0.

[0148] If not panned (PANM=
2), proceed to step #1870 as the main subject has been determined,
If it is panned (PANM≠2), it is determined that the main judgment target cannot be determined and the process returns. Panning detection is performed by a panning detection interrupt TEPINT, which will be described later.

[0149] In step #1877, if it is not the fourth time, the process proceeds to step #1895, where it is determined whether 1 second (s) has elapsed since the start of focus detection, and if 1 second has elapsed (TAF≧1s). ), it is assumed that the main subject has been forcibly determined, and the process proceeds to step #1870, where the lens drive can be controlled. In step #1895, if 1 second has not elapsed (TAF<1s), return.

Next, the panning detection interrupt TEPINT, which is performed every 250 msec, will be explained with reference to FIG. In steps #1900 and #1905, the past two modes in which panning was detected are memorized (LPAN2,
LPAN1), photometric value contrast C(t) and standard value ΔB(t) are calculated (steps #1915, #192
0).

FIG. 60 shows a photometry pattern on the photographic screen. The photometry pattern is made up of spot photometry portions 1 to 13 in the figure, and a portion 14 for photometry in the gaps and surrounding areas. A multi-segment photometric element is provided in the camera in accordance with this photometric pattern, and a main subject confirmation determination is performed using the calculation result of the output from the multi-segment photometric element. Now, for the photometric value Bn(t) (where n=1 to 13) at time t, the contrast C(t) at a certain time t, including all horizontal and diagonal directions, is calculated as C(t)=(1/2 )・{|B1(t)
-B2(t) |+|B2(t)-B3(t)|+|B3
(t)-B4(t)|+|B5(t)-B6(t)|+
|B6(t)-B7(t)|+|B7(t)-B8(t
) |+|B8(t)-B9(t)|+|B10(t)-
B11(t) |+|B11(t)-B12(t)|+|
B12(t)-B13(t) |+|B1(t)-B5(
t) |+|B2(t)-B6(t)|+|B3(t)-
B7(t) |+|B4(t)-B8(t)|+|B6(
t)-B10(t)|+|B7(t)-B11(t)|
+|B8(t)-B12(t)|+|B9(t)-B1
3(t)|+|B1(t)-B6(t)|+|B2(t
)-B7(t) |+|B3(t)-B8(t)|+|B
4(t)-B9(t) |+|B5(t)-B10(t)
|+|B6(t)-B11(t)|+|B7(t)-B
12(t)|+|B8(t)−B13(t)|}. When the luminance change amount ΔB(t) at a certain time t is normalized by the above-mentioned contrast, ΔB(t) is expressed by Equation 1 below. That is, ΔB(t) is the amount of change in brightness per unit time based on the output of the multi-segment photometric element. However, Δt
=250 msec.

[0152] In step #1925, it is determined whether the contrast C(t) is less than a predetermined value KCT. If it is less than the predetermined value (C(t)<KCT), it is determined that the shooting scene is a subject with low contrast and the reliability of panning detection is low, and the process proceeds to step #1955, where the mode is set to indefinite mode (PANM=3). Return.

[0153] If the contrast C(t) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (C(t)<KCT), it is determined whether the photometric value B14(t) of the 14th photometric element, which is the overall brightness, is less than a predetermined value. Determine whether When it is less than the predetermined value (B14(t)
<KB14) Since the shooting scene is dark, the reliability is low, and the process proceeds to step #1955. When the photometric value B14(t) is greater than or equal to the predetermined value (B14(t)≧KB14), the process proceeds to step #1935 and it is determined whether the standard value ΔB(t) is greater than or equal to 1. If it is 1 or more (ΔB(t)≧1), it is assumed that there is movement of one or more elements among the photometric elements in FIG. (t)<1), it is determined in step #1945 whether or not it is 0.25 or less. If it is less than 0.25 (ΔB(t)≦0.25), it is assumed that it is stationary and data (PANM=2) is set (step #1950);
If it exceeds 0.25 (ΔB(t)>0.25), it is assumed that the data is undefined (PANM=3) (Step #1
955), each returns.

[0154] Now, if one element is 5.2 mm and a change corresponding to one element can be detected, detection is performed every 250 msec, so panning at a speed of 21 mm/sec can be detected on the image plane.

Next, a routine for determining a moving object will be explained based on FIG. 37. First, in step #2000, it is determined whether the AF mode is AF lock (AFM=1). If the AF is locked (AFM=1), return. If the AF is not locked (AFM≠1), the process advances to step #2005 and it is determined whether or not the focus has been achieved. Unless it is in focus (INFF)
≠1) Return, and if it is after in-focus (INFF=1), proceed to step #2010, and determine whether or not it is the auxiliary light mode.

[0156] If it is auxiliary light mode (auxiliary light MF=1)
, since we have decided not to perform motion detection, step #
In 2015, the AF is locked (AFM=1) and the process returns. If it is not the auxiliary light mode (auxiliary light MF≠1), the operation of storing the past 9 moving object speeds is performed in steps #2020 to #2.
In step #2062, it is determined whether focus detection is impossible.

[0157] If the focus cannot be detected (LCF=1), in step #2063, the current speed (v) is set to the previous speed LV.
Returns as 1. If focus cannot be detected (LC
F≠1), and in step #2065, the moving object speed (v) is determined using the past three defocus amounts (DF, L1DF, L2DF).

Next, in step #2070, it is determined whether or not the eyepiece mode is set. Unless it is eyepiece mode (EPF≠1)
, return. If it is eyepiece mode (EPF=1),
It is determined whether the determined moving body velocity (v) is 0.75 mm/sec or more on the image plane (step #2075). When the moving body speed v is 0.75 mm/sec or more (v≧0.75 mm/se
c), set to moving object mode in step #2080 (AFM=
3), Return. If the moving body speed v is less than 0.75 mm/sec (v<0.75 mm/sec), step #
Proceeding to step 2085, the difference ΔDF in the DF amount between the previous time and this time is determined, and in step #2090 it is determined whether the difference is 1 mm or more.

[0159] If it is 1 mm or more (ΔDF≧1 mm),
To lock the AF, proceed to step #2110 and lock the AF.
Set the mode to AFM=1 and return. Step #2
In step 090, when the defocus deviation ΔDF is less than 1 mm (ΔDF<1 mm), in the past three PAN (panning) detections (steps #2095, #2100, #
2105), when panning is detected three times, the process proceeds to step #2110 to lock the AF. On the other hand, if even one of the three times is different, proceed to step #2115, and A
Set AFM in F mode to "2" and return.

