JPH08240763A - Motor-driven zooming camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To change and set the focal distance of a photographing lens by easy operation. CONSTITUTION: This motor-driven zooming camera provided with a command dial 9 is constituted so that the driving direction of the photographing lens is set by detecting the operation direction of the command dial 9, and next, the manipulated variable of the command dial 9 within a specified time is detected, and when the manipulated variable is large, the photographing lens is driven continuously and also at high speed to a telephoto end or a wide end. In the case of operating the command dial 9 in a reverse direction while driving the photographing lens and in the case of operating a release button 5 and a mode switch 7, driving the photographing lens is stopped. On the other hand, when the manipulated variable of the command dial 9 within the specified time is small, the photographing lens is driven only for the specified time, and when the manipulated variable within the specified time is at a medium degree, the photographing lens is furthermore driven only by a specified distance when it does not reach the telephoto end or the wide end at the point of time when it is driven only by the specified distance.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric zoom camera capable of electrically changing the focal length of a taking lens.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional electric zoom camera has a zoom-up button for driving a photographing lens to a longest focal length position (hereinafter, referred to as a tele end) and a shortest focal length position (hereinafter, referred to as a telephoto end).
A zoom-down button for driving to the (wide end) side was provided, and the photographing lens was driven to a desired focal length position according to the operation of these buttons (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 121808/1989). Further, for example, in order to be able to drive the taking lens from the telephoto end to the wide-angle end at once, the driving speed and the driving amount of the taking lens can be changed by the amount of force or the stroke amount for pushing the zoom up button or the zoom down button. Cameras are also known.

[0003]

However, the conventional electric zoom camera of this type has the following drawbacks. It is difficult to finely adjust the amount of force or the amount of stroke for pressing the zoom up button or the zoom down button, and it is often impossible to drive the taking lens to a desired focal length position. In order to drive the taking lens from the telephoto end to the wide-angle end at once, it is necessary to continuously operate the zoom-up button or the like during that time, which is troublesome. If you operate the zoom up button multiple times at short intervals to drive the shooting lens all the way to the tele end, you can change the shooting lens drive speed by changing the operation method of the zoom up button, etc. There is a high possibility that the timing of pressing these buttons will be incorrect, and in many cases the drive speed of the taking lens cannot be set to a desired value.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electric zoom camera capable of changing and setting the focal length of a taking lens with a simple operation.

[0005]

