JPH07218999A - Camera capable of selecting parameter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a camera capable of easily checking information on a parameter required for setting and further, attaining the setting and inputting operations of the parameter easily and moreover, photographing even if a shut ter chance comes during a setting operation. CONSTITUTION:The display blocks 311-314 of four places are arranged on a display panel 30 and each symbol for a mode is displayed in a line at a first display. One of switches SW3-SW6 arranged so as to correspond to the display blocks 311-314 is depressed to select the mode. When the mode is selected, the symbol for the mode is displayed on the display panel 30. Moreover, as the first display, only a specific mode can be displayed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera capable of realizing a specific function by selecting a parameter, and in particular, selecting a target parameter from a plurality of parameters prepared in advance. Regarding cameras that can.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many functions of cameras have been realized with the installation of computers. For example, automatic focus adjustment (AF) device, automatic exposure (A
E) A device or the like can be given as a typical example of the function. Also,
Various monitor functions such as setting film sensitivity, detecting the number of fills, and camera shake warning are being enhanced.

When such multi-functions and various monitors are enhanced, information relating to them, for example, information for setting various parameters in automatic exposure, setting various parameters in automatic focus adjustment, and monitors. It is necessary to display information etc. Therefore, in recent cameras, those provided with a display device such as a liquid crystal display have been developed.

Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-42141 is one such example. This technique relates to a display device of a camera that displays shooting information about the camera on a display unit provided in the camera body. A dot LCD (liquid crystal display) is used for the display unit. Further, the display section is divided into a plurality of areas, and the divided display section displays subtitle information in each area, the whole display section displays detailed information on the display section, and the divided display section displays the subtitle information. Subtitle information selecting means for selecting any one of the subtitle information, and when any one of the subtitle information is selected, the subordinate information of the selected subtitle information is displayed on the display unit via the whole display means. And a screen switching means for operating. The photographer operates the switch while visually checking the displayed subtitle information until the desired title information is displayed. Then, when the desired title is displayed in any of the divided areas, the operation switch corresponding to each area is operated to select the title. In this way, when the subtitle is selected, the screen switching means displays the subordinate information of the subtitle information on the display unit via the whole display means.

[0005]

However, this conventional technique has a problem that it is difficult to understand the correspondence between the operation switch and the display. In addition, the photographer needs to operate the switch while viewing the displayed subtitle information until the desired title information is displayed, which is troublesome. Further, in this conventional technique, when a desired title is displayed in any of the divided areas, the operation switch corresponding to each area is operated to select the title. And the operation for selection must be performed respectively. Therefore,
The operation is complicated, and you have to operate it many times,
There is a problem that it is not easy to use. In particular, when such a complicated operation is required, it is difficult for an unaccustomed photographer to realize the intended function.

Further, if the operation is complicated, there is a problem that the photographer loses sight of the current state of the camera.
That is, if you perform operations many times, you will not be able to understand the current settings, and even if you try to confirm it on the display, it is difficult to see what you are looking at. However, since it is complicated, there is a problem that it is not easy to return to the initial display.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is that even an inexperienced photographer can easily see the information regarding the parameters necessary for the setting, and The purpose of the present invention is to provide a user-friendly camera that can easily perform the setting input operation of the parameter.

[0008]

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a plurality of display images are displayed in a camera capable of selecting a target parameter from a plurality of parameters prepared in advance. A display device having a dot matrix display unit composed of blocks, a first switch group including a plurality of switches provided corresponding to the plurality of display blocks, and a first switch group provided separately from the first switch group. 2 switches and a control device for controlling the operation of the camera, and the control device displays, in the display block unit, symbols indicating options for selecting parameters on the dot matrix display section. For displaying at least the first display for displaying and the second display for displaying that the parameter has been selected and confirmed; Under the first display of the matrix display unit, a process of associating each switch of the first switch group with each display block and accepting selection of a parameter by operating one of the switches; Provided is a camera, which receives at least an operation of a second switch under the second display and performs a process of returning the second display to the first display.

The display blocks are arranged in rows,
Further, each switch of the first switch group may be arranged in parallel with the array of each display block.

The display device may further include an auxiliary display section for displaying a display element for visually indicating an association between each display block and each switch of the first switch group. The auxiliary display section can be arranged, for example, between the display block row and the switch row of the first switch group. Also, the auxiliary display unit may be composed of segments having a certain shape. Further, each segment of the auxiliary display portion may have a shape of a shape indicating a direction, for example, a triangular shape.

The control device causes the dot matrix display section to display a symbol indicating a selectable parameter as an option in each of the display blocks in the first display, and selects a symbol in the second display. The parameter symbol may be displayed in one display block.

The display device may include a storage unit for storing a character pattern for displaying the symbols of the selectable parameters.

