JPH09197546A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a time lag until a photographing action is executed after a release signal is turned on in the off-state of automatic power and to execute the photographing action at intervals of a fixed time more precisely than a conventional way in an interval photographing. SOLUTION: This camera can be set in a low power consumption state by stopping the supply of a power source to an unnecessary circuit when the photographing action is not executed for more than a prescribed time and set in a normal action state by supplying the power source to a required circuit in photographing. Since a signal for obtaining the normal action state can be outputted(S5) even under the low power consumption condition within a set time before a release signal is outputted(S3 and S4) at the interval photographing, a photographing preparing action after the release signal is turned on(S6) can be greatly shortened and the time lag of the photographing action after the release signal is turned on is prevented. Besides, the photographing action can be precisely executed at intervals of a fixed time in an interval photographing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera, and in particular, when a picture is not taken for a predetermined time or longer, the power supply to an unnecessary circuit is stopped to make a low power consumption state, and a necessary circuit is supplied with a power supply at the time of picture taking. Then, the present invention relates to a camera that can be brought into a normal operation state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to prevent unnecessary consumption of the battery when the camera is not photographed for a long time after the power is turned on, power is supplied to unnecessary circuits when the photograph is not taken for a predetermined time or longer. By stopping the power supply, the power consumption is reduced to reduce the power consumption (auto power off state), and when the photographer wants to shoot after that, the power is supplied to the circuits necessary for the photographing again during the photographing preparation operation and the normal operation state is set. Some cameras can be turned on (power ON state).

[0003]

However, in a camera having such a function, if the release signal is turned on when the auto power is off,
The release signal is actually returned by the restoration of the circuit drive power supply, that is, the return from the auto power OFF state to the power ON state, and the shooting preparation operation such as adjusting the aperture and focusing according to the signal from the sensor such as photometry and distance measurement. There is a time lag (time delay) from the time when is turned on to the time when the shooting operation is actually started, and there is a possibility that the perfect shutter chance will be missed even if the release button is pressed in order to shoot a decisive moment.

The case of performing interval shooting with a camera having such a function will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, turn on the power of the camera to enable shooting (ST
The power is turned on (ART) (step S1),
If the shooting operation has not been performed for a predetermined time or longer (YES in step S2), the power supply to unnecessary circuits is stopped to enter the auto power OFF state in which power consumption is reduced (step S3).

After that, when the interval release signal is turned on (YES in step S4), power is supplied to necessary circuits to turn on the power, and the aperture or focus is adjusted according to signals from sensors such as photometry and distance measurement. A shooting preparation operation such as matching is performed (step S5). When the shooting preparation operation is completed, the shooting operation is finally performed (step S6). Then, returning to the beginning, the same series of operations as described above is performed, and by repeating this, interval shooting is performed at regular time intervals.

As described above, since the power is turned on after the interval signal is turned on, and the above-mentioned time delay occurs due to the shooting preparation operation, as shown in the time chart of FIG. Even if the interval release signal is turned on every fixed time T, there is a time delay due to the restoration of the circuit drive power supply and the shooting preparation operation as described above before shooting, and the time required for this shooting preparation operation is constant. Since this is not done, the intervals t1 and t2 at the start of each photographing are not constant. That is, the interval release signal must be turned on during interval shooting.
There is a problem that there is a time delay between the time point and the actual shooting start time point, and that interval shooting cannot be performed at intervals of a fixed time T.

Therefore, the present invention is directed to the automatic power OFF.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera capable of reducing the time delay until the photographing operation after the release signal is turned on under the state of the camera and capable of performing the photographing more accurately at a constant time interval than in the conventional case during the interval photographing. It is a thing.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, it is possible to automatically output a release signal at regular time intervals to perform interval photography, and perform photography for a predetermined time or longer. When the camera is not in use, the power supply to unnecessary circuits is stopped to bring the system to a low power consumption state, and when shooting, the power is supplied to the necessary circuits to bring the camera into a normal operation state. It is characterized in that it is possible to output a signal for setting the normal operation state even in the low power consumption state within the set time before outputting the signal.

