JPH11338037A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera which can be horizontally adjusted without using a dedicated display member and taking a photographer's eye off an object. SOLUTION: A camera main body 1 to which a photographic lens 2 is attached is provided with an object observing finder part 6 integrally provided and an angle sensor 5 for detecting the inclined state of the camera main body 1. Further, the main body 1 is provided with a vibrating means for transmitting a mechanical vibration and a vibration control means for driving the vibrating means, to transmit the vibration to a photographer holding the main body 1, based on its inclined state detected by the angle sensor 5. Thus, the photographer can be informed that the camera is inclined by the vibration, without executing a display on the finder part 6 and further, the camera can be horizontally adjusted without taking the photographer's eye off the object.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly, to a camera having a function of detecting an angular state of a camera and notifying a photographer of the camera by vibration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when performing framing in photographing, photographing is performed by intuitively comparing a finder field frame with a subject. For this reason, when accurate framing is required, such as when photographing a building or taking a panoramic image, the photograph may be taken without noticing that the photographer is inclined unwillingly. It was the fact that he noticed a failure after seeing. In order to solve this problem, a camera attitude display device which incorporates tilt detection means for detecting the attitude (tilt) of the camera, displays the detection result in a viewfinder, and warns the photographer of the tilt of the camera. There is.

For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-045711, the tilt angle detected by the tilt detecting means is displayed on a dedicated display member (provided outside the viewfinder field) so that the degree of tilt of the camera can be confirmed. I have to. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-248528 discloses an exposure information display unit that displays the detection information from a posture detection unit outside the viewfinder and displays the exposure information of a camera or a focus state display that displays the focus state of the camera. The display is performed using a means. Therefore, the degree of inclination can be confirmed without using a dedicated display device. Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-27
In Japanese Patent No. 9935, the degree of tilt of the camera can be confirmed by displaying the detection result from the attitude detection means on the screen of the electronic viewfinder of the video camera so as to be superimposed on the image of the monitor screen (so-called superimposition). I have to.

[0004]

However, the above conventional example has the following problems.

[0005] In the angle display device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 5-045711 and 7-248528,
Because both are provided outside the view of the viewfinder,
In order to check the inclination, it is necessary to remove the line of sight from the viewfinder (object), and framing cannot be performed while checking the position of the object.

Further, the attitude display device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-279935 displays an image on a monitor screen with a degree of tilt superimposed thereon by using an electronic viewfinder, so that it is difficult to confirm the position of the object depending on the object. In addition to the drawbacks, there is a drawback that the screen becomes troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and notifies a photographer of the fact that a camera is tilted by vibrating, and uses a dedicated display member to remove a line of sight from a subject. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera that enables horizontal adjustment of a camera without removing the camera.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a finder provided integrally with a camera body and used for observing a subject image. An angle detecting means for detecting an inclination state of the camera main body, and a camera provided with an operation member for starting a release operation, a vibration means for transmitting mechanical vibration to the camera main body, and the angle detecting means comprises: A camera comprising: a vibration control unit that drives the vibration unit when a tilt state of the camera body is detected.

According to this configuration, when the tilted state of the camera is detected, the notification is not made in the form of information in the viewfinder, but the camera body is vibrated and the notification is made by touch. Therefore, the horizontal adjustment of the camera can be performed without using a dedicated display member and without losing the line of sight from the subject. In addition, since the image is not displayed in the viewfinder, the viewfinder can be a viewfinder in which only the subject image is arranged.

A specific configuration for realizing the object of the invention according to the present application is to calculate an inclination angle of the camera body based on output information of the angle detection means, as described in claim 2.
The camera is provided with an angle calculating means for driving the vibrating means at different periods according to the calculation result.

According to this structure, the inclination angle is obtained by the angle calculation means, and the pattern of the vibration generated by the vibration means is changed according to the result of comparing the angle with the set range. Therefore, the photographer can easily know the degree of the inclination from the operation content of the vibration pattern (the magnitude of the vibration, etc.).

According to a specific configuration for realizing the object of the invention according to the present application, as set forth in claim 3, the vibration control means controls the operation by the vibration means when detecting the operation of the operation member. The camera is characterized by being stopped.

