JPH0656450B2 - Moving device for shooting lens - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic lens moving device capable of selecting a desired distance range from a normal distance range in which photographing is possible.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to speed up the focus adjustment of a conventional automatic focusing device, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 55-127626, the photographing range of a photographing lens is previously set to a long range, a medium range and a short range. By dividing it into distances and designating one of them, the photographer can designate one from the above three shooting areas at the beginning of shooting, and first, the shooting lens is set to the designated area. It is driven and the automatic focusing control is performed from there.

However, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 55-127626, the automatic focusing control is started by forcibly driving to the desired photographing area at the beginning of photographing, but the photographing lens does not come out of the desired photographing area after the start. Since there is no means to impose a limit, the focus of the shooting lens may be controlled in an area outside the desired shooting area due to displacement of the focus detection area due to entry of an object other than the required subject into the focus detection area or camera shake, etc. There is a problem that it starts to scan.

Another device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 54-113334 is provided with a focus detection device of a contrast detection system, and a focus detection optical system provided separately from the taking lens for focus detection. To scan the entire shooting distance range, and detect the maximum contrast position only within the desired distance range determined by the distance range selection unit 4 (conversely, if the maximum contrast is detected outside the desired distance range). Is also ignored), the focus adjustment is performed by moving the taking lens to this maximum contrast position. However, the desired distance range referred to here indicates only the range determined for obtaining the maximum contrast position within the range, although the focus detection device scans the entire area for focus detection. There is no limitation such as limiting the driving of the photographing lens in the range or limiting the scanning range at the time of focus detection.

The present invention solves such a problem and prevents the photographing lens from moving out of the selected photographing distance range once inside the selected photographing distance range. It is an object of the present invention to provide a moving device for a photographing lens that can freely enter the photographing distance range when the photographing lens is present.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a camera 1 equipped with an automatic focusing device according to the present invention at the right end. The normal closest position as viewed from the camera 1 is P ₁ , the ∞ position is P ₅ , and the closest position P _{1 is.}
From the infinity position to the infinity position P ₅ , the boundary points are sequentially set as P ₂ , P ₃ , and P ₄ , and the range in which the focus of the object field of the camera 1 can be appropriately adjusted to 4 is set.
It is divided. Then, the closest position when enlarged to the macro area is P ₀ .

FIG. 2 is a principle view of the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a lens barrel which can change the close distance and can expand the focus matching range in the same lens barrel, That is, it can be applied to an automatic focusing device in a lens barrel having a macro area. In particular, when the zoom ring is set to a certain position, the macro area is automatically added and the close-up distance becomes shorter than usual, and the focus matching range is expanded from this close-up distance to ∞. This is effective in the zoom lens barrel of.

In the figure, a pair of re-imaging lenses 3 and 4 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the optical axis of the objective lens 2 for photographing,
As a result, a part of the transmitted light flux of the objective lens 2 is guided to the light receiving surfaces of the pair of photoelectric elements 5 and 6 via the re-imaging lenses 3 and 4, respectively. The pair of photoelectric elements 5 and 6 act as a photoelectric converter for detecting an image position, and specifically, are composed of an optical element array. The processing circuit 7 inputs the output signals from the pair of photoelectric element arrays from the terminals a and b, compares the signals to determine the front pin, the rear pin, and the focus state, and based on the result, A motor 9 connected to this circuit 8 via terminals f and g is driven via a motor drive circuit 8 connected via terminals d and e, and the objective lens 2 is moved to a focus position by rotation of the gear head 10.

