JPH07281247A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To take a photograph intended by a photographer even in the case a difference is made between an intended release time lag and an actual one by displaying that the release time leg is different according to the kind of a battery. CONSTITUTION:A display circuit constituted of a liquid crystal display circuit 3 is a circuit for displaying the photographing information of a camera such as shutter speed and diaphragm control value, the release time lag and the kind of a battery. While receiving a DPCOM signal from a microcomputer 1, the display circuit 3 performs serial communication through a data bus DBUS and displays through liquid crystal according to the contents of the communication. When the battery is loaded, a battery kind discrimination means discriminates the kind of the battery. By changing the display circuit 3 by using the discriminated result by the discrimination means, the photographer is informed before photographing that the release time lag is changed, thereby preventing failure in photographing from occurring.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera powered by a battery or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, many batteries-powered cameras have been commercialized. Various types of batteries such as alkali, manganese, lithium, and nicad are used as the power source, and different types of power sources can be used.

[0003]

In a camera that can use a plurality of different power supplies, the release time lag may change depending on the power supply. Especially in alkaline and manganese batteries, mercury was conventionally used for the anti-oxidation film of the electrodes, but from the viewpoint of environmental protection, a water-soluble anti-oxidation film that does not use mercury is used. Compared with this, since the initial internal resistance is high, the camera may malfunction even if a new battery is inserted into the camera. Further, this type of battery has a property that the internal resistance returns to a normal value temporarily when a heavy load is applied for a predetermined time when current is taken out from the battery. Therefore, if a battery of this type is inserted in the camera, it becomes possible to operate the camera normally by performing the above-mentioned measures. When this type of battery is used by applying this heavy load for a predetermined time, there is a problem that the battery check time becomes long and the release time lag becomes long. If this release time lag changes, there is a difference between the release time lag intended by the photographer and the actual release time lag when the photographer shoots a subject with a lot of movement, and it becomes impossible to take the photograph intended by the photographer. .

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a camera that allows a photographer to take a photograph intended by displaying that the release time lag differs depending on the type of battery. To do.

As a constitution of the present invention, by providing a battery type discriminating means and a release time lag display means, the result of the discriminating means is used to change the display means to photograph the photographer that the release time lag is changed. By informing the user in advance, we intend to provide a camera that makes it possible to prevent shooting failures.

[0006]

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electric control block of the camera of this embodiment. First, the configuration of each part will be described.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a microcomputer, which controls the movement of each of the following camera parts.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a lens control circuit, which controls a range ring and a diaphragm of a taking lens (not shown). The lens control circuit 2 performs serial communication via the data bus DBUS while receiving the LCOM signal from the microcomputer 1, and controls a motor (not shown) based on the communication content to control the range ring and the diaphragm. The microcomputer 1 also receives lens focal length information, distance information, best focus correction information, and various other correction information.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a display circuit composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display circuit, which is a circuit for displaying each photographing information of the camera such as shutter speed / aperture control value, release time lag, and battery type. The liquid crystal display circuit 3 performs serial communication via the data bus DBUS while receiving the DPCOM signal from the microcomputer 1.
A liquid crystal display is performed based on this communication content.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a switch sense circuit, which is always supplied with power together with the liquid crystal display circuit 3, and in a normal camera, a switch sw1 and a switch sw1 which are interlocked with the first stroke for instructing the preparation of the release button of the camera In addition, the switch for determining the exposure mode and the switch for determining the automatic focus adjustment (AF) mode of the camera (not shown) can always be read. When the switch is switched, the switch sense circuit 4 has a data bus DBU.
Serial communication is performed via S to communicate each switch information to the microcomputer 1.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a strobe light emission control circuit, that is, a circuit for controlling strobe light emission and dimming, which is a circuit for storing electric charge for light emission, a xenon tube as a light emitting portion,
It consists of existing circuits such as a trigger circuit, a circuit to stop the light emission, a film surface reflected light metering circuit, and an integrating circuit. When the X contact that is turned on by the front curtain running of the shutter unit is turned on, the flash light of the strobe starts.

