JPH0694967A - Motor-driven zoom camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a photographer to easily confirm the viewing angle at the typical focal distance of a zoom lens. CONSTITUTION:The motor-driven zoom camera system is provided with an electric motor driving the zoom lens and changing a focal distance position, a zoom controlling means 4 driving and controlling the electric motor, a focal distance storing means 6 storing plural focal distances in the focal distance range of the zoom lens, and a focal distance detecting means 5 detecting the present focal distance position of the zoom lens; and the zoom controlling means 4 stops the driving action of the electric motor when one of the focal distances stored in the focal distance storing means (lens ROM) 6 coincides with the present focal distance position of the zoom lens detected by the focal distance detecting means 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera system which can be zoomed up or down by an electric motor or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a camera to which a zoom lens can be attached, a power zoom in which a zoom operation is performed by a driving force of a motor is generally used.

That is, a tele-side (telephoto side) push button and a wide-side (close-up side) push button are provided, the focal length moves to the tele side while the tele side push button is pressed, and the wide side push button is pressed. The focal length moves to the wide side. It was left to the sense of the photographer to decide at which focal length to stop.

[0004]

However, in the conventional power zoom, 28 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm and 7 mm are used.
Even if the photographer tries to confirm the angle of view at a typical focal length such as 0 mm, there is a problem that it is difficult to stop accurately in accordance with these focal lengths.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to allow a photographer to easily confirm the angle of view at a typical focal length of a zoom lens.

[0006]

To achieve this object, an electric zoom camera system according to the present invention comprises an electric motor for driving a zoom lens to change its focal length position, and a zoom for driving and controlling the electric motor. The control unit, the focal length storage unit that stores a plurality of focal lengths within the focal length range of the zoom lens, and the focal length detection unit that detects the current focal length position of the zoom lens, are stored in the focal length storage unit. The zoom control means is configured to stop the driving operation of the electric motor when one of the focal lengths of the zoom lens and the current focal length position of the zoom lens detected by the focal length detection means match.

[0007]

In the electric zoom camera system having the above structure, when one of the focal lengths stored in the focal length storage means and the current focal length position of the zoom lens detected by the focal length detection means coincide, the zoom is performed. By making the control means stop the driving operation of the electric motor,
The photographer can easily confirm the angle of view at the typical focal length of the zoom lens.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 are block connection diagrams showing a first embodiment of an electric zoom camera system according to the present invention. 3 to 6 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a zoom lens 2 is attached to a camera body 1, and a focal length of the zoom lens 2 is between a tele side (telephoto side) shown by a chain line and a wide side (closest side) shown by a solid line. It can be changed between. The focal length of the zoom lens 2 is changed by the zoom drive means 3 such as an electric motor, and the drive control of the zoom drive means 3 is performed by the zoom control means 4. Information for drive control of the zoom drive unit 3 is supplied to the zoom control unit 4 from the focal length detection unit 5, the lens ROM 6, and the zoom command unit 8.

From the focal length detecting means 5 to the zoom lens 2
The information of the current focal length position is output to the zoom control unit 4. The focal length detecting means 5 is configured such that the encoder brush slides on the conductive pattern of the encoder substrate, and is incorporated in the zoom lens 2. Lens RO
In M6, in addition to the representative focal lengths within the shortest and longest focal length ranges of the zoom lens 2, data such as the shortest focal length, the longest focal length, and the open F value are written. The information on the representative focal length stored in the lens ROM 6 is transferred to the RAM 4a in the zoom control means 4 when the stop focal length 7 is operated. For example, when the zoom lens 2 is a 28-70 mm zoom lens, typical focal lengths of 28 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 70 mm, etc. are transferred to the RAM 4a.

The zoom command means 8 is, as shown in FIG.
The zoom command switch 10 includes a tele-side (telephoto side) push button and a wide-side (close-up side) push button, and a zoom mode selection switch 11 for selecting a step mode or a normal mode described later. Information indicating that the tele-side push button is pressed is supplied to the zoom control means 4 while the tele-side push button is pressed, and information indicating that the wide-side push button is pressed is supplied to the zoom control means 4 while the wide-side push button is pressed. To be done. The selection state of the mode selection switch 11 is also supplied to the zoom control means 4 as information.

The zoom control means 4 drives the zoom drive means 3 such as a zoom motor through the motor drive circuit 13 based on the information from the focal length detection means 5, the lens ROM 6 and the zoom command means 8. To do. Also, LC
The LCD 15 is driven through the D drive circuit 14, and the RAM is
Information on the focal length stored in 4a and information on the current focal length position of the zoom lens 2 are displayed.

