JPH08152551A - Photoelectric transducing device and camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To properly and greatly decrease the number of signal lines between circuit modules, to facilitate mounting, and to improve the reliability by performing storage control through signal lines which are less than storage type sensors to be brought under the storage control. CONSTITUTION: Outputs of respective monitor circuits 57-59 are supplied to a maximum value sequential output circuit 68, which selects the output value S1 of the monitor circuit 57 with the highest output as an SMONITOR signal and inputs it to an AGC judging circuit 69. The output S1 of the monitor circuit 57 increases with a storage time and when it reaches a specific value within a certain specific time, the AGC judging circuit 69 outputs a storage stop signal STOP to a maximum line selecting circuit 67. The maximum value line selecting circuit 67 outputs a storage stop signal STOP1 to the memory circuit 54 and composing circuit 60 of a line where the SMONITOR is currently outputted, namely, the line that the monitor circuit 57 corresponding to the line sensor 51 belongs to. Once the signal STOP1 is received, the storage signal of the line sensor 51 is transferred to the memory circuit 54.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photoelectric conversion device used in an optical device such as a camera, and more particularly to a photoelectric conversion device of a type for controlling a stored signal using a storage type sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Photoelectric conversion devices using a plurality of storage sensors are widely used in optical equipment such as video cameras and still cameras. For example, a storage-type sensor for detecting a subject image is used in a part of an automatic focusing device of a still camera. In using such a storage type sensor, various methods have been proposed for limiting the stored signal to a predetermined amount.

Referring to FIG. 16, an outline of the detection unit of the automatic focusing apparatus used in the conventional still camera will be described below.

Reference numerals 51 to 53 are accumulation type line sensors, and 57 to 59 correspond to the corresponding line sensors 51 to 51.
It is a monitor circuit that detects a state where light is incident on 53. The line sensor 5 is output by the outputs of the monitor circuits 57 to 59.
Control of the accumulation signals 1 to 53 is performed. Monitor circuit 57-
The outputs S1 to S3 of 59 are A of 133 to 135, respectively.
When the GC judgment circuit is entered and the outputs S1 to S3 reach a predetermined value within a predetermined time, the AGC judgment circuits 133 to 135 output the accumulation stop signals STOP1 to STOP3 to the line sensors 5 respectively.
The line sensor 51 which outputs to 1 to 53 and receives this signal
˜53 transfer the accumulated signal at that time to the memory circuits 54 to 56.

After the line sensors 51 to 53 receive the accumulation stop signal and transfer the accumulation signal, the memory circuit 54
The accumulated signals stored in 56 to 56 are sequentially output through the output buffers 63 to 65 according to DRIVE-CLOCK output from the read control circuit 136, and are amplified by the amplifier 66. A with 71 A / D converters
After the D / D conversion, various kinds of signal processing are performed. At this time, the signal amplification rate of the amplifier 66 is determined by the AGC determination circuit 133.
To 135 are determined by the parameters of the predetermined time and the predetermined value used when the above-mentioned storage control is performed, and the read control circuit 136 corresponds to each of the line sensors 51 to 53 at the time of reading the storage signal. Is set.

[0006]

In the above-mentioned conventional example, when the circuit is modularized as shown by the dotted areas A and B in FIG. 16, the following problems occur.

(1) The number of signal lines is twice the number of line sensors because there are as many two signals as the monitor signal and the accumulation stop signal exchanged between the modules in the areas A and B. However, it has a drawback that the number of signal lines doubles as the number of line sensors increases.

In this state, the circuit module I
When the number of pins of the IC increases when the number is changed to C, and the number of signal lines between the A region and the B region increases, the number of wirings also increases, and not only the occupation ratio of the wiring portion of the board area increases, but also mounting is performed. There is also a drawback in that the number of soldering points increases and the reliability decreases when it is attempted.