As a first display, the control device displays symbols representing various modes for each display block. As the mode, for example, the exposure mode is raised. More specifically, for example, an entrusted mode in which the combination of aperture and shutter speed is left to the camera, a landscape mode suitable for landscape shooting, a portrait mode suitable for portrait, a close-up mode suitable for close-up shooting, etc. To be

Each switch constituting the first switch group is preferably arranged near the front of the upper surface of the body. Similarly, the second switch is also arranged near the front of the upper surface of the body. Further, these switches can be configured by push button switches, for example.

[0015]

In the display device, the symbol indicating the option can be displayed in an arbitrary shape in the dot matrix display section including a plurality of display blocks. That is, a plurality of types of character patterns prepared in advance can be appropriately displayed in the same display area. Thereby, the limited display area can be effectively used.

Choices are selected by a plurality of switches provided corresponding to the plurality of display blocks. By arranging the display block and the switch in parallel, for example, the correspondence between the option and the switch to be operated can be easily understood. Therefore, even an inexperienced photographer can surely operate.

The control device includes a dot matrix display unit,
A first display for displaying a symbol indicating a choice for selecting a parameter in the display block unit;
At least a second display for displaying that the parameter has been selected and confirmed is performed. Thus, the display in which the parameters can be selected (selected state) and the display in which the parameters are selected and confirmed (non-selected state) are clearly distinguished as the screen. Therefore, the photographer is limited in what he / she can do at that time, so that he / she is less likely to get lost or mistaken in operation.

Further, the control device associates each switch of the first switch group with each display block under the first display of the dot matrix display section, and selects a parameter by operating one of the switches. As described above, the correspondence between the display and the operation switch can be clearly understood.

Further, the control device accepts the operation of the second switch under the second display of the dot matrix display section, and performs a process of returning the second display to the first display.
As a result, the photographer can always return to the initial display state, and can be prevented from getting stuck during the operation.

As a first display, the control device displays symbols representing a mode for leaving everything to the camera, a mode for landscape photography, a mode for portrait, and a mode for close-up. , Can be displayed for each display block. In general, a high-performance camera has many parameters to be selectively input, and also has many selectable functions, so it is not always easy to select a mode required for daily shooting.
For this reason, some photographers may not be able to use it properly because they do not know how to use it.
According to the present invention, only the normally required mode can be selected on the first display, so that the photographing can be easily performed in the appropriate mode. As a result, it is possible to prevent the so-called treasure from decaying.

[0021]

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

FIG. 1 shows an example of the hardware system configuration of an embodiment of the camera of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an example of the appearance of the upper surface of the body of one embodiment of the camera of the present invention.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a display device 5 for displaying information from a camera side to a photographer, and a control device (MC for controlling and monitoring the operation of the camera).
U) 10. The control device 10 includes a photometry circuit 12 that performs photometry, a distance measurement circuit 13 that performs distance measurement, a first motor control circuit 17, a second motor control circuit 18, an exposure control circuit 19, and parameter data. An EEPROM (rewritable read-only memory) 16 that functions as a storage device that stores such information and the like, and an in-finder display 15 are connected. The controller controls these operations and monitors them through control. Of course, sensors (not shown) may be installed so that the operation of the camera can be monitored by including the information of those sensors.

In this embodiment, a power supply circuit 11 for supplying electric power to the display device 5, the control device 10 and the like is provided.

The first motor control circuit 17 is a circuit for controlling the driving of the motor for driving the lens. Specific examples include zoom drive and focus drive. The second motor drive circuit 18 drives the mirror up and down.
It is a circuit that controls the drive of a motor for performing film feeding drive. The exposure control circuit 19 is a circuit that performs aperture, shutter, light control, and the like.

The display device 5 is a display panel 30 arranged on the right side of the upper surface of the body 1, and a drive device L arranged inside the body 1 for driving the display of the display panel 30.
It has a CD driver 20. The display panel 30 is configured by using a liquid crystal display panel in this embodiment, and a dot matrix display section 310 and a segment display section 320 are configured by the arrangement of electrodes.

The dot matrix display section 310 includes a plurality of display blocks 311, 312, 31 as shown in FIG.
3 and 314 are arranged side by side. These display blocks 311 to 314 are composed of dot matrix display units 31a to 31h that perform half-width display. Display unit 3
Each of 1a to 31h is composed of a pixel of vertical 16 × horizontal 8 dots. That is, the dot matrix display unit 31
a to 31h are adjacent to each other to form a pair (31a, 31
b), (31c, 31d), (31e, 31f) and (31g, 31h), the display blocks 311-
314 is formed. Each display block 311-314 is
They are arranged side by side at regular intervals. in this way,
By placing a space between each display block, it is possible to realize a display that is easy to see. In particular, when a plurality of symbols indicating options are arranged, if there is a space, it becomes easy to recognize how much one symbol is, and the ambiguity is eliminated.

