KR970005424B1 - Zoom lens drive system for a camera - Google Patents

Abstract

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Description

[Name of invention]

Zoom lens driving system for camera

[Brief Description of Drawings]

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a schematic block diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a schematic block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a schematic perspective view of an inter-lens shutter camera with a zoom lens according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the lens barrel block of FIG. 5 showing a light emitter and a light receiver, a macro compensation optical element incorporated with a distance measuring device, and a zoom motor.

7 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG.

8 and 9 are cross-sectional views taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 6.

10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the barrel block of the first embodiment.

11 is an exploded view of the cam groove of the cam ring for the front and rear lens element group associated with the barrel block of FIG.

12 is an exploded perspective view of the barrel block shown in FIG.

13 and 14 are cross-sectional views of the light barrier mechanism associated with the barrel block of FIG. 10, which are cut along a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the block and show the barrier at the open and closed positions, respectively.

15 is a schematic view of a distance measuring device according to the present invention.

16 is a schematic diagram of an optical device for focus adjustment in the operating macro mode of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a detailed front elevation view of FIG.

19 is a plan view of the cam plate of the finder block mounted on the mother plate.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX-XX of FIG. 19. FIG.

21 is a rear view of FIG.

FIG. 22 is a plan view of FIG. 19 with the mother plate and the cam plate removed.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXIII-XXIII of FIG. 19. FIG.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXIV-XXIV of FIG. 23 showing the deflection prism operating plate.

FIG. 25 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 24 showing the operation plate in the upper operating position.

FIG. 26 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 24 without a deflection prism operating plate.

FIG. 27 is a front elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 23 showing a deflection prism aligned with a view finder.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXVIII-XXVIII of FIG. 27.

Fig. 29 is a developed view of a code plate showing a land, and shows a developed view of a cam groove for explaining the functional relationship therebetween.

FIG. 30 shows a zoom code carried by the code plate shown in FIG. 29, and is a chart showing possible starting and stopping positions.

31, 32 and 33 are front elevation, rear elevation and top view of the camera of the present invention showing the operation switch.

34 and 35 are cross-sectional views of the macro button shown in the operation position above the mode change switch.

36 is a block diagram of the control device of the present invention.

37 is a driving circuit of the zoom motor.

38-41 are flowcharts of a first embodiment of the present invention.

42 is a top view of the zoom switch in a modified arrangement.

FIG. 43 is a diagram showing a zoom code and a stop position by the code plate shown in FIG.

44-46 are flowcharts of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 47 is a diagram showing a zoom code and a stop position by the code plate shown in FIG.

48 and 49 are flowcharts of a third embodiment of the present invention.

It is a diagram showing the zoom code and the stop position by the code plate shown in FIG. 50 and FIG.

51 and 52 are flowcharts of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to a zoom lens driving system for a lens shutter type camera having a finder optical system and an electronic placer device compatible with the lens.

In particular, the present invention relates to, but is not necessarily limited to, a zoom lens driving system for a camera having a between-the-lens shutter.

This application has been filed under the same name of a lens shutter camera including a zoom lens and relates to a joint caregiver application No. 144,030, the description of which is expressly incorporated by reference.

[Background]

Most conventional autofocus cameras with a lens shutter, such as an inter-lens shutter, have a fixed focal length. Some of these types of camra allow the user to select one or the other of two separate lenses of higher focal length, for example providing wide angle telephoto capability.

In such a camera, however, stepless variation of the focal length is not possible within the range between these two ends of the focal length. Therefore, only single-lens reflex cameras using focal plane shutters have the ability to take pictures using zoom lenses.

Single-lens reflex cameras are more expensive and heavier than inter-lens shutter cameras; Thus, photographers unfamiliar with cameras usually do not find it easy or convenient to use single-lens reflex cameras, especially taking pictures of highway activity using flash lights. Moreover, because of its relatively large weight and size, single-lens reflex cameras are not favored by many photographers and travelers in terms of the number and weight of bags they must carry by hand.

As a result, these individuals are hesitant to use single-lens reflex cameras, although they can take higher quality pictures by using such cameras.

Thus, a user hesitant to use a single-lens reflex camera has only two choices in a lightweight, compact, inter-lens shutter automatic camera, having a fixed focal length and two extreme focal lengths without adjustment between them.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved compact, lightweight and compact camera having a lens shutter such as an inter-lens shutter and having a zoom lens in which focusing control and electronic flash control are automatically performed.

Another object of the present invention is to have a lens shutter, such as an inter-lens shutter, to have an additional macro function capable of taking extremely large and detailed images, and that a finder optical system and an electronic flash device associated with the macro function are used in normal modes (e.g., optical, telephoto and It is to provide a zoom lens auto focus camera that operates in a similar manner to the operating method in standard.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a zoom lens driving system for a lens shutter type compact camera having a zoom lens in which the power zoom operation is performed electrically and automatically.

[Initiation of invention]

A zoom lens for a camera having an inter-lens shutter includes a motor for moving the lens back and forth along the optical axis.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the movement of the motor to move the lens from the initial position on the axis to the final stop position for determining the focal length of the lens is performed by moving the lens to the final position in the predetermined direction. And control means for operating the motor so that it always ends afterwards. The lens occupies either position between the wide-angle termus setting the smallest focal length and the telephoto termus setting the largest focal length, and may also include a macro position above the telephoto end position.

The present invention ensures that the lens is always moved in a predetermined direction when the lens reaches the final position and stops regardless of the initial position of the lens relative to the final position.

In order to reach the final position, the lens must move in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. In this case, instead of stopping the lens when the final position is initially reached, the present invention allows the lens to continue to move beyond the final position or overshoot before the lens stops moving.

All backlash in the drive system will then be taken into account by reversing the direction of movement of the lens to cause the lens to return in a predetermined direction relative to its final position.

This arrangement will position the lens correctly at the final position regardless of the initial position of the lens relative to the final position.

The second embodiment of the present invention includes a switch means having two settings operable by the operator to control the operation of the motor for moving the lens from the initial position on the axis to the final stop position setting the focal length of the lens.

In addition, the present embodiment is a position detector means for detecting the lens position on the axis in response to the lens position, the operation of the switch means to any one of the second setting and the position detector means (1) the final position of the lens from its initial position A predetermined number of discrete focal length stages of (2) includes control means for operating the motor so that the movement of the lens to the final position always occurs while the lens moves in the predetermined direction.

The position of the lens determines the initial position of the lens when the switch means is operated by the operator. By operating the switch means by one of the jetting, the control means moves the lens from the original position along the predetermined direction to the final position located at the predetermined number of focal length steps.

By operating the switch means to another one of the settings, the control means first moves the lens in the opposite direction to the predetermined direction until it is positioned above the predetermined number of focal length steps, and then reverses the movement of the lens so that the lens is returned to the original position. From the predetermined direction until the predetermined number of focal length steps is reached.

The third embodiment of the present invention is operated by an operator to control the operation of the motor to move the lens from the initial position on the axis determined by the position of the lens when the switch is operated to the final stop position setting the focal length of the lens. And a switch means having two settings operable. The present embodiment also includes position detector means for detecting the lens position on the axis in response to the lens position and delay means for introducing a predetermined stop in operation of the motor.

Finally, this embodiment responds to the continuous operation of the switch means to any one of the two settings, the position detector means, and the delay means; (1) the final position of the lens is a predetermined number of discrete focal length steps from its initial position; (2) the movement of the lens to its final position always occurs while the lens is moving in the predetermined direction; And (3) control means for operating the motor such that the lens remains in the final position for the predetermined stop before the lens moves to a position different from the final position by the predetermined number of discrete steps.

Thus, in accordance with the continuous operation of the switch means in one of the settings, the control means repeatedly moves the lens through a predetermined number of focal length steps and stops for a predetermined period between movements.

The fourth embodiment of the present invention is a plurality of selectable by the operator to control the operation of the motor to move the lens from the initial position determined by the position of the lens to the final stop position setting the focal length of the lens when the setting is selected. Switch means having a setting of. The present embodiment also includes position detector means for detecting the lens position on the axis in response to the position of the lens, and storage means for storing data indicating the position of the lens on the axis. Finally, this embodiment corresponds to the selection of the setting of the switch means, the position detector means, and the storage means, and in response to the selection of the zoom setting of the switch means by operation, the motor moves the lens from its initial position to the contents of the storage means. And control means for operating the motor such that the movement of the lens to the final position determined by the movement under the condition always occurs while the lens moves in the predetermined direction.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for driving a zoom lens system in a lens shutter type camera which is moved in the optical axis direction by a drive source to vary a focal length, comprising: means for driving the drive source during a zoom operation; Means for reversing the moving direction of the zoom lens system only when the zoom lens moves in the predetermined one direction and when the zoom operation is finished; And means for reversing the operation of the drive source and then stopping the operation of the drive source.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a zoom lens system driving apparatus of a lens shutter type camera in which a zoom lens system is moved in an optical axis direction by a driving source to vary a focal length, the means for driving the driving source during a zoom operation, the position of the zoom lens system Means for detecting the optical lens in the optical axis direction, means for detecting the movement of the zoom lens system by a predetermined displacement in response to a detection signal of the detecting means while a driving source is operated, and the detecting means for detecting the movement of the zoom lens system by the predetermined displacement. And a means for stopping the drive source operation when provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a zoom lens system driving apparatus for a lens shutter-type camera which is moved in the optical axis direction by a driving source to vary the focal length of the zoom lens system, the means for driving the driving source during a zoom operation, the zoom lens in the optical axis direction. Means for detecting the position of the system, means for detecting the movement of the zoom lens system by a predetermined displacement in response to a detection signal of the detection means during operation of the drive source, and a driving source when the detecting means detects the movement of the zoom lens system by the predetermined displacement. Means for stopping the operation of the lens lens; means for determining whether another movement of the zoom lens system is required; and means for moving the zoom lens system by a predetermined displacement when the determining means determines another movement of the zoom lens system. An apparatus is provided.

According to another feature of the invention there is at least two operating modes including a zoom mode in which the zoom lens system is moved within a predetermined zoom lens and a specific mode in which the zoom lens system is moved out of the zoom lens, wherein the zoom lens system varies the focal length. An apparatus for driving a zoom lens system of a lens shutter type camera which is moved in an optical axis direction by a driving source, comprising: first means for driving a driving source during a zoom operation, means for detecting a position of the zoom lens system in an optical axis direction, the zoom mode Means for moving the zoom lens system to selectively occupy the specific mode, means for storing position data detected by the detection means, and stored position data when a change of operation mode occurs from the specific mode to the zoom mode. A second means for driving the zoom lens system to a representative position; It is provided with an apparatus characterized in that.

Best Mode for Implementing the Invention

[Basic Configuration of Inter-Lens Shutter Cars (See FIGS. 5 to 29)]

A camera having an inter-lens shutter according to the invention has a barrel block (1) defining an optical axis (OA), a finder block comprising a finder and strobe block (2), a distance comprising a light emitter (3) and a light receiver (4). Measuring device AF, and a zoom motor 5 for performing a zoom operation. These elements are fixed in the manner described below on the base 6 which is firmly attached to the camera housing.

As shown in Figs. 6-10, the base 6 has a lens barrel support plate portion 6a lying in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis OA, and a flange support plate portion 6b extending to one side of the plate portion 6a at right angles. ) And a motor support plate portion 6c perpendicular to the plate portion 6b.

The barrel block 1 is supported on the lens barrel support plate portion 6a, and the zoom motor 5 is fixed to the motor support plate portion 6c located on the center of the barrel block 1.

The light emitter 3 and the light receiver 4 fixed to the supporting plate part 6b are located on the opposite side of the zoom motor 5. The finder block 2 is fixed to the right side of the support plate portion 6b when viewed from the front of the camera. The gear train support plate 6e parallel to the support plate 6c is connected by the spacer 6f.

The barrel block 1 actuated by the zoom motor 50 is mounted on the base 6 as described below with reference to FIGS. 10 to 13. The rear fixing plate 11 of the block 1 is a fixing screw. It attaches to the barrel support plate part 6a of the board | substrate 6 by (10).

The rear fixing plate has four guide rods 12 fixed around and parallel to the optical axis. The front fixing plate 13 is attached to the front end of the guide rod 12.

The rotatable cam ring 14 is mounted between the front and rear fixing plates 13 and 11 and provided with a gear 15 fixed on its outer side by a set screw 15a (Fig. 10).

The pinion 7 (Fig. 8) on the output shaft of the motor engages with the gear 15, which is a sector gear of a size which covers a predetermined range of the rotational movement of the cam ring 14 directly or indirectly through the gear train. The cam ring has zoom cam grooves 20 and 21 for setting the relative positions of the front and rear lens element groups.

11 is an exploded view of the zoom cam grooves 20 and 21.

The cam groove 21 for the rear lens element group includes a wide-angle termination fixing portion 21a, a variable magnification portion 21b, and a telephoto termination fixing portion 21c.

The cam groove 20 for the front lens element group includes a part 20a for the opening / closing barrier block 30 (Fig. 12), a lens withdrawal part 20b, a wide angle fixed part 20c, a variable magnification part 20d, And a tele-terminus fixing portion 20e, a macro conveying portion 20f, and a macro-terminus fixing portion 20g. The rotational displacement of the front lens group through the angle θ ₁ occurs when the portions 20a, 20b, 20c of the zoom cam groove 20 are used.

This angle is equal to the angle θ ₁ of the rear lens group using the portion 21a of the zoom cam groove 21. The angle θ ₂ of the variable magnification portion of the groove 20 is equal to the angle θ ₂ of the variable magnification portion 20b of the groove 21. Furthermore, the angle θ ₃ comprising the portions 20e, 20f, 20g of the groove 20 is equal to the angle θ ₃ of the portion 21c of the groove 21. In the illustrated embodiment, the zoom range is 35mm-70mm.

The cam follower roller 917 of the front group frame 16 is operatively coupled to the cam groove 20, and the cam follower roller 19 of the rear group frame 18 is operatively coupled to the cam groove 21. .

The front group frame 16 and the rear group frame 18 are mounted on the guide rod 12 for sliding axis parallel to the optical axis. The decorative frame 22 and the shutter block 23 (FIG. 10) are fixed to the front group frame by the setting screw 22a.

