JPH07281246A - Controller for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain appropriate exposure for main and subordinate subjects even when the main subject is out of the center of an image plane and the subordinate subject is positioned near the center in the case of photographing with auxiliary light. CONSTITUTION:This controller for a camera is provided with an exposure control means which discriminates whether or not photographing operation is accompanied with the light emission of a pop-up part 6, stores information on a subject distance without storing information on a photometric value obtained by a photometry circuit 4 when an SW1 is turned on, performs the exposure control based on the information on the photometric value at the time of turning on an SW2 and the information on the subject distance at the time of turning on the SW1 when the SW2 is turned on in the case it is accompanied with the light emission; and stores the information on the photometric value when the SW1 is turned on and performs the exposure control based on the information on the photometric value stored at the time of turning on the SW1 when the SW2 is turned on in the case it is not accompanied with the light emission.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a photometric device, an automatic focus control device, and a stroboscopic light emitting device, and in particular, provides proper exposure for both the main subject and the sub-subject among the subjects to be photographed during fill-light photography. The present invention relates to a camera control device that enables given exposure control.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a subject to be photographed has a low brightness, a strobe light-emitting device such as a xenon tube or a flash bulb is emitted as auxiliary light to instantly illuminate the subject, resulting in insufficient exposure. Supplemented by supplementary lighting,
A camera with a built-in stroboscopic light emitting device for performing proper exposure is known. This type of camera is an automatic focus control device (hereinafter referred to as an AF device) and an automatic exposure control device (hereinafter referred to as an AE device) such as a lens shutter type camera.
Built-in, the AF device operates with the first stroke of the release button to store the subject distance of the main subject (focus lock), and the AE device operates to store the exposure information to obtain the proper exposure of the main subject (AE lock ) Do. Then, in the state of the focus lock and the AE lock described above by the second stroke following the first stroke of the release button, the photographing lens is first driven to the in-focus position of the main subject, and the proper exposure is obtained by the exposure information. It is configured.

The case where the auxiliary light is used for photographing is, for example, a case where the main subject has a low luminance and the subordinate subject has a high luminance in the photographing in the daytime. In such a case, the strobe light emitting device emits light. It is necessary to derive the diaphragm aperture value of the camera from the amount and the film sensitivity of the film to be used, and the subject distance obtained by the AF device by a calculation formula, and arbitrate the diaphragm device to this value. In this case, the aperture to the main subject is adjusted by the subject distance focus-locked by the AF device, so that a proper exposure can be obtained for the main subject targeted by the camera by the auxiliary light photography.

However, when performing auxiliary light photography (daytime synchronized photography) with the main subject (person) positioned at the edge of the screen and the subordinate subject (background) positioned at the center of the screen, the camera is first set. Press the release button toward the main subject for the first stroke to perform AF lock, then change the camera direction in that state to remove the main subject from the center of the screen and take the sub subject (background) into the center of the screen. It will be performed by pushing down to the second stroke. At that time, since the auxiliary light photography is performed with the aperture value calculated by the subject distance focus-locked in the first stroke, the main subject will obtain an appropriate exposure.
AE with focus lock in the first stroke
Since the lock is also performed, that is, the exposure is matched to the main subject, in the state of the second stroke described above,
Even though the sub-subject is in the center of the screen, the exposure does not match the center of the screen, that is, the sub-subject is not over-exposed and the sub-subject becomes overexposed. .

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve this drawback and to provide a camera control device capable of properly exposing both a main subject and a subsidiary subject even in the case of auxiliary light photography.

