JPH09222650A - Manipulating device for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To drive a lens whenever a command means is depressed, regardless of the presence of a state where the drive of the lens is inhibited by providing the command means for commanding only the operation of preparing for photographing, in accordance with the depression degree of a shutter button, regardless of the states of the shutter button and a selecting means. SOLUTION: When respective focusing buttons 5 and 11 are depressed regardless of the setting of a selector 7 and a locking switch 10, the distance ring of the lens 2 is driven by a specific amount corresponding to a measured nonfocusing amount, during the depression. When the locking switch 10 is in an inhibitory state, operation by a V-shutter button 9 is not executed, but a focusing operation by the V-focusing button 11 is permitted. When the selector 7 is set in a normal position, the operation of the distance ring is executed by the half-depression of the respective shutter buttons 4 and 9. When the selector 7 is set in an inhibition position, switching to a mode not for operating the distance ring of the lens 2 by the respective shutter buttons 4 and 9 is attained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera operating device.

The present invention relates to an operating device for operating an autofocus device in a camera.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the autofocus operation of most cameras is performed as follows. First, when the shutter button is pressed shallowly (hereinafter referred to as half-press), the power is turned on, and subsequently, photometry and distance measurement of the subject or focus error detection is performed. Then, the lens is driven based on the distance measurement or the focus error detection result. The lens drive is executed only while the shutter button is half pressed. When the half-press operation is stopped, operations such as photometry and focus error detection are continuously executed during a predetermined power supply timer period, but the lens driving itself is immediately stopped. When the shutter button is further deeply pressed after half-pressing (hereinafter referred to as full-pressing), the exposure operation is executed. Such a camera has an advantage that the autofocus and the exposure operation can be controlled only by pressing the shutter button.

In some cameras, the lens drive is not interlocked with the half-press of the shutter button, and only while the operation button (hereinafter referred to as the focus button) provided on the camera body or the lens is pressed. In some cases, the lens drive is executed. Since the method of interlocking with the shutter button described above requires delicate half-press control, the focus button is an effective method for photographers who are not good at such operations, or when shooting while moving violently. . In other words, it is possible to perform rough shooting by pressing the focus button to focus on the subject, releasing the finger when an arbitrary focus state is achieved, and then pressing the shutter button to perform exposure.

By the way, in a certain type of camera, in addition to a shutter button for normal photographing (hereinafter abbreviated as H shutter button), a dedicated shutter button for facilitating vertical photographing (hereinafter abbreviated as V shutter button). To have). In such a camera, a lock device for prohibiting the operation of the V-shutter button is generally attached to prevent the camera from being unintentionally pressed by the palm or the like at the time of normal shooting to prevent unnecessary exposure. Furthermore, in the above camera, the focus button described above is an H button so that it is convenient when using any of the shutter buttons.
It is provided not only near the shutter button (hereinafter referred to as the H focus button) but also near the V shutter button (hereinafter referred to as the V focus button).

[0006]

In the camera provided with the focus button described above, a selection device for selecting a lens driving method is provided, and the lens is driven only by half-pressing the shutter button according to the setting of the selection device. It was only possible to select either the lens drive only with the focus button. Therefore, even with the intention of focusing only on the subject, a delicate operation of half-pressing the shutter button is required, and there is a problem that the exposure operation is performed carelessly.

Further, in such a camera, when the one for the V shutter button is locked, the operation of the V focus button in the vicinity thereof is also interlocked and prohibited. Therefore, there is a problem that the lens cannot be driven by an arbitrary focus button regardless of the posture of holding the camera or the size of fingers.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems. It is possible to drive the lens at any time by pressing the focus button, and to select an arbitrary focus regardless of the attitude of the camera or the size of fingers. The purpose is to enable lens driving with a button.

[0009]

In order to achieve this object, the camera operating device of the present invention commands a shooting preparation operation and an exposure operation according to the pressing amount in the first mode, and in the second mode. Regardless of the shutter button (4, 9) for instructing only the exposure operation according to the pressing amount, the selection means (7) for selecting either the first mode or the second mode, and the state of the shutter button and the selection means, A command means (5, 11) for commanding only the photographing preparation operation according to the pressing amount is provided.

