JPH05150350A - Camera provided with remote control unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the convenience of a camera and to enhance the commercial value thereof by operating a self-timer function provided in the camera main body based on a signal from a remote control unit. CONSTITUTION:A remote control unit 12 loaded in the camera main body 1 so that it can be loaded and unloaded is provided. Besides, the unit 12 is provided with a remote control shutter button, a remote control zoom button and an infrared ray projection part. Then, the self-timer function provided in the camera main body 1 is set so that it can be operated based on the signal from the unit 12. Besides, a delay time to a photographing start time from the switch operation of the unit 12 is enabled to be switched on the camera main body 1 side. Therefore, a self-timer can be released from the position of an object by using a remote control function and the useless delay time of the self-timer need not be provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera having a remote control unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a camera provided with a remote control unit capable of remotely operating a release mechanism of the camera has been known, but the function which can be operated by the remote control unit is limited to a simple shutter release. The reality is that the convenience of remote control has not been fully utilized.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems of the prior art, a main object of the present invention is to provide a camera having an improved remote control unit.

[0004]

According to the present invention, a camera provided with a remote control unit is provided with a self-timer function provided in a camera body.
The present invention is achieved by providing a camera that can be operated by a signal from the remote control unit and that the delay time from the switch operation of the remote control unit to the start of shooting can be switched on the camera body side. .. Further, such a switching operation may be performed by switching the mode between the normal shooting and the self-timer shooting in the camera body.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 3 show a camera according to the present invention, which comprises a camera body 1 and a remote control unit 12 detachably attached to the camera body. The camera body 1 is provided with fixed and movable zoom lens barrels 2 and 3, and is provided with a distance measuring unit 4, a finder 5 and a strobe 6 similarly to a known camera. The red LED lamp 7 provided on the upper front of the camera body 1
When the remote control unit 12 is removed, it flashes at a relatively slow cycle, and when the self-timer function operates, it lights continuously according to its operating state,
Alternatively, it blinks at a relatively fast cycle. As shown in FIG. 2, the back cover 8 of the camera is opened by a back cover release lever 9, and the movable zoom lens barrel 3 is operated by pressing a tele button 10a or a wide button 10b provided on the upper part of the camera. This allows continuous variable control in both the telephoto and wide-angle directions. Various states of the camera are displayed on the LCD display window 11 as described later, and remote control light receiving windows 13 provided on the front and rear surfaces of the camera body,
14 receives infrared rays emitted from the remote control unit 12. Further, a shutter button 15 and a power button 16 are provided above the camera.

Around the finder 5 on the back side of the camera body 1, a mode button 20 for selecting the operation mode of the camera, a drive button 21 for selecting the drive mode of the camera, and whether or not the autofocus function can be focused. A green lamp 22 for displaying and a red lamp 2 that flashes during strobe charging and continues to light when charging is complete
3 is provided. At the position below the finder on the front of the camera body 1, two light receiving windows 24a for exposure control,
4b is provided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the remote control unit 12 includes a remote control unit 12 for operating an infrared light projecting portion 17, a remote control shutter button 18 corresponding to a shutter button, and a movable zoom lens barrel 3. A zoom button 19 is provided.

FIG. 5 shows the display contents of the LCD display window 11. A film counter portion 31 is provided at the center of the LCD display window 11, and a portion 32 showing the setting state of the strobe and a valve function are shown on the left side thereof. A portion 33, a portion 34a showing a normal self-timer function, and portions 34a, 34b showing a double self-timer function for automatically taking two shots at intervals of 2 to 5 seconds and the shutter button 15 are pressed. In the meantime, a portion 35 showing a continuous photographing mode for continuously photographing and a portion 36 showing that the remote control unit 12 is detached and the remote control signal can be received are provided, and the battery state is on the right side. Is provided.

FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram showing the circuit configuration of this camera. The CPU 40 includes a strobe circuit 41, a film feeding control circuit 42, a zoom lens control circuit 43, a shutter control circuit 44, and a photometry circuit. 45, distance measuring circuit 46, remote control light receiving circuit 47, LCD
A display unit 48, a lamp circuit 49, and a DX contact circuit 50 are connected, and a main switch (power switch 1
6), back cover switch, photometric switch, release switch, tele switch, wide switch, mode switch,
The drive switch and remote control switch are connected. All of these switches are momentary switches except the back cover switch that closes when the back cover is closed and the remote control switch that closes when the remote control unit 12 is removed. The metering switch closes when the shutter button 15 is pressed lightly, and the release switch
It is closed when the shutter button 15 is pushed deeper.