According to this configuration, it is noted that whether or not the camera is tilted becomes a problem during the exposure, and the vibration means is controlled in conjunction with the shutter release operation. Accordingly, the vibration is stopped at the start of the shutter release operation, so that the captured image can be prevented from vibrating due to the vibration generated by the vibration means, and the blurred photograph or the like can be prevented.

A specific configuration for realizing the object of the invention according to the present application is as follows.
The camera is characterized in that the vibration frequency is set outside the audible range.

[0015] According to this configuration, since the vibrating sound generated by the vibrating means does not occur in the surroundings, the photographer and the person who is the subject do not feel the sound as a sound, so that the photographing is performed in a quiet place such as a concert. You don't have to worry about your eyes when you do.

[0016]

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

FIGS. 1A and 1B are external views of a camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a front view and FIG. 1B is a rear view. In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 1 denotes a single lens reflex (single lens reflex) type camera main body, and 2 denotes a photographing lens attached to the front surface of the camera main body 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a release button provided on the upper end surface of the grip portion of the camera body 1, which is activated by a first stroke (SW1) for starting photometry and distance measurement of the camera, and activated by a second stroke. And a second switch (SW2) for starting a series of release operations of the camera. Reference numeral 4 denotes a first dial for selecting a photographing mode of a camera, an exposure value and the like, and a distance measuring point. An angle sensor for detecting how many times the camera is tilted is built in the camera body 1.

In FIG. 1B, reference numeral 6 denotes a finder for observing a subject, 7 denotes a second dial for selecting an exposure value or the like and a distance measuring point, similarly to the dial 4; This is a switch for locking photometry. The switch 8 is provided at a position where the user can easily operate the switch 8 by slightly moving the thumb holding the camera body 1 even when the photographer looks into the finder section 7.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the optical system of the camera shown in FIG. X0 indicates the optical axis of the finder light flux from the photographing lens 2 to the eyeball 21 of the photographer. A quick return (QR) mirror 25 is disposed at a stage subsequent to the lens group 20 in the photographing lens 2.
The shutter S is disposed at the subsequent stage. QR mirror 2
On the reflected light path 5, a focus plate 26, a condenser lens 27, and a ender prism 28 are sequentially arranged.
An eyepiece 30 is attached to the exit surface of the penda prism 28. An imaging lens 31 and a photometric sensor 32 are provided in the vicinity of the eyepiece 30. The light image from the imaging lens 31 is incident on the photometric sensor 32. I do. Imaging lens 3
1 and a photometric sensor 32 are provided for measuring the luminance of the subject in the photographing screen. ing.

Here, the basic operation of the finder optical system will be described. The light flux from the subject that has passed through the lens group 20 forms an image on a focus plate 26 via a QR mirror 25. The image on the focus plate 26 reaches the observer's eyeball 21 via the condenser lens 27, the finder prism 28, and the eyepiece 30 constituting the finder 6, and is observed.
Further, the QR mirror 25 is retracted from the photographing optical path in conjunction with the operation of the release button 3, that is, the shutter operation during photographing, and the light flux from the subject passing through the lens group 20 is formed on the photographing screen S.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing the details of the angle sensor 5. The angle sensor 5 includes two micro switches 5
1 and 52 and a detector 172.
A weight 170 is hung from a fulcrum 173 by a thread 171. The thread 171 always draws a perpendicular line. When the thread 171 reaches a certain angle (for example, 5 degrees) on one of the left and right sides, the actuation of the microswitches 51 and 52 is performed. The weight 170 contacts and is turned on. By detecting this switch-on by the detector 172, rotation angle information can be obtained.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a graph of angle information obtained by the angle sensor 5 of FIG. Here, the arrangement angle of the microswitches 51 and 52 is set to 5 degrees, and the camera body 1 is moved from the 0-degree position indicating the upright position to the horizontal position by 5 degrees.
The detector 172 at the position of -5 degrees and +5 degrees when tilted more than degrees
Thus, angle information indicating the horizontal position of the camera body can be obtained. The arrangement angles of the micro switches 51 and 52 in the angle sensor 5 are not particularly limited to -5 degrees and +5 degrees, but may be set appropriately in the vicinity.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a camera for generating vibration according to the present invention. In FIG. 5, 70
Reference numeral 1 denotes a camera control unit (MPU).
It is configured using a one-chip microcomputer including a U, a ROM, a RAM, an A / D converter, and the like. MP
U701 communicates with peripheral circuits in the camera body 1 according to a program stored in the ROM, and controls the operation of each unit. The MPU 701 includes a switch SW1 for starting photometry and distance measurement, a switch SW2 for starting a release operation, an angle sensor 5, and a vibration control unit 702 for controlling power supply.
Is connected. The detection value from the angle sensor 5 is MPU
After being received by the A / D converter 701, the A / D converter in the MPU 701 performs A / D conversion, and a predetermined calculation process is performed in an angle calculation unit included in the angle calculation unit in the MPU 701, so that the angle information of the camera is obtained. can get. Based on the result of the angle information, the MPU 701 sends a predetermined signal to the vibration control unit 702.
Output to The vibration control unit 702 executes control to supply the output voltage of the power supply 704 to the vibration motor 705 according to the operation signal (control signal) from the MPU 701. The vibration motor 704 is a motor that can generate vibration by cutting a part of a permanent magnet in an axial direction as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-224770. Note that the power supply 704 and the vibration motor 705 form a vibration unit 703.

