JPH05203862A - Automatic photography device of camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To take a photograph without any delay at the timing of a specific time elapse even if a subject is moving or swinging when the subject is photographed by the camera automatically by using the self-timer and to inhibits the shutter from being released if another subjects suddenly enters a subject field. CONSTITUTION:The distance to the subject right after the timer 6 begins to clock the time is measured by a range finding part 3 and stored as a 1st focusing value in a RAM 4. The range finding operation is repeated during the time clocking operation and when the difference between the latest focusing value and the stored value is small (when the range-found value is consective), the latest focusing value is stored as the 1st range-found value in RAM 4. When the set time of the timer 6 is elapsed, a focus adjustment part 8 automatically adjust the focus of the photographic optical system of the camera corresponding to the 1st focusing value stored in the RAM 4. Then a release driving part 7 turns ON the shutter release button 1c to take a picture.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic image pickup apparatus for a camera capable of automatically taking an image when a set predetermined time has elapsed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a camera having a so-called self-timer function, when a self-timer starts a time counting operation, a release is performed when a predetermined time has elapsed. However, after a certain amount of time has passed,
If a third party crosses the space between the subject and the camera immediately before the release is performed, the third party is also photographed, and it is necessary to redo the photographing. Therefore, the applicant stores the subject distance immediately after the start of the timer operation, and allows the release when the measured distance value immediately after the end of the timer operation matches the stored value, but prohibits the release when the measured distance value does not match. Was previously proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-
No. 37335).

In this way, since the release is performed when the third person leaves the scene, it is possible to prevent the photographing from failing.

[0004]

However, according to the above proposal, when the main subject to be photographed originally moves back and forth, left and right, or sways, the release values are not easily tolerated because the distance measurement values do not match, so that the photographing is not possible. There was a task that took time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and prohibits release when a subject other than the main subject suddenly enters the object field, and the main subject moves. Even in the case of shaking, the shooting can be performed without delay.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An automatic photographing apparatus for a camera according to the present invention includes a timer 6 as timer means for performing a time counting operation for automatic photographing, and a distance measuring operation for repeatedly performing a distance measuring operation during the time counting operation of the timer 6. When the difference between the new distance measurement value and the stored distance measurement value is within a predetermined range, the stored distance measurement value is stored RA as a storage means for updating to a new distance measurement value and holding the stored distance measurement value as it is when it is not within a predetermined range.
M4, a focus adjusting unit 8 as a focus adjusting unit for adjusting the focus of the photographing optical system corresponding to the distance measuring value stored in the RAM4, and a new distance measuring value when the timer 6 completes the time counting operation. If the difference between the distance measurement value and the stored distance measurement value is within a predetermined range, the release is permitted, and if it is not within the predetermined range, the CPU 2 is provided as a control unit that prohibits the release.

[0007]

In the automatic photographing device of the camera having the above structure,
The distance measuring unit 3 repeats the distance measurement during the time counting operation of the timer 6. When it is determined that the new distance measurement value is substantially continuous with the stored distance measurement value, the new distance measurement value is stored in the RAM 4. When the new distance measurement value greatly differs from the stored value, the stored value in the RAM 4 is not updated. When the timer 6 completes the time counting operation, the release is permitted if the difference between the new distance measurement value and the stored distance measurement value is within the predetermined range, and if the difference is not within the predetermined range, the release is prohibited. It

Therefore, the release is prohibited when a subject other than the main subject suddenly enters the object scene, and the main subject is photographed without delay even when the main subject is shaking. You can

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an automatic photographing apparatus for a camera according to the present invention. CPU2 is R
The shooting operation of the camera is controlled according to the program stored in the OM 5. The input unit 1 has a timer button 1a operated when operating the self-timer, a knob 1b operated when setting the timed time of the self-timer, a release button 1c operated when performing release, and the like. Signals corresponding to those operations are supplied to the CPU 2.

The distance measuring unit 3 measures the distance to the subject and supplies the measured distance value to the CPU 2. The CPU 2 stores this distance measurement data in the RAM 4 as needed. The timer 6 performs a timekeeping operation when performing automatic shooting. The timer 6 can be built in the CPU 2 as required. The release driver 7 is driven by the CPU 2 to automatically turn on the release button 1c. The focus adjustment unit 8 controls the focus of a photographing optical system (not shown) of the camera.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. When the timer button 1a is operated, C
PU2 starts the process shown in FIG. First step S
At 1, the CPU 2 controls the distance measuring unit 3 to measure the distance to the subject. The CPU 2 writes and stores the measured distance value in the RAM 4 in step S2. Further step S3
The CPU 2 controls the timer 6 to start the time counting operation.