[0006]

A photometric device, an automatic focus detection device, and a stroboscopic light emission device are built in, and the photometric value information of the photometric device is stored by the first stroke of the release button and the subject distance information from the automatic focus detection device is stored. In the camera for performing the shooting preparation operation and performing the shooting in the second stroke subsequent to the first stroke, and a determination means for determining whether or not the strobe light emitting device is in a light emission preparation state; When it is determined that the light emitting device is in the light emission preparation state, the subject distance information is stored without storing the photometric value information in the first stroke, and the light metering device of the photometric device at that time is stored in the second stroke. Exposure control for flash light emission photography is performed based on the photometric value information and the stored subject distance information, and the strobe light is determined by the determination means. A camera, comprising: exposure control means for performing exposure control in the second stroke based on the stored photometric value information in the first stroke when it is determined that the light device is not in the light emission preparation state. Control device.

[0007]

According to the present invention, when the strobe light emitting device is in the light emission preparation state, the subject distance information is stored by the first stroke of the release button, and after the light emission preparation operation, re-photometry is performed to perform auxiliary light photography, and When the strobe light emitting device is not in the light emission preparation state, it is a technical point that the subject distance information and the photometric value information are stored by the first stroke of the release button and the photographing is performed by the second stroke.

[0008]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention. The lens shutter camera of this embodiment has a stroboscopic light emitting device that automatically pops up from the camera body when a stroboscopic light emitting operation condition is satisfied, and an automatic focus control device that automatically drives the photographing lens to the in-focus position. Have Further, the shutter release button has a two-step push structure, and when the shutter release button is operated to a so-called half-press position (first stroke position), the automatic focusing operation by the automatic focus control device can be forcibly prohibited (focus lock). In addition to performing the control operation, the aperture / shutter device controlled by the automatic exposure control can be released when operated to the full-push position (second stroke position) thereafter. The flash light emitting device once popped up is returned to the state of being housed in the camera body when the user pushes the flash light emitting device by hand, and at this time, the flash light emitting device cannot perform the light emitting operation.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control device for this camera is a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 1
Various detection value data are input to and stored in the microcomputer 1, and the entire camera is controlled based on the input data. The configuration and operation of the control device for the camera will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 separately for a case where the main subject has high luminance and a case where the main subject has low luminance. [When the main subject has high brightness] In the case of a high brightness main subject that does not require auxiliary light, normal shooting operation is performed, and the focus lock and AE lock are performed by half-pressing the release button. Then, the distance of the main subject and the proper exposure information are stored, and the focus control and the exposure control are performed by the full-press operation to complete the photographing. The details will be described below.

The release button 2 has a first switch Sw1 which operates when operated to a half-pressed position and a second switch Sw2 which operates when operated to a fully-pressed position. 1, the detection signals S1 and S2 as the second signals are supplied to the microcomputer 1. When the first switch Sw1 is turned on, power is supplied to the electric circuit of the camera, and power is secured when the switch Sw1 is pressed. (Step SP1, Step SP2).

Microcomputer 1 when detection signal S1 is obtained
Outputs the first photometry command signal S13 to the photometry circuit 4, and the center-weighted photometry operation is performed on the main subject in the photometry area at the center of the photographing screen in the photometry circuit 4, and the resulting photometry output is obtained. Based on S15, the first photometric value data E1 is compared with predetermined reference data. As a result, when the main subject has a low luminance (that is, when auxiliary light for illumination by the stroboscopic light emitting device is required when shooting the main subject), the drive signal S18 is supplied to the pop-up unit 6. Then, the pop-up unit 6 is used to pop-up the strobe light emitting device so as to project from the camera body, and when the main subject has high brightness (that is, when the brightness of the main subject is photographed, the strobe light emitting device assists the illumination. If the light is unnecessary), the strobe light emitting device is deactivated without supplying the drive signal S18 to the pop-up unit 6. (Step SP3 to step SP
5, step SP19).

