JPH09258326A - Motor-driven camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a motor-driven camera capable of selecting a motor-driven film feeding means, or a manual film feeding means in accordance with the consumption degree of a battery and the ambient condition, and also, capable of obtaining a large display of the number of film frames on an easy-to-see position through an electro-optic element and accurately displaying the number of film frames irrespective of whether the motor-driven film feeding means is selected, or the manual feeding means is selected. SOLUTION: The camera is provided with a counting means 20 for electrically detecting a film feeding state and electrically counting the number of frames, a voltage applying means 19 for applying voltage on the counting means and a power supply means 22 for supplying a power to the counting means, and when the voltage is applied on the counting means 20 by the voltage applying means 19, the counting operation is enabled regardless of such the state that the power is supplied by the power supply means 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric camera having a film number counter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In conventional cameras, there are two types of methods for displaying the number of films.

In the first method, the film feeding operation itself is a manual operation, and a disk on which the number of sheets is printed is provided which rotates in association with the feeding operation, and the number of films is mechanically displayed. Was the way.

In the second method, the film feeding operation is electric, and a device for converting the film movement during feeding into electric pulses and integrating the number of the pulses to display on the LCD is provided. In this method, the value of the number of films is electro-optically displayed.

Rewinding the two types of cameras has advantages and disadvantages, respectively. First, in the first method, because of the mechanical interlocking relationship, the battery in the camera is not consumed, or silent rewinding is possible without the battery, and the number of films is linked with the rewinding. The reverse calculation of is also possible. On the other hand, there is a limitation that there is no degree of freedom in the design of the camera because there is a limit to the installation location and size of the disk.

The second method has an advantage in that the number of sheets can be displayed in a large size in a free space because of the electric means, but has a disadvantage that the rewinding operation itself cannot be performed without a battery. It was

On the other hand, in some types of cameras, film feeding is basically performed by an electric motor, but only the rewinding operation is manually performed in order to suppress battery consumption or to suppress motor operating noise. There is something that made it possible. Since the number of films displayed by such a camera is based on the mechanical display device as in the first method, the rewinding status of the film is always displayed.

[0008]

Summarizing the advantages of the above two methods, both electric and manual means for film feeding are provided, and any means can be selected in view of battery consumption. Ideally, the number of films is displayed in a large size by an electro-optical element at a position easy to see, and the number of films is ideally displayed regardless of the feeding means. However, the technology for such a camera has not existed until now.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to select an electric or manual film feeding means according to the degree of battery consumption and the surrounding conditions, and to display the number of films. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric camera in which a large display is made at a position that is easy to see by an electro-optical element and a display relating to the number of films is correctly displayed regardless of the film feeding means.

[0010]

In order to achieve this object, the electric camera according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a counting means (2) for electrically detecting the film feeding state and electrically counting the number of frames.
0) and voltage applying means (1) for applying a voltage to the counting means.
9) and a power feeding means (22) for feeding power to the counting means, and the counting means (20) is in a power feeding state by the power feeding means (22) when a voltage is applied from the voltage applying means (19). Regardless, the counting operation is enabled.

The electric camera of the second invention comprises a manual film feeding means (5) and an electric film feeding means (16, 17).
And a feeding detection means (14) for electrically detecting the film feeding state and a counting means (step S6, step S29, step S) for counting the number of frames from the output of the feeding detection means.
43, step S51), display means (6) for electrically displaying the output of the counting means, power feeding means (19) for feeding power to the counting means and the display means, and power feeding control for controlling power feeding from the power feeding means. Means (20), and the power feeding control means feeds power from the power feeding means to the electric film feeding means, the feeding detecting means, the counting means, and the electric means in the first mode in which the operation of the electric film feeding means is permitted. In the second mode in which the operation is performed on the optical display means and only the manual film feeding means is allowed to operate, the power feeding means feeds power only to the feeding detecting means and the counting means.

[0012]

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an electric camera 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, and the shutter button 4 is pressed. As a result, the loaded film is exposed. The LCD 6 displays the number of films according to the present invention in addition to the shutter time, the aperture value, etc. as described later.

To rewind the loaded film,
There are a method of automatically rewinding by a rewinding motor started by pressing the rewinding button 7 and a method of rewinding by rotating the rewinding dial 5 with a finger. The rewind button 7 is designed to appear when the door 9 is opened so as not to be pressed by mistake during normal operation. Since the door 9 is always biased by a spring (not shown) in the direction of closing, the rewind button 7
When pushing, the door 9 is pushed open with the thumb and then pushed.

