JPH09222659A - Camera provided with magnetic recording function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the influence of jitter or irregular feeding in the case of magnetic recording in spite of an inexpensive camera even in the case recording information quantity is varied. SOLUTION: This camera is provided with a control means changing recording density in accordance with the information quantity in the case of recording in a magnetic recording part, and low recording density by which magnetic recording information is stablized is selected (S109→S112) when the information quantity is small, and high recording density by which much information is recorded in a specified recording area is selected (S109→S110→S111) when the information quantity is large.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a camera with a magnetic recording function, which is provided with a recording means for magnetically recording information relating to photographing in a magnetic recording portion provided on a film.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a camera capable of recording information on photographing (for example, photographing mode, number of prints, shutter speed, aperture value, etc.) in a magnetic recording section provided on a film is disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,864,332. Has been proposed by. As a result, the film with magnetic recording is
Various magnetic information is reproduced from the magnetic recording unit by the developing machine, and a photograph is printed in accordance with the reproduced magnetic information, which is effective in improving the image quality of the conventional print.

Further, as data to be magnetically recorded, in addition to the number of prints, shutter speed, aperture value, etc. described above, a character string suitable for a shooting scene is printed on the front or back side of the print. There is also data of a predetermined character string called a title or caption. The character string information is called title information in the present invention.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-3037, a proposal is made to record the same information such as shooting date information a plurality of times on the same frame in order to reduce the error probability at the time of reproducing the film on which magnetic recording is performed. Is being done.

Further, Japanese Patent Application No. 6-336 filed by the present applicant.
No. 648 proposes changing the recording density when recording a plurality of times in order to increase the recording capacity. It should be noted that this proposal also proposes to change the number of times of recording at a low recording density to one or more times or two or more times according to the amount of information.

[0006]

However, in an inexpensive camera such as a compact camera, it is necessary to use inexpensive parts for the power unit such as a motor, and the battery is one 3V lithium battery for downsizing. Since the ones used are the mainstream and a sufficient driving force cannot be obtained, there is a problem that they are easily affected by jitters and uneven feeding during magnetic recording.

Under the influence of such jitters during magnetic recording, the developing machine may not be able to correctly read the information relating to photographing recorded on the film, and as a result, the image quality of the print may not be improved.

In order to reduce the influence of erroneous writing due to jitter, it is effective to record the same content a plurality of times in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-3037, but this measure is not sufficient for an inexpensive camera. There was a case. Also,
The purpose of Japanese Patent Application No. 6-336648 is to improve the recording capacity and is not directly effective for jitter and uneven feeding.

To reduce the influence of jitter, it is a simple means to reduce the magnetic recording density, but there are also the following problems.

Since a title is not always used, in the case of a camera capable of magnetically recording title information, the amount of magnetic recording information regarding the title becomes variable. In the case where the magnetic recording information amount is variable in this way, if the magnetic recording density is set according to the case where the recording information amount is small,
When the amount of recorded information is large, it becomes impossible to perform magnetic recording in a predetermined recording area. Conversely, when the magnetic recording density is determined in consideration of the case where the amount of recorded information is large, the amount of recorded information is small. In this case, the effects of jitter and uneven feeding could not be reduced.

(Object of the Invention) A first object of the present invention is to reduce the influence of jitter and uneven feeding during magnetic recording while being inexpensive even if the amount of recorded information is variable. It is to provide a camera with a magnetic recording function that can be used.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a camera with a magnetic recording function, which has more suitable countermeasures for jitter and uneven feeding in magnetic recording, in which the presence / absence of recording of title information can be set. .

[0013]

In order to achieve the first object, the present invention according to claim 1 is provided with a recording means for magnetically recording information on a magnetic recording portion provided on a film. In a camera with a magnetic recording function, a control means for changing the recording density in accordance with the amount of the information recorded in the magnetic recording unit is provided, and when the amount of information is small, the magnetic recording information can be stabilized at a low recording density. When a large amount of information is selected, a high recording density capable of recording a large amount of information in a predetermined recording area is selected.

Further, in order to achieve the second object,
The present invention according to claim 2 has selection means for selecting whether or not to record character string information having a relatively large amount of information, that is, title information, and when recording of the title information is selected by the selection means. The recording density is increased as compared with the case where information other than the title information is recorded.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on illustrated embodiments.

