JPH09211528A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera in which a projecting photographing lens can be collapsibly mounted in a camera main body even when it is judged that a photographing action cannot be executed due to the residual quantity of electric energy is small by checking a battery. SOLUTION: This camera is provided with the photographing lens 12 moved to a prescribed position where it is separated from the camera main body at a photographing time and returned to a prescribed position in the direction of the camera main body at a non-photographing time. Then, currents corresponding to a first and a second dummy loads 6 and 8 are selectively made to flow from the battery 2 supplying electric power by a battery voltage decision part 4 so that a battery voltage obtained when the current is made to flow to the load 6 or the load 8 is measured by the decision part 4. Based on the measured result, it is decided by the decision part 4 whether the lens 12 can be moved to the position of the non-photographing time from the position of the photographing time or not. Then, when it is decided to be possible, the lens 12 is moved to the position of the non-photographing time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera that controls the operation by determining the voltage of a battery used in the camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a battery check method for a camera, a dummy load is energized, the battery voltage at that time is monitored, and the internal impedance of the battery is detected from the voltage level to measure the remaining battery level. The method of doing is known.

In recent compact cameras, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-84538, a structure having a barrier for protecting a lens frame including a taking lens is provided. The cameras that have been put to practical use have been put to practical use. In this camera, the barrier is movable by manual operation, and normally when shooting, the barrier is opened and the shooting lens is projected from the front of the camera body, but when not shooting, the shooting lens is inside the camera body. It moves to a retractable position where it can be stored in and protects the lens frame etc. with a barrier.

[0004]

However, when the conventional battery check method as described above is used for the camera, the battery is NG, for example, between photographs, that is, the remaining battery level is low and normal. When it is determined that the operation cannot be performed, the release lock, that is, the operation is stopped with the taking lens protruding from the camera body. Then, the members such as the photographing lens and the lens frame in the protruding state are likely to collide with the outside, which may damage the photographing lens and the lens frame.

When it is determined that the battery is NG, the battery is not always completely discharged, and the battery does not have a battery capacity for performing an operation related to photographing by the camera, but the load is light. In many cases, they have sufficient battery capacity to operate the shooting lens and lens frame.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and even when it is determined by the battery check that the remaining amount of electric energy is small and the photographing operation cannot be performed, the projecting photographing lens is attached to the camera. An object of the present invention is to provide a camera that can be retracted into the body.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the camera according to the present invention has a function of moving to a predetermined position away from the camera body when photographing and returning to a predetermined position in the camera body direction when not photographing. Means, a power supply for supplying electric power for driving the functional means, a battery check circuit having a plurality of dummy loads connected in parallel to the power supply, and the power supply corresponding to the plurality of dummy loads Current control means for selectively passing current, power source voltage measuring means for measuring the voltage of the power source when current is passed through the dummy load, and the functional means based on the output of the power source voltage measuring means. Is provided with a determining unit that determines whether or not the camera can move from a shooting position to a non-shooting position.

Further, the camera according to the present invention moves to a predetermined position away from the camera body at the time of shooting, and returns to the predetermined position in the camera body direction at the time of non-shooting, and an electric power for driving the shooting lens. Power supply,
A battery check circuit having a dummy load, a power supply voltage measuring means for flowing a current from the power supply to the dummy load to measure the voltage of the power supply, and an output of the power supply voltage measuring means are smaller than a predetermined value. Taking lens drive control for moving the taking lens from the photographing position to the non-photographing position when the output of the power supply voltage measuring means is smaller than the predetermined value. Means and means are provided.

Further, the camera according to the present invention is characterized in that the non-photographing position of the photographing lens is the retracted position.