The shutter block 23 for controlling focusing and exposure is operatively coupled to the front lens frame 24 supporting the front lens element group L ₁ by the helicoid 25. The front lens frame 24 includes an arm 24a coupled with the lens focusing lever 23a of the shutter block 23.

When the leisure 23a rotates cyclically, it transmits rotation to the front lens frame 24 associated with the frame 22 and the block 23 so that the front lens can focus on the optical axis by the helicoid 25 for focusing. Move along.

The rear lens element group L ₂ is directly fixed to the rear group frame 18.

The shutter block 23 itself is known.

This block rotates the lens focusing lever 23a through a predetermined angular displacement in accordance with a detection signal from a distance measuring device described later. The rotation of the lever 23a is performed by a pulse motor (not shown) built in the camera body to close the sector by returning the lever 23a to the initial position after opening the sector of the shutter 23b for a predetermined time.

Shutter blocks of this kind have been disclosed in, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 60-235126. In the present invention, such a conventional shutter block is essentially used.

The barrier mechanism 30 (illustrated in detail in FIGS. 13 and 14) includes a pair of square walls 31, which are mounted retroly at 32 in front of the front lens element group L ₁ .

These barriers, located symmetrically in relation to the axis OA, control the passage of light through the imaging aperture 22b in the frame 22.

The movement of these barriers is carried out by the rotational force generated when the roller 17 is engaged with the portion 20b of the groove 20.

Each of the barriers 31 has a barrier plate portion 31a located on one side of the pivot pin 32 and a movable arm portion 31b on the opposite side of the pivot pin 32, which is pivotable at both ends of the optical axis OA.

Each drive arm portion 31b has a pin 33, which is coupled with each working arm 34a of the spring 34, which arm is made of, for example, molded synthetic resin.

Each spring 34 generally has a Y-shaped spring arm 34b, a drive arm 34c, and an actuating arm 34a and is pivoted to the barrier mechanism 30 by a pin 35.

The spring arm 34b bears against the inner wall of the front group lens support frame 22 and continuously biases the barrier plate portion 31a to a position where the barrier plate portion 31a is retracted to block the optical axis OA.

The drive arm 34b is coupled by the spring arm 34c and the flange portion 36a of the pin 36 mounted on the front group lens support frame for the radial movement with respect to the axis OA.

The head portion of the pin 36 is supported by the free end of the actuating lever 38 which protrudes through the actuating hole 39 in the support frame 22 as shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, and the pin 37 Is pivoted on the front fixing plate 13.

The spring 34c normally biases the pin 36 radially outward from the optical axis to the radially protruding position when the lever 38 does not exert an external force on the pin 36.

In this state, the barrier plate part 31a is retracted out of the blocking position of the optical path (FIG. 13).

A limiting protrusion 40 (FIG. 12) is formed on the inner wall of the cam ring 14, and the limiting protrusion bears against the outer end of the actuating lever 38 so that the pin 36 is radially inward when the cam ring 14 rotates. ), While the roller 17 is coupled to the portion 20a of the cam groove 20.

By the arrangement of the barrier mechanism described above, the barrier 31 unblocks the photographing opening 22b whenever the protrusion 40 is not engaged with the lever 38. In other words, when the cam ring 14 causes the roller 17 to engage with a portion other than the opening and closing portion 20a of the zoom cam groove 20, the barrier 31 is opened.

When the zoom motor 5 rotates the cam ring 14 so that the roller 17 moves from engagement with the portion 20b that is engaged with the portion 20a of the groove 20, the barrier plate portion 31a of the barrier is By the driving arm 34c and the working arm 34a, the protrusion 40 displaces the pin 36 in the radial direction and rotates the lever 38 which rotates the barrier 31 until it moves to the containment portion associated with the miner of the lens system. Combine.

As a result, the photographing opening 22b is closed to protect the front lens element group L ₁ .

In other words, the front group lens support frame 22 is closed after the group moves from the wide angle position to its retracted position.

When attempting to shoot, the zoom motor 5 drives the cam ring 14 in the forward direction. The roller 17 is moved from the portion 20a toward the portion 20b which is coupled to the cam groove 20 to open the barrier 31 when moving to the wide angle position when the front lens element group L ₁ is photographed. do.

15 to 18 show a distance measuring apparatus that can be used in the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the distance measuring device AF comprises a light emitter 3 and a light receiver 4 in the form of a position detection element PSD, wherein the light receiver and the light emitter are arranged in a triangular form of the measurement system. . As shown in FIG. 15, the light emitter 3 is composed of a light source 3a such as a light emitting diode (LED) and a light emitting lens 3b.

The PSD 4a has a single extended light-receiving element having a common terminal (cathode) C and two terminals (anode) A and B having a polarity different from that of the common terminal C as known. Have

In the operation of the distance measuring device, light emitted from the light source 3a and focused by the lens 3b is reflected from the object 0 for imaging.

The light reflected from the object is received by the PSD 4a, and the lens on the light receiving surface of the PSD 4a at a position that is functionally proportional to the distance of the object from a light source generating a current related to the position of the reflected light on the PSD ( 4b).

Therefore, the object distance can be detected by measuring this current and for this purpose, a known triangulation method is used.

In response to the measurement data thus obtained, an operation signal is supplied to the shutter device 23 (FIG. 10) to perform auto focus adjustment in any of the possible zoom ranges.

This automatic is executed by applying the driving pulse to the pulse motor (not shown) in the shutter device 23 according to the measurement data. In response, the lens operating lever 23a of the apparatus 23 rotates by an angle corresponding to the number of pulses, thereby rotating the front lens frame 24 by the same angle.

As a result of the rotation of the front lens frame 24 in relation to the cam ring 14, the front lens element L ₁ is moved by the helicoid 25 in the optical axis direction, so that focusing is automatically performed.

An AF device other than the triangle type may be used in the present invention.

Preferably, the distance between the light emitter 3 and the light receiver 4 is as large as possible since the accuracy of the measurement in triangulation generally depends on the base length.

Therefore, in the present invention, by placing the zoom motor 5 between the light emitter 3 and the light receiver 4, the base length is made as large as possible.

Positioning the zoom motor 5 between the light emitter 3 and the light receiver 4 not only increases the base length L, but also enables the realization of a compact compact camera body.

The zoom motor 5 is fixed to the motor support plate 6c (FIG. 9) integrally with the base plate 6, and the plate 6c is formed by bending the base plate 6 out of its plane.

As shown in FIG. 11, the cam groove 20 in the cam ring 14 includes a zoom cam groove 20f, which serves as a macro conveying function, because this groove is a front lens-element from its telephoto end. This is because it causes another forward movement of the group L ₁ .

In this state, at the macro position, the light reflected from the object in this closed range is not incident on the PSD 4a in response to the operation of the ranging device, and the object distance is not measured. Therefore, the operation signal is not generated to be applied to the shutter device 23, and exposure cannot be made. In the illustrated embodiment the detector spheres of FIGS. 16-18 are provided to measure the object distance at the macro terminus.

In Figs. 16-18, the macro compensation optical element 4e composed of two total reflection surfaces 4h and a prism 4c with a mask 4d is out of alignment with the light receiver 4.

The prism 4c optically extends the base length of the object distance measuring device and refracts the light beam. The mask 4d is designed to allow only light rays from the photographed object.

For this purpose, the mask 4d has an opening 4f facing the object and an opening 4g adjacent to the light receiving lens 4b, the opening having a distance l on the side of the optical axis opposite to the light emitting lens 3b. The optical axis of the light receiving lens 4b is dropped to form a slit.

The opening 4g is also slit on the optical axis of the light receiving lens 4b.

The reflective surface 4h of the spaced prism 4c by this arrangement, which is executed only in macrosetting, is displaced such that the optical axis of the light receiving lens 4b of the distance measuring device is parallel by the distance l toward the base length L. The optical axis of the light receiving lens 4b intersects with the optical axis of the light emitting lens 3b at a limited distance.

According to the present invention, not only the ranging light is refracted but also the optical axis of the light receiving lens is moved in parallel by the distance l toward the base length L, so that the base length is optically extended to (L + 1).

Therefore, the deviation of the spot image on the PSD 4a may increase in proportion to the change of the object distance. Therefore, the object distance can be detected with high accuracy by appropriately selecting the angle δ1 of the prism 4c and the refractive index. Thus, when the lens is positioned at its macro setting, the shutter device 23 is operated in accordance with the measurement data, and focusing is performed automatically automatically.

The macro compensation optical element 4e is fixed to one end of the arm 42 (FIG. 6) pivoted on the base plate 6 by a shaft 41 located below the light receiver 4.

An arm 42 is provided at its opposite end with an integral protrusion 43 bearing against the cam ring 14. The flexible arm 42 is typically held in a straight, non-flexible position when no external force is applied to it and is elastically deformable by application to the external force.

The macro compensation element 4e is biased by the tension spring 46 so as to be capable of continuous rotation at a retracted position which does not coincide with the optical axis of the light receiver 4. The projection 44 on the cam ring 14 moves in engagement with the projection 43 when the cam ring is improved to its macrosetting position.

This coupling causes the arm 42 to pivot against the bias of the spring 46, thereby moving the macro compensation optical element 4e into the front of the light receiver 4.

A projection 44 for operatively positioning the macro compensation element 4e associated with the light receiver 4 is located and formed on the ring 14 so that the macro compensation light element 4e is formed of the light receiver 4. It is rotated slightly past its alignment with the optical axis.

The extreme end of the rotational movement of the element 4e by the projections 44 is limited by the side of the gear support plate 6e integral with the base 6. In this case, the overturning motion of the element 4e is absorbed by the elastic deflection of the arm 42 by the projection 44.

By the above arrangement, the macro compensation optical element 4e is automatically moved to the front surface of the hand machine 4 when the cam ring 14 is moved to the macro mode setting.

The operation signal of the distance measuring device AF is supplied to the shutter block 23 through a flexible printed circuit board (FPC plate) not shown. The FPC plate is curved around the inside of the cam ring 14 so that the FPC plate extends freely and fits within the full range of displacements of the front lens element group L ₁ and the rear lens element group L ₂ . Will be folded.

The finder block 2 comprises a finder device 8 and a strobe device 9.

The finder device and strobe device are assembled and arranged so that the field of view of the finder device and the irradiation angle (strength) of the strobe are varied depending on the focal length of the barrel block 1.

The power supply of the zoom motor 5 also powers the finder and strobe control.

The gear 15 on the cam ring 14 is engaged by a pinion 50 other than the pinion 7 mounted on the motor shaft 5a. The shaft 51 carrying the pinion 50 extends towards the rear of the base 6 and is provided at its rear end with a reduction gear train 52.

The gear 52a of the train 52 meshes with the rack 53a of the cam plate 53.

The cam plate is slidable in the right and left direction (lateral direction) as shown in FIG. 19, and has a downward bending portion 53b at its rear end.

The rack 53a is formed on the lower end of the bent portion 53b of the cam plate 53.

The reduction gear train 52 reduces the rotation of the gear 15 so that the variable magnification cam groove for controlling the finder device 8, the parallel calibration cam groove 56, and the strobe cam groove 57 for controlling the strobe device 9 ( 55) is provided.

The lens system of the finder device 8 consists of an objective lens group L ₃ , an eye-piece group L ₄ , a movable variable magnification lens group L ₅ , and a deflection prism P ₁ used during macro mode operation. It is composed.

The variable magnification lens group L ₅ varies the image picture size in accordance with the variable magnification operation of the lens barrel block 1 in accordance with the field of view of the finder device 8.

The deflection prism P ₁ moves to the optical path of the lens system of the finder device only in the macro mode of operation to compensate for parallax. Parallax is essential in cameras with inter-lens shutters, and the smaller the distance between the subject and the camera, the more important it is.

Therefore, large parallax error is normally related to the macro mode operation of the camera.

In order to solve the problem of large parallax in the macro mode, a deflection prism P ₁ is provided in the present invention.

Prism P ₁ is in the form of an optical wedge having a thicker bottom and a thinner top. The deflection prism P ₁ deflects the beam downwards toward an object close to the camera when positioned in the light path of the finder system. FIG. 26 shows the optical path direction of light rays passing through the finder lens when the deflection prism P ₁ is located on the optical axis of the finder lens.

The strobe device 9 controls the irradiation angle as a function of the focal length of the photographing lens.

In other words, when the focal length is large, the irradiation angle increases when the lens is moved.

When the camera is operated in macro mode the irradiation angle is further increased to reduce the amount of light reflected from the object. In the illustrated embodiment, the strobe device 9 is a movable concave reflector 59 operatively associated with a fixed Fresnel lens L ₆ and a xenon lamp 58 (FIG. 28) movable in the optical axis direction. ).

Under some conditions, simple strobes with fixed illumination angles may be used.

The drive mechanism for operating the finder device 8 and the strobe device 9 is shown in FIGS. 19-28. The finder block 54 is mounted on one side of the base 6.

The mother plate 60 fixed to the block 54 is provided with a guide pin 62 fitted in the linear guide groove 61 of the cam plate 53. The sliding motion in the lateral direction with respect to the optical axis of the cam plate 53 is limited by the coupling of the guide pin on the plate 60 and the guide groove 61 on the plate 53 as shown in FIG. 19 and 20 degrees. The edge of the plate 53 having the projection 60a is formed integrally with the finder mother plate 60.

This arrangement prevents the cam plate 53 from floating from the mother plate 60, especially at the front end of the cam plate 53.

The finder base plate 60 has a variable magnification lens guide groove 63, a flat prism guide groove 64, and a strobe guide groove 65. These guide grooves all extend parallel to the optical axis.

In the variable lens frame 66 carrying the variable magnification lens group L ₅ (FIG. 23), a guide protrusion 66a for operatively coupling the variable power lens guide groove 63 is provided. The deflection prism operating plate 67 is provided with a guide protrusion 67a for operatively coupling the deflection prism guide groove 64. The strobe case 68 having the concave reflector 59 fixed thereto is provided with a guide projection 68a for operatively engaging the strobe guide groove 65.

Therefore, each of the variable magnification lens frame 66, the deflection prism operating plate 67, and the strobe case 68 is movable in the direction parallel to the optical axis along each guide groove.