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

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a CPU, which is a microcomputer having registers, RAM, ROM, etc. for controlling the operation of the entire camera, and 2 is a distance measuring circuit for measuring the distance to an object and a photometric circuit. 2 is an AF / AE control circuit for performing the focusing operation of the taking lens and the opening / closing operation of the shutter for controlling the exposure to the film according to the brightness of the subject. Reference numeral 3 denotes an EEPROM, which is a writable non-volatile memory for writing adjustment data and the like in a manufacturing process and for storing information and an operating state of a film counter during the operation of the camera. 4 is a PWM (Pulse Widt) that controls the motor current equivalently by the pulse width when the signal is turned on.
This is a PWM control circuit that generates an h Modulation (pulse width modulation) signal, and the duty ratio can be changed by a command from the CPU 1. Reference numeral 5 is a motor driving circuit, 6 is a film feeding motor for feeding and rewinding the film, and the motor driving circuit 5 is P
The rotation of the film feeding motor 6 is controlled by the PWM signal from the WM control circuit 4. That is, by changing the duty ratio of the PWM signal, the operating speed of the film feeding motor 6 can be changed.

Reference numeral 7 is a magnetic head control circuit, and 8 is for recording on a magnetic material coated on the film surface,
A magnetic head for reading information recorded on a magnetic body.

The CPU 1 drives the magnetic head 8 via the magnetic head control circuit 7 to take a picture of information such as the time of shooting and shooting conditions at the same time as the feeding of one frame after the shooting. Record for use when printing. If the mode in which the title information is recorded at this time is set, the information corresponding to the set title is also recorded as magnetic information. on the other hand,
At the photo lab, the title information recorded on the film is read, and a predetermined character string corresponding to the title information is printed or printed on the back or front surface of the print.

A liquid crystal (LCD) 10 is an external display device.
A display device, 9 is the LCD display device 10 described above
Liquid crystal (LCD) driven according to the display signal from PU1
It is a drive circuit. Whether or not the LCD display device 10 is in a mode for recording film counter information such as the number of frames that can be photographed at present, clock calendar information such as date, hour and minute, or a title, 1
Information such as whether or not it is in the mode for releasing the title for each frame shooting is displayed.

Reference numerals 11 (SW1) and 12 (SW2) are switches interlocking with a release button (not shown). The switch SW1 is turned on by pressing the release button halfway, and the switch S
W2 turns on when the release button is fully pressed. Reference numeral 13 designates a title switch for selecting a mode for recording a title or selecting a title for recording.
A date switch 4 selects a display mode of date and time.

Reference numerals 16 and 17 are photoreflectors for detecting perforations provided on the film for positioning the film. Reference numeral 15 is a photoreflector control circuit, which operates the photoreflectors 16 and 17 to project infrared light onto the side edges of the film, detects the reflected light, and sets the detection level to an appropriate level. By performing the comparison, the perforation signal is detected as a light / dark binary signal, and is used for film feeding and positioning of an area for magnetic recording. Reference numeral 18 denotes a clock timer, and the CPU 1 reads out date and time data from the clock timer 18 when displaying the date and time on the LCD display device 10 and magnetically recording date and time information on a film. use.

Next, the display in the title recording mode in this embodiment will be described below.

In the camera of this embodiment, the title is in one of the following two modes.

In the first mode, title information is not recorded on the film. This is referred to as "title off mode" in the present embodiment. In the second mode, the title information is recorded on the film, but the setting for recording the title information is canceled by the shooting operation. This is referred to as "title recording mode" in the present embodiment. When the "title recording mode" is canceled by the shooting operation, the "title off mode" is set.

These two modes are used in the LCD display device 1.
The photographer can be identified by the display state of 0.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display state of the title recording mode on the LCD display device 10 in the present embodiment.

FIG. 2A shows the LCD display device 1 in the "title off mode" in which the title information is not recorded.
The display state of 0 is shown and "25 January 1996" is displayed at the top.
Date information indicating "day" is displayed, and film counter information indicating that the frame to be photographed next is "16th" is displayed at the bottom. Further, the display of “DATE” displayed at the lower left indicates that the date information is recorded in the film.

