JPH075529A - Stroboscope controller of camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a stroboscope controller of a camera which efficiently controls the light quantity of an extension stroboscopic device for multiple flashes without through an electric contact according to the light emitting time of a built-in stroboscope. CONSTITUTION:This stroboscope controller is constituted of a proper light quantity arithmetic part 31 obtaining the emitted light quantity of the stroboscope Gvx for attaining proper exposure based on range-finding and photometric information, a full emitted light quantity storage part 34 storing the value Gxm of the maximum emitted light quantity of the built-in stroboscope, a difference arithmetic part 32 obtaining a difference DELTAGv between them, a difference output/light emitting time storage part 35 storing the emitted light quantity of the built-in stroboscope-light emitting time characteristic in the case of the difference DELTAGv by setting the maximum light emitting time DELTAGv=0, a light emitting time control part 33 obtaining necessary light emitting time from the storage part 35 and driving a stroboscopic circuit 36, a multiple-flash extension stroboscope use detection part 38 detecting the use of the extension stroboscopic device for multiple flashes, and a full emitted light quantity setting part 37 changing the stored maximum emitted light quantity according to the detection signal from the detection part 38 so that the emitted light quantity of the built-in stroboscope may be small.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a strobe control device for controlling the quantity of light of a strobe device for increasing a lamp, which is mounted on a camera and is externally attached to make up for a shortage of the quantity of strobe light incorporated therein.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a camera having a built-in strobe, there is a strobe device for increasing the number of lights, which is externally attached in order to make up for the lack of the amount of light of the built-in strobe. For controlling the amount of strobe light of the camera with a built-in strobe, for example, a flashmatic method is used which obtains the required amount of light from the subject distance and the aperture value. There is a flashmatic flashlight increasing strobe device in which the amount of light is controlled by the light emission of a built-in strobe, and there is no electrical contact with the camera.

Regarding the control of the built-in strobe, there is a method in which a calculated value is collated with a data map consisting of a light emission amount and a light emission time, and the light emission time is controlled, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei-2.
It is described in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-189188 and a Japanese Patent Application No. 3-170188 proposed by the present applicant as an improved version thereof.

Further, as for the strobe device for increasing the lighting, which detects the start and stop of the light emission of the built-in strobe and starts and stops its own light emission, there are several types of flash device including JP-A-53-116149. Is publicly known.

Further, there are various strobe devices for increasing the light, which receive only the start of light emission from the built-in strobe and control the light amount by its own external light metering function, such as those disclosed in JP-A-1-178944 and JP-A-2-21135. The type is known.

[0006]

However, in the strobe device for increasing light according to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 53-116149, basically, the photometric system of the camera is TTL. Since it is premised on adopting direct metering, when using the flashmatic method for control, if the external strobe with a larger amount of light emission is fired at the light emission time that is the amount of light emission required by the built-in flash, In some cases, more light than necessary may be emitted. Originally, the external strobe cannot be controlled in a long-distance region where the built-in strobe wants to supplement the light amount with the external strobe so that the built-in strobe emits full light.

Further, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-178944, a mechanism for setting the aperture value and film sensitivity of the camera for photometry is required in the strobe device for additional lighting, which is a common operation due to complicated operations. It will be inconvenient for users.

Further, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-21135, when light emission is repeated at a shooting distance where the light emission amount of the built-in flash becomes large, the heat at the time of light emission around the built-in flash may cause the diffuser plate to become cloudy. However, the light receiving element on the side of the strobe for additional lighting may be delayed in reaction, or may be burnt in and may not be able to receive light.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a strobe control device for a camera, which efficiently controls the light quantity of the strobe device for increasing the number of lights without the electric contact depending on the light emission time of the built-in strobe.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a camera which receives the light emission of a built-in strobe of a camera body and controls the light emission of an external strobe device for increasing the number of lights by this light emission. Calculating means for calculating an appropriate light emission amount of the built-in strobe; storage means for storing a full light emission amount of the built-in strobe; and a light emission time necessary for performing light emission of a predetermined amount under full light emission; According to the light emission time stored in the storage means for the difference calculated by the difference calculation means, the difference calculation means for calculating the difference between the emitted light quantity at the full light emission and the calculated appropriate light emission quantity, A light emission control means for controlling the light emission time of the built-in strobe, a detection means for detecting photographing using the external strobe device for increasing the light, and a detection means for detecting the light emission time. When it is detected that the built-in strobe is used, the amount of light emission at the time of full light emission stored in the storage unit is changed to a predetermined amount larger than the amount of light emission of the built-in strobe, and the difference calculation unit and A strobe control device for a camera is provided, which comprises a changing means for operating the light emission control means.