A focus detection unit 6 receives the sensor accumulation start signal from the microcomputer 1 and starts accumulation of the sensor, and accumulates until the accumulation level of the sensor becomes constant. When the accumulation level becomes constant, the accumulation of the sensor is terminated, and the termination of the accumulation of the sensor is serially communicated to the microcomputer 1 via the data bus DBUS. When the microcomputer 1 performs sensor signal read communication, the signal stored in the line sensor is read by the microcomputer 1, AD conversion is performed in synchronization with the sensor drive signal, and from the AD-converted image signal of the subject. An existing phase difference detection method is used to detect which position the subject is focused on by the photographing lens.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a photometry circuit, which divides the screen into a plurality of areas, performs the TTL photometry of the brightness of the subject in each area, and sends it to the microcomputer 1.

A shutter control circuit 8 controls a shutter unit (not shown) according to a control signal from the microcomputer 1.

A feeding circuit 9 controls the film feeding motor in accordance with a control signal from the microcomputer 1 to wind and rewind the film.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a battery check circuit, which determines whether or not the battery, which is a power source, has a capacity required to operate the camera, and displays a warning if the value is below a certain value.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a memory, which stores information necessary for the camera to operate, and other information such as the number of film shots and ISO sensitivity information.

Further, a switch sw2 which is turned on by the second stroke of the release button for operating the shutter for photographing is connected to the microcomputer 1, and sw2 is turned on when a predetermined condition is satisfied. Then, the shutter is controlled to start the exposure.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of the microcomputer 1 shown in FIG. 1 by displaying the release time lag after loading the battery, and the operation of the entire camera will be described using this flow chart.

When the battery is loaded in step 51, the process proceeds to step 52 and the subroutine for determining the battery type is performed.

In step 53, the release time lag is calculated based on the result of step 52 and displayed.

In step 54, it is determined whether or not the photometry / distance measurement start switch SW1 is ON. If it is ON, the process proceeds to step 55. If it is not ON, the process returns to step 54 and is repeated until SW1 is turned ON.

In step 55, the photometric circuit 2 is operated to determine the exposure amount, the light amount of the object is measured, the photometry is performed, and the process proceeds to step 56.

In step 56, the focus position of the subject is detected, and the distance measuring circuit 3 is operated to move the photographing lens to the focal position to move the photographing lens to the focal position and focus the image. Proceed to 57.

In step 57, the release switch SW
It is determined whether or not 2 is ON. If it is ON, the process proceeds to step 58, and if it is not ON, the process returns to step 54.

In step 57, the release switch SW
It is determined whether or not 2 is ON. If it is ON, the process proceeds to step 58, and if it is not ON, the process returns to step 54.

In step 58, the battery is subjected to a battery check by checking whether the battery has a capacity for the camera to photograph, and in step 59, it is determined whether or not the battery has a capacity for photographing in the battery check result. If there is not, go to step 65.

In step 65, a warning is displayed to inform the photographer that the battery has no capacity, and the process returns to step 54.

In step 60, the aperture of the lens is narrowed down to the aperture value determined based on the photometric value in step 55 to perform the release operation, and the process proceeds to step 61.

In step 61, it is judged whether or not the mirror up is completed. If the mirror up is completed, the process proceeds to step 62. If the mirror up is not completed, step 61 is repeated until the mirror up is completed.

In step 62, the shutter is controlled to perform the exposure operation, the shutter is opened for a predetermined time and the exposure operation is performed, and the process proceeds to step 63.

In step 63, the diaphragm narrowed down in step 60 is returned to the open position, and the process proceeds to step 64.

In step 64, the photographed film is sent to the next frame, and the process returns to step 54 to end the series of operations.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the subroutine "battery type determination" of this embodiment.

In step 101, it is determined whether or not the battery switch BAT SW (not shown) is ON. At this time, when the BAT SW is OFF, the battery has not been replaced. That is, since the type of battery has not changed, the process directly returns to the main routine.

When the BAT SW is ON, step 102
Proceed to step 10 to apply a load, and step 103 with the load applied
Proceed to. In step 103, the battery voltage V1 is measured, and after a lapse of a predetermined time, the process proceeds to step 104 to detect the voltage V2. At this time, the load is still applied.

In step 105, the difference between the battery voltages V2 and V1 is calculated. If this value is larger than a predetermined value, it means that the battery uses an oxidation preventive film that does not use mercury, and therefore the step 1
Proceed to 06.