The present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing an embodiment. In the present invention, the taking lens 13 whose focal length can be changed and the taking lens 13 are electrically connected to each other. The first and second electric zoom devices 10 and 11 to be driven, a control circuit 1 for controlling the electric zoom devices 10 and 11, and information about photographing can be set and can be operated clockwise and counterclockwise. The control circuit 1 is configured to be applied to an electric zoom camera including the operation member 9 and to drive the taking lens 13 according to at least one of the operation speed, the operation amount, and the operation direction of the first operation member 9. Thereby, the above object is achieved. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electric zoom camera according to the first aspect, when the first operation member 9 is operated in the clockwise direction, the taking lens 13 is driven in the first direction, and the first operation is performed. When the member 9 is operated counterclockwise, the control circuit 1 drives the taking lens 13 in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
It is what constitutes. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electric zoom camera according to the second aspect, the first operating member 9 is operated while the electric zoom devices 10 and 11 are driving the taking lens 13 in the first direction. When operated in the counterclockwise direction, and when the electric zoom devices 10 and 11 are used,
While driving 3 in the second direction, the first operating member 9
When is operated clockwise, the control circuit 1 is configured to stop the driving of the taking lens 13. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the electric zoom camera according to any one of the first to third aspects, the second aspect is provided separately from the first operation member 9 and is capable of setting information regarding photographing. An electric zoom device 10, which includes operation members 5 and 7,
The control circuit 1 is configured to stop the driving of the taking lens 13 when the second operating members 5 and 7 are operated while the taking lens 13 is driving the taking lens 13. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electric zoom camera according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the first operating member 9 is configured to output a number of pulses according to an operation amount,
The control circuit 1 is configured to drive the taking lens 13 stepwise according to the number of pulses output from the first operation member 9.
It is what constitutes. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the electric zoom camera according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the first zoom is output so as to output a number of pulses according to an operation amount.
Of the first operating member 9 within a predetermined time.
When the number of pulses output from the photographing lens 13 is equal to or more than a predetermined number, the control circuit 1 continuously drives the photographing lens 13 to the longest focal length position or the shortest focal length position of the photographing lens 13.
It is what constitutes. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the electric zoom camera according to the fifth or sixth aspect, when the number of pulses output from the first operation member 9 within a predetermined time is a predetermined number or more, the number is less than the predetermined number. The control circuit 1 is configured to drive the taking lens 13 at a higher speed than in the above case.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first operation member 9 capable of setting information relating to photographing and operable clockwise and counterclockwise, for example, the operation speed, operation amount and operation direction of the command dial. The drive direction, drive amount, drive speed, etc. of the taking lens 13 are determined according to at least one of the above, and a dedicated switch for instructing zoom up or zoom down is unnecessary. In the invention described in claim 2, when the first operation member 9 is operated in the clockwise direction, the taking lens 13 is driven in the first direction, for example, the shortest focal length position side, and the first operation member 9 is reversed. When it is operated clockwise, it is driven in the second direction, which is the opposite direction of the first direction, for example, to the longest focal length position side. According to the third aspect of the invention, the first operating member 9 is driven while the taking lens 13 is being driven in the first direction.
Is operated counterclockwise, and the shooting lens 13
If the first operation member 9 is operated clockwise while driving in the second direction, the driving of the taking lens 13 is stopped. That is, the driving of the taking lens 13 can be stopped by operating the first operating member 9 in the opposite direction.
According to the invention described in claim 4, when the second operating members 5 and 7 are operated while driving the taking lens 13,
Stop driving. In the invention described in claim 5, when the first operation member 9 is operated, the number of pulses corresponding to the operation amount is output. Specifically, a larger number of pulses is output as the operation amount is larger, and the control circuit 1 drives the taking lens 13 stepwise according to the number of pulses. According to the sixth aspect of the invention, when the number of pulses output from the first operating member 9 is equal to or larger than the predetermined number, the taking lens 13 is continuously driven to the longest focal length position or the shortest focal length position. In the invention described in claim 7, when the number of pulses output from the first operation member 9 is equal to or larger than a predetermined number, the taking lens 13 is driven at high speed.

Incidentally, in the section of means and action for solving the above problems for explaining the constitution of the present invention, the drawings of the embodiments are used for making the present invention easy to understand. It is not limited to.

[0008]

【Example】

First Embodiment Hereinafter, the first and second embodiments of the electric zoom camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the electric zoom camera of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electric zoom camera of the first embodiment. In Figure 1,
The components of the camera not directly related to the present invention are omitted. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a control circuit for controlling the entire camera including the processes of FIGS. 3 to 5 which will be described later, and is operated by a voltage supplied from a main power supply 2 of the camera. 3 is a lens position reference position detection switch which is turned on when the taking lens 13 is driven to the wide end, 4 is a release switch which is turned on by fully pressing the release button 5, 6 is a half-press switch which is turned on by pressing the release button 5 halfway , 7 are mode switches for switching various shooting modes, and both switches are connected to the control circuit 1. A pulse generator 8 outputs a two-phase pulse signal according to the operation amount and operation direction of the command dial 9. The two-phase pulse signal is input to the control circuit 1, and the control circuit 1 detects the operation direction of the command dial 9 by the phase shift of the pulse signals of the respective phases forming the two-phase pulse signal, and the pulse in each pulse signal. The operation amount of the command dial 9 is detected by the number.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a motor drive circuit for driving the zoom motor 11 based on the motor drive signal output from the control circuit 1. The zoom motor 11 drives the taking lens 13. Reference numeral 12 denotes a zoom drive pulse generation circuit that outputs a pulse each time the taking lens 13 moves by a predetermined distance, and the output pulse is input to the control circuit 1. The control circuit 1 includes a wide-angle end position detected by the lens position reference position detection switch 3 and the zoom drive pulse generation circuit 1.
The focal length of the taking lens 13 is detected based on the number of pulses output from 2. In FIG. 1, 14 is an indicator, 15 is an AF mode button, and 16 is an exposure compensation button.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the mode detection processing relating to the command dial operation performed by the control circuit 1 of the first embodiment. The control circuit 1 starts the process of FIG. 3 when the main power supply 2 of the camera is turned on. In step S1 of FIG. 3, it is determined whether the command dial 9 has been operated. Here, when the pulse generator 8 outputs a two-phase pulse signal, it is determined that the command dial 9 has been operated.