Next, the operating procedure of the camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS.
In order to realize low power consumption, this camera is usually C
It is in a standby state where the PU is deactivated. CP
It is assumed that U exits the standby state when the activation condition set by each state of the camera is satisfied, and performs the soft processing from the beginning of the main processing.

In the main processing, first, step 1
In 01, it is determined whether the loading, that is, the process of loading the film is completed. If the loading process is not performed, it is determined in step 102 whether the back cover is closed. If the lid is closed, the loading process (step 103) is performed. In the loading process, the presence or absence of the film is determined by detecting the film traveling signal. Next, the routine proceeds to step 104 where it is judged whether the power is on. The power-on state means a state in which the power is turned on and shooting is possible.

When it is determined in step 101 that the loading is completed, it is determined in step 105 whether the back cover is opened. If the back cover is opened, In step 106, the film counter is initialized, and the process proceeds to step 104, which determines the power-on state. When it is determined in step 105 that the back cover is closed, or when it is determined in step 102 that the back cover is open, the main switch (power button 16) is pressed. Step 10 for determining that
Proceed to 7. When it is detected that the main switch is pressed, if the power is already on (step 10
8) Power-off processing is performed (step 109). If the power is not on (step 108), it is determined whether 30 minutes have passed after the automatic power-off (step 11).
0) After 30 minutes, the camera is in the off state in which only the back cover or the power switch responds, and the normal power-on process is performed (step 111), and 30 minutes have not elapsed. In step 11, an automatic power-on process is performed to restore the camera to the state before the automatic power-off (step 11).
2). After performing these steps 111 and 112, a strobe charge request flag is set (step 113).
This camera is equipped with three lenses to protect the movable zoom lens.
It has a function to automatically store the zoom lens when it is left without any operation for a minute. At this time, the focal length of the lens and the mode drive setting state are stored, and when the power button is pressed within 30 minutes after the automatic storage, the camera is returned to the state before the automatic storage.

If the main switch has not been pressed in step 107, and if the power is on in step 114, it is determined in steps 123 and 125 that the mode switch and drive switch have been pressed.
If each switch is pressed, the mode setting process (step 124) or the drive setting process (step 126) is performed.

It is determined in step 114 that the power is not turned on after the automatic power-off processing is performed.
0 minutes. In this case, when the 30-minute timer times out (step 115) or when the remote control unit is mounted in the removed state (step 116), the light receiving circuit power-off process (step 119) is performed, Only by clearing the memory that stores the mode, drive, focal length, etc. (step 120) and changing the back cover switch or closing the main switch after determining that the main switch has been released (step 121). It is ready to be activated (step 122). Even when the power-off state is detected in step 104 or after the power-off processing is performed in step 109, the operations in step 119 and thereafter are similarly performed.

In step 115, before the 30-minute timer expires, the remote control unit 1
If No. 2 has been removed, remote control signal confirmation processing (step 117) is performed, and the routine proceeds to step 118, where it is determined that the remote control zoom switch has been pressed. If the remote control zoom signal is not received, in step 149, it is activated only by the change of the back cover switch, the closing operation of the main switch, the change of the remote control switch, the expiration of the 30-minute timer or the input of the remote control signal. Stand by when possible. When the remote control zoom signal is received in step 118, the process proceeds to the automatic power-on process of step 112.

If it is determined in steps 123 and 125 that neither the mode switch nor the drive switch has been pressed, there is no loading error (step 127), and there is no end of rewinding (step 128). If the photometric switch 53 is in the on state (the shutter button is lightly pressed) (step 129), the photographing process (step 130) is performed, and the 3 minute timer is reset after the photographing process is completed (step 131). In step 104, when the back lid opening / closing operation is performed and the power-on state is detected, when the power-on control is performed in step 113 and the strobe charge request flag is set, the mode setting process or the drive is performed. When the setting process is performed, the 3-minute timer is reset (step 1
31).