Further, in a camera which receives the light emission of a built-in strobe of the camera body and controls the light emission of an external strobe device for increasing the light by this light emission, a computing means for computing a proper light emission amount of the built-in strobe; A first table showing the relationship between the light emission amount and the light emission time of the built-in flash;
Storage means for storing a second table showing the relationship between the light emission amount and the light emission time of the external strobe device; a detection means for detecting photographing using the external strobe device for increasing the lighting; When using the built-in flash,
The strobe of the camera is configured to control the light emission according to the first table and to control the light emission according to the second table when the use of the external strobe device is detected by the detection unit. Provide a control device.

[0012]

The strobe control device for a camera having the above-described structure is a flash strobe device mounted on a camera having a flashmatic type light quantity control type strobe. By providing a light emission control data table that can be set according to the light emission time of, the light amount of the strobe device for increasing the light is adjusted without the electric contact and the built-in flash is originally full. Even in the long-distance area where the flash fires, simply changing the maximum flash output data for the built-in flash to an arbitrary value changes the flash time data for controlling the built-in flash to the flash usage time data for increasing the flash. The strobe device for the lamp becomes dimmable, and at the same time, the light emission of the built-in strobe is suppressed when the strobe device for the additional lamp is used.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a strobe control device for a camera as a first embodiment according to the present invention, and will be described.

In this strobe control device, an appropriate light amount calculation unit 31 for obtaining a strobe light emission amount Gvx for obtaining a proper exposure on the basis of distance measurement and photometry information obtained by a distance measurement and photometry device (not shown), and a built-in strobe A full light emission amount storage unit 34 that stores the actual value Gxm of the maximum light emission amount, and a difference calculation unit 3 that calculates these results and obtains the difference ΔGv.
2 and a difference output / light emission time storage unit 35 that stores the light emission amount-light emission time characteristic of the built-in flash as the maximum light emission time ΔGv = 0 according to the result of the difference calculation unit 32, and the difference output / light emission time storage unit 35. And a light emission time control unit 33 for driving a strobe circuit 36 to obtain a necessary light emission time from the flash unit 36, and further, an additional light strobe use detection unit for automatically or manually detecting whether or not the additional light strobe device is used. 38 and a detection signal indicating the use of the strobe device for increasing the number of lights, the full light emission amount storage unit 3 is provided in order to shift the light emission amount of the built-in strobe by an arbitrary amount to reduce the light amount.
4 and the full light emission amount setting unit 37 for changing the setting of the maximum light emission amount stored in FIG.

By setting the full light emission amount setting unit 37 to a light amount larger than the actual maximum light emission amount by an arbitrary number of steps, ΔGv obtained by the difference calculation unit 32 is increased by this number of steps, and the built-in flash of the built-in flash unit is increased. The flash time is set short.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a specific circuit configuration of the strobe control device of the camera as the first embodiment described above and will be described. Here, the charging / light-emitting circuit section has the same circuit configuration and operation as those described in Japanese Patent Application No. 05-001977 and the like proposed by the present applicant, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The strobe control device includes a main transformer 5 for boosting (amplifying energy) the potential supplied by the battery power source 1 of the strobe device for increasing light, a main capacitor 8 for storing the boosted energy, and STON. A trigger coil 9 that receives a signal to generate a trigger output, a Xe tube 10 that is excited by the trigger output and emits light by a current from the main capacitor 8, and a current that flows through the Xe tube 10 are cut off midway to emit light. An IGBT 11 for stopping is provided.

The switch SW1 is a power switch for the entire strobe. When the switch SW1 is turned on, the charging voltage stored in the main capacitor 8 is divided by the resistors 12 and 13, and the divided signal Vst is divided by the comparator 14. Compare with a predetermined reference voltage. The CHG signal output from the comparator 14 turns on / off the transistor 2 to control the operation of the charging circuit unit and keep the charging voltage within a certain range.

Further, the light emitted from the built-in strobe on the camera side (not shown) received by the phototransistor 15 is differentiated by the capacitor 16, and the transistor 17 is turned on for a short time to turn on the transistor 18, resulting in the STON terminal. "H" is output to. Then, the light emitting circuit section receives the STON signal and starts light emission.

Next, when the built-in strobe stops emitting light to turn off the phototransistor 15, the capacitor 16 switches from charging to discharging and the transistor 20 is turned off.
Base → transistor 20 emitter → diode 19
→ Current flows in the direction of capacitor 16 → resistor 21. This current turns on the transistor 20, turns on the transistor 22, and the collector current turns on the transistor 23. And the IG of this light emitting circuit section
The gate voltage of the BT11 is short-circuited, the IGBT11 is turned off, the path of the current flowing through the Xe tube 10 is cut off, and light emission is stopped.

