JPH0456928A - Camera with automatic programmed zooming function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent unnecessary power consumption by resetting focal length varying operation when it is decided from a range finding result that the focal length varying means is not necessary for a specific time. CONSTITUTION:A grip part 1 is provided with a grip switch button 2 which detects a photographer holding the grip part 1. A range found value and a light measured value are locked by pressing a release button, provided on the grip part 1, to one stage and exposing operation is started by pressing the button to a 2nd stage. Therefore, the operation for automatic programmed zooming is reset automatically unless releasing operation is performed for a long time after the photographer determines framing or even when the camera is put in a camera case while the operation switch of a focal length varying means is operated. Consequently, unnecessary power consumption is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [1] The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly to a camera having an automatic program zoom function.

In recent years, automatic program zoom (Auto Progr.
The APZ function, which has become known for cameras with am Zoom (hereinafter referred to as rAPZJ) function, is that when the subject distance is determined, the program line that shows the relationship between the subject distance and the shooting magnification β is automatically Determine the photographing magnification according to
This is a function to drive the zoom motor so that the focal length is adjusted to the specified focal length.

On the other hand, in order to save power consumption of the camera, if a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the main switch is left ON and the operation of the switch operation device is completed, for example, Auto Power Off (hereinafter referred to as rAPO) N It is used in Noh 6 Zude.

The problem that Akira is trying to solve The APZ function described above calculates the shooting magnification β from a predetermined program line according to the subject distance, and performs a zoom operation so that the focal length f determined from fβD. When the distance does not change for a predetermined period of time, six distance measurement operations and the above calculation for determining the focal length are performed. However, if the shutter release operation is not performed for a long time after the photographer determines the framing (composition) by the APZ operation, the distance measurement operation and calculation operation are unnecessary.

Furthermore, even if the camera is stored in a camera case or the like with the APZ activation switch in the ON state, it will be a waste of power to perform distance measurement and calculation operations for a long time.

tζth Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above problems, the present invention provides a camera with an automatic program zoom function, which includes a distance measuring means for repeatedly measuring the photographing distance of a subject, and a photographing distance measured by the distance measuring means. A focal length changing means changes the focal length of the photographing lens to a predetermined distance according to the distance, and from the photographing distance repeatedly output from the distance measuring means, it is determined that the operation of the focal length changing means is unnecessary for a predetermined period of time. and prohibition means for prohibiting the subsequent operation of the focal length changing means.
child .

Effects With this configuration, the camera can be easily used even if the photographer does not perform a release operation for a long time after deciding on framing, or if the camera is stored in the camera case with the operation switch of the focal length changing means operated. Since the APZ operation is automatically canceled even when the power is on, unnecessary power consumption can be prevented.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views of the camera according to the present invention viewed from the front left and rear left, respectively, as viewed from the photographer.

In FIG. 1, (1) is a grip section that is considered to be always held when taking a photograph, except in special cases. Grip part (
1) is equipped with a grip switch button (2) for detecting that the photographer is holding the grip. 1 (3) in the figure is a release button provided at the top of the grip (1). Press the button one step to lock the distance measurement value and light metering value, and press the second step to start the exposure operation. (4) is a main switch for starting the camera, and (5) is a flash unit.

In Fig. 2, (6) is a viewfinder, (7> is a light emitting element, such as an LED, for detecting eye contact, and (8) is a light emitting element, for example, S, which receives the light emitted by the light emitting element (7).
FIG. 3, which shows a light receiving element made of a PC, is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the present invention. In FIG. 3, a CPU (microcomputer) (10) controls the entire camera of the present invention, and also performs APZ calculations, and a distance measuring unit (10).
1) calculates the subject distance and uses that data as the CP
Output to U(10). The focal length variable part (12) is CP
The zoom lens motor is driven so that the focal length f is the APZ calculation result calculated within U(1,0). The focal length detection section (13) includes the focal length variable section (12).
When the focal length is changing, the current focal length is detected by a code plate or the like and the detected value is output to the CPU (10). The flash (14) has a capacitor for light emission inside, and the capacitor is charged by the charging signal from the CPU (10), and the charging completion signal is sent to the CPU (10).
). The photometering section (15) measures the subject brightness,
The data is output to the CPU (10). Exposure control section (
16) is an eyepiece detection unit (17) that performs release operation and film winding based on control signals from the CPU (10).
includes a light emitting element (7) shown in FIG. 2 and a light receiving element (8) for detecting reflected light of the FC light emitted from the light emitting element (7). When the photographer looks through the viewfinder (6), the eye proximity detection section (17) detects the light emitted from the light emitting element (7) and detects the light emitted from the light receiving element (7) at a reflected light level within a predetermined range. 8). The timer section (18) is an APO (Au t ) that stops the operation of the camera when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since a predetermined switch (operation) was no longer operated.