Next, the one-shot/continuous switching routine will be explained based on FIG. 38. First, in step #2150, S1 trigger auto one/con (described later)
It is detected whether the flag O/C1F indicating that the routine has been passed is set. If it is not set (O/C1F≠1), execute the S1 trigger auto one/con routine of step #2155 and return.

On the other hand, when the flag O/C1F is set (O/C1F=1), step #2160
It is determined whether the AF mode is determined (AF lock or continuous). When determined (AFM≠2), return. If it has not been determined (AFM=2), proceed to step #2165 and set 0.
It is determined whether a 5-sec auto-one/con routine (described later) has been executed.

[0162] When executed, a flag O/
Since C2F is set (O/C2F=1), the S1 auto one/con routine of step #2175 is executed and the process returns. On the other hand, if the flag O/C2F is not set (O/C2F≠1), the 0.5 sec auto-one/con routine of step #2170 is executed and the process returns.

The above-mentioned S1 trigger auto-one/con routine will be explained based on FIG. 39. This routine is executed only once when the shooting preparation switch S1 is turned on from the eyepiece mode, and there are three judgments depending on the state of the subject in the eyepiece mode: AF lock, continuous (moving subject), or undetermined. I do.

First, in step #2200, it is determined whether the subject is a moving subject (a fast-moving subject) in the eyepiece mode. If it is a moving object (AFM=3), step #22
Flag O/C1 indicating that this flow was executed in 35
Set F (O/C1F=1) and return.

[0165] If the object is not moving in step #2200 (AFM≠3), the process proceeds to step #2203, and it is determined whether or not the AF lock mode is on. If it is the AF lock mode (AFM=1), the process advances to step #2235. If it is not AF lock mode in step #2203 (AFM≠
1), proceed to step #2205, and set the imaging magnification β to 1/2.
Determine whether it is 5 or more.

[0166] If the imaging magnification is 1/25 or more (β≧1
/25), the AF mode is set to AF lock (A
After setting FM=1) (step #2240), the process advances to step #2235. If the imaging magnification β is less than 1/25 in step #2205 (β<1/25), the process advances to step #2210, and the integration time TAF1 is set to 60 msec.
Detect whether it is greater than or equal to the value.

[0167] If it is 60 msec or more (TAF1≧6
0 msec), the reliability of the data from the CCD deteriorates due to darkness, and the tracking performance of moving objects deteriorates due to the long integration time, so proceed to step #2240 and set the AF mode to AF lock (AFM= After 1),
Proceed to step #2235. If the integration time TAF1 is less than 60 msec in step #2210 (TAF1
<60 msec), it is determined whether the subject is moving at a stable speed based on the speed of the subject for the sixth time in the past, the third time in the past, and the current time (steps #2215, #2222
0, #2225). In all three times above, if the speed is above a predetermined speed Kv (for example, the speed Kv at the image plane is 0.5 mm/sec), it is considered a moving object and the AF mode is set to Continuous (A).
FM=3) (step #2230), step #
Proceed to 2235.

[0168] If even one of the above three times is less than the predetermined speed Kv, it is determined that the mode cannot be determined, and step #22
45, set the AF mode to undetermined AFM=2, and proceed to step #
At 2250, a counter NAF indicating the number of focus detections is reset (NAF=0), and the process returns.

Next, the flow of 0.5 sec auto-one/con will be explained based on FIG. Here, 0.5 sec
The 0.5 sec referred to as Auto One/Con is not an exact value, but the name was given based on the fact that it takes approximately this amount of time to perform the camera sequence including focus detection seven times.

First, in step #2300, it is determined whether a zoom operation has been performed after focusing after turning on S1.

[0171] When a zoom operation is performed (ZMF=1)
Since the image changes and the moving object cannot be detected accurately, the AF mode is set to AF lock (AFM=1) in step #2312, and the flag O/C2F indicating that this flow has been executed is set in step #2375. Set (O
/C2F=1), return.

[0172] When zoom operation is not performed (ZMF
=0), and in step #2305 it is determined whether focus detection failure has occurred four times in a row. If it happens continuously (N
LC=4), AF lock (AFM=
1), proceed to step #2312. Then, in step #2375, a flag O/C2F indicating that this flow has been executed is set (O/C2F=1), and the process returns. When the focus cannot be detected 4 times in a row (NLC)
≠4), and the above-mentioned moving object determination is performed in step #2310 (Fig. 37
), the number of focus detections N is determined in step #2315.
It is determined whether AF has reached 7 or not.

If the number NAF of focus detection is not 7, the process returns as undetermined (AFM=2) in step #2320. If the focus detection number NAF is 7, step #23
20, when the speed of the moving object for the past 6th time and the past 3rd time is equal to or higher than the predetermined value Kv (steps #2320, #23
25), or when the speed of the moving object for the third time in the past and this time is equal to or higher than the predetermined value Kv (steps #2345, #2350)
, as a stable moving object, proceed to step #2340, and after setting continuous mode (AFM=3),
Proceed to step #2375.

[0174] Here, the moving object detection level regarding the speed of the subject is S1 trigger auto one/con, 0.5
There are three different types: sec Auto One/Con, and S1 Auto One/Con described later.S1 Auto One/Con,
The judgment level becomes looser in the order of S1 trigger auto one/con and 0.5 sec auto one/con (the flow on the left is tighter).

[0175] This is after S1 Auto One/Con focuses.
This flow is performed after a certain amount of time (0.5 seconds or more), and the photographer may be panning, etc., and a moving object different from the desired object may be detected, and the accuracy of object detection may be affected. It's bad. Therefore, by tightening the determination level, highly accurate moving object determination can be performed. 0.5sec auto one/con, S1 is O
This is for 0.5 seconds after turning on S1, and normally when S1 is turned on, it is after the subject to be photographed has been firmly decided.
The focus detection data at this time is considered to be highly reliable, as it clearly captures the subject, so the judgment level is relaxed. Since the S1 Trigger Auto One/Con uses focus detection data in eyepiece mode, its reliability (probability of accurately capturing the subject you want to photograph in the AF area) is low, so it is not as reliable as the S1 Auto One/Con. It is not considered to be low, and is set at an intermediate moving object detection level.

