JPH10111447A - Image pickup device provided with automatic focusing function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the arranging space of operation members without deteriorating operability and increasing p cost. SOLUTION: This device is provided with exposure means 32-34 executing an exposure action in accordance with the operation of a release button, an operation means independently arranged of the release' button, an automatic focusing means 40 executing a focusing action based on the detected result of a focus in a field and a control means 32 starting the focusing means 40 and also starting the different means from the exposure means in accordance with the operation of the release button.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus capable of measuring a plurality of arbitrary areas of a photographing screen, and having an automatic focusing function with improved operability of photographing upon switching of the distance measurement areas. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a top view of a conventional camera, and FIG. 8 is a rear view. This camera is capable of measuring a distance in a plurality of arbitrary areas of a shooting screen. Distance measurement area switching device 101
Is often provided on the back of the grip portion of the camera body so that the photographer can easily switch while looking through the viewfinder during shooting. However, the easily switchable position is a position where it is easy to inadvertently switch, so a lock mechanism (lock button 102) is incorporated. Reference numeral 106 denotes a display device for displaying the operation status of the camera.

[0003] In many autofocus cameras, when a photometric switch incorporated in the release button 107 is pressed, a series of autofocus operations, that is, a distance measurement is performed in addition to the photometric operation, and a distance measurement is performed based on the result. An operation of driving the photographing lens to a predetermined position is performed. However, there are many photographers who wish to arbitrarily perform only the auto focus (AF) operation independently of the photometry operation, and there are cameras provided with an AF start switch 111. The AF start switch 111 is also provided on the rear surface of the grip portion of the camera body so that the photographer can easily operate the camera even while looking through the viewfinder during photographing.

[0004]

The operation intended by the photographer to easily switch while looking through the viewfinder during photographing includes an exposure compensation operation (exposure compensation button 1).
05, the sub-command dial 108 is rotated), the exposure value lock operation (the AE lock button 104 is pressed), the shutter time (the main command dial 103 is rotated), the aperture value changing operation (the lens aperture) To rotate the ring). Various switches are placed in a limited space that can be easily switched even while looking through the viewfinder during shooting, which increases erroneous operations and reduces operation buttons and increases operability, thus increasing problems and costs. There was a problem.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to reduce the space for disposing operation members without deteriorating operability and cost.

[0006]

In order to achieve this object, an image pickup apparatus having an automatic focusing function according to the present invention comprises an exposure means (32-) for performing an exposure operation in response to an operation of a release button.
34), an operation means (3) provided independently of the release button, an automatic focusing means (40) for performing a focusing operation based on a focus detection result in the object field, and an operation of an operation member Control means (32) for activating the automatic focusing means in response to the control signal and for activating other means than the exposure means.

[0007]

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

FIG. 1 is a top view showing an embodiment of an image pickup apparatus (camera) having an automatic focusing function according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a release button 51 is an operation button for causing a camera to start an exposure operation when pressed. The display unit 56 is arranged on the upper surface of the camera and is visible from outside. The display unit 56 displays L
A CD panel or the like is used. The main command dial 53 is an operation member that protrudes to the rear side of the camera and can be rotated from the outside. The main command dial 53 has a click feeling at each predetermined rotation angle and outputs a predetermined signal every time one click operation is performed. It is. The sub-command dial 52 is an operation member that protrudes toward the front side of the grip of the camera and can be rotated from the outside. Is what you do. Since the details of the command dials 53 and 52 are known, their description will be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing an embodiment of an image pickup apparatus (camera) having an automatic focusing function according to the present invention.

The exposure compensation button 55 is an operation button that can be pressed from the outside.
When released, it returns and turns off the switch. When the exposure compensation button 55 is pressed, the pushing operation and the operation of the sub-command dial 52 are combined with the exposure value calculated by the camera based on the photometry value measured by the photometry device (not shown) of the camera. The exposure value can be shifted.

The AE lock button 54 is an operation button that can be pressed from the outside.
When released, it returns and turns off the switch. When the AE lock button 54 is pressed, a photometric value measured by a photometric device (not shown) of the camera is temporarily stored, and even if the photographer changes the photographing composition or the photographing target of the camera, A photographing operation is performed based on the stored photometric value.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an operation member for selecting a distance measuring area desired by the photographer from arbitrary distance measuring areas (reference numeral 73 in FIG. 3) in the photographing screen. A lock button 3 having a lock function for disabling an operation for selecting the distance measurement area and a lock release function for releasing the lock (permitting the selection operation) is located at the center of the operation member 1. When the lock button 3 is in a position where the photographer has pressed and pressed the lock button 3, the lock release function is activated and the AF area selecting operation is enabled. On the other hand, when the pressing operation of the lock button 3 is released and the lock button 3 is at the protruding position, the lock function is activated and the AF area selecting operation becomes impossible.

That is, the lock is released only while the lock button 3 is being pressed. When the pressing operation of the lock button 3 is released, the lock button 3 is automatically displaced to the protruding position by the elastic force of the spring 8 urging the lock button 3 in the protruding direction, and the area selection is locked. (Restrict. Note that the relationship between the lock button 3 and the AF operation is such that the AF function works only while the lock button 3 is being pressed, and stops when the lock button 3 is released.