Guide protrusions 66a, 67a, and 68a are provided with drive pins 69, 70, and 71 for operatively coupling the variable magnification cam groove 55, parallax compensation cam groove 56, and strobe cam groove 57, respectively.

Accordingly, when the cam plate 53 moves laterally with respect to the optical axis, the variable magnification lens frame 66, the refraction frame operating plate 67, and the strobe case 68 move in the respective cam grooves 55, 56, 57.

The portions of the variable magnification cam groove 55, the parallax compensation cam groove 56, and the strobe cam groove 57 are uniquely related to various portions of the zoom cam grooves 20, 21 described with reference to FIG. That is, the variable magnification cam groove 55 includes a wide-angle termination fixing unit 55a, a variable power unit 55b, and a tele-terminal fixing unit 55c, and the portion corresponds to the same angle shown in FIG. ₁ , θ ₂ and θ ₃ are also shown.

The parallax compensating cam groove 56 has a dove part 56a, a protruding moving part (advanced feed part with respect to macro mode) 56b, and a projected position fixing part (macro terminator fixing part) 56c.

The strobe cam groove 57 has a wide angle terminator 57a, a variable magnification 57b, a telephoto terminator 57c, a macro feeder 57d, and a macro terminator 57e.

The relationship between the cam grooves 55, 56, 57 and the zoom cam grooves 20, 21 is shown in FIG.

The variable magnification lens frame 66 supporting the variable magnification lens group L ₅ is automatically supported on the guide surface 54a of the finder block 54 so that the frame 66 is stopped therefrom as shown in FIG. . When the frame 66 moves as the cam plate 53 is displaced in response to the interaction between the pin 69 on the frame and the variable magnification cam groove 55, the movement of the frame 66 is performed by the lens group L ₃ and the eyepiece group. The magnification of the finder optical system including L ₄ and the variable magnification lens group L ₅ is varied.

Thus, the finder's field of view closely matches the field defined by the barrel block 1.

The deflection prism P ₁ made of synthetic resin with reference to the deflection prism operating plate 67 shown in FIGS. 24 to 26 is rotatably supported by the lower opposing support pin 74 on the finder block 54. . Each support pin 74 is surrounded by a torsion spring 75, one end of which bears against each abutment 76 provided on the side of the flat prism P ₁ . As a result, the deflection prism P ₁ is continuously biased toward the position where the prism is aligned with the optical axis of the lenses L ₃ -L ₅ .

Each shift 76 is located in an arcuate groove 79 formed in the finder block 54.

The deflection prism operating plate 67 is held between the finder block 54 and the guide plate 80 connected to the finder block. Guide pins 81 provided on the sides of the plate 80 are operatively coupled to the linear guide grooves 82 in the finder block 54.

When the pin 70 on the plate 67 is located in the portion 56a of the groove 56, the position limit shift 76 on the prism P ₁ rotates on the plate 76 as shown in FIG. The prevention surface 77 is coupled.

In this position the deflection prism operating plate 67 keeps the deflection prism P _{1 out} of the optical path of the lenses L ₃ -L ₅ opposite to the bias of the spring 75.

During the movement of the plate 67, which occurs when the pin 70 engages with the protruding portion 56b of the groove 56, the spring 75 moves the prism P ₁ to the optical path of the lenses L _3- L ₅ . Bias on.

Ultimately, the guide surface 78 on the plate 67 engages with the alternating 76 to cause the deflection prism P ₁ to rotate in line with the optical path. During this movement, the shift 76 moves to the guide surface 78 of the deflection prism P ₁ which is gradually aligned with the optical path as shown in FIG. 25 and FIG. 26, so that the light path of the finder is shown in FIG. As shown, it is deflected down by the prism P ₁ . As a result, objects close to the camera and objects under the viewfinder enter the field of view. Therefore, parallax error is reduced in macro mode operation.

As shown in FIG. 28, a stove case 63 is provided having a guide block 85 on one side operatively sliding in a linear guide groove 84 in a guide plate 80 parallel to the optical axis of the camera. . Height adjustment pins 86 (23rd and 27th degrees) are positioned on the upper and lower surfaces of the case 68 so that their axial displacement when the pins 71 move in the strobe cam groove 57 in response to lateral movement of the cam plate 53. Slip the case on the way.

The variable magnification portion 57b of the strobe cam groove 57 is effective to move the xenon lamp 58 rearward away from the Fresnel lens L ₆ .

The backward movement of the xenon lamp 58 reduces the irradiation angle of the light transmitted by the Fresnel lens to actually increase the number of guides as the focal length increases.

Further, the irradiation angle is increased when the pin 71 is positioned at the macro conveying portion 57d, and the number of guides is thus reduced. The last situation occurs during the camera's macro mode operation.

The mechanical design of a camera having an inter-lens shutter camera to which the present invention is applicable has been described above. The control system according to the present invention is described below.

[First Embodiment of Driving a Zoom Lens System]

In Fig. 1, reference numeral A10 is coupled to the system via a zoom lens A11 for the camera having an inter-lens shutter, and a drive system A13, and the lens is directed in the opposite direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 along the optical axis. A first embodiment of the present invention is schematically designated including a selectively reversible motor A12 to move.

Embodiment A10 is comprised by switch means A1 which can be operated by an operator and controls the operation of the motor A12 when the lens is moved from the initial position on the side to the final stop position which sets the focal length of the lens. .

The present embodiment also includes control means for operating the motor A12 in the form of lens start driving means A2 and lens stop driving means A3 in response to the switch means A1 in its initial position. The lens movement to the final position always occurs after the lens A11 has moved to its final position in a predetermined direction.

This is shown schematically in the block LX.

This arrangement accurately positions the lens in the final position by taking into account the same degree of backlash in the drive system A13 connecting the motor A12 and the lens A11.

The camera according to the present invention is a lens that can vary from the retracted position of the zoom lens on the barrel block 1 to the open F value due to the change of the focal length, and from the retracted position of the wide angle or telephoto end to the macro photographing position. Various control may be performed according to the automatic detection information related to the change in position.

In order to detect the lens position, the code sheet 90 schematically shown in FIG. 5 is fixed to the outer circumference of the chemring 14 of the barrel block 1.

The fixed frame 91 in a position adjacent to the ring 14 carries a plurality of brushes 92 in sliding contact with the cordsheet 90.

FIG. 29 shows the cam portion 55, 56, 57 in the cam plate 53 shown on the conduction portion of the cord sheet and the cam profile of the zoom cam grooves 20, 21 in the cam ring 14 and the development plane of the cord sheet. Is a development plane of the code sheet 90 showing the relationship with the cam profile.

The brush 92 includes a common terminal C and terminals T0, T1, T2, and T3.

The signal 0 is generated when the terminals T0 to T3 come into contact with the conducting land 93 of the cord sheet 90. One signal is issued when these are not in contact.

Each position of the cam ring 14 is detected by the combination of these (0, 1) signals.

Reference numeral 94 denotes a conductive region separated from the land 93 by a non-conductive region.

Information (T0, T1, T2, T3) is supplied to the zoom code encoder as zoom code data ZP0, ZP1, ZP2, ZP3.

30 is a table showing a combination of zoom code data (1, 0).

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, each position of the cam ring 14 is divided into 13 steps, i.e., 0 to 9, A, B, and C (hexadecimal). The position 0 corresponds to the locking position LOCK, and the position C corresponds to the macro photographing position MACRO. These intermediate positions are the upper focal length positions in the range f0 to f7 '.

These positions are also shown at the bottom of the cord sheet of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 30, the zoom code data is a gray code in that only one bit varies between digits. POS is described in detail.

POS 1: The transition from the LOCK position to the WIDE termination position is detected by a change from 1 to 0 in the data generated at the brush T2.

Strictly speaking, the LOCK position is the difference between POS 0 and POS 1, not POS 0.

But when the camera is in the LOCK position, the brush is in POS 0, very close to POS 1. Similarly, the transition from WIDE terminus to variable magnification fo is the position between POS 1 and POS 2 and is detected when there is a data change from 0 to 1 in the data occurring at brush T0. However, POS 2 of brush T2 is very close to POS 1.

POS 1 thus means that the cam ring 14 moves from WIDE terminus to LOCK or vice versa, and from WIDE terminus to fo.

POS f ': This area is provided to absorb the backlash of the cam ring 14 (lens system).

During rotation of the cam ring from POS 0 to POS C as shown in FIG. 45 and described in detail below, the cam ring stops immediately when a stop signal is given (ie when the zoom switch is turned off). On the contrary, while rotating from POS C to POS 0, the cam ring 14 is reversed only after passing through the selected position by a predetermined displacement and then stopping at the first change point of the POS. POS f7 'is a TELE terminus, so cam ring 14 is in a TELE terminus (TELE zone: zone in which the camera operates upon exposure of TELE) and the brush is in POS A very close to POS 9. The focal length information or the F number information is transmitted to the shutter by the code plate and the brush. Therefore, the same focal length information is transmitted in the TELE zone and the TELE termus.

This is why POS 9 is represented by f7 and POS A is represented by f7 to distinguish it from f7. The zone of f7 is very small, so the zone of f7 can be considered basically the same as the TELE term.

POS B: Evolution is provided to identify transitions between MACRO and TELE terminations, and between TELE terminations and f7 '.

POS 2-POS A: These represent the zoom lens of the lens, and the intermediate focal length is composed of a plurality of focal length steps (9 in this embodiment).

The CPU checks the code information and the setting positions of the various switches at the time the power is applied.

No zooming is required if the mode switch is in ZOOM and the cam ring is in either POS 2-POS A. The mode change switch is located at any position other than ZOOM, that is, the middle position between LOCK, LOCK and WIDE, the middle position between TELE and MACRO, or MACRO, and the zooming operation is executed immediately when changing to ZOOM.

The same is true when the switch changes to ZOOM regardless of whether or not the zoom code is within the range of POS 2 = POS A where zooming is possible during reverse rotation of the zoom motor.

Shooting is possible when the zoom code is outside this range, and thus the cam ring is moved to the zoom position. In other words, POS 1 and POS B are positions which cannot stop the cam-lang and cannot be photographed.

Rotation of the cam ring 14 is controlled by the mode switch 101 and the zoom switch 102. 31 through 33 show a typical arrangement of the catches 101 and 102 on the camera body.

Reference numeral 99 denotes a multi-position button, the optical measuring switch 103 (see FIG. 36) is turned on when the first end thereof is pressed, and the release switch 123 is turned on when the second end is pressed ( See FIG. 36).

The control system for a camera is described in detail with reference to FIG. 36 and FIG.

First, a brief overview of the control system is provided.

The mode switching switch 101 is a transfer switch that can take three positions (LOCK, ZOOM, MACRO).

When the macro shooting button 101a is not pressed as shown in FIGS. 33 to 35, the switch lever 101b can be moved between the LOCK and ZOOM positions.

By sliding the switch lever 101b to this button in a state in which the macro shooting button 101a is pressed, the mode switching switch 101 takes the MACRO position. When the mode switch is in the LOCK position, the shutter cannot be released and zooming is not possible. When the mode switching switch 101 is set to the zoom position, the shutter can be released, and the zoom operation is also possible.

When the switch 101 is set to the MACRO position, the shutter is releaseable but zooming is impossible.

42 shows another example of the zoom lens in which the lens is moved to the zoom and wide-angle positions by pressing the wide-angle button W and the telephoto button T, respectively.

When released, the zoom switch 102 takes the neutral position OFF.

When a force is applied in the upper direction, the switch is turned on and the setting changes to either the WIDE or TELE position depending on the direction of the force.

The zoom switch 102 rotates the zoom motor 5 in either the forward or reverse direction according to the switch setting.

The mode switching switch 101 and the zoom switch 102 allow the camera to operate as described below.

(1) The zoom motor 5 is rotated in the reverse direction by moving the mode switching switch 101 to the LOCK position. When the position of the cam ring 14 detected by the code sheet 90 and the brush 92 becomes zero (see FIGS. 29 and 30), the zoom motor 5 is stopped.

(2) By moving the mode switching switch 101 to the MACRO position, the zoom motor 5 rotates in the forward direction. When POS = C (Fig. 29 and Fig. 30), the zoom motor 5 is stopped.

(3) Move the mode switch 101 to the ZOOM position.

When the zoom switch is set to the WIDE position, the zoom motor 5 rotates in the reverse direction, while the zoom switch is on, and the cam ring 14 is moved rearward.

The mode motor switch 101 continues to rotate in the reverse direction for a short time when the POS is set to 1 (see FIG. 29 and FIG. 30) and the state is also set in the WIDE slot.

The rotation is reversed, and the POS rotates in the forward direction until the motor 5 stops at 2.

When the switch 102 is set to the TELE position, the zoom shutter 5 rotates in the forward direction while the switch is on. While the switch 102 maintains the TELE position, the cam ring 14 moves forward to POS = A (29 and 30 degrees), and the zoom mutter 5 is stopped.

The motor stops immediately when the zoom switch 102 is turned off while the zoom shutter 5 rotates forward in the TELE direction.

When the switch 102 is turned off while the motor 5 rotates backward in the WIDE direction (reverse), the motor is reversed and stopped only after forward rotation is allowed for a while.

This forward rotation is used to eliminate mechanical reverse rotation in the lens drive system cylinder block 1 and the finder block 2 to eliminate the difference between the stop positions of the motor 5 when rotating in the WIDE and TELE directions, respectively. will be.

In FIG. 36, the zoom motor control apparatus 100 (hereinafter referred to as ZM / C) is constituted of, for example, a single chip microcomputer incorporating a program memory (ROM) in which a program described later is stored.

The ZM / C 100 is provided with switch data from the mode switching switch 101, the zoom switch 102, the distance measuring switch 103 and the zoom encoder 104 (shown as a switch equivalent circuit).

It is also a serial signal (SI) carrying a zoom mutter prohibition signal (DIS), a serial data transmission clock (CLK), and the following test and operation termination data from the main controller 109 (hereinafter referred to as MC / U). ).

The AM / C 100 supplies a rotation control command (RCM) to the zoom mitter driving circuit 107 for controlling the zoom mutter 5, and a power maintenance signal (pH) for turning on / off the MC / U 109 and zooming. Encoder data, i.e., serial signal S0 carrying ZP0 to ZP3 from zoom encoder 104 is transmitted to MC / U 109.