On the other hand, the conductive member 11 is a member that moves in conjunction with the objective lens 2 and has a driving position (hereinafter, referred to as P) which is focus-aligned with the objective lens 2 at P _1, that is, a normal close position.
_The conductive member 1 when it is in the position corresponding to ₁ )
1 is at the position of the electrical contact 13, at the position of the electrical contact 14 at the position corresponding to P ₂ , at the position of the electrical contact 15 at the position corresponding to P _3, and at the position corresponding to P _4. The conductive member 11 comes to the position of the electric contact 15, to the position of the electric contact 17 when it is at the position corresponding to P _5, and to the position of the electric contact 70 when it is at the position corresponding to P ₀ , that is, the closest position to the macro region. It is like this.
The conductive member 11 is connected to the electrical contacts 13, 14, 1
When contacting any one of 5, 16, 17, 70, the electrical contact 12 becomes conductive with the contacting electrical contact through the conductive member 11. The electrical contacts 14, 15, 16 are
Depending on the operating member 19 for selecting the photographing range, one of Vcc, ground, and open states is set. The electric contact 70 is always in the state of Vcc, the electric contact 17 is always in the state of ground, and the electric contact 13 is moved from Vcc to open by operating to extend to the macro region as described later. Electrical contact 1
The states of 3 to 17 and 70 are transmitted to the electrical contact 12 via the conductive member 11, and this information is transmitted from the input terminal c to the processing circuit 7 through the conductor 18. The processing circuit 7 has a conductor 18
When the output signal of is Vcc, through the motor drive circuit 8,
When the objective lens 2 outputs a signal for rotating the motor 9 so that the objective lens 2 moves from the close side to the ∞ side (to the right in the figure), and the output signal of the lead wire 18 is ground, the objective lens 2 moves from the ∞ side. The signal is output so that it moves toward the near side (to the left in the figure). The processing circuit 7 and the motor drive circuit 8
A detailed description of this will be given later with reference to FIGS.

The configuration of the switch portion for selecting the photographing distance range will be described. The selection switch portion is operated by the operating member 19 to select F, M, N, MACRO, and FULL.
You can select the stage. The insulating operation member 19 has conductive members 20 and 2 at a constant interval.
1 is fixed, and the selection switch part is
The electrical contacts 22 to which cc is applied, the electrical contacts 23 to which the ground is applied, and the electrical contacts 24 to 31, 71, 72 (the contacts 24, 25, 28, 31, 71 indicated by broken lines may be omitted). Is included.

FIG. 2 shows the state in which the operating member 19 is set to M, and the conductive members 20 and 21 fixed to the operating member 19 are the electrical contacts 26, respectively.
Vcc is applied to the electrical contact 14 and the contact 16
A ground is applied to each. Therefore, in this state, the conductive member 11 moves between the electrical contacts 14 and 16, and the objective lens 2 moves between the positions corresponding to P ₂ and P ₄ . Even if the initial position of the objective lens 2 is not between the positions corresponding to P ₂ and P ₄ ,
Once the position corresponding to P ₂ or P ₄ is passed, only the desired range is moved thereafter. This will be described later in detail.

Similarly, when the operating member 19 is set to F, the electric contact 15 becomes Vcc and the contact 17 becomes the ground, and the conductive member 11 moves between the electric contacts 15 and 17, so that the operating member 19 is moved. When set to N, the electrical contact 13 is V
At cc, the contact 15 becomes the ground, and the conductive member 11 moves between the electric contacts 13 and 15. The operation member 1
When 9 is set to FULL, the electric contact 13 becomes Vcc, the contact 17 becomes the ground, and the contacts 14 to 16 are opened, so that the conductive member 11 moves between the electric contacts 13 and 17.

The switch 73 is a switch that is turned off when the lens is expanded to the macro area of the focus matching area and is turned on in other cases so as to expand the focus matching area to the macro area. The switch 73 is adapted to be turned on / off in conjunction with the operation member of.

In the above-described embodiment, the zoom ring is set to a specific position to make the lens ready for macro photography, and the switch 73 is turned off in conjunction with this selection operation. 73 off,
When interlocking with the operation member 76 independent of the operation for expanding to include the macro area, the dotted line 75 shows the interlocking relationship.

Therefore, in this state, the operating member 19 is moved to the M
When set to ACRO, electrical contact 70 is at Vcc and contact 1
With 3 open and contact 14 grounded, conductive member 11 will move between electrical contacts 70 and 14. The operating states of this embodiment are summarized in Table 1 below.

[Table 1]

When the operating member 19 is set to MACRO, the electrical contact 13 is opened by a switch (not shown).
It is also possible to limit between P ₀ and P ₁ in Table 1 the driving range to ground (shown in dashed lines). The drive range is between P ₀ and P _{5 when} the operation member 19 is set to FULL while expanding to the macro area.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the switch 73 is ON and the macro area is not expanded, the operating members 19 are set to F, M, N and FULL, respectively. Nearest position P ₁ and ∞ position P ₅
Distance ranges P _{3 to} P ₅ , P _{2 to} P ₄ , P included in the range
_{1 to} P ₃ and P _{1 to} P ₅ are selected, and a desired object within the selected distance range is focused and a quick shooting is performed. When the adjacent distance ranges partially overlap as in the present embodiment, it becomes easy to select the distance range even when the user wants to take a subject near the boundary point of a certain distance range. Shooting can be done surely and quickly.

