JPH05241062A - Lens driving controller for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily execute the fine adjustment of the position of a photographing lens after automatic lens driving, and also to rapidly execute the automatic lens driving and normal manual lens driving. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with a first signal outputting means 101 outputting a first lens driving signal for driving the photographing lens to a specified position (automatic lens driving), a second signal outputting means 102 outputting a second lens driving signal for driving the photographing lens to an optional lens position, a third signal outputting means 103 outputting a third lens driving signal for driving the photographing lens to the optional position after the automatic lens driving is finished, and a driving controlling means 105 controlling a lens driving means 104 in a state where the photographing lens is driven at a first speed when the first lens driving signal is outputted, the photographing lens is driven at a second speed which is equal to or below the first speed when the second lens driving signal is outputted, and the photographing lens is driven at a third speed which is lower than the second speed when the third lens driving signal is outputted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention drives a photographing lens to an arbitrary position (including both focusing drive and zooming drive) in accordance with the operation of a lens drive operating member, and, for example, half-presses a release button. In particular, the present invention relates to a lens drive control device for a camera that drives a photographing lens to a predetermined lens position in response to an operation, and in particular, between the time when the photographing lens is driven to the predetermined lens position and the next shutter release is performed. It relates to a device whose position can be finely adjusted.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a camera capable of constant-magnification photography has been conventionally known. The constant-magnification shooting is to shoot a subject at a constant shooting magnification (constant size) regardless of the distance to the subject (subject distance). In order to make this possible, the camera has a zoom lens, and if a half-press operation of the release button (shooting preparation command) is performed when the constant magnification shooting mode is set, the preset shooting magnification and subject distance The zoom lens is automatically zoomed to the calculated focal length (hereinafter referred to as automatic zooming), and shooting is performed in response to the subsequent release operation (full-press operation). In addition, this type of camera usually includes a zoom operation member for electrically driving the taking lens to an arbitrary focal length regardless of constant-magnification photography. by the way,
In such a camera, for example, when the constant magnification shooting mode is set, the camera side automatically sets the focal length of the shooting lens to perform zooming, so the composition may not necessarily match the intention of the photographer. .. Therefore, the applicant can finely adjust the focal length according to the operation of the zooming operation member between the time when the photographing lens is automatically zoomed to the predetermined focal length after the half-press operation and the next shutter release is performed. Therefore, a camera capable of shooting with a composition intended by the photographer was previously proposed (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-296208).

[0003]

As described above, in the above-mentioned camera, (1) automatic zooming during constant-magnification photographing (2) normal manual zooming performed by operating the zoom operation member regardless of constant-magnification photographing (3) ) Three types of zooming operations, manual zooming for fine adjustment of the focal length after automatic zooming, are performed, but the lens movement speeds at that time are the same for all three types. Therefore, the lens movement speed is set relatively high. In such a case, it becomes difficult to stop the taking lens at a position where a desired magnification is obtained during the fine adjustment, while if the zooming speed is relatively slowed to facilitate the fine adjustment, However, there is an inconvenience that it takes a lot of time during automatic zooming or normal zooming and lacks quick-shooting property.

An object of the present invention is to provide a lens drive control device for a camera, which can easily perform fine adjustment of a photographing lens position after an automatic lens drive operation and can quickly perform automatic lens drive and normal lens drive. Especially.

[0005]