In step S2, it is determined whether or not the mode switch 7 is turned on when the command dial 9 is operated. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S3, and shooting mode setting processing is performed. In this shooting mode setting process, a mode is selected according to the operation amount of the command dial 9 and the selected mode is set in the camera. Since the shooting mode setting process is well known, its details are omitted.

On the other hand, if the determination in step S2 is negative, the process proceeds to step S4 and zoom control processing is performed. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing details of zoom control processing. FIG.
In step S11, the operating direction of the command dial 9 is detected. Here, the operation direction is detected by the phase shift of the two-phase pulse signal output from the pulse generator 8. When the command dial 9 is operated counterclockwise, the process proceeds to step S12 to prepare to drive the taking lens 13 to the wide end side. On the other hand, when the command dial 9 is operated clockwise, the process proceeds to step S13,
Preparations are made to drive the taking lens 13 toward the telephoto end.

When the process of step S12 or S13 is completed, the process proceeds to step S14, and it is determined whether the focal length position of the taking lens 13 is at the tele end or the wide end. If the determination is affirmative, the process is terminated and returns. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S15, and the operation amount of the command dial 9 is detected. Here, the pulse generator 8
The manipulated variable is detected by the number of pulses of the two-phase pulse signal output from. In step S16, the pulse number n of the two-phase pulse signal output from the pulse generator 8 within a predetermined time
Is "3" or more. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S17, and a motor drive signal is output to the motor drive circuit 10 in order to drive the taking lens 13 continuously and at high speed until the tele end or the wide end is reached. In step S18, it is determined whether or not the taking lens 13 has been driven to the telephoto end or the wide end. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S19, where the output of the motor drive signal is stopped and the driving of the taking lens 13 is stopped. And then return.

On the other hand, if the determination in step S18 is negative, the process proceeds to step S20, and it is determined whether or not the command dial 9 has been operated in the opposite direction to step S11.
If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S19, the driving of the taking lens 13 is stopped, and if the determination is negative, the step S2 is performed.
Go to 1 and release switch 4 or mode switch 7
It is determined whether or not is operated. If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to step S19 to stop the driving of the taking lens 13,
If the determination is negative, the process returns to step S16.

As described above, when the command dial 9 is operated in the opposite direction while driving the taking lens 13,
Alternatively, when the release switch 4 or the mode switch 7 is operated, the driving of the taking lens 13 is stopped.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S16 that the pulse number n is less than "3", the process proceeds to step S22 in FIG. 5 to determine whether or not the pulse number n is "0". If the determination is affirmative, the process returns, and if the determination is negative, a step S2
Go to 3. In step S23, the motor drive circuit 1 is operated to drive the taking lens 13 for a predetermined distance or for a predetermined time.
A motor drive signal is output to 0. The driving speed of the taking lens 13 is set to be lower than that in step S17.

Next, in step S24, it is determined whether or not the pulse number n is "1". If the determination is affirmative, the process returns, and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S25. In step S25, it is determined whether or not the taking lens 13 has been driven to the telephoto end or the wide end. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S26, and the driving of the taking lens 13 is stopped. On the other hand, if the determination in step S25 is negative, the process proceeds to step S27, the photographing lens 13 is driven again for a predetermined distance or for a predetermined time, and then the process returns.