In step 127, a loading error is detected, in step 128 it is detected that the rewinding is completed, when the photometric switch is in the off state, or in step 130 it is detected that the photographing process is completed. If so, the tele switch and the wide switch are detected, and if any switch is pressed, the movable zoom lens barrel 3 is controlled (steps 132 to 137). If any zoom lens barrel control is performed, the 3-minute timer is reset (step 138).

Next, it is judged whether or not the strobe charging is requested by the strobe charging request flag (step 13).
9). The strobe charge request flag is set when the remote control unit 12 is detached, when the power is turned on, or when the strobe light is emitted. In step 139, the charge request flag is set. If detected, strobe charging process (step 1
Proceed to 41). In the strobe charging process, if a switch operation that requires operation is performed during charging, charging is interrupted,
From step 142, step 10 of the main flow again
Return to 1 and perform necessary processing. If the operation requiring the operation is not performed, the strobe charging process is continued until the charging is completed, and if the charging is completed, the strobe charging request flag is cleared, and the process proceeds from step 142 to step 143. In step 143, if any of the momentary switches is pressed, step 13
Returning to step 2, if all the switches are off, it is judged whether or not the 3-minute timer has timed out (step 14
4) If the time is up, the focal length, mode and drive status are stored in the memory (step 14
5), automatic power-off processing (step 146) is performed and 3
The 0-minute timer is started (step 147). next,
It is determined whether or not the remote control unit 12 has been removed (step 148), and if the remote control unit 12 has been removed, step 149.
If the remote control unit is still attached, the operation is not started unless the back cover switch is changed, the main switch is closed, or the 30-minute timer is up (step 150).

If the 3-minute timer has not timed out in step 144, the conditions for loading error and rewinding end are determined in the same manner as in steps 127 and 128 (steps 151 and 152), and a loading error or rewinding is performed. If it is after the end, the light receiving circuit power-off process of step 154 is performed, and the change of the back cover switch and the remote control switch, the closing operation of the momentary switch, and the activation by the time-up of the three-minute timer are permitted to enter the standby state. .. If there is no loading error or after rewinding, the remote control unit 12 is removed (step 1
53), it is determined whether or not the light receiving circuit is powered on (step 156). If the remote control unit is still attached, the light receiving circuit power off process (step 154) is performed. In step 156, if the light receiving circuit power is on, the remote controller operating process (step 161) is performed, the lamp 13 indicating the remote controller operable state is blinked at a cycle of 1 second, and the remote controller signal receiving standby state is set. To be realized.

In step 156, when the light receiving circuit power is off, that is, when the remote control unit is removed, the light receiving circuit power on process (step 1
57) and put 0 in the drive memory (step 1
57), that is, after forcibly setting the normal shooting mode for each frame, the 3-minute timer is reset (step 1
59), set a charge request flag (step 160),
Return to step 141.

When the remote control release signal is received in step 161 (step 162)
If the remote control zoom signal is received (step 16), the process proceeds to the photographing process (step 130).
In 3), every time a signal is received, the zoom lens barrel is toggled toward either the wide end or the tele end (steps 164 to 166). If no remote control signal is received, When the back cover switch and the remote control switch are changed, the timer is activated for 1 second and 3 minutes, or the remote control signal is input to enable the activation (step 167). In the case of the present embodiment, either the wide end or the tele end is achieved by the remote control signal, but it is also possible to have a plurality of zoom stages of three or more stages.

10 to 12 are flowcharts showing the contents of the photographing process.

At the time of photographing processing, distance measurement, AF (autofocus) calculation processing, green lamp lighting blinking processing, photometric processing, photometric conversion processing and exposure calculation processing (steps 201 to 201).
206) is performed, and it is determined whether or not strobe light emission is necessary (step 207). If not, step 21 is performed.
When the light emission is necessary, the process proceeds to step 1 to determine whether or not the strobe charge has been completed (step 208). If the strobe charge has been completed, the red lamp is turned on (step 209), and the charge is insufficient. In some cases, the shooting charging process (step 21
0) is performed. During the shooting charging process, the red lamp blinks during charging, and the red lamp lights up when charging is completed.
If the remote control release is not set, when the photometric switch is turned off, charging is interrupted and the shooting charging process is terminated.