(2) An AGC determination circuit must be prepared for each line sensor, and if the number of line sensors increases, the scale of the circuit module in the B area becomes large and the cost increases. Was there.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 is, in a plurality of storage-type sensors, a signal line which is smaller in number than the number of storage-type sensors to be storage-controlled. Provided is a photoelectric conversion device characterized by performing storage control.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 2 has a plurality of accumulation type line sensors, a monitor circuit for monitoring the accumulation state of the accumulation type line sensors, and an output of the monitor circuit with a predetermined value. A determination circuit for comparing and determining the accumulation stop of the accumulation type sensor and outputting an accumulation stop signal, a memory circuit for storing the accumulation signal of the accumulation type line sensor when the accumulation is stopped, and a reading of the accumulation signal from the memory circuit A read control circuit for controlling and A / D for A / D converting the read value
In the D converter, there is provided a photoelectric conversion device having a circuit (maximum value sequential output circuit) for converting outputs of the plurality of monitor circuits into one output.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 3 provides a photoelectric conversion device having the structure of claim 2,
The photoelectric conversion device is characterized in that the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 4 provides a photoelectric conversion device having the structure of claim 2,
The photoelectric conversion device is characterized in that the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 5 provides a photoelectric conversion device having the structure of claim 2,
The monitor circuit monitors an output of a sensor different from the storage-type line sensor that is storage-controlled, and provides a photoelectric conversion device. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 6 is the photoelectric conversion device having the configuration of claim 2, wherein the monitor circuit sets a maximum amplitude value that is a peak value or a bottom value of the storage type line sensor. Provided is a photoelectric conversion device characterized by outputting.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 7 provides a photoelectric conversion device having the structure of claim 2,
The monitor circuit outputs a difference between a peak value and a bottom value of the storage type line sensor, and provides a photoelectric conversion device.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 8 provides a photoelectric conversion device having the structure of claim 2,
The photoelectric conversion device is characterized in that the accumulation stop signal output from the determination circuit is assigned to the accumulation type line sensor to be stopped once via one signal line.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 9 provides a photoelectric conversion device having the structure of claim 2,
The photoelectric conversion device is characterized in that the accumulation stop signal output from the determination circuit is output for each of the accumulation type line sensors.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the photoelectric conversion device having the configuration of the second aspect, the determination circuit, the read control circuit, and the A
The / D converter provides a photoelectric conversion device characterized by being configured by a microcomputer.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 11 has a plurality of accumulation type line sensors, a monitor circuit for monitoring the accumulation state of the accumulation type line sensors, and an output of the monitor circuit with a predetermined value. A determination circuit for comparing and determining the accumulation stop of the accumulation type sensor and outputting an accumulation stop signal, a memory circuit for storing the accumulation signal of the accumulation type line sensor when the accumulation is stopped, and a reading of the accumulation signal from the memory circuit Read control circuit for controlling and A / D for A / D converting read value
A D converter and a camera having a built-in photoelectric conversion unit having a circuit (maximum value sequential output circuit) for converting outputs of the plurality of monitor circuits into one output.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 12 is characterized in that, in the photoelectric conversion unit built into the camera having the structure of claim 11, the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit. Provided is a camera including a photoelectric conversion unit.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 13 is characterized in that, in the photoelectric conversion unit built into the camera having the structure of claim 11, the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit. Provided is a camera including a photoelectric conversion unit.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the photoelectric conversion unit built into the camera having the structure of the eleventh aspect, the monitor circuit is a sensor different from the accumulation-type line sensor that is accumulation-controlled. There is provided a camera having a built-in photoelectric conversion unit, which monitors the output of the.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 15 is the photoelectric conversion part built in the camera having the structure of claim 11, wherein the monitor circuit is a peak value or a bottom value of the storage type line sensor. Provided is a camera with a built-in photoelectric conversion unit, which outputs a certain maximum amplitude value.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 16 is the photoelectric conversion unit built into a camera having the structure of claim 11, wherein the monitor circuit provides a peak value and a bottom value of the storage type line sensor. To provide a camera having a built-in photoelectric conversion unit.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the photoelectric conversion unit with a built-in camera having the configuration according to the eleventh aspect, the accumulation stop signal output from the determination circuit is one signal line at a time. There is provided a camera having a built-in photoelectric conversion unit, which is assigned to the storage-type line sensor to be stopped via the camera.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 18 is, in the photoelectric conversion unit built into the camera having the structure of claim 11, the accumulation stop signal output from the determination circuit is the accumulation-type line sensor. Provided is a camera having a built-in photoelectric conversion unit, which is output every time.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a nineteenth aspect of the present invention provides a photoelectric conversion unit built into the camera having the configuration of the eleventh aspect, wherein the determination circuit, the read control circuit, and the A / D converter are micro. Provided is a camera including a photoelectric conversion unit, which is configured by a computer.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 20 is such that a plurality of accumulation type line sensors, a monitor circuit for monitoring the accumulation state of the accumulation type line sensors, and an output of the monitor circuit is set to a predetermined value. A determination circuit for comparing and determining the accumulation stop of the accumulation type sensor and outputting an accumulation stop signal, a memory circuit for storing the accumulation signal of the accumulation type line sensor when the accumulation is stopped, and a reading of the accumulation signal from the memory circuit Read control circuit for controlling and A / D for A / D converting read value
And a D converter, which has a circuit (maximum value sequential output circuit) for converting the outputs of the plurality of monitor circuits into one output.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 21 is the detection device for automatic focus adjustment of a camera having the structure of claim 20, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit. The present invention provides a detection device for automatic focusing of a camera.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 22 is the detection device for automatic focus adjustment of a camera having the structure of claim 20, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit. The present invention provides a detection device for automatic focusing of a camera.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 23 is the detection device for automatic focus adjustment of a camera having the structure of claim 20, wherein the monitor circuit is the accumulation-type line sensor whose accumulation is controlled. Provided is a detection device for camera automatic focusing, which is characterized by monitoring outputs of different sensors.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 24 is the detection device for automatic focus adjustment of a camera having the structure of claim 20, wherein the monitor circuit has a peak value or a bottom value of the accumulation type line sensor. Provided is a detection device for automatic focusing of a camera, which is characterized by outputting a maximum amplitude value which is a value.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 25 is the detection device for automatic focus adjustment of a camera having the structure of claim 20, wherein the monitor circuit has a peak value and a bottom value of the accumulation type line sensor. Provided is a detection device for camera automatic focus adjustment, which is characterized by outputting a difference from a value.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 26 is an automatic focus adjustment detection device for a camera having the structure of claim 20, wherein the accumulation stop signal output from the determination circuit is one at a time. Provided is a detection device for automatic focusing of a camera, which is assigned to the storage-type line sensor to be stopped via a signal line.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 27 is an automatic focus adjustment detection device for a camera having the structure of claim 20, wherein the accumulation stop signal output from the judgment circuit is the accumulation type signal. Provided is a detection device for camera automatic focus adjustment, which is output for each line sensor.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 28 is the detection device for automatic focus adjustment of a camera having the structure of claim 20, wherein the judgment circuit, the readout control circuit and the A / D converter are provided. The present invention provides a detection device for automatic focusing of a camera, which is characterized by comprising a microcomputer.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 29 monitors a signal accumulation state in each of the plurality of storage type line sensors and each line sensor according to the amount of light incident on each line sensor, and each sensor. A selection circuit (maximum value sequential output circuit) that sequentially selects and outputs as the accumulated signal of the target line sensor from the largest one of the signals accumulated in
A transfer circuit that transfers a signal accumulated in the target line sensor in response to a stop signal, a first module having an output line of the selection circuit and an input line of the stop signal, and sequentially selected from the selection circuit The output that is output as the accumulation signal of the target line sensor is detected independently for each output to each target line sensor, and the accumulation time control is performed so that the output becomes a predetermined level for each output. A storage time control circuit that sequentially outputs a stop signal at a controlled time for each output, an output line of the stop signal output from the storage time control circuit, and a storage time control circuit that inputs the output of the selection circuit A second module having an input line of the second module, and an output line of the selection circuit of the first module and a storage time control circuit of the second module. Providing the force lines, the photoelectric conversion device is characterized in that to connect the output line of the input line and the second module of the stop signal of the first module of the stop signal.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 30 is the photoelectric conversion device having the structure of claim 29, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit. I will provide a.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 31 is the photoelectric conversion device having the structure of claim 29, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit. I will provide a.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 32 provides a photoelectric conversion device having the structure of claim 29, wherein the second module is composed of a microcomputer. provide.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 33 monitors the signal storage state in each of the plurality of storage type line sensors and each line sensor according to the amount of light incident on each line sensor, A selection circuit (maximum value sequential output circuit) that sequentially selects and outputs as the accumulated signal of the target line sensor from the largest one of the signals accumulated in
A transfer circuit that transfers a signal accumulated in the target line sensor in response to a stop signal, a first module having an output line of the selection circuit and an input line of the stop signal, and sequentially selected from the selection circuit The output that is output as the accumulation signal of the target line sensor is detected independently for each output to each target line sensor, and the accumulation time control is performed so that the output becomes a predetermined level for each output. A storage time control circuit that sequentially outputs a stop signal at a controlled time for each output, an output line of the stop signal output from the storage time control circuit, and a storage time control circuit that inputs the output of the selection circuit A second module having an input line of the second module, and an output line of the selection circuit of the first module and a storage time control circuit of the second module. Providing the force lines, the input lines and a camera with a built-in photoelectric conversion unit, characterized in that to connect the output line of the second module of the stop signal of the first module of the stop signal.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 34 is characterized in that, in the photoelectric conversion section built into the camera having the structure of claim 33, the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit. Provided is a camera including a photoelectric conversion unit.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 35 is characterized in that, in the photoelectric conversion part built in the camera having the structure of claim 33, the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit. Provided is a camera including a photoelectric conversion unit.