FIG. 2B shows the "title recording mode".
2A shows the display state of the LCD display device 10 when the setting is set, and in the portion where the date information was displayed in FIG. 2A, "J-1" indicating the selected title number.
Is displayed. J-1 means the first title in Japanese. In the lower left, "DATE" and "TI
The letters "TLE" are lit and displayed. This indicates a mode in which the date information and title are recorded on the film.

Next, the operation of the CPU 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
And it demonstrates according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the power of the camera is turned on, first, in step S100, a battery check operation for checking whether or not the battery has a sufficient battery capacity and an operation for setting the lens barrel position to a predetermined position are initialized. Take action. When the initialization operation is completed, the process proceeds to steps S101 to S103 waiting for the acceptance of the switch.

In step S101, it is checked whether or not the date switch 14 is on, and if the date switch 14 is on, step S126 to be described later.
Proceed to. If the date switch 14 is not on, the process proceeds to step S102, this time the title switch 1
Check if 3 is on. If the title switch 13 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S122 described later. If the title switch 13 is also not turned on, the flow advances to step S103 to check whether or not the release button is half pressed and the switch SW1 is turned on. If the switch SW1 is not turned on, the process returns to step S101, and steps S101 to S103 are repeated until any switch is operated.

On the other hand, if the switch SW1 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S104, where the CPU 1 executes AF / AE
By controlling the control circuit 2, known distance measurement, photometry,
Perform operations such as strobe charging. When the distance measuring and photometric operations are completed, the process proceeds to the next step S105 to check whether the switch SW1 is turned off.
If it is turned off, the process returns to step S101. If the switch SW1 is still turned on,
Then, the process proceeds to step S106.

In step S106, the switch S
It is checked whether or not W2 is turned on. If not turned on, the process returns to step S105, and steps S105 to S105 are repeated until the switch SW1 is turned off or SW2.12 is turned on.
Repeat S106. When the switch SW2 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S107, and the CPU 1 performs known photographing operations such as focusing, shutter control, and strobe control to expose the film.

In the next step S108, the CPU
1 sets data for magnetic recording on a film when one frame is wound. As data for magnetic recording, date and time information at the time of photographing read from the clock timer 18, the AF / AE control circuit 2 executed in step S104 described above.
Distance measurement, subject distance obtained from photometry operation, subject brightness, shooting magnification, aperture value at the time of shooting, shutter speed, focal length, use of strobe, etc. Next, the process proceeds to step S109 in FIG.

In step S109, it is checked whether or not it is currently in the "title recording mode". If it is in the "title recording mode", the process proceeds to step S110. Then, in step S110, the title data is also set as the data for magnetic recording. The CPU 1 reads the title information corresponding to the currently set title number from the EEPROM 3, and sets the information as title information to be magnetically recorded. Next, in step S111, the magnetic recording density is selected. In the case of "title recording / mode", the title information is also magnetically recorded, so that the amount of recorded information increases. Therefore, a high recording density is selected as the recording density, and a recording density is selected so that the recorded information does not deviate from the magnetic recording area. Then, the process proceeds to step S113.

If it is not "title recording mode" in step S109, that is, if it is "title off mode", the flow advances to step S112 to select the magnetic recording density. This step S112 is executed in the case of "title off mode", and since the title information is not magnetically recorded, the amount of recorded information is small. Therefore,
A low recording density is selected as the recording density, and a recording density that is less susceptible to jitter and uneven feeding is selected. Then, the process proceeds to step S113.

In step S113, energization in the film winding direction is executed. Specifically, CPU1 is PW
The film feeding motor 6 is energized in the film winding direction through the M control circuit 4 and the motor drive circuit 5 to start the film winding operation. Then, in step S114, the magnetic head control circuit 7 and the magnetic head 8 are driven so that the data set in steps S108 and S110 is recorded on the magnetic material (magnetic recording portion) coated on the film. Step S111 or Step S
Recording is performed at the magnetic recording density set at 112. Then, the process proceeds to step S115.

In step S115, it is checked by a known feed amount detection method whether or not the winding of one frame is completed. If the winding is not completed, the process returns to step S114 to wind one frame while performing magnetic recording. Continue operation. When the winding of one frame is completed, the process proceeds to step S116, the energization in the winding direction is stopped, and the process proceeds to step S117.