In this embodiment, the display unit is 16 × vertical.
Although it is composed of pixels of horizontal 8 dots, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if m × n, m is 24 and n is 1.
It can be set to 6.

In the present embodiment, the dot matrix display section 310 includes display blocks 311, 312, 313 and 3.
No electrodes are arranged in the spaces between the fourteen.
However, the electrodes may be arranged in the space portion. In this case, a blank may be displayed in the space area.

The dot matrix display unit 310 has 16 ×
There are eight 8 and 16 common terminals 30a and 8 × 8 =
It is connected to 64 segment terminals 30b. Each display block is driven by the voltage applied to these terminals. Since there are 16 common terminals 30a, 1/16 duty driving is performed.

The segment display section 320 has 7-segment display sections 32 and 33, and an auxiliary display section 34 that at least functions as a display element for displaying the correspondence.
These 7-segment display sections 32 and 33 are each composed of 7 segments a to g. The auxiliary display unit 34 is composed of six triangular segments (triangular segments) 34a to 34f. Specifically, the triangular segments 34a, 34c, 34d, and 34f are arranged corresponding to the four full-width display blocks 311 to 314 with their bases being close to the dot matrix display unit 310 side. Also, the triangular segments 34b and 34e
Are arranged in the opposite direction to the triangular segments 34a-34f and are arranged adjacent to the triangular segments 34a and 34d, respectively, corresponding to the display blocks 311 and 313.

The segment display section 320 comprises 20 segments in total. As the common terminal, the common terminal 30a common to the dot matrix display unit 310 is used.
Drive with / 16 duty. Therefore, at least two segment terminals are required, but they may be increased a little in consideration of the degree of freedom in wiring. In this embodiment, for example, as shown in Table 1, eight COM terminals (COM0-8) are commonly used, and three segment terminals 30c (SEG64 to SEG) are used.
66).

[0033]

[Table 1]

As described above, in the present embodiment, the segment display section is considered to be different from the dot matrix display section only in shape. That is, it means that only one segment has a different size, which is equivalent to a dot matrix display. In this way, the common driving has the effect of simplifying the circuit. If the segment display common is driven separately from the dot matrix common, the characteristics of the segment display can be controlled separately from the dot matrix display. There is sex. However, considering that the characteristics of only the segment display section are improved, it is meaningless if the characteristics of the entire display section are not improved, and that if the characteristics of the dot matrix display section are improved, it is not necessary. As in the present embodiment, it is preferable to adopt a common driving method.

The LCD driver 20 receives the signal from the MCU 10 and enables the dot display on the dot matrix display section 310 by the internal character generator, and at the same time, outputs the signal from the MCU 10 on the segment display section 320 by the built-in decoder. It enables segment display according to the requirements. The finder LCD 15 is an MC
It is directly driven by the LCD dedicated output port of U10.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the LCD driver 20 used in this embodiment. In the figure, the LCD driver 20 reads a receiving unit 21, a buffer memory 22 for temporarily storing received data, a command of data stored in the buffer memory 22, and generates a symbol pattern indicated by the command. The pattern generator 23, the pattern memory 24 for storing the generated pattern, the common driver 25 for driving the dot matrix display section 310 and the segment display section 320 of the display panel 30 with a common duty, and the pattern memory 24 are stored. Segment driver 26 for reading out a pattern for dot display and the buffer memory 22
A segment driver 27 for reading the segment display data included in the data stored in the above and driving the corresponding segment.

The common driver 25 drives the common signal lines of the dot matrix display section 310 and the segment display section 320 via the above-mentioned common terminal 30a. The segment driver 26 drives the dot matrix display unit 310 via the segment terminal 30b. The segment driver 27 drives the segment display section 320 via the segment terminal 30c.

The pattern generator 23 is composed of a memory and its read-out drive circuit (neither is shown). The display pattern (character pattern) shown in FIG. 11 is stored in the memory. For these patterns, a symbol indicating the content of the option and a symbol indicating the content of the warning are prepared. In FIG. 11, the horizontal corresponds to the upper address and the vertical corresponds to the lower address. And 16x1
6 = 256 patterns are determined.

Further, in FIG. 11, the address "80"
In the subsequent full-width display pattern, two identical patterns continue. This is for the sake of clarity in the description of the present specification, and in practice, as shown in FIG. 5a, the left half pattern is provided on the front side and the right half pattern is provided on the rear side of two consecutive patterns. ing. Therefore, both are combined to form one display pattern as shown in FIG. 5b. 5A and 5B, the portion indicated by "." Is actually a blank portion, but is indicated by "." For easy understanding of the dot arrangement.