FIG. 4 shows waveforms during operation of the main part of such a strobe control device. In this strobe control device, in response to a built-in strobe light emission of a camera (not shown), a voltage B emitted to the emitter side of the phototransistor 15 is differentiated by the capacitor 16 and a waveform B rises, so that the transistor 17 causes a current to flow through the capacitor 16. While flowing, it is turned on and "H" is output to the STON terminal.

The phototransistor 15 keeps the ON state while the external light is high in intensity by the light emission of the built-in strobe.
Is off. Then, when the built-in strobe stops emitting light and external light falls, the phototransistor 15 is turned off, and a current flows from the capacitor 16 to the discharge path. At this time, the capacitor 16 flows from the point B side in the direction to draw the current, and the base-emitter current of the transistor 20 flows, turning on the transistor 20 and
A signal STOFF is generated that shorts the gate end of T11.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment in which the CPU controls circuits other than the charging / light emitting circuit portion in the strobe control device shown in FIG. 1 and measures the external light to the additional strobe device. This is a configuration example in the case where a function of an auto strobe that performs light control and light emission is provided.

In this strobe control device, the phototransistor 1 is operated by switching the switch SW3.
Change whether external light received by 5'is transmitted to a circuit for timing the rising and falling timings of the external light shown in FIG. 2 or is used as an input to an integrating IC for measuring the external light. You can

The switch SW2 is a switch for setting conditions on the camera side, such as aperture information at the time of light emission, when operating as an automatic strobe. Switch S
W4 is a switch that detects whether or not the flash unit for additional lighting is installed in the camera when the flash device for additional lighting is used in an off-camera state. The switch works when it is assembled, and the switch does not work when it is placed on the floor, etc., so that it is automatically determined whether it is an on-camera or an off-camera. Further, the switch SW3 can also be switched by the CPU so as to automatically select the external light auto mode or the dimming mode by the built-in flash of the camera based on this determination.

Next, FIGS. 5 and 6 show an example of the operation when the strobe control device shown in FIG. 3 is used. FIG. 5 shows a state where the charging voltage monitor Vst in the strobe circuit section of FIG. 2 is monitored by the A / D converter of the CPU to control the CHG signal and hold the charging voltage at a certain level or higher. Here, C is the voltage of the main capacitor 8, D is the change in the voltage of the sub-capacitor 25, V
_MCH indicates a charge completion voltage and V _MCL indicates a charge restart voltage. These values are stored as adjustment values in a storage unit such as an E ² PROM. Further, in order to be controlled by the CPU, the charging resumption voltage may be set to an arbitrary value such that the gate voltage of the IGBT 11 does not decrease due to the discharging of the sub-capacitor 25 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, as in FIG. 4, the CPU receives the signal corresponding to the light emission of the built-in flash of the camera, which is received by the phototransistor 15 ', and the CPU outputs the light emission signal STON and the light emission stop signal STOFF to the strobe circuit. Indicates that At this time, since the camera generally starts the exposure operation at the start of light emission, it is necessary to rise quickly.
It is directly transmitted to the light emission signal without passing through the PU.
F can also receive the signal from the transistor 22 'and, after an arbitrary time delay, issue a light emission stop signal. That is,
In this embodiment, a much smaller amount of light from the built-in strobe can be used than in the strobe control device shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control circuit of a camera with a built-in strobe used together with the strobe device for increasing light of this embodiment. Each component and circuit of this built-in flash camera is
It shall be controlled by the CPU 42. The strobe circuit 41, which is one of the control circuits, includes a power supply circuit 41a, a main capacitor 41b, a trigger circuit 41c, a flash light emitting tube 41d, an IGBT 41e, and a gate control circuit 41f, as is known. The IGBT 4
1e is connected in series with the flash arc tube 41d, and is controlled by the output of the gate control circuit 411f to control the light emission time of the arc tube 41d as known. Gate control circuit 41
f receives the output from the CPU 42 in the camera,
It controls the ON timing and the ON period of the GBT 41e.

The photometry circuit 47, which is a component of the control circuit of the camera, measures the brightness of the subject as is known, and
U42 is transmitted, and the exposure mechanism of the camera is controlled based on the data. The distance measuring circuit 48 calculates the distance to the subject. The lens driving circuit 49 drives the lens of the camera based on the output of the distance measuring circuit 48. The winding circuit 45 controls winding and rewinding of the film as is known. The shutter circuit 44 receives the output of the CPU 42 and controls the shutter mechanism. The mode setting circuit 46 is a circuit for the user to select the on / off mode of the strobe.