Further, a plurality of shutter buttons (4, 9) for instructing the photographing preparation operation and the exposure operation in accordance with the pressing amount in the first mode, and instructing only the exposure operation in accordance with the pressing amount in the second mode. A selection means (7) for selecting either the first mode or the second mode, and a prohibition means (1) for prohibiting an operation by at least one shutter button among the plurality of shutter buttons.
0), regardless of the states of the plurality of shutter buttons, the selection means, and the prohibition means, only the shooting preparation operation is instructed according to the pressing amount, and a plurality of instruction means (5 provided near each shutter button). , 11).

[0011]

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a camera operating device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the subject image that has passed through the mounted lens 2 can be visually recognized by the finder 3, and the selected mode and automatically determined exposure conditions are shown on the LCD 6. The power-on operation as a basic operation is performed by shallowly half-pressing the H-shutter shutter button 4 that can be operated in the normal shooting position or the V-shutter button 9 that can be operated in the vertical shooting, and the exposure operation is further performed. It is executed by pushing them deeper. The operation of the V shutter button 9 can be permitted or prohibited depending on the setting state of the lock switch 10 provided around the V shutter button 9. In order to prevent malfunction, it is preferable to set the lock switch 10 to the prohibited position except when the camera 1 shoots in the vertical position.

An H provided near the H shutter button 4
The focus button 5 is provided at a position that can be exactly pressed by moving the thumb of the right hand to the left when the camera 1 is held in the normal position. The detailed operation of the H focus button 5 will be described later. Similarly, with respect to the V shutter button 9, a V focus button 11 is provided in the vicinity thereof.

Next, the AF operation according to the present invention is performed as follows.

Operation (1)

Regardless of the setting of the selector 7 or the lock switch 10, when each focus button 5 or 11 is pressed, the distance ring of the lens 2 is driven by a predetermined amount corresponding to the measured out-of-focus amount during that time. Lock switch 10
In the prohibition state, the V shutter button 9 does not perform any operation, but the V focus button 11 allows the focusing operation.

Operation (2)

When the selector 7 for switching between enabling and disabling the driving (shooting preparation operation) of the lens by the H shutter button 4 is set to the normal position, each shutter button 4 or 9 is selected. A half press activates the range ring. If further exposure operation is desired, each shutter button 4 or 9 may be fully pressed. This is the focus button 5 or 11
It can be performed independently of the operation of. That is, even if the focus button 5 or 11 is pressed in advance for focusing, the focus operation is performed again when the shutter button 4 or 9 is pressed shallowly. This method is suitable for a photographer who is accustomed to the operation of pressing the shutter button 4 or 9 halfway to track an object.

Operation (3)

When the selector 7 is set to the prohibited position, the mode is switched to a mode in which the distance ring operation of the lens 2 is not performed by half-pressing the shutter button 4 or 9. In this case, a focusing operation is performed by the focus button 5 or 11 in advance to focus on a desired portion, and then the shutter button 4 or 9 is fully pressed to perform exposure. . Unlike the above, this method is suitable for a photographer who is unfamiliar with the operation of shallowly pressing each shutter button 4 or 9.

The relationship between each of the above operations and the attitude of holding the camera 1 will be described later.

FIG. 2 is an example of an electric circuit diagram of the camera 1.
The battery and its power supply circuit necessary for the operation of the circuit are omitted.

The control of the camera 1 is executed mainly by the CPU 27. The CPU 27 includes a subject brightness signal from the photometry circuit 20, a distance measurement or a focus error detection circuit 2
2, a focus state signal from the film sensitivity detection circuit 23, a film sensitivity signal from the film sensitivity detection circuit 23, a status signal from the state detection circuit 25 of various switches representing the sequence, the H shutter button 4
Half-press switch 4H, full-press switch 4
R, H focus button 5, V focus button 11,
Half-press switch 9H provided on the V shutter button 9,
The operation states of the full-push switch 9R, the lock switch 10, and the selector switch 7A or 7B are input via the interface circuit 26. Here, the distance measurement or focus error detection circuit 22 measures the focus state of the object, and in the present embodiment, the distance measurement or focus error detection is performed at five discrete points at the center, top and bottom, or left and right. .