According to the camera having such a structure, at the time of interval photographing, even when the camera is in the low power consumption state (auto power OFF state) within the set time before the release signal is turned on, Release signal ON
Before the operation, the power can be supplied to the necessary circuits in advance to output the signal for setting the normal operation state. Therefore, the shooting preparation operation after the release signal is turned on can be significantly shortened, and the release operation can be significantly reduced. It is possible to reduce the time delay of the photographing operation after the signal is turned on, and at the time of interval photographing, it is possible to perform photographing more accurately at a constant time interval than in the past.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 are views showing a first embodiment of a camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a view showing an imprinting device 1 as an accessory of a camera. The imprinting device 1 is provided at a position facing the imprinting aperture of the back cover (not shown) of the camera body. Various photographing information is displayed on the imprinting data display section 3 of the imprinting apparatus 1,
The exposure correction value can be displayed in the portion 3a, the shutter speed can be displayed in the portion 3b, the aperture value can be displayed in the portion 3c, and the initials of the photographing mode and the photographer can be displayed in the portion 3d. . The imprint data display unit 3 can display the number of frames to be photographed, the date and time, minutes and seconds as other photographing information.

At the upper left of the imprinted data display section 3, there is a status display section 4 in which the current status is displayed. For example, when the display of the PRINT display unit 4a is lit, the fact that the shooting information imprinting is set is
When the display of the T display section 4a is blinking, it indicates that the photographing information is currently imprinted on a predetermined frame. In addition, the INT display unit 4 next to the PRINT display unit 4a
When the display of b is lit, it indicates that the interval shooting is set, and in this case, the display of the imprint data display unit 3 displays interval information such as the shooting interval time.

The operation buttons 2 of the imprinting device 1 are a button 2a for selecting whether or not information is imprinted on the film, and a button 2 for selecting interval photographing.
b, buttons 2c, 2d, 2e and 2f for changing time or date or interval time settings, a button 2g for selecting a collective copy, and a button 2h for sending a release signal.

FIG. 2 shows the camera body 12 and the imprinting device 1.
3 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of FIG. The camera body 12 has a camera side control unit 14 and a photographing means 13. The imprinting device 1 that is integrally provided on the back cover side of the camera body 12 includes an imprinting side control unit 15, an imprinting unit 16, an imprinting data display unit 3, and operation buttons 2.

The camera side controller 14 of the camera body 12 is
The photographing operation of the photographing means 13 of the camera body 12 is controlled.
The photographing means 13 is composed of a shutter, a drive unit thereof and the like, and is controlled by the camera side control unit 14 to perform photographing preparation and photographing operation. Shooting preparation means the restoration of the circuit drive power supply, the operation of adjusting the aperture and focusing according to the signals from the sensors such as photometry and distance measurement, and the shooting operation is to open the shutter and expose the subject to the film. It is to let.

The shooting preparation and shooting operation of such a camera will be described. First, by pressing the button 2b for selecting the interval photographing, the setting of the imprinting apparatus 1 is set to the state of performing the interval photographing. Then, by pressing the button 2h for sending a release signal, the imprinting device 1 is set to output an interval release signal to the camera body 12 at a constant time T.

By the way, when the button 2b for selecting the interval photographing is pushed, a signal is outputted to the imprinting side control section 15, and when the imprinting side control section 15 inputs the signal from the operation button 2, the imprinting apparatus 1 is caused. Camera body 12
When the interval release signal is output, the wake-up signal is always set to be output from the imprinting side control unit 15 to the camera side control unit 14 before a set time before the signal output time.

Next, the operation procedure of such a camera will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, turn on the power of the camera to enable shooting (STAR
T), the power is turned on (step S1), but if the photographing operation is not performed for a predetermined time or longer (step S2 YE).
S) By stopping power supply to unnecessary circuits, a low power consumption state, that is, an auto power OFF state is set (step S3).

Next, it is judged whether or not the time has come a set time before the time when the interval release signal is turned on (step S4). If YES, a wake-up signal is output from the imprint side controller 15 to the camera side controller 14. (ON)
(Step S5). As a result, the camera main body 12 supplies power to necessary circuits to enter a normal operation state, that is, a power ON state, and then a preparatory operation for photographing such as aperture and focusing according to signals from sensors such as photometry and distance measurement. It is performed (step S5). After that, when the time comes when the interval release signal turns on, the release signal is output (ON) (YES in step S6), whereby the photographing operation can be performed immediately without time delay (step S7).