That is, in the camera according to the present invention,
When shooting, move to a predetermined position away from the camera body,
A battery check circuit having functional means for returning to a predetermined position in the camera main body direction during non-photographing and having a plurality of dummy loads connected in parallel to a power source for supplying electric power for driving the functional means. doing. A current corresponding to the plurality of dummy loads is selectively made to flow from the power supply by the current control means, and when the current is made to flow to the dummy load, the voltage of the power supply is measured by the power supply voltage measuring means. Then, based on the output of the power supply voltage measuring means,
The determination means determines whether or not the functional means can be moved from the photographing position to the non-photographing position, and when it is possible, the functional means is moved to the non-photographing position.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The battery voltage determining unit 4 for determining the voltage of the battery 2 loaded in the camera has a first dummy load 6 for supplying a current from the battery 2 and a load less than the first dummy load 6. A second dummy load 8 for passing a current,
The determination value setting unit 10 for setting the determination value for determining the voltage of the battery 2 is connected to each. Further, the battery voltage determination unit 4 is connected to a control unit 14 that controls the operation of the taking lens 12.

The camera thus constructed operates as follows. First, from the battery 2 loaded in the camera to the first
A current is passed through the dummy load 6 of. The battery voltage determination unit 4 compares the battery voltage during energization with the determination value set in the determination value setting unit 10. When the battery voltage is higher than the determination value, the normal shooting operation is executed.

On the other hand, when the battery voltage is lower than the judgment value,
A current is passed from the battery 2 to the second dummy load 8. The battery voltage determination unit 4 again compares the battery voltage during energization with the determination value set in the determination value setting unit 10. When the battery voltage is higher than the determination value, the controller 14 is controlled to move the taking lens 12 to the retracted position where it can be stored in the camera body. On the other hand, when the battery voltage is lower than the determination value, it is determined that the taking lens 12 cannot be moved to the retracted position, and the operation of the camera is stopped.

Next, the camera of this embodiment will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a more specific structure of the camera of this embodiment.

A battery 20 for supplying electric energy to an electronic circuit of the camera and the battery 22 are connected to a microcomputer 20 which performs sequence control of the entire camera and various calculations, and the battery 22 drives the camera. A battery check circuit 24 for checking whether or not it has a voltage necessary for the operation, a lens drive motor 28 for driving the taking lens 26, and a lens drive motor control circuit 30 for controlling the operation of the lens drive motor 28. A feed-out pulse generation circuit 32 that generates a pulse according to the movement of the taking lens 26, a retracting switch 34 that is turned off when the taking lens 26 is moved to the retracted position, and a main switch 36 that is a power switch that supplies power to the camera. The initial position used when the shooting lens 26 is extended to a predetermined position when the A switch 38, a release switch 42 for starting the operation for performing photography such as via the actuator drive circuit for driving the shutter 40 and the photographing lens 26 by the operation of the photographer, D of the film 44
A film sensitivity reading circuit 46 that reads the X-code and outputs the sensitivity information to the microcomputer 20, a display circuit 48 for notifying the photographer of various modes of the camera, the number of frames to be photographed, and the like, and strobe control for controlling the flash emission. The circuit 50 and the distance measuring circuit 5 that emits infrared light and receives the reflected light reflected by the subject to calculate the distance to the subject.
2, a film control circuit 54 for controlling the feeding of the film 44, an aperture / shutter control circuit 56 for controlling the operation of an aperture and shutter 40 (not shown), and a timer (not shown) built in the microcomputer 20. A storage circuit 58 for storing time is connected.

The structure of the battery check circuit 24 is shown in FIG.

The battery check circuit 24 includes an analog / digital converter (hereinafter referred to as an A / D converter) 60 for converting an analog signal into a digital signal, and a battery 22 for energizing when performing the first battery check. Dummy load 62, a dummy load 64 that is energized from the battery 22 when performing the second battery check, and a dummy load 6
2 monitors the output from the collectors of the transistors 66 and 68 and the transistor 66 that controls the energization to the dummy load 64, the transistor 68 that controls the energization to the dummy load 64, and the current to the dummy loads 62 and 64 is the voltage of the battery 22. The constant current control circuit 70 controls so as to be constant regardless of the temperature.
Here, the dummy load 64 has a larger load than the dummy load 62.