[0030] The memory circuit 43 is constituted by storage elements such as E ² PROM, it incorporates a full light emission amount storage section and the difference between the output / emission time storage unit or the like, photographed by a storage element such as E ² PROM The number of frames of the camera, the camera status, and the Gv value of the full flash light amount of the actual strobe in the full flash light amount storage unit.
_vm and G of full emission before correction in the difference output / emission time storage section
A table (Table 2 described later) showing data of a table (Table 1 described later) showing the relationship between the value ΔGv which is a difference output of Gv values with respect to the v value and the emission time and a correction value of the emission characteristic by the charging voltage. The data and the like are stored.

The switch SW1 is a switch that is turned on at the first stage of the release switch, and the switch SW2
Is a switch that is turned on in the second stage of the release switch.

The CPU 42 includes an appropriate light amount calculation section 42.
a, a difference calculator 42b, and a light emission time calculator 42c are also incorporated. Then, the proper light amount calculation unit 42a obtains the Gv value G _vx of the strobe light amount for proper exposure from the outputs of the photometric circuit 47 and a film sensitivity input unit (not shown). Further, the difference calculation unit 42b, the Gv value of the difference between the Gv value G _vm of the actual full flash emission amount stored in the storage circuit 43 and the appropriate Gv value G _vx , that is, the value (G
to calculate the ΔGv a _vm -G _vx).

The light emission time calculating section 42c includes a memory circuit 4
The flash emission time corresponding to the Gv value ΔGv of the difference is obtained by referring to the table (Table 1) of the difference output / emission time storage unit of No. 3. For example, if the value ΔGv is 2.5 (Ev), the light emission time is 125 μs. On the other hand, when the charging voltage is not the full voltage, the CPU 42 refers to the values in Table 2 and corrects the Gv value. The details of this correction will be described later.

FIG. 8 shows each charging voltage (330V to 210V).
Gv value ΔGv of the difference based on the full emission value in V)
7 is a diagram of characteristic curves G _{v0 to} G _v4 showing changes in light emission time with respect to FIG. Table 1 shows the values of the emission time (unit: μs) with respect to each difference value ΔGv (unit: Ev) for the characteristics at full charge in FIG.

Table 2 shows the full charge of the emission time characteristic line at each charging voltage for obtaining each Gv value shown in FIG.
The deviation from the characteristic line at full light emission is shown by the number of correction steps (unit Ev) for each step of the difference value ΔGv (unit Ev) based on the Gv value at full charge and full light emission.

[0036]

[Table 1]

[0037]

[Table 2]

In FIG. 7 described above, the signal from the external strobe detection unit 50 for determining whether or not the external strobe (strobe device for increasing the light) is attached to the camera is also CP.
U42 is receiving it.

The external strobe detecting section 50 is not limited to the automatic discrimination, and may be the additional flash strobe mode set by the mode setting circuit 46. A strobe device for increasing the number of lights is installed and receives an input from the external strobe detection section 50, and the CPU 42 has calculated ΔGv with the maximum light emission amount of the built-in strobe in the memory circuit 43 as G _vm until then. In order to replace the maximum emission amount of ΔGv (+) with a full emission amount setting unit 42
Then, the required light emission amount ΔGv is obtained after the G _{vm ′} is set to G _vm + ΔGv (+) by d. Then, since the ΔGv (+) result is larger than the ΔGv obtained by G _vm , conversely, the light emission time obtained from Table 1 is short.

Next, the operation of such a strobe control device will be described with reference to FIG. Normally, the built-in strobe has its light emission time controlled by a light emission control curve starting from point l. Point l is the point at which the maximum amount of light emitted from the built-in flash device stored in the storage circuit 43 is output.

When the loading of the strobe device for increasing the light is detected,
Assuming that the maximum light emission amount is ΔGv (+) higher than the actual light amount (+3 Gv in FIG. 9), in order to calculate the necessary light amount for the subject distance, a light emission control curve starting from point p is used. It will be shifted. However, the maximum amount of light emitted from the built-in flash does not actually increase, and even if the required amount of light obtained from the calculation is found to be m, which is the maximum amount of light emitted from the built-in flash, the actual amount of light emitted is n. Become.

First, if the curve starting from the L point is kept as it is, the maximum flashing amount of the built-in flash is required at all distances beyond the shooting distance. Although it cannot be transmitted to the strobe device, if the control of the p-point start point is used, the light-emission time is tn even under the above conditions, and it is possible to obtain a change in the light-emission time corresponding to the shooting distance from the m-point to the p-point. It is possible to transmit information to the flash unit for increasing light up to a long distance range rather than controlling the flash device for increasing light by controlling the light emission time of the built-in flash light. At this time, the built-in flash is not effective and the flash of the built-in strobe is small near m point where the strobe device for additional lighting is required, and does not affect the exposure. However, it does not affect the exposure so much.

