JPH07333724A - Safety apparatus for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the failure of taking a picture in the case a camera cannot face to a subject for some reason during the operation of a self-timer by detecting the vibration of the camera and releasing a photographing mode by the self-timer. CONSTITUTION:A CPU 21 takes in the vibration level VO of an acceleration sensor 22 and carries out judgement. In the case the vibration level VO is not higher than a prescribed level VL, a variable VX is set to be 0 (no vibration). In the case the vibration level VO is not lower than the prescribed level VL and not higher than VM, the variable VX is set to be 1 (light vibration). In this case, although the camera is vibrated, the camera is in a state in which unintentional movement can be prevented by selecting a high speed sequence. Further, in the case VO is not lower than VM, the variable VX is set to be 2 (heavy vibration). In this case, rather high level vibration occurs and the possibility that camera does not face correctly to a subject is high. In the case of a self mode, whether the variable VX is 2 or not is judged and in the case the variable is 2, the following photographing actions should be cancelled.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a safety device for a camera, and more particularly to a safety device for self-shooting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A camera having a so-called self-timer photographing mode in which a photographer uses a self-timer and waits for a predetermined time after a release before photographing is well known.

[0003]

However, in the camera having the self-timer photographing mode as described above, when the self-timer is in operation, the tripod is tilted or a person bumps into the camera, causing the camera to shoot. Even if he doesn't turn to, he still shoots, so there was a problem that he wasted unnecessary pictures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera which does not take a failure photograph when the camera does not face the subject for some reason during the operation of the self-timer.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the camera safety device of the present invention, a photographing mode setting means for switching a plurality of photographing modes including a self-timer photographing mode and a vibration of the camera are detected. Vibration detection means,
And a canceling unit for canceling the self-timer photographing mode set by the photographing mode setting unit according to the output from the vibration detecting unit.

Further, the vibration detecting means outputs at least two kinds of signals corresponding to a plurality of vibration levels, and the prohibiting means releases the self-timer photographing mode based on at least one of the output signals. I am trying to do it.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the structure of a camera safety device according to the present invention. The power supply circuit 10 supplies power to the camera system 20. In the camera system 20, an arithmetic circuit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 21 controls the control. The CPU 21 has a non-rewritable non-volatile memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM 21a) 21a for storing programs and data for realizing the present embodiment, and a rewritable volatile memory (used for data calculation and temporary storage). A RAM 21b hereinafter) 21b is built in. The acceleration sensor 22 detects the vibration of the camera, converts the level into an electric signal, and C
Output to PU21. The photometric circuit 23 obtains the brightness of the subject and its surroundings and outputs it to the CPU 21. Distance measuring circuit 2
4 obtains the distance to the subject and outputs it to the CPU 21.
The strobe 30 emits auxiliary light to the subject. The feeding motor 40 winds or rewinds a known film. The zoom motor 50 drives the lens barrel 51. The drive circuit 28 is a circuit for communicating with the CPU 21, controlling large power, and driving the strobe 30, the feeding motor 40, and the zoom motor 50. The shutter 60 operates the step motor 61 according to the control signal of the CPU 21 to perform the exposure operation for a known film.

Next, the operation relating to the self-timer photographing mode of the present invention (hereinafter, simply referred to as self-mode) will be described with reference to FIG.
Will be described.

First, when the photographer operates the main switch 26, the power supply circuit 10 supplies power to the camera system 20, and this routine starts (# 001). Next, the photographer also sets the mode, and the variable MD
Is determined (# 002). The variable MD and the variable VX described below are secured at an appropriate address in the RAM 21b. The variable MD is 1-byte data, such as self-shooting, interval shooting, strobe flash / auto / flash off, red-eye prevention, fixed infinity, quick shooting (also called sports mode, unconditionally perform high-speed sequence described later), etc. In each case, each bit has a meaning in advance so that known photography or photography combining some of them can be performed. Here, bit 0 of variable MD is 1
In the following, it will be described below that self-shooting is performed.