The mode switching switch 101 generates two signals LOCK and MACRO as shown in Table 1 according to the three switches LOCK, ZOOM and MACRO.

[Table 1]

The zoom switch 102 takes three switches (WIDE MOMENTARY, OFF, TELE MOMENT ARY).

The optical measuring switch 103 is a release button 99 of the distance measuring device 120 (consisting of the light emitter 3 and the light receiver 4 as described above) and the optical measuring device (A / E) 121. Activated when pressed to the first stage (to generate signal SWS) to initiate the action.

The zoom encoder 104 converts each position of the cam ring 14 into the zoom codes ZP0 to ZP3 by the code sheet 90 and the brush 92 and supplies the code to the ZM / C 100.

The switch scan control processing executed through the terminal SSC is such that the high voltage H is generated only when the input is checked from each switch, and the low voltage L is generated outside the test mode to reduce power consumption.

The voltage regulator 105 supplies the ZM / C 100 with a desired drive voltage supplied from the battery 106.

The zoom motor driving circuit 107 may be configured, for example, as shown in FIG. The operation of this circuit is a 4-bit (FOWN, FOWP, REVN, REVP) rotation control from the ZM / C 100 for controlling the rotation and stopping the zoom motor 5 as shown in the tables 2,3. According to the command RCM, where ON corresponds to 1 in FIG. 30 and OFF corresponds to 0. FIG.

[Table 2]

Forward run

[Table 3]

Reverse run

The MC / U 109 may be constituted by, for example, a single chip microcomputer, and executes the following functions by executing a program stored in its internal program memory.

(1) rotation control of the film take-up motor 111 through the winding drive circuit 110;

(2) driving and controlling the shutter block 23 through the driver 112;

(3) control of the various display indicators 115 via the driver 114;

(4) control of the strobe device 117 (the strobe circuit is the xenon light emitting tube 58) via the interface 116;

(5) outputting the zoom motor prohibition signal DIS to the ZM / C 100 via the interface 118;

(6) output of serial transfer click (CLK) via interface 118;

(7) outputting a serial signal SI carrying a switch test / termination operation data described later via an interface 118;

(8) Keep regulator 124 operational.

In order to perform the above functions, the MC / U 109 includes switch data from a winding motor control switch 119 such as a film rewind switch and a rear cover switch, detected distance data from the distance measuring device 120, and an optical measuring device. Measured optical data from 121, film sensitivity setting or film sensitivity data from automatic film sensitivity reader (ISO) 122, and switch data SWR from release switch 123 are provided.

The MC / U 109 causes the voltage regulator 124 to remain in operation or started / stopped depending on the presence of the power maintenance signal supplied through the interface 118.

The regulator 124 is also operated by switch data from the winding motor control switch 119; And when it is operated, voltage regulator 124 supplies the desired power to various circuits of the main control system except for the zoom control system.

The operation of the ZM / C 100 in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 38 to 41 will be described below together with the program stored in the ZM / C 100.

In FIG. 38, S1 performs an initialization process when the ZM / C 100 is excited by the battery 106 included in the battery case (not shown).

In S2, the CPU detects each state of the mode switching switch 101, the zoom switch 102, the optical measurement switch 103, and the zoom encoder 104 to execute a switch scan control process.

S3 then checks the state of the optical measuring switch 103. When the optical measuring switch 103 is on, the CPU repeats the processing in S2 until the optical measuring switch 103 is turned off.

When it is found that the optical measuring switch 103 is turned off, the CPU advances the processing to S4, in which case the state of the zoom motor use prohibition signal DIS is checked.

If this signal appears (i.e., DIS = 1), the processing proceeds to S5.

However, if no signal appears (ie DIS = 0), go to S8.

The zoom motor prohibition signal DIS is provided to prohibit simultaneous operation of the winding motor 111 and the zoom motor 5 to reduce power consumption and extend the life of the battery 106.

Therefore, only when the MC / U 109 is operated by the winding motor control switch 119 to allow the winding motor 111 to operate, the MC / U 109 turns on the use prohibition signal DIS. When the zoom motor prohibition signal DIS is turned on, the power holding signal PH is turned on (for example, 1).

The output purpose of the power maintenance signal PH in S5 is to execute the operation of the winding motor 111 when the MC / U 109 is executed by the winding motor control switch 119 rather than unconditionally causing the operation of the motor. It is. In other words, the operation of the motor 111 may occur only after being allowed by the power maintenance signal supplied from the ZM / C 100.

In this way, the zoom motor 5 and the winding motor 111 cannot rotate at the same time.

The process is stopped until the prohibition signal from the MC / U 109 is turned off at S6, that is, until the rotation control of the winding motor 111 is finished by the MC / U 109.

When the zoom motor prohibition signal DIS is turned off, the power holding signal PH is turned off (e.g., 0). When S7 detects when the DIS is off, the regulator 124 is turned off and the processing is reset to S2. do. Even after the regulator 124 is turned off, not all power supplies are stopped. For example, power is still supplied to the indicator 115.

When the processing proceeds to S4 and the signal DIS is turned off, the processing proceeds to S8 in which the switch scanning procedure is executed similar to the procedure in S2. Processing then proceeds to S9 where POS conversion is executed to detect the POS value (see FIGS. 29 and 39) and zoom codes ZP0 to ZP3 from the zoom encoder. In S10, the state of the mode switching switch 101 is checked for states (LOCK, ZOOM, MACRO) predetermined in S8. If the position is LOCK, the process proceeds to S11, for ZOOM to S14, and for MACRO to S16.

When the state of the switch 101 is LOCK, it is checked whether the POS conversion in S11 to S9 is POS = 0. If POS = 0, the process is reset to S2. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S12 where an appropriate signal is applied to the drive circuit 107 to execute reverse rotation of the motor 5 (refer to the rotation control command in Table 3). .

Next, the mode subroutine described later is executed in S13, after which the process is reset to S2.

When the state of the switch 101 is ZOOM, the POS conversion from S14 to S9 is POS Check whether it is 1. POS If 1, the process proceeds to S17 to cause the zoom motor 5 to rotate in the forward direction (see the rotation control command in Table 2).

All subroutines described later execute S13 next, after which the process is reset to S2. POS1 to S15 are POS conversions from S9 to POS Check if it is B

POS If B, then the procedure proceeds to S12, in which the following mode subroutine is executed and then reset to S2, otherwise the process proceeds to S18.

When the state of the switch 101 is MACRO, S16 checks whether the POS conversion in S9 is POS = C. If POS = C, the process jumps to S22 but otherwise proceeds to S17 to enable forward rotation of the zoom motor 5. The mode subroutine to be described later is called next to execute S13, after which the process is reset to S2.

In S18, the state of the zoom switch 102 is checked based on the switch scan in S8.

When this switch is set to TELE, the TELE subroutine described later is called and executed in S19, and the processing is reset to S2. If the switch is not set to TELE, processing proceeds to S20. In S20, the state of the zoom switch 102 is checked based on the switch scan in S8.

When this switch is set to WIDE, the WIDE subroutine described later is called to execute in S21, and the processing is reset to S2.

If the switch is not set to WIDE, processing proceeds to S22 where the state of the light measuring switch 10S3 is checked based on the switch scan in S8. If the switch 103 is not turned on, the process is reset to S4, otherwise the process proceeds to S23.

The processing (S1 to S22) is the main processing, and the operation of the camera as the mode subroutine in S13, the TELE subroutine in S19 and the WIDE subroutine in S21 will be described before explaining the processing in S23 and the following processing.

(Mode Subroutine of First Embodiment)

The mode subroutine will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The flowchart and the following flowchart use flags stored in a register in the RAM of the ZM / C 100, and the flag is designated as FWIDE. When this flag is reset to zero, this means that each position of the cam ring 14 is positioned so that the camera's lens system is located at a position other than the wide angle terminator position near the transition to the variable magnification position (Fig. 29 and 30). See also).

At this position POS = 2 and the lens system is set to f0.

In S130, the CPU of the ZM / C 100 resets the flag (Fwide) to 0 and then executes the sequential processing in S131 and S132 similar to the processing already executed in S8 and S9.

Next, the state of the mode switching switch 101 in S133 is determined by the switch scan in S131.

Processing then proceeds to S134 when the switch is in the LOCK position, to S138 when the switch is in the MACRO position, or to S142 when the switch is in the ZOOM position.

If the switch 101 is set to LOCK, the process proceeds to S134 which checks whether or not the POS conversion executed in S134 generates the LOCK position if POS = 0 is in other words.

If the result of this inspection is POS = 0, the process can be rotated only in reverse (due to S12), so that the rotation control command (RCM in S3 (table 3) stops the rotation of the zoom motor 5). Next, the return process executes the program to return to S2 (Fig. 38). On the other hand, when the result of the test is POS ≠ 0, the zoom motor 5 may operate in either its forward or reverse direction, and the process proceeds to S136 in which it checks whether the motor operates in its reverse direction. If the motor is running in the reverse direction, the processing immediately resets to S131, otherwise (due to S17) the processing sends a rotation control command for the ZM / C 100 to operate the motor in the reverse direction, and then processing. Is reset to S131.

In the case where the switch 101 is set to MACRO, the flow to S138 checks whether the POS conversion executed in S132 generates a POS = C or MACRO position.

In such a case, the process proceeds to S139 (refer to the rotation control command in Table 2) which performs the braking of the zoom motor 5 since the motor can only rotate in the forward direction, and the return process executes return to S2 ( 38). If POS ≠ C, the zoom motor 5 can rotate in the forward or reverse direction, and the process proceeds to S140 to check whether it operates in its forward direction. If the motor operates in the forward direction, the process is immediately reset to S131, otherwise the process is instructed to rotate in the forward direction before the process returns to S131.

When the switch 101 is set to ZOOM, the processing is performed by the POS conversion executed in S132. A, POS 1 or 2 POS Proceed to S142 to check whether 9 has occurred. POS 1 is S143, 2 POS 9 is S153, and POS If A, go to S157.

Recalling that entry into the mode subroutine occurs with the motor rotating in the forward or reverse direction, the direction of rotation is checked with the following procedure.

POS conversion in S142 is POS In the case of 1, the process proceeds to S143 which is checked to determine whether the zoom motor 5 rotates in the forward direction.

If the motor rotates in the forward direction, the process jumps to S146, otherwise the motor rotates in the reverse direction, and the process proceeds to S144 where the waiting process is executed for a predetermined time (tm seconds). After the delay of t msec seconds, the process proceeds to S145 in which a command is sent to the motor 5 to rotate in the forward direction. After this command, the processing proceeds to S146 and S147 sequentially.

In S146 and S147, processing similar to the processing performed in S8 and S9 in FIG. 38 occurs to scan the switch state and perform position conversion.

Then, at S148 and S149, the state of the switch 101 is decoded to detect whether the operator has converted the switch 101 from ZOOM to LOCK or MACRO.

When the switch 101 is changed to LOCK, the processing is reset to S134.

On the other hand, when the switch 101 is changed to MACRO, the processing is reset to S138.

If the switch 101 remains in the ZOOM, the process proceeds to S150.

S150 checks whether the POS transformation in S147 generates POS = 2. If POS = 2, the process proceeds to S151; otherwise, the process resets to S146. Recalling that the lens system is positioned at its wide-angle termination at POS = 2, S151 sets the flag to 1 and processing proceeds to S152 whereby the zoom motor 5 is driven by an appropriate command (see Table 2). Brake and stop The process is then reset to S2 (Figure 38).

POS conversion in S132 is 2 POS In the case of 9, the process proceeds to S153 which checks whether the zoom motor 5 rotates in the forward direction.

In the case of rotation in the forward direction, the processing causes the ZM / C 100 to issue a brake command to stop the zoom motor, and then jump to S156 where a reset to S2 occurs.

On the other hand, when the zoom motor rotates in the reverse direction, the process proceeds to S154 which issues a command to rotate the motor 5 in the forward direction, after which the process is executed for a predetermined time (t msec) for the reason that the standby process is described later. Proceed to After t msec has elapsed, the process proceeds to S156 in which a command for stopping the zoom motor 5 is sent in accordance with the brake command.

Thereafter, a reset to S2 occurs.

POS conversion of S132 POS In the case of A, the process proceeds to S157 which checks whether the zoom motor 5 rotates in the reverse direction.

If the motor rotates in the reverse direction, the process jumps to S159, otherwise an instruction is issued to rotate the motor 5 in the reverse direction, after which the process proceeds to S159.

Processing similar to the processing for S8 and S9 in FIG. 38 is executed in S159 and S160, and processing similar to the processing for S148 and S149 is then executed in S161 and S162.

If the mode switching switch 101 remains in the ZOOM position, S163 checks whether the zoom motor 5 rotates in the reverse direction. If it rotates in the reverse direction, the process proceeds to S164; otherwise, the process proceeds to S167.

S164 checks whether the POS conversion in S160 is POS = 9.

If POS ≠ 9, the processing is reset to S159, otherwise processing similar to the processing performed in S144 and S145 is executed in S165 and S166, after which the processing is reset to S159.

Processing proceeds to S167 because the motor operates in the forward direction when S163 is executed, and if the POS conversion in S160 has generated POS = A indicating whether telephoto termination (f7 'in FIG. 30) has been reached. A check is made to determine whether or not.

If POS ≠ A, the process is reset to S159, otherwise the process proceeds to S168 in which a command to stop the zoom motor 5 is sent. The process is then reset to S2 (Figure 38).

(TELE subroutine of the first embodiment)

The flowchart of FIG. 40 details the TELE subroutine.

In S190, the CPU of the ZM / C 100 resets the wide angle minus flag Wide to 0, and the process proceeds to S191 where the result of the POS conversion in S9 (Figure 38) is checked for POS = A. do. If POS = A, the process is immediately reset to S2 (FIG. 38), otherwise the process proceeds to S192 to execute forward rotation of the zoom motor 5. Thereafter, the processing proceeds sequentially from S193 to S196. In S193 and S194, processing similar to that of S8 and S9 (Fig. 38) is performed. The result of the POS conversion in S194 in S195 is checked for POS = A. In the case of POS = A, the process jumps to S197 which generates the brake and stop of the zoom motor 5, after which the process jumps to S2, after which the process is reset to S2 (Fig. 38).