According to a thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the photoelectric conversion unit with a built-in camera having the configuration of the thirty-third aspect, the second module is configured by a microcomputer. A camera with a built-in converter is provided.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 37 is directed to a plurality of storage type line sensors and to monitor the signal storage state in each line sensor according to the amount of light incident on each line sensor, A selection circuit (maximum value sequential output circuit) that sequentially selects and outputs as the accumulated signal of the target line sensor from the largest one of the signals accumulated in
A transfer circuit that transfers a signal accumulated in the target line sensor in response to a stop signal, a first module having an output line of the selection circuit and an input line of the stop signal, and sequentially selected from the selection circuit The output that is output as the accumulation signal of the target line sensor is detected independently for each output to each target line sensor, and the accumulation time control is performed so that the output becomes a predetermined level for each output. A storage time control circuit that sequentially outputs a stop signal at a controlled time for each output, an output line of the stop signal output from the storage time control circuit, and a storage time control circuit that inputs the output of the selection circuit A second module having an input line of the second module, and an output line of the selection circuit of the first module and a storage time control circuit of the second module. Providing a force line, the input line and the automatic focusing detection device for a camera, characterized in that the connection between the output line of the second module of the stop signal of the first module of the stop signal.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 38 is characterized in that in the camera automatic focus adjustment detection device having the constitution of claim 37, the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit. The present invention provides a detection device for automatic focusing of a camera.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 39 is an automatic focus adjustment detection device for a camera having the structure of claim 37, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit. The present invention provides a detection device for automatic focusing of a camera.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 40 is the detection device for automatic focusing of a camera having the structure of claim 37, wherein the second module is composed of a microcomputer. A detection device for automatic focusing of a camera is provided.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention of claim 41 monitors a signal storage state in a plurality of storage type line sensors and each line sensor according to the amount of light incident on each line sensor, and each sensor A selection circuit (maximum value sequential output circuit) that sequentially selects and outputs as the accumulated signal of the target line sensor from the largest one of the signals accumulated in
A transfer circuit that is provided corresponding to each line sensor and that transfers the signal accumulated in the corresponding line sensor in response to the stop signal for the target line sensor,
A first module having a plurality of input lines for independently inputting a stop signal to the output line of the selection circuit and each transfer circuit, and an accumulated signal of a target line sensor sequentially selected from the selection circuit The output that is output as is detected for each output to each target line sensor, the accumulation time is controlled so that the output becomes a predetermined level for each output, and the stop signal is output at the time controlled for each output. And a plurality of output lines for transmitting a stop signal from the circuit to each transfer circuit provided corresponding to the target line sensor,
A second module having an input line of a storage time control circuit for inputting the output of the selection circuit,
The output line of the selection circuit of the module, the input line of the storage time control circuit of the second module, the input lines of the first module and the output lines of the second module corresponding to the lines are connected. A photoelectric conversion device is provided.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 42 is the photoelectric conversion device having the structure of claim 41, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit. I will provide a.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 43 is a photoelectric conversion device having the structure of claim 41, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit. I will provide a.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention of claim 44 monitors a signal storage state in each of the plurality of storage type line sensors and each line sensor according to the amount of light incident on each line sensor, and each sensor. A selection circuit (maximum value sequential output circuit) that sequentially selects and outputs as the accumulated signal of the target line sensor from the largest one of the signals accumulated in
A transfer circuit that is provided corresponding to each line sensor and that transfers the signal accumulated in the corresponding line sensor in response to the stop signal for the target line sensor,
A first module having a plurality of input lines for independently inputting a stop signal to the output line of the selection circuit and each transfer circuit, and an accumulated signal of a target line sensor sequentially selected from the selection circuit The output that is output as is detected for each output to each target line sensor, the accumulation time is controlled so that the output becomes a predetermined level for each output, and the stop signal is output at the time controlled for each output. And a plurality of output lines for transmitting a stop signal from the circuit to each transfer circuit provided corresponding to the target line sensor,
A second module having an input line of a storage time control circuit for inputting the output of the selection circuit,
The output line of the selection circuit of the module, the input line of the storage time control circuit of the second module, the input lines of the first module and the output lines of the second module corresponding to the lines are connected. Provided is a camera including a photoelectric conversion unit.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 45 is characterized in that, in the photoelectric conversion unit built into the camera having the structure of claim 44, the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit. Provided is a camera including a photoelectric conversion unit.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 46 is characterized in that, in the photoelectric conversion section built into the camera having the structure of claim 44, the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit. Provided is a camera including a photoelectric conversion unit.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 47 monitors the signal storage state in each of the plurality of storage line sensors and each line sensor according to the amount of light incident on each line sensor, A selection circuit (maximum value sequential output circuit) that sequentially selects and outputs as the accumulated signal of the target line sensor from the largest one of the signals accumulated in
A transfer circuit that is provided corresponding to each line sensor and that transfers the signal accumulated in the corresponding line sensor in response to the stop signal for the target line sensor,
A first module having a plurality of input lines for independently inputting a stop signal to the output line of the selection circuit and each transfer circuit, and an accumulated signal of a target line sensor sequentially selected from the selection circuit The output that is output as is detected for each output to each target line sensor, the accumulation time is controlled so that the output becomes a predetermined level for each output, and the stop signal is output at the time controlled for each output. And a plurality of output lines for transmitting a stop signal from the circuit to each transfer circuit provided corresponding to the target line sensor,
A second module having an input line of a storage time control circuit for inputting the output of the selection circuit,
The output line of the selection circuit of the module, the input line of the storage time control circuit of the second module, the input lines of the first module and the output lines of the second module corresponding to the lines are connected. A detection device for automatic focusing of a camera is provided.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 48 is the automatic focus adjustment detecting device for a camera having the structure of claim 47, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit. The present invention provides a detection device for automatic focusing of a camera.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 49 is the detection device for automatic focus adjustment of a camera having the structure of claim 47, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit. The present invention provides a detection device for automatic focusing of a camera.

[0058]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below by taking a camera using a storage type line sensor as an example.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an electric control block of a camera, which is equipped with a focus detection device using a storage type line sensor.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a microcomputer, 2 is a lens control circuit, 3 is a liquid crystal display circuit, 4 is a switch sense circuit, 5 is a flash emission control circuit, 6 is a focus detection unit, 7 is a photometric circuit, and 8 is. A shutter control circuit, 9 is a feeding circuit.

The microcomputer 1 controls the operation of each part of the camera. The lens control circuit 2 communicates with the microcomputer 1, controls a monitor (not shown) according to the contents of communication, and controls a range ring and an aperture of a taking lens (not shown). On the other hand, lens microcomputer focal length information, distance information, best focus correction information, and other various correction information are transferred to the microcomputer 1.

The liquid crystal display circuit 3 receives the photographing information of the camera such as the shutter speed and the aperture control value from the microcomputer 1 and displays the liquid crystal.

The switch sense circuit 4 is in a state of a release switch SW1 which is interlocked with the first stroke for starting the photographing preparation of the release button, and other switches (not shown) for determining the exposure mode and the switch for determining the automatic focus adjustment mode. To read. Every time the switch is switched, communication is performed and the switch information is transferred to the microcomputer 1.

The strobe light emission control circuit 5 is a circuit for controlling strobe light emission and dimming, and is a circuit for storing electric charge for light emission, a xenon tube as a light emitting portion, a trigger circuit, a circuit for stopping light emission, It consists of circuits such as a film surface reflected light metering circuit and an integrating circuit.

The focus detection unit 6 is a line sensor SN.
It is composed of an optical system mechanism including S and its drive circuit. SNS
Are three pairs of sensor arrays SNS-1a, SNS-1b, SNS
-2a and SNS-2b, and SNS-3a and SNS-3b. The sensor drive circuit receives the sensor accumulation start signal from the microcomputer 1 and starts the accumulation of charges of the line sensor,
When it reaches a predetermined level, the line sensor accumulation is terminated, and the fact that the accumulation is terminated is notified to the microcomputer 1. Next, when a command for reading the sensor value is transmitted from the microcomputer 1 to the sensor driving circuit, the sensor driving circuit outputs a sensor driving signal to the line sensor SNS, and the microcomputer 1 reads the signal stored in the line sensor, AD conversion is performed in synchronization with the sensor drive signal. From the AD-converted image signal of the subject, the position where the subject is focused by the taking lens is detected by calculation by the existing phase difference detection method.

The photometric circuit 7 divides the screen into a plurality of areas, TTL photometrically measures the luminance of the subject in each area, and sends the data to the microcomputer 1.

The shutter control circuit 8 responds to the control signal from the microcomputer 1 to control a shutter unit (not shown), that is, to perform leading curtain traveling, trailing curtain traveling, and shutter charging.

The feeding circuit 9 controls the film feeding motor in response to the control signal from the microcomputer 1 to wind and rewind the film.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the microcomputer 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the operation of the entire camera will be described based on this flowchart.

When the operation is started, the process starts from step 201.

[Step 201] It is determined whether or not the release switch SW1 for starting photometry / distance measurement is ON.
If so, the process proceeds to step 202. If not, the process returns to step 201, and the determination is repeated until the release switch SW1 is turned on.

[Step 202] The photometric circuit 7 for determining the exposure amount is operated to measure the light amount of the object, the photometry is performed, and the process proceeds to step 203.

[Step 203] In order to detect the focus state of the subject and move the photographing lens to the focal position, the focus detection unit 6 is operated and the lens control circuit 2 moves the photographing lens to the focal position to focus automatically. Focus adjustment is performed, and the process proceeds to step 204.

[Step 204] Release switch SW
It is determined whether or not 2 is ON. If it is ON, the process proceeds to step 205, and if it is not ON, the process returns to step 201.

[Step 205] The aperture of the lens is stopped down to the aperture value determined on the basis of the photometric value in step 202 to perform the release operation, and the process proceeds to step 206.

[Step 206] The mirror of the TTL single-lens reflex camera is raised, and the process proceeds to step 207. In steps 207 to 209, the shutter operation is performed.

[Step 207] In order to perform the exposure operation, the shutter control circuit 8 is controlled to run the front curtain.

[Step 208] Waiting for the shutter time determined by the photometry in step 202.

[Step 209] The trailing curtain of the shutter is started to end the exposure.

[Step 210] The mirror raised in step 206 is moved down to a predetermined position.

[Step 211] The aperture stopped down in step 205 is returned to the open side.