Further, since it is only necessary to replace the full emission light amount data, it is not necessary to separately have a light emission time characteristic table, and the influence on the ROM capacity can be minimized to realize the control of the strobe device for light emission.

Next, FIG. 10 shows an example of a combination of a camera with a built-in strobe that employs the light emission control system of the strobe control device of this embodiment and a strobe device for increasing the lighting controlled by the camera.

The strobe device 62 for increasing the light is roughly divided into a light emitting portion 63 and skirt portions 64 and 66 attached to the bottom surface so that the camera 61 can be inserted for incorporation into the camera. The front skirt 66 is shaped so as to hang over the built-in flash of the camera body 61.
Further, a phototransistor for photometry shown in FIG. 2 is installed in this portion. On the upper surface of the camera body 61, there is a detection switch 68 for detecting that the additional flash 62 has been assembled, and this switch may be mechanical or optical.

Further, it is possible to set the flash mode for increasing the light by the mode SW 69. A switch for determining whether or not it is combined with the camera shown in FIG. 2 is provided on the bottom surface 65 of the strobe 62, and when the strobe 62 is directly placed on the floor or the like, the skirt portions 64 and 66 are used to switch the switch. Does not touch the floor, and the strobe 62 functions as a slave type auto strobe.

Further, FIGS. 10B and 10C show an example in which the additional flash is placed on the floor or the like. The skirt 66 with the built-in phototransistor can be turned upside down (the irradiation direction of the strobe device for additional lighting) centering around the fastener of 66 ', and when used as an external light metering type automatic strobe in FIG. It works as a light receiving part of reflected light from the subject.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which the additional flash device 62 is attached to the camera 61. Next, FIG. 12 shows a schematic configuration of a strobe control device for a camera as a third embodiment according to the present invention, which will be described. The configuration for external strobe control on the camera side with built-in strobe is shown as a conceptual diagram.

In this strobe control device, a proper light amount calculation unit 31 'for obtaining a strobe light emission amount Gvx for obtaining a proper exposure on the basis of distance measurement and photometric information obtained by a photometry device (not shown), and a built-in strobe. Full emission amount storage unit 34 'that stores the actual value Gxm of the maximum emission amount of
And a difference calculation unit 32 'that calculates these results to obtain the difference ΔGv, and the result of the difference calculation unit 32' determines the light emission amount-light emission time characteristic of the built-in flash as the maximum light emission time ΔG.
Difference output / light emission time storage unit 35 ′ stored as v = 0
And whether or not the strobe device for increasing the number of lights is used automatically or manually, and the strobe circuit 36 'for driving the strobe circuit 36' by obtaining the required strobe time from the differential output / flash duration storage unit 35 '. The additional flash strobe use detection unit 38 for detecting

The differential output / light emission time storage unit 35 'includes the normal light emission time control data for obtaining the light emission time during the normal built-in flash photography, and the additional light emission flash detection unit 38'.
When the signal indicating the use is detected, the additional flash strobe light emission time control data for controlling the light emission of the additional flash strobe device according to the light emission time of the built-in strobe is stored. Therefore, when the strobe device for increasing the number of lights is used, the built-in strobe is caused to emit light for the light emission time obtained from the data according to the required amount of light emission, and the strobe device for increasing the light emission is controlled.

Next, referring to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, the photographing sequence of the strobe control device for the camera of the first embodiment will be described. First, when the photographer presses the release switch halfway down, that is, when the first-stage SW1 is turned on, the subroutine "REL" in FIG. 14 is called to perform distance measurement / photometry (step S11), and the lens is extended. Amount (step S12), and Dv value of logarithmic conversion value of subject distance d (indicated by log ₂ d ² )
Is calculated (step S13).

Further, the Dx code of the loaded film is fetched (step S14), and the Sv value (indicated by log ₂ (ISO speed / 100)) of the logarithmic conversion value is calculated.

Next, the logarithmically converted values of the luminance data of the central portion and the peripheral portion of the photometric light receiving element are respectively the luminance values B of the central portion.
_{As VS} and the brightness value B _Va of the peripheral part, the brightness value B _VS and the brightness value B
By comparing _Va , it is determined whether or not there is backlight (step S1).
5) If it is smaller than a predetermined amount (YES), that is, if it is dark, it is determined to be backlight, and the value Sv and the brightness value _BVS are added and read as an Ev value which is an exposure value (step S18).
However, if it is larger than the predetermined amount by this judgment (NO), that is, if it is bright, it is judged that it is not backlight and the value S
v and the brightness value B _Va are added and read as an Ev value (step S16). The shutter time is calculated based on the Ev value (step S17).

