JPS62209430A - Data recording camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily record and transmit a great amount of photographic information and to obtain the photographic information without developing a film by providing a film loading part, a loading part for an electronic or magnetic recording medium other than films, a generating means for a photographic information signal, and a signal transmitting means which transmits the output signal of a photographic information signal generating means to the recording medium. CONSTITUTION:An IC card loading confirmation display part 5a blinks when no card is loaded to generate a warning. The IC card loading part X1 is constituted between a substrate 14 and an IC card pressure plate 16 and when an IC card B is inserted into it from above and a rear cover 13 is closed, a film press-contacting plate 17 is pressed to a camera body 1 against a spring 19, so the IC card pressure plate 16 pushes the IC card B to right and the IC card B contacts contacts 15 and is connected electrically. At the same time, connector pins 20 contact terminals of the side of the camera body 1 and are pressed with the energizing force of a spring 21, so that the IC card B is connected electrically to the camera body 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a data recording camera that records photographic information.

Traditionally, cameras and accessories have been proposed that record shooting information on film, such as exposure data such as shutter speed and aperture value, date, time, date, film serial number, and data related to the subject. (For example, JP-A No. 5
1-84632).

However, conventional cameras with such a configuration have the following problems.

(b) Since photographic information is recorded on the film itself, there is a space limitation, and there is a limit to the number of types of information that can be recorded. That is, it is necessary to limit what information is recorded on the film.

Therefore, the photographer cannot obtain sufficient shooting information.
There was the trouble of recording photographic information separately on recording paper.

(b) On the other hand, there is an increasing demand for more advanced shooting including cropping information, exposure standard information, etc.
Conventional cameras have had the problem of not being able to handle the large amount of information.

(c) Furthermore, since the photographic information is recorded on the film itself, there is a problem in that the photographic information cannot be obtained unless the film is developed.

The present invention has been developed in view of these circumstances, and allows for the recording of a large amount of photographic information and the transmission of that photographic information with ease, as well as the ability to transmit photographic information without developing the film. The purpose is to make it possible to obtain.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention for converting between points has the following configuration.

That is, the data recording camera of the present invention includes a film mounting section, a mounting section for an electronic or magnetic recording medium other than film, a photographing information signal generating means, and an output signal from the photographing information signal generating means. and signal transmission means for transmitting the information to the recording medium.

In this configuration, "electronic or magnetic recording medium"
Do you mean electronic recording media, magnetic recording media? it
This indicates that it can be either a physical or magnetic recording medium.

In addition, "1 darkest information" includes information such as color temperature information, exposure standard information, year, month, date, 1 hour, minute and second, shutter speed TV,
Aperture value Ay, depth of field By, presence or absence of flash use,
Exposure information such as exposure compensation, number of shots (cumulative number of shirt releases for the camera), serial number (consecutive number from any frame), camera type, lens type, filter type, and subject size. It may include at least one of the above information, and may exclude one or more arbitrary pieces of information.

Made-■ The effects of this configuration are as follows.

That is, when the photographing information signal generating means is driven with the recording medium mounted on the recording medium mounting section, a photographing information signal is generated and transmitted to the recording medium via the signal transmitting means, and the recording medium receives the photographed image. Record information.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a plan view and a rear view showing the appearance of a data recording camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In Figure 1 (A), A is a data recording camera, l is a camera body, 2 is a release button, 3 is a lighting window, 4 is a group of setting switches for setting various information, and 5 is a display for displaying various information. Department.

The lighting window 3 is composed of a milky white plate, and a sensor for measuring the light source color is placed below it. Setting switch group 4 includes shutter speed Tv, aperture value AV, and film sensitivity Sv ([3
The 0 display section 5 has a group of switches for setting various information such as 0), f-most shadow mode, trimming, drive mode, and exposure standard, and a +/- switch for making necessary steps for setting. It consists of a portion 5a at the rear (lower side in the drawing) that displays confirmation of IC card attachment, and a portion 5b at the front (upper side in the drawing) that displays various photographic information. IC
The C card installation confirmation display portion 5a flashes to warn when the C card is not installed.