To explain with reference to FIG. 1, which is a diagram corresponding to claims, the present invention outputs a first lens drive signal for driving a photographing lens to a predetermined lens position in response to a manual operation. First signal output means 101 for
Second signal output means 102 for outputting a second lens drive signal for driving the photographing lens to an arbitrary lens position in response to a manual operation, and after completion of driving of the photographing lens according to the first lens driving signal A third signal output means 103 for outputting a third lens drive signal for driving the photographing lens to an arbitrary lens position in response to a manual operation;
The present invention is also applied to a lens drive control device for a camera, which is provided with a lens drive unit 104 that drives a taking lens according to a third lens drive signal. And the invention of claim 1 is
When the first lens drive signal is output, the photographic lens is driven at the first speed, and when the second lens drive signal is output, the photographic lens is driven at the second speed equal to or lower than the first speed.
Drive control means 105 for controlling the lens drive means 104 so as to drive the photographing lens at a third speed lower than the second speed when the third lens drive signal is output. This solves the above problem. According to the invention of claim 2, the first to third signal output means 101 to 103 and the drive control means 105 are configured as follows, thereby solving the above problems. That is, the first and second signal output means 101, 102 are
In response to a manual operation, the first and second lens drive signals for continuously driving the taking lens are output respectively, and the third signal output means 103 sets the taking lens to a predetermined position by one manual operation. The third lens drive signal for moving only a minute amount of the above is output. Further, the drive control means 10
Reference numeral 5 continuously drives the photographing lens at the first speed when the first lens drive signal is output, and when the second drive signal is output, the photographing lens is driven to the first speed. When the third lens drive signal is output by continuously driving at the second speed equal to or lower than the speed, the lens driving unit 104 is controlled so as to drive the photographing lens by the minute amount. Here, the driving of the photographing lens is, for example, zooming driving. In this case, the first lens drive signal is
For example, the second lens drive signal corresponds to a signal for performing automatic zooming in the constant magnification mode, the second lens drive signal corresponds to a signal for performing normal zooming by the zoom operation member, and the third lens drive signal corresponds to a magnification. It corresponds to a signal for performing fine adjustment. The lens driving may be focusing driving. Furthermore, in particular, the invention of claim 5 is one in which the first to third signal output means 103 are configured as follows. That is, the first signal output means 101
Is operated by pressing the release button halfway and the second
Signal output means 102 operates when a predetermined lens drive operation member is operated before the half-press operation, and third signal output means 103 operates the lens drive control means 105 associated with the first lens drive signal. It operates when the lens drive operating member is operated after the operation is completed. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a single AF mode in which the focusing operation is performed only once in one shooting preparation operation, and a continuous focusing operation in which the focusing operation is continuously performed while the shooting preparation operation is performed. It is possible to set the nuisance AF mode.
The signal output means 101 is operated, and when the continuous AF mode is set, when the shooting preparation operation is canceled, the operation of the lens drive control means 105 associated with the first lens drive signal is completed and the third operation is completed. The operation of the signal output means 103 is permitted, and the operation of the third signal output means 103 is prohibited when a predetermined operation is performed thereafter. Further, in the invention of claim 7, the single AF mode and the continuous AF mode can be set, and the first signal output means 101 is operated by the photographing preparation operation, and the single AF mode is set.
At the time of mode setting, the operation of the third signal output unit 103 is allowed only when the shooting preparation operation is continuously performed until after the operation of the lens driving unit 104 associated with the first lens driving signal is completed, and then the shooting is performed. When the preparatory operation is released, the operation of the third signal output means 103 is prohibited.

[0006]

[Action]

(1) Invention of Claim 1 When the first lens drive signal for driving the photographing lens is output to the predetermined lens position, the lens drive means 1
05 drives the taking lens at the first speed. When the second lens drive signal for driving the taking lens is output to an arbitrary lens position, the taking lens is moved to the first position.
Is driven at a second speed that is less than or equal to the speed. Further, when the third lens drive signal for driving (fine-adjusting) the photographing lens to an arbitrary lens position is output after the driving of the photographing lens according to the first lens driving signal is completed, the photographing lens moves to the second lens.
Is driven at a third speed which is slower than (2) When the first lens drive signal is output, the photographing lens is continuously driven at the first speed and the second lens drive signal is output when the first lens drive signal is output. , The taking lens is continuously driven at the second speed. Further, when the third lens drive signal is output, the photographing lens is driven by a predetermined minute amount by one manual operation. (3) In the invention of claim 5, the lens is driven by the first lens drive signal in accordance with the half-pressing operation of the release operating member. Also, if a predetermined lens drive operating member is operated before the half-press operation,
The lens is driven by the second lens drive signal. Further, when the lens driving operation member is operated after the lens driving is completed in accordance with the first lens driving signal, the lens driving is performed by the third lens driving signal. (4) The invention according to claim 6 When the continuous AF mode is set, when the shooting preparation operation is canceled, the lens driving according to the first lens driving signal is completed and the lens driving according to the third lens driving signal is allowed. It Then, when a predetermined operation is performed thereafter, the lens drive by the third lens drive signal is prohibited. (5) The invention according to claim 7 When the single AF mode is set, the lens is driven by the third lens drive signal only when the shooting preparation operation is continuously performed until the lens drive is completed in accordance with the first lens drive signal. If the photographing preparation operation is released after that, the lens driving by the third lens driving signal is prohibited.

[0007]

【Example】

-First Example- A first example in which the present invention is applied to a camera capable of constant magnification photographing will be described with reference to Figs. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a lens drive control device for a camera according to the present invention. A distance measuring circuit 2, a motor drive circuit 4 for a focus motor 3, a motor drive circuit 6 for a zoom motor 5, and a warning circuit 7 are connected to a control circuit 1 including a CPU, ROM, RAM and the like. The distance measuring circuit 2 is the control circuit 1
Distance to the subject in response to a command from (subject distance)
Is detected and the detection result is input to the control circuit 1. In response to a command from the control circuit 1, the motor drive circuit 4 drives the focus optical system of the taking lens (not shown) by the focus motor 3 to perform focus adjustment. Motor drive circuit 6
Responds to a command from the control circuit 1 to drive the zoom optical system of the taking lens by the zoom motor 5 to perform zooming (change of focal length). The warning circuit 7 gives a warning when the zoom optical system reaches the wide-angle end or the telephoto end.

Each switch described below is connected to the control circuit 1. The half-push switch SW1 is turned on by a half-push operation of a release button (not shown), and the full-push switch SW2 is turned on by a full-push operation of the release button. The zoom switch SW3 includes a zoom-up switch SW31 and a zoom-down switch SW32 that are turned on while the seesaw-type zoom button is operated and turned off when the operation is released.
When 1 is turned on, zoom up is instructed, and when the zoom down switch SW32 is turned on, zoom down is instructed. The switches SW31 and SW32 are used when performing normal manual zooming and when performing fine magnification adjustment during constant-magnification photography, which will be described later. Edge detection switch SW4
Is composed of two switches SW41 and SW42. The switch SW41 is turned on when the zoom optical system of the photographing lens is driven to the wide-angle end position, and the switch SW42 is turned on when driven to the telephoto end position.