If POS ≠ A, the process proceeds to S196 which checks whether the zoom switch 102 has been changed by the switch scan in S193 from ZOOM to TELE.

(WIDE subroutine of the first embodiment)

41 is a detailed WIDE subroutine.

In S210, the CPU of the ZM / C 100 tests whether the wide angle terminus flag (Fwide) is set to Fwide = 1.

The test is to determine whether the motor 5 is stopped at the wide angle terminal.

If Fwide = 1, processing is immediately reset to S2 (Figure 38); Otherwise, the process proceeds to process S211.

In S211, the zoom motor 5 receives the reverse rotation command, and the process proceeds to S212, which is a preparation process for delaying the process progress to S213 for a predetermined time (t msec) for the reason described later.

After t msec elapses, processes similar to those of S8 and S9 (FIG. 38) arrive at S213 and S214 before the process proceeds to S215 where the POS transform is tested for POS = 1. If POS = 1, processing proceeds to S216 and then S217 in sequence; Otherwise, processing proceeds to S223.

In S216 and S217, a process similar to the processes of S144 and S145 (FIG. 39) is executed before the process proceeds sequentially to S218 and S219 where a process similar to the processes of S8 and S9 (FIG. 38) is executed.

After the position conversion process of S219 is executed, the process proceeds to S220 which tests whether the POS transformation is POS = 2 in S219. If POS ≠ 2, the process is reset to S218; If not, the process proceeds to S221 where the wide-angle termination flag Fwide is set to 1, followed by the execution of the step S222 of stopping and stopping the rotation of the zoom motor 5. The process is then reset to S2 (Figure 38).

If it is found that the test at S215 is POS ≠ 1, the process proceeds to S223 to check whether it has been changed from WIDE as detected by zoom switch 102 S214.

If the switch 102 is still set to WIDE, the inverting motor drives the lens to be fixed at POS = 1. If the switch 102 is not set to WIDE, the processing proceeds sequentially to S224, S225, and S226, which result in similar processes to those performed in S155 and S156 (FIG. 39), respectively. This process is then reset to S2 (Figure 38).

[Operation of First Embodiment]

The results of the processing in S1 to S22 in FIG. 38 and the processing in FIGS. 39 to 41 are described below.

(1) Battery 106 is connected and none of the following switches are operated: take-up motor control switch 119, shutter release button 99 (and switch 123), and zoom switch 102 .

(a) If the mode switching switch 101 is set to the LOCK position, the CPU of the ZM / C 100 executes an initialization process at S1 in FIG. 38, after which the cam ring 14 (front lens group ( The process is repeated according to the first loops S2 to S4, S8 to S11 and S2 under the condition that the rotational position of L ₁ ) and the rear lens group L ₂ is controlled at POS = 0; And no camera operation takes place. If the processing release shutter release button 99 is pressed to close the switch 123 and the light-measuring switch 103, the processing for S2 and S3 is repeatedly executed until the switch 103 is opened; And the operation of the shutter release button 99 is ignored.

If the rotational position of the cam ring 14 is POS ≠ 0, the processing in S12 in FIG. 28 repeats the processing (S131 to S134, S132 and S131) until the cam ring 14 is moved to POS = 0. This results in reverse rotation of the zoom motor 85 which continues during execution.

At this point, the process is reset to S2 of the first loop.

(b) When the mode switching switch 101 is changed from LOCK to ZOOM position, the CPU of the ZM / C 100 executes the first loop and then proceeds the program to S17 where the zoom motor 5 causes the forward rotation. The process proceeds sequentially through S130 to S133 and S142 (FIG. 39), and when the following processes (S148 and S149) are executed, the mode switching switch 101 does not change from ZOOM to LOCK or MACRO. The process proceeds to S143, S146, and S147.

Loops S150 and S146 to S149 are executed until POS = 2; And when this condition is detected at S150, the zoom motor 5 is stopped to stop at S152 via S151 before the process is reset to S2 (FIG. 38). In other words, the rotation stop position of the cam ring 14 is wide-angle terminal (POS = 2), and at this time, the focal length f _{0 shown in} FIG.

After the processing is reset to S2, the CPU of the ZM / C 100 performs second loops S4, S8 to S10, S14, S15, S18, S20, S22 and S4, which are conditions under which switch operation is no longer performed. Repeat the process accordingly.

(c) If the switch 101 is changed from ZOOM to MACRO position when the stop of the cam ring 14 stops at the wide angle (ie POS = 2), the CPU of the ZM / C 100 will cause the program of S10 Exit the second loop and proceed to S16.

At this time, since POS = 2, the processing in S17 causes the zoom motor 5 to rotate in the forward direction, and the sequential processing of S131 to S133, S138, S140 and S131 (FIG. 39) is performed by the motor ( 5) Repeat execution until POS = C, which is the point of stopping to stop, is detected.

When POS = C, the processing is reset to S2 (Fig. 39), and the processing according to the third loops of S4, S8 to S10, S16, S22 and S4 is repeated on the condition that there is no further camera operation.

(d) If the mode switching switch 101 is changed from MACRO to ZOOM position, the CPU of the ZM / C 100 proceeds in sequence through S14, S15 and S12 when the program exits the third loop at S10. The reason is that then POS = C. Execution of the process S12 causes the motor 5 to rotate in reverse; Thereafter, the processes of S131, S133, S142, S157, S159 and S16 are executed in sequence. With the mode switching switch 101 remaining in the ZOOM position, the process executes the loops S163, S164 and S159 to S163 to drive the cam 14 at POS = 9.

When POS = 9 is detected at S164, a t msec delay occurs at S165 and S166 after the rotation of the zoom motor 5 is changed from reverse to forward.

The purpose of the processes S165 and S166 will be described later.

The cam ring 14 is stopped at POS = A from POS = 9 side by changing the switch 101 from MACRO to ZOOM position. When the zoom motor 5 is stopped at POS = A by reading POS = 9 from POS = A and then changing its rotation from reverse to forward, respectively, the drive and transmission system associated with the zoom motor 5 is driven. There is a possibility that the reverse rotation due to this hinders the correct positioning of the cam 14.

When the zoom motor 5 continues to rotate in the reverse direction for t mesc after the detection of POS = 9, and then rotates the motor 5 in the forward direction, the motor 5 is in a state in which reverse rotation with respect to the forward side is removed. Can be precisely stopped at POS = A.

Processes S165 and S166 achieve this result.

After the motor is commanded to run in the forward direction by executing the process in S166, the program executes the loops S159 to S163, S167 and S159 to drive the cam 14 at POS = A.

When POS = A is detected at S167, the process proceeds to S168 where the motor is stopped and stopped. The process is then reset to S2 (Figure 38).

After the process is reset to S2, the cam ring 14 becomes a telephoto terminus (POS = A) with a focal length of f ₇ 'shown in FIG. The cam ring remains in this position as described in item (b) above, in which no switch operation is made after the process is reset to S2 because the second loop is repeatedly executed.

The switch 101 may be changed from the MA CRO to the ZOOM position during the loop processing (S131-S133, S138, S140, S141, S131), during which the cam ring 14 is in a position corresponding to POS = A, and the motor is It works in the forward direction.

In that case, branching to S157 occurs like S142.

In the branch S157, the processing in S158 causes the zoom motor 5 to reverse its rotational direction to start the reverse operation.

(e) If the mode switching switch 101 is changed from ZOOM to MACRO position when the cam ring 14 is stopped at the telephoto lens termination (POS = A), the subsequent processing is performed when the starting point is POS = instead of POS = 2. Similar to that described in item (c) except that it is A.

(f) The tests performed in S148, S149, S161 and S162 (FIG. 39) mentioned in the description of items (b) to (d) above are changed from the mode switch 101 to the LOCK or MACRO position in the zoom. Determine if

If the change is in the LOCK position, the processes S136 and S137 are executed until the branch starting at S134 is started and the cam ring 14 is stopped at POS = 0; Thereafter a reset to S2 occurs. If the change is the MACRO position, the branch starting at S138 is started, and processes S140 and S141 are executed until the cam ring 14 is stopped at POS = C; Thereafter a reset to S2 occurs.

(g) If the mode switching switch 101 is changed to the ZOOM position, loop processing (S131 to S133, S138, S140, S141 and S131 (FIG. 39)) or loop processing (S131 to S137 and S131 (FIG. 39) Camring (14) while 2 POS In the position corresponding to 9, the CPU of the ZM / C 100 causes the branch to occur at S133 in the program, and the process proceeds to S142 and then to S153.

If the zoom motor 5 rotates in the forward direction, the process jumps from S153 to S156, at which time the zoom motor 5 is stopped immediately, after which the process returns to S2.

On the other hand, when the zoom motor 5 rotates in the reverse direction, the process proceeds to S154, where a delay of t msec occurs before the process proceeds to S156 where the motor is stopped, thereby eliminating reverse rotation on the forward-rotating side. . When stopped, the rotational position of the cam ring 14 becomes a position in which the focal length shown in FIG. 30 is in the range of f ₀ to f ₇ .

Camring 14 2 POS While in the corresponding position corresponding to 9, the mode switching switch 101 assumes the zoom position in accordance with the operation specification of the zoom switch 102 as described later.

(h) If the mode switching switch 101 is changed from LOCK to ZOOM position and the cam ring 14 is positioned at POS = 1 during the execution of steps S131-S136 (FIG. 39), the zoom motor 5 X operates in the reverse direction and drives the cam 14 away from the desired end point POS = 2 of the cam 14 for the ZOOM mode of operation. The changed switch position is detected at S133 where the processing proceeds to S142 which advances the processing to the branch starting at S143 (FIG. 39).

after t msec delay, while continuing to rotate the motor in the reverse direction; The motor 5 starts to operate in the forward direction by the sequential execution of the processes S144 and S145.

The loops S146-S150 are executed until POS = 2 is detected in S150.

Thus, the wide-angle termination position of the cam 14 (POS = 2) is reached when the motor 5 performs forward operation. If the motor 5 is allowed to stop at POS = 2 by immediately reversing its reverse in the forward direction after the cam ring 14 reaches POS = 1 at POS = 2, driving of the zoom motor 5 And the zoom motor 5 may be stopped in the state where the reverse rotation of the cogwheel or the like of the transmission system still exists. By causing the zoom motor 5 to rotate in the reverse direction for an additional period of t msec, and then the zoom motor 5 to rotate in the forward direction, the zoom motor 5 is subjected to POS = with the reverse rotation on the forward-rotation side removed. It can be stopped at two.

(2) If the motor control switch 119 is changed while the CPU of the ZM / C 100 executes the loop processing of the type described above, it occurs as follows:

When the CPU of the MC / U 109 turns on the zoom motor disable signal DIS, the CPO advances the processing from S4 to S5 in FIG.

In S5, by turning on the power maintenance signal PH, the MC / U 109 rotates the winding motor 111 that is enabled and starts rotation.

After the MC / U 109 finishes the control of the winding motor 111, the zoom motor disable signal DIS is turned off, and the CPU of the ZM / C 100 proceeds the processing from S6 to S7 and maintains power. Turn off signal PH and reset the process to S2.

Branching from the above-described first or second loop processing to S4 and then to S7 prohibits the operation of the zoom motor 5 when the winding motor 111 is in operation; Operations of the light-measuring switch 103 and the shutter release switch 123 are ignored at the same time.

(3) If the zoom switch 102 is changed to the TELE side while the CPU of the ZM / C 100 performs the processing in accordance with the above-described second loop, it becomes as follows.

The CPU of the ZM / C 100 advances the processing to S19 in FIG. 38, and calls and executes the TELE subroutine shown in FIG.

After the wide-angle end flag Wide is reset to zero in S190, the process proceeds to S191. If the cam ring 14 is already fixed at the telephoto end position (POS = A), no rotation of the zoom motor 5 is required, so the processing is immediately reset to S2 in FIG.

If the cam ring 14 is in an arbitrary position different from the telephoto end (i.e. 2, the TELE subroutine is called) POS 9), the process of S192 causes the zoom motor 5 to forward rotate. After that, in a state where the zoom switch 102 is not returned to the neutral position on the TELE side, the loops S193 to S196 and S193 are repeatedly executed until the cam ring 14 becomes POS = A.

When this occurs, the process S197 stops further movement of the zoom motor 5, and the processing is then reset to S2 (Fig. 38).

As above, when the zoom switch 102 is operated to the TELE side, the cam ring 4 is stopped at the telephoto end when the switch 102 is no longer changed.

However, if the zoom switch 102 returns to its neutral position while the cam ring 14 moves toward the telephoto end, the process proceeds to S196 to S197, and the zoom motor 5 is immediately stopped. On the other hand, by changing the zoom switch 102 to the TELE side in a neutral position at an appropriate timing, the cam ring 14 is POS It can be stopped at any desired position corresponding to 9 (ie any desired focal length of the lens system).

(4) If the zoom switch 102 is changed to the WIDE side while the CPU of the ZM / C 100 executes the processing in the above-described second loop, it is as follows.

The CPU of the ZM / C 100 proceeds from S20 to S21 (FIG. 38), and calls and executes the WIDE subroutine shown in FIG. Initially, the state of the wide end flag (Fwide) is tested in S210; And if Fwide = 1, the cam ring 14 remains at the wide end (POS = 2), and the rotation of the zoom motor 5 does not occur because the processing is immediately reset to S2 (Fig. 38). If Fwide = 0, S211 causes the rotation of the zoom motor 5 to be reversed.

In S212, a delay of t msec occurs.

During this delay, the motor 4 continues the reverse rotation in consideration of the possibility that the switch 102 is immediately returned to its neutral position after being changed to the WIDE side. In that case, there is a possibility that the amount of reverse rotation generated because the reverse rotation operation amount of the zoom motor 5 is too large cannot be overcome by the backlash removal operation resulting from S224 and S225.

After the processing of S212 is executed, with the zoom switch 102 not being returned from the WIDE side to the neutral position, the loops S213-S215, S223-S131 until the cam ring 15 reaches POS = 1. It is executed repeatedly. When POS = 1, a process similar to the above-described processes S165 and S166 is executed at S216 and S217, and the loops of S218 to S220 and S218 are made to remove the reverse rotation as if the cam 14 is driven at POS = 2. Is processed.