Power Off) function is also for
(19) is an E2FROM in which version No. 9 of camera operation software and the like are recorded.

Next, the switches will be explained. Main switch (S
M) is a switch for starting the camera.

The grip switch (SO) is a switch that is turned on when the grip switch (2) shown in FIG. 1 is pressed, and detects when the photographer grasps the grip and starts the photographing operation. A lock switch (Sl) locks the distance measurement value, photometry value, and photographing magnification. The lock switch (Sl) is turned on by pressing down the release button (3) shown in FIG. 1 one step. The exposure control switch (S2) performs ONL and release operations by pressing down the release button (3) two steps. A flash light emitting switch (SF) is a switch that is turned on when performing flash photography.

In addition, when the CPU is equipped with a power supply, a timer,
tζ Minori set terminal (RE) that resets registers, etc.
S) is provided.

Next, the processing performed within the CPU (10) in FIG. 1 will be explained based on the flowcharts in FIGS. 4 to 9.

When the power battery is installed, the CPU (10) executes the rREsETJ routine shown in FIG. First step (
Initial reset of timers, registers, etc. is performed in #1). When the initial reset is completed, E2 is performed in step (#2).
Write version No. 1 of the operating software to FROM. Next, in step (#3), E2PROM (1
9) to step (#2) to write version N.
Read O1 and read E2PROM (
19) is correct. If the data is incorrect, photography will not be allowed. If the data is correct, press the main switch (SM) in step (#5).
When the switch (SM) is turned on, the camera is activated and the rMA I NJ sill shown in Figure 5 is activated.
transition to

The rMA I NJ screen in FIG. 5 will be explained.

First, in step #6), the grip switch (SG
) is ON. Wait for the switch (SG) to turn on and then perform rA in step (#7), which will be described later.
Move to PZJ's subroutine. In step (#8), it is determined whether the switch (Sl) is ON or not, and
If l) is OFF, the above steps (#6) to (#7)
Repeat the steps up to. If the switch (Sl) is ON, the process moves to the rsl ONJ subroutine of step (#9), which will be described later. After the rsI ONJ subroutine, the main switch (S
It is determined whether M) is ON or not, and if it is OFF, the photographing operation is ended. If the switch (SM) is ON, step (#
In step 11), a predetermined value T is set in timer 1 and started. Next, in step (#12), it is determined whether or not timer 1 has counted up. This timer l is the APO timer described earlier. If timer 1 has not counted up, return to step (#6>) and repeat the above operation. If timer 1 has counted up, turn off the display etc. and switch (SG) or tζ is on standby until switch (Sl) is turned on again. becomes.