Returning to the flow of FIG. 40, if even one moving object speed is less than a predetermined value in the moving object mode determination based on the moving object speed, the process proceeds to step #2330 and thereafter, and the past two
When both the first time and the first time in the past are in PAN mode (
LPAN2=1 at step #2330, step #23
35 and LPAN1=1), or the past one time and the present are PA
When in N mode (LPAN1 in step #2355)
= 1, PANM = 1 in step #2360), and at this time, it is assumed that the subject cannot be determined and a moving object cannot be detected, and AF lock cannot be performed, so step # is performed in order to set the continuous mode (AFM = 3). Proceed to 2340.

[0177] Steps #2330, #2335, #23
55, #2360, if the PAN mode is not selected even once, proceed to step #2365 and set the AF mode to undetermined (AF
M=2), reset the focus detection number NAF (NA
F=0), proceed to step #2375.

Next, the flow of S1 auto one/con will be explained based on FIG. First, in step #2400
It is determined whether the latest average defocus amount DFAV is 300 μm or more away from the average defocus amount DFB at the time of focusing after the first ON.

[0179] If it is far away (DFB-DFAV≧3
00 μm), AF lock (AFM
= 1) and return. This is a response to the phenomenon that occurs when the camera is slowly swung left and right to lock the AF, that is, when the main subject is focused on the background and a blank area occurs. It is in accordance with the intention of The problem at this time is
This also happens when the main subject moves away slowly (if it moves quickly, it is considered to be already in moving object mode).
The probability of a shooting scene in which the main subject slowly moves away is low, and the AF system in this embodiment switches to eye-piece mode as soon as you release the release button and can immediately switch to continuous mode, so the camera is I prefer AF lock because even if I make a mistake, I can quickly and easily refocus on the main subject. Note that the defocus amount DF is made smaller as the distance increases.

[0180] When the main subject does not move away under the above conditions (
DFB-DFAV<300μm), step #2405
By proceeding to step 1 and determining whether the difference between the current DF amount and the latest average DF amount DFAV is 500 μm or more,
The camera determines whether or not an obstructive subject has crossed in front of the camera, and locks the AF at this time.

[0181] If it is 500 μm or more (DF
-DFAV≧500 μm), an obstructive subject has crossed the camera, and the process proceeds to step #2460 to lock the AF. 5
If it is less than 00μm (DF-DFAV<500μm)
, 0.5 sec It is determined in step #2410 whether zooming has been performed in the same way as auto-one/con, or whether focus has been unable to be detected four times in a row.

[0182] In steps #2410 and #2415, zoom (ZMF=1) or focus cannot be detected four times in a row (N
LC=4), step # to lock the AF.
Proceed to 2460. If neither, step #24
Proceeding to step 20, the above-mentioned moving object determination (FIG. 37) is performed.

[0183] The process then proceeds to step #2425. In step #2425, it is determined whether the number of focus detections has reached 10 or more in the auto-one/con flow. 1
If it is not 0 or more times (NAF<10), it is determined to be undefined, the process proceeds to step #2455, the AF mode (AFM) is set to "2", and the process returns. If NAF is 10 or more (NA
F≧10), perform the processing from step #2430 onwards, and when the subject's velocity 9 times before, 6 times before, 3 times before, and the current speed are all greater than or equal to the predetermined speed, the moving object mode is set ( Steps #2430-2445), Step #24
The process advances to step 50, sets the AF mode (AFM) to "3", and returns (steps #2425 to #2450). If even one of the speeds is less than the predetermined speed, it is determined that the speed is undetermined and the process proceeds to step #2455.

[0184] This completes the explanation of the algorithm flow, and next the AF lens drive (step #1310) shown in Fig. 23 is completed.
) will be explained based on FIG. First, the amount to be driven is set (step #2500), and a flow is executed to limit the driving speed based on the set amount according to the shooting mode (eyepiece mode, etc.) at that time (step #2505). Drive (step #251
0, Subroutine of FIG. 21) Determine whether or not driving has ended (step #2515). If the drive is not completed (LMV
F≠0), determines whether low contrast scanning is in progress (step #2520), and if scanning is in progress (LCSF=1)
Returns and performs focus detection while driving the lens. Otherwise (LCSF=0), drive ends (LMVF=
0) and then return. Also, step #251
If the drive is completed at 5 (LMVF=0), the process also returns.

[0185] The above drive amount set (step #2 in Fig. 42)
500) will be explained based on FIG. 44. In step #2550, it is determined whether or not a result of focus detection being impossible has been obtained. If so (LCEF=1), the process proceeds to step #2585, sets the driving amount N to "0", and steps #2
Proceed to 575. When flag LCEF is not set in step #2550 (LCEF≠1), step #
In step 2551, it is determined whether the low contrast scan mode is selected.

[0186] If it is low contrast scan mode (LCS
F=1), proceed to step #2575, and if the mode is not low contrast scan mode (LCSF=0), step #25
In step 52, it is determined whether or not the AF lock mode is set. When not in AF lock mode (AFM≠1), step #2555
Determine whether or not the camera is in focus.

[0187] When not in focus at step #2555 (I
NFF≠1), integration time TAF1 at step #2560
and the defocus amount DFv that the subject moves during the time TK required for DF calculation calculation (DFv←(TAF1+TK
)×v), a new DF is obtained from this DFv and the calculated defocus amount DF (DF=DF+DFv, step #2565). Next, find the lens driving amount N (N=
DF×K, step #2570), ND←|N|
Step #2575), N1 is set to 0 (N1: amount of lens driven) (Step #2580), and the process returns.

[0188] When AF is locked in step #2550 (AFM=1) or in focus in step #2555 (INFF=1), after setting the drive amount to "0" in step #2585, step # Proceed to 2575.

Next, the flow of drive speed limitation will be explained based on FIG. 43. First, in step #2600, it is determined whether or not the eyepiece mode is set.

If it is not the eyepiece mode (EPF≠1), proceed to step #2625, and set the drive speed limit corresponding to the rotation speed ND set above based on Table 1 (TA2).
Vmax, and in step #2630 set the flag EP to be described later.
Reset 1F (EP1F=0) and return.