When the cam ring 14 is at the wide angle termination (POS = 2), the process proceeds to S221 where the flag Wide is set to 1, and then to S222 where the rotation of the zoom motor 5 is stopped.

The process is then reset to S2 (Figure 38).

As above, if the zoom switch 102 is changed to the WIDE position, the cam ring 14 stops at the wide angle terminal (POS = 2) when the WIDE position setting is maintained.

Of course, if the zoom switch 102 is opened and the cam ring 14 is returned to its neutral position while moving to the wide angle terminator, a reverse rotation-removal process similar to the above-described process of Fig. 39 (S154 and S155) is performed. S223 to S225; The zoom motor is then stopped at S226.

On the other hand, by returning the zoom switch 102 from the ZOOM position to the neutral position at the appropriate time, the cam ring 14 is in range (2). POS In 9) it will stop at any desired position (desired focal length).

Now when switching to the processes after S22 in FIG. 38, while the CPU of the ZM / C 100 executes the process in the above-described second loop, the operation of the shutter release button turns on the light measuring switch 103. (When the winding motor control switch 119 is not turned on), the CPU of the ZM / C 100 proceeds from S22 to S23.

In S23, the power maintenance signal PH is turned on to operate the MC / U 109.

In the next S24, the presence of the disable signal DIS of the zoom motor from the MC / U 109 is tested to confirm the operation of the MC / U 109. If the operation is confirmed, serial-transmission of the POS conversion result in S9 is made to MC / U 109 in S25. The result of the POS conversion (zoom code data) is set in the output register; The data set is then converted into a serial signal SO in synchronization with the clock CLK supplied from the MC / U 109 to the MC / U 109 for serial-transmission.

The process waits for the above-described transfer process to end at S26, and proceeds to S27 at the end.

In S27, a serial signal SI containing switch check / operation end data is input from the MC / U 109 to the ZM / C 100; When the serial signal SI is input, the input data is checked at S28. If the input data is the operation termination data (power maintenance off request data) END indicating that the operation of the MC / U 109 is finished, the process proceeds to S29, and if the input data is the photo-measurement switch check data ( SWSCHK), the process proceeds to S31; If the input data is the mode changeover switch LOCK check data (LOCKCHK), the flow proceeds to S34.

When the processing proceeds to S29, the power holding signal PH is turned off because the operation of the MC / U 109 is terminated, and the processing is S30 in which the zoom motor disable signal DIS is turned off from the MC / U 109. Proceed to The process is then reset to S2.

When the process proceeds to S31, the power maintenance signal PH is temporarily turned off to inform the MC / U 109 that the switch 103 is on, and the process proceeds to S32, where the input data on each switch is stored in S2. It is executed by a process similar to the process. In S33, the optical measurement switch 103 is tested to determine when it is turned on in accordance with the data reading in S32.

If the light-measuring switch 103 is not on, the process waits at S30 to turn off the zoom motor disable signal DIS; The process is then reset to S2. This indicates that the power holding signal PH is turned off at S31 when the optical measuring switch 103 is turned off.

If the light-measuring switch 103 is turned on, the process proceeds to S36 which tests whether the mode switching switch 101 is located at the LOCK position based on the data of S32.

If the mode switching switch 101 is changed to the LOCK position, the processing is reset to S2 through S30, since it is not necessary to determine that the light-measuring switch 103 is on. However, if the mode switching switch 101 is not changed, the power holding signal PH is turned on again at S37, and the processing is reset to S27. On the other hand, when the MC / U 109 tests that the photo-measuring switch 103 is turned on, the CPU of the ZM / C 100 turns on and off the power maintenance signal PH when the switch 103 is turned on. Inform the MC / U 109 of the fact.

Finally, in S34 to S37 and S30, the MC / U 109 knows whether the mode switching switch 101 has been changed to the LOCK position.

The zoom code data (result of the POS conversion) and the optical measurement switch 103 turn-on data transmitted from the ZM / C 100 to the MC / U 109 in S23 to S37 are explained by the MC / U 109 as described later. Is used.

The zoom code data represents the F stop value of the lens that changes depending on the variable power supply position. These data are supplied to a circuit (not shown) to control the shutter speed of the shutter block 23.

POS = C represents the position of the lens at that MACRO position.

The indication of POS = C is an indicator in the finder if the distance measurement data produced by the distance measuring device 120 is not within the MACRO range which provides a visual indication to the photographer and disables the operation of the shutter release switch 123. Is applied to 115.

Data indicating that the light-measuring switch 103 is finally on can be used to initialize the operation of the light-measuring device 121.

In the first embodiment described above, the regulator 105 is operated unconditionally when the battery 106 is mounted in the battery case; However, it is possible to insert a manually operable switch in the power line from the battery 106 to the regulator 105 in order to manually operate the ZM / C 100 by the photographer.

(Second Embodiment of Zoom Lens Driving)

Referring now to FIG. 2, reference numeral B10 shows, in schematic form, a second embodiment of the invention and moves the lens forward and backward along the optical axis as indicated by the arrows in FIG. A zoom lens B11 for a camera having an inter-lens shutter including a motor B12 for coupling, not shown).

The switch means B2 has two operator input settings to control the operation of the motor B12 for moving the lens B11 from initial to final, thereby controlling the fixed position for setting the focal length of the lens.

Embodiment B10 also includes position detecting means B1 for detecting the position of the lens and control means B3 corresponding to the operation of the switch means B2 according to one of the following two positions for motor operation. do :

(1) the lens B11 moves a predetermined number of discrete focal lengths from its initial position to its final position; And

(2) The movement of the lens to the final position always occurs while the lens is moving in the predetermined direction.

In the second embodiment of the invention, the lens driving method is different from the lens driving method of the first embodiment; However, the program needs to change.

Before explaining this embodiment in detail, the lens driving method is first described.

1) When the mode switching switch 101 is set to the LOCK position and the cam ring 14 is located at an arbitrary position different from POS = 0, the zoom motor 5 has the POS = 0 (see also 29 and 43). Reverse rotation to drive the cam ring 14 in the reverse direction until it is detected, and then stops.

2) When the mode switching switch 101 is set to the MACRO position and the cam ring 14 is located at an arbitrary position different from POS = C, the zoom motor 5 is set to POS = C (see also FIGS. 29 and 43). The cam ring 14 is driven in the forward direction until it is detected and then stopped.

3) When the mode switching switch 101 is set to the ZOOM position and the cam ring 14 is located at an arbitrary position different from POS = 2 (i.e., any focal-length step of f ₀ to f ₇ ):

a) Each time the zoom switch 102 is changed to the TELE position, the zoom motor 5 rotates forward and stops after the cam ring 14 has experienced a change of one focus-length step; And

b) Whenever the zoom switch 102 is changed to the WIDE position, the zoom motor 5 rotates in reverse direction and the cam ring 14 is reversed after a predetermined time after the experience of changing the 2-focus-distance step so that the cam ring is 1-focus point. The forward rotation is made until the distance step is changed, with the result that a reduction of the 1 focal-distance step occurs with respect to the step where the switch 102 is changed to the WIDE position.

The reason why the cam ring is driven so is the stop of the zoom motor 5 when the mechanical reverse rotation in the barrel block 1 and the finder block 2 stops after the rotation in the WIDE direction or after the rotation in the TELE direction, respectively. It is removed so that there is no difference between the positions.

The overall control system of the camera including the above-described control is described below with reference to FIGS. 44 to 46. The main flow chart of the second embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 38, and the description thereof is the same as that of the first embodiment.

The flowchart of the mode subroutine for the second embodiment (Fig. 44) is different from that of the mode subroutine of the first embodiment. In the mode subroutine of FIG. 44, the CPU of the ZM / C 100 resets the wide-angle termination flag (wide-term termination becomes POS = 2 or f ₀ at 29 and 43 degrees) (Fwide) to 0 in S130A. (This flag reset is optional in the second embodiment).

In S131A and S132A, a process similar to S8 and S9 in FIG. 38 is executed.

The mode switching switch 101 in S133A is tested for LOCK, ZOOM or MACRO based on the switch scan in S132A. The process proceeds to S134A when the switch 101 is set to the LOCK position, to S138A when the switch 101 is set to the MACRO position, and to S142A when the switch 101 is set to the ZOOM position.

If the switch 101 is set to the LOCK position, S134A tests whether the conversion result of S132A is POS = 0.

If so, the zoom motor 5 stops at S135A (see the rotation control command (RCM) in Table 3) because the motor rotates in reverse direction; The process is then reset to S2 (Figure 38). On the other hand, if POS ≠ 0, S136A tests whether the zoom motor 5 is reverse rotated. If so, the process is immediately reset to S131A; Otherwise, the process is reset to S131A after causing the motor 5 to rotate in the reverse direction by the process in S137A.

If the switch 101 is set to the MACRO position, S138A tests whether the conversion result of S132A is POS = C. If so, the zoom motor 5 stops at S139A because of the forward rotation of the motor; The process is then reset to S2 (Fig. 38).

If POS ≠ C, S140A tests whether the motor 5 is in forward rotation.

If so, the process is immediately reset to S131A; Otherwise, after the motor 5 is rotated forward by the processing of S141A, the processing is reset to S131A.

If the switch 101 is set to the ZOOM position, the S142A is the POS conversion of S132A is POS A, or POS 1, or 2 POS 9 tests. Processing POS 1 is S143A, 2 POS 9 is S153A, POS If A, go to S165A.

POS If 1, S143A tests whether the zoom motor 5 is in forward rotation.

If so, the process jumps to S146A; Otherwise, the process of S144A is executed.

In S144A, the waiting process is executed and the delay of the processing is delayed for a predetermined time (t msec) for the reason described later.

After t msec has elapsed, S145A changes the direction of the zoom motor 5 from the reverse direction to the forward direction.

Next, in S146A and S147A, processing similar to S8 and S9 in FIG. 38 is executed; Then in S148A and S149A, the switch 101 is tested to determine the change from ZOOM to LOCK or MACRO based on the switch scan of S146A.

If the position is changed to LOCK, the processing is reset to S134A; If the position is changed to MACRO, the process is reset to S138A.

If the location is ZOOM, processing proceeds to S150A.

S150A tests whether the POS conversion result of S147A is POS = 2.

If so, the process proceeds to S151A; Otherwise, the process jumps to S146A. At POS = 2 the lens system is located at wide-angle termination, so the flag is set to 1 in S151A (this flag setting is only optional in this embodiment), and the process is S152A in which the zoom motor 5 is stopped. Proceed to; The process is then reset to S2 (Figure 38).

If the S132A's POS conversion is 2 POS If 9, the process proceeds from S142A to S153A to test whether the motor 5 is in forward rotation.

If so, the process jumps to S160A in which the POS conversion result of S132A is stored in the register MPOS. Thereafter, in S161A and S162A, processing similar to S8 and S9 in FIG. 38 is executed.

The motor now moves forward and drives the cam ring 14 in the direction of f ₇ '.

POS conversion is executed in S162A; In S163A, it is checked whether the POS conversion result of S162A is POS = Mpos + 1, that is, the POS data stored in the register (MPOS) has been converted to TELE by 1, and if POS = Mpos + 1, the zoom motor 5 in S164A. To stop; The process is then reset to S2. If POS = Mpos + 1 is false, the process repeatedly executes S161A and S162A until POS = Mpos + 1 is true. If the test of S153A indicates that the zoom motor 5 is in reverse rotation, the process proceeds to S154A in which the POS conversion result of S132A is stored in the register MPOS. After scanning the switch in S155A and POS conversion in S156A, the process proceeds to S157A where POS = Mpos-1 is evaluated. In S157A, it is checked whether the POS conversion result of S156A is POS = Mpos-1, that is, the POS data previously stored in the register (MPOS) has been converted to WIDE by one. If POS = Mpos-1, then the process proceeds to S158A. . If POS = Mpos-1 is false, the process repeatedly executes S155A and S156A until POS = Mpos-1 is true, and then the process proceeds to S158A.

In S158A and S159A, processing similar to the above-described S144A and S145A is executed.

Then, after the processing of S160A to S164A is executed, the processing is reset to S2 (Fig. 38).

If the POS conversion of S142A is POS If A, the process proceeds to S165A to test whether the motor 5 rotates in reverse direction. If so, the process jumps to S167A; Otherwise, the process proceeds to S166A which inverts the motor 5 before proceeding to S168A.

In S167A and S168A, processing similar to S8 and S9 in FIG. 38 is executed; In S169A and S170A, processing similar to S148A and S149A is executed. If the mode switching switch 101 is in the ZOOM position (as confirmed in S167A), S171A tests whether the zoom motor 5 is rotated in reverse direction. If so, processing proceeds to S172A; Otherwise proceed to S175A.

In S172A, the POS transform of S168A tests POS = 9.

If POS ≠ 9, the process is reset to S167A; Otherwise, the processing is reset to S167A after the processes of S173A and S174A similar to S144A and S145A described above are executed.

S175A tests whether the POS conversion result of S168A reaches POS = A, that is, telephoto termination (f ₇ 'in FIG. 43). If POS ≠ A, the process is reset to S167A; Otherwise, the process is reset to S2 (Fig. 38) after the process of S176A in which the motor 5 is stopped is executed.

(TELE subroutine of the second embodiment)

Referring now to the flowchart of the TELE subroutine of FIG. 45, the CPU of ZM / C 100 checks in S190A whether the POS conversion result of S9 in FIG. 38 is POS = A.

If POS ≠ A, i.e. 2 POS If 9, the process proceeds to S191A in which the POS conversion result of S9 (FIG. 38) is stored in the register Mpos; Then, in S192A, the motor 5 is rotated forward.

Subsequently, processing similar to S8 and S9 in FIG. 38 is executed in S193A and S194A. S195A then tests that the POS conversion result of S194A is POS = Mpos + 1, which determines whether the position of the cam ring 14 has been changed by one focal-distance step in the TELE direction.

If POS = Mpos + 1 is true, the motor 5 is stopped at S196A; Processing then proceeds to S197A. If POS ≠ Mpos + 1, the processes of S193A to S195A are repeated until POS = Mpos + 1, that is, the position of the cam ring 14 increases by one focal-distance step; Processing then proceeds to S197A, where a process to be described later is executed.