The operating member 1 has indices 1a at four places.
On the back side of this index 1a (on the back side of the paper), four ranging area change switches 10 (see FIG. 4) are arranged respectively. The on / off state of the four ranging area change switches 10 allows the ranging area to be moved in the up, down, left, and right directions in the shooting screen. Note that the distance measurement area change switch 1
0 also serves as a photometric area change switch.

FIG. 3 shows a photographing view field screen 71 of a finder of a camera capable of measuring a plurality of arbitrary areas of the photographing screen. Reference numerals 73a to 73e in the photographing visual field screen indicate ranging areas, and in this example, there are five ranging areas. In order to notify the photographer of the operation state of the camera and the subject information outside the multi-view screen 71 of the viewfinder (lower side of FIG. 3),
Various information is displayed on the information display section (LCD panel) 72.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the lock button 3. The lock button 3 is urged upward by a lock spring 5 via a lock pin 4 in FIG. The button holder 2 is screwed to the operation button 1 by a screw 13, and is configured so that the operation button 1 does not move when the button holder 2 is locked by the lock pin 4. The bearing 6 is fixed to the base plate 14 by caulking or the like, and the base plate 14 is attached to the cover 7 together with the AF start switch contact piece 20 with screws 19.

On the side of the lock pin 4 not in contact with the lock button 3 (the lower side in FIG. 4), a convex part 4a is formed, and this convex part 4a is in contact with the AF start switch contact piece 20. AF
The curved portion 20 a of the start switch contact piece 20 is in contact with the land 9 of the flexible printed circuit board 21 attached to the main plate 14. When the lock button 3 is pressed and the lock pin 4 is lowered, the button holder 2 is disengaged and the operation button 1 can be operated. At this time, the AF start switch contact piece 20 is also pushed down, the curved portion 20a is separated from the land 9 of the flexible printed circuit board 21 of the base plate 14, and the switch is opened, and the AF driving operation is performed. That is, the lock button 3 can also serve as a conventional AF start button.

When the operation button 1 is operated while the lock button 3 is pressed, the operation button 1 presses the distance measurement area change switch 10 via the button holder 2 and the spring 8, and the distance measurement area change switch 10 is Turn ON. When the input to the operation button 1 is completed, the operation button 1 is returned to the vicinity of the neutral position by the spring 8. When the operation button 1 returns to the vicinity of the neutral position, the chamfered portion of the lock button 4 enters the hole 2b of the button holder 2, and the lock button 4
By completely locking the button holder 2, the operation button 1 returns to the neutral position and is locked. A ball 12 is arranged outside the bearing 6 so that the operation button slides smoothly, and the sliding surface 2a of the button holder 2 is formed of a spherical surface.
The sliding surface between the operation button 1 and the cover 7 is formed of a spherical surface having substantially the same center as the sliding surface 2a. The drip-proof member 11
It is made of water-repellent material to prevent dust and water from entering.

With this configuration, since the operation button 1 cannot be moved without operating the lock button 3, the switch 10 may be inadvertently turned on and the set photographing information may be changed. In addition, when an operation is performed to change the photographing information, the operation button 1 may be tilted while pressing the lock button 3, so that the input can be performed by one operation. When the operation is completed, the operation button 1 returns to the neutral position and is locked by the lock pin 4, so that the trouble of locking can be omitted, and the setting is not changed due to forgetting to lock.

In order to minimize the amount of protrusion from the back cover, the back cover body 15 is provided with a hole 15a in the bearing 6 so as to escape from the base plate 14. Reference numeral 16 denotes a roller substrate block for smoothly feeding the film.
Reference numeral 17 denotes a pressure plate for holding the film on the aperture portion while maintaining flatness, and reference numeral 18 denotes a pressure plate spring for pressing the pressure plate.

The operation members (1 to 21) are arranged on the back cover of the camera, but are inclined with respect to the film surface because they are operated with the right thumb having a grip.
Since the mounting surface of the base plate 14 of the cover 7 is inclined, the entire operation members (1 to 21) are inclined in the upward right direction in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. All operations of the circuit are powered by the battery 31. All the controls in the camera are executed mainly by the CPU 32.

A signal from the release switch 43 is input to the CPU 32. The release switch 43 is a switch that is turned on by pressing the release button 51 in FIG. Similarly, signals from the AE lock switch 46 and the exposure compensation switch 47 are also input. The AE lock switch 46 is a switch that is turned on by pressing the AE lock button 54 in FIG. The exposure compensation switch 47 is a switch that is turned on by pressing the exposure compensation button 55 in FIG. The signal generation circuit 41 includes a main command dial 53
, A predetermined signal is generated for each click.
The signal generation circuit 42 generates a predetermined signal for each click by rotating the sub-command dial 52.

The AF start switch 44 is a switch that is opened when the circuit is opened by pressing the lock button 3 in FIG. When this switch 44 is turned on, the CPU 32
The AF operation is performed by the AF drive control circuit 40 via the. When any one of the four indices 1a of the operation member 1 is pressed, the corresponding distance measurement area change switches 45a to 45d are pressed.
One of 45d turns ON.