In summary of the zoom control processing of the first embodiment described above, first, the operation direction of the command dial 9 is detected and the driving direction of the taking lens 13 is set. Next, the amount of operation of the command dial 9 within a predetermined time is detected, and when the operation amount is large, the taking lens 13 is continuously and rapidly driven to the tele end or the wide end. However,
When the command dial 9 is operated in the reverse direction while the taking lens 13 is being driven, or when the release button or the mode switch 7 is operated during driving, the driving of the taking lens 13 is stopped. On the other hand, when the operation amount of the command dial 9 within a predetermined time is small, the photographing lens 13 is driven for a predetermined distance or for a predetermined time, and when the operation amount within the predetermined time is medium, the photographing lens 13 is temporarily moved. It is driven for a predetermined distance or a predetermined time, and if it has not reached the tele end or the wide end at that time, it is driven again for a predetermined distance or a predetermined time.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the focal length position of the taking lens 13 can be changed by using the command dial 9 which is originally provided for setting various kinds of information regarding photographing, so that the focal point is changed. It is not necessary to provide a new switch for changing the distance position, the number of switches can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.
Further, by changing the operation direction of the command dial 9, it is possible to zoom in and zoom out, so that the operability is improved. Further, since the driving distance and driving speed of the photographing lens 13 can be changed by changing the operation method of the command dial 9, the photographing lens 13 can be quickly driven to the focal length position desired by the photographer.

Second Embodiment In the second embodiment, the driving speed of the taking lens 13 is changed according to the operating speed of the command dial 9. Second
Since the configuration of this embodiment is common to that of the first embodiment, the description of the configuration is omitted.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing zoom control processing performed by the control circuit 1 of the second embodiment. The processing of steps S101 to S106 of FIG. 6 is the processing of the first embodiment,
That is, it is common with the processing of steps S11 to S16 of FIG. In step S106, when the pulse number n output from the pulse generator 8 within the predetermined time is "3" or more, the process proceeds to step S107, and it is determined whether or not the command dial 9 is operated at high speed. For example, if the pulse number n is, for example, "10" or more, it is determined that the operation is performed at high speed. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S108, and a motor drive signal is output to the motor drive circuit 10 in order to drive the taking lens 13 continuously and at high speed until the tele end or the wide end is reached. On the other hand, if the determination in step S107 is negative, the process proceeds to step S109, and a motor drive signal is sent to the motor drive circuit 10 to drive the taking lens 13 to the tele end or the wide end at a speed slower than in step S108. Output. The subsequent processing is the same as in the first embodiment.

As described above, in the second embodiment, when the operation amount of the command dial 9 is large, the command dial 9
Is operated at a high speed, and when operated at a high speed, the photographing lens 13 is continuously driven at a high speed to the tele end or the wide end, and when operated at a slow speed, an image is taken. Since the lens 13 is continuously driven at a low speed to the tele end or the wide end, the taking lens 13 can be driven as intended by the photographer, and the focal length of the taking lens 13 can be easily set.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the driving speed of the taking lens 13 may be changed depending on whether the pulse number n is "1" or "2". That is, the pulse number n is “1” →
The driving speed may be increased in the order of “2” → “3” or more.
Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the operation amount of the command dial 9 within a predetermined time is divided into three cases, but it may be divided into more detailed cases or only into two cases. . Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the taking lens 13 is driven to the tele end side when the command dial 9 is operated in the clockwise direction has been described, but the driving direction of the taking lens 13 may be reversed.

In the above-described embodiment, the driving of the taking lens 13 is stopped when the command dial 9 is rotated in the reverse direction while the taking lens 13 is driven, or when the release button 5 or the mode switch 7 is operated. However, the operation member for instructing to stop driving is not limited to the above-described switch and the like.

In the embodiment constructed as described above, the motor drive circuit 10 and the zoom motor 11 are the electric zoom device, the command dial 9 is the first operating member, and the release button 5 and the mode switch 7 are the second. Corresponding to the operation members of.