The slide type power switch 8 is a main power source for supplying power to the entire camera 1 by moving it to the right side, and the exposure operation in response to the shutter button 4 can be performed only when the power switch 8 is on. is there. Conversely, when the power switch 8 is moved to the left, the power is turned off. The electric rewinding by the rewinding button 7 according to the present invention operates only when the power switch 8 is turned on. On the contrary, the manual rewinding by the rewinding dial 5 can be performed at any time regardless of the setting state of the power switch 8.

As will be described in detail later, when the power switch 8 is in the ON state, either electric rewinding or manual rewinding is possible, and the LCD 6 displays the number of sheets regardless of electric rewinding or manual rewinding. Be seen. On the other hand, when the power switch 8 is off, electric rewinding cannot be performed, and only manual rewinding is possible.
Since the display by is completely erased, the number display cannot be confirmed. However, as will be described later, a part of the internal circuit is operating and only counting the number of sheets is performed. Therefore, when the power switch 8 is turned on at any time, the number of sheets at that time can be known.

FIG. 2 is an example of an internal configuration and an electric circuit diagram of the camera 1.

The film 15 pulled out from the film cartridge 11 is wound around the spool 12. The rotation of the winding motor 17 is transmitted to the spool 12, and the film winding is performed electrically. The rotation of the rewinding motor 16 is transmitted to a shaft (not shown) below the cartridge 11, and the film rewinding is performed electrically. A rewinding dial 5 meshes with the shaft above the cartridge 11, and manual rewinding is possible at any time.

An interlocking shaft 13 is provided which rotates by interlocking with the movement of the film 15 when it contacts the film 15, and the brush 14 detects the rotational state thereof. This makes it possible to electrically detect that the film 15 is being fed. Since the interlocking shaft 13 contacts the film 15 and detects the movement itself of the film 15, the output of the brush 14 is generated both when the film 15 is wound up and when it is rewound. The output from the brush 14 is, for example, several pulses generated for each frame of the film, and the completion of frame advance of the film can be determined by counting the pulses. In the case of this embodiment, for the sake of simplification of description, it is assumed that one pulse is generated for each frame of film.

Power is supplied from the battery 22 to the power circuit 19 and the CPU 20 via the power switch 8. The constant voltage output from the power supply 22 is transmitted to the entire circuit system including the CPU 20. The output of the power supply circuit 19 is C
It is turned on / off by a signal from the PU 20.

The control including the motors 16 and 17 is executed mainly by the CPU 20. A non-volatile memory circuit 20 exists in the CPU 20 and stores various data that changes every moment. The stored data includes the set exposure mode, shutter time, and aperture value,
There are film number values and the like relating to the present invention, and they are not erased even if the battery 22 is removed, and continue to be stored.

The following signals are input to the CPU 20.
First, the rewind button 7, in addition to the signal from the power switch 8, the detection signal of the brush 14 described above, the power start switch interlocked with the pressing of the shutter button 4, the exposure start switch,
Also, a signal from the switch detection circuit 23 including various switches representing the operation sequence of the camera 1 and a clock signal from the oscillation circuit 24 are input. In addition,
A photometric circuit, a film sensitivity detection circuit, etc. also exist, but are omitted.

On the other hand, the output of the CPU 20 is the oscillation circuit 24.
And the oscillation frequency is switched. Also,
The exposure information is transmitted to the LCD 6 and displayed. The operation relationship between the power supply circuit 19 and the CPU 20 is as follows.

First, when the power switch 8 is off, the CPU 20 receives power directly from the battery 22,
And the low current consumption mode is maintained. The low current consumption mode is achieved by controlling the oscillation circuit 24 to generate a low-speed clock, and performs only limited processing based on the clock and back calculation of the number of films when manually rewound as described later. It is what you do. In this case, this is a process of counting the pulses from the brush 14 generated in association with the manual rewinding and updating the number of films stored in the storage circuit 21. The LCD 6 is not displayed in order to avoid current consumption.

Next, when the power switch 8 is turned on, the fact that it is turned on is transmitted to the CPU 20. When the power supply is not started by the shutter button 4, the low speed clock control is performed as described above, but when the power switch 8 is turned on, the number of films is displayed.