Next, the subroutine of rAPZJ will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the grip switch (SG) is pressed and the routine shifts to this routine, step (#13) is first executed.
), the register C0UNT in the CPU (10) used for eye proximity detection is reset to 0, and step (#1
4) Start timer 2. This timer 2 is a timer set to generate an interrupt every predetermined time, and when the predetermined time elapses, the CPU executes the r l NTJ routine shown in FIG. 7 as an interrupt process. In Fig. 7, the grip switch (SG) is
) is ON or not, and if it is OFF, that is, the photographer is not holding the grip (in most cases, there is no intention to photograph), the process moves to step (#42) and register C0UNT20 is determined. Return. Note that the step (
The same determination is made in step #6) and step (#41), but it is determined whether the grip part (1) is released or the grip switch button (2>
This is because only the parts may be separated. If the switch (SG) is ON (that is, if you are about to take a picture), proceed to step (#43) and open the viewfinder (6) in Figure 2.
A light-emitting element (7) emits light in a pulsed manner to save power consumption, which causes a light-emitting element (for example, an LED) (7) installed nearby to emit light.Then, the reflected light is transmitted to a light-receiving element (8) such as an SPC. Upon receiving the light, it is determined in step (#44) whether the reflected light level is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.Here, the predetermined value refers to the viewfinder (6) and the photographer's eyes (mainly the photographer's eyes).
This is the value of the reflected light level when the distance is several mm (for example, 5 mm) from If so, this is the reference value for determining that the person is not looking through the finder (6).

If the reflected light level is above a predetermined value, step (#4
5) and set the contents of register C0UNT to C0UNT.
+1 (COUNT=CO1JNT+1), and then it is determined whether the contents of the register C0UNT obtained in step ($45) are 2 or more. If C0UNT≧2, the process returns in step (#47) with C0UNT=2, and if C0UNT<2, the process returns with the contents of the register C0UNT obtained in step ($45) unchanged.

That is, when the photographer holds the grip shown in Figure 1 to perform a photographing operation and looks through the viewfinder (6) in Figure 2, the register C0UN is set at step (#13) in Figure 6.
Since the content of T is 0, even if the reflected light level caused by the light emission of the first light emitting element (7) is higher than the predetermined value, C0LINT = 1 in step (#45) and the INT routine (eyepiece detection routine) is exited. If the 0th order timer interrupt occurs and the reflected light level remains above the predetermined value even if the light emitting element (7) emits light, C0UNT = 2, and APZ is determined by the determination in step (#14) in Figure 6. Move to action. The reason why the camera does not shift to APZ operation by detecting the level of reflected light from the light emitted by the first light emitting element (7) is to prevent noise, and also to prevent the zoom operation from starting during framing. It is. If the reflected light level is less than the predetermined value in step (#44), the process moves to step (148), and the register C
Set the contents of 0tJNT to C0IJNT-1 (COUN
T=COtJNT-1), then in step (#49) register C0UNT obtained in step (148)
Determine whether the content of is less than or equal to 0, and if it is less than 0, set C0UNT=O in step (4t50), and if it is thicker than 0, set the register C0UN obtained in step ($48>).
0 to return with the contents of T unchanged Next, this step (
#44) (#48) (#49) (#50)
The processing will be explained based on an actual photographing operation. If you are not looking through the viewfinder 6) before shooting, register C.
Since the content of 0UNT is 0, APZ is not activated, but if you move your eye away from the viewfinder (6) while APZ is operating, the level of reflected light in step (#44) will be determined to be below the predetermined value. .

However, even if the reflected light level is below a predetermined value, the AP
The operation of Z does not stop, and the operation of APZ is stopped only when the reflected light level 6 due to light emission from the next light emitting element (7) becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value. This is also a step ($45) ~ 147
), this is for noise countermeasures.

Returning to the flowchart in Figure 6, step (#15)
It is determined whether the contents of register C01JNT are 2 or not. Wait until C0UNT=2 (that is, it is determined that you are looking into the finder (6)), and then proceed to step (#16).
). In step (#16), the timer 3 is reset and started (time 1 = 0). This timer 3 and the above-mentioned timer 2 are both built-in units of the CPtJ. 11) and the photometry section (15) perform known distance measurement and photometry operations. In step (#18), focusing is performed, and in step (#19) the subject distance D□ is determined.

Next, timer 30 started in step (#16)
The force unloading operation lasts for a predetermined time (0.5 seconds in this example).
It is determined in step (#20) whether or not the time has elapsed.

