JPH0712977Y2 - Camera self-photographer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Technical Field The present invention relates to a self-shooting device for a camera, and more particularly to a self-shooting device for a camera having an automatic focusing means and a self-timer.

(B) Prior Art Generally, when performing self-shooting with a camera having an automatic focusing (hereinafter abbreviated as “AF”) device, a so-called pre-focus type in which the AF is performed before the self-timer is started. There is a so-called immediately-before-focus type in which AF is performed immediately before the shutter operation is completed after the self-timer timing operation is completed.

Among these, the pre-focus type starts distance measurement for a desired subject, confirms the AF result, determines the composition, and then starts the self-shooting operation.
There is an advantage that it is possible to prevent erroneous distance measurement such that a person becomes out of focus because the AF device is focused on the background between two persons who are lined up. However, on the other hand, if you want to take self-shooting only for the operator himself, the operator has to perform the above pre-focus operation, so you can not leave the camera, and there will be no AF target object, eventually It had the drawback of not being able to take self-shots.

Further, in the immediately preceding focus type, if the user leaves the camera after the self-shooting operation starts and moves within the focusable (distance measuring) range of the AF device, the operator himself / herself becomes the target object and the shutter is released. Since AF is performed just before the operation,
Self-shooting is possible when the operator is alone. However, in general, the focus range of the AF device is much narrower (smaller) than the shooting angle of view of the camera, and even if it is within the shooting angle of view as a subject, it is often out of the focus range. In that case, there was a drawback that it was out of focus.

(C) Purpose The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a self-photographing operation in which the operator himself / herself is a subject, at a time point before or after a self-timer starts timing operation, or It can be selected in advance so that the automatic focusing means can be activated at any of the time points before and after the timing operation ends,
Moreover, especially when the automatic focusing operation is performed immediately before shooting, it is possible not only to prevent the operator himself / herself from being shot outside the shooting screen, but also to prevent erroneous distance measurement. It is to provide a self-photographing device.

(D) Configuration In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a camera having an automatic focusing means and a self-timer, at a time point before and after the self-timer starts a time counting operation or before and after the time counting operation ends. An externally operable focusing time point selecting means for selecting at which time point the automatic focusing means is to be operated, and a self-operation display means attached to a predetermined part of the camera and operating in conjunction with the timing operation. And a range in which the self-operation display means can be visually recognized from the subject side is configured to be substantially within a photographing range of the camera and a focusable range of the automatic focusing means. It is what

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a camera self-photographing device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a self-switch for activating a self-photographing operation, which is composed of a push-button switch that can be operated externally,
Reference numeral 1a is a self-signal generating circuit in which the self-switch 1 is connected to the input terminal and outputs a self-signal (S) from the output terminal while the self-switch 1 is operated. Release button consisting of RL1
And RL2 are a first release switch (hereinafter simply referred to as a “switch”) and a second release switch (hereinafter simply referred to as a “switch”) that are linked to the release button 2.
First, when the release button 2 is pushed by a predetermined first stroke, the switch RL1 is closed, and when the pushing operation continues to reach the second stroke, the switch RL2 is closed in addition to the switch RL1. With the release, the release button 2 returns to the original position from each position and RL1
And RL2 are also configured to be open. The switches RL1 and RL2 are respectively connected to two pairs of input terminals, and the first release signal (L1) and the second release signal (L2) are output while the switches RL1 and RL2 are closed. This is a release signal generation circuit.

The self-switch 1, the release button 2, and the switches RL1 and RL2 constitute focusing point selecting means.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a control unit (hereinafter referred to as "CPU") having three input terminals connected to the output terminals of the self-signal generating circuit 1a and the release signal generating circuit 3 and having five input / output terminals.
5 is ROM and R whose input end is connected to the input end of the above CPU4
A memory unit consisting of AM, and the CP is controlled by the memory signal (m).
It exchanges data with U4 and configures an AF flag in the RAM.