Next, the operation of the above-described camera of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a process at the time of angle detection in a camera using the angle sensor of FIG.
In the following flowcharts, steps are represented by "S". In FIG. 6, S of the release button 3
If W1 is ON (S101), photometry and distance measurement are started (S102, S103). Then, the angle sensor 5
Is started (S104), and angle information is detected (S105). After detecting the angle information, release button 3
The state of SW2 is confirmed (S106). If it is OFF, the process proceeds to S107, and if it is ON, the process proceeds to S109. Further, the angle information obtained in S105 is [-
5 degrees <θ <+5 degrees], that is, if both the micro switches 51 and 52 shown in FIG.
(S107), and if it is out of the range of [−5 degrees <θ <+5 degrees], that is, if one of the micro switches 51 and 52 shown in FIG. 3 is ON, the process proceeds to S109 (S10).
7). Next, when it is out of the range of [-5 degrees <θ <+5 degrees] in S107, that is, when the horizontal state of the camera is not determined, the power supply 704 is controlled by the vibration control means 702 to operate the vibration motor 705 (S109). ). By the vibration of the camera body 1 by the vibration motor 705, the photographer can know that the camera is tilted. Thereafter, the processing returns to S105, and the subsequent processing is executed again.

When it is determined in step S106 that the switch SW2 is ON, or when it is determined in step S107 that it is within the range of [-5 degrees <θ <+5 degrees] (that is, when the camera is returned to the horizontal state). In each case, the process proceeds to S108, in which the vibration control means 702 is operated to control the power supply 704, and the vibration motor 705 is stopped.
Stop the vibration warning.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate the operation of the vibration motor 705 when the camera tilt is detected. FIG. 7A is a control model diagram of the control system, FIG. c) shows the driving state of the vibration motor 705.
As shown in FIG.
Operation signals (control signals) a and b are input to 02, and the power supply 704 is controlled by a combination of the operation signals a and b. First, when the camera body 1 is in a horizontal state, that is, when it is determined in step S107 of FIG. 6 that the angle is within [−5 degrees <θ <+5 degrees], the MPU 701 outputs a signal of a = 0, b = 0 (voltage of 0 level). To the vibration control means 702. In the case of this combination of signals, the vibration control means 702 uses the power supply 704
Is not performed, the vibration motor 705 is not energized, and the control shown in (b) is performed.

Next, in step S106, [-5 degrees <θ <+5 degrees]
When the camera is determined to be out of the range, that is, when the camera is tilted, signals of a = 1 and b = 1 (for example, a voltage of +0.8 V) are input to the vibration control means 702, and as shown in FIG. The vibrating motor 705 operates at an appropriate cycle and voltage, and notifies the photographer that the camera is tilted. By setting the vibration frequency at this time outside the audible range (20 Hz to 20 KHz), it is possible to notify only the photographer that the camera is tilted without emitting unpleasant sounds to the surroundings. become.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration showing another example of the angle sensor 5. The angle sensor 5 is configured using an optical sensor, and is a measurement plate 1 having a half-crescent-shaped light shielding portion 141.
40, weight 14 suspended from a fulcrum 146 by a thread 143
2. a light projector 144 arranged so as to be able to pass through the light shielding unit 141, and a light receiver 1 for receiving light from the light projector 144
45 is provided.