If the microcomputer 1 does not supply the drive signal S18 to the pop-up section 6, it is determined that the brightness of the main subject will be adequately exposed without the illumination by the stroboscopic light emission. The first photometric data E1 based on the photometric output S15 obtained by the operation is stored in the memory (AE lock). Then, the microcomputer 1 outputs the first photometry command signal S13 to the photometry circuit 4 and also outputs the drive signal S11 to the autofocus section 3 to operate the autofocus section 3. Similarly, the autofocus unit 3 detects the subject distance of the main subject in the focus detection area in the center of the shooting screen, and stores the distance measurement value data R in the memory of the microcomputer 1 based on the detection output S12 (focus lock). ) Do. (Step SP6 ~
Step SP8). It should be noted that the drive signal S1 is directly sent to the lens drive unit 5 based on the measured distance data from the autofocus unit 3.
7 may be output to drive the taking lens to the in-focus position.

When the photographer enters the photographing operation and further presses the release button 2 from the half-pressed position to the fully-pressed position, the pop-up portion 6 is inoperative at this time, and the photographing is performed by natural light. At this time, since the first switch Sw1 is turned on and the second switch Sw2 is turned on by the release button 2, the detection signals S1 and S2 are input to the microcomputer 1. Upon receiving the detection signal S2, the microcomputer 1 outputs a drive output S17 to the lens driving section 5 to move the taking lens to the in-focus position based on the distance measurement value data R stored in the memory. (Step SP9 to step SP12). At this time, when the photographer releases the release button 2 from the half-pressed position to release the pressing, the power supply state is released and the camera is returned to the initial state.

When the release button 2 is pressed all the way down, the microcomputer 1 stores the photometric value data E stored in the memory.
Automatic exposure calculation processing is performed based on 1. The drive signal S20 is output to the aperture / shutter control unit 7 by the control values (the aperture value data and the shutter speed data) thus obtained to control the exposure. In this way, if the shooting with the proper exposure is completed, the microcomputer 1 for the next shooting
The drive signal S23 is output to the film feeding unit 9 to wind the film by one frame, and the film feeding unit 9 outputs the winding completion signal S24 to the microcomputer 1 when the film winding is completed. Upon receiving the winding completion signal S24, the microcomputer 1 releases the power supply state and stops the power supply. (Step SP16 to step SP18). [When the main subject has low brightness] When the main subject is a low-brightness main subject that requires auxiliary light and the main subject is moved to the edge of the screen and the sub-subject is moved to near the center of the screen, the same as above. Focus lock and A by pressing the release button halfway
If E-lock is used, the sub-subject will not be exposed, so focus lock is performed by half-pressing the release button, re-photometry is performed by the photometry device after the flash emission preparation operation of the strobe light-emitting device, and full-press operation is performed. I try to shoot. The details will be described below.

When the release button 2 is pressed down to the half-pressed position, the detection signal S1 is output to the microcomputer 1 and the electric power supply from the power source is maintained in the electric circuit of the camera as described above. (Step SP1, Step SP2). When the detection signal S1 is obtained, the microcomputer 1 outputs the first photometry command signal S13 to the photometry circuit 4, and the center-weighted photometry operation is performed on the main subject in the photometry circuit 4 to obtain the result. Based on the photometric output S15, the first photometric value data E1 is compared with predetermined reference data. As a result, when the main subject has a low luminance (that is, when auxiliary light for illumination by the stroboscopic light emitting device is required when shooting the main subject), the drive signal S18 is supplied to the pop-up unit 6. Then, the pop-up unit 6 is used to pop up the strobe light emitting device so as to project from the camera body. Since the pop-up unit 6 operates, the strobe light emitting device is in a pop-up state (that is, a light emission preparation state) in the camera body, and the setting completion signal S19 is input from the pop-up unit 6 to the microcomputer 1. Then, the microcomputer 1 outputs the drive signal S21 to the boosting light emitting circuit 8 to charge the main capacitor of the strobe light emitting device. (Step SP4, step SP19). The light emission preparation state of the strobe light emitting device is not limited to the completion of the automatic pop-up described above, and may be, for example, when the power of the strobe light emitting device is turned on or when the charging of the main capacitor of the strobe light emitting device is completed.