Next, in step 211, in the case of remote control release, the process proceeds to step 215. Even when it is determined that the state of the photometry switch corresponding to the state where the shutter release button 15 is lightly pressed is held and that the shutter release button 15 is pressed to the end (steps 212 and 214), the process also proceeds to step 215. .. If the photometric switch is released in step 212, the green lamp and red lamp are turned off and the process returns to the main program.

If the self-timer or double self-timer function is selected, steps 215-226.
Performs the self-timer operation of. First, when the normal self-timer function is selected or when the first self-shooting of the double self-timer function is performed (step 21
5) If the remote control release is activated, the self lamp 7
Flashes (step 222), starts the 3-second timer (step 223), and after the 3-second timer expires (step 225), turns off the green lamp, the red lamps 22 and 23, and turns on the self-lamp 7. , The lens autofocus operation is performed, and the exposure control process is executed after turning off the self lamp 7 (steps 227 to 23).
1).

In step 216, if the remote control release is not in operation, the self lamp 7 is turned on, and
The second timer is started (step 218), and if the main switch is not operated before the 7 second timer times out (step 219), the process proceeds to step 222, the self lamp 7 is blinked, and the 3 second timer is started (step 219). 218) If the main switch is not operated before the 3-second timer expires (step 224), the process proceeds to step 222, and steps 227 to 23 are performed as described above.
Execute 1. If the main switch is pressed before the 7-second timer or the 3-second timer expires, the process proceeds to step 226 to cancel the self-function.

In step 215, if it is not the first shot of the normal self-timer function or the double self-timer function, it is determined whether it is the second shot of the double self-timer function (step 221). If the determination result is affirmative, steps 222 to 226 are executed in order to perform the second photographing of the double self-timer function with a delay time of 3 seconds. If it is determined in step 215 that the second self-timer function has not been performed, steps 227 to 231 are directly executed.

As described above, when the first self-timer function or the double self-timer function is used for the first photographing from the camera body side, the photographing processing is performed only when both the 7-second timer and the 3-second timer are timed out. Is executed, and as a result, a delay time of 10 seconds is set, whereas when the drive mode is set to the self-timer, when the remote control release operation is performed or the second self-timer function is used for the second shooting. In the case of being described, the delay time is 3 seconds. In addition, the self-lamp 7 is always on for the first 7 seconds of the delay time for the first shooting of the normal self-timer function or the double self-timer function, but for the subsequent 3 seconds and the double self-timer function. The self lamp 7 blinks during the delay time preceding the second shooting of. Furthermore, if the main switch is pressed during the operation of this self-timer function, the self-timer operation is interrupted and the green lamp,
Both the red lamp and the self lamp are turned off (step 226), and the process returns to the main program. If the self-timer function is not selected or after the self-timer function is completed normally, turn off the green lamp and red lamp,
The self-lamp is turned on, the lens is autofocused, the self-lamp is turned off, and then the exposure control process is executed.

Next, it is judged whether or not the valve function is selected (step 232). If the valve function is not selected, the sector closing operation is performed (step 23).
8) Then, the photographing process is ended. After that, it is determined whether or not the strobe emits light (step 239), and if the strobe emits light, a strobe charge request flag is set (step 240), and if the strobe does not emit light, it is left as it is. , Winding process. In the winding process, the film is wound up by one frame. At this time, when the end of the film is detected, automatic rewinding is performed and the process ends. When returning from the winding process, it is judged whether or not the rewinding is completed, the continuous shooting or the first image of the double self (steps 241 to 243), and if the continuous shooting is performed, the process returns to step 201, and otherwise. If so, return to the main program.

If the valve function is selected in step 232, a 500 msec timer is started (step 233) and the remote control unit 1 is started.
It is confirmed that the remote control continuation signal sent at a cycle within 2 to 500 msec is continuously received (step 235), and the shutter is continuously opened as long as the remote control continuation signal is continuously received (step 244). ~ 247), if the shutter release button (photometric switch) is kept lightly pressed (step 23).
Similarly in 7), the shutter is continuously opened, and when the 500 msec timer times out and the photometric switch is released, the shutter is closed (step 238). However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and for example, when the valve function is selected, instead of opening the shutter while the release signal is continuously received, the first remote control release signal is used. The shutter may be opened and the shutter may be closed by the second remote control release signal.