If it is within 0.5 seconds, move to step (#17) and repeat steps ($17) to ($19) until 0.
．． When 5 seconds have elapsed, the next predetermined time (
In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not one second has elapsed. That is, if one second has not elapsed (0,5≦t<1), it is determined in step (#22) whether the change in the subject distance D□ is within a predetermined value. If it is not within the predetermined value, it is determined that the photographer is in the process of deciding on the composition of the subject, and the process moves to step (#17).
17) to (4t21) are repeated. It is determined that the subject composition has been determined when the change in subject distance is within a predetermined value, or timer 3 is set in step ($21).
Step (#23) when the counting operation of 1 second has passed.
To summarize the operations related to the timer 3, which starts the subsequent zoom operation, the zoom operation is prohibited within 0.5 seconds after the eye is detected.

For 0.5 to 1 second, the zoom operation is performed only when the subject distance D□ is stable, and for 1 second or more, the zoom operation is performed regardless of the subject distance DT. Note that the reason why the timer 3 is operated in steps ($16) to (#22) is to prevent the zoom operation from being started during framing and to take measures against noise.

When moving to zoom operation, first in step (#23), the subject distance D1 and AP obtained in step (118) are
A focal length f1 corresponding to a predetermined imaging magnification β1 determined by the Z program line is calculated.

When fy is determined, it is determined in step (#24) whether or not it is C0UNTO. If C0UNT=O1, that is, it is determined that the photographer is not looking through the finder (6), the zoom operation is stopped if zooming is in progress, and the process returns.

If C0IJNT≠0, it is determined in step (#26) whether the main switch (SM) is ON or not, and if the main switch is OFF, the process moves to step (#27), and if zooming is in progress, it is zoomed. In this way, in step (#24) to stop the operation and return, C0UNT
The reason for determining whether or not =0 is as follows. That is, after exiting the rlNTJ routine in FIG.
0UNT=2, steps (#16) ~ ($23)
Even while executing C0UN
Interruptions at predetermined time intervals following the previous interrupt with T=2 are performed without stopping. Therefore step (#
In step 24), it is necessary to determine whether C0UNT=O by interrupting every predetermined time thereafter.

Also, when steps (#16) to (#23) are being executed, step (#
44) may be determined to be N (reflected light level less than a predetermined value). C0UNT = 2 due to the previous interrupt processing
Therefore, in step (#48) C0U
NT becomes 21, and at step (#49), it is judged as N and returns with cOUNT=1. Steps (#16) to (#23) are executed by this special sale interrupt processing.
) is executed, and when step (#24) is reached, step (#24) judges that C0UNT is not 0, and the next step (4t2
We will proceed to step 6). However, C0UNT-1
After returning with the contents, the next step (#48) becomes C0UNT = 0 due to an interrupt at a predetermined time interval, and the process returns via steps (#49) and (#50). Therefore, the previous interrupt causes the step (# 24), step (#39) is executed to wait for the switch (Sl) to be turned on.
24), then step ($24) smell 1' again.
A determination is made as to whether C0UNT=0 or not. C0UNT=
As a result, the process returns after passing through step (#25), so no malfunction occurs.

If the switch (SM) is ON, it is determined in step (#28) whether the switch (Sl) is ON. If the switch (Sl) is not ON (OFF), the current focal length fH is determined by the focal length detection section (13) in FIG. 3, and whether or not it is equal to the focal length f determined in step (#23). Determine.

If not, the zoom operation is started so that the focal length becomes f1, and the process returns to step ($24) and the operations of steps (#24) to (#30) are repeated. In step (#28), the switch (Sl ) is ON, the process moves to the rst ONJ routine described later. Step (
If fN:fy in #30), the zoom operation is stopped in step (#32).

If fh=f□ before the zoom drive, it is assumed that there is no need for the zoom drive and the zoom operation is not performed.

FIG. 8 shows a flash charging routine in which the flash (14) is charged in step (#33) after the zoom operation is stopped. First, in step ($51), it is determined whether the flash light emission switch (SF) is ON. If the switch (SF) is OFF, the battery returns without charging. If the switch (SF) is ON, it is determined in step #52 whether or not the charging capacitor has been fully charged. If charging is complete, it will return immediately. If charging is not completed, a charging timer is started in step (#53). This charging timer is for so-called intermittent charging, which performs charging for a predetermined period (for example, 250 m5). Step after starting the charging timer (#54)
In the step of starting charging (4t55>), it is determined whether or not the charging timer has counted up, and when the charging timer has counted up, charging is stopped and the process returns.