In Figure 1 (B), 6 is the finder, 7 is the cartridge, F is the film, 9 is the spool, IO is the IC card.
This is a terminal for signal transmission between bodies.

Further, 1) is a screen frame, and 12 is a light emitting diode for imprinting an IC card installation mark.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a front view and a partially cutaway side view of the back cover of the data recording camera.

In FIG. 2, 13 is a back cover that is detachably attached to the camera body l, 14 is a circuit board, 15 is a contact point with IC card B, 16 is an IC card pressing plate, and 17 is a part that is integrated with the IC card pressing plate 16. A film pressure bonding plate 18 is a guide bar that guides the back and forth movement of the IC card pressing plate 16, and 19 is attached around the guide bar 18 and is attached to the back 1 of the IC card pressing plate 16.
) 3, 20 is a connector pin for the terminal 10 on the camera body 1 side, 21
is a spring that biases the connector bin 20 in a direction away from the back cover 13.

On the board 14, the contacts 15 and the connector pin 20 are electrically connected.

The part between the substrate 14 and the IC card pressing plate 16 constitutes an IC card mounting section X, into which the IC card B is inserted from above.
When the 2j IM 13 is closed, the film pressure bonding plate 17 is pressed against the camera body 1 against the spring 19, so the IC card pressure plate 16 pushes the IC card B to the right in the figure, and the IC card B contacts the contact point. 15 and is electrically connected. At the same time, the connector pin 20 comes into contact with the terminal 10 on the side of the camera body 1 and is pressed into contact with the terminal 10 by the biasing force of the spring 21, so that the IC card B and the camera body 1 are electrically connected.

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram showing the entire system of the data recording camera.

In FIG. 3, a portion surrounded by a chain line 22 shows the inside of the camera body 1. The CPU is a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer), and the LM is a photometric coloring section that measures the brightness of the subject and measures the color of the light source, and outputs the photometric colorimetric data as a digital signal to the microcomputer CPU. EC is an exposure control unit and is a TM value calculated by the microcomputer CPU.

The aperture and shutter speed are controlled based on the Av value.

WC is a winding control unit that controls a motor (not shown) that winds the film F, charges various mechanisms such as a shutter and a mirror, and rewinds the film F. DS is a display section for displaying various shooting information, and this display section D
S corresponds to the display section 5 in FIG. PR is film F
There is a mark imprinting section for imprinting a mark to make the film F and the IC card B correspond to each other.

SA is a sequence switch group that performs sequence control such as release, exposure, winding, and rewinding based on the camera status detected by the microcomputer CPU, and includes switches that detect release inch and winding completion. . SB is a setting switch group corresponding to setting switch group 4 shown in Fig. 1, and is used to set shutter speed and aperture value,
It has switches for changing the shooting mode, specifying trimming, specifying the t@output standard, etc. TM is a timing mechanism, A
F is an autofocus control section that performs distance measurement and lens control. LS is a lens information output unit that outputs lens information related to shooting and autofocus, BA is a power supply installed in the camera body 1, and a microcomputer CPU
Supply power to each other block. CL is an oscillator, which outputs a clock to the microcomputer CPLI and IC card B. AC is an electronic flash device and data imprint device.

Lenses, winders and other accessories.

IC card B is a plastic card with an LSI integrated therein, and its internal configuration is shown in FIG.

IC card B has microcomputer CPU and EEPRO.
It is composed of a memory M consisting of M. Its external terminals are clock, data input/output, and reset.

It has six terminals: a power supply, a ground, and a memory power supply, and is connected to the camera body l as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the transmission and reception of signals between the data recording camera A and the IC card B.

This will be explained below.

In step (2), reset the IC card B by the microcomputer CPU of the camera body 1. ■ Microcomputer CP of IC card B
The UI will respond to ANSWERTo by a reset signal.
Executes a process called RESET. In this process, predetermined characteristics of the IC card B are determined by the camera body 1.
It outputs the information necessary for the microcomputer CPU to perform the operation. The determination of the characteristics includes, for example, whether the IC card has electric R voltage, frequency, etc. that are compatible with this camera system. ■Microcomputer cp of camera body 1
u is the microcomputer CPU of IC card B.