In each of 6 to 9, each input / output terminal is connected to the input / output terminal of the CPU 4 in a one-to-one relationship. Of these, 6 receives a timer signal (t) from the CPU 4 to start a time counting operation and display signal (DSP). ) Is output from the output terminal, and when about 10 seconds have passed, the self-timer that informs the CPU 4 by the timer signal (t) of the end of operation, 7 controls the shutter operation by the control signal (C1) and ends by the control signal (C1) The shutter control section 8 which informs the CPU 4 of the focus, 8 controls the focusing operation by the control signal (C2) and further controls the focusing operation, and the AF section as an automatic focusing means which informs the CPU 4 of the end of the operation by the control signal (C2),
A winding control unit 9 controls a winding motor 9a for winding a film by a control signal (C3), winds a film of one frame, and informs the CPU 4 of the end of the operation by a control signal (C3). 10 is a display signal (DSP). ) Causes the self-timer 6 to start timing and blinks the self-LED 10a composed of a light emitting diode, and after about 8 seconds has elapsed, the blinking cycle is shortened and self-LE
In the self-display control unit that turns off D10a, the self-display control unit 10 and the self-LED 10a constitute a part of self-operation display means.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation sequence of the embodiment shown in FIG. Note that the description of the configuration will be omitted here because it will be described together with the operation description described later.

FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram showing FIG. 1 more specifically. The same parts and signals as in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 3, 11 is a self-timer corresponding to the self-timer 6, and 12 is an AF including a set-reset type flip-flop corresponding to the AF flag in the memory section 5.
Flag, 13 starts the operation by receiving the execution signal (G1) at the execution input terminal GT, outputs the set signal from the set output terminal SO at the end of the operation, and operates by receiving the cancel signal (G0) at the cancel input terminal CL. The AF section corresponding to the AF section 8 which outputs a reset signal from the reset output terminal RO at the end of the operation, 14 starts the operation upon receiving the shutter signal (G2), and at the end of the operation ends signal (F). Is a shutter control section corresponding to the shutter control section 7 which outputs the above, and 15 is an erroneous operation prevention circuit.

AN1 to AN10 are AND gates, OR1 to OR5 are OR gates, I1
~ I5 is an inverter. The logic is positive logic. Therefore, the outputs from the self signal generation circuit 1a and the release signal generation circuit 3 are at the H level when output and at the L level when not output. Also, the above AN1 to AN10, OR1
In OR5, the input terminals are referred to as the first input terminal, the second input terminal, ... From the top to the bottom in the figure.

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the combinations of switch operations and the operations shown in FIG. The way to see the figure is, for example, the operation is in the initial state when all the switches are OFF, and the operation is the focus self-imaging just before when only the self switch 1 is ON. still,
Turn ON / OFF in the operation after turning ON the switch RL1 once.
FF means AF cancel operation.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the structure of the self-display unit. In the figure, 10a is the self-LED described above, 16 is a camera body, 17 is a photographing lens section, 18 is provided at a predetermined portion of the camera body 16, and together with the self-display control section 10 and the self-LED 10a, a self-operation display means. The self-indicator constituting the, 18a is an exit window forming a visible range 18b visible from the subject side, 19 is a shooting zone showing the shooting range of the camera body 16, and 20 is a range capable of focusing (focusing). Ranging zone,
21 and 22 are persons as subjects, respectively.The person 21 is located within the distance measuring zone 20 and the visual recognition range 18b, and the person 22 is within the photographing zone 19 but the distance measuring zone 20 and the visual recognition range 18b.
It is located outside. And distance measuring zone 20 and view range 18
b is configured to substantially match.

The operation of the present embodiment thus configured will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flow chart starts from START, and in the "initialization operation", first, the CPU4 memory signal (m) resets the AF flag of the memory section 5, and the control signal (C2) is used to check the initial position of the taking lens (not shown). Each part is initialized by, for example, causing the AF unit 8 to perform the above. Next, in the conditional branch "RL1 switch ON?", CPU4 checks whether there is the first release signal (L1), and the switch RL
Since 1 is not operated, it branches to NO, and the next conditional branch "Self switch ON?" Is also checked for the presence of the self signal (S).
And branch back to "RL1 switch ON?"
The same operation is repeated until either the self-switch 1 or the switch RL1 is operated (this operation loop is called "input check loop").

Next, the pre-focus self-shooting operation in which the AF unit 8 operates before and after the self-timer 6 starts the time counting operation (the previous time in this example) will be described.