If it is the eyepiece mode (EPF=1), it is determined in step #2605 whether or not this is the first lens drive in the eyepiece mode. If it is the first time (EP1F=0
), step #2 to give the feeling of one-shot AF.
Set the speed limit to 4V1 at maximum in eyepiece mode at 610, set this flag at step #2615 (EP1F
=1), return. When it is not the first time (EP1F=
1) In step #2620, the maximum speed LDVmax is set according to the rotational speed based on Table 1 (TA1), and the process returns.

[0192] Here, when switch S1 is pressed without eyepiece (when EPF≠1 in step #2600),
The reason why the maximum speed LDVmax in the eyepiece mode (when EPF=1 in step #2600) is made slow is because it is desired to move the lens quietly when just looking through the finder. In reality, the lens is driven more frequently by the eyepiece than by the switch S1, but the lens driving speed is strictly limited in order to create a natural feel during AF. In addition, switch S1
This is because when the lens is driven by , the photographer's intention is included in preparation for taking a picture, so it is better to prioritize the speed of focusing rather than quietness and naturalness.

The explanation will be continued by returning to the flowcharts of FIGS. 13, 14 and 15. Upon returning from the AF control subroutine (step #540 in FIG. 14), the process proceeds to the zoom control subroutine of step #542, and after the zoom control ends, the process proceeds to step #560. Further, if it is determined in step #535 that the photographing preparation switch S1 is not turned on, the process advances to step #545 and A
It is determined whether a flag LMVF indicating F drive is set is set. If the flag LMVF is set, the process proceeds to step #542 after executing the AF lens stop subroutine (FIG. 9) in step #550, and if the flag LMVF is not set, the process proceeds to step #5.
50 and proceeds to step #542.

The zoom control subroutine will be explained based on FIG. 45. First, in step #2650, the zoom drive speed is set to I (low speed), and in step #2655, it is determined whether or not auto standby zoom is in effect. Here, auto standby zoom assumes an appropriate size of the subject based on the distance to the subject when the main subject is determined in the main subject determination routine during focus detection during eyepiece detection. This refers to determining the focal length and driving the zoom to achieve this, and is only done once. During auto standby zoom (ASZF=1), find an appropriate focal length f1 from the distance D found for ASZ using the ROM table (
Steps #2657, #2660).

[0195] Here, the detection of the ASZ subject distance (step #2657) will be specifically described with reference to FIG. Focus detection is performed by multi-point distance measurement at four locations, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. In the case of ASZ, for example, c in FIG.
If you measure the distance with or d and zoom in based on that value,
The subject may disappear from the screen. Therefore, for ASZ, if the center can be detected, it is desirable to perform zoom control based on the center distance measurement data. Therefore, the multipoint distance measurements obtained in FIGS. 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34 are rechecked in FIG. In FIG. 19, the left, middle, right, and top are the first, second, third, and fourth distance measurement positions, and the respective distance measurement data are DF1,
DF2, DF3 and DF4. And DF2,D
It is determined in the order of F4, DF1, and DF3, and if the second distance measurement in the center is determined (step #2800), DF2
The distance is calculated (step #2845) and the process returns. If the center is a low contrast and the fourth distance measurement above is obtained (step #1805), the distance is calculated using DF4 (step #2840) and the process returns. Below, DF1 on the left,
It is determined that DF3 is on the right, and the distance is calculated for each (step #
2810, step #2835, step #2815,
Step #2830), return.

[0196] If all four are low contrast, set ASZF=0 in step #2820 to prohibit ASZ,
Clear the microcontroller stack (step #2825
), jump to 43A and return to the original flow (FIG. 45). That is, the distance is determined by measuring as close to the optical axis of the photographic lens as possible, and ASZ is performed accordingly, and if the distance cannot be measured at all, ASZ is not performed. Also, A.S.
Only Z gives priority to central distance measurement.

Then, it is determined whether the current focal lengths f and f1 are equal or not, and if they are equal, the process returns (step #2670). If they are not equal, it is determined whether the current focal length ratio f/f1 or f1/f is 2 or more, and if it is 2 or more, the zoom speed is set to high speed II, and step #268
Proceed to 5 (Step #2675, Step #2680)
. Even if it is less than 2, proceed to step #2685.

In step #2685, it is determined whether f1>f. If f1>f, zoom up control is performed (step #2695), and if f1<f, zoom down control is performed (step #2690). Perform zoom driving at the speed set above, wait until f=f1, and stop the lens when f=f1 (step #2705).
) and reset the flag ASZF (step #270
8), Return (Steps #2685-2708)
.

If the flag ASZF is not set in step #2655 (ASZF≠1), it is determined whether the zoom up or zoom down switch is operated (steps #2710, #2730). When each operation is performed, zoom-up control (step #271
5) The zoom down control (step #2715) is driven at a low speed, and the process proceeds to step #2720, where it is determined whether or not the focus is on after the switch S1 is operated, and even after the focus is (S1INFF=1), sets a flag ZMF indicating that zooming has been performed (ZMF=1, step #2725), and does nothing unless it is in focus (S1INFF=1).
FF≠1), each returns.

[0200] If the up/down switch is not operated in steps #2710 and #2730, step #274
Proceed to 0, stop the zoom lens, and return.

Returning to flow V in FIG. 14, the explanation will be continued. In step #560, the film sensitivity SV is input from the film sensitivity reading circuit DX, and in step #565, the brightness BV0i (i=1 to 14) of the subject at the open aperture is input from the photometry circuit LM. To explain this data input based on the above-mentioned FIG. 4, first, set the terminal CSDX or CSLM to low level,
). Then, data is input from the terminal SIN. After inputting the data, the terminal CSDX or CSLM is set to high level to end the data input.

Next, in step #570, BV0i(i
Based on the photometric values (=1 to 14), a photometric value BV0 is obtained by performing appropriate calculations, and an exposure calculation subroutine (FIG. 22) is executed in step #575.

When this subroutine is called, first, in step #1285, the exposure value EV is set as EV=BV0+AV0.
Determined by +SV. Here, BV0 is the subject brightness value measured by full-open photometry, AV0 is the open aperture value, and SV is the film sensitivity. From this exposure value EV, shutter speed TV and aperture value AV are calculated based on a predetermined AE program line (step #1290), and the process returns. Note that the AE program line is a program line that provides the relationship between the shutter speed and the aperture value, and the explanation and drawings thereof will be omitted here.