[Step 212] The feeding circuit 9 is operated to wind up the film by one frame, and the process returns to step 201.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the focus adjustment operation in step 203 of FIG. 2, and the operation of the automatic focus adjustment will be described based on this flow chart.

[Step 301] The sensor signal of the focus detection unit 6 is read.

[Step 302] Based on the output state of the two images of the read sensor signals, the phase difference between the two images is detected based on the phase difference detection method.

[Step 303] The defocus amount of the subject is calculated from the phase difference obtained in step 302.

[Step 304] If the defocus amount obtained in step 303 is within the predetermined value, it is determined that the subject is in focus and the automatic focus adjustment is completed. If it exceeds the predetermined value, it is determined that the subject is not in focus. Then, the process proceeds to step 305.

[Step 305] The lens drive amount is calculated from the defocus amount and the lens type information obtained in step 303.

[Step 306] The lens drive amount is transmitted to the lens control circuit 2, and the distance ring of the lens is driven by a predetermined amount.

<Embodiment 1> FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a circuit that contributes to the reading of the sensor signal in step 301 in the flow chart showing the operation of the automatic focus adjustment shown in FIG. 3, which is the main embodiment of the present invention. is there.

In FIG. 4, reference numerals 51 to 53 are accumulation type line sensors, 54 to 56 are memory circuits, 57 to 59 are monitor circuits, 60 to 62 are combining circuits, 63 to 65 are output buffers, 66 is an amplifier. 67 is a maximum value line selection circuit, 68
Is a maximum value sequential output circuit, 69 is an AGC determination circuit, 70 is a read control circuit, and 71 is an A / D converter.

The line sensor 51 uses a photodiode, CCD or the like as a detecting element, but the line sensor S of the focus detecting unit in the camera electric control block diagram of FIG. 1 is used.
It corresponds to two line sensors of NS-1a and SNS-1b, and is represented as one line in FIG. In the normal camera phase detection method, two corresponding line sensors
They are treated as one group and used for automatic focus adjustment after obtaining the phase difference between the subject images of the two line sensors. In FIG. 1, the line sensor 52 corresponds to SNS-2a and SNS-2b, and the line sensor 53 corresponds to SNS-3a and SNS-3b. When a predetermined amount of light is accumulated in the line sensors 51 to 53, the accumulation is stopped, the accumulation signal is transferred to the memory circuits 54 to 56, and is stored for each line sensor and each pixel. The monitor circuits 57 to 59 are line sensors 51 to 5 respectively.
The amount of incident light that hits the light source 3 is monitored, and a monitoring photodiode is normally installed in close proximity to the line sensors 51 to 53. One monitor photodiode is provided for each of the line sensors 51 to 53 so as to indicate an average value of the amount of light incident on the line sensors 51 to 53. The synthesizing circuits 60 to 62 receive an accumulation start signal from the read control circuit 70 and send signals to the line sensors 51 to 53 and monitor circuits 57 to 59 to start accumulation from the reset state. Further, the maximum value line selection circuit 67 receives an accumulation stop signal and sends a signal for stopping the accumulation of the line sensors 51 to 53 and the monitor circuits 57 to 59 and putting it in the reset state. The output buffers 63 to 65 are memory circuits 54 to 56.
Buffer the output of each. The gain of the amplifier 66 is set by the read control circuit 70. The maximum value sequential output circuit 68 preferentially outputs the largest output of the accumulated signal among the outputs of the monitor circuits 57 to 59 to the AGC determination circuit 69. The output signal name is called SMONITOR. The maximum value line selection circuit 67 receives from the maximum value sequential output circuit 68 the LINE signal indicating the line to which the monitor circuit currently output as SMONITOR belongs, and the AGC determination circuit 69 outputs the accumulation stop signal S.
It is a circuit that outputs TOP to a line corresponding to the LINE signal. The AGC determination circuit 69 determines that the SMONITOR signal output from the maximum value sequential output circuit has reached a predetermined value within a predetermined time and outputs a storage stop signal STOP. As the predetermined value, a plurality of level values are provided, and the line of which the accumulation is stopped and the information of the predetermined value are
It is transferred to the read control circuit 70. The read control circuit 70 is configured to read the memory circuits 54 to 56 at the time of reading.
The output of the DRIVE-CLOCK signal that prompts the output of the amplifier is determined, and the gain of the amplifier 66 is determined from the predetermined value when the accumulation of each line transferred from the AGC determination circuit 69 is stopped and is increased in accordance with the reading of each line. Set in the width device 66. The A / D converter 71 outputs an output V after the outputs of the line sensors 51 to 53 when the accumulation is stopped are amplified by the amplifier 66.
Receive OUT and perform A / D conversion. The A / D converted information is then used for signal processing (not shown). Dotted line portions A and B shown in FIG. 4 and FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 described later are respectively configured by modularized ICs, and the ICs are connected by the illustrated lines.

The operation of each circuit shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. START of start of accumulation of the line sensors 51 to 53 and start of monitoring of the monitor circuits 57 to 59 from the read control circuit 70
The signal is output. The START signal is synthesized by the synthesis circuit 60.
Through 62, the line sensors 51 to 53 start accumulating. The state at this time is shown by ACC1 to ACC3 in FIG. 5, and in each line, the reset state of the signal level L shifts to the storage state of the signal level H. Incident light is strong in the order of line sensor 51> line sensor 52> line sensor 53, and similarly in the monitor circuit, monitor circuit 57> monitor circuit 58> monitor circuit 59.
Take as an example the case where the light is strongly incident in the order of. The output of each monitor circuit is S1 in the monitor circuit 57 and S in the monitor circuit 58.
2. If the monitor circuit 59 sets S3, the output value S of the monitor circuit 57 having the highest output in the maximum value sequential output circuit 68 is first.
1 is selected as the SMONITOR signal and input to the AGC determination circuit 69. FIG. 5 shows the waveform of the output SMONITOR of the maximum value sequential output circuit 68. When the output S1 of the monitor circuit 57 rises with the passage of the accumulation time and reaches the predetermined value VTH1 within a predetermined time T1, the AG
The C determination circuit 69 outputs the accumulation stop signal STOP,
It is input to the maximum value line selection circuit 67. The maximum value line selection circuit 67 outputs the accumulation stop signal STOP1 to the memory circuit 54 and the synthesis circuit 60 of the line currently output as SMONITOR, that is, the line to which the monitor circuit 57 corresponding to the line sensor 51 belongs. STO
In response to the signal of P1, the accumulated signal of the line sensor 51 is transferred to the memory circuit 54. At the same time, the line sensor 51 and the monitor circuit 57 are transited from the accumulated state to the reset state by the output from the synthesizing circuit 60. As a result, the output S1 of the monitor circuit 57 becomes a no-signal level, and the maximum value sequential output circuit 68 outputs the output S2 of the monitor circuit 58, which has the next largest output of the monitor circuit 57, as SMONITOR. Next, as in the case of the monitor circuit 57, the AGC determination is performed, and when the output of the monitor circuit 58 reaches the predetermined value VTH1 within the predetermined time T1, the AGC determination circuit 69 outputs S.
The TOP signal is output. In the maximum value line selection circuit 67, the line of the monitor circuit 58 corresponding to the line sensor 52 is currently selected and the signal of STOP2 is output. In response to the signal of STOP2, the accumulated signal is transferred from the line sensor 52 to the memory circuit 55, and the accumulated sensor stop signal from the combination circuit 61 resets the line sensor 52 and the monitor circuit 58. Finally, the output S3 of the monitor circuit 59 corresponding to the line sensor 53 is selected as the output SMONITOR of the maximum value sequential output circuit 68. In the example of FIG. 5, the output of the monitor circuit 59 does not reach the predetermined value VTH1 within the time T1 and the low level predetermined value VTH1 is reached.
It is determined whether or not TH2 is reached within a predetermined time T2.
This is performed by the C determination circuit 69, and when it reaches VTH2, the STOP signal is output. The predetermined value VTH2
However, if the value is 1/2 of the predetermined value VTH1, the gain of the amplifier 66 is doubled when the reading is performed. The STOP signal is input to the maximum value line selection circuit 67, and the STOP3 signal is output to the line to which the monitor circuit 59 corresponding to the line sensor 53 belongs. The accumulated signal of the line sensor 53 is transferred to the memory circuit 56,
The line sensor 53 and the monitor circuit 59 stop accumulating and enter a reset state.