The constant magnification mode switch SW5 is a switch that is turned on when setting the constant magnification mode. The constant magnification mode is a mode in which a subject is photographed with the same size (the same magnification) regardless of the subject distance, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-296208, and is set by the user. Shooting magnification and distance measuring circuit 2
The focal length of the photographing lens is calculated according to the subject distance detected by, and the photographing lens is zoomed and driven (automatic zooming) so that the calculated focal length is obtained before photographing. Then, during the automatic zooming in the constant magnification mode, the taking lens moves at the first speed V
Move with 1. In this embodiment, the constant magnification mode and the normal photographing mode are alternately switched every time the switch SW5 is turned on.

The fine adjustment mode switch SW6 is a switch for switching between two fine adjustment modes (low speed mode and step mode) described later. That is, in the present embodiment, the zoom up / down switches SW31 and SW32 are used when finely adjusting the magnification in constant magnification photography as described above.
Is used, but the zooming operation at this time is different from the normal zooming operation. The fine adjustment mode refers to a zooming mode at the time of fine adjustment of the constant magnification, and has the following two modes. (1) Low speed mode: Zoom up / down switch SW
The lens moving speed at the time of zooming up and down according to the operation of 31 and SW32 is made slower than the lens moving speed in the normal manual zooming. That is, during normal manual zooming, the zoom up / down switch SW31,
While the SW 32 is on, the lens is continuously moved at the speed V2 (second speed: V2 <V1). In this low speed mode, the lens moving speed is V3 (the second speed) slower than the above V2. 3 speed). (2) Step mode: When the zoom up / down switches SW31 and SW32 are turned on once, a predetermined small amount of zooming is performed, and thereafter, even if the switches SW31 and SW32 are continuously turned on. Do not zoom. Therefore, if the focal length is to be changed significantly when the step mode is set, the switch SW31,
It is necessary to repeat ON / OFF of the SW 32 (operation / release of the zoom button). Each time the fine adjustment mode switch SW6 is turned on, these two modes are alternately switched and set.

Next, the procedure of control by the control circuit 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. When the main switch (not shown) is turned on, this program is started,
First, the flag is turned off in step S101, and then the zoom up / down switch SW31,
Determine whether SW32 is on or off. If both are off, the process proceeds to step S103, and if any is on, the zoom process of step S104 is performed. Details of this zoom processing will be described later. If it is determined in step S103 that the halfway press switch SW1 is off, the process returns to step S102, and if it is determined to be on, the process proceeds to step S1.

In step S1, focusing processing is performed. That is, the distance measuring circuit 2 is operated to input the object distance as the detection result, and the focus motor 3 is driven by the motor drive circuit 4 according to the object distance.
To drive the focus optical system of the taking lens to a predetermined in-focus position. Thereafter, if it is determined in step S2 that the constant magnification mode is not set, the process proceeds to step S3, and the AF mode is determined. Here, in this embodiment, A
As the F mode, a single AF mode in which the focusing operation is performed only once by one half-press operation and a continuous AF mode in which the focusing operation is continuously performed while the half-press operation is performed are set. It is possible. These can be switched by an operation member (not shown).

If the single AF mode is determined in step S3, the process proceeds to step S4, and the half-press switch S
If W1 is off, the process returns to step S102, and if it is on, the state of the full-press switch SW2 is determined in step S5. If the full-press switch SW2 is off, step S
Returning to step 4, if it is turned on, photographing is performed in step S6 and the process ends. If the continuous AF mode is determined in step S3, the process proceeds to step S7.
If the halfway switch SW1 is off, step S102
Return to step S8, and if it is on, press the full-press switch S in step S8.
Determine the state of W2. If the full-press switch SW2 is off, the process returns to step S1 to repeat the above-described processing, and if on, the image is taken in step S6 and step S102.
Return to.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the mode is the constant magnification mode, the process proceeds to step S9 in FIG.
If the single AF mode is determined in step 9, step S10
Proceed to and perform constant magnification zoom processing. That is, the focal length of the photographing lens is calculated based on the subject distance obtained by the distance measurement in step S1 and the photographing magnification set by the user, and the above calculation is performed by the zoom motor 5 via the motor drive circuit 6. The zoom optical system of the photographing lens is driven at the first speed V1 so that the focal length is set.
Next, in step S11, the zoom switch SW3
If any of the switches SW31 and SW32 configuring the above is determined to be on, the flag is set in step S12 and then the process proceeds to step S13 to perform zoom processing.