Although not used in this embodiment, FIG. 11 also includes dot patterns indicating numbers and characters. Therefore, if those addresses are designated, they can be displayed. The reason why the patterns that are not used is stored in this way is to share the pattern generator. Other cameras may use numbers, letters, etc., so that they can also be used. Thereby, the cost can be reduced.

The control unit 10 has a central processing unit (CPU) 101 for executing various processes of camera monitoring and control according to a program, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102 for storing the program and various constants,
An interface circuit (I / F) that performs input / output processing with a RAM (random access memory) 103 used as a work for storing various data indicating the current state of the camera and calculation, a clock circuit 104, and an external circuit and the like. )
And 105. The ROM 102 stores, as a part of a program for controlling the operation of the camera, a program for executing a procedure shown in a flowchart described later. Further, the central processing unit 101 has a timer function. In this embodiment, this timer is used for the timer operation described later.

The control device 10 includes switches SW1-SW.
9 is connected via the input port of the interface circuit 105. Of these, switches SW1 to S
W8 is arranged on the upper surface of the body 1, as shown in FIG. SW1 is a power switch. SW2 is L
The switch corresponding to the leftmost position of the CD display portion constitutes a second switch that functions as a change operation member. SW
3 to SW6 are the four display blocks 311-mentioned above.
The switches corresponding to 314 form a first switch group. SW7 is a half-press switch that is turned on by the first stroke of the release button, and SW8 is the second release button of the release button.
It is a release switch that turns on with a stroke. SW9 is a back cover switch.

As described above, the dot matrix display section 3
Each of the ten display blocks 311 to 314 are arranged side by side as shown in FIGS. Therefore, the first
The switches SW3, SW4, SW5 and SW6 of the switch group are arranged in parallel with the columns of the display blocks 311 to 314. Also,
The switches SW3, SW4, SW5, SW6 are arranged so as to have a positional relationship with the corresponding display blocks. The control device 10 associates the symbols of options displayed in the display blocks 311 to 314 with the switches SW3, 4, 5, and 6.

The first switch group SW3 to SW6
Is arranged on the upper surface of the body 1 toward the right front side.
Therefore, it is possible to easily perform those operations while holding the body 1 by hand. Specifically, the position on the upper right side of the upper surface of the body 1 has an advantage that the index finger of the right hand is naturally positioned in the state where the body 1 is held by the hand and the movement can be smoothly performed. Further, the switch SW2 is arranged slightly closer to the switch SW3 of the first switch group and closer to the center of the body 1. Therefore, when operating the switch groups SW3 to SW6, particularly the switch SW3,
The risk of erroneous operation can be reduced.

The first switch groups SW3 to SW6 and the second switch SW2 are, for example, push button switches. In this case, in the above arrangement, the push button portion is arranged from the front right side of the upper surface of the body 1. Of course, not only the push button but also a touch switch or the like can be used.

The triangular segment of the auxiliary display section 34 described above is a display for visually showing the correspondence between the symbols of the options displayed in the display blocks 311 to 314 and the switches SW3, 4, 5, and 6. Functions as an element.
Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the auxiliary display section 34 is provided between the columns of the display blocks 311 to 314 and the switches SW3, 4, 5, 6 of the first switch group. Will be placed.

In such a positional relationship, the triangular segment of the auxiliary display portion 34 also functions as a figure indicating the direction. That is, when the photographer looks at the symbols displayed in the display blocks 311 to 314 and tries to select any one of them, if the triangular segment of the auxiliary display portion is viewed as if it were an arrow, the switch SW3,
It is possible for the photographer to intuitively understand that the switch existing in the direction indicated by the apex among 4, 5, 6 may be pressed.

In the RAM 103 inside the control device 10,
The status register M0 and the mode register M1 are set. The storage contents of these registers are determined as shown in Tables 2 and 3.

[0049]

[Table 2]

That is, in the status register M0, the screen displayed in the dot matrix display section 310 is the first display for displaying the options, that is, the screen in the selectable state (selection state screen) or selected. Second to display status
Display, that is, non-selected state screen (confirmed state screen)
Is set. In the former case,
"1" is set, and in the latter case, "0" is set.

[0051]

[Table 3]

The mode register M1 is represented by a binary number in Table 3.
It is possible to selectively set any of the four modes shown in, that is, the automatic mode, the landscape mode, the portrait mode, and the close-up mode. Here, these four modes are all program exposure modes. The entrusted mode is the program mode that provides the most general-purpose combination of shutter speed and aperture value, and the landscape, portrait, and close-up modes are for each subject. This is a program mode in which the most effective combination of shutter speed and aperture value can be obtained. This selection can be made in the first display. These selections correspond to the input of information to the camera, more specifically, the input of parameters that define the operating conditions of the camera.

