JPH08248503A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To imprint data at an optimum position in accordance with circumstances by providing a means for detecting the length and the breadth of a photographic picture, a line-of-sight detecting means, a data imprinting means and a means for controlling a data imprinting position. CONSTITUTION: This camera is provided with the means for detecting the length and the breadth of the photographic picture, the line-of-sight detecting means for detecting a range-finding point, where a photographer performs range-finding, in a finder screen, the data imprinting means capable of imprinting the data at different positions in the photographic picture, and the means for controlling the data imprinting position in accordance with the range-finding point selected by the line-of-sight detecting means and output from the means for detecting the length and the breadth of the photographic picture. In such constitution, the imprinting position is controlled by using information on the range-finding point, the detected result on the line of sight, output from respective photometry areas in multidivision photometry, information from the length and breadth detecting means for detecting the posture of the photographer. A microcomputer 1 controls the movement of the respective parts of the camera and receives information on the focal distance of a lens, distance information and information on the best focusing correction. An imprinting circuit 9 imprints the data or a message on film at the time of photographing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera with a data imprinting function capable of imprinting data such as characters and symbols on a photographing screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a camera with a data imprinting device of this type, the data position is manually switched, or the posture of the camera is detected by detecting gravity (automatic switching). No. 68128), the position of a main subject is determined, and data is imprinted at a position distant from the main subject (JP-A-2-123339), and the gazing point of the photographer in the viewfinder screen is detected. , Which determines data imprinting based on the output (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-88245), and the like have been proposed.

[0003]

However, in any case, the imprint position does not always match the imprint position intended by the photographer, and since the imprint position is not displayed during photographing, the imprint position is not recorded anywhere. I do not know during shooting
The resulting photos were not always satisfying. In addition, there is a problem in that the structure of the camera becomes very complicated if the imprinting position is changeable.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, a data imprinting device for a camera according to the present invention provides a means for detecting the vertical and horizontal directions of a photographing screen and a photographer in the finder screen. A line-of-sight detecting means for detecting a distance-measuring point for performing distance-measurement, a data imprinting means capable of imprinting data at different positions in the photographing screen, a distance-measuring point selected by the sight-line detecting means, and the photographing screen. It is characterized by further comprising means for controlling the data imprinting position according to the output of the means for detecting the vertical and horizontal directions. Further, when the data imprinting means has a plurality of data imprinting positions from the selected distance measuring point, the data imprinting position is determined according to the output of the photometric sensor of the camera.

Further, since the present invention uses a so-called dot date system in which a film is imprinted during feeding, the cost of hardware hardly increases even if a large number of imprinting positions are provided.

[0006]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a camera equipped with the data imprinting device of the present invention. First, the configuration of each part will be described.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a microcomputer, which comprises an arithmetic unit for executing a command necessary for photographing, a memory for storing information necessary for photographing, and an interface unit for exchanging information with each element. Control movement.

Reference numeral 2 is a photometric IC, which divides the screen into a plurality of areas, performs the TTL photometry of the brightness of the subject in each area, and sends it to the microcomputer 1.

A lens control circuit 3 controls the range ring and diaphragm of the taking lens 4. This lens control circuit 2
Controls a motor (not shown) to control the range ring and the diaphragm. The microcomputer 1 also receives lens focal length information, distance information, best focus correction information, and various other correction information.

Reference numeral 5 is a dimming sensor IC and a sensor section and IC.
The sensor unit receives light reflected from the film surface when the camera performs TTL dimming photography. I
When the sensor receives a certain amount of light, the C section issues a light emission stop signal to the built-in strobe 7 or outputs a light emission ON / OFF signal of an external strobe. Reference numeral 6 is a contact point of an external strobe, which is a communication contact point with the external strobe. Reference numeral 7 is a built-in strobe, which is a circuit for performing communication such as charging and completion of charging from the dimming sensor IC and storing electric charge for light emission, a xenon tube as a light emitting unit, a trigger circuit,
It consists of existing circuits such as a circuit to stop the light emission, a film surface reflected light metering circuit, and an integrating circuit. When the X contact that is turned on by the front curtain running of the shutter unit is turned on, the flash light of the strobe is started.

