JPH06250257A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely read-in data without being affected by the difference of reflectance of a bar-code disk and the fluctuation of a photosensor by surely executing an operation of deciding a threshold level for discriminating between a bar and a space after the bar-code disk starts rotating and also before executing operations of deciding a narrow/wide threshold time and reading data. CONSTITUTION:A photoreflector 16 is driven by a photoreflector driving circuit 105 so as to read a bar-code installed on a film cartridge which is integrally rotated with a supply spool. The analog signal which is read by the photoreflector 16 is processed by A/D conversion so as to be read by a control circuit 101. The threshold level is calculated from the maximum level and the minimum level of the bar-code signal which is processed by A/D conversion. Further, a time measurement for measuring a time interval between each width of the bar code signal is executed. And the threshold time for discriminating between narrow/wide is decided according to each time interval.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera using a film cartridge which rotates integrally with a supply spool in a film cartridge and has a bar code disk in which information about the film is recorded by a bar code.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a film cartridge in which all the films are stored is pushed out of the film cartridge by the rotation of a fork, and after all the frames have been photographed, all the films are stored in the cartridge. It is disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,841,319 and the like. Also, when the film is fed, the film cartridge as described above in which the information about the film (film sensitivity, the specified number of frames, etc.) is recorded as magnetic information on a disk that moves integrally with the feeding of the film is used. A camera which reads this information from the disk is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 55-
Proposed in No. 22799. Also, the actual development 58-
No. 183695 proposes that information about the cassette tape is recorded on a tape take-up reel of a cassette tape by a bar code, and the information is read while the tape take-up reel is rotating.

Further, the applicant of the present application uses a film cartridge in which the above-mentioned film information is recorded on the disk by a bar code instead of magnetic information, and when the film is fed, the film information is read from the bar code by a photo reflector or the like. We have already applied for an optical reading camera (Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2-410522-410524).
issue).

Further, in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-140604,
An information reading means for optically reading a bar code recorded on a bar code disc and a judging means for comparing a signal from the information reading means with a predetermined value to judge whether the signal is a predetermined value or more. And a warning means for giving a warning when the judgment means judges that the value is less than or equal to the predetermined value, and informs this when the camera cannot be expected to operate normally. I am proposing a camera that can do this.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when the signal is below a predetermined value, it operates so as to warn, and the threshold value for discriminating between the bar and the space in the bar code is Since it is fixed, it has a drawback that it cannot cope with the difference in reflectance of the barcode disc and the variation in the photo sensor.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and there are differences in the reflectance of bar code discs,
An object of the present invention is to provide a camera that can read data reliably without being affected by variations in photo sensors.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the camera of the present invention according to claim 1 rotates integrally with a supply spool in a film cartridge, and information about the film is recorded by a bar code. A camera using a film cartridge having a bar code disc, wherein information reading means for optically reading a bar code recorded on the bar code disc and a signal of the information reading means are converted from analog to digital, First determining means for determining the threshold value of the bar and space from the level, and time measurement of the bar and space intervals of the information reading means according to the threshold value, and a narrow or wide threshold time is determined from the time interval. Prior to the automatic loading operation, the second determining means for determining and the threshold value determining by the first and second determining means are performed. The reading is performed every time after the rotation of the bar code disk in the same direction as the feeding direction of the automatic loading or before the reading of information by the information reading means, and the threshold value by the first determining means in claim 2. The decision, prior to the autoloading operation,
After the bar code disk starts rotating in the direction opposite to the auto-loading feeding direction, it is carried out every time, and the threshold value is determined by the second determining means by changing the rotation of the bar code disk in the same direction as the auto-loading feeding direction. , Is performed every time before the information reading means reads the information. further,
The first determining means stores the maximum level and the minimum level a plurality of times, and obtains the threshold value from the average value of each of them, and the second determining means determines the threshold value from the time over the entire data pattern. Decide the time, or
The second determining means determines the threshold time from the narrow patterns before and after the data.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the determining means for determining the threshold level for discriminating the bar and the space from the difference between the maximum level and the minimum level, and the time measurement of the bar and space intervals according to the threshold level. The determination means for determining the narrow and wide threshold times is provided based on the time interval, and the threshold is determined every time after the rotation of the bar code disk and before the information reading means reads the information.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below based on the illustrated embodiments. 2 to 5 are views according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a film cartridge used in the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a camera, FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the camera, and FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the camera when the film cartridge of FIG. 2 is loaded in the camera.