This step S13 and the above step S
Details of the zoom process performed in 104 are shown in FIG.
If it is determined in step S51 that the flag has been reset, it is determined to be normal manual zooming, and the process proceeds to step S52, in which zoom switch SW31 or SW32 is selected.
If it is determined that the switch is on, it is determined in step S53 whether the taking lens has reached the wide-angle end or the telephoto end.
1, determined by the state of SW42. Then, when the zoom-up switch SW31 is on, the switch SW42
If it is determined to be on (telephoto end), and if it is determined that the switch SW41 is on (wide-angle end) when the zoom down switch SW32 is on, step S53.
Is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S54, where a warning that zooming cannot be performed any more is issued via the warning circuit 7, and the zoom motor 5 is stopped in step S55 to return to the process of FIG. 3 or FIG. Also, if step S52 is denied, the process returns through step S55.

If step S53 is negative, the motor drive circuit 6 drives the zoom motor 5 to perform zooming in step S56. That is, zoom-up is performed when the zoom-up switch SW31 is on, and zoom-down is performed when the zoom-down switch SW32 is on. Then, it returns to step S52. Here, the lens moving speed in zooming up and down at this time is the second speed V2 (<V1).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S51 that the flag is set, it is determined that the magnification is finely adjusted in the constant magnification mode, and the process proceeds to step S57, in which the fine adjustment mode is determined. When it is determined that the low speed mode is selected, the processes of steps S58 to S62 are performed. Steps S58 to S6
1 is the same process as steps S52 to S55. In step S62, zoom up or zoom down is performed as in step S56, but the lens movement speed at that time is the third speed V3, which is slower than the second speed V2.

When it is determined in step S57 that the mode is the step mode, the process proceeds to step S63, in which the wide-angle end / telephoto end determination is performed by turning on / off the switches SW41 and SW42 in the same manner as described above. Step S
A warning is given at 64 and the process returns. On the other hand, step S6
When the result of 3 is negative, the process proceeds to step S65, the zoom motor 5 is driven, and the photographing lens is zoom-driven by a preset minute amount. In step S66, the process waits until the zoom switch SW31 or SW32 is turned off, and returns when it is turned off.

In FIG. 4, after step S13, the process proceeds to step S16, and when it is determined that the constant magnification mode switch SW5 is turned on, that is, the constant magnification mode release operation is performed, the constant magnification mode is released in step S17. Then, the normal photographing mode is set, the flag is reset in step S18, and the process returns to step S102 in FIG.
If step S16 is denied, step S1
Return to 1.

On the other hand, in step S9, continuous A
If the F mode is determined, in step S19, constant magnification automatic zooming is performed as in step S10.
Next, when it is determined in step S20 that the halfway press switch SW1 is off, the process proceeds to step S11. Step S2
When it is determined that the half-push switch SW1 is on at 0, the process returns to step S1 in FIG.

Further, if it is determined in step S11 that both zooming switches SW31 and SW32 are off, the process proceeds to step S105, and if it is determined in step S105 that the single AF mode is set, the process proceeds to step S16.

If it is determined in step S105 that the continuous AF mode is selected, step S106 is performed.
Proceed to. If the half-press switch SW1 is determined to be off in step S106, the process proceeds to step S16, and if it is determined to be on, the process proceeds to step S107. When it is determined in step S107 that the full-press switch SW2 is on, step S1
After resetting the flag in step 5, the process returns to step S6 in FIG. 3 to perform photographing, and when it is determined that the full-press switch SW2 is off, in step S108, the above step S10 is performed.
It is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the half-press on in 6. This may be determined by, for example, starting a timer in accordance with the switching of the half-push switch SW1 from on to off and determining whether the elapsed time has reached a predetermined time. If step S108 is denied, step S106
If it is affirmed, the process returns to step S20.

The above is the control procedure by the control circuit 1, and the camera operates as follows according to this procedure. That is, when the main switch is turned on and the zooming button is operated before the half-press operation of the release button is performed, the zooming switch SW31 or SW32 is turned on so that the taking lens is zoomed at the second speed V2. When the operation of the zooming button is released, the zooming switch SW
31 or SW32 is turned off to stop the zooming. This second speed V2 is a medium speed, which allows the taking lens to be driven to an arbitrary zooming position.

If the release button is half-pressed after the constant magnification mode is set, the photographing lens is moved to the focal length calculated by the subject distance and the photographing magnification selected in advance at the first speed V1. The zooming drive is automatically performed, whereby the selected magnification is set. The first speed V1 is set to a controllable maximum speed or a speed close thereto, so that the taking lens can be driven to a predetermined position in a short time, and subsequent shooting can be performed quickly.

Here, when the single AF mode is set, the focusing and the automatic zooming in the constant magnification mode are performed only once by one half-press operation, and the photographing lens is temporarily moved to a predetermined focus. -When the focusing position and the zooming position are reached, the focusing and the automatic zooming are completed. Then, when the release button is fully pressed after the completion, shooting is performed at the lens position. On the other hand, when the continuous AF mode is set, focusing and automatic zooming operations are continuously performed while the half-press operation is performed, and the half-press operation is canceled or the full-press operation is performed. The focusing and automatic zooming are completed. Then, with the full-press operation, shooting is performed at the lens position at that time.