Returning to FIG. 14, after the exposure calculation is completed, the control shutter speed TVC, control aperture value AVC, AF area,
Data indicating focus, presence or absence of a moving object, inability to detect focus, etc. is serially output to the display control circuit DISPC, and the display control circuit D
ISPC performs display on the body display section DISPI, on-screen display section DISPII, and off-screen display section DISPIII based on the input data (step #590).
).

[0205] When the above display (step #590) is completed, it is determined in step #595 whether the release switch S2 is turned on. Release switch S2 is ON
If so, it is determined in step #610 whether or not the camera is in focus using the flag INFF. If it is in focus (INFF=1), the process advances to step #615, and if it is not in focus, the process advances to step #638 and no release is performed.

In step #615, all interrupts are prohibited, in step #620 exposure control is performed, and after the exposure control is completed, in step #625 one-frame winding control is performed. Then, in order to indicate that the S1ON subroutine has ended, the flag S1ONF is reset in step #630 (S1ONF=0), the interrupt S1INT is enabled by turning on the shooting preparation switch S1 in step #632, and the eyepiece is set in step #634. Enable the detection timer interrupt I, reset and start the timer (step #635), and return.

If it is determined in step #595 that the release switch S2 is not turned on, the process proceeds to step #638, as in the case where it is determined in step #610 that the camera is not in focus. In step #638, it is determined whether the photographing preparation switch S1 is turned on.

[0208] When the photographing preparation switch S1 is turned on, the timer T2 for holding the power supply is reset and started in step #640, and the process returns. On the other hand, when it is determined in step #638 that the photographing preparation switch S1 is not turned on, it is determined whether the flag EPF indicating eye proximity detection is set (step #644), and if it is set ( EPF=1) Return to step #500.

[0209] When the flag EPF is not set (EPF≠1), the process advances to step #650, and it is determined whether or not zooming is in progress based on the zoom switch data.

As a result of this determination, if zooming is in progress, the process advances to step #640, where the timer T2 for power retention is reset and started to extend the power retention time, and the process returns. If it is determined in step #650 that zooming is not in progress, the process proceeds to step #655, where it is determined whether or not the timer T2 for holding the power supply has exceeded 5 seconds (s). As a result, if 5 seconds have not elapsed, the process returns. If 5 seconds have elapsed, the process proceeds to step #630, where control is performed to end the shooting due to the above-mentioned shooting preparation switch S1 being turned off.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 5, step #
The case where it is determined in step 20 that the main switch SM is not ON will be explained. In this case, the process advances to step #80, and interrupts other than the interrupt SMINT by the switch SM are prohibited, and the AF lens renormalization subroutine is executed (step #90). As a result, the AF lens is retracted to the most retracted position. Regarding this point,
Since this has already been explained, detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0212] AF lens renormalization subroutine (Fig. 6
), turn off the transistor Tr1 that supplies power to the circuit on the body side and the zoom motor M3 in the lens.
Terminal PW1 is set to low level in order to
20), further, in order to turn off the DC/DC converter DD, set the terminal PW0 to low level (step #125)
, interrupt SMINT caused by turning on main switch SM
It disables all other interrupts (step #130) and stops (enters sleep state).

[0213] Figure 47 shows AF mode (wide area selection).
48 shows an on-screen display and an off-screen display indicating the AF state in the manual focus mode, and FIG. 48 shows a display in the manual focus mode and will be described.

First, each display in FIG. 47 will be explained. (a) shows the display when the main switch is OFF. (b) shows the display when the main switch is turned on. (c) shows the display when eye contact is detected after the main switch is turned on. At this time, wide area display is performed. In spot mode, this wide area is only displayed in the center. (d) shows the display when AF is performed and focus is achieved. At this time, the display outside the screen lights up. (e) shows the display in the moving object mode. At this time, on the display, ○ is lit and only 《》 is blinking. (f) shows the display up to focus in AF when S1 is turned on directly, not in eyepiece mode. (g) shows the display when in AF lock mode or during auto-one/con detection after S1ON. If it becomes a moving object, it becomes (e). ○ is lit outside the screen. (h
) indicates the display when 0.5 sec auto-one/con. All 《○》 are lit. (i) shows the display when focus cannot be detected (LCEF=1). The circle in the center is blinking.

Next, each display in FIG. 48 will be explained. (J) shows the display when FA mode is set (wide area selection). (K) shows the display when S1 is ON, and if there is a focus area within the area when the eye is close, it is displayed. Whether there is a focus area or not is determined by INFF1 of each area in the focus detection flow.
You can tell by detecting ~4. (L) shows the display when S1 is ON, similar to (K) above. (N) shows the display during spot AF (when the eye is close). Similarly to (N), (O) shows the display when S1 is ON.

As described above, in this embodiment, when looking through the finder of the camera during eye-start AF operation, the object quickly comes into focus. In other words, AF is performed at high speed until the first focusing. Note that no focus display is performed at this time. And once it's in focus,
Even if the distance to the subject changes, it always remains in focus, and since focusing is performed without making you conscious of the AF operation, the feeling of shooting during framing is good. This is because low-speed focusing is performed in silent continuous AF after the first focusing. Therefore, the photographer can clearly see that the camera is on standby so that the camera can be released at any time. Note that once the camera is in focus, the focus display is turned on and at the same time, the camera becomes ready to release the camera.

[0217] Next, a modification of the above-mentioned first embodiment (second
Examples to Fourth Example) are shown below. The differences from the first embodiment are (i) no low contrast scan in eyepiece mode;
ii) No auxiliary light emission in eyepiece mode, (iii) No AF lock (Continuous AF) in eyepiece mode,
That is the point.

The reason for this will be explained below. Regarding (i), if you enter eyepiece mode by mistake, for example, when you are holding the camera while holding the grip and carrying it around your waist, or when you are not looking and there is an object in the eyepiece detection part of the camera. This is because it is considered that driving the lens over the entire range when the focus cannot be detected due to eye proximity detection is not good. This poses problems such as increased power consumption and discomfort caused by sudden unexpected lens drive.

Regarding (ii), since the eyepiece mode basically assumes continuous AF, if the auxiliary light is turned on every time, problems such as an increase in power consumption will occur.