Numeral 8 is a focus detection unit which, upon receiving a sensor accumulation start signal from the microcomputer 1, starts sensor accumulation and accumulates until the accumulation level of the sensor becomes constant. When the accumulation level becomes constant, the accumulation of the sensor is terminated, and the termination of the accumulation of the sensor is communicated to the microcomputer 1. When the microcomputer 1 performs sensor signal reading and communication, the signal stored in the line sensor is read by the microcomputer 1, AD conversion is performed in synchronization with the sensor drive signal, and the AD-converted image signal of the subject is extracted. An existing phase difference detection method is used to detect which position the subject is focused on by the photographing lens.

Reference numeral 9 denotes an imprinting circuit, which displays the year / month / day, day / hour / minute and “HAPPY BIRT” on the film at the time of shooting.
This is a circuit for imprinting data and messages such as "HDAY".

Reference numeral 10 is a DC / DC converter which is a circuit for supplying a necessary power from the battery to the microcomputer 1 to the photometric IC 2 to the dimming sensor IC 5.

A line-of-sight input IC 11 is a line-of-sight detection iRED.
12 is turned on and off, and the line-of-sight detection CCD 13 is controlled.

Reference numeral 14 denotes an LED display circuit in the finder, which is L in the finder according to a command from the microcomputer 1.
Display ED. Reference numeral 15 denotes an LED, which is arranged in a viewfinder of a camera (not shown) and provides the photographer with information about the state of the camera and information necessary for photographing.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a liquid crystal display circuit, which displays the photographing information of the camera such as the shutter speed / aperture control value, the battery level, and the auto focus on the external liquid crystal on the upper part of the camera or the internal liquid crystal in the finder of the camera. Circuit.

Reference numeral 17 is a photo-reflector for feeding the film, which detects the perforation of the film to detect the stop position of the film winding.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a DX code detection circuit, which outputs the number of storable films used for photographing, ISO sensitivity, latitude information and the like to the microcomputer 1.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a switch sense circuit, which is always supplied with power together with the liquid crystal display circuit 16, and in an ordinary camera, sw1 and interlocking with the first stroke for starting preparation for photographing of the release button of the camera, Information such as the AE lock switch that stores the photometric value, the switch that determines the automatic focus adjustment (AF) mode of the camera, and the imprint switch can be read at all times.

A shutter control circuit 20 controls a shutter unit (not shown) according to a control signal from the microcomputer 1.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a motor driver which controls the motor 22 according to a control signal from the microcomputer 1 to wind and rewind the film, up and down the mirror, and charge the shutter.

Reference numeral 23 is a red-eye reduction lamp which reduces the so-called red-eye phenomenon that causes the human eye to become red during built-in flash photography.

Reference numeral 24 is an oscillator circuit for the microcomputer 1.
Is a circuit that creates a drive frequency for operating the.

Further, a sw2 for operating a shutter for photographing is connected to the microcomputer 1, and when the sw2 is turned on in a state where a predetermined condition is satisfied, the shutter is controlled and exposure is started.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the imprinting circuit of FIG. The imprinting circuit is a constant current IC and imprinting LED
It consists of The microcomputer controls the constant current IC to control the lighting timing and lighting time of the LED to be lit.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the camera of the embodiment.
The mode selector sets the shooting mode of the camera, and when the strobe up switch is turned on, the built-in strobe pops up. The main dial and sub dial are switches for changing the set value. AE
The lock button is a button for storing the photometric value. The feeding mode setting switch is a switch for changing the feeding mode and feeding speed of the film. The autofocus mode switch is a switch for switching the autofocus mode. The DATE POSITION switch is a switch for arbitrarily setting the shooting position or automatically setting the shooting position.

FIG. 4 shows the microcomputer 1 shown in the figure.
Is a flowchart showing the operation of the above, and the operation of the entire camera will be described using this flowchart.