The switch S is pressed by pressing the release button halfway.
1 turns on (# 003), and the autofocus operation (# 0
04), and then the brightness of the subject is measured (# 00
5). Focus and photometric values are locked here, and the release button is pressed after the photographer has performed framing.
S2 is turned on (# 006). Here, the CPU 21 reads the vibration level VO of the acceleration sensor 22 and determines (# 007). When the vibration level VO is equal to or lower than the predetermined level VL, 0 (corresponding to "no vibration") is set to the variable VX (# 008). When the vibration level VO is equal to or higher than the predetermined level VL and equal to or lower than VM (# 009), the variable V
X is set to 1 (# 010). 1 corresponds to a light vibration, and the camera is vibrating, but it is in a state where blurring can be prevented by selecting a high-speed sequence (a shooting sequence with a faster shutter speed). Further, when VO is VM or more, 2 is set to the variable VX (# 011). 2 is a heavy vibration, which is a considerable level of vibration, and there is a high possibility that the camera is not properly facing the subject due to an abnormality such as a tripod falling down or a person hitting the camera. Therefore, in the case of self-shooting, if the variable VX is 2, there is a risk of taking a failed photograph and wasting the film.

Then, the bit 1 of the variable MD is inspected to determine whether it is in the self mode (# 012). In the self mode, it is further determined whether the variable VX is 2 (# 013). If the variable VX is 2, the variable VX is cleared to 0 and the routine exits without performing the following shooting operation. If it is in the self mode and the variable VX is not 2, it is determined that the photographing is possible, and the self timer is waited (for example, 10 seconds) (# 014). And # 004
The lens barrel 51 is driven based on the distance measurement result (# 0
15). Next, the value of the variable VX is determined (# 016), and when the variable VX is 0, the normal sequence AE1 is performed (# 01
7) When the variable VX is 1 or 2, the high-speed sequence AE2 is performed to prevent the failure photograph (# 018), and the film is wound up one frame (# 019). Finally the variables VX, M
Each of D is cleared to 0 to end the shooting operation (# 0
20).

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. From # 101 to # 106, # 001 in FIG.
Since the operation is the same as that from # 0 to # 006, the description is omitted.
In # 107, the CPU 21 reads the vibration level VO of the acceleration sensor 22 and determines it. When the vibration level VO is equal to or lower than the predetermined level VM, the variable VX is set to 0 (# 108), and when it is equal to or higher than VM, the variable VX is set to 1. (# 109). Therefore, if the variable VX is 1, there is the possibility of taking a failed photo and wasting the film. Then, the bit 1 of the variable MD is inspected to determine whether it is in the self mode (# 110). In the self mode, it is further determined whether the variable VX is 0 (# 111). If the variable VX is not 0, the variable VX is cleared to 0 and the routine exits without performing the following shooting operation. It is in self mode and the variable V
If X is 0, it is determined that shooting is possible, and the self-timer time is waited (for example, 10 seconds) (# 112). Then, the lens barrel 51 is driven based on the distance measurement result of # 104 (# 113). Then perform a normal exposure operation (# 1
14) The film is wound up (# 115). Finally, the variables VX and MD are cleared to end the shooting operation (# 11
6).

In this embodiment, regardless of the vibration level,
When the camera is vibrating in the self mode, the shooting operation is not performed, so there is no need to prepare a plurality of AE sequences.

In the first and second embodiments, since the acceleration sensor 22 constantly outputs the vibration level VO, it can be configured so that it can be read at a necessary time. Therefore, the variable VX is always secured in the RAM 21b. You don't have to.

Further, the output of the acceleration sensor 22 is constantly read so that the vibration level VO is a predetermined level VM.
The system may be reset immediately after any time in the flow. In this case, # 013
Whether or not the variable VX of 2 is 2 continues from # 014 onward in the form of known interrupt processing of the arithmetic circuit.

Further, when vibration is detected, it is also possible to take a picture while absorbing the vibration of the camera by a known anti-vibration mechanism other than selecting the high speed sequence.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, the vibration of the camera is detected by the vibration detecting means, and the self-timer photographing mode set by the mode switch is forcibly released according to the output of the camera. I don't have to take pictures.

Further, since the vibration detecting means outputs a signal corresponding to a plurality of vibration levels and cancels the self-timer photographing mode only when the vibration is severe, when the vibration is not so severe and the photographing is possible. You can continue shooting.

Further, in the second embodiment, the photographing operation is always prohibited when the vibration is detected in the self mode, so that it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of AE sequences.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 27 mode switch 22 acceleration sensor # 012 releasing means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A photographing mode setting means for switching a plurality of photographing modes including a self-timer photographing mode, a vibration detecting means for detecting a vibration of a camera, and the photographing mode setting means according to an output from the vibration detecting means. A safety device for a camera, comprising: a release unit for releasing the set self-timer shooting mode. 2. The vibration detecting means according to claim 1 outputs at least two types of signals corresponding to a plurality of vibration levels,
The safety device for a camera, wherein the prohibiting means releases the self-photographing mode based on at least one output signal of the signals.