The operator first pushes the release button 2 until the first stroke is reached. As a result, the switch RL1 is closed and the release signal generating circuit 3 outputs the first release signal (L1). CPU4 uses this first release signal (L
1) is detected and the "RL1 switch" of the above input check loop is detected.
"ON?" Is branched to YES, the control signal (C2) is output in the next "AF operation", and the AF unit 8 is instructed to perform distance measurement and focusing, and the AF unit 8 is in focus (position ) Hold the taking lens. With the next "AF flag set", CPU4
The end of the operation from the section 8 is detected by the control signal (C2), and the AF flag of the memory section 5 is set. Next, in the conditional branch "RL2 switch ON?", Switch RL2 is not closed, so branch to NO, and the next conditional branch "Self switch
"OFF?", The self-switch 1 has not been operated yet and is OFF, so the flow branches to YES. If only the switch RL1 is closed, the next conditional branch "RL1 switch OFF?"
It branches to O and returns to the above "RL2 switch ON?" Again, either the self-switch 1 is pressed or the switch RL1 is OFF.
The same operation is repeated until it becomes (this operation loop is called a "cancel check loop"). When the self-switch 1 is pressed, the pre-focus self-shooting operation is continued, and when the switch RL1 is opened, the "RL1 switch OFF?" Of the cancel check loop branches to YES, and at the next "AF cancel". The CPU 4 instructs the AF unit 8 to return the photographing lens to the initial position, resets the AF flag of the memory unit 5, and then reaches END, and the above “A
Cancel the result of "F action". Note that this operation will be referred to as "AF cancel operation".

Now, in the present case, it is assumed that the self-switch 1 is pressed.
Along with this, a self signal (S) is output from the self signal generation circuit 1a, and the CPU 4 detects this and branches “NO self switch OFF?” Of the cancel check loop to NO. Then, at the next "timer start", the CPU 4 outputs the timer signal (t) to activate the self-timer 6. At the next "self-display blinking", the self-display controller 10 receives the display signal (DSP) and blinks the self-LED. At the next conditional branch "Self time?", The self-timer 6 checks whether 8 seconds has passed or 10 seconds have passed, and
If it has not reached the second, it branches to NO and repeats the same operation. When it reaches 8 seconds, the display signal (DSP) gives an instruction to shorten the blinking cycle, and the self-display control unit 10 sets the self-LE level.
Flashes D10a in a short cycle to notify person 21 (Fig. 5) that the time is about to come up. When 10 seconds have passed, the self-timer 6 notifies the CPU 4 of the time-up by the timer signal (t) and instructs the CPU 4 to turn off the self-LED 10a by the display signal (DSP) and branches to YES. At the next conditional branch "AF flag 1?", The CPU 4 checks the state of the AF flag in the memory unit 5. Since the AF flag is set as described above, the flow branches to YES, and in the next "shutter operation", the CPU 4 instructs the shutter control unit 7 to perform the shutter operation by the control signal (C1). When the shutter operation is completed, the shutter control unit 7 sends a control signal (C1) indicating the completion to the CPU 4, and the CPU 4 receiving this signal resets the AF flag of the memory unit 5 by the next “AF flag reset”. Then, the control signal (C3) gives an instruction to wind up one frame of filmed film. Receiving this, the winding control unit 9 controls the winding motor 9a to wind the film for one frame, and when the operation is completed, it is CPed.
The U is notified, and upon receipt of this, the CPU 4 terminates all pre-focus self-shooting operations at the next END.

The above "shutter operation", "AF flag reset" and "winding operation" will be collectively referred to as "shooting execution operation" and will be referred to as "timer start" and "self-display blinking".
And "self time?" Are collectively referred to as "timer execution operation", and the above "AF operation" and "AF flag set" are collectively referred to as "pre-AF operation".

Next, the focus self-shooting operation immediately before the AF unit 8 is activated before and after the self-timer 6 completes the timing operation (later time point in this example) will be described.

The process from START to the input check loop in the flowchart is the same as above. The operator operates only the self switch 1. The CPU4 detects the self signal (S), branches the "self switch ON?" Of the input check loop to YES, and then executes the timer execution operation to "AF flag = 1".
? ”. Since the AF flag has been reset by the "initialization operation", the above conditional branch branches to NO, the next "AF operation" is performed, the "AF flag is set", the shooting execution operation is performed, and the END is reached. .

The "AF operation" and the "AF flag set" have the same contents as the pre-AF operation but differ only in the timing at which they are executed, and hence will be referred to as "immediately preceding focus operation".

Next, the normal photographing operation without the timer execution operation will be described. The operator presses the release button all at once until the second stroke. Therefore, the switches RL1 and RL2 are closed, and the first and second release signals (L1) and (L2) are output. From the START to the input check loop, the flow chart is the same as above, branching "RL1 switch ON?" To YES, and after the pre-focus operation, the next "RL2 switch ON"
? ”To YES, then the next“ AF flag = 1? ”To YES, and after shooting execution, end all operations with END.