Returning to Figure 6, step ($34) to (#36) again in case the framing (composition) is changed during charging.
) to perform distance measurement, photometry, focusing, and calculation of the subject distance D1 in step (#36).
As a result of the calculation of 'r, it is determined whether the change in the subject distance D1 is within a predetermined value compared to the previous subject distance D□,
If it is not within the predetermined value, it is assumed that the framing (composition) has been changed, and the process returns to step (#23) and the above step (#2
3) Repeat the operations from (#36). If the change in subject distance D1 is within a predetermined value, the framing (composition) is assumed not to have changed, and in step (#38), set a predetermined value T2 to timer 1 for APO. The operations of steps (#24) to (#39) are repeated until it is determined in the setting and starting step (#39) that the timer 1 has counted up. When the timer 1 counts up, the data such as the distance measurement value and the photometry value are cleared, and after waiting until C0UNT=0, that is, the photographer takes his eyes off the finder, the process moves to the MEIN routine.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the APZ is operating, the flash is charged while the framing (composition) is fixed after the completion of the zoom operation, so even if charging is not completed, the flash can be charged by switching ( Even if SL) or (S2) is pressed and the exposure operation is started, the time until the exposure operation (so-called uncharged lock time) is shortened by the amount of charging during framing.

Furthermore, by operating timer 1 for APO during APZ operation, if zoom drive is not required during APZ operation (when the subject is fixed), APZ operation can be stopped after a predetermined period of time. This eliminates unnecessary distance measurement operations and prevents unnecessary power consumption.

Note that during this APZ APO, the eye proximity detection operation continues, and when the photographer takes his eyes off the finder and looks through the finder again, the photographing operation resumes.

Next, the rsl ONJ routine when the switch (Sl) is turned on will be explained with reference to FIG. first,
In step 162), it is determined whether the contents of register C0UNT are O.

If C0UNT≠0, that is, the photographer is looking through the finder, the current focal length fN is determined in step 163).
Detect. Current focal length fN is step (#23)
It is determined in step (#64) whether the focal length is equal to the focal length Mr obtained in step (#64), and if f is not equal to f□, a zoom operation is started so that the focal length becomes fl. Alternatively, if the switch (Sl> is turned on during the zoom operation), the zoom operation is continued until the focal length reaches fN.

When fN=fa, the rhythm operation is stopped in step (#66) and the process moves to step (#67).

On the other hand, if it is C0UNTO in step (#62), the zoom operation is stopped at the current focal length and the process moves to step (#67). In step (#67), distance measurement and photometry for the tζth distance are performed for confirmation, and focusing is performed again in step (#68).

Next, in step (#69) the exposure control switch (
It is determined whether or not S2) is ON. Switch (S2
) is ON, exposure control is performed in step (#74), the film is wound up in step 175), and the process returns. If switch (S2) is OFF, step (#
At step 70), it is determined whether the switch (Sl) is ON or not, and if it is OFF, the process returns. Switch (Sl) is O
If it remains N, it is determined in step (#71) whether the main switch (SM) is ON. Switch (S
If M) is OFF, the photographing operation ends.

If the switch (SM) remains ON, step ($7
In step 2), a predetermined value T is set in timer 1 and started in the primary step (#74).

Determine whether timer 1 has counted up or not, and if it is counting, move to step (#69) and repeat the operations from step (#69) to step (#75) above. Once the amplifier is turned on, it goes into standby mode and waits for the switch (8) to be turned on again.

As described above, in this embodiment, the APO timer is operated even when the switch (Sl) is turned on, so that wasteful power consumption due to long-term focus lock can be prevented.

FIG. 1O is a flowchart for switching between giving priority to APZ operation and charging the flash photography device.