In accordance with the signal output from the CPU 32, the mirror control circuit 33 controls the mirror, the AF drive control circuit 40 controls the AF operation, and the shutter control circuit 34 controls the front and rear curtains of the shutter. Further, the film feeding circuit 35 controls the film feeding, the charging circuit 36 performs mirror down, resets the aperture, and charges the shutter. 1 is controlled via the liquid crystal driver 39. Further, the display 72 in the finder shown in FIG.
The display contents of the liquid crystal display 37 and the liquid crystal display 38 corresponding to are controlled.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the CPU 32 showing a control routine relating to the distance measuring area selection method. The program starts when the AF start switch 44 is turned on.

In step S5, the locked state of the distance measurement area selection (the state in which the area cannot be selected) is released (the state in which the area can be selected). In step S10, a predetermined ranging area (for example, area 73a in FIG. 3) is selected. In step S20, the AF operation is started (the automatic focusing device is started), and the camera performs the focusing operation. In step S30, it is determined whether or not the distance measurement area change switches 45a to 45d are ON. If it is ON, the process branches to step S40, and if it is not ON, the process proceeds to step S50. In step S40, the distance measurement area is changed (for example, area 73b in FIG. 3). Since the automatic focusing device remains activated, the camera performs a focusing operation in a new ranging area. Thereafter, the process returns to step S30.

In step S50, it is determined whether or not the AF start switch has been turned off. If not turned off, the process returns to step S30, and if turned off, the process proceeds to step S60. In step S60, the AF operation is stopped, and the control routine ends.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the automatic focusing device is activated in accordance with the pressing operation of the lock button 3 and the locked state of the AF area selection button is released. Accordingly, the automatic focusing device may be activated and the photometric means may start photometry. Further, the power switch for starting the camera may be turned on in response to the pressing operation of the lock button 3 and the automatic focusing device may be started.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the lock button 3 is displaced and described as mechanical restriction means for locking (restricting) the area selection. However, the lock circuit is electrically controlled by a logic circuit using an electric switch as the restriction means. Locking (restriction) is also possible.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the explanation has been made on the assumption that the camera is a silver halide camera. However, the present invention is not limited to the silver halide camera.
It may be used for an electronic still camera or the like.

According to the above embodiment, the center of the operation member 1 for the photographer to perform the operation for selecting the distance measurement area is
A lock button 3 for operating the lock function of the operation member is configured, and further, an AF start switch mechanism linked to the lock button operation is configured, and a lock button of an operation member for performing an operation for selecting a ranging area is provided. By adding the AF start function, it is possible to delete the dedicated AF start button,
A switch with other functions can be easily placed in the space where the photographer can easily switch and operate even while looking through the viewfinder while taking a picture, so that the photographer's erroneous operation is reduced, the buttons are large and the operability is improved And effects such as a reduction in cost can be obtained.

When the photographer performs an operation for selecting the distance measuring area, the lock button is always pressed, so that the AF start switch is always turned on, so that the AF operation drive is performed. Each time the area is switched to the distance measurement area, the focus is instantaneously performed in that area, so that there is an effect that the photographer is less likely to miss a photo opportunity.

[0035]

As described above, according to the imaging apparatus having the automatic focusing function of the present invention, the control means (32) controls the automatic focusing means (40) in accordance with the operation of the operation member (3). Is activated, and by activating another means other than the exposure means (32-34), the operation member (3) is used as another means. This makes it possible to reduce the space for disposing the operation members without deteriorating operability and cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a camera showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the camera showing the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a photographing visual field screen of a finder of a camera capable of measuring a distance in a plurality of areas.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an operation member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a conventional camera.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of a conventional camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation button 2 Button press 3 Lock button 4 Lock pin 5 Lock spring 6 Bearing 7 Cover 8 Spring 9 Flexible printed circuit board 10 Distance measurement area change switch 12 Ball 13 Stopper 14 Base plate 20 AF start switch piece

Claims (5)

[Claims] An exposure unit for performing an exposure operation in response to an operation of a release button; an operation unit provided independently of the release button; and a focusing operation based on a focus detection result in a field. Automatic focusing means for performing, and control means for activating the automatic focusing means in response to the operation of the operation member and activating other means than the exposure means. An imaging device having a focus function. 2. A selecting means for selecting an area in which the focus detection is to be performed from a plurality of areas in an object scene; a restricting means for restricting a selecting operation by the selecting means; and a restriction by the restricting means is released. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a release unit, wherein the another unit is the release unit. 3. The selection means includes a plurality of operation parts arranged on a substantially circumference, and the restriction means is disposed at a substantially center position of the plurality of operation parts arranged on a substantially circumference. The imaging device having an automatic focusing function according to claim 2. 4. An image pickup apparatus having an automatic focusing function according to claim 1, wherein said another means is a light metering means for metering light in said object field. 5. An image pickup apparatus having an automatic focusing function according to claim 1, wherein said another means is power supply means for starting power supply to said image pickup apparatus and exciting said image pickup apparatus. apparatus.