In the battery check circuit 24, the constant current control circuit 70 turns on the transistor 66 or the transistor 68, and the battery 22 moves to the dummy load 62.
Alternatively, each of the dummy loads 64 is energized. The voltage of the battery 22 during energization is monitored by the A / D converter 60, converted into a digital signal, and output to the microcomputer 20 as voltage information.

Next, the discharge characteristics of an alkaline manganese battery containing no mercury as an example of the battery 22 will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, the vertical axis represents voltage and the horizontal axis represents the number of discharges.

The discharge characteristic curve in the figure is 3 at 30 second intervals.
It shows the battery open-circuit voltage immediately before the discharge, that is, the no-load voltage Vo and the battery voltage VL immediately after the start of the discharge when the intermittent discharge for discharging a predetermined current is performed for a second. Voltage V
L1 and VL2 indicate the battery voltage immediately after the number of discharges n1 and n2, respectively. Here, the voltage VL2 is the camera operation guarantee voltage. The battery voltage immediately after the start of discharge shows initial characteristics until the number of discharges reaches n1 and then decreases monotonically as the number of discharges increases.

In the battery check by the battery check circuit 24, a current is passed through the dummy load 62 or the dummy load 64 to check whether the voltage of the battery 22 is lower than the operation guarantee voltage VL2 of the camera. First, when a current is applied to the dummy load 62, the battery 2
It is checked whether the voltage of 2 is lower than the operation guarantee voltage VL2 shown in FIG. If the check result is low,
Further, a current is passed through the dummy load 64 to check whether the voltage of the battery 22 is higher than the operation guarantee voltage VL2.

When a voltage is applied to the dummy load 64 and the voltage of the battery 22 is higher than the operation guarantee voltage VL2, the microcomputer 20 cannot guarantee the operation of the camera.
It is determined that the taking lens 26 can be retracted. on the other hand,
If the voltage of the battery 22 is lower than the operation guarantee voltage VL2 even if a current is passed through the dummy load 64, the microcomputer 2
0 determines that neither the operation of the camera nor the collapse of the taking lens 26 is possible.

Next, the processing of the microcomputer 20 as the operation of the camera will be described with reference to the main flow chart shown in FIG.

When the photographer turns on the power, the microcomputer 20 resets and then executes initialization (step S1). Subsequently, the microcomputer 20 determines whether or not the main switch 36 is turned on (step S2). Here, when it is turned on, "lens initial position extension" is executed to extend the taking lens 26 from the retracted position to the initial position via the lens drive motor control circuit 30 (step S3). The process of "lens initial position extension" will be described later. Further, the microcomputer 20 turns on the display circuit 48 to display various modes of the camera, the number of photographed frames, etc. (step S4).

Next, the microcomputer 20 determines whether or not the photographer has pressed the release switch 42 to turn it on (step S5). Here, when the release switch 42 is on, a "battery check" is executed (step S6). This "battery check"
The processing of will be described later.

Subsequently, a series of photographing operations, that is, a release process is performed, the process returns to step S2, and the processes after step S2 are repeated. On the other hand, even when the release switch 42 is not turned on in step S5, the process similarly returns to step S2, and the processes after step S2 are repeated.

If the main switch 36 is not turned on in step S2, the microcomputer 20 executes "lens collapse" to move the taking lens 26 to the retracted position (step S8). This "lens collapse" processing will be described later.

Subsequently, the display circuit 48 is turned off (step S9), and interrupt processing is further performed (step S1).
0), and this processing ends (step S11). On the other hand, when the main switch 36 is turned on again in the interrupt process, the process returns to step S3, and the preparation for repeating the processes of step S3 and thereafter is performed again.

In the "battery check" process of step S6, which will be described later, when the "battery NG" of step S37 is reached, the process proceeds to step S8 and the processes of step S8 and subsequent steps are performed. When the "end" of step S34 is reached, the process proceeds to step S9,
The processing after step S9 is performed.