Next, when the switch 73 is turned off and the macro area is expanded, the operation member 19 is set to MACR.
As they are set to O and FULL, the normal position P
Distance ranges P _{0 to} P ₂ and P _{0 to} P ₅ that are included in the range between the closest position P ₀ and the ∞ position P ₃ further than ₁ and include at least a part (or all) of the macro regions P _{0 to} P _1. Is selected to enable macro photography. In this case, MACRO may be selected if the subject is surely included in the macro area, or FULL may be selected when it is delicate whether or not the object is included in the macro area.

The example of FIG. 3 is applied to an automatic focusing device in a lens barrel having a macro area as in FIG. 2, but unlike the first embodiment of FIG. 2, when the macro area is used. , A manual focusing, or a zoom lens with a lens barrel of a type that makes the lens ready for macro photography, that is, shifts to the macro area, by performing another operation different from the focus matching and zooming device. This is a second example that is particularly limited. Regarding members having the same functions as those of the principle diagram shown in FIG.
Are denoted by the same numbers or symbols, and description thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, reference numeral 80 denotes a member linked to an operation for selecting a distance range in which the focus of the lens can be matched as a macro region from a normal region (P _{1 to} P _{5 in} FIG. 1). The conductive members 81 and 82 are fixed so as to maintain a constant distance therebetween. In the state shown in the figure, since the member 80 selects the normal region NORMAL, the electric contact 8 is connected to the electric contacts 13 and 22.
6, Vcc is applied through the conductive member 81 and the electrical contact 83.

Similarly, the electrical contact 23 is the electrical contact 8
8, the conductive member 82, and the electrical contact 84 to the ground. The electrical contact 90 is in the open state. On the other hand, since the operating member 19 is set to M, the electric contact 14 is connected to the contact 22 to which Vcc is applied via the contact 26 and the conductive member 20, and the electric contact 16 is connected to the contact 30.
And the contact 2 that is grounded via the conductive member 21
Connected to 3. Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 3, the conductive member 11 moves between the contact point 14 corresponding to P ₂ and the contact point 16 corresponding to P ₄ .

Similarly, the operating member 19 is F, N, FULL.
In accordance with the selection of
That is, the electrical contact 13 corresponding to the normal closest position P ₁
And the electrical contact 17 corresponding to the ∞ position P ₅ ,
Regions of the contact 15 corresponding to P ₃ and the contact 17 corresponding to P ₅ , and the contact 13 and P ₃ corresponding to P ₁ , respectively.
Area corresponding to the contact 15 corresponding to the above, the contact 13 corresponding to P ₁
And the contact point 17 corresponding to P ₅ moves.

However, the member 80 is replaced with the macro region MACR.
When set to O, the electrical contacts 39 and 8 corresponding to both ends of the macro area, to which Vcc is always applied,
Since the electric contacts 90 connected to 7 become Vcc and the ground, respectively, and the electric contacts 13, 14, 15, 16 are in the open state, the conductive member 11 does not depend on the selected position of the operating member 19, Corresponding electrical contacts 8
It will only move between 9 and 90. The electric contact 85 indicated by the broken line may or may not be provided. Table 2 summarizes the operating states of this embodiment.

[Table 2]

In this embodiment, the contact point P _M of the distance in the macro area is described between P ₁ and P ₂ , but this point is completely at any position according to the design value of the automatic focusing device. I don't care. As described above, in the second embodiment, when the member 80 selects the normal region NORMAL, as the operating member 19 is set to F, M, N, and FULL, the normal close positions P ₁ and ∞ are respectively set. distance range P ₃ to P ₅ to be included within the scope of the position _{P 3, P 2 ~P 4,} P 1 ~P
₃ , P _{1 to} P ₅ are selected, and like in the first embodiment, a predetermined subject within the selected distance range is focused and a quick image is taken. In the second embodiment as well, similar to the first embodiment, the adjacent distance ranges partially overlap.

Next, when the member 80 selects the macro region MACRO, the distance range P _{0 to} P _M including the macro regions P _{0 to} P ₁ is selected regardless of the selected position of the operating member 19, and macro photography is possible. . In the case of the second embodiment, compared to the first embodiment, macro shooting can be selected by one operation, but in selecting macro shooting, it is not possible to select a distance range from a plurality of distance ranges. When the above two embodiments are incorporated in the lens barrel, a pair of re-imaging lenses 3, 4, photoelectric elements 5, 6, a processing circuit 7 and a power source (see FIG. 5) are used.
The reference) may be provided in the camera body or the viewfinder attached to the camera body.

