JPH08313993A - Date recorder for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a date recorder for a camera capable of preventing a user from being given an illusion or distrust that the camera is manufactured some years before the camera comes into the market by displaying the present year or a year near it or the like without requiring a complex mechanisn and a program for the display of date in case a battery is exchanged, etc. CONSTITUTION: When at least information of the year counted by a calendar 4 is updated, a CPU 2 rewrites time information stored in a memory 5 for the updated time information. When the calender 4 is reset by the supply of power by the exchange of the battery, etc., the CPU2 reads out prescribed time information from the memory 5, to set the prescribed time information in the calender 4 and it starts to count time in accordance with a signal from a timer 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a date recording device for a camera. In particular, the present invention relates to a date recording device for a camera capable of imprinting a date with a photographed image on a film. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technique for improving the date display when the battery of the date device of the camera is replaced.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a date recording device for a camera, when a clock circuit reset by replacement of a battery or the like restarts clocking, date information is stored in advance in a memory of the clock circuit (for example, a date recorder). The clock starts from the specific date specified when the clock circuit for the device was designed.
At this time, the camera itself was newly released,
If the timing circuit was designed many years before the camera was in production, even if it was relatively recent in production, the date displayed by the camera would be The date may be many years earlier than this, and in this case, the illusion and distrust of the camera are given to the user as if the camera itself was produced many years before the release date. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, when the battery is removed for replacement, the time is stored in a storage device such as an EEPROM, and when the battery is inserted, it is stored in the storage device. There is a date recording device that starts timing from the time when it is present (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-250278).

[0003]

However, in the conventional camera date recording apparatus as described above, means for detecting attachment / detachment of the battery at the time of replacement of the battery is required, and the program capacity therefor also increases. To do. Also,
If the battery is replaced within the same day after the battery runs out, the displayed date does not change from the previous date, so it is difficult for the user to recognize that there is an error in the time. there were. The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and does not require a means for detecting attachment / detachment of a battery at the time of battery replacement and a program therefor, and at the time of battery exhaustion. Therefore, even if the battery is replaced during the same day, it will be easy for the user to recognize that there is an error in time, and whether the camera itself was produced many years before the release date. It is an object of the present invention to provide a date recording device for a camera that does not give the user such an illusion and a feeling of distrust.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, a date recording apparatus according to the invention described in claim 1 has a calendar function for automatically updating date information, and relates to a date at the time of photographing. A date recording device for a camera capable of recording information on a recording medium, including a timer that outputs a signal at an arbitrarily set time and an arbitrary time information that can be stored and rewritten freely. When the power of the non-volatile memory and the date recording device is turned on, the time measurement is started from the value of the time information stored in the memory, and the time is counted according to the signal output from the timer. When there is a change in the time information, the display means for displaying the date based on the time information counted by the time measuring means, and the time information concerning at least the year of the time measured by the time measuring means, or If the camera has performed a predetermined control,
It is provided with a memory rewriting means for rewriting the time information stored in the memory to at least time information relating to the year, and a means for writing desired time information in the memory.

[0005]

In the date recording apparatus having the above structure, the time information stored in the non-volatile memory is set in the time measuring means when the time measuring means is reset, and the display means displays the date based on this time information. Is displayed. Based on this time information, the time counting means counts time according to the signal output from the timer, and when the time information regarding at least the year is updated, or when the camera performs predetermined control, the nonvolatile memory stores the time. The stored time information is rewritten. Therefore, when the timekeeping means is reset, since the date of the year when the timekeeping means was stopped due to battery exhaustion or the like is displayed, the date many years before the release date of the camera may be displayed. This eliminates the illusion and distrust of the user as if the camera itself was manufactured many years before the release date. Further, even if the means for detecting the attachment / detachment of the battery at the time of battery replacement and the program for the same are not provided, it is possible to display the current year or a year relatively close to the current date. It becomes easy for the user to recognize that there is an error in the value of the time information set to.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a date recording device for a camera according to the present invention. The date recording apparatus 1 includes a CPU 2 that controls the entire apparatus 1 and a signal (hereinafter, referred to as "timer time-up") which is set at predetermined time intervals.
A timer 3 for outputting a signal) to the CPU 2 and a calendar (time measuring means) 4 for counting time and counting time each time a signal is received from the timer 3. Further, the present device 1 includes a non-volatile memory 5 such as an EEPROM that can read and write time information freely, and a display device 6 such as a liquid crystal that displays a date based on the time information counted by the calendar 4. Is provided.