In step S117, it is checked whether or not the filming of the maximum number of frames of the film has been completed. If the shooting of the maximum number of frames has been completed, the process proceeds to step S121 described later. If the shooting for the maximum number of shooting frames has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S118 to check whether the "title recording mode" is currently set. As a result, “title off
In the case of "mode", step S119 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S120 below, but in the case of "title recording mode", the process proceeds to step S119, where "title recording mode" is canceled and "title off" The CPU 1 stores in the internal RAM the fact that the "title off mode" has been set, and the display on the LCD display device 10 is changed to "title mode".
The display is changed to the state of FIG. 2A showing the "off mode". Then, the process proceeds to step S120.

In step S120, the switch S
It is checked whether or not W1 is turned off, and if it is turned off, the process returns to step S101. Also, the switch SW1
If is still on, step S120 is repeated until it is turned off.

If it is determined in step S117 that the photographing for the maximum number of frames has been completed after the winding operation, the process proceeds to step S121 as described above, and the film rewinding operation is executed here. Specifically, CPU1
Is performed by operating the film feeding motor 6 in the film rewinding direction via the PWM control circuit 4 and the motor drive circuit 5. When the rewinding operation ends, step S
Return to 101.

Next, from step S122 when the title switch 13 is turned on in step S102.
The operation of S125 will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S122 of FIG. 3, it is checked whether the "title recording mode" is currently set. Then, in the case of "title recording mode", the process proceeds to step S123, and in the case of not "title recording mode", the process proceeds to step S124.

The step S123 is executed when the title switch 13 is turned on when the "title recording / mode" is set.

In step S123, the circulation of title numbers is advanced by one step. The circulation of title numbers will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state of circulation when selecting a title in the "title recording mode" in the present embodiment.

When the title switch 13 is operated when the "title recording mode" is set, each time the title switch 13 is operated, (a)->(b)->(c)-> (d) of FIG.
→ (e) and the display on the LCD display device 10 change.
When the title switch 13 is further operated in the state of (e), the display returns to the display of (a).

In this way, each time the title switch 13 is operated, the display circulates. Different character strings correspond to the title numbers, but regarding what kind of title information is magnetically recorded on the film in correspondence with the respective title numbers “J-1” to “J-5”, FIG. E
The information is recorded in the EPROM 3.

The correspondence between the title number and the actual character string is E
The EPROM 3 is recorded so that the title can be set according to the language system of each country where the camera is shipped, and the content of the title corresponding to the number can be easily changed according to the request from the user. This is because

After the circulation of title numbers is advanced, the process proceeds to step S125.

The step S124 is "Title Off.
Title switch 13 when "Mode" is set
Will be executed when is turned on.

In step S124, "title recording mode" is set. Then, the CPU 1 stores in the internal RAM that the "title recording mode" has been set, and the display on the LCD display device 10 is changed from the state of FIG. The display is changed to the state of FIG. 2B showing "Title recording / mode". Then, the process proceeds to step S125.

In step S125, it is checked whether the title switch 13 has been turned off. If the title switch 13 is still turned on, step S125 is repeated. After that, when the title switch 13 is turned off, the process returns to step S101.

Next, steps S126 to S12 when the date switch 14 is turned on in step S101.
Operation 9 will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S126, it is checked whether or not the "title recording mode" is currently set. In the case of "title recording mode", step S126 is performed.
Proceed to 127. On the other hand, if it is not the "title recording mode", that is, if it is the "title off mode", the process proceeds to step S128.

Step S127 is executed when the date switch 14 is turned on when the "title recording mode" is set.

In step S127, the "title recording mode" is canceled and the "title off mode" is set.
Set. Then, the CPU 1 stores in the internal RAM that the "title off mode" has been set, and changes the display on the LCD display device 10 to the state of FIG. 2 (a) showing the "title off mode". Change the display.
Then, the process proceeds to step S129.

In step S128, "Title off.
This is executed when the date switch 14 is turned on when the "mode" is set.

In step S128, the circulation of the date display mode is advanced by one step. The circulation of the date display mode will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 shows "title / title" in the present embodiment.
It is a figure which shows the mode of circulation of the display form of the date at the time of "off mode."