The zoom control means 4 operates according to the flow chart shown in FIG. 3 with the above-mentioned configuration.

In FIG. 3, when the program starts (step S1), first, typical focal length data written in the lens ROM 6 is read (step S2). Next, the data of the representative focal length read in step S2 is used as the data of the stop focal length in the RAM 4a.
Set to. After that, it is determined whether the mode is the step mode by looking at the selection state of the mode selection switch 11 (step S4).

When it is determined in step S4 that the mode is not the step mode (the above-mentioned normal mode), it is determined whether or not the tele-side push button of the zoom command switch 10 is turned on (step S5), and the tele-side push button is turned on. If it is, the zoom driving means 3 is driven to move the zoom lens 2 to the tele side (step S6), and then step S6.
Return to 4. Note that step S6 will be described later with reference to FIG.

If it is determined in step S5 that the tele-side push button is off, the zoom command switch 10
It is determined whether or not the wide side push button is turned on (step S7), and if the wide side push button is turned on, the zoom drive means 3 is driven to move the zoom lens 2 to the wide side ( Step S8), followed by Step S
Return to 4. Note that step S8 will be described later with reference to FIG.

When it is determined in step S4 that the mode is the step mode, it is determined whether or not the tele-side push button of the zoom command switch 10 is turned on (step S9). If the tele-side push button is turned on, The zoom driving means 3 is driven to move the zoom lens 2 stepwise toward the telephoto side (step S10), and thereafter, the process returns to step S4. For example, when the process proceeds to step S10 when the current focal length position is 35 mm, the zoom drive unit 3 is driven to move the zoom lens 2 to the focal length of 50 mm.
Note that step S10 will be described later with reference to FIG.

If it is determined in step S9 that the tele-side push button is off, the zoom command switch 10
It is determined whether or not the wide side push button is turned on (step S11), and if the wide side push button is turned on, the zoom drive means 3 is driven to step the zoom lens 2 to the wide side. It is moved (step S12), and then the process returns to step S4. For example, when the process proceeds to step S12 when the current focal length position is 35 mm,
The zoom lens 2 is moved to 28 mm by driving the zoom driving means 3.
Move to the focal length of. Note that step S12 will be described later with reference to FIG.

If it is determined in step S9 that the tele-side push button is off, and if it is determined in step S11 that the wide-side push button is off, then immediately step S9 is performed.
Return to 4.

Next, step S6 will be described with reference to FIG.

When the program proceeds to step S6, it is first judged from the output of the focal length detecting means 5 whether or not the focal length of the zoom lens 2 has reached the upper limit (tele end) on the tele side (step S61). . If it is determined in step S61 that the upper limit on the telephoto side has been reached, no further movement to the telephoto side is possible, and therefore the process immediately returns (step S66) and moves to the next step (step S4 here).

If it is determined in step S61 that the upper limit on the telephoto side has not been reached, the zoom drive means 3 is normally rotated (step S62), and the zoom lens 2 is moved to the telephoto side.
If it is determined that the upper limit on the telephoto side has been reached during the movement (step S63), the zoom drive means 3 is stopped (step S65) and then the process returns (step S6).
6) and then to the next step (here, step S4).
Further, it is determined whether or not the tele side push button of the zoom command switch 10 is turned on (step S64), and if the tele side push button is turned on, step S63 and step S64 are repeated. When the tele-side push button of the zoom command switch 10 is off, the process returns (step S66) and moves to the next step (step S4 here).

Next, step S8 will be described with reference to FIG.

When the program proceeds to step S8, it is first judged from the output of the focal length detecting means 5 whether the focal length of the zoom lens 2 has reached the upper limit (wide end) on the wide side (step S81). . If it is determined in step S81 that the upper limit on the wide side has been reached, further movement to the wide side cannot be performed, and therefore the process immediately returns (step S86) and the next step (here, step S86).
Go to 4).

If it is determined in step S81 that the upper limit on the wide side has not been reached, the zoom drive means 3 is reversed (step S82) and the zoom lens 2 is moved to the wide side. When it is determined that the upper limit on the wide side has been reached during the movement (step S83), the zoom driving means 3 is stopped (step S85) and then the process returns (step S83).
86) and then to the next step (here, step S4). Further, it is determined whether or not the wide side push button of the zoom command switch 10 is turned on (step S84), and if the wide side push button is turned on, step S83.
And step S84 are repeated. Zoom command switch 10
If the wide side push button is turned off, the process returns (step S86) and moves to the next step (step S4 in this case).