Further, the control device 10 has the RAM 10 for the command sequence for serial transfer to the LCD driver 20.
Configure on 3. An example is shown in Table 4. As shown in the table, the command string is composed of 11 bytes from D0 to D10. Each byte from D0 to D10 is transferred in that order. The respective ranks fixedly correspond to the display units 31a-31h and the segments 32, 33, 34 of the dot matrix display unit 310. The display data for each display portion is stored in each byte.

[0054]

[Table 4]

Specifically, in the case of the data for the dot matrix display portion of D0 to D7, D is set in the display unit 31a.
The storage addresses of the corresponding patterns of the pattern generator 23 are described in 0, 31b, such as D1 ,.

In the case of segment display data D8 to D10, the corresponding segment display section 3
Data for designating the segments to be lighted at 2, 33, and 34 in bit correspondence is described. That is, D8
Indicates that the segments a-g of the segment display section 32 are turned on using bits 0-6, D9 indicates that the segments a-g of the segment display section 33 are turned on using bits 0-6, and D10 indicates Segment a of segment display unit 34
Lighting of -f is performed using bits 0-5.

In the command sequence shown in Table 4 above, the block display sections 311 to 314 are driven in half-width display units, but the present invention is not limited to this. The display pattern may be designated with full-width characters. For example, as shown in Table 5, a 7-byte command string of D0 to D6 can be used. In the example of the table, display block 3 is D0.
Address of character pattern to be displayed on 14, D1
The address of the character pattern to be displayed on the display block 313 at, the address of the character pattern to be displayed on the display block 312 at D2, and the display block 31 at D3.
The address of the character pattern to be displayed in 1 is transferred. Also, at D4, the triangular segment 3 of the auxiliary display unit 34
4a, 34c, 34d, and 34f, which are bit-corresponding data indicating which one should be lit, and D5, which are bit-corresponding ones of the triangular segments 34a, 34c, 34d, and 34f, which correspond to bit,
At D6, data designating a segment for displaying a numerical value of 0 to 99 indicating the number of film frames and E indicating the end is transferred.

[0058]

[Table 5]

In this example, since the character pattern is designated in full-width units, the pattern generator 23
May read two pairs of half-width character data based on the transferred data and display them in one display block. In addition, the character generator is made to memorize only for the necessary pattern,
The storage capacity may be reduced. Further, the character data may be stored in full-width instead of half-width.
Addresses can be reduced by storing in full-width units.

Table 6 is an example. That is, address 0 is blank, address 80 is the figure of the camera showing the automatic mode, address 81 is the figure of the mountain showing the landscape, address 82 is the figure of the side profile showing the portrait, and address 83 is the close figure. The flower figures showing up are stored respectively. These are output by instructing the address. In this example, 8
Although only the figures 1 to 83 are shown, it goes without saying that other figures can be further stored. However, the memory capacity may be reduced by reducing the number of figures.

[0061]

[Table 6]

Next, regarding the operation of this embodiment, the above-mentioned drawings, the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 to 9 and FIG.
This will be described with reference to the display example shown in 0.

In the present embodiment, the control device 10 controls the operation of the camera, and particularly executes the following processing.
That is, the dot matrix display unit 310 has a first display for displaying options for selecting parameters in the display block units 311-314 and a second display when parameters are selected and confirmed. At least the processing to be performed and the first of the dot matrix display unit 310
Under the display of, each switch SW of the first switch group
3, 4, 5 and 6 and the display blocks 311 to 31
4 is associated with the process of accepting the selection of the parameter by operating one of the switches, and the operation of the second switch is accepted under the second display of the dot matrix display unit 310 to display the second display. When the process of returning to the first display and any one of the predetermined operations of the camera under the first display are performed, the predetermined parameter is selected from among the prepared plurality of parameters. Processing for controlling the operation of the camera.

FIG. 10 shows the correspondence between display and operation. In the figure, the small rectangular blocks shown above the display panel 30 indicate the switches SW2-6, respectively.

In FIG. 10, a indicates that the status register M0 shown in Table 2 is "1", that is, the first display status. In this state, the symbol of the camera and the symbols of the characters of AUTO, the figure of the mountain, the figure of the person and the flower which are the symbols of the entrusted mode, the landscape mode, the portrait mode and the close-up mode are displayed in the display block 311-. 314 are displayed in this order. These are in a state in which either one can be selected. Then, in order to show that the selection is possible, in the present embodiment, the auxiliary display unit 3
The corresponding triangular segment of 4 is blinking. Also,
The segment display parts 32 and 33 display a two-digit number to indicate the number of film frames.

