JPH04361245A - Camera to be released by external release signal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the high-speed continuous shooting with the camera without having a high-speed winding motor by outputting an external release signal to another camera upon lapse of the prescribed time from the release operation of one camera. CONSTITUTION:A port P13 is set at a high level and a transistor 6 is turned on when a timer provided in a microcomputer 3 measures the specified time if the release signal of the camera is inputted to a port P14 by turning on of a switch 13 in the 2nd stroke of a release button. The release terminal of a connector 4 is then set at a low level and the external release signal is outputted. Then, another camera having a similar connector is connected to GND, start and release terminals, respectively, via this connector 4, by which the 2nd camera is started with the half-pushing operation of the 1st camera. The 2nd camera is automatically released upon lapse of the prescribed time by a release operation.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera that uses an external release signal to perform continuous shooting at a frame rate higher than that of a normal camera.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to perform high-speed continuous shooting, it was necessary to increase the frame speed by using a high-speed winding motor.

0003

However, this prior art requires a camera equipped with a high-speed hoisting motor.

An object of the present invention is to provide a camera that enables high-speed continuous shooting without using a camera equipped with a high-speed winding motor.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The invention as claimed in claim 1 is a camera which is provided with an external input/output terminal for a release signal, and can be released by operating a release button as well as by a release signal inputted from the external input/output terminal. Applies to. The above-mentioned problem is solved by including a first timer that starts timekeeping in response to a release button operation, and a release signal output means that outputs a release signal from an external input/output terminal when this timer measures a predetermined time. The solution is to use a camera that does this. The camera according to a second aspect of the invention further includes a second timer that measures a longer time than the first timer, and the release signal input/output means outputs a release signal when the second timer measures a predetermined time. This is to stop the output of . A camera according to a third aspect of the present invention further includes a release sequence signal output means for outputting a release sequence signal indicating the start and end of a release sequence, and a release sequence signal input means to the configuration of the first aspect, and a release signal output means. However, the output of the release signal is stopped upon receiving a release sequence start signal from the release sequence signal input terminal. The camera according to claim 4 is the camera according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the first
The setting time of the timing means is approximately half the time required from the start of the camera release operation to the completion of preparation for the next release operation.

[0006]

[Operation] When the release button is operated with two cameras connected via the external release signal input/output terminal, the release of one camera is performed, and the external release is released after the time set by the first timer. A signal is output and other cameras are automatically released. This allows for example 2
In a system in which multiple cameras are interconnected, it is possible to take pictures at a frame rate that is twice the original frame rate of the camera.

[0007]

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be explained using FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of this embodiment, where 1 is a battery, and 2 is a DC-D converter that converts the battery voltage into a stable voltage.
A C converter is shown. The DC-DC converter 2 has power input terminals Vin+ and Vin-, an output terminal Vout that supplies a stable voltage to the circuit system inside the camera, and a control terminal CI for turning on and off the Vout output.
When grounded, this DC-DC converter 2 starts,
A more stable voltage is output from the output terminal Vout. 3 is a microcomputer for controlling the release sequence of the camera, which includes a memory, a judgment circuit, an arithmetic circuit, a timer, and the like. 4 is a connector for connecting to another camera; 12 and 13 are half-press and full-press switches that are linked to the release button on the camera body; switch 12 is turned on by the first stroke of the release button, and the internal A start signal is output, and the switch 13 is turned on at the second stroke of the release button to output an internal release signal.

The microcomputer 3 has a power terminal Vd
d and Vss, and input/output ports P01, P02, P1
0 to P15. P01 is an input port connected to the signal input (In) terminal of connector 4, P02
is an output port connected to the signal output (Out) terminal of the connector 4, the input port PO1 inputs the release sequence signal from the outside from the In terminal, and the output port PO2 inputs the release sequence signal to the Out terminal. Output to the outside from. P10 is an input port connected to the release terminal of the connector 4 via the diode 7, and receives an external release signal (
ground level). P11 is an input port connected to the activation terminal of the connector 4 via the diode 8, and inputs an external activation signal (ground level) applied to the activation terminal.

P12 and P13 are output ports connected to the gates of transistors 5 and 6, respectively. When a high level signal is output to port P12, transistor 5 is turned on and an external start signal is output to the start terminal. When a high level is output to port P13, transistor 6 is turned on and an external release signal is output to the release terminal. P14 is a terminal for inputting the internal release signal, P
15 is a terminal for inputting an internal activation signal of the camera.