[0220] Regarding (iii), since the time when switch S1 (which is always pressed when taking pictures) is often when the subject is firmly captured, AF locks to the subject that was previously focused on. This is because if you do so, you will often be unable to focus on the actual subject you want to photograph. Further, when the switch S1 is not operated, the subject is often changed because the user is looking to find the subject, and when the subject is changed, there is a problem if the AF is locked to the previous subject. Therefore, A
Does not lock F. Hereinafter, regarding these embodiments, only the drawings that are different from the first embodiment will be changed, and the changed parts will be explained based on the drawings.

The second embodiment is a partial modification of the defocus amount calculation subroutine (FIGS. 30 to 34) and the moving object determination subroutine (FIG. 37) of the first embodiment.

[0222] In the second embodiment, the subroutine for calculating the defocus amount is P flow (Fig. 30), Qa flow (Fig. 31), Rb flow (Fig. 49), and Sb flow (Fig. 50).
and T flow (FIG. 34). In other words, R in FIG.
Flow b and Sb flow in FIG. 50 are flows including a changed part of the defocus amount calculation subroutine (FIG. 3
2 and modification of FIG. 33). First, this changed part will be explained.

In FIG. 49, in step #1755, when the integration time TAF1 is greater than or equal to the predetermined value TK (TA
F1≧TK), the process proceeds to added step #1756, and it is determined whether or not the eyepiece mode is set. If it is in eyepiece mode (EP
F=1), and set the flag LCEF to display that the focus cannot be detected so as not to enter the auxiliary light mode (LCEF
F=1), return. If it is not eyepiece mode (EP
F≠1), the processing from step #1760 described above is performed (FIG. 32).

[0224] Furthermore, when the integration time is less than the predetermined value in step #1755 (TAF1<TK), the Sb flow (
Proceeding to step #1788 in FIG. 50), it is determined whether or not the eyepiece mode is set. If it is in eyepiece mode (EPF = 1), the flag LCEF is set to display that focus cannot be detected so as not to enter low contrast scan mode (LCE
F=1), return. If it is not eyepiece mode (EP
F≠1), the processing from step #1790 described above is performed (FIG. 33).

Next, FIG. 51 (modification of FIG. 37) shows a modification of moving object determination, and only the differences from FIG. 37 will be shown and explained.

First, in step #2000H, it is determined whether or not focus is achieved. If it is not in focus (INFF=0)
, return. If the camera is in focus (INFF=1), it is determined whether the camera is in eyepiece mode (step #2002).

If it is the eyepiece mode (EPF=1), the process proceeds to step #2017H, and it is determined whether the mode is the auxiliary light mode. If it is the auxiliary light mode (auxiliary light MF=1), the process returns without determining a moving object. However, do not set it to AF lock. When not in auxiliary light mode (auxiliary light MF=0), step #
The process advances to step 2020, and the process is performed in the same manner as the flow in FIG. 37.

[0228] If the mode is not the eyepiece mode (EPF=0), it is determined in step #2005H whether the mode is the AF lock mode. If it is the AF lock mode (AFM=1), the process returns; if it is not the AF lock mode (AFM=0), it is determined in step #2010 whether or not it is the auxiliary light mode. If it is auxiliary light mode (auxiliary light MF=1) step #2
At 015, the process returns with AFM=1 to lock the AF, and if it is not the auxiliary light mode (auxiliary light MF≠1), the process proceeds to step #2020.

In the figure, in step #2075, when the velocity v at the image plane is less than 0.75 mm/sec,
I am returning. In FIG. 37 of the first embodiment, after this
AF lock is determined, but by deleting this, AF lock is not activated in eyepiece mode. Regarding the display, unlike the case of FIG. 47, the transition from d to g is eliminated as shown in FIG. Also,(
After 1-st focusing in d), if the object is in focus, it is displayed as 《》, but if it is out of focus, it is displayed as 《》. Furthermore, when the object is moving (e), the same procedure as in (d) is used.

[0230] In the second embodiment, the low contrast scan is not performed in the eyepiece mode, but in the following modification (third embodiment), this is performed only when necessary. I'm trying to reduce the frequency. When it is necessary, the focus detection range DF in the optical axis direction is
This is when EN is smaller than the defocus range DFRA (from the shortest photographing distance to ∞) of the lens.

This is shown in the Sc flow (FIG. 53), which is the flow of the third embodiment corresponding to the Sb flow (FIG. 50) in the second embodiment. Here, when it is determined that the eyepiece mode is in step #1788 (EPF
=1), a step of determining whether the focal length is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (f=210 mm) is added.

[0232] For lenses of 210 mm or more (f≧210
), DFEN≦DFRA, and in this case, the process advances to step #1790 to perform a low contrast scan. Here, since it is not an interchangeable lens, the comparison is based on focal length, but in the case of an interchangeable lens, DFRA may be read from the lens and compared with DFEN.

Next, a fourth embodiment will be explained. Second, the eyepiece mode is basically continuous AF.
In the third embodiment, the auxiliary light mode is prohibited. However, if focus cannot be detected when it is dark or when the contrast is low, the emission of auxiliary light is effective for AF.

However, as described above, there is a problem in that the power consumption increases when the auxiliary light is emitted. Therefore, in this embodiment, the auxiliary light is used once for multiple focus detections, so that even if the auxiliary light is used in the eyepiece mode, the power consumption does not become so large that it becomes a problem. Specifically, in the auxiliary light mode in which light is emitted once for every 10 focus detections, the integration time is long (because it is dark), so the time is set to approximately once every 1 to 1.5 seconds.

In the fourth embodiment, the S1ON subroutine consists of a Ub flow (FIG. 54), a V flow (FIG. 14), and a W flow (FIG. 15). In other words, the Ub flow in FIG. 54 is a flow that includes changes to the S1ON subroutine in the first embodiment (a modification of FIG. 13). This changed part refers to the addition of a step in step #501-11 of resetting the counter NALT, which counts the number of focus detections in the auxiliary light mode, to 0 as an initial setting. S
By changing the 1ON subroutine, the auxiliary light AF is controlled again after S1ON.

FIG. 55 is a modification of timer interrupt II (FIG. 8). Reset the timer TLC that measures the time after focus cannot be detected even when performing low contrast scan.
Step #332 to start is inserted. This change was made after the low-contrast scan.
This is to prevent low-contrast scanning from not being performed when the user continues to look in the eyepiece mode and changes the shooting scene or when focus cannot be detected even after performing low-contrast scanning.