The microcomputer 1 outputs the first photometry command signal S13 to the photometry circuit 4 and the autofocus section 3 as well.
Also, the drive signal S11 is output to operate the autofocus unit 3. The autofocus unit 3 detects the subject distance of the main subject in the focus detection area at the center of the shooting screen, and the distance measurement data R is detected based on the detection output S12.
Is stored in memory (focus lock). (Step SP5, step SP7, step SP8).

When the photographer enters the photographing operation and further presses the release button from the half-pressed position to the fully-pressed position, the first
The switch Sw1 and the second switch Sw2 are turned on, and the detection signals S1 and S2 are input to the microcomputer 1. At this time, the charging completion signal S22 indicating that the charging of the main capacitor has been completed is already input from the boosting light emitting circuit 8 of the strobe light emitting device. Further, when the microcomputer 1 receives the detection signal S2, it outputs a drive output S17 to the lens drive unit 5, thereby moving the photographing lens to the in-focus position based on the distance measurement value data R stored in the memory. . (Step SP9 to Step SP1
2).

The microcomputer 1 has a pop-up section 6
Setting completion signal S19 from S and release button 2 detection signal S
By receiving 2, the second photometry command signal S14 is output to the photometry circuit 4. Upon receiving the second photometry command signal S14, the photometry circuit 4 re-photometers the subject in the photometry area (area that substantially overlaps the focus detection area), and based on the photometry output S16 obtained by the photometry operation, the second photometry is performed. The photometric value data E2 is output to the microcomputer 1. (Step SP13, step SP14).

The microcomputer 1 calculates the aperture value data by calculating the aperture value corresponding to the light emission amount of the stroboscopic light emitting device based on the distance measurement value data R stored in the memory, and at the same time the photometric data E2. Based on this, the shutter speed data considering the aperture value data is calculated by exposure, and the aperture / shutter control unit 7 is supplied with the aperture value data and the shutter speed data as control values. The aperture / shutter control unit 7 outputs a drive signal S20 corresponding to the control value to control the exposure. (Step SP15, step SP16).

When the stroboscopic photography with proper exposure is completed in this way, the microcomputer 1 outputs the drive signal S23 to the film feeding section 9 to wind the film by one frame for the next photographing. When the film winding is completed, the feeding unit 9 outputs a winding completion signal S24 to the microcomputer 1. Upon receiving the winding completion signal S24, the microcomputer 1 releases the power supply state and stops the power supply. (Step SP17, step SP18).

In this flowchart, after the detection signal S2 of the release button 2 is received, the first photometry command signal S14 is received.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it suffices that the photometry circuit 4 be activated and re-photometered after it is detected that the strobe light emitting device has popped up. For example, it goes without saying that the re-photometry may be started immediately before step SP7 in FIG.

Here, the microcomputer 1 operates the pop-up section 6
Setting completion signal S19 from S and release button 2 detection signal S
The reason why the second photometry command signal S14 is output to the photometry circuit 4 to cause the photometry circuit 4 to perform the re-photometry operation by receiving 2 will be described. For example, in the daytime synchronized shooting (assisted light shooting) when the main subject is dark and the subsidiary subject is bright, first place the main subject (for example, a person) in the center of the shooting screen and press the release button 2 halfway down. Then, the autofocus unit 3 is operated to store the distance measurement data in the memory of the microcomputer 1 (focus lock). In this state, if the camera is slightly swung and the main subject is positioned at the edge of the screen from the center of the shooting screen, a bright background, which is a subsidiary subject, comes to the center of the screen. Then, when the release button is further pressed to the fully pressed position in the state of this photographing screen, the photometry circuit 4 receives the second photometry command signal S14 from the microcomputer 1 as described above, and the photometry region (almost the focus detection region). The subject (the bright background at this time) in the overlapping area is re-photometered, and the second photometric value data E2 is stored (AE locked) in the memory of the microcomputer 1 based on the photometric output S16 obtained by the photometric operation.