Next, in step S4, the CPU 2 causes the distance measuring unit 3 to execute the distance measuring operation again. Then, in step S5, the measured distance value at that time is stored in the RAM 4. This allows
The RAM 4 has a first distance measurement value (the distance measurement value in step S2) immediately after (or immediately before) the timer 6 starts the time counting operation and a second distance measurement value after the timer 6 starts the time counting operation.
The distance measurement value of (the distance measurement value in step S5) is stored. Then, in step S6, the CPU 2 compares the first distance measurement value and the second distance measurement value, and determines whether or not both are substantially continuous. That is, it is determined whether or not the difference between the two is within the range of a predetermined reference value set in advance.

When the difference between the first distance measurement value and the second distance measurement value is larger than the reference value (that is, when both are substantially discontinuous), the process returns to step S4 and the subsequent processing is performed. Repeated. This case corresponds to, for example, a case where an object other than the main object to be originally photographed suddenly enters the field.

On the other hand, in step S6, it is determined that the difference between the first distance measurement value and the second distance measurement value is within the reference value range (both are substantially continuous). If so, the process proceeds to step S7, and the second distance measurement value is set as the first distance measurement value. That is, even if the newly measured second distance measurement value is different from the first distance measurement value measured immediately after the timer 6 performs the time measurement operation, the difference is within a small range within the reference value ( In other words, if the object is substantially continuous), the first distance measurement value is updated with the second distance measurement value, assuming that the main subject is moving or swaying.

Next, in step S8, it is determined whether or not the time (n seconds) set by the knob 1b has elapsed after the timer 6 started the time counting operation. If not, the process returns to step S4, The subsequent processing is repeated. That is,
As a result, the period during which the timer 6 is measuring time,
The latest distance measurement value corresponding to the continuous movement of the main subject is
It will be updated as the first distance measurement value.

When it is determined in step S8 that n seconds have elapsed, the process proceeds to step S9, and the release operation is executed corresponding to the first distance measurement value. That is, the CPU
Reference numeral 2 controls the focus adjustment unit 8 in accordance with the first distance measurement value stored in the RAM 4 to adjust the focus of the photographing optical system of the camera with respect to the main subject. Furthermore, the CPU 2
The release driving unit 7 is controlled to automatically turn on the release button 1c, and the main subject is photographed.

In this way, the main subject is moving,
In the case of swaying, since the distance measurement values at each distance measurement timing are substantially continuous, focus adjustment is performed at the latest distance measurement position of the main subject, and the time set by the timer 6 is n seconds. At the timing when the time has elapsed, shooting is performed without delay. On the other hand, when another subject suddenly enters the field while the timer 6 is performing the time counting operation, the distance measurement value changes discontinuously (largely). At that timing, the process does not proceed from step S6 to step S7, and the process proceeds to step S4.
The processing from S6 to S6 is repeated. As a result, even if n seconds have elapsed, the release is prohibited until the subject that has suddenly entered moves away from the field and a distance measurement value substantially continuous with the stored distance measurement value is detected.

[0018]

As described above, according to the automatic photographing apparatus for a camera of the present invention, when the timekeeping operation is completed, the difference between the new distance measurement value and the stored distance measurement value is within a predetermined range. For example, release is allowed, and release is prohibited if it is not within the predetermined range, so release can be prohibited only when a subject other than the main subject suddenly enters the scene. Even if the main subject moves or shakes, the shooting can be performed without delay.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an automatic image capturing apparatus for a camera of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Input Unit 2 CPU 3 Distance Measuring Unit 4 RAM 5 ROM 6 Timer 7 Release Driving Unit 8 Focus Adjusting Unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A timer means for performing a time-measuring operation for automatic photographing, a distance-measuring means for repeatedly performing a distance-measuring operation during the time-measuring operation of the timer means, and a new distance-measuring value stored by the distance-measuring means. When the difference between the distance measurement value and the stored distance measurement value is within the predetermined range, the stored distance measurement value is updated to a new distance measurement value, and when the difference is not within the predetermined range, the stored distance measurement value remains unchanged. Storage means for holding, focus adjustment means for adjusting the focus of the photographing optical system corresponding to the distance measurement value stored in the storage means, and new distance measurement value when the timer operation of the timer means is completed. And a stored distance measurement value within a predetermined range, the release is allowed, and if the difference is not within the predetermined range, a control means for prohibiting the release is provided.