Further, in this embodiment, in the constant magnification mode, it is possible to finely adjust the photographing magnification (focal length of the photographing lens) after completion of the automatic zooming. That is, in the single AF mode, the fine adjustment is performed by operating the zoom button after the automatic zooming is stopped and before the full-press operation.In the continuous AF mode, the half-press operation is temporarily released. Fine adjustment is performed by completing the automatic zooming and then operating the zoom button. For this fine adjustment, as described above, the two modes of the low speed mode and the step mode can be selected in advance by the fine adjustment mode switch SW6. In the low speed mode, when the zooming button, that is, the zooming switch SW31 or SW32 is operated, the taking lens is zoomed at the third speed V3, and when the operation of the zooming button is released, the zooming is stopped. Since the third speed V3 is lower than the second speed V2 described above,
The photographer can easily make fine adjustments to the magnification.

On the other hand, when the step mode is set as the fine adjustment mode, only a predetermined small amount of zooming is performed by one operation of the zoom button. Therefore, in order to continuously drive the taking lens, it is necessary to repeatedly operate / release the zoom button, and even if the zoom button is continuously operated, the taking lens will not pass the desired position carelessly. Absent. Therefore, also by this, the fine adjustment can be easily performed.

Then, if the release button is fully pressed after the above-described fine adjustment, shooting is performed at the focal length (shooting magnification) after the fine adjustment. Further, in order to return to the initial state (the state before the half-press operation) without performing the fine adjustment and the photographing after the automatic zooming, the constant magnification mode switch SW5 may be turned on to release the constant magnification mode. Further, particularly in the continuous AF mode, if the half-pushing operation is canceled and the automatic zooming is completed and then the half-pushing operation is performed again and the state is maintained for a predetermined time, the automatic zooming is restarted.

In the configuration of the above embodiment, the control circuit 1
Constitutes the first to third signal output means 101 to 103 and the drive control means 105, and the zoom motor 5 and the motor drive circuit 6 constitute the lens drive means 104, respectively. Further, the half-press operation of the release button corresponds to the shooting preparation operation.

In the above description, the second speed V2 for the normal manual zooming is set to the first speed for the automatic zooming.
The speed is lower than the speed V1 of the
The speeds may be the same. Further, although an example in which the normal manual zooming and the manual zooming during the fine adjustment are performed by the same operation member (zoom button) is shown, they may be performed by different operation members. In addition, except the step mode, an example in which manual zooming is performed only while the zoom button is operated has been shown, but once the zoom button is operated, zooming will start, and when the zoom button is operated again, zooming will stop. It may be configured to do so. Further, although the fixed-magnification photographing has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to, for example, step zooming in which the photographing lens is sequentially driven to a plurality of predetermined focal lengths for each half-press operation.

-Second Embodiment- Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, an example in which fine adjustment can be made for zooming of the taking lens has been shown, but in the second embodiment, an example in which fine adjustment can be made for focusing is shown. FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the control system in this embodiment, and FIG.
The same reference numerals are given to the same portions as, and the difference will be mainly described. The focus detection circuit 20 is connected to the control circuit 1 instead of the distance measurement circuit 2, and the zoom switch SW
Manual focus switch (hereinafter MF
SW7 is connected. Further, the end detection switch SW8 and the focus mode switching switch SW9 are also connected. As is well known, the focus detection circuit 20 has a pair of focus detection photoelectric conversion elements, forms a pair of subject images on these photoelectric conversion elements via a photographic lens, and outputs electric signals from the respective photoelectric conversion elements. Based on the signal, a focus detection signal indicating the amount and direction of deviation between the image plane of the subject and the planned image plane is input to the control circuit 1.

The MF switch SW7 is turned on in response to the operation of the seesaw-type manual focus button (MF button).
A focus-up switch SW71 for turning off and a focus-down switch SW72 are provided. When the focus-up switch SW71 is turned on, the focus optical system forming the photographing lens is driven in the infinity direction (hereinafter ,
When the focus down switch SW72 is turned on, the focus optical system is instructed to drive the focus optical system in the near direction (hereinafter referred to as focus down). That is, the manual focusing in this embodiment is a normal manual focusing in which the range ring of the taking lens is rotated to drive the focus optical system.
The photographing lens is electrically driven to an arbitrary focusing position in response to the operation of the MF button instead of the dust.

Then, the switches SW71 and SW72
Can be used when performing normal MF focusing in the MF mode described later and when performing fine adjustment of focusing described later. Also in this embodiment,
As in the case of zooming described above, two fine adjustment modes, a low speed mode and a step mode, can be set as the focusing fine adjustment modes.

The edge detection switch SW8 is composed of two switches SW81 and SW82.
Reference numeral 81 turns on when the focus optical system of the taking lens is driven to the infinite position, and switch SW82 turns on when it is driven to the closest position. Further, the focus change switch SW9 is an MF mode in which manual focusing is performed using the switch SW71 and a half-press switch SW9.
This is a switch for switching between AF mode in which focusing is automatically performed when 1 is turned on.