If POS = A, the process jumps to S197A which scans the switch, and then proceeds to S198A which checks whether the zoom switch 102 is still located on the TELE side.

If so, the process of S197A and S198A is repeated because the lens is correctly positioned at the telephoto end. However, if the switch 102 is not located on the TELE side, the process returns to S2 (Fig. 38).

(WIDE subroutine of the second embodiment)

Referring now to the flowchart of the WIDE subroutine of FIG. 46, the CPU of the ZM / C 100 in S210A shows that the POS conversion result of S9 in FIG. 38 causes the zoom motor 5 to position the cam ring 14 at the wide-angle terminal. First test if POS = 2.

If POS = 2, the process jumps to S222A where a scan of the switch is performed before proceeding to S223A which tests whether the zoom switch 102 is still set to the WIDE position.

If so, the process of S222A and S223A is repeated to wait for a change.

If the switch 102 is not set to the WIDE position, the process is reset to S2 in FIG.

If the POS conversion result of S9 in FIG. 38 is POS ≠ 2, the process proceeds to S211A in which the POS conversion result of S9 in FIG. 38 is stored in the register Mpos. In S212A, the zoom motor 5 is commanded in the reverse rotation to drive the cam ring toward each terminal of WIDE.

In S213A and S214A, processing similar to S8 and S9 in FIG. 38 is executed; Then in S215A, POS = Mpos-2 is evaluated using the POS conversion result of S214A.

If POS = Mpos-2, that is, the cam ring moves two steps in the direction of the WIDE terminus from its original position, the process proceeds to S216A; Otherwise, the process of S213A to S215A is repeated until POS = Mpos-2.

In S216A and S217A, processing similar to S144A and S145A in FIG. 44 is executed, and then in S218A and S219A, processing similar to S8 and S9 in FIG. 38 is executed, and the processing proceeds to S220A.

In S217A, the cam ring moves two focal-distance steps from its initial position close to the WIDE terminus, and the motor operates in the forward direction to drive the cam ring from each WIDE terminus. In S220A, the POS transformation of S219A tests POS = Mpos-1 to determine whether the cam ring advances one step from its initial position. If POS ≠ Mpos-1, the processes of S218A to S220A are repeatedly executed until POS = Mpos-1. If POS = Mpos-1, the process proceeds to S221A where the motor 5 is stopped; Otherwise, S218A and S219A are repeatedly executed until POS = Mpos-1 is true.

[Operation of Second Embodiment]

The results of the processes of S1 to S22 in FIG. 38 and 44 to 46 degrees are described below.

The description of the same operation as that of the corresponding portion of the first embodiment is omitted.

(1) The battery 106 is mounted in a battery case (not shown), and neither of the following switches is operated: the winding motor control switch 119, the shutter release button 99, and the zoom switch 102.

a) If the mode switching switch 101 is set to the LOCK position, the processing to be performed is as described in section (1) (a) in the description of the first embodiment.

b) If the setting of the mode switching switch 101 is changed from LOCK to ZOOM position, the processing to be performed is as described in section (1) (b) in the description of the first embodiment.

c) If the setting of the mode switching switch 101 is changed from ZOOM to MACRO position when the cam ring 14 is stopped at the wide angle terminal, the processing to be performed is explained in the section (1) (c) in the description of the first embodiment. Same as described in

d) If the setting of the mode switching switch 101 is changed from MACRO to the ZOOM position, the processing to be performed is the same as described in section (1) (d) in the description of the first embodiment.

e) If the setting of the mode switching switch 101 is changed from ZOOM to MACRO position when the cam ring 14 stops at the telephoto end (POS = A), the processing to be executed is the starting point POS instead of POS = 2. Same as described above in point c) except that = A.

f) In FIG. 44 described in paragraphs b) to d) above, when the tests of S148A S149A, S169A and S170A determine that the setting of the mode changeover switch is changed from the ZOOM position to the LOCK or MACRO position, S136A, S137A or Each loop process of S131A to S134A is executed. In S135A, it is reached because of the mode change to the LOCK position, and the cam ring 14 is driven until it reaches and stops at POS = *. In S139A, it is reached because of the mode change to the MACRO position, and the cam ring 14 is driven until it reaches and stops at POS = C.

g) The cam ring 14 is closed during loop processing (S131A to S133A, S138A, S140A, S141A to S131A) or loop processing (S131A to S137A to S131A) shown in FIG. POS While in the range of 9, when the setting of the mode switching switch 101 is changed to the ZOOM position, the CPU of the ZM / C 100 branches the processing from the loop described above in S133A and proceeds to S142A.

2 in this case POS Since 9, the process proceeds to S153A. If the zoom motor 5 is in the rotational direction, the process proceeds from S153A to S160A to allow execution of S160A to S164A, whereby the zoom motor 5 changes the POS by +1 in the direction of the telephoto end. Proceed to the location where On the other hand, if the zoom motor 5 is in the reverse rotation, the process proceeds from S153A to S164A, and the POS is temporarily changed by -1 in the direction of each WIDE terminus. However, the motor 5 continues to rotate in the reverse direction for tmsec. After that, the rotation of the zoom motor 5 is reversed to start the forward rotation and eventually stops when the POS is changed by +1 to the TELE side. On the other hand, the initial position of the lens is the zoom range (2 POS When in 9), the position of the cam ring 14 is changed one step in the forward or reverse direction depending on the setting of the mode switch 101.

2 regardless of whether the cam ring is POS When in the position corresponding to 9, the mode switching switch 101 estimates the ZOOM position according to the operation description of the zoom switch 102 which will be described later.

h) If the setting of the mode switching switch 101 is changed from LOCK to ZOOM position when the cam ring 14 is in a position corresponding to POS = 1 in the loop processing (S131A to S136A to S131A) of FIG. The processing to be performed is the same as that described in paragraph (1) (h) in the description of the first embodiment.

(2) If the winding motor control switch 119 is operated while the CPU of the ZM / C 100 executes the loop processing according to the first loop, the second loop, and the like described above, the processing to be executed is performed in the first embodiment. The description is the same as the description in clause (2).

(3) If the zoom switch 102 is operated to the TELE side when the CPU of the ZM / C 100 executes the processing in the above-described second loop, the processing described below is executed.

The CPU of the ZM / C 100 proceeds from S18 to S19 in FIG. 38, and then calls and executes the TELE subroutine shown in FIG. If the cam ring 14 stops at the telephoto end (POS = A), the rotation of the zoom motor 5 is unnecessary, and processing for invalidating the operation of the zoom switch 102 in S197A and S198A is executed. If the cam ring 14 is telephoto terminated (ie 2 when the TELE subroutine is called) POS When stopping at a position different from 9), the above-described process of moving the value of POS to the register Pos is executed in S191A, and the motor in S192A until the cam ring 14 is driven to the position of POS = Mpos + 1. Forward rotation of (5) is executed. At that position, S196A stops the zoom motor 5. Thereafter, a process of invalidating the operation of the zoom switch 102 is subsequently executed, and the process is reset to S2 in FIG. Thus, whenever the zoom switch 102 is moved to the TELE side, the cam ring 14 moves one step in the direction of the telephoto end. In this way, the cam ring moves step by step from POS = 2 (f0) to POS = A (f7 '), whereby the cam ring 14 can be located at the desired focal-distance shown in FIG.

(4) If the zoom switch 102 moves to the WIDE side when the CPU of the ZM / C 100 executes the processing according to the second loop described above, the processing described below is executed.

The CPU of the ZM / C 100 invokes and executes the WIDE subroutine shown in FIG. 46 by advancing the processing from S20 to S21 in FIG. In S210A, a test for POS = 2 is performed. If POS = 2, the cam ring 14 stops at a wide angle minus, so that the rotation of the zoom motor 5 is unnecessary; In S222A and S223A, a process of invalidating the operation of the zoom switch 102 is executed. If POS ≠ 2, the above-described process of moving the value of POS to the register Pos is executed in S211A, and in S212A, the motor 5 is then instructed to reverse rotation.

After the motor rotates in reverse, the cam ring 14 executes the loops S213A to S215A to be driven at POS = Mpos-2. When POS = Mpos-2, processing similar to the above-described processing (S165A and S166A) in the case of the first embodiment is executed in S216A and S217A to eliminate reverse rotation, and loop processing until POS = Mpos-1 (S128A). To S220A). When POS = Mpos-1, the rotation of the zoom motor 5 is stopped in S221A, and processing for invalidating the operation of the zoom switch 102 is subsequently executed in S222A and S223A, and then the process returns to S2 in FIG. Is set.

Thus, each time the zoom switch 102 is moved to the WIDE side, the cam ring 14 moves one step in the direction of the WIDE terminus by removing the reverse rotation. In this way, the cam ring can be moved step by step from POS = A (F7 ') to POS = (f0), whereby the cam ring 14 can be positioned at the desired ultra-length shown in FIG.

[Third Embodiment of Driving the Zoom Lens System]

In this FIG. 3, reference numeral c10 represents a third embodiment of the invention shown in schematic form. Embodiment (c10) is a zoom lens (c11) for a camera with an inter-lens shutter including a motor (c12) for moving the lens through a mechanical coupling, not shown in the forward and backward directions, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. ). The switch means c2 has two operator-selected input settings for controlling the operation of the motor c12 which moves the lens from the initial position to the final fixed position which sets the focal length of the lens, defined by the position of the lens when the switch is operated. Have Embodiment c10 also includes a detector c1 for detecting the position of the lens, a delay means c6 for inducing a predetermined pause in the operation of the motor, and a continued switch c2 operation, a position detector means ( c1) and control means c3 corresponding to the delay means c6 for operating the motor as follows:

(1) the final position of the lens is a predetermined number of focal-distance steps separated from its initial position; (2) Movement of the lens to its final position always occurs while the lens is moving in the predetermined direction; And (3) the lens is held in its final position during the predetermined stop before moving to another position located therefrom by the number of separated focal-distance steps.

In the third embodiment of the present invention, the driving method of the lens is different from the lens driving method of the foregoing two embodiments, but only program conversion is required. Before describing this embodiment in detail, the lens driving method is described first.

(1) If the mode switching switch 101 is set to the LOCK position, the cam ring 14 is set to POS = If it is in any position different from that of zoom motor 5, POS = The cam ring 14 is driven in the reverse direction until it is detected (see also 29 and 47), and then stopped.

(2) If the mode switching switch 101 is set to the MACRO position and the cam ring 14 is at an arbitrary position different from POS = C, the zoom motor 5 rotates in the forward direction so that POS = C (29th and 47th). Drive the cam ring 14 forward until it stops.

(3) If the mode changeover switch 101 is in the ZOOM position and the cam ring 14 is in any position other than POS = 2 (ie at any focal-distance step of f7 '):

a) If the zoom switch 102 is kept set to the TELE position, the zoom motor 5 rotates forward and after the cam 14 is changed in the forward direction (i.e., in the direction of telephoto end) by one focal-distance step. Stop. After stopping at the new focal-distance step for t'msec, the previous stop is repeated. As a result, the cam ring moves forward one focal-distance step at a time and stops step by step until the cam ring reaches telephoto end. If the switch 102 is moved to the neutral position, the step operation of another cam ring is terminated.

b) If the zoom switch 102 is momentarily set to the WIDE position, the zoom motor 5 first rotates in the reverse direction until the cam ring 14 is changed two focal-distance steps backward from its initial position and then t 'The motor rotates further in the reverse direction for a predetermined time of msec and then reverses the rotation so that the cam ring is operated in the forward direction until the 1-focal-distance step reverse net of the initial position is changed, and then the motor stops rotating. The barrel block 1 and the finder block 2 in order to minimize the difference between the stop positions of the zoom motor 5 when the finder block 2 stops rotating in the WIDE direction and stops rotating in the TELE direction. The cam ring is driven in the WIDE position of the switch 102 to eliminate mechanical reverse rotation of the switch 102. If the switch 102 is in the WIDE position, the cam ring moves in reverse one focus-distance step at a time and stops step by step until the cam ring reaches wide angle termination.

The overall control system including the camera control described above is described below with reference to FIGS. 48 and 49. The main flow chart for the third embodiment of the invention is the same as that shown in FIG. 38, and the mode subroutine is the same as that shown in FIG. 44, and the description thereof corresponds to the description of the first and second embodiments. Same as wealth. However, the TELE and WIDE subroutines are different.

TELE Subroutine for Embodiment 3

Referring to the flowchart of the TELE subroutine of FIG. 48, in S190B, the CPU of ZM / C 100 tests whether POS = A as a result of POS conversion in S9 of FIG. If POS = A, the process is reset to S2 in FIG. If POS ≠ A, i.e. 2 PO S In the case of 9, the process proceeds to S191B to store the POS conversion result (initial position of the caming) in S9 of FIG. 38 in the register Pos. In S192B, the motor 5 is commanded to rotate in the forward direction.

In S193B and S194B, processing similar to S8 and S9 in FIG. 38 is executed; Then in S195B, the POS conversion result of S194B is tested for POS = Mpos + 1 to determine if the cam ring moves one focal-distance step from the initial position in the direction of the tele-terminus. If POS = Mpos + 1, S196B causes the zoom motor 5 to stop, and scanning of the switch occurs at S197B. If the zoom switch 102 is not set on the TELE side when S198B is executed, the processing is reset to S2 in FIG. 38; If not, the switch 102 remains on the TELE side, and the process proceeds to S199B in which a delay of tmsec is executed. Thus, the cam ring moves forward by one focal-distance step from the initial position and stops at the new position for tmsec.

After the delay, S200B causes the switch to be scanned. If the zoom switch 102 remains on the TELE side, S201B is executed, and the process is reset to S190B to repeat the above-described processes. If the switch is changed from the TELE side, the process is reset to S2 in FIG.

In S195B, if POS ≠ Mpos + 1, the processing of S193B to S195B is repeated until POS = Mpos + 1.

WIDE Subroutine for Embodiment 3

Referring to the flow chart of the WIDE subroutine in FIG. 49, in S210B, the CPU of ZM / C 10 0 determines whether POS = 2 as a result of the POS conversion in S9 of FIG. Test for stopping at the wide end. If POS = 2, the process is reset to S2 in FIG. 38; If not, the process proceeds to S211B and the result of the POS conversion (initial position of the cam) in S9 of FIG. 38 is stored in the register Pos. In S212B, the zoom motor is instructed to rotate in the reverse direction to drive the cam ring backward toward the wide angle terminal.

