JPH05203867A - Automatic photographing camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To solve such a problem that automatic photography is not started forever by taking a picture without fail a certain time later even if a set photographic distance does not match, a detected subject distance. CONSTITUTION:When a shutter release button is pressed, a CPU 1 sends a command to a range finding means 3 to start measuring the distance La to a subject. It is confirmed whether or not the distance to the subject (detected subject distance) La matches the set photographic distance; when the subject distance matches the set distance, a picture is taken, but when not the time (t) from the start of the range finding is compared with a previously fixed forcible release set time T. The range finding which uses light is repeated unless the time (t) from the start of the range finding reaches the forcible release set time T, but when the time (t) from the start of the range finding reaches the release set time T, a picture is forcibly taken. Namely, the photography is performed if the set photographic distance L and detected subject distance La do not match each other even after the forcible release set time T is elapsed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic photographing camera for automatically photographing when a set photographing distance and a detected subject distance match.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of camera, there is an automatic photographing camera as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 64-4095. With this automatic shooting camera, if the shooting distance is set in advance, automatic shooting can be performed when the subject is positioned at this set shooting distance. For example, in the case of self-use, when the photographer (subject) is located at the set shooting distance, the shooting is automatically performed because the set shooting distance and the detected subject distance match.

[0003]

However, according to such a conventional automatic photographing camera, if the set photographing distance and the detected subject distance do not match, the photographing is not performed forever. In other words, even if you think that you are positioned at the set shooting distance when you use it in a self-timed manner, the set shooting distance and the detected subject distance do not match, so no matter how long automatic shooting waits. There was a problem that it did not start.

[0004]

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and if the set shooting distance and the detected subject distance do not match even after a predetermined time elapses, the forced shooting distance is forced. It is designed to be photographed.

[0005]

Therefore, according to the present invention, even if the set shooting distance and the detected subject distance do not match, shooting is always performed after a lapse of a predetermined time.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The automatic photographing camera according to the present invention will be described in detail below.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of the automatic photographing camera, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal circuit configuration of the automatic photographing camera.

In FIG. 3, 1 is a CPU which integrates the operation of the camera, 2 is a distance setting means for setting a photographing distance L to the CPU 1, 3 is distance measuring means for measuring the distance La to the object, Reference numeral 4 denotes a photographing means required for photographing such as a shutter.

In FIG. 2, 2-1 is a distance setting button which is a part of the distance setting means 2, 3-1 is a light transmitting / receiving system which is a part of the distance measuring means 3, and 4-1 is a part of photographing means. It is a shooting lens that makes up.

Next, the processing functions of the CPU 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Now, the photographer selects the automatic photographing mode using a mode selection button (not shown) (step 10).
0), it is assumed that the photographing distance L is set using the distance setting button 2-1 (step 101).

When the release button (not shown) is pressed in such a state, the CPU 1 issues a command to the distance measuring means 3 to start the distance measurement of the distance La to the object (step 102). Then, it is confirmed whether or not the distance La to the subject (detected subject distance) La matches the set shooting distance L (step 103). If they do not match, the process proceeds to step 104. To do.

In step 104, the time t from the start of the distance measurement is compared with the fixed release set time T fixedly fixed in advance, and the time t from the start of the distance measurement does not reach the forced release set time T. Returns to step 102 and repeats the distance measurement, and if the time t from the start of the distance measurement reaches the forced release set time T, the process proceeds to step 105 to forcibly perform photographing.

That is, according to the present embodiment, after the distance measurement is started, the automatic photographing is performed when the set photographing distance L and the detected subject distance La match, but the forced release setting time T
If the set shooting distance L and the detected subject distance La do not match even after the passage of, shooting is forcibly performed.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, for example, in the case of self-use, even if the photographer is not accurately positioned at the set photographing distance L, the photographing is always performed after the forced release setting time T elapses. The problem is that automatic shooting does not start no matter how long you wait.

