JPH04361246A - 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 at the time of the release operation of one camera and releasing another camera upon lapse of the prescribed time after the inputting of the external release signal. CONSTITUTION:A port P13 is set at a high level and a transistor 6 is turned on when the internal 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 the connector 4 and the external release signal is inputted to the 2nd camera by the release operation of the 1st camera. A time measuring means is provided in the 2nd camera to constitute the camera in such a manner that the 2nd camera is release upon lapse of the prescribed time, i.e., after the end of the release sequence of the 1st camera. The high-speed shooting is thus possible.

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 that is equipped with an input/output terminal for an external release signal, and can be released by operating a release button and can also be released by an external release signal input from the input/output terminal. Applies to. The above-mentioned problem is caused by the first timekeeping means that starts timekeeping in response to an external release signal input from the input/output terminal, the release means that releases the release when the timekeeping means measures a predetermined time, and the release. The problem is solved by a camera equipped with a release signal input/output means for outputting an external release signal from the input/output terminal. The camera according to a second aspect of the present invention further includes a second timer for measuring time separately from 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 . Claim 3
The camera further comprises a release signal reception completion signal output means for outputting a signal indicating the input of an external release signal when it recognizes that an external release signal has been input, and an input/output terminal for the release signal reception completion signal. The release signal output means receives the release signal reception completion signal from the release signal reception completion signal input terminal and stops outputting the external release signal. The camera according to claim 4 includes:
In the camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 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.

[0006]

[Operation] When the release button is operated with two cameras connected via the external release signal input/output terminal, one camera is released and the external release signal is output. Upon receiving this, the other cameras activate the first timer and perform a release operation after the set time. As a result, in a system in which two cameras are interconnected, for example, it becomes possible to take pictures at a frame rate twice as high as the frame rate originally possessed by the cameras.

[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, input port PO1 receives the external release signal reception completion signal from the In terminal, and output port PO2 receives the external release signal reception completion signal. is output to the outside from the Out terminal. P10 is an input port connected to the release terminal of the connector 4 via the diode 7, and inputs an external release signal (ground level) applied to the release terminal. 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 port that inputs the internal release signal;
P15 is a port 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 grounded through the diode 11, and the DC-DC converter 2 is activated. Power supply voltage is supplied to the circuit, and the camera is activated. At the same time, an internal activation signal is also input from the switch 12 to the port P15 of the microcomputer 3 via the diode 10, and the camera starts operating.
The operation of converter 2 continues. Then switch 13
is turned on and 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 DC-DC
Control terminal CI of converter 2 is grounded via diode 9, and this also activates DC-DC converter 2 and starts operation of microcomputer 3. 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 operation of the camera is started based on this signal. Similarly, an external release signal input to the release terminal of the connector 4 is detected by the port P10 of the microcomputer 3, and the camera release sequence is started after a predetermined period of time, as will be described later. Further, when an external release signal is input, an external release signal reception completion signal is output from the output port P02 of the microcomputer 3 to the Out terminal of the connector 4.

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. Also, when the switch 13 is turned on with the second stroke of the release button and the camera's internal release signal is input to port P14, port P
13 is set to high level to turn on transistor 6, and the release terminal of connector 4 is set to low level to output an external release signal. Therefore, connect another camera with a similar connector to GND and GND through this connector 4, respectively.
By connecting to the activation and release terminal, an external release signal can be input to the second camera by a release operation of the first camera. If the second camera is provided with a timer and the second camera is configured to be released after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, that is, after the release sequence of the first camera is completed, high-speed continuous shooting becomes possible. Further, the first camera can be released again after a predetermined time by the output of the external release signal of the second camera that is output at this time. The output of the external release signal may be stopped after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the output of the external release signal, or when an external release signal reception completion signal indicating that the external release signal has been received from the connected second camera is output. It may be performed when the first camera is input. In the case of the former method, it is not necessarily necessary to send and receive signals through special signal input/output terminals such as an In terminal and an Out terminal.