In the present invention, the camera body itself, or when the interchangeable finder is attachable to and detachable from the camera body, the camera body and the interchangeable finder are collectively referred to as a camera. The above-mentioned two embodiments show an example in which the elements 3 to 7 and the power source (see FIG. 5) are provided in the camera, and all other elements are provided in the interchangeable lens barrel which can be attached to and detached from the camera. , D, and e electrically connect the lens barrel and the camera. Further, in the case of the above-described embodiment, the operation member for switching the lens barrel to a state in which it can be photographed in the normal distance range and in a macro region is provided on the lens barrel.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the processing circuit 7 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the input / output terminals a, b, c, d and e in the figure are the same as those in FIGS. Outputs from the photoelectric elements 5 and 6 are input to the input terminals a and b, respectively. On the one hand, those values are passed through the differential amplifier 100 to the comparators 101, 10
2 and is compared with the threshold voltages V _r ⁺ and V _r ⁻ . On the other hand, it is input to the comparators 111 and 112, compared with the threshold voltage V _r ^+, and the output thereof is input to the gate 113. And the above comparator 1
Since the outputs of 01 and 102 and the gate 113 are input to the gate 114, the gate 114 outputs L at the time of focus matching and outputs H at other times.

Therefore, the gates 115 and 116 are the flip-flops 110 when the output of the gate 114 is L.
Both output L, and when the output of the gate 114 is H, the output of the flip-flop 110 is output as it is. The outputs of the gates 101 and 102 are also input to the gates 108 and 109, and are output via the flip-flop 110 as a signal indicating the rotation direction of the motor 9. The objective lens 2 is connected to the input terminal c.
Vcc, open, or ground state is applied according to the position of, and the gates 103 and 104 receive the output Q and the inverted output Q of the flip-flop 110, and the output of the transistor group changed by the e input,
Inverts the output of flip-flop 110.

Now, when the terminal c is open, the gates 103 and 104 are connected to the conductors 105 and 106 to Vcc.
However, when Vcc is applied to the terminal e, the ground is input to the gate 104 through the conductive wire 106. Therefore, when the inverted output Q of the flip-flop 110 is L, that is, the motor 9 causes the objective lens 2 to move. The output of gate 104 inverts the output of flip-flop 110 through gate 109 only when is driven from infinity to the closest direction. Even if the terminal c is applied to Vcc,
When the rotation direction of the motor 9 is opposite, the flip-flop 110 does not reverse.

Similarly, when the ground is applied to the terminal c, the ground is input to the gate 103 through the conductive wire 105. Therefore, when the motor 9 drives the objective lens 2 in the infinite direction from the close range. As long as the gate 103
The output of FF inverts the output of flip-flop 110. Thus, the outputs of the flip-flop 110 and the gate 114 are input to the AND gates 115 and 116, and the outputs are transmitted to the terminals d and e. The terminals d and e output signals H or L different from each other depending on the direction in which the objective lens 2 is driven in the focus mismatch state. In the focus-matched state, both terminals d and e become L.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the motor drive circuit 8 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in which the input terminals d and e are the same as those in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, and the output terminal f, g is common to FIGS. 2 and 3. When the terminals d and e are both L, the transistors 120 and 122 are turned off and the transistors 121 and 123 are turned on, so that the terminals f and g are short-circuited and the motor 9 steered between them is stopped. When the terminal d is H and the terminal e outputs L, the transistors 121 and 12
2 is on, transistors 120 and 123 are off, and current flows from terminal g through motor 9 to terminal f,
The motor 9 rotates so as to move the lens 2 to the left in FIGS. 2 and 3. When the terminal d is L and the terminal e outputs H, the opposite is true.

Based on the description of FIGS. 4 and 5, FIG.
The operation of the first embodiment will be further described. The second embodiment of FIG. 3 is also the same in principle, so the description thereof will be omitted.
As an example, the objective lens 2 is between the position corresponding to P ₁ and the position corresponding to P ₂ , the subject is between P ₂ and P ₄ , and the selection distance range is as shown in FIG. Is set, the switch 73 is closed, and normal photographing is selected to consider from the initial state.