Further, EO in FIG. 10 shows the second display state which is the result of the selection of the mode corresponding to one of the display blocks in the first display. That is, (a) shows the result of selecting the automatic mode. C shows the state where the landscape mode is selected. D indicates that the portrait mode is selected. E shows the result that the close-up mode is selected. In this state, the state register M0 is "0". Here, when the switch SW2 is pressed, the second display state is canceled and the display returns to the first display shown in A.

Further, in FIG. 16A, the switch SW
In the case of the present embodiment, if 2 is kept pressed for a certain time (for example, 1 second), the mode is switched to the automatic selection mode.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the main routine of the MCU 10.

When SW2 or SW7 is turned on, an interrupt enters the control unit (MCU) 10 in the standby state (a state in which only a minute current is flowing), and the processing of # 1 starts. In # 1, the inside of the MCU 10 is initialized, the power supply circuit 11 is turned on to energize the entire circuit, and the MCU 1
The clock circuit 104 of 0 is activated to turn on the main clock.

At # 2, the switch to be input to the MCU 10 is determined and the setting operation is performed, and the outputs from the photometry circuit 12 and the distance measurement circuit 13 are input to the MCU 10 and stored in a predetermined RAM 103 inside the MCU 10. Although not shown in the present embodiment, the power source may be checked in this step, and if it is less than the specified voltage, a warning may be given. This warning is displayed on the display panel 30, for example, from the characters shown in FIG.
6 and D7 patterns are designated and displayed. In some cases, release may be prohibited.

In # 3, the RAM 10 obtained in # 2
Exposure and distance calculation are performed according to the state of the data of 3. Although not shown in the present embodiment, in this step, if the output of the photometric circuit 12 indicates low brightness, a warning such as flash recommendation can be issued.

In # 4, the first motor control means 17
The AF control for controlling the display and the display control for driving the LCD driver 20 are performed.

At # 5, it is determined whether the main switch SW1 is on or off. If it is on, go to # 6. If it is off, #
Proceed to 11.

At # 6, it is determined whether or not the power supply holding timer to be cleared when the ON state of the switches SW2 to SW7 is detected in the setting input process of # 2 exceeds a predetermined value. If the switch is not operated, the power holding timer advances, and if it exceeds a predetermined value, the process advances to # 11. When any of SW2 to SW7 is operated and turned on, the timer is cleared,
Since the timer does not exceed the predetermined value, the process proceeds to # 7.

At # 7, it is determined whether or not the release switch SW8 is on. If it is off, the process returns to # 2 to repeat the above processing, and if it is on, the process proceeds to # 8.

In step # 8, it is checked whether the status register M0 is 0. If it is 0, one of the modes has been selected, so the process proceeds to step # 10. If it is 1, it means that no mode is selected, the process proceeds to step # 9.

At # 9, the state register M0 is set to 0 to bring it into a non-selected state, and the mode register M1 is set to 0.
As an entrusted mode.

In step # 10, the second motor means 18 is controlled, and the exposure control circuit 19 is controlled to make a known relay.
Perform the processing. When the release sequence is completed, the process returns to step # 2 and the above processing is repeated.

Therefore, even if the release sequence is entered in the selected state in which the mode is not set, the automatic mode is always selected.
Controlled.

On the other hand, the main switch is turned off,
When the power hold timer exceeds a certain value, the process proceeds to # 11. #
At 11, it is checked whether the status register M0 is 0. If it is 0, proceed to # 13, and if it is 1, proceed to # 12.

In step # 12, the state register M0 is set to 0 to bring it into a non-selected state, and the mode register is set to 0 to leave it in the unselected mode.

At # 13, the power supply circuit 11 is turned off,
The MCU 10 enters the standby mode and ends the series of processing.

If the main switch is turned off or the timer exceeds a certain time while the set state is maintained, the state and mode are rewritten before the power is turned off. Therefore, the power is turned on next. When it becomes, it is set to the automatic mode.

FIG. 7 shows a part of the setting processing routine.
Subroutine is called during the process of # 2 in FIG.

At # 21, when the input of SW2 to 7 is received and any of the switches is turned on, the power holding timer determined at # 6 of FIG. 6 is cleared.

At # 22, the fall of SW2 is determined. Immediately after the switch is turned on, the process proceeds to step # 23, and when the switch SW2 is off, or when the switch SW2 is on, the switch proceeds to step # 24.

At # 23, the state register M0 is set to 1 and the selected state is returned.

At # 24, it is determined whether the status register M0 is 0 or not. When it is 0, it returns and when it is in the selected state and M0 = 1, it proceeds to # 25.

At # 25, it is determined whether the SW2 is on or off. If it is on, the process proceeds to # 26, and if it is off, the process proceeds to # 27.

At # 26, it is determined whether one second or more has elapsed. If SW2 is pressed for 1 second or longer, the process proceeds to step # 28, and if it is 1 second before, it returns.