Next, the operation timing of the camera will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG. When performing interval shooting, from the image capture device 1 to the camera body 12
The interval release signal is output every fixed time T, and the wake-up signal is output from the imprinting side control unit 15 to the camera side control unit 14 before the set time before the release signal output time. Then auto power off until then
From the low power consumption state, which has been in the above state, the power is switched to the power ON state in order to supply power to necessary circuits to bring the circuit to the normal operation state, and the photographing preparation operation of the photographing means 13 by the photometry and the distance measurement operation is completed. Therefore, when the interval release signal is output thereafter, the camera side control unit 14 controls the photographing means 13 and the camera body 12 can immediately start the photographing operation.

When the photographing operation is completed and a predetermined time or more elapses, the camera body 12 enters the auto power OFF state in order to reduce the power consumption, and the power supply to unnecessary circuits is stopped to reduce the power consumption. Let When the interval release signal is about to be output again after the elapse of a certain time T from the start of the previous shooting, the wake-up signal is output from the image capturing side control unit 15 to the camera side control unit 14 before the set time before the signal output time. Then, similarly to the above, the power is turned on and the photographing preparation operation is performed. Therefore, the photographing operation is performed immediately when the interval release signal is turned on.

When the photographing operation is completed and a predetermined time or more elapses, the auto power is turned off. When the interval release signal is about to be turned on again after a lapse of a certain time T from the start of the previous shooting, the wake-up signal is output from the image capturing side control unit 15 to the camera side control unit 14 before the set time before the signal ON time. Then, similarly to the above, the power is turned on and the photographing preparation operation is performed. Therefore, the photographing operation is performed immediately when the interval release signal is turned on. At the timing of such a shooting operation, the time t ₁ or t ₂ from the shooting start time to the next shooting start time is almost the same as the fixed time T of the intervals at which the interval release signal is periodically output.

As described above, the interval release signal is O
By performing the shooting operation at the same time as N, it is possible to effectively prevent the time delay of the shooting after the ON of the interval release signal, and to perform the interval release shooting more accurately at a constant time T than before. It will be possible.

In particular, the imprinting device 1 has a function of imprinting various data such as an exposure value, a shutter speed value, and an aperture value in addition to a function of imprinting data such as year, month, day, and time. Therefore, when the information received from the camera body 12 is imprinted, it takes a little time for the display of the liquid crystal used during the imprinting operation to change and stabilize. Therefore, in the case of a camera equipped with such a multifunctional imprinting device 1, the effect of the present invention is enjoyed by completing the change and stabilization of the liquid crystal display before the release signal is turned on. can do.

In the above embodiment, the case where the interval release signal is output from the multi-function accessory (imprinting device 1) has been described, but the multi-function accessory is not attached, or the date, time, etc. The present invention can be applied to a type of camera that only wears an accessory that reflects only the one in which the interval release signal is generated by itself.

[0026]

As described above, according to the camera of the present invention, at the time of interval photographing, even when the power consumption is low within the set time before the release signal is turned on, Before the release signal is turned on, it is possible to supply power to the necessary circuits in advance and output the signal for normal operation, so the release signal is turned on.
It is possible to remarkably shorten the shooting preparation operation after the release, and to reduce the time delay of the shooting operation after the release signal is turned ON, and at the time of interval shooting, shoot more accurately at a fixed time interval than before. It becomes possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 The imprinting device 1 as a camera accessory.
FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the camera body 12 and the imprinting device 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a camera when performing interval shooting.

FIG. 4 is a time chart of an interval release signal, a wakeup signal, and a camera operation when performing interval shooting.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure when performing interval shooting in a conventional camera.

FIG. 6 is a time chart of an interval release signal and camera operation when performing interval shooting in a conventional camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Imprinting device 2 Operation button 2h Button for sending release signal 3 Imprinting data display section 4 Status display section 12 Camera body 13 Shooting means 14 Camera side control section 15 Imprinting side control section 16 Imprinting section

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A release signal can be automatically output at fixed time intervals to perform interval shooting, and when the shooting is not performed for a predetermined time or longer, power supply to unnecessary circuits is stopped to reduce the power consumption. In a camera that can be in a power consumption state and can supply power to necessary circuits during shooting to put it in a normal operation state, during interval shooting, the camera enters the low power consumption state within the set time before the release signal is output. A camera characterized by being able to output a signal to bring it to a normal operating state even when it is turned off. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the release signal for performing the interval shooting is output to the camera body from an accessory mounted on the camera body. 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein all the shooting preparation operations other than the transition to the normal operation state can be completed before the release signal is output.