In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes an engaging portion 1a which engages with an engaging portion 13a of the fork 13 of the camera shown in FIG.
2 is a bar code disk on which a bar code in which film information such as film sensitivity and the number of specified frames of film is encoded is printed. The bar code disk 2 is a film cartridge as shown in FIG. It is configured to rotate integrally with one supply spool 1b. Reference numeral 3 is a camera body, 4 is a release button, 5 is a liquid crystal display having a film sensitivity display section 5a for displaying the film sensitivity, and a number display section 5b for displaying the specified number of films and the number of shots. Reference numeral 6 is a cartridge loading lid, and 7 is a transparent portion integrally formed with the cartridge loading lid 6 for viewing a seal such as the sensitivity of the cartridge. Reference numeral 7a is a malt plane attached to the cartridge loading lid 7 so that light from the transparent portion 7 does not enter the film 1c, and 8 is an opening / closing knob for opening and closing the cartridge loading lid fixed to a lock lever 11 described later. is there. Reference numeral 9 is a shaft that rotatably supports the cartridge loading lid 6.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a loading lid switch which is turned on and off by the projecting portion 6b of the cartridge loading lid 6, which is turned on when the cartridge loading lid 6 is opened and turned off when it is closed. In the state of FIG. 5, since the film cartridge loading lid 6 is closed, it is in the OFF state.

Numeral 11 is slidably supported by two pins 3b and 3c protruding from the camera body 3, and a spring 12
5 is a lock lever that is always biased in the right-hand direction in FIG. 5, and has a lock portion 11a that locks the claw portion 6a of the cartridge loading lid 6. Further, the urging of the lock lever 11 by the spring 12 to the right is prevented by the stopper 3
It is regulated by a. When the cartridge loading lid 6 is closed, the lock portion 11a is moved in the direction of the arrow by the engaging portion 6a, and then it is moved to the right according to the bias of the spring 12 to lock the cartridge loading lid 6 as shown in FIG. To do.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a fork having an engaging portion 13a which engages with the engaging portion 1a of the supply spool 1b of the film cartridge 1 as described above, and 14 denotes a reduction gear train whose output of a feeding motor, which will be described later, is not shown. A gear that is transmitted via the gear 13a of the fork 13 is engaged, a printed circuit board 15 and a photo reflector 16 for reading a bar code from the bar code disk 3.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic arrangement of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1
00 is a battery as a power source, 101 is a control circuit including a microcomputer for controlling various operations of the camera, 102 is an AE and AF drive circuit, 103 is a shutter drive circuit for opening and closing a shutter, and 104 is a film 1c. A motor drive circuit that drives a feed motor 108 for feeding, 105 is a photoreflector drive circuit that drives the photoreflector 16, and 106 is a reader that reads a bar code signal that is an analog signal from the photoreflector 16. A circuit, 107 is a display drive circuit for driving the liquid crystal display 5.

In FIG. 6, after the film cartridge 1 is loaded in the camera, the camera reads the film information,
7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit 101 until the information is displayed. Hereinafter, each step is abbreviated as S.

When the film cartridge 1 is loaded into the camera and the cartridge loading lid 6 is closed, the loading lid switch 10 is turned off. Here, it is determined whether the loading lid switch 10 is ON or OFF, and it is OFF. That is, when it is determined that the cartridge loading lid 6 is closed as shown in FIG. 5 (S201), the process proceeds to S202. Then, the feeding motor 108 is rotated in the reverse direction via the motor drive circuit 104 (S202). In this way, the feeding motor 108 is rotated in the reverse direction so that the film 1c does not come out of the film cartridge 1 from the inside of the film cartridge 1 during the barcode reading operation performed in the next step. is there.