[0026]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the taking lens 13 is driven according to at least one of the operating speed, the operating amount, and the operating direction of the first operating member. It is possible to arbitrarily change the focal length of 13 largely or slightly. Further, since the photographing lens 13 is driven by using the first operation member provided in advance in the camera in order to set the information regarding the photography, it is not necessary to provide a new operation member, and the cost can be reduced. According to the invention described in claim 2, since the driving direction of the taking lens 13 is switched depending on the operating direction of the first operating member, the taking lens 13 can be driven in both directions only by the first operating member, and the operability is improved. To do. According to the third aspect of the present invention, if the first operating member is operated in the opposite direction while the photographing lens 13 is being driven, the driving of the photographing lens 13 is stopped, so that the photographing is performed at any position desired by the photographer. Lens 13
Can be driven. Also, the driving of the photographing lens 13 is stopped first.
Since the operation member can be used for the instruction, the number of operation members can be reduced and the operability is improved. According to the invention described in claim 4, when the second operation member is operated while the photographing lens 13 is being driven, the driving of the photographing lens 13 is stopped. Therefore, the photographing lens 13 is placed at an arbitrary position desired by the photographer. Can be driven. In addition, the photographing lens 1 is provided by a second operation member provided in advance in the camera for setting information regarding photographing.
Since it is possible to instruct the driving stop of No. 3, the number of operating members can be reduced and the operability is improved. According to the invention described in claim 5, since the photographing lens 13 is step-driven according to the number of pulses output from the first operation member, the photographing lens 13 can be driven in a fine unit, and the focal length can be finely adjusted. It will be possible. According to the invention of claim 6, when the number of pulses output from the first operating member is equal to or more than a predetermined number, the taking lens 13 is continuously driven to the longest focal length position or the shortest focal length position. It is not necessary to continue to operate the first operation member until the taking lens 13 reaches the longest focal length position or the shortest focal length position, which improves the operability. According to the invention of claim 7, when the number of pulses output from the first operating member is equal to or more than a predetermined number, the taking lens 13 is driven at a high speed.
Even when the focal length of is greatly changed, the time required for setting the focal length can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of an electric zoom camera.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electric zoom camera of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a mode detection process performed by the control circuit of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing zoom control processing performed by the control circuit of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart following FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing zoom control processing performed by a control circuit according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Control Circuit 2 Main Power Supply 3 Lens Position Reference Position Detection Switch 4 Release Switch 5 Release Button 6 Half Press Switch 7 Mode Switch 8 Pulse Generator 9 Command Dial 10 Motor Drive Circuit 11 Zoom Motor 12 Zoom Drive Pulse Generation Circuit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A photographing lens having a variable focal length, an electric zoom device for electrically driving the photographing lens, a control circuit for controlling the electric zoom device, and information about photographing can be set. In an electric zoom camera including a first operation member that can be operated clockwise and counterclockwise, the control circuit includes at least one of an operation speed, an operation amount, and an operation direction of the first operation member. An electric zoom camera, characterized in that the photographing lens is driven in accordance with the above. 2. The electric zoom camera according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit drives the photographing lens in a first direction when the first operating member is operated in a clockwise direction, The electric zoom camera, wherein when the operation member is operated counterclockwise, the photographing lens is driven in a second direction opposite to the first direction. 3. The electric zoom camera according to claim 2, wherein the control circuit causes the first operating member to operate while the electric zoom device is driving the photographing lens in the first direction. When operated counterclockwise, and when the first operation member is operated clockwise while the electric zoom device is driving the taking lens in the second direction, An electric zoom camera characterized by stopping the driving of the taking lens. 4. The electric zoom camera according to claim 1, further comprising a second operation member that is provided separately from the first operation member and that can set information regarding shooting. The electric circuit is characterized in that the control circuit stops driving of the photographing lens when the second operating member is operated while the electric zoom device is driving the photographing lens. Zoom camera. 5. The electric zoom camera according to claim 1, wherein the first operation member outputs a number of pulses according to an operation amount, and the control circuit includes the first operation member. An electric zoom camera, wherein the taking lens is driven stepwise according to the number of pulses output from the first operation member. 6. The electric zoom camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first operation member outputs a number of pulses according to an operation amount, and the control circuit sets a predetermined time. When the number of pulses output from the first operation member is equal to or more than a predetermined number, the photographing lens is continuously driven to the longest focal length position or the shortest focal length position of the photographing lens. Electric zoom camera. 7. The electric zoom camera according to claim 5, wherein the control circuit, when the number of pulses output from the first operation member within a predetermined time is equal to or more than a predetermined number, An electric zoom camera, characterized in that the photographing lens is driven at a higher speed than when the number is less than a predetermined number.