Next, it is determined whether or not to emit light (step S21). In this camera, the modes related to the strobe include a normal mode in which strobe light is emitted only when the Ev value is low and a strobe off mode in which strobe light is not emitted. Further, even when light emission is necessary, if the condition is not satisfied, the exposure is prohibited, and in that case, the LED in the viewfinder is blinked during the half-press to warn the photographer.

If it is determined in the step S21 that the strobe-off mode is set (YES), the light emission flag is set to "0" and the light emission is prohibited (step S4).
1) The uncharged lock flag is set to "0" (step S42), the exposure is permitted, and the process proceeds to step S43.

If it is determined in step S21 that the normal mode for strobe emission is used (NO),
The camera shake time is calculated according to the zoom state at that time (step S22). Then, the shutter speed obtained in step S17 is compared with the camera shake time (step S23), the time is faster (YES), and it is further determined whether or not there is backlight (step S24). N
O), the process proceeds to step S41, the light emission flag is set to "0" to inhibit light emission, the uncharge lock flag is set to "0" to allow the exposure, and the process proceeds to step S43.

In step S23, if the second time is slower (YES), the second time is replaced by the camera shake second (step S25), and if it is determined that the backlight is back in step S24 (YES), To step S26.

In step S26, it is determined whether or not it is in the flash increasing strobe use mode based on a detection signal from the external strobe detection section 50 as shown in FIG. In this determination, if the strobe for increasing the light emission is used (YES), the strobe light for increasing the light emission is set to "1" (step S27), the Gv value of full emission of the built-in strobe is corrected (step S28), and the next step The process proceeds to S29. According to FIG. 9 described above, this correction is set to +3 Gv. If it is determined in step S26 that the shooting mode is the normal shooting mode (NO), step S26 is performed as it is.
Move to 29.

In step S26, when the increase strobe flag is "1", what is needed is a light emission time corresponding to the required light amount, and therefore the difference in the charging voltage level as shown in Table 2 is obtained. The calculation may be performed without correcting the full emission light amount value by.

Next, in order to determine whether or not the stroboscopic light emission is permitted, it is determined in step S29 whether or not the charging voltage is 310V or more, and if the charging voltage is 310V or more (YES),
The process proceeds to step S35 described later, and the charging voltage is 310V.
If it is less than (NO), it is determined whether the charging voltage is 200 V or more or less (step S30). If the charge voltage is less than 200 V in this determination (NO), the charge voltage may be too low to emit light, and the light emission flag is set to "0" to prohibit light emission (step S39), and uncharged. The lock flag is set to "1" (step S40), the exposure is not permitted, and the process proceeds to step S43.

In step S30, the charging voltage is set to 200.
When it is less than 310V above V (YES), Gv value for proper exposure when the full emission at each charging voltage and G _vx
Is calculated (steps S32 and S33).

Next, the Gv value for full emission and the Gv value for proper exposure
When the Gv value of full light emission is smaller than that (step S34) (NO), it is determined that proper photographing cannot be performed, the process proceeds to steps S39 and S40, and the light emission flag is set to "0". As a result, the light emission is prohibited, the uncharged lock flag is set to "1", and the exposure is not permitted, and the process proceeds to step S43. However, the step S
When the Gv value of full emission is larger than the Gv value of proper exposure in the determination of 34 (YES), the process proceeds to step S35.

At this step S35,
When the charging voltage is 310 V or more in the determination of 29, or when the charging voltage is 200 V or more and less than 310 V and the Gv value of full light emission is larger than the Gv value of proper exposure, the light emission flag is set to “1”. As a result, the light emission is permitted (step S35), the uncharge lock flag is set to "0" (step S36), the exposure is permitted, and the time until light emission and the light emission time are calculated (step S37). After that, the light emission time is the actual full light emission Gv value G _vm stored in the storage circuit 43 shown in FIG.
The difference ΔGv from the value G _vx is used to obtain the difference output / light emission time storage means table (Table 1) (step S38). At this time, if the detection signal during use of the above-described strobe device for increasing light is detected, the full emission light amount is +3.
The light emission time is obtained by shifting the light emission time by 3 Gv by the amount of Gv, and the light is emitted.