Next, the photo reflector 16 is driven through the photo reflector drive circuit 105, and the bar code is read by the bar code disk 2 provided on the film cartridge 1 rotating integrally with the supply spool 1b. To start the operation (S202).

Then, in order to read the analog signal read by the photo reflector 16 by the control circuit 101, A / D conversion is started (S204). This A / D
The converter is built in the control circuit 101. The maximum level and the minimum level of the A / D converted bar code signal are stored (S205). This stored value is
Since it is the basis of the later threshold calculation, it is preferable to store the maximum level and the minimum level a plurality of times and obtain the average value thereof.

Next, it is confirmed that the difference between the maximum level and the minimum level is a predetermined value or more (S206). If the value is less than the predetermined value, it is determined that it is difficult to read it after that.
Proceed to S220. If the threshold value is exceeded, the threshold level is calculated from the maximum level and the minimum level (S20).
7). This may be set to, for example, an intermediate value between both levels. Further, time measurement is started to measure the time interval of each width of the barcode signal (S208).

Then, the leading pattern of the bar code signal is detected (S209). This is because, for example, there is a particularly long black pattern (bar) or white pattern (space) in the pattern as compared with other signals, and this may be recognized. Next, it is determined whether or not the leading pattern can be detected within a predetermined time (S210), and if the leading pattern is detected, the process proceeds to S211. If the leading pattern cannot be detected within the predetermined time, S2
Returning to 09, the leading pattern is detected again. If the leading pattern cannot be detected even after the lapse of a predetermined time, the process proceeds to S220. Then, the time width of each barcode after the head pattern is measured and stored (S211).

Next, it is judged whether the time width (change point) of all data can be detected within a predetermined time (S212), and when the change point of all data is detected, the process proceeds to S213. Further, although it is within the predetermined time, when only the time width of a part of the data is still stored, the process returns to S211 and the whole data is fetched. Further, if the change points of all the data cannot be detected even after the lapse of a predetermined time, the process proceeds to S220. And
A threshold time for discriminating between narrow and wide is determined from the stored time widths (S213). This is because when there is a pattern corresponding to narrow before and after the data, the threshold time may be determined based on that time, and in the case of a pattern with only data, the time of all data is summed up. The threshold time may be determined from the time. For example, in the case of a pattern in which the narrow width is 1 and the wide width is 3,
The time corresponding to 2 may be set as the threshold time.

Further, it is determined whether the width is narrow or wide (S214). When the time corresponding to 2 is set as the threshold time, it is possible to set wide when 2 is exceeded and narrow when 2 or less.

Next, it is confirmed that both narrow and wide are within the predetermined range (S215). If an extremely short pulse-shaped time width or an extremely long pattern time width is recognized, it is an erroneous signal, so the process returns to S208.
Start time measurement from the beginning. Then, the parity of the read pattern is checked (S216).
Next, it is confirmed that the parities match (S2
17). If there is an error in the parity, S2
Return to 08 and restart the time measurement from the beginning. Then, the read barcode pattern is converted into various information (film sensitivity, number of films, film type, etc.) (S2).
18). Further, the data decoded in S218 is displayed (S219). On the other hand, when the normal pattern cannot be read because the barcode pattern is dirty or the photo reflector 16 is defective, the display on the liquid crystal display 5 is displayed as a blinking display to give a warning (S).
220). In such a case, the data to be read in the barcode pattern will be manually input.

After performing the above processing, the motor drive circuit 1
The reverse rotation of the feeding motor 108 is stopped via 04, and this time the feeding motor 108 is normally rotated (S221). Then, a known autoloading operation is started (S22).
2).

FIG. 7 shows a bar code pattern and its signal. Black (bar) of the pattern is shown at a high level and white (space) is shown at a low level. The information is coded by the interleaved 2of5 method, and the leading position detection zone of the bar and the space from the beginning, the narrow bar, 2 blocks of the 2of5 code are arranged in this order. The contents of the 2of5 code are shown in FIG. In this table, 0 indicates narrow and 1 indicates wide, and information is formed on the bar side and the space side, respectively. In the example of FIG. 7, the information is as follows: 1st block space = 10001, 1st block bar = 01001, 2nd block space = 11000 3, 3rd block bar = 00101.