When the data switch 14 is operated in the case where the "title off mode" is set, (a) → (b) → (c) → (d) in FIG. → The display on the LCD display device 10 changes in the order of (e). When the date switch 14 is further operated in the state of (e), the display returns to the display of (a), and the display is circulated every time the date switch 14 is operated in this manner.

FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (c) show "1996 1
"25th of a month" is displayed, and FIG. 6A is a mode in which dates are displayed in the order of year, month, day. FIG.
In FIG. 6B, the date is displayed in the order of month-day-year, and in FIG. 6C, the date is displayed in the order of day-month-year. FIG. 6D is a display in the order of date and time, which indicates that it is “14:20” of “25th”. FIG. 5E shows the off mode in which the date and time information is not recorded on the film.

After the circulation of the display form of the date is advanced, the process proceeds to step S129 below.

In step S129, it is checked whether or not the date switch 14 has been turned off. If the date switch 14 is still turned on, this step S129 is repeated. After that, when the date switch 14 is turned off, the process returns to step S101.

With the above configuration, it is possible to perform high density magnetic recording in the "title recording mode", and to perform low density magnetic recording in the "title off mode". Is possible.

(Correspondence between Invention and Embodiment) In each of the above embodiments, the recording means in claim 1 is the magnetic head control circuit 7 and the magnetic head 8. Further, the control means in claim 1 is the step S109 → S1 of the CPU1.
This is a part that executes the operation of 10 → S111 or step S109 → S112.

The selecting means in claim 2 is the title switch 13. Further, in claim 2, "when the recording means selects the recording of the character string information, the control means increases the recording density as compared with the case where information other than the character string information is recorded". That part is steps S109 → S110 → S111 of the CPU 1.
Is the operating part of.

The above is the correspondence relationship between each configuration of the embodiments and each configuration of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments, and the functions shown in the claims,
It goes without saying that any structure may be used as long as the function of the embodiment can be achieved.

(Modification) In the present embodiment, the magnetic recording amount is changed according to the presence or absence of the title, and the recording density is changed accordingly, but the present invention is not limited to this. . That is, the variable information is not limited to the title, but the photographer can select various kinds of shooting information such as the shutter speed, the aperture value, and the focal length, and the selected information is magnetically recorded. Further, by varying the recording density according to the information amount, it is possible to deal with a wider variety of information amounts.

Furthermore, the selection of titles is not limited to this embodiment, and titles in a plurality of languages may be selected by using a time setting switch not shown in FIG. You may increase the number of selectable languages and the number of titles.

[0072]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the recording density is changed according to the amount of information to be magnetically recorded,
When the amount of information is small, the low recording density can be selected to stabilize the magnetically recorded information, and when the amount of information is large, the recording density is increased so that the information to be recorded cannot fit in the predetermined recording area. Therefore, the effects of jitter and uneven feeding can be easily reduced even for an inexpensive camera.

Further, according to the present invention, the recording density is increased only when recording the title information which is not frequently used, and the low recording density is selected in other cases, so that the title information can be recorded. In the camera, there is an effect that more suitable measures can be taken against jitter and unevenness in feeding.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example on the LCD display device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the operation in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state of circulation when selecting a title in the “title recording mode” in the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how the date display mode is circulated in the “title off mode” in the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 5 Motor Drive Circuit 6 Film Feed Motor 7 Magnetic Head Control Circuit 8 Magnetic Head 9 LCD Drive Circuit 10 LCD Display Device 13 Title Switch 14 Date Switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A camera with a magnetic recording function, comprising a recording means for magnetically recording information on a magnetic recording portion provided on a film, the recording density according to the amount of information when recording on the magnetic recording portion. A camera with a magnetic recording function, characterized in that it is provided with a control means for changing. 2. A selection means for selecting whether or not to record the character string information having a relatively large amount of information is provided, and the control means, when the recording of the character string information is selected by the selection means, The camera with a magnetic recording function according to claim 1, wherein a recording density is increased as compared with a case where information other than the character string information is recorded. 3. The camera with a magnetic recording function according to claim 2, wherein the character string information having a relatively large amount of information is title information.