Further, the apparatus 1 has a release switch Sw1 for performing a photographing operation, and a main switch Sw for starting control of the entire camera in which the apparatus 1 is mounted.
2, and date setting switches Sw3a and Sw3b for allowing the user to input time information of a desired date. Further, a photometric device 7 for performing photometry in a situation where a subject is placed, a motor 8 for driving a shutter of the camera, a motor 9 for winding up a film frame that has been photographed, and these motors 8 and 9. A motor control device 10 that controls driving is also provided. An input device 15 is connected to the CPU 2 via a terminal 16. This input device 15 displays time information (year, month, day, hour, minute, second) at the time of production of the camera by C
It is for inputting to PU2. The time information input from the input device 15 is written in the memory 5 by the CPU 2.

Next, the function of each component of the date imprinting apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a camera in which the date recording apparatus 1 is incorporated. Hereinafter, FIG. 1 and FIG.
The above function will be described using. The memory 5 stores time information (for example, the date when the camera is released) when the camera is manufactured in a factory or the like. The time information stored in the memory 5 is read by the CPU 2 when the calendar 4 is reset, such as when the battery is replaced, and is set in the counter section incorporated in the calendar 4. The calendar 4 counts the time for each signal sent from the timer 3, starting from the set time information. The value counted by the calendar 4 is displayed on the display device 6.

The time information counted by the counting section of the calendar 4 is used to record the shooting date on a recording medium such as a film. Therefore, in the counting section of the calendar 4, the value of year, month, day, hour, minute, second is counted, and every time a signal is sent from the timer 3, it is updated by the time set in the timer 3. This calendar 4
The time information indicated by the counting unit of is always monitored by the CPU 2, and when the time information regarding the year (hereinafter referred to as year data) is updated in the time information, the CPU 2 determines the year stored in the memory 5. The data is rewritten to the year data updated in the calendar 4. Therefore, the CPU 2 here functions as a memory rewriting unit.

Further, in the calendar 4, data of a desired date input by the user (date at the time when the user tries to take a picture) is set from the switches Sw3a and Sw3b via the CPU 2. The date set in the calendar 4 is displayed on the display device 6 and is imprinted on the film by an imprinting device (not shown). Also,
The camera 20 starts the photographing operation when the release switch Sw1 is turned on, and after the photometric device 7 performs photometry, the CPU 2 calculates the exposure value based on the data obtained by the photometric device 7. The CPU 2 drives the shutter by the motor 8 via the motor control device 10 according to the exposure value, and further winds up the film frame that has been photographed by the motor 9.

Next, the processing performed in the date recording device 1 and the camera 20 when the power is turned on again will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of this processing. When the power is turned on again by replacing the battery, the CPU2
Reads year data from the memory 5 (# 1). In the calendar 4, the value of this year data and the value of 0:00:00 on January 1 are set, and the clocking is started from this value (# 2). Then, the CPU 2 sets the timer 3 to output a signal every 1 second (# 3), and every time the signal from the timer 3 is received, the second value of the counting section of the calendar 4 is updated by 1 second, When the year data changes, the interrupt process (described later) for rewriting the year data in the memory 5 is permitted (# 4). Therefore, the calendar 4 can accurately count the time by updating the value of the second of the counting unit according to the signal from the timer 3.

Next, when the main switch Sw2 is ON (YES in # 5) and the release switch Sw1 is ON (YES in # 6), the camera 30 performs the release operation (# 7). Note that the specific processing in this release operation will be described later. When the release operation is completed, the current year data counted by the calendar 4 is written in the memory 5 (# 8). If the release switch Sw1 is not ON (NO in # 6), it is determined whether or not the date setting switch Sw3a or Sw3b is ON (# 9), and the date setting switch Sw3a or S is set.
If w3b is ON (YES in # 9), the desired date information input by the user is set in the calendar 4 (# 10). When the year data is changed by the user's setting, the changed year data is written in the memory 5 (# 11).

Next, the interrupt processing by the date recording apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of interrupt processing. The interrupt process is performed each time the CPU 2 receives a signal from the calendar 4. When this process is started, first, whether the shutter is being driven,
It is determined whether the film is being wound (# 10
1, # 102). If the shutter is not being driven (NO in # 101) and the film is not being wound (NO in # 102), the CP is sent in response to the signal from the timer 3.
U2 advances the value of the counter section of calendar 4 by 1 second (# 1
03). After that, the timer 3 is set to output a signal after 1 second has elapsed (# 104). In # 103,
When the year data of the counter section of the calendar 4 is updated by advancing the value of the counter section of the calendar 4 by 1 second (YES in # 105), the updated year data is written in the memory 5. (# 106).