After the accumulation control is performed as described above,
The read control circuit 70 reads the accumulated signals of the line sensors 51 to 53. When the read control circuit 70 first outputs DRIVE-CLOCK to the memory circuit 54, the memory circuit 54 outputs the stored accumulation signal of the line sensor 51 according to the output. The accumulated signal is amplified by the amplifier 66 through the output buffer 63 and then input to the A / D converter 71. Next, the memory circuit 55 and the memory circuit 56 are similarly subjected to the read control. The monitor circuit 59 corresponding to the memory circuit 56 does not reach the predetermined value VTH1 in the time T1 during the AGC control,
Since the predetermined value VTH2, which is ½ of VTH1, is reached within 2 hours, the value of the widening unit 66 is set to a value twice the predetermined widening rate in the preceding two cases. By doing so, the level of the signal input to the A / D converter 71 is set to the level of each line sensor 5
All of 1 to 53 are within the same range of values.

The reason why the AGC determination circuit 69 prepares a plurality of predetermined values is to prevent an unduly long accumulation time. Although the S / N is slightly disadvantageous by increasing the amplification rate at the time of reading, there is a great advantage that the time can be reduced and the responsiveness can be improved.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the monitor circuit.

In FIG. 6, 81-83 are monitoring photodiodes, 84-86 are semiconductor switches, 87-89 are operational amplifiers, 90-92 are diodes, 93-95 are comparators, 96 is a maximum value line selection circuit, and 97-. Reference numeral 99 is a photocurrent integrating capacitor. The monitor photodiodes 81 to 83 are connected to the line sensors 51 to 5 as described above.
It is installed adjacent to 3. Semiconductor switches 84-86
When the switch is OFF, the photocurrent integration capacitor 97
~ 99 is in the integration state, and when it is ON, it is in the reset state. The semiconductor switches 84 to 86 are controlled by the combining circuits 60 to 62 in FIG. 4, respectively. Operational amplifier 8
7 to 89, the photocurrent integrating capacitors 97 to 99 are connected to the non-inverting input terminals, and the diodes 90 to 92 are provided on the output side.
Is connected. Opto-amps 87 to 89 and diodes 90 to 92 are used to integrate respective photocurrent integrating capacitors 97 to 99.
The maximum value of the amount of electric charge stored in SMONITOR
Is output as This function corresponds to the function of the maximum value sequential output circuit 68 in FIG.

The comparators 93 to 95 are the operational amplifier 8
The outputs 7 to 89 are compared with a predetermined value to detect which line is currently in SMONITOR. For example,
If the output value of the photocurrent integrating capacitor 97 is larger than the other photocurrent integrating capacitors, the value of the photocurrent integrating capacitor 97 is output to SMONITOR, and the operational amplifier 87 performs normal feedback loop control. . on the other hand,
The SMO is connected to the inverting input terminals of the other operational amplifiers 88 and 89.
The voltage value of NITOR is applied. Since this voltage value is larger than the voltage value input to the non-inverting input terminal, the operational amplifier 8
The output of 8,89 indicates the lower limit value that can be output.
This state is identified by the comparators 93 to 95. In this example, the comparator 93 is at the H level and the comparator 9
It can be seen that the lines 4, 95 show the output value of the L level and the line showing the H level is the line selected as SMONITOR. The maximum value line selection circuit 96 that receives the output of the comparator is functionally the same as the maximum value line selection circuit in FIG. 4, and sends a STOP signal to the line indicating the H level when SMONITOR reaches a predetermined value. Do things.

The circuits composed of the monitor photodiodes 81 to 83, the photocurrent integrating capacitors 97 to 99, and the semiconductor switches 84 to 86 correspond to the monitor circuits 57 to 59 in FIG. 4, respectively.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The monitor circuits 57 to 59 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
Is an example of output to the positive side, and accordingly, the maximum value sequential output circuit 68 also adopts a circuit configuration for detecting the peak value. On the other hand, FIG. 9 shows an example when the monitor circuits 57 to 59 are output to the negative side. The components are shown in FIG. 6 and FIG.
All match, but the circuit connection statuses are different.

By the start of integration of the monitor circuits 57 to 59,
The semiconductor switches 84 to 86 are switched from ON to OFF, and the photocurrent integrating capacitor 97 that was in the reset state
To 99 are charged in the direction of the negative side of the power supply voltage by the photocurrents of the monitoring photodiodes 81 to 83. The voltage of the photocurrent integrating capacitors 97 to 99 is equal to that of the operational amplifier 8
In the circuit for detecting the bottom value composed of 7 to 89 and the diodes 90 to 92, the voltage value of the photoelectric current integrating capacitors 97 to 99 which becomes the maximum on the most negative side of the power supply voltage is the SMO.
Selectively output as NITOR. AGC shown in Figure 4
The determination circuit 69 determines the voltage value having the downward slope to be a predetermined value V.
It suffices to compare and judge with TH1 and VTH2.

For example, as in the first embodiment, the charge amounts of the photocurrent integrating capacitors 97 to 99 are 97>98> 99.
If the data is accumulated in the order of, the output state of SMONITOR is as shown in FIG. In this example, since the charge amount of the photocurrent integration capacitor 97 is the largest, the non-inverting input terminal voltage of the operational amplifier 87 is different from that of the other operational amplifiers 88,
Since it is on the negative side of the non-inverting input terminal voltage of 89, feedback loop control is performed through the operational amplifier 87 and the diode 90, and the non-inverting input terminal voltage of the operational amplifier 87 and the SMO.
The NITOR outputs match. Other operational amplifiers 88, 8
9 is non-inverting input terminal voltage> inverting input terminal voltage, and the outputs of the operational amplifiers 88 and 89 are pasted to the maximum value that can be output. Therefore, the comparator 93 is at the H level,
The comparators 94 and 95 indicate L level output values. The output value is input to the maximum value line selection circuit 96, and the SMO
When the value of NITOR reaches a predetermined value, the STOP signal is assigned to the line showing the current H level.

Operational amplifiers 87-89, diodes 90-
The bottom detection circuit composed of 92 is connected to the maximum value sequential output circuit 68 in FIG.
˜83, the photocurrent integrating capacitors 97 to 99, and the semiconductor switches 84 to 86 correspond to the monitor circuits 57 to 59 in FIG. 4, respectively.

<Embodiment 3> FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. Reference numerals 101 to 103 denote photodiodes, three of which are photodiodes of pixels which form the line sensor 51. 101 to 103 are photodiodes, and 104
To 106 are semiconductor switches, 107 to 109 are photocurrent integrating capacitors, 110 to 112 are operational amplifiers, 113
˜115 are diodes.

Photodiodes 101 to 103, photocurrent integrating capacitors 107 to 109, and semiconductor switch 10.
4 to 106 constitute a part of the monitor circuit of the line sensor 51. A peak output circuit is configured by the operational amplifiers 110 to 112 and the diodes 113 to 115, and the peak output in each pixel of the line sensor 51 is obtained. The operational amplifiers 110 to 112 and the diodes 113 to 115 form the monitor circuit 57 of FIG. The output of the monitor circuit 57 is three in this example, but the peak output of these is input to the maximum value sequential output circuit 68 as S _i .
In FIG. 10, the output of the pixel showing the peak value in the line sensor 51 is used for the accumulation control as the monitor output of the line sensor 51. In FIG. 8, the pixels of the line sensor are taken in the horizontal direction and the signal values are taken in the vertical direction, and the values of the respective pixels of one line sensor are shown as waveforms. The peak value is the value shown as PEAK in the figure. The line sensors 52 and 53 and the monitor circuits 58 and 59 have the same configuration. When this circuit is used, the output of the line sensor is used directly rather than the case where the photodiode is provided separately from the line sensor as in the first embodiment (FIG. 6) and the second embodiment (FIG. 9). There is a merit that a monitor circuit can be configured that closely matches the state of the amount of incident light. For example, when a photodiode is separately provided, an average value of the waveform shown in FIG. 8 is obtained, and if the storage control is performed with this value, the peak value of the line sensor may be saturated. There is, but Figure 1
When the same photodiode as that of the line sensor such as 0 is also used for the monitor circuit, accurate control can be performed without the above-mentioned drawbacks.