Next, the procedure of control by the control circuit 1 will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. When the main switch (not shown) is turned on, this program is started,
First, the flag is reset in step S201, and then the focusing mode is determined in step S202. M
If it is determined to be the F mode, the process proceeds to step S203, and the MF
When it is determined that either of the switches SW71 and SW72 is turned on, the focus process of step S204 is performed, and the process proceeds to step S205, where the MF switches SW71 and SW72.
If both are determined to be off, the process directly proceeds to step S205. Details of the focus process will be described later. If it is determined in step S205 that the full-press switch SW2 is off, the process returns to step S202, and if it is determined to be on, shooting is performed in step S206 and the process returns to step S202.

On the other hand, when the AF mode is determined in step S202, the process proceeds to step S208, and the half-press switch S
If W1 is determined to be off, the process returns to step S202, and if it is determined to be on, the process proceeds to step S209. Step S
In step 209, the AF mode is determined, and when it is determined that the AF mode is the single AF mode, the focus detection circuit 20 is activated in step S210 to perform focus detection, and the focus detection signal is input. In step S211, it is determined based on the focus detection signal whether or not the focus optical system of the taking lens is at the in-focus position, and if negative, the focus is detected in step S212A.
Perform caching. That is, based on the focus detection signal, the focusing lens 3 is driven by the focus motor 3 via the motor drive circuit 4 toward the in-focus position. here,
The moving speed of the focus optical system in this focusing is a first speed V11. After that, step S2
Return to 08. If it is determined in step S211 that the taking lens is at the in-focus position, driving of the taking lens is stopped in step S212 and the process proceeds to step S213 in FIG.

In step S213, the half-press switch SW1
If is determined to be off, the process proceeds to step S219 described below, and if determined to be on, the process proceeds to step S214. If it is determined in step S214 that the MF switches SW71 and SW72 are both off, the process proceeds to step S217, and if it is determined to be on, the flag is set in step S215 and the process proceeds to the manual focus process in step S216.

This step S216, the above step S2
Details of the manual focus process performed in 04 and step S227 described later are shown in FIG. Figure 10
In step S301, if it is determined that the flag is reset, a normal manual manual operation is performed.
If it is determined to be a waste, the process proceeds to step S302, and if either of the MF switches SW71 and SW72 is determined to be on, the end portion detection is performed in step S303. Edge detection switch S
If either W81 or SW82 is turned on, a warning to that effect is given, the process proceeds to step S305, the focus motor 3 is stopped, and the process returns. If step S302 is denied, the process also returns via step S305. Further, the end detection switches SWSW81, SW82
If it is determined that both are off, step S303 is denied and the process proceeds to step S306 to drive the focus motor 3 to perform focusing. That is, the switch S
If W71 is on, focus up is performed, and if switch SW72 is on, focus down is performed. Here, the lens moving speed in this focusing is the second
Is set to V12 (<V11). Then, it returns to step S302.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S301 that the flag is set, it is determined that the focusing is finely adjusted, and the process proceeds to step S307, in which the fine adjustment mode is determined. If it is determined that the mode is the low speed mode, steps S308 to S312 are performed. Step S30
8 to S311 are the same processes as the above steps S302 to S305. In step S312, the focus is moved up or down in the same manner as in step S306, but the lens moving speed at that time is the second speed V.
The third speed V13 is slower than 12.

When it is determined in step S307 that the mode is the step mode, the process proceeds to step S313, in which the wide-angle end / telephoto end determination is made by turning on / off the switches SW81 and SW82 in the same manner as described above. In step S314, a warning is given and the process returns. On the other hand, if the result in step S313 is negative, the process proceeds to step S315, in which the focus motor 3 is driven to focus drive the photographing lens by a preset minute amount. Step S31
At 6, the process waits until the MF switch SW71 or SW72 is turned off, and returns when it is turned off.

Further, if it is determined in step S217 in FIG. 8 that the full-press switch SW2 is off, the process returns to step S213, and if it is determined to be on, shooting is performed in step S218, and the flag is reset in step S219 to reset the flag in FIG. It returns to step S202.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S209 in FIG. 7 that the continuous AF mode is selected, the process proceeds to step S220 in FIG. 9, focus detection is performed in the same manner as described above, and then, in step S221, focus is not achieved. Once judged,
In step S222, the taking lens is driven for focusing, and the flow advances to step S224. If it is determined in step S221 that the subject is in focus, focusing is stopped in step S223 and the process proceeds to step S224. If it is determined in step S224 that the halfway switch SW1 is on, the process returns to step S220, and if it is determined to be off, the process proceeds to step S225.

In step S225, the MF switch SW7
If it is determined that either one of SW1 and SW72 is ON, the flag is set in step S226, the manual focus process of step S227 (described in FIG. 10) is performed, and then the process proceeds to step S229. In step S229, it is determined whether or not a predetermined escape operation (for example, focus lock switch operation or main switch operation) is performed. If the result is negative, the process returns to step S225, and if the result is affirmative, the flag is reset in step S231. And returns to step S202 in FIG.

On the other hand, if step S225 is denied, the routine proceeds to step S231, if the half-push switch SW1 is judged to be off, the routine proceeds to step S229, and if it is judged to be on, the routine proceeds to step S232. Step S232
If it is determined that the full-press switch SW2 is on, the image is captured in step S230 and the process proceeds to step S231. To determine. This may be determined by, for example, starting a timer in accordance with the switching of the half-push switch SW1 from on to off and determining whether the elapsed time has reached a predetermined time. When step S233 is denied, it returns to step S231, and when affirmed, it returns to step S224.