Enter the information about the characteristics of the IC card B sent from the user, and determine in step 2 whether or not the IC card B is normal and compatible with this camera system. Specifically, compatibility, non-installation, incorrect installation, failure, etc. are determined. If IC card B is normal, enter the terminal code with ■.
Send to C card B. The terminal code is the camera,
Readers/writers for DP distributors, automatic printers for labs,
It differs depending on the terminal such as a home personal computer. Therefore, the microcomputer CPU of IC card B
, determine which terminal the terminal is attached to based on the terminal code received in step (3), and select an area in the memory M that can be accessed. This is to prevent data from changing unexpectedly by limiting the data that can be accessed depending on the terminal.

The microcomputer CPU of the camera body I then outputs to the IC card B information indicating the contents of the communication, such as what kind of information is to be communicated and the direction of the communication. The microcomputer CPU of IC card B inputs the information in step 3 and prepares for communication. Next, in step 2, [phase], the microcomputer CPU of the camera body I and the microcomputer CPU 1 of the IC card B exchange photographing information, laboratory information, and other information. Various information transmitted from the camera body I side is stored in the memory M of the IC card B.

When the communication is completed, press ■ to connect the camera body 1's microcomputer CP.
U is the microcomputer CPU of IC card B.

This causes @ to stop the operation of the microcomputer CPU.

If it is determined that IC card B is not normal in ■, a warning indicating that it is not normal such as non-conformity, not installed, incorrectly installed, or failure is displayed on the display section DS with 0, and then O
Process.

The above algorithm is exactly the same not only for camera terminals, but also for terminals such as printers/'writers for DP distributors, laboratory developing machines, printing machines, and home personal computers.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart showing the operation of the microcomputer CPU of the camera body l. This will be explained below.

The microcomputer CPU starts by turning on the power supply BA of the camera body l or turning on, for example, a photometry switch. In step #1, the status of the sequence switch group SA is input, and in step #2, it is determined whether winding of the film F is completed.

If winding is in progress, the process moves to step #3, and when winding is completed, the process moves to step #4, where the film F is wound until the winding is completed. Determine whether all switches other than ti are normal, that is, whether ti shadow is possible. If not normal step #
5 to stop the operation of the microcomputer CPU. If it is normal, the process moves to step #6, and a start signal 4g is sent to the photometric/colorimetric section LM, thereby starting photometry, colorimetry, and distance measurement.

Next, in step #7, lens information is input from the lens information output section LS, in step #8, accessory information is input from the accessory AC, in step #9, the state of the setting switch group SB is manually set, and in step #lO, input is performed. In other words, it determines whether the shank speed, aperture value, shooting mode, cropping designation, n output standard designation, etc. have been changed by the setting switch group SB, and if so, responds accordingly. Perform the processing that was performed.

In the next step #ll, information obtained as a result of photometry, colorimetry, and distance measurement started in step #6 is input. and,
In step #12, exposure calculation is performed based on the information manually input in steps #7 to #1) to calculate data necessary for exposure control such as shooting "l"v (direct, shooting AV value), and in step #13 The calculated value is displayed on the display section DS.

In step #14, the calculated value and other accessories A
Information necessary for C is output to accessory AC.

The microcomputer CPU repeatedly executes a series of sequences from step #4 to step #14 until a release operation is performed.

Note that this series of sequences may be programmed to stop if the release operation is not performed within a predetermined time, or may be programmed to repeat only while the metering switch is being operated. (not shown).

In step #15 following step #14, it is determined whether a release operation has been performed. If no operation has been performed, the process returns to step #4. If it has been operated, the process moves to step #16, and after inputting the clock information from the clock mechanism TM, the microcomputer CPU of the IC card B
, and communicate with each other.

This communication is performed according to the algorithm shown in FIG. As a result, various types of information transmitted from the camera body 1 side are recorded in the memory M of the IC card B.

In step #18, it is determined whether the communication was performed normally. If normal, the process moves to step #19, and a mark is imprinted on the film F to indicate that the film has predetermined information stored in the memory M of the IC card B.