Next, the "battery check" process in the main flow chart will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

First, the microcomputer 20 issues a command to the constant current control circuit 70, turns on the transistor 66 via the constant current control circuit 70, and causes a current to flow from the battery 22 to the dummy load 62 (step S21). further,
The microcomputer 20 starts a built-in timer (not shown) (step S22). The set time of the timer may be stored in the storage circuit 58 and read and used at the time of battery check. The microcomputer 20 causes the A / D converter 60 to convert the analog voltage of the battery 22 which is being energized to the dummy load 62 into a digital value, and reads the voltage VL of this digital value (step S23).

Next, the microcomputer 20 determines whether or not the read voltage VL is higher than a predetermined voltage VL2 for determining that the preset battery level is low (step S24). When the determination result is VL> VL2, it is determined that the remaining battery energy is at a level that does not hinder the operation of the camera, the constant current control circuit 70 is turned off (step S25), and the main flowchart of FIG. (Step S26).

On the other hand, when the judgment result in step S24 is VL <VL2, it is confirmed whether or not the timer has passed a predetermined time (step S27). If not, the process returns to step 23, The voltage VL of the battery 22 is read again. The predetermined voltage VL2 is stored in the storage circuit 5
8 may be stored and read out for use.

If VL <VL2 even if the timer has passed the predetermined time in step S27, the microcomputer 20 determines that the remaining battery level is low, and the constant current control circuit 70 turns off the transistor 66. Instead, the transistor 68 is turned on. Then, a current is passed from the battery 22 to the dummy load 23 (step S28). Further, the microcomputer 20 starts a built-in timer (not shown) (step S29). The set time of this timer may be similarly stored in the storage circuit 58 and read and used at the time of battery check. The microcomputer 20 causes the A / D converter 60 to convert the analog voltage of the battery 22 that is being energized to the dummy load 64 into a digital value, and reads the digital value voltage VL (step S30).

Next, the microcomputer 20 determines whether or not the read voltage VL is higher than a predetermined voltage VL2 for determining that the preset battery level is low (step S31). When the determination result is VL> VL2, it is determined that the remaining battery energy is at a level that does not hinder the collapsing operation of the taking lens 26, and the constant current control circuit 70 is turned off (step S35). Subsequently, the microcomputer 20 turns on the display circuit 48 and displays the battery NG to notify the photographer (step S3).
6) Further, in order to move the taking lens 26 to the retracted position, the process jumps to step S8 in the main flowchart of FIG. 5 to enter the "battery NG" routine (step S).
37).

On the other hand, when the judgment result in the above step S31 is VL <VL2, it is confirmed whether or not the timer has passed a predetermined time (step S32), and if not, the process returns to the step 30, The voltage VL of the battery 22 is read again. The predetermined voltage VL2 is stored in the storage circuit 5
8 may be stored and read out for use.

If VL <VL2 even after the timer has elapsed for the predetermined time in step S32, the microcomputer 20 determines that the battery level is low and the taking lens 26 cannot be retracted. Then, the constant current control circuit 70 is turned off (step S33), and further jumps to step S9 in the main flowchart of FIG. 5 to enter the "end" routine (step S34).

Although the A / D converter is used to read the voltage in the above embodiment, it is of course possible to use a circuit such as a comparator for voltage comparison to read the voltage. is there.

Further, the battery voltage VL when currents are applied to the dummy loads 62 and 64 is set to the same predetermined voltage V
Although compared with L2, a different predetermined voltage may be set. That is, when a current is passed through the dummy load 62, the battery voltage VL is compared with a predetermined voltage VL2, and when a current is passed through the dummy load 64, the battery voltage VL is compared with a predetermined voltage VL3.
You may make it judge the magnitude relationship of the battery voltage VL.

Next, the processing of "lens initial position extension" in the main flowchart will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the microcomputer 20 determines whether or not the retractable switch 34 is on (step S41). If the retractable switch 34 is turned on, it is determined that the lens has already been extended, and this processing ends,
Return to the above main flowchart. On the other hand, when the retractable switch 34 is not turned on, that is, when the retracted switch 34 is off, the taking lens 26 is in the retracted position, and therefore the lens driving motor 28 is rotated in the forward direction via the lens driving motor control circuit 30. (Step S4
2).