When the shutter button 4 is subsequently activated, the power supply circuit 19 is also activated to supply power to all circuits, and the oscillator circuit 24 is controlled to generate a high-speed clock, and processing based on the clock is performed. To execute. Specifically, the exposure calculation value and the like are displayed after the number of films.
Further, it is possible to perform all operations such as exposure operation, electric rewinding, and back calculation of the number of films. Here, the power source is activated not only by the shutter button 4 but also by the output of the brush 14 generated during manual rewinding.

After the power supply circuit 19 is activated, the CPU is operated for a predetermined time.
The control signal from 20 is continued, and the activation of the power supply circuit 19 is maintained. If no operation is performed during the subsequent predetermined time, the CPU 20 stops the operation of the power supply circuit 19, and the LCD 6 returns to the display mode in which only the number of films is displayed. The above-described timed operation is hereinafter referred to as a power supply timer.

If the power switch 8 is on, manual rewinding and electric rewinding are possible even if the power timer is off. Table 1 shows the states of the number of sheets displayed on the LCD 6 and the frequency of the oscillation circuit 24 in the combination of the setting state of the power switch 8 and the rewinding mode.

[Table 1]

From Table 1, while the power switch 8 is on, the LCD can be used for rewinding operation, either electrically or manually.
At 6, the number of films is displayed. Further, at this time, in order to perform various operations, the clock output of the oscillation circuit 24 has a high frequency of, for example, about 4 MHz, and the CPU 20 continues high-speed processing.

On the other hand, while the power switch 8 is off, the rewinding can be performed only manually because of the energy saving mode, and since the LCD 6 does not display, the number of films cannot be confirmed. However, the oscillation circuit 24 is, for example, 3
It continues to operate at a low frequency of about 2 KHz and can only count the number of films by the signal of the brush 14 when manually rewound. Since the number information is stored in the memory 21 in the CPU 20, the number is displayed when the power switch 8 is turned on next time.

FIG. 3 is a CPU in the camera 1 shown in FIG.
20 is an example of a processing routine by 20. This process uses the battery 22
From the CPU 20 to the CPU 20 or while the power supply circuit 19 supplies power to the entire circuit.

In step S1, the on / off state of the power switch 8 is confirmed. If it is on, step S2
If it is turned off, the process of FIG. 5 indicated by B is executed. In step S2, it is determined whether or not the pulse from the brush 14 is generated. Since the rewinding motor 16 is not operated, the occurrence of a pulse here indicates that the manual rewinding is being performed. If no pulse is generated, step S10 is performed. If a pulse is generated, step S10 is performed.
Move to 3.

In step S3, since the pulse is generated, the oscillation circuit 24 is set to a high frequency (for example, 4 MHz). In step S4, the timer starts counting.
This is to detect the interruption of the pulse and determine the state where the manual rewinding is stopped. In step S5, generation of a pulse from the brush 14 is confirmed. In step S6, since a pulse is generated, that is, one frame of film is rewound, the memory 21
1 is subtracted from the information on the number of sheets. In step S7, the number information in the memory 21 is displayed on the LCD 6. This allows the photographer to visually confirm the rewinding. The display on the LCD 6 is as shown in FIG.

In step S8, since no pulse is generated, it is determined whether or not the time counting started in step S4 has timed up. If the time has not expired, the process returns to step S5 and the generation of a pulse is judged again. The fact that the time is up indicates that the manual rewinding operation has been completed, so the process returns to step S1 and the above processing is repeated.

In step S10, the state of the power supply timer is determined. It was started by the power start switch,
Alternatively, if the power supply timer is still continuing, the process proceeds to step S11, and conversely, if the power supply timer has finished counting, the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S11, since the power switch timer has been started or is continuing, the oscillation circuit 24 is set to a high frequency (for example, 4 MHz). In step S12, the memory 21 recorded in the previous process
The information on the number of sheets is displayed on the LCD 6. The display on the LCD 6 is one of FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. When the processing is started for the first time from step S2, the exposure-related processing has not been performed yet, and thus the display in FIG. 7 is displayed, and only the number of films by the segment 32 is displayed. When the power supply timer is continuing in step S2, since there is data related to the exposure before that, the full display as shown in FIG. 8 is performed. The shutter time and the aperture value are displayed in the segments 30 and 31, respectively. Further, as described later, when there is no film left, the display is as shown in FIG.