In step 51, it is judged whether or not the photometry / distance measurement start switch SW1 is ON. If it is ON, the process proceeds to step 52, and if it is not ON, the process returns to step 51 and is repeated until SW1 is turned ON.

In step 52, the photometric IC 2 is operated to determine the exposure amount in the subroutine "photometry", and the light amount of the object is measured. In this subroutine, lens communication is performed, and focal length information and distance information from a lens (not shown)
Enter the best focus correction information, full aperture information, etc.
The contents of the subroutine will be described later.

Step 53 is a subroutine "distance measuring point selection". When the focus is autofocus, the distance measuring point is automatically selected.
This is a subroutine for detecting the line of sight when in the line of sight input mode.

Step 54 is a subroutine "distance measurement",
It is determined whether the auto focus mode or the manual focus mode is set, and then the automatic focus detection operation is performed. In step 61, the process proceeds to step 62.

In step 55, the release switch SW
It is determined whether or not 2 is ON. If it is ON, the process proceeds to step 56, and if it is not ON, the process returns to step 51.

In step 57, a load is applied to the battery to check whether or not the battery has a capacity for the camera to photograph, and when the battery capacity is low and photographing is not possible, the process proceeds to step 63, and it is confirmed that the battery capacity is low. Warning.

In step 58, the aperture of the lens is narrowed down to the aperture value determined based on the photometric value in the subroutine "photometry" of step 52 for performing the release operation, and the process proceeds to step 59.

In step 59, the shutter is controlled to perform the exposure operation, the shutter is opened for a predetermined time and the exposure operation is performed, and then the process proceeds to step 60.

In step 60, the diaphragm narrowed down in step 58 is returned to the open position, and the process proceeds to step 61.

In step 61, the photographed film is sent to the next frame, and the process proceeds to step 62.

At step 62, a subroutine "imprint control" for controlling the imprint on the film is performed, and the process returns to step 51 to end the series of operations.

FIG. 5 shows an arrangement of distance measuring points of a camera equipped with the data imprinting device of this embodiment and a divided view of a photometric sensor. A0 to A4 are distance measuring points, and this portion of the photometric sensor is also called A0 to A4. The photometric sensors B5 to B11 are provided so as to surround the periphery of the distance measuring point, and C12 to C15 are located at the most peripheral portion.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the subroutine "imprinting control" of the data imprinting device of the camera of this embodiment. The contents of this flowchart will be described below.

In step 101, the default value in the date imprinting state is read from the memory in the microcomputer 1.

In step 102, it is determined whether or not the image capturing position of the camera is fixed. If the imprinting position is fixed, the process proceeds to step 103, and if not, the process proceeds to step 106.

In step 103, if the camera is in the panorama mode, the process proceeds to step 104, and if it is not in the panorama mode, the process proceeds to step 105.

In step 104, the panorama LED is selected and the process proceeds to step 113.

At step 105, L for the normal photographing screen is displayed.
Select ED and proceed to step 113.

In step 106, it is judged from the information of the vertical / horizontal detection switch when not shown whether the camera is in the normal position or the vertical position, and the process proceeds to step 10.

In step 107, the result output by the subroutine "select distance measuring point" in step 53 is read, and the process proceeds to step 108.

In step 108, if the camera is in the panorama mode, the process proceeds to step 109, and if it is not in the panorama mode, the process proceeds to step 111.

At step 109, the panorama LED is selected and the routine proceeds to step 110.

At step 110, the panorama photometric value obtained by the subroutine "photometry" at step 52 is read, and the routine proceeds to step 112.

At step 111, the photometric value obtained by the subroutine "photometry" at step 52 is read, and the routine proceeds to step 112.

Step 112 is a subroutine "imprint position selection", in which the imprint position is selected using the distance measurement point information and the photometric information, and the process proceeds to step 113.

In step 113, the imprinting is actually performed and the process returns to the main routine.

Next, the contents of the subroutine "photometry" will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step 201, the value of each sensor of the photometric sensor IC shown in FIG. 1 is read.

In step 202, the switch sense circuit 1
It is determined whether or not the panorama sw in 9 is OFF. If it is OFF, the process proceeds to step 204, and if not, the process proceeds to step 203.