In operation, the peak outputs of the line sensors 51 to 53 are output as S _i, are input to the maximum value sequential output circuit 68 shown in FIG. 4, and are sequentially output as SMONITOR in descending order of output value. To SMONIT
Upon receiving the OR, the AGC determination circuit 69 generates a STOP signal when it reaches a predetermined value within a predetermined time. After that, the accumulation control of the line sensors 51 to 53 is performed similarly to the first embodiment.

<Embodiment 4> A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.
An example will be described.

As compared with the third embodiment, each line sensor 51
Not only the peak output of ~ 53, but also the bottom output is acquired,
An example in which the accumulation control is performed by the difference amount [(peak value)-(bottom value)] is shown. 11 has a circuit configuration very similar to that of FIG. 10, and the description of the same elements will be omitted. The difference is that 116 to 118 operational amplifiers and 119 to 121
The diode and the subtractor 122 are added.

Operational amplifiers 116 to 118 and diode 1
19 to 121 form a bottom detection circuit.

According to the circuit configuration of FIG. 11, the lowest value of the output waveform of the line sensor shown in FIG. 8 is detected as the bottom output. Here, if the difference between the peak value and the bottom value is calculated, the difference amount "P-B" is obtained as shown in FIG. In addition,
The subtractor 122 is for taking the difference between the peak output and the bottom output in the line sensor.

Operational amplifiers 110 to 112, diode 1
A monitor circuit is composed of 13-115, operational amplifiers 116-118, diodes 119-121, and subtractor 122.

A block diagram using this monitor circuit is shown in FIG.
Shown in 12 has a circuit configuration very similar to that of FIG. 4, and the description of the same elements will be omitted. The difference is 1
Reference numerals 50-152 combine circuits, 153-155 sample and hold circuits for holding bottom signals (hereinafter abbreviated as S / H circuits), and 156-158 subtractors.

The synthesizing circuits 150 to 152 differ from the synthesizing circuit of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4 in that the S / H circuits 153 to 155 are different.
The point is that a control signal line to is added. S / H
The inputs of the circuits 153 to 155 are the bottom signals of the monitor circuits 57 to 59, and when the synthesis circuits 150 to 152 receive the accumulation stop signal, they send a signal to the control signal line, and the S / H circuits 153 to 155 which have received the signal stop the monitor signal. The bottom signal value output from the circuits 57 to 59 is held. Subtractor 156
˜158 subtracts the bottom value held by the S / H circuits 153-155 from the outputs of the memory circuits 54-56 and outputs the subtracted result. Note that Bottom i in FIG. 11 is the bottom output of each of the monitor circuits 57 to 59.
It is input to the second S / H circuits 153-155.

The overall operation will be described. When the accumulation of the line sensors 51 to 53 is started, "P
The -B "value is output from the monitor circuits 57 to 59. For example, assuming that the" P-B "value increases in the order of the monitor circuit 57>58> 59, first, the" P-B "value of the monitor circuit 57 is maximum. It is selected and output by the value sequential output circuit 68. The maximum value sequential output circuit 68 at this time is the operational amplifier 87 in FIG.
.About.89 and diodes 90 to 92 have the same configuration as the maximum value sequential output circuit. The output of the maximum value sequential output circuit 68 is called SMONITOR, and is input to the AGC determination circuit 69, and SMONITOR, that is, "P-.
When the B ″ value exceeds a predetermined value, the AGC determination circuit 69 generates a storage stop signal STOP. The storage stop signal is input to the maximum value line selection circuit 67 and is assigned as a storage stop signal to the line sensor 51. Then, the accumulation signal of the line sensor 51 is transferred to the memory circuit 54. At the same time, the accumulation stop signal is also input to the synthesizing circuit 150, and a hold signal is sent to the S / H circuit 153 to send the S / H signal.
The bottom value of the line sensor 51 input to the circuit 153 is held.

After the line sensor 51 is stopped, the line sensor 52 and the line sensor 53 sequentially receive the storage control and stop. After the accumulation of all line sensors, the read control circuit 7
The DRIVE-CLOCK signal is issued from 0, the sensor signal is output from the memory circuit 54 corresponding to the line sensor 51, and is input to the subtractor 156. S / H circuit 15
3 holds the bottom value, the subtracter 15
In 6, the bottom value is subtracted from the sensor signal output from the memory circuit 54. The output value of the subtractor 156 is input to the amplifier 66 and is A / D converted by the A / D converter 71. After the reading of the memory circuit 54 is completed, the reading of the memory circuit 55 and the memory circuit 56 is sequentially performed.

As in this embodiment, the line sensors 51 to 53 are provided.
Subtracting the S / H bottom value from the output of is advantageous in the following points. If the line sensor is regarded as a sensor for automatic focus adjustment of the phase difference detection method of the camera,
Since only the contrast component of the signal waveform of each pixel of the line sensor is used, the “P-B” value is A / D-converted as described above, and the contrast component fills the dynamic range with precision, so that the phase difference can be accurately determined. You can ask.

<Fifth Embodiment> A fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The difference between the fifth embodiment and the first embodiment is that the maximum value line selection circuit 67 of FIG. 4 is not provided and the AGC determination circuit 131 of FIG. 13 outputs the accumulation stop signal directly to each line. . The AGC determination circuit 131 is currently SMONI
The line output to TOR is input to "LIN
When the SMONITOR reaches a predetermined value, the accumulation stop signal is sent to the line. This control is performed until the accumulation of all lines is stopped, and then the first
The read control is performed in the same manner as in the embodiment.

In this embodiment, as many storage stop signal lines as the number of line sensors are required, but as compared with the conventional example shown in FIG. 15, the total number of required signal lines is considerably reduced.

<Sixth Embodiment> A sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. An area A surrounded by a dotted line is exactly the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4, but an area B surrounded by a dotted line is a microcomputer 132 generally used in a camera.
This is an example of adopting.

The microcomputer 132 has a large number of built-in A / D converters, and has SMONITOR as an input.
The signal and the VOUT signal are received. Also, as an output, GA
There is an IN-SET signal. Other logic signals are connected to normal general purpose ports.

The operation of this block diagram will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[Step 1401] To start accumulation, a START signal is output to the synthesizing circuits 60 to 62 to cause the line sensors 51 to 53 and monitor circuits 57 to 59 to start accumulating.

[Step 1402] The SMONITOR signal input from the maximum value sequential output circuit 68 is incorporated in the A / D.
Capture with a converter.

[Step 1403] Imported SMON
The IGC signal value is subjected to AGC determination based on predetermined times T ₁ , T ₂ , T ₃ and predetermined values VTH1, VTH2, VTH3.

[Step 1404] If the accumulated signal has reached the predetermined value as a result of the AGC determination in step 1403,
If the accumulated signal is OK, the process proceeds to step 1405, and if it does not reach the predetermined value, the process returns to step 1402.

[Step 1405] Storage stop signal STO
P is sent to the maximum value line selection circuit 67. As a result, the line currently output as SMONITOR stops accumulating.

[Step 1406] The monitor line number for which the accumulation has been stopped is fetched.

[Step 1407] The line No. fetched in step 1406, the predetermined time used in the AGC judgment performed in step 1403, and the read gain obtained from the predetermined value are stored.

[Step 1408] It is determined whether or not accumulation of all lines has been stopped. If there is a line for which accumulation is controlled, the process returns to step 1402, and if completed, the process proceeds to step 1409.

[Step 1409] For line 1 (corresponding to the line sensor 51), the read gain of the amplifier 66 is set.