As the measuring plate 140, a semicircular transparent plate having a great circle radius is used, and a line connecting the center point thereof and a semicircle having a small radius in which the left end point is coincident are overlapped to draw a large circle and a small circle. A half-crescent-shaped interval (hatched portion in the drawing) generated therebetween is shielded from light by black printing (or painting, pasting of a light-shielding seal, or the like) to form a light-shielding portion 141. This measuring plate 14
Weight 1 having a constant mass with the center point of 0 as a fulcrum 146
42 is suspended by a thread 143 (the thread 143 always draws a perpendicular line by its own weight). A change in light transmission / shielding of the light-shielding portion 141 on a perpendicular line of the thread 143 is detected by an optical sensor including a light emitter 144 and a light receiver 145 disposed on the opposite side of the measurement plate 140. According to this configuration, the position on the perpendicular line of the light shielding unit 141 changes in synchronization with the inclination of the camera body 1, so that the detected light amount of the optical sensor changes according to the rotation angle,
The detection value of the optical sensor is transmitted to the MPU 701, and the MPU 70
1, A / D conversion is performed by the A / D converter, and the angle is calculated by the angle calculation unit, whereby camera angle information can be obtained.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a graph of angle information obtained by the angle sensor 5 of FIG. FIG. 9 shows a result obtained by sweeping the half-crescent-shaped light-shielding portion 141 by an optical sensor according to the rotation angle of the camera main body 1, with the center of the camera main body 1 centered at 0 degree indicating the upright position. , Up to the left and right horizontal position [−5 degrees <θ <+5 degrees]. The rotation angle can be distinguished from the transmitted light amount of the light shielding unit 141, that is, a change in the light reception output of the light receiver 145.

The angle sensors shown in FIGS. 3 and 8 have the advantage that the required angle information can be obtained with a simple structure. However, the angle sensors such as the encoder type and the gyro type having a more complicated structure are available. Sensors can, of course, be used, and devices equipped with these can also utilize them.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process at the time of angle detection in a camera using the angle sensor of FIG. When SW1 of the release button 3 is turned on (S20
1) After the photometry and distance measurement operations are performed (S202, 203), the angle sensor 5 is started (S204). Based on the detection result of the angle sensor 5, the angle calculation unit of the MPU 701 performs a predetermined calculation to detect the angle information θ (S20).
5). The state of SW2 of the release button 3 is detected (S20).
6) If SW2 is in the OFF state, the process proceeds to S207,
If it is in the ON state, the flow shifts to S208, immediately stops the vibration motor 705, and executes a series of shutter release operations (photographing operations). On the other hand, when it is determined that SW2 is OFF, it is determined whether the angle information θ detected in S205 is 0 degrees (S207). If it is determined that the camera is in the horizontal state, that is, 0 degrees, the vibration motor 705 is stopped (S208). If the angle is not 0 degrees, the process proceeds to S209, and the circuit angle is determined.

In step S209, the degree of tilt of the camera is determined. If it is within [−45 degrees <θ <+45 degrees], S210
Then, after the vibration motor 705 is operated in the first vibration pattern, the flow proceeds to S205. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S209 that the angle is other than [−45 degrees <θ <+45 degrees], the process proceeds to step S211 and the vibration motor 7 is driven in the second vibration pattern.
After activating 05, the process moves to S205 and the subsequent operations are executed again.

Next, control for generating different vibration patterns in S210 and S211 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG.
Operation signals a and b are applied from U 701 to the vibration control means 702. Different power control can be performed by the combination of the operation signals a and b. Camera is first
In the state (horizontal state) of MPU 701, a = 0, b =
A signal of 0 is sent to the vibration control means 702. As a result, the vibration control unit 702 does not perform power control,
As shown in (b), the vibration motor 705 does not operate.

In S209, [-45 degrees <θ <+45
Degrees), that is, in the second tilt state in which the camera is slightly tilted, signals of a = 1 and b = 1 are applied to the vibration control means 702, and the cycle as shown in FIG. With this voltage, the vibration motor 705 operates. This vibration is shown in FIG.
Corresponds to the first vibration pattern described in S210.

