JPH07287283A - Optical equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect an obstacle in a wide-range area near a photographing lens and to prevent the vignetting of a photographic picture by providing an infrared receiving means, an infrared projecting means and a detecting means. CONSTITUTION:This optical equipment is provided with 1st to 4th infrared light emitting elements 13, 14, 16 and 17 functioning as infrared projecting means for detecting an obstacle and a light receiving element 12 functioning as a light receiving means for automatic focusing. The light emitting elements 13, 14, 16 and 17 are controlled by a main IC controlling a camera 10. In a state where a finger is put on the right lower part of the photographing lens, for example, infrared light emitted from the 3rd light emitting element 16 is radiated to the finger and received as reflected light by the light receiving element 12 and inputted in a sensor. The sensor converts the light into an electrical signal and performs the waveform shaping of the light by an AFIC for autofocusing, and transmits it to the main IC. The A/D of the main IC converts the signal into a digital signal and transmits it to a CPU. Thus, the obstacle which is an obstruction in the photographic picture near the photographing lens is detected, and a photographer is warned of it.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the detection of obstacles in optical instruments.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a projection shape 21 is provided in the vicinity of a taking lens as shown in FIG. 2 in order to prevent the occurrence of vignetting on the taking screen caused by covering the taking lens with a photographer's finger or the like. I was alerting the photographer that my finger covered the lens.

Further, US Pat. No. 5,210,560 discloses a camera provided with a pair of a light projecting portion and a light receiving portion for detecting an obstacle.

[0004]

However, the vignetting of the photographing screen due to photographing obstacles other than the photographer's finger such as a strap, a camera case, and clothes cannot be prevented, and in particular, a lens that cannot confirm the photographing object through the photographing lens. With a shutter camera, it was often the case that a photograph was taken against the will of the photographer.

On the other hand, even if the method disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,210,560 is implemented, the range is limited, obstacles cannot be detected in a wide range, and it is necessary to provide a dedicated light receiving section.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a camera that detects an obstacle that may be an obstacle in the photographing screen near the photographing lens and warns the photographer.

[0007]

According to the present invention, an infrared ray receiving means and a plurality of infrared ray projecting means are provided in a peripheral area of an objective lens, and an object which obstructs photographing near the front surface of the objective lens is provided. Since the infrared light projecting means irradiates the reflected light and the infrared light receiving means detects the reflected light, an obstacle can be detected in a wide area near the photographing lens and vignetting of the photographing screen can be prevented.

[0008]

1 and 6 are drawings which best show the features of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 10 indicates a camera, and 11
Is a release button, 13, 14, 16 and 17 are infrared ray emitting elements as infrared ray projecting means for detecting the first to fourth obstacles respectively, and 12 is a light receiving element as light receiving means for automatic focus adjustment. Is represented. Infrared light emitting elements 13, 14, 16 for detecting the first to fourth obstacles,
Reference numeral 17 is a main I for controlling the camera as shown in FIG.
It is controlled by C. FIG. 3 is a view of the front of the camera when a finger is placed on the lower left part of the taking lens, and FIG. 4 is a view of the front of the camera when a finger is placed on the lower right part of the taking lens, as in FIG. Showing the figure.

FIG. 5 is a view of the state of FIG. 3 viewed from the top of the camera, showing that infrared light emitted from the third infrared light emitting element 16 hits a finger and is received by the light receiving element 12 as reflected light. There is. The infrared light emitting element 16 hits the finger and the reflected light is received by the light receiving element 12 and input to the sensor 64 of FIG. The sensor 64 converts this light into an electric signal, and the AFIC 65 for auto-focusing waveform-shapes the main IC 61.
Be transmitted to. In the A / D of the main IC 61, this signal is converted into a digital signal and sent to the CPU 62. The CPU 62 starts from the flow 2-1 according to the flowchart 2 shown in FIG.

7 and 8 are flowcharts of the CPU 62. When an obstacle is located at the lower left of the taking lens when the camera is viewed from the front as shown in FIG.
When the release button 11 is moved to the position where the first stroke is ON according to the procedure described above, and waits, the flowchart 2 is entered in the obstacle inspection of Flow 1-3. In the flow 2-1 the signal of the switch means 53 is used to determine whether or not this obstacle inspection operation is to be performed.
Outputs "H" or "L".

In Flow 2-3, the infrared light emitting elements are sequentially turned on, and if reflected light is obtained by the light receiving element 12, the result is compared with the comparison value A, and if it is the comparison value A or more, the position of the obstacle is displayed. Memorize the data of. After 2-12, if the obstacle is at the lower left as seen from the front of the camera as shown in FIG. 3, a warning is displayed in the portion C in the warning display section 51 of FIG.
Use to select operation stop. After that, the flow returns to the flow 1-4 of the flowchart 1 in the flow 2-17. After that, the process returns to the normal sequence and returns to 1-1 again after the release operation by the second stroke of the release button 11 is completed.

[0012]

As described above, the infrared light receiving means,
Detection in which a plurality of infrared light projecting means are provided in the peripheral area of the objective lens, and an object in the vicinity of the front surface of the objective lens which obstructs photographing is illuminated by the infrared light projecting means and the reflected light is detected by the infrared light receiving means. By having a means
Objects that interfere with shooting can be detected over a wide area in front of the objective lens.

The detection means is operated immediately before the photographing operation. Since the infrared light receiving means is an infrared light receiving means for automatic focusing, it is not necessary to provide a special infrared light receiving means, and the number of parts is reduced, so that the optical device can be installed. Can be miniaturized.

By providing the warning means for warning based on the detection result of the detection means, the user can be informed of the existence of the obstacle.

By providing the prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation of the optical device based on the detection result of the detecting means, it is possible to inform the user of the existence of the obstacle.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a conventional example.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example in which an obstacle is located at the lower left of the taking lens.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which an obstacle is located at the lower right of the taking lens.

5 is a top view of the state of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a camera embodying the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart 1 of a camera embodying the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart 2 of a camera embodying the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Release Button 12 Light-Receiving Part 13, 14, 16, 17 Infrared Light Emitting Element 15 Lens 21 Projection Shape 51 Warning Display Section 53 Switch Means 52 Release Button 61 Main IC 62 CPU 63 A / D Converter 64 Sensor 65 AFIC

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An infrared light receiving means and a plurality of infrared light projecting means are provided in a peripheral area of the objective lens, and an object which is in the vicinity of the front surface of the objective lens and interferes with photographing is illuminated by the infrared light projecting means and reflected by the infrared light projecting means. An optical device having a detecting means for detecting light by the infrared light receiving means. 2. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means operates immediately before a photographing operation. 3. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the infrared light receiving means is an infrared light receiving means for automatic focus adjustment. 4. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising warning means for warning based on a detection result of the detection means. 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a prohibiting unit that prohibits the operation of the optical device based on the detection result of the detecting unit.
The optical device according to 3 or 4.