FIGS. 56 and 57 are modifications of the integral control subroutine (FIG. 24). Step #13
Insert step #1349 before 50, step #1
Steps #1355-1 to #1355-4 and #1355-6 to #1355-10 are inserted after step #1355, and step #1362 is inserted after step #1360.

[0238] In step #1349, the flag auxiliary light emission F is reset to 0. Step #1355-1 is performed when the auxiliary light mode is set in step #1355 (auxiliary light M
F=1) to detect whether or not the eyepiece mode is set. When not in eyepiece mode (EPEF≠1), step #1
The process proceeds to step 355-10, and it is determined whether focus cannot be detected even if the auxiliary light is emitted. If it is impossible (LCEF=1),
Proceed to step #1365 without emitting the auxiliary light. If it is not possible (LCEF=0), the process proceeds to step #1360, and the emission of the auxiliary light is controlled.

[0239] If the eyepiece mode is determined in step #1355-1 (EPF=1), the number of focus detections in the auxiliary light mode is N.
Set ALT to NALT=NALT+1 (step #13
55-2), it is determined whether or not the number has reached 11 (step #1355-3). If it becomes 11, NALT is set to 1 (step #1355-4), and if NALT is not 11, step #1355-4 is skipped and the process proceeds to step #1355-6.

[0240] The above steps #1355-2 to #1355-4 are as follows.
It is determined whether it is the first time or the tenth time after the auxiliary light is emitted. It is determined in step #1355-6 whether NALT=1 or not, and if it is 1, the process proceeds to step #1360 to emit the auxiliary light.
Proceed to. If NALT≠1, it is determined whether NALT=2 (step #1355-7). If it is 2, it is determined whether the flag AGCCHF for changing the gain is set (step #1355-8). If set, focus adjustment is enabled by changing the gain, and the process proceeds to step #1355-9 where the
HF is reset (AGCCHF=0) and light emission control is performed (steps #1355-7, 8).

[0241] When NALT≠2 in step #1355-7 or flag AGCC is set in step #1355-8.
When HF is not set (AGCCHF≠1), the process proceeds to step #1365 without performing light emission control to increase the light emission interval. The added step #1362 is a flag (filling light emission F=1) that sets a flag (filling light emission F) indicating when the auxiliary light is emitted.

[0242] In the fourth embodiment, the subroutines for calculating the defocus amount are P flow (Fig. 30), Qb flow (Fig. 58), Rc flow (Fig. 59), and Sc flow (Fig. 53).
and T flow (FIG. 34). In other words, Q in Figure 58
The b flow and the Rc flow in FIG. 59 are flows including changes to the defocus amount calculation subroutine of the third embodiment (modifications of FIGS. 31 and 49).

First, in the Qb flow of FIG. 58, in step #1650 flags LCF1 to
If all 4 are not 1, proceed to additional step #1651. Here, it is determined whether the auxiliary light is emitted. If the auxiliary light is not emitting (auxiliary light emission F=
0), flag to reset the auxiliary light mode (auxiliary light M
F) (auxiliary light MF=0, step #165
2), proceed to step #1655.

This is because in the eyepiece mode and the auxiliary light mode, when focus detection becomes possible without emitting the auxiliary light, the auxiliary light mode is exited. When the auxiliary light emission flag is set in step #1651 (auxiliary light emission F=1), step #1 is immediately performed.
Proceed to 655.

In the Rc flow of FIG. 59, steps #1752-1 to #1 are performed after step #1752.
752-5 is added, and step #1762 is added after step #1760.

[0246] First, if it is determined in step #1752 that it is not the auxiliary light mode, the process advances to step #1752-1.
Determine whether the low contrast scan is finished. If not completed (LCEF≠1), the process advances to step #1755. If completed (LCEF=1), step #1
The process advances to step 752-2, and it is determined whether the flag EPF indicating eyepiece mode is set. If not set (EPF≠1), return. If it is the eyepiece mode (EPF=1), it is determined whether 2 seconds have elapsed after the low contrast scan (step #1752-3). When 2 seconds have elapsed (TLC≧2s), the low contrast scan flag is reset to perform another low contrast scan if necessary (LCSF=0, step #1752-4), and the low contrast scan end flag is also reset. (LCEF=0
, step #1752-5), and proceeds to step #1755. If 2 seconds have not elapsed (TLC<2s), return.

Further, in additional step #1762, NALT representing the number of focus detections in the auxiliary light mode is reset (NALT=0).

[0248] The meanings of the flags used in the embodiments of the present invention are shown in Tables 3 and 4 below, the meanings of interrupts are shown in Table 5, and the meanings of variables and symbols are shown in Tables 6, 7, and 8 below. Shown below.

[0249]

[Math 1]

0250]

[Table 1]

[0251]

[Table 2]

0252]

[Table 3]

0253]

[Table 4]

0254]

[Table 5]

0255]

[Table 6]

0256]

[Table 7]

0257]

[Table 8]

[0258]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, there is an eye-approach detection means for detecting that the photographer has looked into the finder, and when the eye-approach detection means detects that the photographer has looked into the finder, the in-focus position of the photographing lens is detected. a focus detection means, an AF lens drive control means for driving and controlling a focusing lens to a focus position detected by the focus detection means by continuous AF, and an image of a subject necessary for detection by the focus detection means is obtained. auxiliary illumination means for emitting auxiliary light when the auxiliary illumination means is not present, and control such that automatic focusing is performed by the focus detection means and the AF lens drive control means while repeatedly emitting the auxiliary light by the auxiliary illumination means at predetermined time intervals. Accordingly, it is possible to realize an eye-start AF camera that can perform auxiliary light AF with continuous AF in eye-start AF. In other words, since the emission of the auxiliary light is thinned out during eye-start continuous, continuous AF in the auxiliary light mode can be achieved without any discomfort. As a result, it is possible to avoid repeatedly emitting light until the main subject is determined, which improves the feel of shooting, and because there is no limit to the number of times the auxiliary light can be emitted, it is possible to always maintain focus. Also, LED
This also eliminates unnecessary burdens placed on light sources such as lights.

[0259] Furthermore, when a photographing preparation switch is turned on to start preparation operations necessary for photographing, the auxiliary illumination means emits auxiliary light and the sequence control means controls the automatic focusing, and also performs focus detection. After that, if the configuration is such that the emission of the auxiliary light is prohibited and the automatic focus adjustment operation is terminated, the auxiliary light AF can be performed again, which has the effect of ensuring high focusing accuracy.