With the above procedure, the camera operates as follows. That is, if the MF button is operated after the main switch is turned on and the MF mode is set and before the release button is operated, the MF switch SW71 or SW72 is turned on so that the photographing lens moves at the second speed V12.
Casing driven. When the operation of the focus button is released, the MF switch SW71 or SW72 is turned off to stop the focusing (hereinafter, referred to as normal manual focusing). This second speed V12 is a medium speed, which allows the taking lens to be driven to an arbitrary focusing position. Thereafter, when the release button is fully pressed, shooting is performed at the manually set focusing position.

On the other hand, if the release button is pressed halfway after the AF mode is set, focus detection is performed, and based on the result, the taking lens automatically moves to the in-focus position at the first speed V11. -Casing drive (hereinafter, automatic
Called Cassing). The above-mentioned first speed V11 is set to a controllable maximum speed or a speed close to it, so that the taking lens can be driven to a predetermined in-focus position in a short time, and subsequent shooting can be performed quickly.

Here, when the single AF mode is set, the automatic focusing is performed by a half-press operation.
The focusing is performed only once, and once the photographing lens reaches a predetermined focusing position, the automatic focusing is completed. Then, when the release button is fully pressed after that, shooting is performed at the lens position. On the other hand, when the continuous AF mode is set, the automatic focusing is continuously performed while the half-pressing operation is performed, and the automatic focusing is completed when the half-pressing operation is released. In this case, if the half-press operation is followed by the full-press operation, shooting is performed at the lens position at that time.

Further, in this embodiment, fine adjustment of focusing can be performed after completion of automatic focusing accompanying the half-press operation. That is, in the single AF mode, when the half-push operation is continuously performed until after the automatic focusing is stopped, the fine adjustment can be performed by operating the MF button while maintaining the half-push operation. Become. Further, in the continuous AF mode, fine adjustment is performed by releasing the half-press operation and then operating the MF button. For this fine adjustment, as described above, the two modes of the low speed mode and the step mode can be selected in advance by the fine adjustment mode switch SW6. In the low speed mode, the MF button, that is, the MF switch SW71 or SW7
When 2 is operated, the taking lens is driven for focusing at the third speed V13, and when the operation of the MF button is released, the focusing lens is focused.
Cassing stops. Since the third speed V13 is lower than the second speed V12 described above, the photographer can easily perform fine adjustment of the magnification.

On the other hand, when the step mode is set as the fine adjustment mode, only a predetermined minute amount of focusing is performed by one operation of the MF button. Therefore, in order to continuously drive the taking lens, it is necessary to repeatedly operate / release the MF button, and even if the MF button is continuously operated, the taking lens may unintentionally pass the desired position. Absent. Therefore, also by this, the fine adjustment can be easily performed.

Then, if the release button is fully pressed after the above-mentioned fine adjustment, photographing is performed at the lens position after the fine adjustment. Also, in single AF mode, to return to the state before half-press operation without shooting after automatic focusing,
You can release the half-press operation. As a result, the fine adjustment is prohibited, and if the half-press operation is performed again thereafter, the automatic focusing is performed, and if the MF button is operated, the normal focusing is performed at the second speed V12. On the other hand, in the continuous AF mode, if the half-push operation is released to complete the automatic focusing, the half-push operation is performed again, and the state is maintained for a predetermined time, the automatic focusing is restarted. .. If the escape operation described above is performed after the half-push is released, the state before the half-push can be restored.

As described above, since the fine adjustment can be performed after the automatic focusing, even if the predetermined object is not focused as a result of the automatic focusing, the object is surely focused on the object. You can shoot.

In the above description, the second speed V12 in the normal manual focusing is set lower than the first speed V11 in the automatic focusing.
The speed V11 and the second speed V12 may be the same speed.
Further, although an example in which the normal manual focusing and the manual focusing for fine adjustment are performed by the same operation member (MF button) is shown, they may be performed by different operation members. Furthermore, except the step mode, an example in which manual focusing is performed only while the MF button is operated is shown.
Focusing is started by operating the F button, and then
The focusing may be stopped by operating the MF button again. Further, although an example in which the photographing lens is driven for focusing based on the focus detection signal from the focus detection circuit 20 has been shown, for example, so-called active autofocus
The present invention can also be applied to the one in which the photographing lens is driven for focusing based on the distance measurement result obtained by the three-angle distance measurement method like dust.