FIG. 8 shows another bar code pattern and its signal. As in FIG. 7, the information is coded by the interleave 2of5 method, and further,
4-bit information is added. A space and a bar head position detection zone from the head, a 2of5 code, a block, and a 4-bit code are arranged in this order. The contents of the 4-bit information are shown in FIG. In this table, 0 is narrow,
1 indicates wide, and information is formed on the bar side and the space side, respectively. In the example of FIG. 8, the first block space = 10100, the fifth block bar = 01100, the second block space = 10, the second block bar = 01, and the information is 2.

FIG. 11 shows processing relating to S209 of FIG. 6 when the film cartridge having the bar code pattern of FIG. 7 is used. The space time Ts and the bar time Tb are fetched (S301, 302). If this ratio is 6: 1 or more, that is, Ts> 6 · Tb (S303), it is determined that the data start position (B) is present (S304). ), If Ts <6 · Tb, return to S301,
Repeat space time detection and bar time detection. This 6:
A value of 1 is 10: 1 if there is no speed fluctuation in the case of data head position detection, and 7 to 8: 1 if there is speed fluctuation on the high speed side. On the other hand, in the case of data space and bar, it is 3: 1 if there is no speed fluctuation and 4 to 5: 1 if there is speed fluctuation on the low speed side, and it is set as an intermediate value for distinguishing between the two. It is the value.
Note that the loop of S301 to S303 ends as a detection error if S303 cannot be exited even after a certain time has elapsed (S210).

FIG. 12 shows processing relating to S213 in FIG. 6 when using the film cartridge having the bar code pattern in FIG. In this case, Narr
This corresponds to ow = 1 and Wide = 3. for that reason,
The time T ₁ from (A) to (B) is measured (S401),
(C) measures the time T ₂ of the up ~ (D) (S40
2). Since both T ₁ and T ₂ are times corresponding to 1, the times T ₁ and T ₂ are added (S403), and the time corresponding to 2 is set as the threshold time. If the time is less than this time, Narrow, if this time is exceeded In this case, it will be determined to be Wide.

FIG. 13 shows processing relating to S209 of FIG. 6 when the film cartridge having the bar code pattern of FIG. 8 is used. The bar time Tb and the space time Ts are fetched (S501, 502). If this ratio is 5: 1 or more, that is, if Tb> 5 · Ts (S503), then (C) next to the data head position (A). (S504), if Tb <5 · Ts, S50
Return to 1 and repeat the bar detection time and space detection time. This value of 5: 1 is 16: 2.5 = 6.4: 1 if there is no speed fluctuation when (A) to (C) is Wide in the case of data head position detection, and if the high speed side If there is a speed fluctuation, it will be about 5: 1. On the other hand, in the case of data space and bar, 2.5:
The value is 1, and if there is a speed variation on the low speed side, it becomes 3 to 4: 1 and is a value set as an intermediate value for distinguishing between the two. Note that, as in the case of FIG. 11, the loop of S501 to 503 ends as a detection error if S503 cannot be exited even after a certain time has elapsed (S21).
0).

FIG. 14 shows processing relating to S213 in FIG. 6 when using the film cartridge having the bar code pattern in FIG. In this case, Narr
This corresponds to a length of ow = 1 and Wide = 2.5. Therefore, when measuring the time from (A) to (B), 16
The time T ₁ corresponding to (S601). Therefore, this T ₁ is divided by 9 and the time corresponding to about 1.75 is set as the threshold time (S602). If it is less than this time, it is determined to be Narrow, and if it exceeds this time, it is determined to be Wide.