In step 203, the photometric value is corrected for panoramic photography, and the process proceeds to step 204.

In step 204, the switch sense circuit 1
It is determined from the position of the photometry method selection switch in 9 whether multi-division photometry is performed. When multi-division photometry is performed, the process proceeds to step 205, and otherwise, the process proceeds to step 206.

In step 205, the photometric value is weighted according to a certain algorithm built in the microcomputer 1, and the process returns to the main routine.

At step 206, since the photometry method is the average photometry, the sensor outputs are averaged and the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the subroutine "distance measuring point selection", the contents of which will be described below with reference to FIG.

In step 301, it is determined whether the camera is in the auto focus mode or the manual focus mode. In the auto focus mode, the process proceeds to step 302, and in the manual focus mode, it is not necessary to select the focus detection point, so the process returns to the main routine.

At step 302, it is judged from the information of the switch sense circuit 19 whether or not the distance measuring point is in the arbitrary selection mode. If the mode is the arbitrary selection mode, the process proceeds to step 303. If not, the range-finding point automatic selection mode is entered, so the process proceeds to step 306.

In step 306, the fact that the focus detection point is automatically selected is stored in the memory of the microcomputer 1 and the process returns to the main routine.

In step 303, it is judged whether or not the line-of-sight input mode is selected. If the line-of-sight input mode is selected, the process proceeds to step 304. If not, the range-finding point arbitrary selection mode is selected and the process proceeds to step 305.

In step 304, the visual axis detection processing is performed, and the flow advances to step 307. In step 307, step 3
The focus detection point is detected from the result of 04, the focus detection point information is stored in the memory, and the process returns to the main routine.

In step 305, the information from the focus detection point selection switch is input and stored in the memory, and the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the subroutine "distance measurement", and the contents of the subroutine will be described below using this flowchart.

In step 401, it is determined whether or not the camera is in the autofocus mode. If the camera is in the autofocus mode, the process proceeds to step 402, and if it is the manual focus, the process returns to the main routine.

At step 402, the AF sensor is read, and the routine proceeds to step 403.

In step 403, autofocus calculation is performed based on the output of the sensor, and the process proceeds to step 404.

In step 404, it is judged from the result of the subroutine "distance measuring point selection" whether or not the distance measuring point is automatically selected. If the distance measuring point is automatically selected, the process proceeds to step 405, and if not, the process proceeds to step 406. Distance information is input from the memory and the process proceeds to step 407.

In step 405, the distance measuring point is set in step 40.
It is determined from the calculation result of No. 3 and the process proceeds to step 407.

In step 407, the lens is driven so as to move the photographing lens to the focal position based on the calculation result,
Return to main routine.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the subroutine "imprint position selection", and the contents of the subroutine will be described below using this flowchart.

In step 451, it is determined whether or not the distance measuring point is at A0. When the distance measuring point is at A0, step 452 is performed.
Otherwise go to step 453.

In step 452, the default imprint value is read in from step 101 of the subroutine "imprint control", the default LED is selected, and the process returns to the main routine.

In step 453, it is judged whether the focus detection points are A1 and A3, that is, whether the focus detection points are on the left side.
If 1, A3, the process proceeds to step 454, and the focus detection point is A2.
When it is in A4, the process proceeds to step 455.

At step 454, the process returns to the original subroutine even if the imprinting position is designated as the right.

In step 455, the process returns to the original subroutine even if the imprinting position is designated as left.

(Second Embodiment) The feature of the second embodiment is that the photometric information is taken into consideration when the camera sets the projection position. Since the configuration and basic operation of the camera are the same as those of the first embodiment, only parts different from those of the first embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the subroutine "imprint position selection", and the contents of the subroutine will be described below using this flowchart.

In step 501, it is determined whether or not the focus detection point is at A0. When the focus detection point is at A0, step 502 is performed.
Otherwise go to step 506.