Next, step S10 will be described with reference to FIG.

When the program proceeds to step S10, it is first judged from the output of the focal length detecting means 5 whether or not the focal length of the zoom lens 2 has reached the upper limit (tele end) on the tele side (step S101). . Step S101
If it is determined that the upper limit of the tele side has been reached, it is not possible to move further to the tele side, and therefore the process immediately returns (step S107) and moves to the next step (step S4 here).

When it is determined in step S101 that the upper limit on the telephoto side has not been reached, the zoom driving means 3 is rotated in the normal direction (step S102), and the zoom lens 2 is moved to the telephoto side. In the middle of the movement, it waits until it coincides with the data of the stop focal length stored in the RAM 4a (step S10).
3). When it coincides with the stop focal length data, the zoom driving means 3 is stopped (step S104), and the preset waiting time is waited for (step S105) before proceeding to step S106.

In step S106, it is determined whether or not the tele-side push button of the zoom command switch 10 is turned on (step S106). If it is turned on, the process returns to step S102 and steps up to step S105 are repeated. When the tele-side push button of the zoom command switch 10 is off, the process returns (step S107) and moves to the next step (step S4 here).

Next, step S12 will be described with reference to FIG.

When the program proceeds to step S12, it is first judged from the output of the focal length detecting means 5 whether or not the focal length of the zoom lens 2 has reached the upper limit (wide end) on the wide side (step S121). . Step S1
If it is determined in 21 that the upper limit on the wide side has been reached, further movement to the wide side cannot be performed, and therefore the routine immediately returns (step S127) and moves to the next step (step S4 here).

When it is determined in step S121 that the upper limit on the wide side has not been reached, the zoom driving means 3 is reversed (step S122) and the zoom lens 2 is moved to the wide side. During the movement, it waits until it matches the data of the stop focal length stored in the RAM 4a (step S
123). When it coincides with the data of the stop focal length, the zoom driving means 3 is stopped (step S124), and waits for a preset time (step S125).
The process moves to step S126.

In step S126, it is determined whether or not the wide side push button of the zoom command switch 10 is turned on (step S126). If it is turned on, the process returns to step S122 and steps up to step S125 are repeated. When the wide side push button of the zoom command switch 10 is off, the process returns (step S127) and moves to the next step (step S4 here).

Next, a second embodiment of the electric zoom camera system according to the present invention will be described.

8 to 11 are a block connection diagram and a flow chart showing a second embodiment of the electric zoom camera system according to the present invention. In the figure, the same components as those in FIGS. 1 to 7 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the setting mode selection switch 9 and the stopped focal length storage means 1 are used.
2 is added in comparison with the configuration of the first embodiment (see FIG. 2). The setting mode selection switch 9 is a switch operated by the photographer, and the stop focal length storage means 12 is provided.
Is composed of memory. In the first embodiment, the typical focal length information stored in the lens ROM 6 is:
Although all the focal length information is forcibly transferred to the RAM 4a when the stop focal length 7 is operated, in the second embodiment, the photographer can select the focal length information. That is, whether all the focal length information is transferred to the RAM 4a (automatic setting) or only the selected focal length information is transferred to the stopped focal length storage means 12 (manual setting),
The setting mode selection switch 9 is operated so that the setting can be selected.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the program of the second embodiment is started, first, automatic setting is performed (step S31). In step S31, the focal length data stored in the RAM 4a is cleared (step S311), as shown by the subroutine in FIG. Next, information on all the focal lengths stored in the lens ROM 6 is read into the RAM 4a (step S312), and the RAM
4a is set and stored (steps S313 and S314). Then, the data flag indicating that the setting has been performed is set to 1 (step S315), the process returns and the process proceeds to step (step S32).

In step S32, it is determined whether the setting mode selection switch 9 is operated or not, and it is determined whether or not the photographer requests manual setting (step S3).
2). If the manual setting is determined in step S32, the process proceeds to the subroutine shown in FIG.

That is, when the manual setting is determined in step S32, the focal length data stored in the RAM 4a is first cleared (step S331). The data flag is set to 0 to indicate that the setting has been canceled (step S332), and the current focal length is displayed on the LCD 15 (see FIG. 8) (step S333).