In step 106, the result of step 105 is displayed and the process returns to the main routine.

If the result of step 105 is NO, the process proceeds to step 107, the display of step 105 is performed, and the process returns to the main routine. The above switch BAT SW
Is turned on when the cover of the battery box is opened or closed and the batteries are stored.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the subroutine "release time lag display" of this embodiment.

In step 151, the battery type is input. At this time, the input method may be manual input by the photographer, or the camera may be made to automatically determine the type of battery by using an appropriate means.

In step 152, the value input in step 151 is read. If the battery is a nickel-cadmium battery, the process proceeds to step 154. If not, the process proceeds to step 153.
Proceed to.

In step 153, it is determined whether or not the camera is a lithium battery. If the camera is a lithium battery, the process proceeds to step 154. If not, the process proceeds to step 157.

In step 154, the battery discrimination result is written in the memory. In this case, the release time lag will be shorter.

In step 155, the display of the release time lag short is displayed on the external liquid crystal of the camera as shown in FIG. 7, and the display in the viewfinder of the camera is displayed as shown in FIG. 8, and the process returns to the main routine.

At step 156, it is determined whether the battery is an alkaline battery or a manganese battery using mercury as an anti-oxidation film. If the battery is a type not using mercury as an anti-oxidation film, the process proceeds to step 157.

In step 157, the battery discrimination result is written in the memory of the camera 10 shown in FIG. In this case, the release time lag becomes long.

At step 158, the display of "release time lag long" is displayed on the external liquid crystal of the camera as shown in FIG. 5, and the display of the camera inside the viewfinder is as shown in FIG. 6, and the process returns to the main routine.

The release time lag display and the battery type display may use the same display member, or may use different display members as shown in FIG. In addition, step 15
If the battery is determined to be a mercury-free battery in step 6, the battery is driven under heavy load for a predetermined time in step 60, and then a normal battery check is performed. Normal battery check is performed.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that the camera has a release time lag display / non-display mode and the release time lag is calculated and displayed in conjunction with the switch sw1 ON only in the display mode. Further, the power source of this embodiment is a nicad, alkaline or manganese battery.

When the battery is loaded in step 51, the process proceeds to step 52.

In step 52, it is determined whether or not the photometry / distance measurement start switch SW1 is ON. If it is ON, the process proceeds to step 53. If it is not ON, the process returns to step 52 and is repeated until SW1 is turned ON.

In step 53, it is determined whether or not the release time lag display mode is set. When the release time lag is not displayed, step 56 is entered. In the release time lag display mode, the process proceeds to step 54. Incidentally, this mode is selectively set by a switch (not shown).

Step 54 is a sub-routine for discriminating the kind of the battery and discriminating the kind of the battery.

In step 55, the release time lag is calculated based on the result of step 53 and displayed.

In step 56, the photometric circuit 2 is operated to determine the exposure amount, the light amount of the object is measured, the photometry is performed, and the process proceeds to step 57.

In step 57, the focus position of the subject is detected and the distance measuring circuit 3 is operated to move the photographing lens to the focal position to move the photographing lens to the focal position and focus the image. Proceed to 58.

In step 58, the release switch SW
It is determined whether or not 2 is ON. If it is ON, the process proceeds to step 59, and if it is not ON, the process returns to step 54.

In step 59, the battery is subjected to a battery check by checking whether the battery has a capacity for the camera to take a picture. In step 60, it is judged whether or not the battery has a capacity for taking a picture as a result of the battery check. If there is not, go to step 66.

At step 66, a warning is displayed to inform the photographer that the battery has no capacity, and the routine proceeds to step 67. In step 67, so-called release lock is performed to stop the operation of the camera because it is determined that photography is impossible due to insufficient battery capacity.

In step 61, the aperture of the lens is narrowed down to the aperture value determined based on the photometric value obtained in step 57 for performing the release operation, and the process proceeds to step 52.

In step 62, it is judged whether or not the mirror up is completed. If the mirror up is completed, the process proceeds to step 63. If the mirror up is not completed, step 62 is repeated until the mirror up is completed.

In step 63, the shutter is controlled to perform the exposure operation, the shutter is opened for a predetermined time and the exposure operation is performed, and the process proceeds to step 64.