That is, the light emitting diode 12 in the mark imprinting part PR is turned on to imprint a mark on the film F. This mark is imprinted on the film F by using predetermined information (trimming information 2, temperature information, film temperature information, etc.) on the IC card B. To distinguish film F, which stores frame number, number of prints, exposure standard information (1 year, month, date, 9 hours, minutes, seconds, various shooting information, laboratory information, subject size information, etc.) from other films. It is. As a result, if the two types of films mentioned above are mixed in the lab equipment, IC card B
It becomes possible to make a correspondence with the IC card B while distinguishing the film F on which information is stored from the film on which information is not stored. The details of this will be described later.

After step #19 or when the communication is not normal as determined in step #18, the process moves to step #20, and the shooting Tv value 5 shooting AV calculated in step #12
The 0th step # starts exposure control that controls the shank, aperture, etc. based on data necessary for exposure control such as values
At step 21, a signal indicating that the release has been made is output to each section, and each section is reset. Next, wait for the exposure control to be completed in step #22, then return to step #2, wind the film F, and set the film counter to 1.
After advancing the frame (repeating steps #2 and #3), repeat the above process again. In addition, instead of repeating this, when the photometry switch is not operated, the microcomputer CP
It may also be programmed to stop operation of U (not shown).

In the flow of FIG. 6, the microcomputer CPU of the camera body 1 and the microcomputer CPU of the IC card B.

Communication between the camera and the camera is performed for each release operation.

If communication is performed during photometry, the current allowable number of writes to EEFROM (memory M) (
104 to 10' times). In the case of an IC card that does not use EEFROM as the memory M, for example, an IC card that has a built-in battery and RAM, the number of allowed writes is sufficiently large, so communication between the two microcontrollers CPU and cPU must be performed during photometry. I can do it.

Next, an example of trimming information, which is one of the lab information among various information stored in the memory M of the IC card B from the microcomputer CPU of the camera body I, will be described with reference to the following table.

In this table, a, b, c, and d are the ranges of trimming prints. (A) and (B) in FIG. 7 show the areas a, b, and c to be trimmed and printed.

d is shown on film F.

Codes (01)) and (1)1) command continuous trimming. Continuous trimming means making multiple types of prints with different trimming sizes from the same negative. That is, if the code (Oll) is stored in the memory M of the IC card B as the trimming size, the printer is controlled by this trimming information during printing, and prints without trimming, printing in trimming range a, and printing in trimming range Three types of prints are available.

In FIGS. 7A and 7B, marks m, , m2 indicating that the film has predetermined information stored in the memory M of the IC card B are shown. This mark ml, m
Details regarding l will be described later.

FIG. 8 is a process explanatory diagram showing the flow of IC card B between user 〇, DP agency, and laboratory L. Solid arrows indicate objects (IC card B, film F, print P,
t, gafilm N), and broken line arrows indicate data input/output for IC card B.

When user U takes a photo, microcontroller C of camera A
Trimming information output from PU 1. Temperature information, film frame number, number of prints.

Exposure standard information 1 year, month, day, 1 hour, minute, second 1 Various shooting information.

Predetermined information such as information on the size of the subject is stored in the memory M of the IC card B (see broken line ■). If the user U has a terminal device 31 such as a personal computer and an IC card reader/like 32 that can be connected to the terminal device 31, the user U can use it to input the developing method, shooting location, short message, etc. to the IC card B. It is also possible to store it in the memory M (see broken line ■). This can be done not only when requesting development and printing from a DP agency, but also when requesting additional prints.

The IC card B on which predetermined information has been recorded in this way and the corresponding film F are made into a pair and taken to a DP agency.

Dedicated IC card reader/Like 3 is available at DP distributors.
3, and the receptionist additionally records data such as the name and telephone number of customer No. 1 on IC card B (see broken line ■). In the case of a customer who cannot perform the process indicated by the broken line (■), the items conventionally written on a paper bag, such as print size, number of prints, presence or absence of special processing, and contents, are recorded on IC card B. The IC card reader/writer 33 has switches corresponding to the entry fields on the paper bag, and is designed for easy handling.