Based on the above input information, the CPU 27 rotates the motor 24 via the interface circuit 26,
Move the focusing lens 21 to focus the subject,
The LCD 6 displays the exposure conditions and the like via the interface circuit 28, the shutter 29 is opened and closed to perform exposure for a predetermined time, the aperture diameter of the diaphragm 30 is changed to control the amount of transmitted light, and the motor 31 is rotated. To wind and rewind the film. FIG. 3 is a block connection diagram illustrating in detail the portion related to the present invention in the circuit diagram described above.

The above-mentioned switches 4H, 4R, 5, 9H,
9R, 10, 7A, 7B, and 11 have a power supply control circuit 35, a lens control circuit 36, and an exposure control circuit 37 by a circuit network of backflow prevention diodes 38A to 38J.
A control signal 40, 41, or 42 for each of

The control signal 40 to the power supply control circuit 35 is generated by any one of the half push switch 4H, the H focus button 5, the half push switch 9H and the V focus button 11 connected in series with the lock switch 10. The control signal 41 to the lens drive circuit 36 is the selector switch 7A.
Is generated by any one of the half-push switch 4H, the H focus button 5, and the half-push switch 9H, the V focus button 11 which are connected in series with the lock switch 10. The control signal 42 to the exposure control circuit 37 is generated by either the full-press switch 4R or the full-press switch 9R connected in series with the lock switch 10. The configuration of the lock switch 10 may be a method of electrically disabling the signal from the V shutter button 9 as in this embodiment, or a method of mechanically not pressing the V shutter button 9.

When it is desired to drive the lens by half-pressing the H shutter button 4 or the V shutter button 9,
You just have to close the selector switches 7A and 7B,
H focus button 5 or V focus button 11
If it is desired to drive the lens only in, the selector switches 7A and 7B may be opened.

FIG. 4 is a CPU in the camera 1 shown in FIG.
29 is a flowchart showing a processing routine by 27.
This routine is repeatedly executed while power is being supplied to the CPU 27 from a power source (not shown).

In step S1, the half-push switch 4
It is determined whether or not any one of H, the focus button 5, and the half-push switch 9H connected in series with the lock switch 10 is operated to generate the control signal 40 to the power supply control circuit 35. If it has not occurred, this judgment is repeated.

In step S2, since any of the above switches is pressed, the power is turned on. In step S3, the brightness signal of the subject is taken in from the photometric means 20 and the sensitivity signal is taken in from the sensitivity detecting means 23. In step S4, both of the above are calculated and, for example, in the shutter priority mode, the aperture value to be controlled to obtain proper exposure is calculated. In step S5, the LCD 6 displays various conditions and various modes relating to the exposure determined above.
In step S6, the distance measurement signal or focus error detection signal is read from the distance measurement or focus error detection circuit 22. In step S7, the distance measurement signal or the focus error detection signal is calculated to calculate the driving amount of the lens 21 required for focusing.

In step S8, the lens drive circuit 36 is operated by operating any of the half-press switch 4H connected in series with the selector switch 7, the focus button 5, and the half-press switch 9H connected in series with the lock switch 10. It is determined whether or not the control signal 41 to the is generated. If it has not occurred, the process jumps to step S10. In step S9, the motor 24 is rotated to drive the lens 21 to focus on a desired subject.

In step S10, either the full-press switch 4R or the full-press switch 9R connected in series with the lock switch 10 is operated to operate the exposure control circuit 37.
It is determined whether or not the control signal 42 to the is generated. If not generated, the process returns to step S1. Step S11
At, the reflecting mirror (not shown) is raised and retracted from the photographing optical path. In step S12, the diaphragm 30 is controlled to have a predetermined diaphragm opening. In step S13, the shutter 11 (not shown) is opened and the film is exposed for the predetermined time determined in step S4. In step S14, since all the operations have been completed, the motor 31 is rotated in the normal direction to feed the film and urge the mechanism. After that, the process returns to step S1 and the above process is repeated.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the camera 1 held horizontally. When the H shutter button 4 is pressed, the index finger 41 of the right hand 40 can perform photometry, distance measurement or focus error detection, and lens driving operation subsequent to power-on. Further, since the H focus button 5 is located at a position where the thumb 42 can be easily touched, only the focusing operation can be performed. The both focus buttons 5 or 11 are printed with AF to indicate the meaning for performing the focus operation in the orientation shown in the figure.