When the switch 12 is turned on, the control terminal CI of the DC-DC converter 2 is connected via the diode 11.
is grounded, thereby starting the DC-DC converter 2, supplying power supply voltage from the output terminal Vout to the microcomputer 3 and other circuits, and starting the camera. At the same time, an internal activation signal is inputted from the switch 12 to the port P15 of the microcomputer 3 via the diode 10 to operate the camera, and further, the operation of the DC-DC converter 2 is continued for a certain period of time by a power supply hold circuit (not shown). Then, when the switch 13 is turned on and the port P14 is grounded, the camera starts the release sequence.

On the other hand, by applying an external start signal (ground level) to the start terminal of the connector 4, the control terminal CI of the DC-DC converter 2 is grounded via the diode 9, and as a result, the DC-DC converter 2 is activated, and the microcomputer 3 starts operating. The application of the external activation signal to the activation terminal of the connector 4 is detected by the port P11 of the microcomputer 3, and the camera starts operating based on this signal. Similarly, the external release signal input to the release terminal of connector 4 is
It is detected by the port P10 of the microcomputer 3, and the camera release sequence is started. Further, during the release sequence (from the start of the release sequence to the completion of film winding), a release sequence signal is output from the output port P02 of the microcomputer 3 to the Out terminal of the connector 4 to notify the release sequence.

When the switch 12 is turned on by the first stroke of the release button and the internal activation signal of the camera is input to the port P15, the port P12 is set to high level, the transistor 5 is turned on, and the activation terminal of the connector 4 is turned on. − level and outputs an external activation signal. In addition, when the switch 13 is turned on with the second stroke of the release button and the camera release signal is input to port P14, when the timer provided in the microcomputer 3 measures a certain period of time, port P13 is set to high level. The transistor 6 is turned on, the release terminal of the connector 4 is set to low level, and an external release signal is output. Therefore, by connecting another camera with a similar connector to the GND, start, and release terminals through this connector 4, the second camera can be started by half-pressing the first camera.
The release operation allows the second camera to be automatically released after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

FIG. 2 is a connection diagram of a camera system in which two cameras configured as described above are connected by a cable via the connector 4. As shown in FIG. GND, activation, and release connector terminals of the first camera CA are connected to GND, activation, and release terminals of the second camera CB, respectively. Further, the Out terminal of the camera CA is connected to the In terminal of the camera CB, and the In terminal of the camera CA is connected to the Out terminal of the camera CB. Note that 14 is a release button.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of this camera system. Note that waveforms related to activation by the half-press switch 12 are omitted. Hereinafter, focusing on the first camera CA, its operation will be explained.

[0015] Before time T0, port P of camera CA
02 is at a high level, and the P01 input, that is, the port P02 of camera CB is also at a high level, indicating that neither of the two cameras is in a release inhibited state. Now, when the release switch 13 of the camera CA is operated at time T0, the camera CA starts a release sequence. When camera CA starts a release sequence at time T1, it outputs a low-level release sequence signal indicating this from port P02. Furthermore, when the release switch 13 is turned on, a timer (first timer) built in the microcomputer 3 of the camera CA is started and time measurement is started. When the set time of the timer has elapsed at time T2, the camera CA sets the port P13 to a high level to turn on the transistor 6, and sets the release terminal of the connector 4 to a low level to output an external release signal. In response to this, camera CB enters the release sequence at time T3, the Out terminal of the connector of camera CB becomes low level at time T3, and port P01 of microcomputer 3 of camera CA becomes low level. . As a result, the microcomputer 3 of camera CA
Recognizing that camera B has entered the release sequence, the first camera CA stops outputting the external release signal at time T4. This is another timer (second timer) at time T2.
This can also be achieved by starting the timer and using its timing output. In this case, it is not necessarily necessary to send and receive signals through special signal input/output terminals such as the In terminal and the Out terminal.