In step 64, the diaphragm narrowed down in step 61 is returned to the open position, and the process proceeds to step 65.

In step 65, the photographed film is sent to the next frame, and the process returns to step 54 to end the series of operations.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the subroutine "battery type determination" of this embodiment.

At step 101, a switch BA not shown is shown.
It is determined whether T SW is ON. At this time, when the BAT SW is OFF, the battery has not been replaced.
That is, since the type of battery has not changed, the process directly returns to the main routine. This switch BAT SW is turned on when the battery is replaced.

When the BAT SW is ON, step 102
Proceed to. In step 102, it is determined whether the battery is an alkaline manganese battery. A known DC voltage drop method or the like is conceivable as the determination method. If the battery is an alkaline manganese battery, the process proceeds to step 103. If the battery is a nickel-cadmium battery, the process proceeds to step 111, and "10" is written in the battery type determination flag of the memory of the camera. After that, the routine proceeds to step 112, where a nickel-cadmium battery is displayed. FIG. 11 shows the contents of the battery type discrimination flag.

In step 103, a load is applied, and the process proceeds to step 104 with the load applied. In step 104, the battery voltage V1 is measured, and after a lapse of a predetermined time, step 105
Then, the voltage V2 is detected. At this time, the load is still applied.

In step 106, the difference between the battery voltages V2 and V1 is calculated. When this value is larger than a predetermined value, it means that the battery uses an anti-oxidation film that does not use mercury, and therefore the step 1
Proceed to 07.

In step 107, "00" is written in the battery type discrimination flag in the memory of the camera. After that, the routine proceeds to step 108, the nickel-cadmium battery is displayed, and the routine returns to the main routine.

If the result of step 106 is NO, it means that the battery is a conventional type alkaline / manganese battery, so step 1
In step 09, "01" is written in the battery type determination flag of the camera. After that, the process proceeds to step 110, the display is performed, and the process returns to the main routine. Further, in the "release time lag" subroutine of step 55, the above-mentioned release time lag L is displayed when the memory content is "00", and the release time lag S display is performed when the memory content is "01" or "10". Further step 5
In the battery check of No. 9, when the memory content is "00", the heavy load is driven by the battery for a predetermined time before the normal battery check operation by connecting the battery check load, while the memory content is "01" or " 1
When it is "0", the normal battery check operation is performed.

[0074]

According to the present invention, by notifying the photographer that the release time lag has changed, there is a difference between the release time lag intended by the photographer and the actual release time lag when the photographer shoots a subject having a lot of movement. Even in such a case, by displaying that the release time lag differs depending on the type of battery, it is possible to take a photograph intended by the photographer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a specific configuration of an electric control block of a camera of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a sequence of the microcomputer of the camera of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a “battery type input” subroutine of the camera of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a “release time lag display” subroutine of the camera of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an external liquid crystal display when the release time lag is long.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a finder internal display when the release time lag is long.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an external liquid crystal display when the release time lag is short.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a finder internal display when a release time lag is short.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the sequence of the microcomputer of the camera of another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a “battery type input” subroutine of a camera of another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the contents of a battery type determination flag in the memory of the camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Camera Microcomputer 2 Lens Control Circuit 3 Liquid Crystal Display Circuit 4 Switch Sense Circuit 5 Strobe Light Emission Control Circuit 6 Focus Detection Unit 7 Photometric Circuit 8 Shutter Control Circuit 9 Feeding Circuit 10 Battery Check Circuit 11 Memory

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. In a camera having a different battery check method due to a different type of power source, a changing means for changing the battery check means based on the type of a battery housed therein, and a release time lag depending on the type of battery. A camera characterized by having a display means for displaying the change of. 2. The battery is first in the battery checking means.
In the first check mode in which a heavy load is connected to the battery for a predetermined time before performing the battery check operation when the type of battery is used, the battery check operation is performed without the heavy load being connected for the predetermined time in the case of the battery of the second type The camera of claim 1 having a second check mode. 3. The camera has a determination means for determining whether the type of battery is the first or second type, and
3. The camera according to claim 2, wherein the changing unit selects the first check mode when it is determined to be the type and the second check mode is selected when the type is determined to be the second type.