Further, in S209, [−45 degrees <θ <+4
5 degrees], that is, when the camera is in the third tilt state in which the camera is tilted from the tilt state in FIG.
1 sends a signal of a = 1 and b = 0 to the vibration control means 702. Vibration control means 70 receiving signals of a = 1 and b = 0
2 is to make the power supply voltage higher than the power supply voltage at (c) (0.8V → 1.6V) as shown in (d),
The number of revolutions of the vibration motor 705 is increased, and the vibration in the third inclined state is made larger than the vibration in the second inclined state. This vibration corresponds to the second vibration pattern described in S211 of FIG. The vibration frequency at this time is set in the audible range (20
(Hz to 20 KHz), no noise is generated from the camera, so that it is possible to notify only the photographer that the camera is tilted.

By performing the control as shown in FIG. 10, the photographer can recognize that the vibration has weakened when the state changes from the third inclined state to the second inclined state. That is, it can be easily recognized that the camera is approaching the vicinity of the horizontal position, and early positioning to the horizontal position is possible.

In the above embodiment, a single-lens reflex camera is taken as an example. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to a single-lens reflex camera, but can be applied to a range finder camera.

Although a camera using a silver halide film has been described, the present invention is also applicable to other types of cameras that do not use a film, such as digital cameras and video cameras.

[Correspondence between the Invention and the Embodiment] In the above embodiment, the angle sensor 5 and the MPU 701 correspond to the angle detecting means, and the release button 3 corresponds to the operation member.
Further, the MPU 701 that executes the processing of FIGS. 6 and 10 corresponds to an angle calculation unit.

[0042]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the camera body is provided with the vibration means for transmitting the mechanical vibration, and the vibration means is used as the angle detection means. Since it is driven according to the detection result,
The photographer can know the tilt state of the camera from the feel of the vibration, and can perform horizontal adjustment of the camera without taking his / her eyes off the subject. Moreover, there is no need to provide a dedicated display member. Also, since it is not displayed in the viewfinder,
It is possible to provide a viewfinder in which only the image of the subject is arranged.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the tilt angle of the camera body is calculated based on the output information of the angle detecting means, and the angle calculating means drives the vibration means at different periods according to the calculation result. Since the means is provided, the photographer can easily know the degree of inclination from the operation contents (magnitude of vibration) of the vibration pattern.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the vibration control means stops the operation of the vibration means when the operation of the operation member is detected, so that the vibration control means starts the shutter release operation. It is possible to prevent the vibration from stopping and the captured image from vibrating due to the vibration generated by the vibrating means, and to prevent a blurred photograph or the like.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the vibrating means sets its vibration frequency outside the audible range, so that no vibrating sound is generated by the vibrating means in the surroundings, so that the vibrating means is in a quiet place such as a concert. You don't have to worry about surrounding eyes even when shooting with.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B are external views of a camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a front view and FIG. 1B is a rear view.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an optical system of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing details of a first example of an angle sensor according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a graph of angle information obtained by the angle sensor of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a camera according to the present invention for generating vibration.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of angle detection in a camera using the angle sensor of FIG. 3;

7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the vibration motor when the inclination of the camera is detected, and FIG. 7A is a control model diagram of a control system,
(B) shows a stopped state of the vibration motor, and (c) shows a driving state of the vibration motor.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram showing details of a second example of the angle sensor according to the present invention.

9 is an explanatory diagram in which angle information by the angle sensor of FIG. 8 is graphed.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of angle detection in a camera using the angle sensor of FIG. 8;

11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a tilt state of a camera corresponding to the vibration pattern generation processing of FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera main body 3 Release button 5 Angle sensor 6 Finder part 51, 52 Micro switch 140 Measurement plate 141 Light shielding part 143, 171 Thread 142, 170 Weight 144 Floodlight 145 Detector 172 Detector 701 MPU 702 Vibration control means 703 Vibration means 704 Power supply 705 Vibration motor SW1, SW2 switch

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A camera comprising: a finder provided integrally with a camera body for use in observing a subject image; an angle detecting means for detecting a tilt state of the camera body; and an operation member for starting a release operation. A vibration unit for transmitting mechanical vibration to the camera body; and a vibration control unit for driving the vibration unit when the angle detection unit detects a tilt state of the camera body. And the camera. 2. An angle calculating means for calculating an inclination angle of the camera body based on output information of the angle detecting means, and driving the vibrating means at different periods according to a result of the calculation. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said vibration control means stops operation by said vibration means when detecting operation of said operation member. 4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said vibration means sets a vibration frequency outside an audible range.