Next, the processing loop is executed while the release switch is being half-depressed, and first the time counting of the 90-second timer is started (step S43). Then, the uncharged lock flag is determined (step S44). If the flag is "0" in this determination, exposure is permitted, and the second-stage switch SW2 of the release switch is checked (step S52). However, if the flag is "1",
The second-stage switch SW2 of the release switch is not checked, and the processing loop during half-pressing the release switch is circulated. And strobe LED every 250 μs
Is inverted to notify the photographer that the amount of flash light is insufficient and exposure cannot be performed (step S4).
5,46).

Next, when the state of the first-stage switch SW1 is off (step S47) or the 90-second timer overflows (step S48), the process returns to exit from this subroutine "REL".

Unless the timer overflow is detected, the charging voltage is checked (step S4).
9) If the charging voltage reaches 330V (YES),
The charging signal is turned off to stop charging (step S5
0), if the charging voltage is less than 330V (NO), the charging signal is turned on to continue charging, and step S44 is performed together.
Return to and continue the loop processing while half-pressing.

If it is determined in step S52 that the second stage switch SW2 is on (YES), the strobe LED is turned off to perform the exposure operation (step S5).
3) Turn off the charging signal to stop charging (step S
54), the lens is extended to the in-focus position (step S5).
5).

Next, the subroutine "SHUTR" is called to perform shutter control (step S56). Then, the film is wound up one frame (step S5
7) Exit from this subroutine "REL".

The sequence of the subroutine "SHUTR" will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the magnet for locking the shutter blades is energized (step S60), the shutter drive motor is driven (step S61), and the second timer and the light emission time timer are started (steps S62 and S63).

Then, it is determined whether the shutter time required for proper exposure has elapsed (step S64) or the time until strobe emission has elapsed (step S65). First, when the time until light emission elapses before the shutter time elapses, the light emission flag is determined (step S6).
6). When the flag is "0" in this determination, the light emission is not performed as it is and the elapsed time is waited (step S70). When the flag is "1", the light emission is started (step S6).
7), wait for the elapse of the light emission time corresponding to the required light emission amount obtained in step S38 of FIG. 15 (step S68), and thereafter stop the light emission (step S69).

If the shutter time has elapsed in step S64 (YES), the magnet is de-energized (step S71), or if the shutter time has elapsed in step S70 (YES), the process returns. The loop of this subroutine "SHUTR" is ended.

Next, a strobe control device for a camera as a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The structure of this strobe device is similar to that shown in FIGS. Further, when using only the camera body, the process is the same as the process for firing the built-in flash described in FIG.

First, the CPU 42 calculates the necessary strobe light emission amount based on the information from the photometry circuit 47, the distance measurement circuit 48, etc., and outputs the difference from the maximum strobe light emission amount of the built-in strobe stored in the storage circuit 45. The light emission time data in the storage unit 35 is obtained and the strobe circuit 36 is controlled.

When the flash increasing strobe device is attached to the camera, a detection signal is sent from the external strobe detecting section 50 to the CPU 42 by automatic or manual operation. In response to this, the CPU 42 has previously determined the light emission time for emitting the required light emission amount based on the light emission time table of the differential output / light emission time storage unit 35, but this is calculated by the light emission time and the calculation. The built-in strobe is controlled by obtaining the light emission time from the strobe light emission time control table for additional light, which corresponds only to the required light amount.

At this time, the light emission time table has no correlation with the light amount of the built-in flash, and the light emission time is transmitted to the strobe device for increasing the number of lights, which corresponds one light emission time to the required G _v0 (or Gv). It informs the required amount of light.

Therefore, it is not necessary to match the light emission amount calculated by the calculation with the actual light amount of the built-in strobe when the light emission time is led corresponding to the data table, and it is necessary to correspond to the maximum light emission time. The light quantity may be set to an arbitrary light quantity based on the light quantity of the flash for increasing light. Table 3 below shows the two data tables described above.

[0077]

[Table 3]

[0078]

[Table 4]

As described above, by preparing a completely different data table, it is possible to send information to the strobe device for increasing light even when the light amount is greater than that of the built-in strobe, and this data table is stored in advance. If you have a camera that
Even if the light emission characteristics of the discharge tubes of the built-in strobe are different, it is possible to control the strobe device for additional lighting in the same manner.
On the side of the strobe device for increasing the light, it is sufficient to receive the light emission from the built-in strobe and control its own light emission time from the light emission time. In this case, the CP shown in FIG.
A configuration in which U is centrally controlled is preferable.

The photographing sequence of the camera is almost the same as the sequence described in FIG. 14 and subsequent figures of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the light emission time is calculated by the differential output / light emission time storage table. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, the point obtained from the correspondence table of the light emission time setting with respect to the simple required Gv is different.