Next, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 will be briefly described.

The erroneous operation prevention circuit 15 does not pass the first and second release signals (L1) and (L2) when the self signal (S) is at the H level, and does not pass the self signal (S) and the first release signal (L1).
These signals (S) and (L1) are passed only when both are at the H level. First, the prefocus self-shooting operation will be described. That is, the operation shown in FIG. First, when the release button 2 is operated to close the switch RL1, the first release signal (L1) becomes H level. Since the self signal (S) is still at L level, AN9 conducts and OR5
Output becomes H level, and this is input as an execution signal (G1) to the execution input terminal GT of the AF unit 13 via OR2, performs the AF operation similar to the "AF operation" in the above flowchart, and sets it when the operation is completed. Raise the set signal from the output terminal SO,
The AF flag 12 receives the rising edge at the set input terminal S and outputs the flag signal (Af) which is the output signal of the non-inversion output terminal Q to H level.
Raise to level and hold this. Therefore, the fourth of AN1
The input terminal becomes H level. In addition, the first release signal (L
In 1), as described above, the second input terminal of AN1 is at the H level because the second release signal (L2) is at the L level, and the third input terminal of AN1 is at the H level via I2. Has become. Here, when the operator presses the self switch 1, the above pre-focus photographing operation is continued, and the switch RL1
When is turned off (OFF), the AF cancel operation shown in FIG. 4 is performed. First, the case of the above continuation will be described. When the self switch 1 is pressed, the self signal (S) goes to H level, the first input terminal of AN1 goes to H level, and AN1 opens the gate (conducts), so this output goes through OR1 and the timer start signal. (T ₁ ) is input to the self-timer 11, and the self-timer 11 starts a time counting operation and outputs a display signal (DSP) to the self-display controller 10. When the self-timer 11 counts for 8 seconds, an instruction to shorten the blinking cycle is output, and after 10 seconds, the time-up signal (t ₂ ) becomes H level. Since the output of AN1 is at the H level, AN3 conducts, and this output is input to the shutter control unit 14 as a shutter signal (G2) via OR3, and the shutter control unit 14 performs the same shutter operation as described above. When the operation is completed, the shutter end signal (F) is set to H level. This shutter end signal (F) is input to the reset input terminal R of the AF flag 12 via OR4, the AF flag 12 is reset, and the flag signal (Af) of the non-inversion output terminal Q is L.
Return to the level. On the other hand, the shutter end signal (F) is input to the winding control section 9 to wind up the film for one frame photographed by the winding motor 9a and complete all the operations.

Now, the other AF canceling operation will be described. Only the switch RL1 is closed, and now the AF in the AF section 13
The operation is completed, the AF flag 12 is set, the flag signal (Af) becomes H level, and AN1 has only the first input terminal L level.
It is a level. When the self-switch 1 is pressed here, the operation described above is performed, but it is assumed that the switch RL1 is opened here. The first release signal (L1), which was at H level, is inverted to L level, this is input to the third input terminal of AN6 via I1, and AN6 becomes conductive. This output is the cancel signal (G
0) is input to the cancel input terminal CL and the AF section 13
Performs the same operation as "AF cancel" in the above flowchart, and after the operation is completed, outputs a reset signal from the reset output terminal RO, resets the AF flag, and completes all operations.

Next, the immediately preceding focus self-shooting operation will be described.
It is the operation of FIG. The operator turns on only the self switch 1. Self signal (S) goes to H level and AN2
Are conducted, and this output is input to the self-timer 11 via OR1. After 10 seconds, the time-up signal (t ₂ ) is output, the AF flag is still in the reset state, and the flag signal (Af) is at L level, so AN5 becomes conductive and this output is OR2.
The AF unit 13 is activated via. After the AF operation is completed, the set signal is output, the AF flag 12 is set, the flag signal (Af) is at H level, and the output of AN2 is at H level. Therefore, the time-up signal (t ₂ ) is also at H level. Therefore, AN4 becomes conductive, and this output is input to the shutter control unit 14 via OR3. The following operation is the same as the pre-focus self-shooting operation.