The rotation of the motor 9 depends on the flip-flop 11
It depends on the initial state of 0. For example, if the output Q of the flip-flop 110 is L and the inverted output Q is H, the terminal d outputs L and the terminal e outputs H. Therefore, the motor 9 rotates so as to move the lens 2 to the right in FIG. When the lens 2 exceeds the position corresponding to P ₂ , that is, the conductive member 11 crosses the electrical contact 14, the terminal a
And b are equal to each other, and both terminals a and b have outputs to some extent, it means that it is in focus. Therefore, the outputs of the output terminals d and e of the processing circuit 7 both become L, and the motor 9 stops.

In the initial state, if the initial state of the flip-flop 110 is such that the output Q outputs H and the inverted output Q outputs L, the terminal d is H and the terminal e.
Outputs L. Therefore, the motor 9 reverses so as to move the lens 2 to the left in FIG. When the lens 2 reaches the position corresponding to P ₁ , that is, when the conductive member 11 reaches the electric contact 13, the terminal d is inverted to H and the terminal e is inverted to H, so that the lens 2 is moved rightward in FIG. Start. In this way, the lens 2 goes beyond the position corresponding to P _{2 and is} brought into the in-focus state as described above, both the output terminals d and e of the processing circuit 7 output L, and the motor 9 stops. In this way, whatever the initial position of the lens 2, the lens 2 enters the drive range corresponding to the selected distance range, and the in-focus state is reached in this range.

In the above two embodiments, an example in which the shooting distance range of the object scene is divided into 4 areas (5 or 6 areas in the case of macro) is described, but the number of divisions and the limit range are described. It is needless to say that the above can be implemented by providing a shooting range selection switch corresponding to the number of divisions and the limited range adapted to the specific example.

Regarding the signal indicating the limitation, Vcc and ground are used in the embodiment, but the signal does not matter if they can be distinguished from each other. The distance measuring method has been described by using the TTL method in the above embodiment, but the distance measuring method can also be implemented by using another distance measuring method such as an external light method or an active method.

As described in detail above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to select a distance range including at least a part of the macro area, and it is possible to focus only on a subject within this selection range. Therefore, it is convenient when the photographing lens is provided for macro photography. Further, the camera is provided with focus detecting means including elements 3 to 6 and the like, and control means including the element 7 and the like, and driving means including elements 8 to 10 and the like and selecting means including elements 19 to 21 and the like in the interchangeable lens barrel. Or element 22 ~
By providing the end point signal output means composed of 31, etc., the moving direction signal output means composed of the element 110, and the control means composed of the elements 100 to 116, the photographing lens is within or outside the desired photographing distance range. Depending on, the movement of the taking lens can be properly controlled.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, once the photographing lens enters the selected photographing distance range, the photographing lens is prevented from going out of the selected photographing distance range and the photographing lens outside the selected photographing distance range. Since the photographing lens can be controlled so as to be freely included in the photographing distance range when there is an object, for example, if the photographing lens movement range is limited by a mechanical limiting member as in the conventional case, the photographing lens movement range is selected. Although there is an inconvenience that it cannot be put inside when it is outside, in this case, there is an advantage that the shooting lens can be driven regardless of the position of the shooting lens, and the drive control of the shooting lens can be freely performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a spatial position of a subject.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a moving device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a moving device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a processing circuit.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a motor drive circuit.

[Explanation of symbols for main parts]

 3, 4, 5, 6 Focus detection means 8, 9, 10 Driving means 19-21 Selection means 22-31 End point signal output means 110 Moving direction signal output means 7 (100-116) Control means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A driving unit for driving a photographing lens, a selecting unit for selecting one of the photographing distance ranges from a plurality of photographing distance ranges included in the photographing range of the photographing lens, and the selected photographing. An end point signal output means for outputting a first end point signal indicating one end of the distance range and a second end point signal indicating the other end, a first movement direction signal indicating a driving direction of the photographing lens,
A moving direction signal output means for outputting a second moving direction signal indicating a direction opposite to the driving direction; and, if the first moving direction signal is output when the first end point signal is output, The taking lens is allowed to pass through the one end, and conversely, when the second movement direction signal is output, the taking lens is prohibited from passing through the one end, and the second end point signal is output. When the first movement direction signal is output, the taking lens is prohibited from passing through the other end, and conversely, when the second movement direction signal is being output, the taking lens is A moving device for a photographing lens, comprising: a control unit that permits passage through an end.