IC card B and film F, which are accepted at the DP agency, are transported to lab L as a pair. In laboratory L, film F and IC card B are set in the developing machine 34, and development is performed based on the information input from IC card B, resulting in negative film N (see broken line ■).
, negative film N and IC card B are sent to a printing machine (not shown), and printing is performed based on data input from IC card B to obtain print P.

In this case, information such as the content of the process, the number of prints, and the management number are recorded on the IC card B (see broken line ■). Furthermore, a large computer 35. Photographing information from IC card B by reader/like 36.

It is also possible to read various information such as when the photo was taken and, through statistical processing of this information, provide feedback to create a better photographic system (see dashed line ■).

Negative film N and print P obtained as above
The IC card B with the information added thereto is returned to the DP agency. At the DP agency, the IC card reader/writer 33 reads the information recorded on the IC card B and automatically calculates and displays the fee (see broken line ■).
Note that if this IC card B can also be used as a cash card or credit card, the customer does not have to pay in cash.

IC card B is sent to user U from the DP agent.

When print P and negative film N are returned, user U
is a personal computer 31. Reader/writer 32
In addition to being able to read out shooting information and processing information using , it is also possible to record information by storing it in computer memory such as magnetic disks, magnetic tapes, and bubble memory, or by printing and transferring it onto recording paper. Yes, it is possible (see dashed line ■). Print P is stored in album 37.

In addition, for users U who do not have the reader/writer 32, it is also possible to provide a service in which a printout of the information recorded on the IC card B is returned at the same time at a DP agency or Uboshi. .

After the IC card B returned to the user U records the necessary information in a computer memory or the like or records it on paper, it can be attached to the camera A again and used any number of times.

FIG. 9 is a process explanatory diagram showing another flow of IC card B. This will be explained below.

When the user U takes the film F and the IC card B to the DP agency, the recorded information on the IC card B is transferred to another recording medium B' exclusively for the laboratory L at the DP agency. Transfer to (transmission between solid line ■ and solid line [phase]). In this way, user U can immediately take IC card B home. Therefore, user U uses IC
Since the card B can be used immediately for the next photograph, there is an advantage that the number of IC cards B held by the user U can be reduced.

The rest of the flow shown in FIG. 9 is the same as the flow shown in FIG. 8, so the same parts and parts will be given the same reference numerals and the explanation will be omitted.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the IC card B is located at the inner part of the camera A'71) 13 as shown in FIG.
Since the film F is installed in the C card loading section XI, there is no need to take out the film F installed in the camera A. It is configured such that predetermined information about all photographed frames is recorded on the IC card B. The reason for this configuration is as follows.

In other words, if IC card B is mounted on the outside of camera A, and if IC card B can be removed from camera A or inserted into camera A at any time, then IC card B is removed from camera 8 during communication or communication, or conversely, IC card B is ViMed to camera 8, or predetermined information up to a frame in the middle of another film is recorded. There is a possibility that IC card B may be inserted. In such a case, frames with IC card information and frames without IC card information coexist in the same film F.

In that case, when printing at Lab L, the pieces and IC
Corresponding with card information becomes extremely difficult.

In order to overcome this difficulty, special measures must be taken, which not only increases costs but also imposes significant design constraints.

In order to prevent such inconvenience from occurring, the present embodiment is configured so that the IC card B is inserted into the IC card mounting portion X1 located on the inner side of the back cover 13 as described above.

However, even so, in the initial stage of the introduction of this camera system, there is a possibility that film taken with a camera that cannot record information on IC card B and film taken with this camera system will be mixed in laboratory L. Therefore, it becomes necessary to inform the printing machine in laboratory L that the film F is taken with this camera system, and to make correspondence between the film F and the IC card B.

For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 7(A) and 7(B), marks ml and 'm2 are imprinted on film F to indicate that it is film F with predetermined information recorded on IC card B. be. This mark ml.

m2 does not need to be imprinted on all frames of film F. Even if it is only imprinted on the first frame, it is possible to make film F and IC card B correspond by using the information on the number of shots. can.