In the above description, the set shooting distance L is
It may be determined as a value having an upper and lower limit width (2 to 3 mm, etc.). That is, the lower limit of the set shooting distance L is set to Lmi
n, the upper limit value is Lmax, and Lmin ≦ La ≦ Lm
If it is ax, automatic shooting may be performed assuming that the set shooting distance L and the detected subject distance La match.

Further, in the above description, the forced release set time T may be freely changed by the photographer.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described application in the case of the single-shot automatic shooting, but may be applied in the case where the maximum number of shots and the maximum shooting time are set and the continuous automatic shooting is performed. In this case, the forced release at the interval of the forced release setting time and the automatic shooting by matching the set shooting distance and the detected subject distance are combined and continuously set until the set maximum number of shots or the set maximum shooting time is reached. Done.

Below, the CPU when applied to continuous automatic shooting in which both the maximum number of shots and the maximum shooting time are set
The processing function of No. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Now, the photographer selects the continuous automatic photographing mode (step 400), sets the photographing distance L (step 401), sets the forced release time T1 (step 402), and sets the maximum photographing time T2. Then, it is assumed that the maximum number N of shots has been set (step 403) (step 404).

When the release button is pressed in such a state, the CPU 1 substitutes 1 into the film counter n in step 405, sets the forced release time t1 and the photographing time t2 to 0, and starts the timing. To do. And
A command is issued to the distance measuring means 3 to start measuring the distance La to the subject (step 406). Then, it is confirmed whether or not the detected subject distance La matches the set shooting distance L (step 407). If they do not match, the process proceeds to step 408, and if they match, the process proceeds to step 104 to start shooting.

In step 408, the forced release time t
1 is compared with the forced release set time T1, and while the forced release time t1 does not reach the forced release set time T1, the process returns to step 406 to repeat the distance measurement, and if the forced release time t1 reaches the forced release set time T1. In step 409, the forced release time t1 is returned to 0 and the time counting is performed from the beginning, and then the process proceeds to step 410 to forcibly perform photographing.

After shooting in step 410, 1 is added to the film counter n (step 411) to check whether the shooting time t2 has reached the maximum shooting time T2 (step 412). It is confirmed whether or not the value of the film counter n has reached the maximum number of shots N (step 41).
3) If neither is reached, the process returns to step 406.

If the shooting time t2 reaches the maximum shooting time T2 in step 412, or if the value of the film counter n reaches the maximum shooting number N in step 413, the continuous shooting ends.

In the above-described embodiment, both the maximum number of shots N and the maximum shooting time T2 are set.
Either one may be determined. In addition, a timer may be provided before photographing, and the photographing may be performed after a predetermined time has elapsed. Further, in the embodiment, the shooting distance L is set in advance, but a distance measurement value measured immediately before shooting may be used as the set shooting distance L.

Although not within the technical scope of the present invention, the first measured distance value is set as the set shooting distance L and continuous shooting is performed at predetermined time intervals, while the detected object distance La is equal to the set shooting distance L. It is also conceivable that forced shooting will be performed when there is no such change, that is, when the distance measurement value changes. By doing so, it is possible to take a picture so as to miss a change in the shooting angle of view that could not be taken only by continuous shooting (interval shooting) at a predetermined time interval, for example, a bee flying on a flower.

[0027]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, even if the set shooting distance and the detected subject distance do not match, shooting is always performed after a predetermined time elapses. In this case, even if the photographer is not positioned exactly at the set shooting distance, the shooting will always take place after the forced release setting time T elapses, and no matter how long the automatic shooting waits, it will not start. The problem goes away.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining a processing function of a CPU shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of an automatic photographing camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal circuit configuration of the automatic photographing camera.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing functions in the CPU when applied to continuous automatic shooting performed by setting both the maximum number of shots and the maximum shooting time.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 Distance Setting Means 3 Distance Measuring Means 4 Imaging Means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An automatic photographing camera that automatically shoots when a set shooting distance and a detected subject distance match, and when the set shooting distance and the detected subject distance do not match even after a predetermined time has passed. Is an automatic shooting camera characterized by having a forced shooting means for forcibly shooting.