Further, again, the microcomputer 20
Determines whether or not the retractable switch 34 is on (step S43). When the retractable switch 34 is not turned on, the process returns to step S42, and the normal rotation of the lens drive motor 28 is continued. And the retractable switch 34
When the power is turned on, the microcomputer 20 causes the taking lens 26 to extend so as to output the pulse generating circuit 32.
A predetermined number of pulses generated from the above are detected (step S4
4). Subsequently, the microcomputer 20 stops the lens drive motor 28 (step S45), terminates this processing, and returns to the main flow chart (step S46).

Next, the processing of "lens collapse" in the main flow chart will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

First, the microcomputer 20 determines whether or not the retractable switch 34 is off (step S51). When the retractable switch 34 is off, it is determined that the taking lens 26 is already in the retracted position, and this processing ends, and the process returns to the main flowchart. On the other hand, when the retractable switch 34 is not off, that is, when it is on, the taking lens 26 is not in the retracted position, so the lens drive motor 28 is reversed through the lens drive motor control circuit 30 to cause the taking lens 26 to move. Is moved (step S52).

Further, again, the microcomputer 20
Determines whether or not the retractable switch 34 is off (step S53). If the retractable switch 34 is not turned off, the process returns to step S52 and the lens drive motor 28
Continue the reversal of. Then, when the retracting switch 34 is turned off, the microcomputer 20 detects a predetermined number of pulses generated by the moving-out pulse generating circuit 32 by the movement of the taking lens 26 (step S54). Subsequently, the microcomputer 20 stops the lens drive motor 28 (step S55), ends this processing,
Return to the above main flowchart (step S5)
6).

FIG. 9 is a timing chart at the drive control of the taking lens.

Point A in the figure shows the retracted position of the taking lens 26, and point B shows the extended position of the taking lens 26. When the main switch 36 is turned on, the taking lens 26 is extended from the point A to the point B. When the release switch 42 is pressed after the taking lens 26 is extended to the point B, based on the data from the distance measuring circuit 52,
The microcomputer 20 calculates the amount of extension of the taking lens 26. Then, from the time when the initial position switch 38 is turned on until a pulse corresponding to the calculated feed amount is output from the feed pulse generation circuit 32.
The taking lens 26 is extended.

After a series of photographing is completed, the photographing lens 26
Is returned to point B. Further, when the main switch 36 is turned off, it is returned to the point A.

10 (a) and 10 (b) are views showing the appearance of a camera to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 10 (a) is a view of the camera as seen from diagonally above the front, and FIG. ) Is a view of the camera viewed from the side.

The camera body 80 includes a movable frame unit 82 including a photographing lens, and a lens barrier 8 which is movable in the left-right direction when viewed from the front of the camera, that is, in the C and D directions in the figure.
4, the main switch 36 is arranged.

In this camera, when the lens barrier 84 is slid in the D direction, the moving frame unit 82 is retracted, and the lens barrier 84 covers the entire surface of the moving frame unit 82 including the taking lens to take a picture. Protect the lens. With the sliding of the lens barrier 84, the main switch 36 is turned off.

On the other hand, when the lens barrier 84 covers the entire surface of the moving frame unit 82 and the lens barrier 84 is slid in the direction C, the main switch 36 is turned on and the moving frame unit 82 including the taking lens is moved. It is extended to the initial position.

Further, a in FIG. 10B shows a state in which the moving frame unit 82 is extended to the initial position, and b shows a state in which the moving frame unit 82 has returned to the retracted position.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a mechanism for feeding out the moving frame unit 82.

The movable frame unit 82 is held by a tree 86 fixed to the camera body 80, and can be extended in the axial direction of the tree 86 by rotation of an eclipse screw 88 formed of a screw shaft.