At # 27, it is determined whether SW3 is on or off. If it is on, the process proceeds to # 28, and if it is off, the process proceeds to # 29.

At # 28, the mode register M1 is set to 0.
And set to the automatic mode and proceed to # 35.

At # 29, it is determined whether the SW4 is on or off. If it is on, the process proceeds to # 30, and if it is off, the process proceeds to # 31. In # 30, the mode register M1 is set to 1 to set the landscape mode, and the process proceeds to # 35.

At # 31, it is determined whether the SW5 is on or off. If it is on, the process proceeds to # 32, and if it is off, the process proceeds to # 33. In step # 32, the mode register M1 is set to 2 in the port mode, and the process proceeds to step # 35.

At # 33, it is determined whether the SW6 is on or off. If it is on, the process proceeds to # 34, and if it is off, it is returned. In # 34, the mode register M1 is set to 3 to set the close-up mode, and the process proceeds to # 35.

At # 35, the status register M0 is reset to 0 and the operation is returned.

As described above, SW3 to SW6 are valid only in the selected state. The fall of SW2 is always effective, and in the non-selected state, it is switched to the selected state, and in the selected state, it is set to the automatic mode by keeping it pressed for 1 second or longer and switched to the non-selected state.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the display routine. At the time of control # 4 in FIG. 6, a subroutine call is made to shift to this processing. Note that the description here will be made by taking as an example the case of transferring a command by the method of Tables 5 and 6 described above. Of course, the command shown in Table 4 can be used to read out and display the character pattern shown in FIG. In that case, the address designating the display data is transferred not in full-width units but in half-width units.

At # 101, D0 to D6 in the area of the RAM 103 storing the command to be transferred to the LCD driver 20 are cleared.

At # 102, the status register M0 is set to 0.
It is determined whether or not, and if it becomes 0 and is in the non-selected state, # 1
When it is 1 and is in the selected state, the process proceeds to # 104.

At # 103, the content of the mode register M1 plus 80 is stored in D3. At this time,
If the mode register M1 is 0, 80 is stored in D3. Therefore, according to Table 6, the automatic mode display can be performed on the leftmost part (display block 311) of the dot matrix display unit 310. Similarly, if the mode register M1 is 1, since 81 is stored in D3, landscape mode display can be performed on the leftmost part of the dot matrix display unit 310. Further, if the mode register M1 is 2, 82 is stored in D3, so that portrait mode display can be performed on the leftmost part of the dot matrix display unit 310. If the mode register M1 is 3, 83 is stored in D3, so that the close-up mode display can be performed on the leftmost part of the dot matrix display unit 310.

In # 104, 83 is stored in D0,
Rightmost part of the dot matrix display unit 310 (display block 3
It is possible to display the close-up mode in 14).

At # 105, 82 is stored in D1,
It is possible to display the portrait mode in the central right part (display block 313) of the dot matrix display unit 310.

In # 106, 81 is stored in D2,
It is possible to display the scenery mode in the central left part (display block 312) of the dot matrix display unit 310.

In # 107, 80 is stored in D3,
The leftmost part of the dot matrix display unit 310 (display block 3
11) Allows the automatic mode display.

In # 108, by storing $ F and $ F in D4 and D5, respectively, each display block 311 of the dot matrix display section 310 of the auxiliary display section 34 is stored.
It is possible to blink four triangular segments (black triangle display) corresponding to -314.

At # 109, the film frame number N is set to D
By storing it in 6, it is possible to display the number of frames by 7-segment display corresponding to the number N of film frames.

In # 110, the commands set in D0 to D6 are transferred to the LCD driver 20, the display pattern corresponding to the set command is read out in the driver 20, and the LC is displayed in the display panel 30.
D display is possible.

Next, another example of the processing of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a modification of the flowchart of FIG. 9 differs from FIG. 7 in the jump destination from # 26. When one second or more has passed since SW2 was pressed, in FIG. 7, the process proceeds to # 28 and then to # 35. In contrast to this, in FIG.
Is proceeding to.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, when SW2 is continuously pressed for 1 second or longer, the automatic mode is always reset and then the non-selected state is set. However, in FIG.
Since the mode register is not rewritten, the mode selected last is returned to the non-selected state. That is, the mode selected immediately before is input as the parameter.

In the above embodiments, the liquid crystal display is used for the dot matrix display portion, but the present invention is not limited to this. Similarly, any other display element may be used as long as it can display a dot matrix.

In addition, the display panel 30 according to the above embodiment.
, Four display blocks 311 to 314 are arranged, and in the first display, the symbols representing the modes are displayed in a line. Therefore, since the options are arranged in a line, even a beginner can easily recognize the options. Also,
Since the switches SW3-6 are arranged corresponding to the display blocks 311 to 314, the photographer can surely know the switch to be used for selection even if he is unfamiliar. Moreover, since the dot-displayed character pattern is used, the photographer can directly grasp the contents.