First, the APO timer 1 is set to a predetermined value T2 and started. This is to ensure that the APZ operation is performed only within a predetermined period of time and to prevent unnecessary power consumption. Next, as in the case of Figure 6, the photographer looks through the viewfinder and
When T=2, photometry is performed in step (#84), and it is determined in step (#85) whether or not the photometry results in low luminance. If the brightness is not low, the process moves to step (#89). If the brightness is low, it is determined in step (186) whether or not the flash light emission switch (SF) is ON. If the switch (SF) is not ON, the flash light emission is not performed and the process moves to step (#89). If the switch (SF) is ON, it is determined in step (#87) whether the charge of the capacitor for flash emission has reached the voltage that allows light emission, and if it has reached the voltage that allows light emission, step (#89) is carried out. If the voltage has not reached 0 which allows light emission, charging starts in step (188) and returns to step (#84).The brightness is no longer low during charging, the switch (SF) turns OFF, and charging stops emitting light. When the voltage becomes possible, the process moves to step (#89).In step (#89), if charging is in progress, charging is stopped, and in step (4t90), timer 3 is reset and started.Next step (#91), distance measurement operation is performed, and the following steps (#92) to (#10)
6) is step (#18) to step (#32) in Figure 6.
) in step (#106)
After the Z operation is completed, photometry is performed again to determine low brightness, and the switch (
SF) (steps (#107) to (#109)), proceed to step (#112)0
Next, in step (#110) it is determined whether or not charging of the flash is completed, and if charging is not completed, it is determined in step (#111) whether or not the charge level has reached the voltage that allows light emission. If the voltage that allows light emission has not been reached, the process returns to step (#84), and if the voltage that allows light emission has been reached, charging is started in step ($112) so that the charging is completed.

After charging is stopped in step (#113), a distance measuring operation is performed in step (#114).The following steps are the same as step (#35) in FIG. 6, so a description thereof will be omitted.

In the case of Figure 10 above, if flash emission is required,
First, priority is given to charging up to a voltage that allows light emission. However, while charging 6
It measures the light and stops charging when the flash is no longer needed. In other words, since the voltage for flashing is first secured and APZ operation is performed, the uncharged lock will not occur even if the release button is pressed, and the battery will be charged to the fully charged level when no zoom operation is performed. .

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are a flow chart and a time chart for performing eye contact detection with higher accuracy. In the explanation with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the timing of eye proximity detection is performed at regular intervals by the timer 2, but in FIG. 11, the light emission interval is shortened if the reflected light level is above a predetermined value.

FIG. 11 will be explained based on actual operation.

First, if the photographer does not hold the grip switch (SG), set it to C0UNTO in step (#122>,
In step (#123), the light emitting element (7) is reset to emit light at intervals of time t2, and the process returns.

If the switch (SG) is ON, step (#I24)
Step (#1) in which the light emitting element (7) emits light at
25), if the level of light received by the light receiving element (8) (reflected light level) is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the content of the register C0UNT is set to C0UNT11 in step (#126), and the process proceeds to step (#126).
In #127), it is determined whether C0UNT≧4.

In step (#46) in FIG. 7, it is determined whether C0LINT≧2, and if the reflected light level is twice a predetermined value or higher, the APZ operation is started; however, in FIG.
If the number of times exceeds a predetermined value, the system shifts to APZ operation.

If C0UNT≧4 in step (#127), it is determined in step (#134) whether or not C0UNT22.1 When it is detected that the reflected light level is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, C0UNT=1. Step (#13)
6). In step (#136), timer 2
The interrupt timing due to time t.

Set (t+>t3) and return. After t, an interrupt is generated again, and this time if the level of reflected light 6 is above the predetermined level, C0UNT=2 and step (
#127) and step (#134>), the process moves to step (#135). Step (#13)
5), set the timer 2 time to 12 (t+<tz<t3)
Set to .

The reason why the interrupt timing by timer 2 is switched to three stages as described above is as follows. If the photographer is holding the grip and not looking through the viewfinder, or if the photographer is holding the grip but not looking through the viewfinder, the camera will fire at relatively long flash intervals (1+) to reduce power consumption. When a reflected light of a predetermined value or more is received once, the emission interval is shortened (1:+) to prevent noise. In this case, the noise is noise inside the camera, noise caused by a fluorescent lamp, etc. Since fluorescent lights are lit at 50Hz or 60Hz, the time t is set to be shorter than the frequency (period) of the fluorescent lights, and after 9 hours tl has elapsed, an interrupt occurs and the reflected light above the predetermined value is received again. If so, the light emission interval is changed to 12, assuming that the problem is not caused by the above noise.