Therefore, the main subject can be properly exposed by the illumination by the strobe light emitting device, and the sub- subject can be properly exposed because the exposure control is performed based on the photometric data E2. In comparison with this, for example, it is assumed that the camera is configured to lock the focus and AE at the half-pressed position of the release button. Place the main subject in the center of the camera's shooting screen, push the release button halfway down, and then swing the camera to position the main subject at the edge of the shooting screen and the subordinate subject in the center. If you press the button further to perform daytime synchro shooting, the main subject will be properly exposed due to the illumination of the strobe light emitting device, but the sub-subject will be overexposed because the AE-locked state was the main subject. There is a fear. For the above reasons, re-photometry is performed.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Since this embodiment is almost the same as the above-mentioned embodiment, only the different parts will be described. In this embodiment, if the main subject has a low brightness, the strobe light emitting device is automatically caused to emit light by the camera side, and it is necessary to determine whether or not the pop-up in step SP5 shown in FIG. 2 has occurred. Disappear. Therefore, the microcomputer 1 determines that the main subject has low brightness, and the microcomputer 1 releases the release button 2
When the detection signal S2 of 1 is input, the photometric circuit 4 re-photometers as in the above-described embodiment. Other than that is the same as the above-mentioned embodiment.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the case of the lens shutter type camera has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, a stroboscopic light emitting device is attached to a single-lens reflex camera to perform stroboscopic photography. It is applicable even in the case.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, even in the case of auxiliary light photography, even if the main subject is removed from the center of the screen and the sub subject is positioned near the center, proper exposure is achieved for both the main subject and the sub subject. It has the effect of being obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control device that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the operation of the control device.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart diagram of another embodiment of the control device.

[Explanation of symbols for main parts]

 1 ... Microcomputer, 2 ... Release button, 3 ... Autofocus unit, 4 ... Photometric circuit,

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 1, 1995

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Claims]

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0001

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographing device having a light emitting device and a distance measuring device.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0004

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

By the way, the stroboscopic light emission device requires a light emission preparation operation before its use. The light emission preparation operation is started when the subject brightness is lower than a predetermined value based on the result of photometry by the photometric device. The flash preparation operation is, for example, an operation of popping up the flash light emitting device in the case of a flash light emitting device that can be stored in the camera body. The strobe light emitting device has a charging device regardless of whether the strobe light emitting device can be stored in the camera body, and the stroboscopic light emitting device is ready to emit light by accumulating a predetermined amount of electric charge in the charging device. . In a stroboscopic light emitting device having a charging device, a charging operation for the charging device is a light emission preparation operation required before use. The above-described light emission preparation operation requires a predetermined time from start to completion. For this reason, even though the distance measurement by the distance measuring device is completed, the light emission preparation operation may not be completed and the light emission may not be possible. in this case,
A control method of performing an exposure operation without strobe light emission and a control method of waiting for an exposure operation until the light emission preparation operation is completed can be considered. However, when the exposure operation is performed without the stroboscopic light emission in the photographing that requires the stroboscopic light emission, it is obvious that the result of the photographing is insufficient light quantity. If the start of exposure is kept waiting until the light emission preparation operation is completed, the subject may move during this waiting time. That is, any of the control methods results in a photographing result that is different from the photographer's intention, which is inconvenient.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0005

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, in the case where a shooting operation is accompanied by a stroboscopic light emission operation, even if the light emission preparation operation is not completed at the time when the distance measurement is completed, the distance measurement completion to the light emission preparation operation completion An object of the present invention is to provide a camera control device that shortens or eliminates waiting time to eliminate the above-mentioned inconvenience and enables shooting as intended by a photographer during flash shooting.