Next, processing in the release operation of the camera 30 and a series of processing related thereto will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of this processing. When the release switch Sw1 is turned on, the brightness of the subject is measured (# 21) and an appropriate exposure value is determined (# 22). Next, based on this exposure value, an appropriate exposure time (1 second or less. Hereinafter, this exposure time is referred to as TAE) is calculated (# 23), and the lens is extended accordingly (# 24). ). After the lens is extended, the value t1 measured by the timer 3 is read at this point (# 25). At this point, the timer 3 is set to output a signal every 1 second, so the value t1 measured by the timer 3 is 0 second <t1 <1 second. This t1 is stored in the memory 5 or the like, and from this point, the timer 3 is used as a timer for controlling the operation of the camera 30, and the setting is changed so that a signal is output after the lapse of the TAE time (# 2).
6).

As described above, after TAE is set in the timer 3, the motor 8 for driving the shutter is driven,
The exposure based on the exposure value determined in 22 is started (#
27). When the TAE time has elapsed from the start of exposure and a signal is output from the timer 3, first, interrupt processing (see FIG. 4)
Is executed (YES in # 28), and then the motor 8 is turned off to end the exposure (# 29). In the interrupt process at # 28, the value in the calendar 4 count section is not updated because the shutter is being driven (# in FIG. 4).
Yes at 101).

At the time point when the process of # 29 is finished, the time elapsed since the counting section of the calendar 4 last counted is the time obtained by adding the above t1 and TAE. The obtained time is set as t2. That is, t2 = t1 + TAE (#
30). Here, when t2 does not exceed 1 second (#
The value of t2 is set as it is in the timer 3 (NO in 31) (# 34). From this point, timer 3 is calendar 4
Used as a timer that outputs a signal every 1 second for
Start timing from 2. After that, a signal is output from the timer 3 at a time point (hereinafter, referred to as time point A) when 1 second to t2 seconds have elapsed since the start of the time counting, and the value of the counting section of the calendar 4 is advanced by 1 second. Therefore, in this case, the elapsed time from the time when the counting unit of the calendar 4 performed the previous counting to the time A is exactly 1 second.

On the other hand, if t2 exceeds 1 second (#
(YES in 31), reset t2 to a value obtained by subtracting 1 second from t2 (# 32), advancing the value of the count part of the calendar 4 by 1 second (# 33), and then the timer 3 starts timing from t2. (# 34). Then timer 3
When the value of is 1 second (t2 is 0 second <t2 <1 second, 1 second has elapsed since timer 3 started counting at # 34).
A signal is output at the time when t2 seconds have elapsed, hereinafter referred to as time B), and the count value of the calendar 4 is advanced by 1 second.
At the time of advancing the count value of calendar 4 by 1 second in # 33, since the count of calendar 4 has passed for 1 second or more since the last time counting, calendar 4 counts the correct time at this point. I will not do it,
Since the elapsed time from the time when the count of the calendar 4 was counted last time to the time point B is exactly 2 seconds, the calendar 4 counts the correct time after the time point B.

Thereafter, the lens extended in # 24 is reset (# 35), and at this time, the value t3 measured by the timer 3 is read out and stored in the memory 5 or the like (# 36). The timer 3 is set to output a signal after a lapse of 2 seconds, and functions as a timer for controlling the operation of the camera 30 (# 37). Then, the motor 9 is driven, the film winding operation for the photographed film is started (# 38), and the output of the signal from the timer 3 is waited for (# 38).
39). That is, from the time the timer 3 is set in # 37, 2
It is determined whether or not seconds have elapsed. Here, when the winding of one film frame is completed while the signal from the timer 3 is not output (within 2 seconds from the time when the timer 3 is set in # 37) (NO in # 39, # YE at 40
S), the motor 9 is stopped, and the count value of the calendar 4 is advanced by 1 second (# 41, # 42). The winding time for one frame of film by the motor 9 varies depending on the load, the power supply voltage, etc., but here, the winding time is 1
Think of it as seconds. Next, the value of t3 is set in the timer 3 (# 43). That is, the timer 3 starts time measurement from t3, and when the value of the timer 3 reaches 1 second (timer 3
Is set so that a signal is output 1 second-t3 seconds after the start of time measurement.

A signal is output from the timer 3 at # 37, and even if 2 seconds elapse from the time when the timer 3 is set, the film 1
When it is not confirmed that the frame has been wound (YES in # 39), it is determined that the film has reached the end, and the motor 9
To stop the film winding operation (# 4
4) After advancing the count value of the calendar 4 by 2 seconds, the timer 3 is set to the value of t3 (# 45, # 46), and the film rewinding is started (# 47).