Further, a photo interrupter gear (hereinafter, referred to as PI gear) 90 is provided on the rotary gear 28a of the lens drive motor 28 arranged close to the moving frame unit 82 so as to mesh with each other, and further, A screw gear 92 fixed to the shaft of the counter screw 88 is provided so as to mesh with the PI gear 90. Further, a photo interrupter slit (hereinafter,
A rotary gear fixed to a PI slit 94) is provided, and a photo interrupter 96 that detects the rotation of the PI slit 94 is further provided.

On the switch base 98 attached to the moving frame unit 82, the segment of the initial position switch 38, the segment of the retractable switch 34, and the segment 100 for the common potential of these two switches are formed. The switch pattern 102 for detecting the amount of movement of the moving frame unit 82 by contacting these sections includes an electrode pattern c that contacts the section 100 for the common potential, an electrode pattern d that contacts the section of the initial position switch 38, and a collapsible cylinder. An electrode pattern e is formed which contacts the piece of the switch 34. These electrode patterns c,
d and e are connected to the microcomputer 20. In addition, A, B indicating the position on the switch pattern 102
Corresponds to A and B in the timing chart shown in FIG.

The above-mentioned mechanism constructed as described above operates as follows. When the lens drive motor 28 rotates, the rotation gear 28a connected to the lens drive motor 28
Rotates. Due to the rotation of the rotary gear 28a, the photo interrupter gear 90 is rotated, and the screw gear 92 is further rotated.
Rotates.

When the screw gear 92 rotates, the counter screw 8
8 rotates to move the moving frame unit 82. At this time, the photo interrupter 96 counts the rotation of the PI slit 94 rotating with the rotation of the PI gear 90 as a pulse. Then, when the count number reaches a predetermined value, it is determined that the moving frame unit 82 has reached the target position, and the lens drive motor 28 is stopped.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the photographing lens is moved between the retracted position and the initial position when the photographing operation cannot be performed due to the low battery voltage is described. Needless to say, the pop-up strobe 104 may be applied to the down position or to accommodate other protrusions.

Even when the zoom lens is extended to the telephoto side, the result of the battery check is NG.
When it is determined that the position is moved, it may be moved to the retracted position. Further, although the battery voltage is determined by passing a current through the first and second dummy loads, if the result of the battery check by the first dummy load is lower than a predetermined value, the lens may be retracted as it is. .

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if it is determined that the battery voltage is low as a result of executing the battery check, if the preset voltage level exceeds the preset voltage level. It is possible to retract a protruding functional member such as a lens barrel into the camera body. As a result, even when the camera is in the release lock state, the lens barrel and the like are collapsed, so that the lens barrel and the like will not be struck outside and broken.

That is, even if it is determined by the battery check that the remaining amount of electric energy of the battery is small, if the predetermined voltage level is satisfied, the protruding camera member is retracted into the camera body to remove the camera member. A camera that can prevent damage can be provided.

According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the following configuration can be obtained.

(1) A photographic lens that moves between a photographic position and a retractable position, a power supply for supplying electric power for driving the photographic lens, and first and second power supplies connected in parallel to the power supply. A battery check circuit having a dummy load, and a current control means for flowing a smaller current to the second dummy load than to the first dummy load when flowing a current from the power source to the battery check circuit, A power supply voltage measurement for measuring a first power supply voltage when a current is applied to the first dummy load, and a second power supply voltage when a current is applied to the second dummy load. Means for determining whether or not the first power supply voltage is lower than a first predetermined value and the second power supply voltage is higher than a second predetermined value smaller than the first predetermined value. And a means are provided. Camera.

(2) A photographing lens that moves between a photographing possible position and a retracted position, a power source for supplying electric power for driving the photographing lens, and first and second parallel-connected power sources. A battery check circuit having a dummy load, and a current control means for flowing a smaller current to the second dummy load than to the first dummy load when flowing a current from the power source to the battery check circuit, A power supply voltage measurement for measuring a first power supply voltage when a current is applied to the first dummy load, and a second power supply voltage when a current is applied to the second dummy load. Means for determining whether or not the first power supply voltage is lower than a first predetermined value and the second power supply voltage is higher than a second predetermined value smaller than the first predetermined value. Means and the above-mentioned determination means Note: When it is determined that the first power supply voltage is lower than the first predetermined value and the second power supply voltage is higher than the second predetermined value, the photographing lens is moved from the photographing possible position to the retracted position. And a photographic lens drive control means for moving the camera to.