Next, it is judged whether or not the tele side push button of the zoom command switch 10 (see FIG. 8) is turned on (step S334). If the tele side push button is turned on, the zoom drive means 3 is driven to move the zoom lens 2 to the tele side (step S6), and thereafter, the process proceeds to step S338. Note that step S6 has already been described with reference to FIG.

Next, it is judged whether or not the wide side push button of the zoom command switch 10 is turned on (step S3).
36) If the wide side push button is turned on, the zoom drive unit 3 is driven to move the zoom lens 2 to the wide side (step S8), and then the process proceeds to step S338. Note that step S8 has already been described with reference to FIG.

At step S338, if the stop focal length 7 is in the ON state, it is assumed that the photographer requests that the focal length at that time be set.
It is stored in the stopped focal length storage means 12 (step S33).
9). The data flag indicating that the setting has been performed is set to 1 (step S340), and the process proceeds to step S341.

At step S341, if the setting mode selection switch 9 is in the ON state, it is determined that the photographer has requested to continue setting the focal length, and the process returns to step S344. The operations up to S341 are repeated. If the setting mode selection switch 9 is in the off state at step S341, it is determined that the photographer has requested the setting of the focal length, and the process proceeds to step S342.

In the next step S343, as a measure against the case where the manual setting is selected but the setting is not performed, if the data flag is set to 0 in the step S343, the step S31 (FIG. 9) is performed. (See) and automatically returns to step S4. Further, the data flag is set to 1 at the stage of step S343.
If it is set to, since the manual setting is normally performed, the process immediately returns and proceeds to the next step S4.

Since step S4 and subsequent steps are the same as those in the above-described first embodiment, duplicated description will be omitted.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments.
Various modifications are possible according to the technical idea of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, 28 mm, 3
The information of typical focal lengths such as 5 mm, 50 mm and 70 mm has been described as being supplied from the lens ROM 6, but the lens ROM 6 outputs the lens model number and the like,
It is also possible to obtain representative focal length information by associating with a table value stored in the zoom control means 4.

Further, in the second embodiment, when an attempt is made to set the focal length beyond the shortest and longest focal length ranges of the zoom lens 2 stored in the lens ROM 6, an alarm is given to the photographer. It is also possible to notify that effect.

[0049]

As described above, according to the electric zoom camera system of the present invention, one of the focal lengths stored in the focal length storage means and the current focus of the zoom lens detected by the focal length detection means. Since the zoom control means stops the driving operation of the electric motor when the distance positions match, the photographer can easily confirm the angle of view at the typical focal length of the zoom lens.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first view of an electric zoom camera system according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block connection diagram showing an embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a first view of an electric zoom camera system according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block connection diagram showing an embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a first electric zoom camera system according to the present invention.
3 is a flowchart showing an example of the above.

FIG. 4 is a first electric zoom camera system according to the present invention.
3 is a flowchart showing an example of the above.

FIG. 5 shows a first electric zoom camera system according to the present invention.
3 is a flowchart showing an example of the above.

FIG. 6 is a first view of an electric zoom camera system according to the present invention.
3 is a flowchart showing an example of the above.

FIG. 7 shows a first electric zoom camera system according to the present invention.
3 is a flowchart showing an example of the above.

FIG. 8 is a second electric zoom camera system according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block connection diagram showing an embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a second view of the electric zoom camera system according to the present invention.
3 is a flowchart showing an example of the above.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the electric zoom camera system according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the electric zoom camera system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 camera body 2 zoom lens 3 zoom drive means 4 zoom control means 4a RAM 5 focal length detection means 6 lens ROM 7 stop focal length 8 zoom command means 9 setting mode selection switch 10 zoom command switch 11 zoom mode selection switch 12 stop focal distance Storage means 13 Motor drive circuit 14 LCD drive circuit 15 LCD

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A zoom drive unit for driving a zoom lens to change its focal length position, a zoom control unit for driving and controlling the zoom drive unit, and a plurality of focal lengths within a focal length range of the zoom lens. A focal length storing unit for storing the focal length; and a focal length detecting unit for detecting a current focal length position of the zoom lens, one of the focal lengths stored in the focal length storing unit, and the focal length detecting unit. The electric zoom camera system, wherein the zoom control means stops the driving operation of the zoom drive means when the detected current focal length position of the zoom lens matches. 2. A focal length setting means for arbitrarily setting a plurality of focal lengths stored in said focal length storage means, and driving operation of said zoom drive means at an arbitrary focal length set by said focal length setting means. The electric zoom camera system according to claim 1, wherein the electric zoom camera system is stopped.