FIG. 6 is a rear view when the camera 1 is held in the vertical position, and particularly shows an operating situation when the photographing following FIG. 5 is continuously performed. The index finger 41 is still in contact with the H shutter button 4 in order to perform continuous shooting with FIG. However, if the H-focus button 5 is operated with the thumb 42 in this way as in FIG. 5, it will be understood that the camera 1 cannot be held sufficiently with the palm. In such a case, the thumb 42 may be attached to the V focus button 11. As shown in FIG. 3, even if the lock switch 10 of the V-shutter button 9 is open so as not to accidentally press the shutter button, the V-focus button 11 is always in an operable state, so that such a posture can be taken. .

FIG. 7 is a rear view when the camera 1 is held in a vertical position, but FIG. 5 is an example of a case of shooting without continuity. The palm of the right hand 40 holds the bottom of the camera 1 (right side in FIG. 7), and the index finger 41 holds the V shutter button 9,
The thumb 42 can operate the V focus button 11. At this time, the lock switch 10 of the V shutter button 9
It is necessary to close (Fig. 3). The print 13 of the V-focus button 11 can be read correctly in this posture.

In this embodiment, the mechanical selector 7 is used for selection. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the selection state may be stored in a memory inside or outside the CPU 27 by an electrical setting method.

In this embodiment, the lens driving is mentioned as the shooting preparation operation, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a diaphragm narrowing operation (preview operation) before shooting.

[0039]

As described above, according to the camera operating device of the present invention, the command means (5, 11) for commanding only the photographing preparation operation according to the pressing amount thereof regardless of the states of the shutter button and the selecting means. With this configuration, the lens drive can be performed at any time by pressing the command means (focus button) regardless of whether or not the lens drive is prohibited by the shutter button.

Also, a plurality of shutter buttons (4, 9)
And a plurality of command means (5, 11) provided near each shutter button,
Any command means (focus button) can be operated regardless of the posture of holding the camera or the size of the photographer's fingers.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a camera operating device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block connection diagram showing an embodiment of a camera operating device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block connection diagram showing an embodiment of a camera operating device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a camera operating device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a camera operating device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a camera operating device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a camera operating device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Camera 4 (4H, 4R) H Shutter Button 5 H Focus Button 6 LCD 7A, 7B Selector Switch 9 (9H, 9R) V Shutter Button 10 Lock Switch 11 V Focus Button 22 Distance Measurement or Focus Error Detection Circuit 27 CPU 41 Lens Drive circuit control signal

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A shutter button for instructing a shooting preparation operation and an exposure operation according to the pressing amount in a first mode, and a shutter button for instructing only an exposure operation according to the pressing amount in a second mode, and the first mode or the second mode. An operation for a camera, comprising: a selection unit that selects any one of the modes, and a command unit that commands only the shooting preparation operation according to the pressing amount thereof regardless of the states of the shutter button and the selection unit. apparatus. 2. A plurality of shutter buttons for instructing a photographing preparation operation and an exposure operation in accordance with the pressing amount in the first mode, and a plurality of shutter buttons for instructing only the exposure operation in accordance with the pressing amount in the second mode. Selecting means for selecting either the mode or the second mode; prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation by at least one shutter button among the plurality of shutter buttons; the plurality of shutter buttons, the selecting means, and Regardless of the state of the prohibiting means, the camera operation is characterized in that only the photographing preparation operation is instructed according to the pressing amount, and a plurality of instructing means provided near each of the shutter buttons are provided. apparatus. 3. The photographing preparation operation is a photometry operation and a distance measurement operation or a focus detection operation, an aperture control based on the photometry operation, and a lens drive based on the distance measurement operation or the focus detection operation. The operating device for a camera according to claim 1 or 2.