In step S13, the rewind button 7
It is determined whether or not is pressed. If it is pressed, the process proceeds to the process of FIG. 6 indicated by C, and if not pressed, the process proceeds to the process of FIG. 4 indicated by D.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the processing routine when the rewind button 7 is not pressed in step S13 in FIG. In step S20, the brightness signal of the subject from the photometric means (not shown) and the sensitivity signal from the sensitivity detection means are fetched. In step S21, the brightness signal and the sensitivity signal are calculated to calculate the proper exposure condition. In step S22, the various conditions relating to the exposure obtained above are displayed on the LCD 6. LCD6
Is displayed as shown in FIG.

In step S23, the signal from the switch detection circuit 23 is checked to determine whether or not the shutter button 4 has been pressed deeply to instruct execution of the exposure operation. If not, the process returns to step S1, and the above processing is repeatedly executed. If instructed, the process following step S24 is executed.

In step S24, a reflecting mirror (not shown) is raised to retract from the photographing optical path, a diaphragm (not shown) is controlled to a predetermined diaphragm opening, and a shutter is opened and closed for a predetermined time to perform a film exposure operation. . Step S25
At this point, since the exposure operation has been completed, the winding motor 17
Is rotated to start film feeding and mechanism urging operation. In step S26, the timer starts measuring a predetermined time. This timer is for detecting that the winding is not completed even if it is wound for a certain period of time, that is, the end of the film is detected. In step S27, generation of a pulse from the brush 14 is confirmed. When no pulse is generated, the process proceeds to step S31, and when a pulse is generated, the process proceeds to step S28.

In step S28, since a pulse is generated, that is, one frame of film has been fed, the winding motor 17 is stopped. At this time, the counting operation started in step S26 is stopped at the same time. In step S29, 1 is added to the number information in the memory 21. In step S30, the information on the number of sheets in the memory 21 is displayed on the LCD 6. That is, the number of films is increased by one frame and the photographer is notified. Since one frame of shooting has been completed as described above, the process returns to step S1 and the above sequence is repeated. The display on the LCD 6 is as shown in FIG.

In step S31, since no pulse is generated, it is determined whether or not the time counting started in step S26 has timed up. If the time has not expired, the process returns to step S27 and it is determined again whether or not a pulse is generated. In step S32, the winding motor 17 is stopped because the time counting started in step S26 has timed up, that is, the fact that one film of film has not been wound up even after the lapse of a predetermined time indicates the end of the film. At this time, the counting operation started in step S26 is stopped at the same time. In step S33, the LCD 6 indicates that the film is finished. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, a warning is given in the segment 32. After that, the process returns to step S1 of FIG. 3 to follow the above sequence and wait for rewinding.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a processing routine when the power switch 8 is not turned on in step S1 in FIG. In step S40, since the power switch 8 is not turned on, the display on the LCD 6 is erased. The display is as shown in FIG. In step S41, the oscillator circuit 24 is set to a low frequency (for example, 32 KHz). As described above, the camera 1 enters the energy saving mode. As a result, the CPU 20 enters the low current consumption mode so as to process only the counting of the number of films according to the manual rewinding. In step S42, it is confirmed whether or not a pulse is generated from the brush 14. Rewind dial 5 for pulse generation
Indicates that manual rewinding has started.
Proceed to step S43. If no pulse is generated, the process returns to step S1 of FIG. 3 to repeat the above process. In step S43, the manual rewinding is being executed and the pulse output has been detected, so the number-of-images information in the memory 21 is subtracted by one frame. As long as the manual rewind is continued,
Since the above process is repeatedly performed, the film number information in the memory 21 is continuously subtracted.

As described above, the manual rewinding is performed while the power switch 8 is off, and then step S1 in FIG.
When it is determined that the power switch 8 has been turned on again in step S10, and the power supply is started in step S10,
The subtracted number of sheets is displayed on the LCD 6 by the process of step S4. This allows the photographer to confirm that the film has been rewound or the rewinding condition.

FIG. 6 shows a processing routine when the rewind button 7 is pressed in step S13 or step S16 of FIG.

In step S45, the rewinding motor 1
Rotate 6 to start film rewind. In step S46, the timer starts measuring a predetermined time. This timer is for detecting the completion of film rewinding. In step S47, the generation of pulses from the brush 14 is confirmed. When no pulse is generated, the process proceeds to step S48, and when a pulse is generated, the process proceeds to step S51.