[0053]

According to the invention of claim 1, the lens speed at the time of finely adjusting the photographing lens to an arbitrary lens position manually after the completion of the automatic lens driving to the predetermined lens position, Since it is slower than the manual lens drive speed, it becomes easy to stop the shooting lens at the desired position during the above fine adjustment, while increasing the lens drive speed during automatic lens drive and normal manual lens drive. It is possible to shorten the lens driving time by setting and take a picture quickly. Further, according to the invention of claim 2, when the photographing lens is manually finely adjusted to an arbitrary lens position after the automatic lens driving to the predetermined lens position is completed, only a predetermined small amount is required by one operation of the lens driving operation member. Since the lens is driven, the same effect as described above can be obtained. Further, particularly in the invention of claim 6, continuous A
In the F mode setting, when the shooting preparation operation is released, the automatic lens drive is completed and the fine adjustment is permitted, and when a predetermined operation is performed thereafter, the fine adjustment is prohibited. Further, in the invention of claim 7, when the single AF mode is set, the fine adjustment is allowed only when the shooting preparation operation is continuously performed until after the automatic lens driving is completed, and then the shooting preparation operation is canceled. Fine adjustment is prohibited. As a result, the state before the shooting preparation operation can be returned by a simple operation, and the usability of the camera is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to a complaint.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a lens drive control device for a camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart following FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of zoom processing.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a lens drive control device for a camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart following FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart following FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of manual focus processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control circuit 2 Distance measuring circuit 3 Focus motor 4,6 Motor drive circuit 5 Zoom motor 20 Focus detection circuit 101 1st signal output means 102 2nd signal output means 103 3rd signal output means 104 Lens drive means 105 Drive control means SW1 Half-push switch SW2 Full-push switch SW5 Constant magnification mode switch SW6 Fine adjustment mode switch SW9 Focus mode switching switch SW31 Zoom up switch SW32 Zoom down switch SW41, SW42, SW81, SW82 Edge detection switch SW71 Focus Up switch SW72 Focus down switch

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A first signal output means for outputting a first lens drive signal for driving a photographing lens to a predetermined lens position in response to a manual operation, and the photographing lens in response to a manual operation. Second output of a second lens drive signal for driving to an arbitrary lens position
And a third lens drive signal for driving the photographing lens to an arbitrary lens position in response to a manual operation after the driving of the photographing lens according to the first lens driving signal is completed. A lens drive control device for a camera, comprising: a third signal output means; and a lens drive means for driving the photographing lens according to the first, second and third lens drive signals, wherein the first lens When the drive signal is output, the taking lens is driven at a first speed, and when the second lens drive signal is output, the taking lens is moved to the first speed.
When the third lens driving signal is output, the lens driving means drives the photographing lens at a third speed lower than the second speed. A lens drive control device for a camera, characterized by comprising drive control means for controlling. 2. A first signal output means for outputting a first lens drive signal for driving a photographing lens to a predetermined lens position in response to a manual operation, and the photographing lens in response to a manual operation. A second lens that outputs a first lens drive signal for driving to an arbitrary lens position
And a third lens drive signal for driving the photographing lens to an arbitrary lens position in response to a manual operation after the driving of the photographing lens according to the first lens driving signal is completed. A lens drive control device for a camera, comprising: a third signal output means; and a lens drive means for driving the photographing lens according to the first, second and third lens drive signals, The second signal output means outputs the first and second lens drive signals for continuously driving the photographing lens in response to the manual operation, and the third signal output means outputs the first signal. The third lens drive signal for moving the photographing lens by a predetermined minute amount is output by one manual operation, and when the first lens drive signal is output, the photographing lens is moved. Lens is continuously driven at a first speed, and when the second drive signal is output, the photographing lens is continuously driven at a second speed equal to or lower than the first speed, A lens drive control device for a camera, comprising drive control means for controlling the lens drive means so as to drive the photographing lens by the minute amount when the lens drive signal No. 3 is output. 3. The lens drive control device for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the driving of the photographing lens is a zooming drive. 4. The lens drive control device for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the drive of the taking lens is focusing drive. 5. The first signal output means operates by half-pressing a release button, and the second signal output means operates a predetermined lens drive operating member before the half-pressing operation. Then, the third signal output means operates.
5. The lens drive of the camera according to claim 1, wherein the lens drive operation member is operated when the lens drive operation member is operated after the operation of the lens drive control unit according to the first lens drive signal is completed. Control device. 6. A single shooting preparation operation for a single shooting preparation operation.
A single AF mode for performing a focusing operation and a continuous AF mode for continuously performing a focusing operation during the shooting preparation operation can be set, and the first signal output means is In addition to the operation of the shooting preparation operation, when the continuous AF mode is set, when the shooting preparation operation is released, the operation of the lens drive control unit associated with the first lens drive signal is completed and the third 5. The lens of a camera according to claim 3, wherein the operation of the signal output means is allowed, and the operation of the third signal output means is prohibited when a predetermined operation is performed thereafter. Drive controller. 7. A single shooting preparation operation for one shooting preparation operation.
A single AF mode for performing a focusing operation and a continuous AF mode for continuously performing a focusing operation during the shooting preparation operation can be set, and the first signal output means is While operating in the shooting preparation operation, when the single AF mode is set, the shooting preparation operation is continuously performed until after the operation of the lens driving unit associated with the first lens drive signal is completed. 5. The camera according to claim 4, wherein the operation of the third signal output means is permitted, and the operation of the third signal output means is prohibited when the photographing preparation operation is released thereafter. Lens drive control device.