Next, another embodiment of the processing in the release operation of the camera 30 and a series of processing related thereto will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in this operation. # 51 to # 71 in FIG.
The processes # 75 to # 78 are the same as the processes # 21 to # 41 and # 44 to # 47 in the process of the release operation of the camera 30 described above with reference to FIG. Is. Therefore, in the following, only different processing in each of these embodiments will be described. When the film winding operation is stopped at # 71, the process of determining whether or not there is a signal output from the timer 3 is performed again (# 72). Timer 3
If there is a signal output from (YES in # 72), after the interrupt process is executed (the count value of the calendar 4 is advanced by 1 second during the interrupt process), the count value of the calendar 4 is 1 It advances for a second (# 73). By performing the processing in this manner, it is possible to eliminate the occurrence of an error in the time counted by the calendar 4 due to the variation in the winding time for one frame of film by the motor 9.

As described above, according to the date recording apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the CPU 2 reads out the year data stored in the memory 5 when the calendar 4 is reset by turning the power on again such as battery replacement. , The value of the year data and date information of 0:00:00 on January 1 are set in the calendar 4, and the display device 6 displays the date information. Even when the camera 20 itself is designed for, the display device 6 does not display the date many years before the sale time of the camera 20, and the user can see the camera 20 itself many years before the sale time. The illusion that it was produced in, and the feeling of distrust will not be given. Furthermore, the year data stored in the memory 5 is
Since the value of the year data in the calendar 4 counter section is rewritten every time the value is changed, the year displayed on the display device 6 is the present or close to the present, and when the user sets the date of the calendar 4, the month is displayed. Only the day needs to be set. Further, in the above embodiment, since the timer for controlling the operation of the camera 30 and the timer for the calendar 4 are used together in the timer 3, it is not necessary to separately provide a timer for controlling the operation of the camera 30.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above embodiment, the year data is stored in the memory 5, and the content of the memory 5 is rewritten when the year data is updated in the calendar 4, but the memory 5 stores the time until the month or the month and day. The information may be stored, and the contents of the memory 5 may be rewritten when the time information regarding the month or the date is updated in the calendar 4. In addition, when writing the time information of the month and date in the memory 5 in this way, if the date before the date counted by the calendar 4 is stored in the memory 5, the battery is exhausted and the calendar 4 is stopped. When the battery is replaced during the day, the display device 6
It becomes easier for the user to recognize that there is an error in the time counted by the calendar 4 than when the date of the day is displayed in. In addition, in the embodiment, when the calendar 4 is reset, the calendar 4 starts timing from January 1 of the year of the time information stored in the memory 5, but in this case, the reset date is If it happens to be January 1, it is difficult for the user to recognize that the time counted by the calendar 4 has an error, so in order to eliminate this,
Rewriting the information about the year in the memory 5 can be done in the calendar 4
It may be performed on the day following the day when the year value of the counter unit is updated.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a date imprinting apparatus has been described, but the present invention can be applied to a date recording apparatus other than the date imprinting apparatus.
For example, in a device that records a date on a magnetic recording medium of a film provided with a magnetic recording medium, a video camera that records a captured image on the magnetic recording medium, and the like, a date recording that records the date on the magnetic recording medium together with the captured image. The present invention can be applied to devices and the like.

[0024]

As described above, according to the date recording apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the nonvolatile memory is rewritten when at least the time information regarding the year is updated or when the camera performs a predetermined control. The time measurement is started based on the time information, and the date based on the time information is displayed on the display means. Therefore, when resetting the timekeeping means,
Since the date of the year when the timekeeping means is stopped due to exhaustion of the battery or the like is displayed, the date of years before the release date of the camera is not displayed, and the camera itself is released to the user. The illusion and disbelief that it was produced many years before the period is no longer given. Further, even if the means for detecting the attachment / detachment of the battery at the time of battery replacement and the program therefor are not provided, it is possible to display the present or the year relatively close to the present date
Further, it becomes easier for the user to recognize that the time information of the reset time measuring means has an error.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a date recording device for a camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a camera incorporating the date recording device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing performed in the date recording device and the camera when the power is turned on again.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of interrupt processing by the date recording device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in a release operation of the camera and a series of processing related thereto.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of another example of the processing in FIG.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 date recording device 2 CPU 3 timer 4 calendar 5 memory 6 display device 15 input device 16 terminal

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A date recording device for a camera, which has a calendar function for automatically updating date information and is capable of recording information on a date at the time of shooting on a recording medium, at an arbitrarily set time. A timer that outputs a signal to the, a non-volatile memory that can store arbitrary time information and can be freely rewritten, and a memory that is stored in the memory when the power of the date recording device is turned on. Time counting means for starting time counting from the value of the time information present and counting time according to the signal output from the timer, and display means for displaying the date based on the time information counted by the time counting means, The time information stored in the memory is changed when there is a change in the time information relating to at least the year out of the time measured by the time measuring means or when the camera performs a predetermined control. At least a memory rewriting means for rewriting the time information on the year, means for writing desired time information in the memory, camera date recording apparatus characterized by comprising a a.