In step S51, since a pulse has been generated, that is, one frame of film has been rewound, 1 is subtracted from the number information in the memory 21. Step S52
At, the number information in the memory 21 is displayed on the LCD 6. This allows the photographer to visually confirm the rewinding. It is displayed on the LCD 6 as shown in FIG.

In step S48, it is determined whether or not the pulse from the brush 14 is generated and the time counting started in step S46 is timed up. If the time has not expired, the process returns to step S47 to determine again the generation of a pulse, in step S53, step S3
If the time counting started at 1 is timed up, that is, the film has not been rewound by one frame after the elapse of the predetermined time, it means that the film rewinding is completed, and the winding motor 17 is stopped. At the same time, step S4
The timekeeping started in 6 ends. In step S54, a message indicating that the rewinding is completed is displayed on the LCD 6.
Although it is displayed as shown in FIG. 7, 0 may be displayed in the segment 32.

As described above, electric rewinding can be performed when the power switch 8 is on. Since the number of rewound films is displayed on the LCD 6 every moment, the photographer can confirm the rewinding or the rewinding condition.

7 to 10 are display examples of the LCD 6.

In FIG. 7, only the number of films is displayed in the segment 32, and the power switch 8 is turned on, but the exposure calculation is not yet executed, or the electric rewinding is being performed. This is a display example when the exposure display is unnecessary.

FIG. 8 is a display example in a state where the exposure calculation result is provided.

FIG. 9 is a continuation of FIG. 8 and is a display of the situation where the film end, that is, the remaining number of sheets has run out. The exposure display is erased because further shooting is impossible, but the exposure display may be displayed if confirmation is required.

FIG. 10 shows the case of no display and the case where the power switch 8 is off.

Although the manual operation of film rewinding has been described in the embodiment, the same effect can be obtained in a camera in which film winding is performed manually or electrically.

[0057]

As described above, according to the electric camera of the present invention, the counting means (20) is in the power feeding state by the power feeding means (22) when the voltage is applied from the voltage applying means (19). Regardless, the counting operation is possible. Accordingly, particularly when the film is fed by the manual film feeding means, the power is supplied only to the counting means, so that the most suitable one of the electric or manual film feeding means is selected according to the degree of battery consumption and the surrounding conditions. The means can be selected, and the display of the number of sheets can be made large by the electro-optical element at a position easy to see, and the display regarding the number of films can be correctly performed regardless of the film feeding means.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

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

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the electric camera according to the present invention.

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

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the electric camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the electric camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing an embodiment of the electric camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing an embodiment of the electric camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing an embodiment of the electric camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing an embodiment of the electric camera according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Camera 5 Rewind Dial 6 LCD 7 Rewind Button 8 Power Switch 14 Brush 16 Rewind Motor 20 CPU

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A counting means for electrically detecting a film feeding state to electrically count the number of frames, a voltage applying means for applying a voltage to the counting means, and a power feeding means for supplying power to the counting means. The electric camera, wherein the counting means is capable of performing the counting operation when a voltage is applied from the voltage applying means regardless of a power supply state of the power supply means. 2. A display means for electrically displaying the output of the counting means, the display means being capable of being fed by the feeding means.
The electric camera according to claim 1, wherein the electric display is performed only when the power is supplied. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising timer means for maintaining the operation of the power feeding means for a predetermined time, and the time counting operation by the timer means is restarted based on the output of the counting means. Electric camera. 4. A manual film feeding means, an electric film feeding means, a feeding detection means for electrically detecting the film feeding state, and an output of the feeding detection means to determine the number of film frames. Counting means for electrically counting, display means for electrically displaying the output of the counting means, power feeding means for feeding power to the counting means and the display means, and power feeding control means for controlling power feeding from the power feeding means The power supply control means, in the first mode in which the operation of the electric film feeding means is permitted, the electric power is fed from the power feeding means to the electric film feeding means, the feeding detecting means, and the counting means. And the electro-optical display means, and in the second mode in which only the manual film feeding means is allowed to operate, the power feeding means feeds power to the feeding detection means and the counting means. Electric camera which comprises carrying out. 5. The electric camera according to claim 4, further comprising a permitting unit that permits the operation of the electric film feeding unit, and a lid member that covers the permitting unit.