The marks ml and m2 may be marks ml that are numerically imprinted in correspondence with the photographed frame numbers as shown in FIG. It may also be a mark m imprinted with a dot on the piece as shown in FIG. 7(B). however,
The numerical mark m has a higher degree of correspondence with the information recorded on the IC card B.

Although not shown, it is possible to enter a unique identification code for each individual rC card B, and to imprint the identification code of the IC card B together with the mark on the frame that is photographed with the IC card B installed. By doing so, it is possible to make the IC card B and the film F correspond to each other on a one-to-one basis, and the degree of correspondence between the two can be made extremely high.

Note that the identification code of IC card B may be input by user U from camera A or a dedicated reader/writer 32, or may be input during the manufacturing process of IC card B and user U inputs it during the manufacturing process of IC card B. An identification code may be selected at the time of purchase.

In the above embodiment, the IC card mounting part X1 was provided in the inner part of the L-shaped part 13 (the part on the back side of the film F 13), but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, for example, as shown by the dotted line in FIG.
Alternatively, an IC card mounting section X may be provided in the camera body l at a diagonally lower portion of the mounting section of the cartridge 7. In the former case, the IC card B cannot be taken out unless the film F is removed, but in the latter case, the IC card B can be taken out without removing the film F, as in the above embodiment. And the former,
In either of the latter cases, a RAM chip may be used as the recording medium.

The present invention also includes the following as examples.

(i) The IC card B does not need to be a general IC card, and may have a shape and format unique to the camera system. Further, the IC card B may have a built-in microcomputer, a battery, and an EEFROM, or may have only an EEFROM without a microcomputer and battery.

(ii) In the embodiment, an IC card B is used as the recording medium, but it is also possible to use something other than an IC card, such as a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, or a non-volatile memory such as a CN bubble memory. good.

(iii) In the example, marks m, , m2 are placed on the film F.
I tried to imprint it, but this imprinting is not necessarily necessary.

(iv) In the embodiment, a plurality of trimming ranges can be specified for the same screen, but it is not necessary to do so. Further, the laboratory information does not necessarily need to include trimming information. Furthermore, it may not include laboratory information.

shame According to the present invention, the following effects are achieved.

(a) Electronic or magnetic recording media have significantly limited space for recording information compared to film.
There is no such restriction, a device with a sufficiently large storage capacity can be used, and a large amount of photographic information can be recorded. Therefore, the number of two types of photographic information to be recorded is not subject to many restrictions.

(b) The photographing information signal can be easily transmitted to an electronic or magnetic recording medium and from the recording medium to other equipment.

(c) Since the 1M shadow information is recorded on a recording medium other than film, there is no need to develop the film when reading the photographic information, and the photographic information can be quickly obtained.

In addition, when an IC card is adopted as a recording medium as in the example, ■ it is thin and can be easily attached to the inner part of the back cover, and ■ it has the mechanical advantages required in the case of a magnetic disk. ■Writing information does not require a drive mechanism, is advantageous in terms of space, and does not require the camera to become larger.

Very fast readout; ■Variety of uses.

It has advantages such as excellent applicability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 9 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (A>, (B) is a plan view and rear view showing the external appearance of the data recording camera, and FIG. 2 (A); (B) is a front view and partially broken side view of the back cover of the data recording camera, Figure 3 is a block circuit diagram showing the entire system of the data recording camera, and Figure 4 is a block circuit diagram showing the internal configuration of the IC card. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the transmission and reception of signals between the camera body and the IC card, Figure 6 is a schematic flowchart showing the operation of the microcomputer in the camera body, and Figure 7 (
A) and (B) are cutaway front views of the film after shooting, Figure 8 is a process diagram showing the flow of the IC card and film between the user, DP distributor, and laboratory, and Figure 9 is the I
It is a process explanatory diagram showing another flow of a C card. A...Data recording camera B...IC card (recording medium) F...Film Oka 1) Kazuhide Figure 2 Figure 5

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A film mounting section, a mounting section for an electronic or magnetic recording medium other than film, a photographing information signal generating means, and a signal for transmitting an output signal from the photographing information signal generating means to the recording medium. A data recording camera equipped with a transmission means. (2) The data recording camera according to claim (1), wherein the recording medium is an IC card.