[0260] In the auxiliary light AF mode during eye-start continuous, if a display means for displaying the focus in the finder according to the driving amount of the focusing lens is provided, the photographer can use this focus display to roughly indicate the focus. You can know whether it is correct or not.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a first embodiment of the present invention viewed from the front.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the first embodiment of the present invention viewed from behind.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the grip section of the first embodiment of the present invention viewed from the front.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of an in-body circuit built into the camera body of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a reset routine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of AF lens renormalization performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a counter interrupt II subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a timer interrupt II subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for stopping the AF lens performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for eye proximity detection performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11: Timer interrupt I related to the eye proximity detection subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Flowchart representing II.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a timer interrupt I subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing part of the S1ON subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing part of the S1ON subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing part of the S1ON subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the main components related to AF and display of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of a focus detection section according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the state of a photographing screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of a line sensor on a CCD substrate used in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a display in the finder of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a lens driving subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an exposure calculation subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an AF control subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of integral control performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit that performs AF processing in double speed mode in the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a timing chart in normal speed mode in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a timing chart in double speed mode in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a double speed/normal speed determination subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a major algorithm flow executed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing part of a subroutine for defocus amount calculation performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing part of a subroutine for defocus amount calculation performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing part of a subroutine for defocus amount calculation performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing part of a subroutine for defocus amount calculation performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing part of a subroutine for defocus amount calculation performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for main determination performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing a panning detection interrupt subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing part of a subroutine for determining a moving object performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing a one-shot/continuous switching subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing an S1 trigger auto-one/con subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing a 0.5 sec auto-one/con subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing the S1 auto-one/con subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing a lens driving subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing a drive speed limiting subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing a drive amount set subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart showing a zoom control subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 46 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for ASZ subject distance detection performed by the in-body microcomputer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 47: In-screen display and off-screen A in AF mode (wide area selection) in the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a display indicating an F state.

FIG. 48 is a diagram for explaining an on-screen display and an off-screen display showing the AF state in manual focus mode in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 49 is a second embodiment of the present invention obtained by modifying the defocus amount calculation subroutine (FIG. 30) in the first embodiment;
5 is a flowchart showing part of a subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer of the embodiment.

FIG. 50 is a second embodiment of the present invention obtained by modifying the defocus amount calculation subroutine (FIG. 30) in the first embodiment;
5 is a flowchart showing part of a subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer of the embodiment.

FIG. 51 is a flowchart showing part of a subroutine executed by the in-body microcomputer of the second embodiment of the present invention, which is a modification of the moving object determination subroutine (FIG. 37) of the first embodiment.

FIG. 52: In-screen display and off-screen A in AF mode (wide area selection) in the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a display indicating an F state.

FIG. 53 is a third embodiment of the present invention obtained by modifying the defocus amount calculation subroutine (FIG. 50) in the second embodiment;
5 is a flowchart showing part of a subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer of the embodiment.

FIG. 54 is a flowchart showing part of a subroutine executed by the in-body microcomputer of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is a modification of the S1ON subroutine (FIGS. 13, 14, and 15) in the first embodiment.

FIG. 55 is a flowchart representing a subroutine executed by the in-body microcomputer of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is a modification of the timer interrupt II subroutine (FIG. 8) of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 56 is a flowchart showing part of a subroutine executed by the in-body microcomputer of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is a modification of the integral control subroutine (FIG. 24) of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 57 is a flowchart showing part of a subroutine executed by the in-body microcomputer of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is a modification of the integral control subroutine (FIG. 24) of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 58 is a fourth embodiment of the present invention obtained by modifying the defocus amount calculation subroutine (FIG. 30) in the first embodiment;
5 is a flowchart showing part of a subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer of the embodiment.

FIG. 59 is a fourth embodiment of the present invention obtained by modifying the defocus amount calculation subroutine (FIG. 50) in the second embodiment;
5 is a flowchart showing part of a subroutine performed by the in-body microcomputer of the embodiment.

FIG. 60 is a schematic diagram showing a photometry pattern on the photographing screen in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Penta prism 2...Transmissive liquid crystal (LCD) 3...Focal plate 4...Finder mirror 5...Submirror 6...LCD drive circuit 7...Control circuit 8...Focus detection section 9...Photographing lens 11...CCD board 11-a, 11-b, 11-c, 11-d... Line sensor 12... Re-imaging lens 13... Aperture mask 14... Condenser lens 15... Shooting screen 16... AF/FM changeover switch 17... Light emitting window 18... Finder lens 19... Zoom operation ring 20...LED 21...SPC 22a, 22b...Conductive pattern 23...External cover 111...Slider 112...Release button 114...Body display section 118...AF area change switch BD...Camera body GP...Grip section

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An eyepiece detection means for detecting that a photographer has looked into a finder; a focus detection means for detecting the in-focus position of a photographing lens when detected by the eyepiece detection means; AF lens drive control means that drives and controls the focusing lens to the detected focus position using continuous AF; and auxiliary lighting that emits auxiliary light when the image of the subject necessary for detection by the focus detection means cannot be obtained. and a sequence control means for controlling the focus detection means and the AF lens drive control means to perform automatic focusing while repeatedly emitting auxiliary light by the auxiliary illumination means at predetermined time intervals. Features an eye-start AF camera. 2. The eye-start AF camera according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying focus within a finder in accordance with the amount of drive of the focusing lens. 3. Further, a photographing preparation switch is provided to start a preparation operation necessary for photographing, and when the photographing preparation switch is turned on, the sequence control means causes the auxiliary illumination means to emit auxiliary light and adjusts the automatic focusing. 2. The eye-start AF camera according to claim 1, wherein the eye-start AF camera is controlled to perform automatic focus adjustment and, after detection of focus, prohibits emission of the auxiliary light and ends the automatic focus adjustment operation. 4. The sequence control means is characterized in that while the auxiliary illumination means is not emitting auxiliary light, the sequence control means performs control to perform automatic focusing in a state where no auxiliary light is emitted. The eye-start AF camera according to claim 1. 5. When the photographing preparation switch is turned off,
Claim 3 characterized in that the prohibition of emission of the auxiliary light is canceled.
EyeStart AF camera described in .