[0032]

When the remote control function is used, the photographer does not need to move from the camera to the position of the subject, and the self-timer can be released from the position of the subject. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide a wasteful self-timer delay time, so that the convenience of the camera is improved and the marketability thereof is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of a camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a remote control unit.

FIG. 5 is a front view of an LCD display window.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a control circuit of a camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the main flow of the operation of the camera according to the present invention together with FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the main flow of the operation of the camera according to the present invention together with FIGS. 7 and 9.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the main flow of the operation of the camera according to the present invention together with FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 10 shows a photographing processing operation of a camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart shown together with FIG. 1 and FIG. 12.

FIG. 11 shows a photographing processing operation of a camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart shown together with 0 and FIG. 12.

FIG. 12 shows a photographing processing operation of a camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart shown together with 0 and FIG. 11.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Camera body 2 Fixed zoom lens barrel 3 Movable zoom lens barrel 4 Distance measuring unit 5 Finder 6 Strobe 7 Red LED lamp 8 Back cover 9 Back cover release lever 10a Tele button 10b Wide button 11 LCD display window 12 Remote control unit 13 , 14 Remote Control Receiving Window 15 Shutter Button 16 Power Button 17 Infrared Projector 18 Remote Control Release Switch 19 Zoom Button 20 Mode Button 21 Drive Button 22 Green Lamp 23 Red Lamp 31-37 Part 40 CPU 41 Strobe Circuit 42 Film Feed Control Circuit 43 Zoom lens control circuit 44 Shutter control circuit 45 Metering circuit 46 Distance measuring circuit 47 Remote control light receiving circuit 48 LCD display section 49 Self lamp 50 DX contact circuit

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 5, 1992

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Around the viewfinder 5 on the back side of the camera body 1, a mode button 20 for selecting the exposure mode of the camera, a drive button 21 for selecting the shooting mode of the camera, and whether or not the autofocus function can be focused. green lamp 22 for displaying and flashing during flash charging, flash emission sometimes have red lamp 23 is provided with a lit. Two light receiving windows 24a and 24b for exposure control are provided below the finder on the front of the camera body 1.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram showing the circuit configuration of this camera. The CPU 40 includes a strobe circuit 41, a film feeding control circuit 42, a zoom lens control circuit 43, a shutter control circuit 44, and a photometry circuit. 45, distance measuring circuit 46, remote control light receiving circuit 47, LCD
A display unit 48, a lamp circuit 49, and a DX contact circuit 50 are connected, and a main switch (power switch 1
6), back cover switch, photometric switch, release switch, tele switch, wide switch, mode switch,
The drive switch and remote control switch are connected. These switches back cover is made from either M o Mentha Li switch closed except for the remote control switch when the rear cover switch and the remote control unit 12 has been removed to close when closed. The photometric switch is closed when the shutter button 15 is lightly pressed, and the release switch is closed when the shutter button 15 is pressed further.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Explanation of code

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Explanation of symbols] 1 camera body 2 fixed zoom lens barrel 3 movable zoom lens barrel 4 rangefinder 5 viewfinder 6 strobe 7 red LED lamp 8 back cover 9 back cover release lever 10a tele button 10b wide button 11 LCD display window 12 remote control unit 13, 14 remote control light receiving window 15 shutter button 16 power button 17 infrared projector 18 remote control release switch 19 zoom button 20 mode button 21 drive button 22 green lamp 23 red lamp 31-37 part 40 CPU 41 strobe Circuit 42 Film feeding control circuit 43 Zoom lens control circuit 44 Shutter control circuit 45 Photometric circuit 46 Distance measuring circuit 47 Remote control light receiving circuit 48 LCD display section 49 Lamp circuit 50 DX contact circuit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A camera including a remote control unit, wherein a self-timer function of the camera body can be operated by a signal from the remote control unit.
Further, the camera is characterized in that a delay time from a switch operation of the remote control unit to the start of photographing can be switched on the camera body side. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the switching operation is performed by mode switching between normal shooting and self-timer shooting in the camera body.