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. The GND, activation, and release connector terminals of the first camera CA are connected to the second camera C, respectively.
Connected to B's GND, startup, and release terminals. Also, the Out terminal of camera CA is connected to the In terminal of camera CB,
The In terminal of camera CA is connected to the Out terminal of camera CB.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of this camera system. Here, it is assumed that the camera is set to a continuous shooting mode in which shooting is repeated continuously if the release switch 13 is operated. Note that waveforms related to activation by the half-press switch 12 are omitted. The operation will be explained below. Before time T0, camera CA
The Out terminal of the camera CB is at a high level, and the In terminal, that is, the Out terminal of the camera CB is also at a high level. now,
When the release switch 13 of the camera CA is operated at time T0, the camera CA is released. At time T1, camera CA enters the release sequence and camera C
A outputs an external release signal from the release terminal. When the camera CB receives this signal, it sets the Out terminal to a low level at time T2 to inform the camera CA that the external release signal has been input, and starts a timer to start measuring time. When camera CA recognizes that camera CB has received an external release signal, camera CA
At time T4, the output of the external release signal is set to high level and the output is stopped.
Set the t terminal to high level. When the timer setting time elapses at time T5, the camera CB starts a release sequence and outputs an external release signal. This external release signal is input to the release terminal of camera CA.

Then, the external release signal is sent to camera C.
When A recognizes this, at time T6 camera CA sets the Out terminal to low level and outputs an external release signal reception completion signal. When camera CB receives this signal, it sets the external release signal to high level at time T7 and stops outputting the external release signal, and in response, camera CA switches to high level at time T8.
Set the ut terminal to high level. Camera CA also starts timing when an external release signal is input at time T5. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the release switch 13
is operated (if port P14 is at a low level), the release operation resumes at time T9 and an external release signal is output. When camera CB receives this signal, it sets the Out terminal to low level at time T10 to notify camera CA that the external release signal has been input.
In response to this, at time T11, camera CA sets the output of the external release signal to a high level and stops outputting it. Then, at time T12, camera CB sets the Out terminal to high level. The camera CB also starts a timing operation from time T9, obtains a timing output at time T13, enters a release operation, and outputs an external release signal. Time T1
At time T4, camera CA sets its Out terminal to low level, and at time T15, camera CB sets its external release signal to high level and stops its output. Then, at time T16, camera CA sets the Out terminal to high level. Time T17
Since the release button of camera CA is released, this series of sequences ends.

In this embodiment, the timer setting time is
By setting the time to approximately half the time required for the release sequence of the two cameras (if there is a difference between the two cameras, the longer of the two), it becomes possible to alternately release the releases at equal intervals in time.

[0017] 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. Moreover, although the two cameras are connected by a cable, a system for non-contact connection using infrared light or the like, such as an optical remote control device, may be configured.

[0018]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, an external release signal is output to the other camera during the release operation of one camera,
Since the other camera is configured to release after a predetermined period of time has passed after inputting the external release signal, the other camera can be automatically released with a time difference, and one camera can be released following the release operation of the other camera. This enables 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 of a system configured by connecting two cameras of FIG. 1 with cables.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of the system in 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] Claim 1: A camera that is equipped with an input/output terminal for an external release signal, and can be released by operating a release button, and can also be released by an external release signal input from the input/output terminal, wherein the external release signal is input from the input/output terminal. a first timer that starts timing in response to a release signal; a release device that releases the release when the timer measures a predetermined time; and a release that outputs an external release signal from the input/output terminal in conjunction with the release. 1. A camera that releases using an external release signal, comprising: signal output means. 2. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a second timer for measuring time separately from the first timer, and the release signal output means is configured such that the second timer measures the time in a predetermined manner. 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 a release signal reception completion signal input/output means for outputting a signal indicating that when inputting an external release signal is recognized, and a release signal reception completion signal input/output means. What is claimed is: 1. A camera that releases using an external release signal, comprising a terminal, and the release signal output means stops outputting the external release signal upon receiving a release signal reception completion signal from the release signal reception completion signal input terminal. 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.