[Step 1410] For line 1,
The memory circuit drive clock (DRIVE-CLOCK) is sent out, and the signal from the memory circuit 54 is output and passed through the buffer 63 and the amplifier 66 to become the VOUT signal.

[Step 1411] The VOUT signal of line 1 output at step 1410 is A / D converted and fetched.

[Step 1412] As in step 1409, the read gain of the amplifier 66 is set for the line 2 (corresponding to the line sensor 52).

[Step 1413] Similar to step 1410, the memory circuit drive clock (DRIV
E-CLOCK) is transmitted, and the signal of the memory circuit 55 is output and becomes the signal of VOUT.

[Step 1414] Similar to step 1411, the VOUT signal on line 2 is A / D converted and fetched.

[Step 1415] to [Step 1]
417], for line 3, [step 1412]-
The processing performed on the line 2 up to [Step 1414] is similarly repeated.

The A / D conversion value of VOUT of each line stored in the microcomputer in the above steps is used for the well-known phase difference detection calculation.

If a microcomputer is used as in this embodiment, SMONITOR is used for AGC determination.
Since only one signal line is required, the number of channels used by the A / D converter incorporated in the microcomputer can be small. There is also one port for sending the accumulation stop signal.
All you have to do is allocate the terminals, and the number of required terminals is small.

In this embodiment, a photodiode is used as the line sensor, but other CCs are used.
A line sensor of D type or amorphous silicon type can also be used in the same manner. Although an example in which the number of line sensors is 3 is given, the present invention can be applied even if the number of line sensors is increased, and the effect of the present invention becomes greater as the number of line sensors increases.

Further, in this embodiment, an example of a sensor for automatic focus adjustment of a camera is shown, but it goes without saying that it can also be used as a photometric sensor and as a photoelectric conversion device for products other than cameras. Can also be applied.

[0142]

【The invention's effect】

(1) By combining monitor signals of a plurality of line sensors that perform AGC determination into one signal line and enabling accumulation control of the line sensor by using the signals, it is possible to appropriately divide between circuit modules. The number of signal lines can be greatly reduced, mounting is easy, and reliability is improved.

(2) The accumulation stop signals of a plurality of line sensors, which are the results of AGC determination, are combined into one signal line, and the accumulation control of the line sensors can be performed using the signals, so that the line sensors are appropriately divided. The number of signal lines between circuit modules can be greatly reduced and the number of AGC determination circuits can be reduced, which facilitates mounting and improves reliability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an electric control block diagram of a camera.

[Fig. 2] Main flowchart of camera operation

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of automatic focus adjustment of the camera.

FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram showing a first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart of storage control of a line sensor.

FIG. 6 is a specific example of a monitor circuit used in the first embodiment and the like.

FIG. 7: SMON when the line sensor is accumulated in the negative direction
ITOR waveform

FIG. 8 is a signal waveform example of each pixel of the line sensor.

FIG. 9 is a specific example of a monitor circuit used in the second embodiment and the like.

FIG. 10 is a specific example of a monitor circuit that outputs the peak value of the line sensor in the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a "peak value-" of the line sensor in the fourth embodiment.
Concrete example of monitor circuit that outputs "bottom value"

FIG. 12 is a block circuit diagram of storage control using “peak value-bottom value” in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a block circuit diagram having a plurality of storage stop signal lines in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a block circuit diagram using a microcomputer in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart when a microcomputer is used in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a block circuit diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

6 ... Focus detection unit 51, 52, 53
... Line sensor 54, 55, 56 ... Memory circuit 57, 58, 59
... monitor circuit 67 ... maximum value line selection circuit 68 ... maximum value sequential output circuit 69 ... AGC determination circuit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical indication H04N 5/235

Claims (49)