At step 502, the sensors at the lower right and the lower left of the photographing screen at the time of photographing by the camera are selected from step 106 of the subroutine "imprint control". Taking the figure as an example, the sensor at the lower right is C15 and the sensor at the lower left is C14 because it is in the normal position at this time.

At step 503, the outputs of the lower right sensor and the lower left sensor are compared. If the output value at the lower right is lower, the process proceeds to step 504. If not, at step 50.
Go to 5.

In step 504, the process returns to the original subroutine even if the imprinting position is designated as the right.

At step 505, the process returns to the original subroutine even if the imprinting position is designated as left. The darker photometric value is selected because the imprinted data is better when the photometric value is darker, and the printed photograph is likely to be well-balanced. In addition, since the attitude of the comparing photometric sensor at the time of photographing is also taken into consideration, the possibility that sunlight directly enters the comparing sensor is extremely low, and therefore the influence on the composition is small. Using FIG. 5, at the focus detection point A0, the shooting position is the horizontal position and the photometric value is C14> C1.
When it is 5, the imprinting position is the portion of C15 (Fig. 5).
(B)). The distance measuring point is A0, the vertical position is the photometric value C12.
When> C15, it is also copied to the portion of C15 as shown in FIG. 5 (see FIG. 5C).

At step 506, it is judged whether or not the distance measuring points are A1 and A3, that is, whether the distance measuring points are on the left side.
If 1, A3, go to step 507, and the focus detection point is A2.
When it is in A4, the process proceeds to step 508.

In step 507, the process returns to the original subroutine even if the imprinting position is designated as the right.

In step 508, the process returns to the original subroutine even if the imprinting position is designated as left.

[0092]

The camera with the data imprinting device according to the present invention has a plurality of distance measuring points, means for detecting the amount of deviation of each distance measuring point from the in-focus point, and means for measuring light by dividing the photographing screen into a plurality of portions. And a camera having a means for detecting the vertical and horizontal directions of the shooting screen and a line-of-sight detecting means for detecting the focus detection point on the viewfinder screen where the photographer measures the distance. It is possible to always imprint from the information to the optimum imprinting position.

Further, since the present invention uses the so-called dot date system in which the film is imprinted during the feeding, there is an effect that the hardware cost is hardly increased even if a large number of imprinting positions are provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a specific configuration of an electric control block of a camera provided with a data imprinting device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a copying circuit according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a sequence of the microcomputer of the camera of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an arrangement of distance measuring points of a camera equipped with the data imprinting device of the present embodiment and a divided view of a photometric sensor.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a subroutine “imprinting control” of a sequence of a microcomputer of a camera equipped with the data imprinting apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a subroutine “photometry” of the sequence of the microcomputer of the camera of this embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a subroutine “distance measuring point selection” of a sequence of the microcomputer of the camera of the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a subroutine “distance measurement” in the sequence of the microcomputer of the camera of this embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a subroutine “imprint position selection” in the sequence of the microcomputer of the camera of this embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a subroutine “imprint position selection” of a sequence of the microcomputer of the camera of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Microcomputer 2 Photometric IC 9 Imprinting circuit 11 Line-of-sight input IC

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A means having a plurality of focus detection points, a means for detecting the amount of deviation of each focus detection point from the in-focus point, a means for dividing the photographing screen into a plurality of portions for photometry, and a note of the photographer on the viewfinder screen. A line-of-sight detecting means for detecting a viewpoint, a data imprinting means for imprinting data at different positions within the photographing screen, and means for controlling the data imprinting position by the distance measuring point information selected by the sight-line detecting means. A camera that is equipped with. 2. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising: a vertical / horizontal detection unit for detecting the vertical / horizontal direction of the photographing screen, and a unit for controlling the data imprinting position according to the output of the vertical / horizontal detection unit. . 3. A plurality of distance measuring points, a means for detecting the amount of deviation of each distance measuring point from the in-focus point, a light measuring means for dividing the photographing screen into a plurality of portions for photometry, and a plurality of data imprinting positions. In the camera provided with the data imprinting device, one of the imprinting positions far from the focused focus detection point having the smaller output value of the photometric means is set as the imprinting position. A camera to do.