In the present invention, in order to prevent the film from coming out of the film cartridge during the barcode reading operation, the feeding motor is first rotated in the reverse direction. This is done during the automatic loading. It is more preferable that the barcode is read and the barcode reading is completed before the first frame is taken. At this time, the feed motor is driven in the normal direction from the beginning. With such a configuration, the time lag from the film loading to the completion of shooting preparation can be shortened as compared with the case where the film is once driven in the reverse direction and then normally rotated, which is advantageous for the user.

This embodiment is shown in FIG. In FIG. 15, only the points different from FIG. 6 will be described. S202 ′
The feed motor 108 is normally rotated via the motor drive circuit 104, and S221 is omitted. In addition, the operation of determining the threshold level for distinguishing between the bar and the space is performed in the reverse direction of the autoloading by performing the reverse operation of the feed motor, and the narrow and wide threshold time determination and the data reading operation are performed by the feed motor. It may be rotated in the normal direction and performed in the same direction as the automatic loading. The threshold level is determined in the same direction as the reading operation because the level does not depend on the speed and may be different from the direction in which the reading operation is performed, but the threshold time depends on the feeding speed. It depends on what you have to do.

This embodiment is shown in FIG. In FIG. 16, only the points different from FIG. 6 will be described. In S223 and S224, the feeding motor 108 is set to the motor drive circuit 10.
4 is that it is rotated in the normal direction, and S221 is omitted.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operation of determining the threshold level for discriminating between the bar and the space is performed after the rotation of the bar code disk is started.
By making sure to perform it before the wide threshold time determination and data reading operation, it is possible to perform reliable data reading that is not affected by the difference in the reflectance of the barcode disc and the variation in the photo sensor. is there.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a film cartridge used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a film cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a camera when a film cartridge is loaded in the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a bar code pattern and its signal in the film cartridge used in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a bar code pattern and its signal in a film cartridge used in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the contents of a barcode pattern.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the contents of a barcode pattern.

FIG. 11 is a detailed diagram of S209 in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a detailed diagram of S213 in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a detailed diagram when another barcode pattern of S209 of FIG. 6 is used.

FIG. 14 is a detailed diagram when another barcode pattern of S213 in FIG. 6 is used.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Film Cartridge 2 Bar Code Disc 5 Liquid Crystal Display 16 Photo Reflector 101 Control Circuit 104 Motor Drive Circuit 106 Reading Circuit 107 Display Drive Circuit 108 Feed Motor

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A camera using a film cartridge having a bar code disk which rotates integrally with a supply spool in the film cartridge and in which information on a film is recorded by a bar code, wherein the film is recorded on the bar code disk. An information reading means for optically reading the generated bar code, a first deciding means for analog / digital converting the signal of the information reading means, and deciding the bar and space threshold values from the level, and according to the threshold value, The bar and space intervals of the information reading means are time-measured, and the second determination means for determining the narrow or wide threshold time and the threshold determination by the first and second determination means are automatically performed from the time intervals. Prior to the loading operation, the bar code disc should be rotated and opened in the same direction as the autoloading feeding direction. After the start, the camera is performed every time before the information is read by the information reading means. 2. A camera using a film cartridge having a bar code disk which rotates integrally with a supply spool in the film cartridge and in which information on a film is recorded by a bar code, wherein the film is recorded on the bar code disk. An information reading means for optically reading the generated bar code, a first deciding means for analog / digital converting the signal of the information reading means, and deciding the bar and space threshold values from the level, and according to the threshold value, The time determination of the bar and space intervals of the information reading means is performed, and the second determination means for determining the narrow or wide threshold time from the time interval and the threshold determination by the first determination means are set to the automatic loading operation. First, after starting the rotation of the bar code disk in the direction opposite to the feeding direction of auto loading, it is performed every time, and the second The camera is characterized in that the determination of the threshold value is performed every time before the information is read by the information reading means by changing the rotation of the bar code disc in the same direction as the feeding direction of the autoloading. 3. The first determining means stores the maximum level and the minimum level over a plurality of times, and obtains the threshold value from the average value of each of them.
The listed camera. 4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the second determining unit determines the threshold time from the time over the entire area of the data pattern. 5. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the second determining means determines the threshold time from a narrow pattern before and after the data.