The following explanation will be given assuming that the camera is set to continuous shooting mode, and the release operation is repeated at predetermined intervals while the release button is pressed. That is, at time T5, the port P02 becomes high level and the release sequence of the camera CA ends. However, when the microcomputer 3 detects that the port P14 is still at low level immediately after time T5, the time At T6, the release sequence of the first camera CA starts again. As a result, port P02 becomes low level. Furthermore, the first timer starts counting again from time T5. At time T7, the release sequence of the camera CB ends, the external release sequence signal input to the In terminal of the connector of the camera CA rises, and the port P01 of the microcomputer 3 of the camera CA becomes high level. Then, when the set time of the timer has elapsed at time T8, the external release signal is outputted again from the camera CA. As a result, the camera CB enters the release sequence again from time T9, the external release sequence signal input to the In terminal of the connector of the camera CA falls, and the port P0 of the microcomputer 3 of the camera CA falls.
1 is a low level. At time T10, the output of the external release signal from camera CA is stopped, and at time T12, the release sequence of camera CA ends, and at time T13, the release sequence of camera CB ends. Since the release button of the first camera CA is released at time T11, the release button of the first camera CA is released at time T11.
The microcomputer 3 that monitors the port P14 immediately after 12 recognizes that the port P14 is at a high level, and therefore does not enter into a new release sequence.

The conditions for alternate release of the two cameras will now be described. When the two cameras are released alternately, there are cases where the releases are made at equal intervals in time, and there are cases where the releases are made as fast as possible even if the two cameras are not evenly spaced in time.

[0018] First, to explain the method for releasing the camera as quickly as possible, the camera CA outputs an external release signal after a certain predetermined time after the release button is pressed.
Release the camera CB. After that, input port P01
It detects that CB changes from a low level to a high level, that is, it detects that the release sequence of the camera CB has ended, and outputs a release signal again. By repeating this, alternate release can be achieved at high speed.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the release button of camera CA is pressed at time T0, camera CA is released, and an external release signal is output at time T2 after a predetermined time has elapsed. As a result, port P01 is notified that camera CB has entered the release sequence at time T3.
The output of the release signal is stopped at time T4. Next, after the release sequence of camera CA ends at time T5, camera CA is released again at time T6. Then, at time T7, port P01 goes low.
When it is detected that the level changes from high level to high level, that is, the release sequence of camera CB is completed, time T
At step 8, the external release signal is outputted again. When it is detected that the camera CB has entered the release sequence at time T9, the output of the external release signal is stopped at time T10. By repeating this process, alternate release can be achieved at high speed.

Next, a method for releasing at equal intervals in time will be described. In this case, the delay time T0 to T2 from when the release button is operated to when the external release signal is output, and from when the external release signal is output until the start of the next release operation of the camera itself on the side that operates the release button. The timer setting time may be determined so that the delay time of the timer is the same as the delay time of the timer. In other words, if you set the above timer to approximately half the time it takes for the release sequence of the two cameras (if there is a difference between the two cameras, then the longer of these), then the timer will alternate at equal intervals in time. It becomes possible to release the camera.

[0021] Above, a system in which two cameras are connected and used has been described, but it is also possible to expand the system to three or more cameras. Further, although two cameras are connected using a cable, a system may be configured in which the two cameras are connected in a non-contact manner using infrared light or the like, such as an optical remote control device.

[0022]

According to the present invention, by outputting an external release signal to the other camera after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the release operation of one camera, the other camera can be automatically released with a time difference, and It is also possible to release one camera following the release operation of the other camera, allowing high-speed continuous shooting with a camera that does not have a high-speed winding motor. For example, by using two cameras capable of taking pictures at 4 frames per second, it is possible to take continuous pictures at a maximum of 8 frames per second, and the number of shots can be doubled, which is advantageous for taking pictures of fast-moving subjects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of a camera.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing two cameras in FIG. 1 connected together;

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Battery 2 DC-DC converter 3. Microcomputer 4 Connector 5,6 Transistor 7-11 Diode 12,13 Switch

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A camera that is provided with an external input/output terminal for a release signal, and that releases the camera when a release button is operated and also releases the camera based on a release signal that is input from the external input/output terminal, and starts timing in response to the release button operation. and a release signal output means that outputs a release signal from the external input/output terminal when the timer measures a predetermined time. 2. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a second timer that measures a longer time than the first timer, and wherein the release signal output means is configured such that the second timer measures a time longer than the first timer. A camera that releases using an external release signal, characterized in that the output of the release signal is stopped when time is counted. 3. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising release sequence signal output means for outputting a release sequence signal indicating the start and end of a release sequence, and an input/output terminal for the release sequence signal, A camera that releases using an external release signal, wherein the output means receives a release sequence start signal from a release sequence signal input terminal and stops outputting the release signal. 4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the set time of the first timer is approximately half the time required from the start of the camera's release operation to the end of preparation for the next release operation. A camera that releases using an external release signal.