Next, the normal shooting operation will be described. It is the operation of FIG. That is, the first and second release signals (L1),
Since both (L2) are at H level, the second and third input terminals of AN7 are at H level. The first release signal (L1) is OR2
The AF unit 13 is activated via the, the AF operation is completed, the AF flag is set, and the first input terminal of AN7 becomes H level, so AN7 becomes conductive and this output is output via OR3. Start the shutter operation. The subsequent operation is the same as above.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the combination of the operations of the self-switch 1, the switches RL1 and RL2 causes the pre-focus to activate the AF units 8 and 13 before the self-timers 6 and 11 start the time counting operation. Self-shooting operation, focus just before activating AF section 8 and 13 after the above-mentioned time counting operation Self-shooting operation, AF canceling AF operation after AF operation
The cancel operation and the normal shooting operation without using the self-timers 6 and 11 are configured so that they can be freely selected, and the exit window 18a allows the viewing range 18b to approximately match the distance measuring zone 20. Since 18 is configured, if there is a person 21 or another subject at the planned shooting position in addition to the operator of the camera 16, select the pre-focus self shooting operation and select the person 21 by the pre-AF operation. AF is performed with the distance measurement zone 20 aligned, and while maintaining the in-focus state securely, the operator changes the composition as necessary,
For example, moving to the position of the person 22 has the advantages that there is no erroneous distance measurement and that self-shooting is possible with an optimal composition.

Further, when only the operator is present, the operator selects (starts) the immediately preceding focus self-shooting operation, and the self-LED1
If you wait until the position where 0a is visible, for example, the position of the person 21 within the visible range 18b and the self-LED 10a stops blinking, that is, at least until the immediately preceding AF operation is performed, the distance measurement is performed. There is an advantage that you can take self-shooting without.

Also, as a matter of course, when self-shooting is not required, the normal shooting operation can be selected, and when canceling the result of the pre-AF operation, the AF cancel operation can be selected, which improves the operability. There is.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, in the just-before-focus self-shooting operation, the immediately-before AF operation is not limited to after the self-timers 6 and 11 have timed, and may be just before that time. That is, self LE
The immediately preceding AF operation may be activated from the time when the blinking cycle of D10a is shortened.

Further, the switches RL1 and RL2 are not limited to being interlocked with the release button 2, and may be configured to be operated independently.

Further, the self LED 10a is not limited to blinking, and the self timers 6 and 11 may be lit for 0 to 8 seconds and blinked for 8 to 10 seconds.

Further, the self-timer may be configured so that its operation can be stopped or canceled even after it is started.

(E) Effect According to the present invention, as can be seen from the detailed description above,
In self-shooting where the operator himself / herself is the subject, it is possible to select whether to perform pre-focus self-shooting or previous focus self-shooting depending on whether or not another subject (including a person) is present at the planned shooting position. It is possible to take full advantage of the advantages of shooting with the above, and especially when using the focus self-shooting immediately before, the wrong distance measurement may occur, that is, when the operator who is the subject is out of the distance measurement zone. It is possible to provide a self-photographing device of a camera that can avoid a situation where a vital operator is out of focus due to being out of focus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of a self-photographing apparatus for a camera according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an operation sequence of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram showing FIG. 1 more specifically, FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the combination of operation switches and the type of operation in the same embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the configuration of the self-display portion of the same embodiment. 1 ... Self switch, 1a ... Self signal generating circuit, 2
...... Release button, RL1 ...... First release switch (switch), RL2 ...... Second release switch (switch), 3 ...... Release signal generation circuit, 4 ...... Control unit (CP)
U), 5 …… Memory part, 6,11 …… Self-timer, 7,14
...... Shutter control unit, 8,13 ...... AF unit, 9 ...... Rolling control unit, 9a ...... Rolling motor, 10 ...... Self display control unit, 10
a …… Self LED, 12 …… AF flag, 15 …… Mistaken operation circuit, 18 …… Self display, 18b …… Viewing range, 19 …… Shooting zone, 20 …… Distance measuring zone, 21,22 …… person.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical indication G03B 13/36

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A camera having an automatic focusing means and a self-timer, wherein the automatic focusing means is operated either before or after the self-timer starts a timing operation or before or after the timing operation ends. An externally operable focusing time selecting means for selecting whether or not, and a self-operation display means attached to a predetermined portion of the camera and operating in conjunction with the time-measuring operation, the self-operation display means from the subject side. A self-photographing apparatus for a camera, characterized in that the visible range is within the photographing range of the camera and substantially coincides with the focusable range of the automatic focusing means.