From the above, the strobe control device for a camera according to the present embodiment is a flashlight strobe device for a camera having a flashmatic type light quantity control type built-in strobe, and an electric contact is made via an electrical contact depending on a light emission time of the built-in strobe of the camera. In addition to the flash control, the flash time data for the built-in flash control is used as the flash time data for the built-in flash control so that the flash for additional flash can control the light even in a long-distance area where the built-in flash originally emits full light. It is possible to prevent the electric power from being wasted by suppressing unnecessary light emission of the built-in strobe when using the extra flash strobe device. Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications and applications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0082]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the emission control data table is provided so that the emission control of the additional flash can be performed within the emission time of the built-in flash, so that the additional flash device emits light. It is not limited by the characteristics or the amount of light emitted from the built-in flash, it is possible to increase the number of flashes with a flashmatic camera, and by changing the maximum flash amount data of the built-in flash to any value, the built-in flash can be used. The same effect as having a separate flash control data table for additional flash can be obtained, and the flash control device for the camera can control the light emission of the additional flash device with almost no effect on the ROM capacity of the camera. Can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a flash control device for a camera as a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific circuit configuration of a strobe control device for the camera of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a strobe control device as a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing waveforms during operation of a main part of the flash control device shown in FIG.

5 is a diagram showing voltage characteristics in the flash circuit unit shown in FIG.

6 is a diagram showing waveforms during operation of a main part of the strobe circuit unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of a camera with a built-in strobe, which is used together with the strobe device for increasing the lighting of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a characteristic curve showing a change in light emission time with respect to a Gv value ΔGv of a difference based on a full light emission value at a charging voltage in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing characteristics of light emission control of a built-in flash and characteristics of light emission control of a built-in strobe when an external strobe is required to be used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a combination of a camera with a built-in strobe and a strobe device for additional lighting, which employs a light emission control method of the strobe control device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a flash unit for increasing light is attached to a camera.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a flash control device for a camera as a third embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of a camera with a built-in strobe, which is used together with a strobe device for increasing the number of lights in a third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a shooting sequence “REL” of the flash control device of the camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a shooting sequence “REL” of the flash control device of the camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a shooting sequence “REL” of the flash control device of the camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a shooting sequence “SHUTR” of the flash control device for a camera of the first embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Battery power source, 2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 20, 22,
23 ... Transistor, 5 ... Main transformer, 6, 7, 1
9 ... Diode, 8 ... Main capacitor, 9 ... Trigger coil, 10 ... Xe tube, 11 ... IGBT, 12, 13, 2
1, 24 ... Resistor, 14 ... Comparator, 15 ... Phototransistor, 16, 25 ... Capacitor, 31 ... Appropriate light amount calculation unit, 32 ... Difference calculation unit, 33 ... Emission time control unit, 34 ... Full emission amount storage unit, 35 ... Differential output / light emission time storage unit, 36
... Strobe circuit, 37 ... Full light emission amount setting section, 38 ... Extra light strobe use detection section.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] February 15, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Further, in the method according to JP-A-1-178944 discloses a necessary mechanism for setting the camera aperture value and film speed for light measurement to increase lamp flash device,
The complicated operation makes it inconvenient for general users.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A camera which receives the light emission of a built-in strobe of a camera body and controls the light emission of an external strobe device for increasing the number of lights by this light emission, and a computing means for computing a proper light emission amount of the built-in strobe, A storage unit that stores a full flash amount of the built-in flash and a flash time required to perform a predetermined amount of underflash for the full flash, the stored full flash amount, and the calculated appropriateness. Difference calculation means for calculating a difference with the light emission amount; light emission control means for controlling the light emission time of the built-in strobe according to the light emission time stored in the storage means for the difference calculated by the difference calculation means; When the use of the external strobe is detected by the detection means for detecting that photographing is performed using the external strobe device for increasing the number of lights, Changing means for changing the light emission amount at the time of full light emission stored in the storage means to a predetermined amount larger than the light emission amount of the built-in strobe, and operating the difference calculation means and the light emission control means. A strobe control device for a camera, which is characterized by being provided. 2. A camera that receives the light emission of a built-in strobe of a camera body and controls the light emission of an external strobe device for increasing the light by the light emission, the calculating means calculating a proper light emission amount of the built-in strobe, The first to show the relationship between the amount of light emitted from the built-in flash and the light emission time
Table, and a storage means for storing a second table showing the relationship between the light emission amount and the light emission time of the external strobe device, and detection for detecting shooting using the external strobe device for increasing the light emission. Means for controlling the light emission according to the first table when the built-in strobe is used, and according to the second table when the detection means detects that the external strobe device is used. A flash control device for a camera, comprising: a light emission control unit for controlling.