[Claims] 1. A photoelectric conversion device, wherein in a plurality of accumulation type sensors, the accumulation control is performed with a signal line which is smaller in number than the accumulation type sensors to be accumulated controlled. 2. A plurality of storage-type line sensors, a monitor circuit for monitoring the storage state of the storage-type line sensor, an output of the monitor circuit is compared with a predetermined value, and a storage stop of the storage-type sensor is judged and storage is performed. A determination circuit that outputs a stop signal, a memory circuit that stores the accumulation signal of the accumulation-type line sensor when accumulation is stopped, a read control circuit that controls reading of the accumulation signal from the memory circuit, and a read value that is A / D An A / D converter for conversion, comprising a circuit (maximum value sequential output circuit) for converting outputs of the plurality of monitor circuits into one output. 3. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 2, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit. 4. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 2, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit. 5. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 2, wherein the monitor circuit is monitored by a sensor provided separately from the storage-type line sensor that is storage-controlled. 6. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 2, wherein the monitor circuit outputs a maximum amplitude value which is a peak value or a bottom value of the storage type line sensor. 7. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 2, wherein the monitor circuit outputs a difference between a peak value and a bottom value of the storage type line sensor. 8. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 2, wherein the accumulation stop signal output from the determination circuit is assigned to the accumulation-type line sensor to be stopped once via one signal line. 9. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 2, wherein the storage stop signal output from the determination circuit is output for each storage line sensor. 10. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 2, wherein the determination circuit, the read control circuit, and the A / D converter are constituted by a microcomputer. 11. A plurality of accumulation type line sensors, a monitor circuit for monitoring the accumulation state of the accumulation type line sensor, and comparing the output of the monitor circuit with a predetermined value to determine accumulation stop of the accumulation type sensor and accumulation. A determination circuit that outputs a stop signal, a memory circuit that stores the accumulated signal of the accumulation-type line sensor when accumulation is stopped, a read control circuit that controls reading of the accumulated signal from the memory circuit, and an A / D conversion of the read value A camera having a built-in photoelectric conversion unit, which has a circuit (maximum value sequential output circuit) for converting outputs of the plurality of monitor circuits into one output. 12. The camera having the photoelectric conversion unit according to claim 11, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit. 13. A camera incorporating a photoelectric conversion unit according to claim 11, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit. 14. The camera with a built-in photoelectric conversion unit according to claim 11, wherein the monitor circuit is monitored by a sensor provided separately from the storage-type line sensor whose storage is controlled. 15. The camera having the photoelectric conversion unit according to claim 11, wherein the monitor circuit outputs a maximum amplitude value which is a peak value or a bottom value of the storage type line sensor. 16. The camera with a built-in photoelectric conversion unit according to claim 11, wherein the monitor circuit outputs a difference between a peak value and a bottom value of the storage type line sensor. 17. The photoelectric conversion unit according to claim 11, wherein the accumulation stop signal output from the determination circuit is assigned to the accumulation type line sensor to be stopped once via one signal line. Built-in camera. 18. The camera with a built-in photoelectric conversion unit according to claim 11, wherein the accumulation stop signal output from the determination circuit is output for each of the accumulation type line sensors. 19. The camera incorporating the photoelectric conversion unit according to claim 11, wherein the determination circuit, the read control circuit, and the A / D converter are configured by a microcomputer. 20. A plurality of accumulating line sensors, a monitor circuit for monitoring the accumulating state of the accumulating line sensor, and comparing the output of the monitor circuit with a predetermined value to judge accumulation stop and accumulation. A determination circuit that outputs a stop signal, a memory circuit that stores the accumulated signal of the accumulation-type line sensor when accumulation is stopped, a read control circuit that controls reading of the accumulated signal from the memory circuit, and an A / D conversion of the read value And a A / D converter for converting the outputs of the plurality of monitor circuits into one output (maximum value sequential output circuit). 21. The detection device for automatic focus adjustment of a camera according to claim 20, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit. 22. The detection device for automatic focus adjustment of a camera according to claim 20, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit. 23. The camera automatic focus adjustment detection device according to claim 20, wherein the monitor circuit is monitored by a sensor provided separately from the accumulation-type line sensor for accumulation control. 24. The detection device for automatic focus adjustment of a camera according to claim 20, wherein the monitor circuit outputs a maximum amplitude value which is a peak value or a bottom value of the storage type line sensor. 25. The camera automatic focus adjustment detection device according to claim 20, wherein the monitor circuit outputs a difference between a peak value and a bottom value of the accumulation type line sensor. 26. The automatic focus of a camera according to claim 20, wherein the accumulation stop signal output from the determination circuit is assigned to the accumulation type line sensor to be stopped once via one signal line. Adjustment detector. 27. The camera automatic focus adjustment detection device according to claim 20, wherein the accumulation stop signal output from the determination circuit is output for each of the accumulation type line sensors. 28. The detection device for automatic focus adjustment of a camera according to claim 20, wherein the determination circuit, the readout control circuit and the A / D converter are constituted by a microcomputer. 29. A plurality of accumulation type line sensors and the signal accumulation state of each line sensor according to the amount of light incident on each line sensor are monitored, and the signals accumulated in each sensor are sequentially targeted in descending order. Selection circuit (maximum value sequential output circuit) for selecting and outputting as a storage signal of the line sensor, a transfer circuit for transferring the signal stored in the target line sensor in response to a stop signal, and the selection circuit A first module having an output line and an input line for the stop signal, and an output that is sequentially selected from the selection circuit and is output as an accumulation signal of the target line sensor is independent for each output to each target line sensor. Then, the storage time is controlled so that the output becomes a predetermined level for each output, and the stop signal is output at the time controlled for each output. And a second module having an output line of a stop signal output from the storage time control circuit and an input line of the storage time control circuit inputting the output of the selection circuit. The output line of the selection circuit of the first module and the input line of the storage time control circuit of the second module are connected to the input line of the stop signal of the first module and the output line of the stop signal of the second module. And a photoelectric conversion device. 30. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 29, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit. 31. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 29, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit. 32. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 29, wherein the second module comprises a microcomputer. 33. A plurality of accumulation type line sensors and a signal accumulation state of each line sensor according to the amount of light incident on each line sensor are monitored, and the signals accumulated in each sensor are sequentially targeted in descending order. Selection circuit (maximum value sequential output circuit) for selecting and outputting as a storage signal of the line sensor, a transfer circuit for transferring the signal stored in the target line sensor in response to a stop signal, and the selection circuit A first module having an output line and an input line for the stop signal, and an output that is sequentially selected from the selection circuit and is output as an accumulation signal of the target line sensor is independent for each output to each target line sensor. Then, the storage time is controlled so that the output becomes a predetermined level for each output, and the stop signal is output at the time controlled for each output. And a second module having an output line of a stop signal output from the storage time control circuit and an input line of the storage time control circuit inputting the output of the selection circuit. The output line of the selection circuit of the first module and the input line of the storage time control circuit of the second module are connected to the input line of the stop signal of the first module and the output line of the stop signal of the second module. A camera with a built-in photoelectric conversion unit. 34. A camera having a photoelectric conversion unit according to claim 33, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit. 35. The camera having the photoelectric conversion unit according to claim 33, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit. 36. The camera having the photoelectric conversion unit according to claim 33, wherein the second module comprises a microcomputer. 37. A plurality of accumulation type line sensors and the signal accumulation state of each line sensor according to the amount of light incident on each line sensor are monitored, and the signals accumulated from each sensor are sequentially targeted in descending order. Selection circuit (maximum value sequential output circuit) for selecting and outputting as a storage signal of the line sensor, a transfer circuit for transferring the signal stored in the target line sensor in response to a stop signal, and the selection circuit A first module having an output line and an input line for the stop signal, and an output that is sequentially selected from the selection circuit and is output as an accumulation signal of the target line sensor is independent for each output to each target line sensor. Then, the storage time is controlled so that the output becomes a predetermined level for each output, and the stop signal is output at the time controlled for each output. And a second module having an output line of a stop signal output from the storage time control circuit and an input line of the storage time control circuit inputting the output of the selection circuit. The output line of the selection circuit of the first module and the input line of the storage time control circuit of the second module are connected to the input line of the stop signal of the first module and the output line of the stop signal of the second module. A detection device for automatic focusing of a camera. 38. The camera automatic focus adjustment detection device according to claim 37, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit. 39. The camera automatic focus adjustment detection device according to claim 37, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit. 40. The camera auto-focusing detection device of claim 37, wherein the second module comprises a microcomputer. 41. A plurality of accumulation type line sensors and a signal accumulation state of each line sensor according to the amount of light incident on each line sensor are monitored, and the signals accumulated in each sensor are sequentially targeted in descending order. Selection circuit (maximum value sequential output circuit) that selects and outputs as the accumulated signal of the line sensor, and the line sensor that is provided corresponding to each line sensor and responds to the stop signal for the target line sensor. A transfer circuit for transferring the signal accumulated in step 1, a first module having an output line of the selection circuit and a plurality of input lines for independently inputting a stop signal to each transfer circuit; The output that is sequentially selected and output as the accumulated signal of the target line sensor is detected for each output to each target line sensor, A storage time control circuit that performs storage time control so that the output becomes a predetermined level for each output, and outputs a stop signal at a time controlled for each output,
It has a plurality of output lines for transmitting a stop signal from the circuit to each transfer circuit provided corresponding to the target line sensor, and an input line of a storage time control circuit for inputting the output of the selection circuit. An output line of the selection circuit of the first module, an input line of the storage time control circuit of the second module, each input line of the first module and each output of the second module corresponding to the line. A photoelectric conversion device characterized by being connected to a line. 42. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 41, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit. 43. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 41, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit. 44. A plurality of accumulation type line sensors and a signal accumulation state of each line sensor according to the amount of light incident on each line sensor are monitored, and the signals accumulated from each sensor are sequentially targeted in descending order. Selection circuit (maximum value sequential output circuit) that selects and outputs as the accumulated signal of the line sensor, and the line sensor that is provided corresponding to each line sensor and responds to the stop signal for the target line sensor. A transfer circuit for transferring the signal accumulated in step 1, a first module having an output line of the selection circuit and a plurality of input lines for independently inputting a stop signal to each transfer circuit; The output that is sequentially selected and output as the accumulated signal of the target line sensor is detected for each output to each target line sensor, A storage time control circuit that performs storage time control so that the output becomes a predetermined level for each output, and outputs a stop signal at a time controlled for each output,
It has a plurality of output lines for transmitting a stop signal from the circuit to each transfer circuit provided corresponding to the target line sensor, and an input line of a storage time control circuit for inputting the output of the selection circuit. An output line of the selection circuit of the first module, an input line of the storage time control circuit of the second module, each input line of the first module and each output of the second module corresponding to the line. A camera with a built-in photoelectric conversion unit characterized by being connected to a line. 45. A camera having a photoelectric conversion unit according to claim 44, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit. 46. The camera having the photoelectric conversion unit according to claim 44, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit. 47. A plurality of accumulation type line sensors and a signal accumulation state of each line sensor according to the amount of light incident on each line sensor are monitored, and the signals accumulated in each sensor are sequentially targeted in descending order. Selection circuit (maximum value sequential output circuit) that selects and outputs as the accumulated signal of the line sensor, and the line sensor that is provided corresponding to each line sensor and responds to the stop signal for the target line sensor. A transfer circuit for transferring the signal accumulated in step 1, a first module having an output line of the selection circuit and a plurality of input lines for independently inputting a stop signal to each transfer circuit; The output that is sequentially selected and output as the accumulated signal of the target line sensor is detected for each output to each target line sensor, A storage time control circuit that performs storage time control so that the output becomes a predetermined level for each output, and outputs a stop signal at a time controlled for each output,
It has a plurality of output lines for transmitting a stop signal from the circuit to each transfer circuit provided corresponding to the target line sensor, and an input line of a storage time control circuit for inputting the output of the selection circuit. An output line of the selection circuit of the first module, an input line of the storage time control circuit of the second module, each input line of the first module and each output of the second module corresponding to the line. A detection device for automatic focus adjustment of a camera, characterized by being connected to a line. 48. The automatic focus adjustment detection device of the camera of claim 47, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a peak output circuit. 49. The camera automatic focus adjustment detection device according to claim 47, wherein the maximum value sequential output circuit is a bottom output circuit.