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a photographing device comprising a light emitting device which is ready to emit light after a light emission preparation operation and a distance measuring device for measuring a distance to a subject. A light emission determination device that determines whether or not a light emission operation is performed by the device, and a control device that causes the distance measuring device to measure the distance to the subject after the determination by the light emission determination device are provided. The light emission determination device may be a light emission necessity determination device that determines whether light emission by the light emitting device is necessary at the time of shooting. Further, the light emission determination device may be a light emission preparation state determination device that determines whether or not the light emitting device has completed the light emission preparation operation. Further, the light emission determination device determines whether light emission by the light emitting device is necessary at the time of shooting, and the light emission necessity determination device determines that light emission by the light emitting device is necessary. A light emission preparation state determination device that determines whether or not the light emitting device has completed the light emission preparation operation when the light emission is performed. The light emitting device is a light emitting device that can be stored in the main body of the photographing device and pops up from the main body to be in a light emitting state when in use, and whether the light emission preparation state determination device pops up the light emitting device. May be determined. In addition, the light emitting device is a light emitting device that is in a light emitting state when charging to the charging device is completed, and the light emission preparation state determination device is configured to determine whether or not charging to the charging device is completed. Good. Further, the photographing device may include a lens driving device, and the lens driving device may drive the lens based on the distance measurement value obtained by the distance measuring device.

[Procedure correction 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0007]

In the photographing apparatus according to the present invention, before photographing, the light emission judging device judges whether or not the photographing operation is accompanied by the light emitting operation of the light emitting device. Then, after the determination by the light emission determination device, the distance to the subject is measured by the distance measuring device. However, the light emission determination device determines whether or not the light emission preparation operation of the light emitting device is completed even if the light emission necessity determination device determines whether or not the light emission operation of the light emitting device is necessary for the shooting operation. It may be a light emission preparation state determination device. The light emission preparation operation refers to a pop-up operation of the light emitting device, a charging operation to the charging device, and the like. Since the photographing device according to the present invention measures the distance to the subject by the distance measuring device after determining whether or not the photographing operation involves the light emitting operation of the light emitting device, even before the light emitting preparation operation of the light emitting device is completed. Even if the distance measurement is completed, the time from the completion of the distance measurement to the completion of the light emission preparation operation is shortened.

[Procedure Amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0026

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0026]

As described above, the photographing apparatus according to the present invention is
The distance measuring device measures the distance to the subject after determining whether or not the light-emitting device emits light during the shooting operation, so it is possible to measure the distance to the subject before completing the light-emission preparation operation of the light-emitting device. Even if it is completed, the time from the completion of distance measurement to the completion of the light emission preparation operation is shortened. Therefore, if the present invention is used in the control method of performing the shooting operation without the light emitting operation, it is possible to reduce the shooting result of insufficient light amount when the light emission preparation operation is not completed when the distance measurement is completed. If the present invention is used in the control method of waiting for the completion of the light emission preparation operation, when the light emission preparation operation is not completed when the distance measurement is completed, the subject moves between the completion of the measurement of the distance to the subject and the completion of the light emission preparation. The possibility of it being reduced is reduced. Whichever control method the present invention is used in,
This makes it easier for the photographer to achieve the intended shooting.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical indication G03B 15/05

Claims (1)

What is claimed is: 1. A photometric device, an automatic focus detection device, and a stroboscopic light emission device are built-in, and the first stroke of the release button stores the photometric value information of the photometric device and the subject distance information from the automatic focus detection device. In a camera that performs a shooting preparation operation and shoots in a second stroke that follows the first stroke, a determination unit that determines whether or not the strobe light emitting device is in a light emission preparation state, and the strobe light emission device is determined by the determination unit. When it is determined that the light emission is ready, the subject distance information is stored without storing the photometric value information in the first stroke, and the photometric value information of the photometric device at that time is stored in the second stroke. And an exposure control for stroboscopic light emission photography based on the stored subject distance information, and the stroboscopic light emission device by the discrimination means. A control device for a camera, comprising: an exposure control unit that performs exposure control in the second stroke based on the stored photometric value information in the first stroke when it is determined that the light emission preparation state is not established. .