(3) A photographing lens that moves between a photographing position and a retractable position, a power supply for supplying electric power for driving the photographing lens, and first and second power supplies connected in parallel to the power source. A battery check circuit having a dummy load, and a current control means for flowing a smaller current to the second dummy load than to the first dummy load when flowing a current from the power source to the battery check circuit, A power supply voltage measurement for measuring a first power supply voltage when a current is applied to the first dummy load, and a second power supply voltage when a current is applied to the second dummy load. And a means for determining whether or not the first power supply voltage is lower than a first predetermined value when a current is applied to the first dummy load, and when the first power supply voltage is lower than the first predetermined value. To the second dummy load Determination means for determining whether or not the second power supply voltage is greater than a second predetermined value that is smaller than the first predetermined value, and the second power supply voltage is greater than the second predetermined value. A photographing lens drive control means for moving the photographing lens from the photographing possible position to the retracted position when it is determined, and a camera.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention, even when it is determined by the battery check that the remaining amount of electric energy is low and the photographing operation cannot be performed,
It is possible to provide a camera capable of retracting a protruding photographing lens into the camera body.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the camera.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a battery check circuit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing discharge characteristics of an alkaline manganese battery containing no mercury as an example of the battery.

FIG. 5 is a main flowchart showing a process of a microcomputer as an operation of the camera.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a “battery check” process in the main flowchart.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process of “lens initial position extension” in the main flowchart.

[FIG. 8] “Lens collapse” in the above main flowchart
6 is a flowchart showing the processing of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart at the time of driving control of the taking lens.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an appearance of the camera.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a mechanism for feeding out a moving frame unit including a taking lens.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example applied to a pop-up of a flash.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2, 22 battery 4 battery voltage determination unit 6 first dummy load 8 second dummy load 10 determination value setting unit 12, 26 shooting lens 14 control unit 20 microcomputer 24 battery check circuit 28 lens drive motor 30 lens drive motor control Circuit 32 Sending-out pulse generating circuit 34 Collapse switch 36 Main switch 38 Initial position switch 40 Shutter 42 Release switch 44 Film 46 Film sensitivity reading circuit 48 Display circuit 50 Strobe control circuit 52 Distance measuring circuit 54 Film control circuit 56 Aperture / shutter control circuit 58 Memory circuit 60 Analog / digital converter (A / D converter) 62,64 Dummy load 66,68 Transistor 70 Constant current control circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A functional unit that moves to a predetermined position away from the camera main body during photographing, and returns to a predetermined position in the camera main body direction during non-photographing; a power supply that supplies electric power for driving the functional unit; A battery check circuit having a plurality of dummy loads connected in parallel to the power source, a current control means for selectively flowing a current corresponding to the plurality of dummy loads from the power source, and a current flowing to the dummy load. The power supply voltage measuring means for measuring the voltage of the power supply, and whether the functional means can move from the photographing position to the non-photographing position based on the output of the power voltage measuring means. A camera comprising: a determining unit for determining whether or not the camera. 2. A shooting lens that moves to a predetermined position away from the camera body during shooting, and returns to a predetermined position in the camera body direction when not shooting, a power supply that supplies electric power for driving the shooting lens, and a dummy. A battery check circuit having a load, a power supply voltage measuring means for measuring the voltage of the power supply by passing a current from the power supply to the dummy load, and whether the output of the power supply voltage measuring means is smaller than a predetermined value. And a photographing lens drive control means for moving the photographing lens from the photographing position to the non-photographing position when the output of the power supply voltage measuring means is smaller than the predetermined value. And a camera. 3. The camera according to claim 2, wherein the non-photographing position of the photographing lens is a retracted position.