Returning to FIG. 11, if reflected light equal to or greater than a predetermined value is received four times in a row, C0UNT=4 in step (#126), and the process moves to step (#128) D based on the determination in step (#127). 128) Te is C0UNT=4
In step (4t129), it is determined whether the ocular flag is 1 or not. The flag is 0 when the first eye contact is detected.
Therefore, the process moves to step (#130) and the flag is set to 1. After that, in step 1131), the time of timer 2 is set to t2, and the process returns.Since the flag is 1 at the time of the first detection, the process moves to step (#132) based on the determination in step (4t129), and the flag is set to 0. Furthermore, timer 2 is set to ti and the process returns.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (#125) that the reflected light is less than the predetermined level, the contents of the register C0UNT are set to C01JNT-1 as in FIG.
It is determined whether or not 0UNT≦2. If C0UNT≦2, t is set in timer 2 in step (#141) and the process returns. If C0UNT≦2, set C0UNT=0 in step (#139), and then in step (#139).
#140) resets timer 2 to t and returns.

As shown in Fig. 12, the light emitting element (7) emits light at 11 intervals until the reflected light reaches a predetermined level or higher, and once the reflected light above the predetermined level is received, the light emits at t3 and 12 intervals alternately. As a result, if the reflected light level is equal to or higher than a predetermined value four times in a row, it is determined that the photographer is definitely looking through the finder and the APZ operation shifts. During the APZ operation and shooting operation, the light emitting element (7) emits light alternately at intervals of tl and t2, and if reflected light exceeding a predetermined value is not received twice in a row, the APZ is determined to have taken the photographer's eyes off the viewfinder. Stop operation.

In Fig. 11, the APZ operation is stopped if reflected light of a predetermined value or higher is not received twice in a row, but the APZ operation is determined four times in the same way as when starting the APZ, and APZ! The IJ production may be stopped.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the photographing magnification is automatically determined according to the subject distance, the focal length is further determined from the subject distance and the photographing magnification, and the focal length is set to that focal length. For cameras with an APZ function that performs focal length changing operations, the focal length changing operation is now canceled when it is determined from the distance measurement results that the focal length changing operation is not necessary for a predetermined period of time (the composition has not changed). Therefore, unnecessary power consumption can be prevented.

PATE white

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is an external perspective view of the camera according to the present invention viewed from the front left, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the camera according to the present invention viewed from the rear left, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the main parts of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of APZ in the bright embodiment showing the reset operation of U, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of eye proximity detection, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart t-1 showing the charging operation of the flash photography device according to the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the release operation, and FIG. 1O is a flowchart showing another example of the APZ operation in the embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 1 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the eye proximity detection operation;
FIG. 12 shows a time chart of the eye proximity detection operation. (1) -m-Grip section (2)--Grip switch button (3)-m-Release button (4)-m-Main switch (5)--Flash (6) (7)-m-Light emission Element (8) ---One light-receiving element (
0)---CPU (11)---1 Distance measurement section (2)-11 Focal length variable section (3)-m-Focal length detection section (5)-11 Photometry section (7)--1 Eye contact detection unit (9) -1-E 2P ROM (SM) -m-Main switch (SG) -m-Grip switch (Sl) -m-Lock switch (S2) -m-Exposure control switch (SF)- m-Flash emission switch finder (16)-m-Exposure control section (1B)-11 Clock section

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A distance measuring means for repeatedly measuring the photographing distance of a subject; and a focal length changing means for changing the focal length of a photographing lens to a predetermined distance according to the photographing distance measured by the distance measuring means. and prohibiting means for prohibiting the subsequent operation of the focal length changing means when it is determined from the photographing distance repeatedly output from the distance measuring means that the operation of the focal length changing means is unnecessary for a predetermined period of time. A camera with automatic program zoom function.