In the first display, the switch SW
The selection of the mode is confirmed by selecting any of 3-6. That is, the camera parameter is input to the camera by selecting one of the options. When selected, the second display is displayed. In this second display, only the symbol indicating the selected mode is displayed. Therefore, the photographer can surely recognize the confirmed state.

Further, by pressing the switch SW2, the second display can be returned to the first display. Therefore, the photographer can always restore the display.

Then, the photographer can press the switch SW2 for a certain period of time to shift to the automatic mode. The mode may be changed to a predetermined mode. In this case, for example, a special mode register is separately provided, and when SW2 is pressed for a certain time or longer, processing is performed assuming that a mode according to the contents of the special register is selected instead of the normal mode register. do it.

When a photo opportunity is given,
Even if no mode is selected, you can still shoot in at least Auto mode. Therefore, it is possible to prevent missing a photo opportunity.

[0118]

According to the present invention, the operation switch and the display correspond to each other, so that even a beginner can immediately understand the usage. Also,
Since the display is large and easy to see, even an inexperienced photographer can easily see the information related to the parameters necessary for the setting, and the setting input operation of the parameters can be easily performed.

Further, since the first switch group is arranged on the front side of the upper surface of the body, it is possible to easily perform the switch operation even while holding the body by hand.

Further, since the second switch is arranged apart from the first switch group and closer to the center side of the body, it is possible to operate the first switch group by mistake when operating the first switch group. Can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a top view showing the external appearance of an embodiment of a camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a liquid crystal driver used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of a display panel used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of a main routine of the control device in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of symbols in a display block in a dot matrix display unit used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of a subroutine called in the setting processing of the main routine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of a subroutine called in the display processing of the main routine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another example of a subroutine of the setting process.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a correspondence relationship between display and operation in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display character pattern stored in the pattern generator used in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Body, 5 ... Display device, 10 ... Control device, 11 ... Power supply circuit, 12 ... Photometric circuit, 13 ... Distance measuring circuit, 15 ... In-finder liquid crystal display (LCD), 16 ... Rewritable read-only memory ( EEPROM), 17 ... First motor control device, 18 ... Second motor control device, 19 ... Exposure control device, 20 ... Liquid crystal drive device (LCD driver),
30 ... Display panel, 31 ... Dot matrix display section, 3
1a-31h ... Display unit, 32-37 ... Segment display part, 311-314 ... Display block, 34 ... Auxiliary display part, 34a-34f ... Correlation display pattern (triangular segment).

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. In a camera capable of selecting a target parameter from a plurality of parameters prepared in advance, a display device having a dot matrix display section including a plurality of display blocks, and a display device comprising: A first switch group including a plurality of switches provided correspondingly; a second switch provided separately from the first switch group; and a control device for controlling the operation of the camera, The control device displays, on the dot matrix display unit, a first display for displaying a symbol indicating an option for selecting a parameter in units of the display block and that the parameter has been selected and confirmed. The second display for performing at least the second display for performing the first display on the dot matrix display unit.
A process of associating each switch of the switch group with each of the display blocks and accepting selection of a parameter by operating one of the switches; and
A camera that receives at least the operation of the switch and returns the second display to the first display. 2. The display block according to claim 1, wherein the display blocks are arranged in rows, and the switches of the first switch group are arranged in parallel with the array of the display blocks. And the camera. 3. The camera according to claim 2, wherein the display device further includes an auxiliary display unit that displays a display element for visually indicating an association between each display block and each switch of the first switch group. . 4. The auxiliary display unit according to claim 3,
A camera arranged between the display block row and a switch row of the first switch group. 5. The auxiliary display unit according to claim 4,
A camera characterized by being composed of segments having a certain shape. 6. The camera according to claim 5, wherein each segment of the auxiliary display portion has a shape of a figure indicating a direction. 7. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the dot matrix display section causes each of the display blocks to display a symbol indicating a selectable parameter as an option in the first display. In the display, a camera that displays the symbol of the selected parameter in one display block. 8. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the display device has a storage unit that stores a character pattern for displaying the symbols of the selectable parameters. 9. The control device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein, as the first display, symbols representing various modes are displayed for each display block. A camera characterized by. 10. The switch according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein each switch constituting the first switch group is arranged in front of a top surface of a body. A camera to do. 11. The camera according to claim 10, wherein the second switch is arranged in front of the upper surface of the body and closer to the center than the position of the push button of the first switch. 12. The press switch according to claim 11, wherein the first switch group and the second switch are push button switches, and a push button portion of each switch is arranged in front of a top surface of the body. A camera to do. 13. The camera according to claim 12, wherein the display block and the push button are arranged in parallel.