In S213B and S214B, processes similar to S8 and S9 in FIG. 38 are executed; Thereafter, using the POS conversion result in S215B to S214B, POS = Mpos-2 is evaluated to determine whether the cam ring moves its focal-distance step from the initial position to the wide angle terminus direction. If POS = Mpos-2 evaluates to true, processing proceeds to S216B; If not, the processes of S213B to S215B are repeatedly executed until POS = Mpos-2 evaluates to true.

In S216B and S217B, processes similar to those described above for S165 and S166 in FIG. 39 are executed to delay reversal of motor rotation for tmsec; Then in S218B and S219B, processes similar to those described above for S8 and S9 in FIG. 38 are executed.

The motor now rotates in the forward direction. In S22OB, when POS = Mpos-1 is true and the cam ring has moved one focus-distance step from the initial position to the WIDE terminus direction based on the POS conversion of S219B, the process proceeds to S221B and the motor stops. If POS ≠ Mpos-1, the processing of S218B to S220B is repeated until POS = Mpos-1. The switch is scanned in S222B, and the state of the zoom switch 102 is tested in S223B. If the setting of this switch is changed, the process is reset to S2 in FIG. 38; Otherwise, S224B executes tmsec wait before the switch is scanned again in S225B. In S226B, the state of the switch 102 is tested. If this switch is set on the WIDE side, the process is reset to S210B to repeat the above-described process. If the setting of the switch 102 is changed, the process is reset to S2 in FIG.

[Operation of Third Embodiment]

The processing results of S1 to S22 in FIG. 38 and 44, 48 and 49 will be described later. The description of the same operation corresponding to the case of the first and second embodiments is omitted.

(1) The battery 106 is mounted in a battery case (not shown), and neither of the following switches is operated: the winding motor control switch 119, the shutter release button 99, and the zoom switch 102.

a) If the mode switching switch 101 is set to the LOCK position, the processing to be performed is as described in section (1) (a) in the description of the second and second embodiments.

b) If the setting of the mode switching switch 101 is changed from the LOCK to the ZOOM position, the processing to be performed is as described in section (1) (b) in the description of the first and second embodiments.

c) If the setting of the mode switching switch 101 is changed from the ZOOM to the MACRO position when the cam ring 14 is stopped at the wide angle terminal (POS = 2), the processing to be performed is described in the first and second embodiments. Is as described in clause (1) (c).

d) If the setting of the mode switching switch 101 is changed from the MICRO to the ZOOM position, the processing to be performed is as described in section (1) (d) in the description of the first and second embodiments.

e) If the setting of the mode switching switch 101 changes from ZOOM to MACRO position when the cam ring 14 stops at the telephoto end (POS = A), the processing to be executed is the starting point POS instead of POS = 2. Same as described in point c) except that = A.

f) When the tests of S148A, S149A, S169A and S170A in FIG. 44 described in paragraphs b) to d) above determine that the setting of the mode changeover switch is changed from the ZOOM position to the LOCK or MACRO position, the processing performed is In the description of the second embodiment, it is the same as point (1) (f).

g) While the cam ring 14 is in the range of 2 * POS * 9 during loop processing (S131A to S133A, S138A, S140A, S141A to S131A) or loop processing (S131A to S137A to S131A) in FIG. 44, When the setting of the mode switching switch 101 is changed to the ZOOM position, the processing to be performed is the same as that in clause (1) (g) in the description of the second embodiment.

h) If the setting of the mode switching switch 101 is changed from LOCK to ZOOM position when the cam ring 14 is in a position corresponding to POS = 1 in the loop processing (S131A to S136A to S131A) of FIG. The processing that is performed is the same as that described in paragraph (1) (h) in the description of the first and second embodiments.

(2) If the winding motor control switch 119 is operated while the CPU of the ZM / C 100 executes the loop processing in accordance with the first loop, the second loop, and the like described above, the processing to be executed is performed in the first and the second steps. In the description of the second embodiment, the description of section (2) is the same.

(3) If the zoom switch 102 is operated to the TELE side when the CPU of the ZM / C 100 executes the processing in the above-described second loop, the processing described below is executed.

The CPU of the ZM / C 100 proceeds from S18 to S19 in FIG. 38, and then calls and executes the TELE subroutine shown in FIG. If the cam ring 14 stops at the telephoto end (POS = A), the rotation of the zoom motor 5 is unnecessary, so the processing is immediately reset to S2 in FIG. If the cam ring 14 is telephoto terminated (ie 2 when the TELE subroutine is called) PO S When stopped at a position different from 9), the above-described process of moving the value of POS to the register Pos is executed in S191B (to evaluate the initial position of the camring), and in S192B, the forward rotation of the motor 5 is performed. The cam ring 14 is driven until POS = Mpos + 1 by the processes S193B to S194B. S196B causes the zoom motor 5 to stop when POS = Mpos + 1 evaluates to true. In S197B and S198B, the zoom switch 102 is scanned and then tested. If the switch is set to TELE-off, the process is reset to S2 in FIG. 38; However, if the switch is set to TELE-on, a stop between t'msec is executed in S199B. Only when TELE-on is reconfirmed by the processes S200B and S201B, execution of the process S192B is repeated to cause the zoom motor 5 to rotate in the forward direction again.

Thus, as the zoom switch 102 is operated to the TELE side to turn on the motor, the cam ring 14 repeatedly moves toward the tele-terminus in one focal-distance step by step in the forward direction, and the range (POS = 2 to POS = A). Stop between steps of the movement step by step until you traverse). By turning on the TELE sufficiently long, the cam ring 14 is driven to stop at the telephoto end.

(4) When the zoom switch 102 is operated to the WIDE side while the CPU of the ZM / C 100 executes the above-described second processing, the following occurs:

a) The CPU of the ZM / C 100 proceeds from S20 to S21 in FIG. 38 to call and execute the WIDE subroutine shown in FIG. POS = 2 is tested in S210B. In the case of POS = 2, the cam ring 14 is fixed to the wide angle termination, and it is not necessary to rotate the zoom motor 5 immediately. The processing is then reset to S2 in FIG.

If POS ≠ 2, S211B moves the value of POS to the register Mpos to store the initial position of the cam ring, and S212B commands the zoom motor 5 to rotate in the reverse direction to drive the cam ring in the reverse direction.

After the processing in S212B is executed, loops S213B to S215B are executed to drive the cam ring 14 until POS = Mpos-2 after the processing S216B to S217B is executed. When motor reversal occurs in S217B, the cam ring is between two and three focal-distance steps moved from the initial position in the direction of the WIDE angular termination.

These processes are similar to those of S165 and S166 described above in the case of the first embodiment for eliminating reverse rotation. Thereafter, the loop processing (S218B to S220B) is executed until POS = Mpos-1. When this condition is detected, S221B stops the rotation of the zoom motor 5, the cam ring is moved in one focus-distance step from the initial position, and then S223B tests whether the switch 102 is currently set to WIDE-on. do.

If so, t'msec stop is executed in S224B, and the zoom motor 5 restarts rotation in the reverse direction by the processing of S212B. If the scan of S222B indicates that the switch 102 is set to WIDE-off, the process is reset to S2 in FIG.

Then, if the zoom switch 102 is operated with WIDE-on, the cam ring 14 repeats a series of movement, stop and pause operations during the time that the switch is set to WIDE-on, where the cam ring Moves one focus-distance step by step toward each terminal of WIDE, and pauses for t'msec between steps. This stepwise progression of the camring in the reverse direction is performed in such a way that the reverse rotation is eliminated. By being long enough at WIDE-on, the cam ring 14 is driven and stops at the wide angle terminal.

[Fourth Embodiment of Zoom Lens System Drive]

Referring now to FIG. 4, reference numeral D10 denotes a fourth embodiment of the invention in schematic form. Embodiment D10 is a camera zoom lens D11 with an inter-lens shutter including a motor D12 for moving the lens in the forward and reverse directions shown by arrows in FIG. 4 (through mechanical coupling, not shown). It includes. The switch means D2 has a plurality of settings selected by the operator to move the lens from the initial position defined by the position of the lens at which the switch is operated to the final fixed position setting the focal-distance of the lens. To control the operation. Embodiment D10 also includes a position detector D1 for position detection of the lens, memory means D6 for storing position indication data of the lens, and a control means D5, wherein the control means D5 is a switch D2. The position selection means, the position detector means D1, and the movement of the lens to the final position always start the lens to the final position determined by the contents of the memory means D6 under the condition that occurs while the lens is moving in the predetermined direction. The selection of the zoom setting of the switch means to drive from the position is responsive to the motor actuating memory means D6 causing the motor D12.

In the fourth embodiment of the invention, the lens driving method is different from the method of driving the lens in the previous embodiment, but only the program needs to be changed. Before describing this embodiment in detail, the lens driving method is first described.

(1) When the mode switching switch 101 is set to the LOCK position and the cam ring 14 is in any position different from POS = *, the zoom motor 5 rotates in the reverse direction to rotate the cam 14 to POS = *. Drive in the reverse direction until it stops (see also 29 and 50 degrees).

(2) When the mode switching switch 101 is set to the MACRO position and the cam ring 14 is in any position different from POS = C, the zoom motor 5 rotates in the forward direction to rotate the cam ring 14 to POS = C. Drive forward until it stops and then stop.

(3) When the mode switching switch 101 is set to the ZOOM position and the zoom motor 5 rotates in the reverse direction, setting the zoom switch 102 to the WIDE position causes the motor to stop and then rotate in the forward direction. If the switch is set to the TELE position, the motor stops when POS = A. If the switch 101 is set to the WIDE position, the zoom motor 5 continues to rotate in the reverse direction for a while after POS = 1 and then rotates in the forward direction. When POS = 2, the motor 5 stops rotating.

If the zoom switch 102 is turned off (set to the neutral position) during the rotation of the zoom motor 5, the zoom motor stops immediately when it rotates in the TELE direction (forward direction). If the motor rotates in the WIDE direction (reverse direction), it stops after rotating in the forward direction for a while. It is intended to remove the mechanical reverse rotation from the barrel block 1 and the finder 2 such that this momentary rotation eliminates the difference between the stop positions of the motor 5 when rotating in the WIDE and TELE directions, respectively.

(4) If the setting of mode switch 101 is changed from LOCK or MACRO to ZOOM position:

a) if the switch 101 is changed from LOCK to ZOOM position, the motor 5 rotates in the forward direction, and

b) If the switch 101 is changed from MACRO to ZOOM position, the motor 5 rotates in the reverse direction and the switch stops at the last lens position previously changed from ZOOM to LOCK position.

The operation when the zoom switch 101 moves from MACRO to ZOOM includes an operation in which the above-mentioned reverse rotation is removed.

Also in this embodiment, since the lens position is detected in a stepped pattern (there are 13 steps from 0 to C), for example, the specific lens position value for POS = 5 does not set the only lens position. For this reason, when any lens position is restored in the range of POS = 2 to A, the zoom motor 5 stops at the change point, whereby the lens is returned precisely to a position very close to it, not to the initial position.

The overall control system of the camera including the above-described control will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 51 and 52.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 51 is essentially the same as the flowchart described and described with respect to the previous embodiment except for the processing added between S9 and S12 of the previous three embodiments, so as to implement a unique operation in this embodiment.

After POS conversion in S9C, S10C is condition 2 POS Test A. If the condition is true, S11C shifts the POS value and stores it in a register (pos) in the CPU or RAM. If it is POSA or POS2, the process jumps from S10C to S12C without storing the POS value. Periodic execution of the processing in S10C and S11C stores the current lens position within the zoom range of the zoom lens each time the program returns to S2C. In a preferred embodiment, the initial Mpos value is set to Mpos = 2 by position.

[Mode Subroutine of Example 4]

Referring to the flowchart of the mode subroutine in FIG. 52, the CPU of the ZM / C 100 processes each of S150C to S161C similar to S130 to S141 of the previous embodiment, depending on the mode set by the setting of the mode switching switch. Run

If the mode switching switch 101 is set to ZOOM, the S162C indicates that the current position of the cam ring is larger than the focal-distance step occupied by the cam ring when the result of the POS conversion of S142C is POSMpos, that is, step S11C. Test for closer to termus. If POSMpos, processing proceeds to S163C, but POS If (Mpos), the process goes to S173C.

If POS (Mpos), S163C tests whether the zoom motor 5 rotates in the forward direction. If so, the process jumps to S165C; Otherwise, S164C reverses the rotation of the motor to operate the motor in the forward direction.

Processing similar to S8C and S9C in FIG. 51 is executed in S165C and S166C. Thereafter, it is determined whether the setting of the mode switching switch 101 is changed from ZOOM to LOCK or MACRO according to the switch scan of S167C and S168C to S165C. If the switch 101 is changed to LOCK, the process returns to S154C; If the switch is changed to MACRO, the process returns to S158C. If the switch position remains in the ZOOM, processing proceeds to S169C.

S169C tests whether the POS conversion result in S166C is POS = Mpos (that is, returned to the position where the cam ring is stored). If POS ≠ Mpos, the process returns to S165C. If POS = Mpos, the process proceeds to S170C and stops further rotation of the zoom motor 5 because the cam ring is returned to the stored position.

S171C tests whether the result of POS conversion in S166C is POS = 2. If POS = 2, the cam ring stops at the wide angle terminal; In this case, the wide angle terminator flag Wide is set to 1 and the process returns to S2C in FIG. If POS ≠ 2, the process immediately returns to S2C and sets the flag.

If the result of the test in S162C is POSMpos, the process proceeds to S173C to test whether the zoom motor 5 is in reverse rotation. If so, processing proceeds to S175C; Otherwise, the motor 5 rotates in the reverse direction, S174C reverses the motor to operate in the reverse direction, and then processing proceeds to S175C.

In S175C and S176C, processing similar to S8C and S9C in FIG. 51 is executed; In S177C and S178C, processing similar to S167C and S168C is executed.

If the position (mode) of the mode switching switch 101 is set to ZOOM, S179C determines whether the result of the POS conversion in S176C is POS = Mpos-1, that is, the current position of the cam ring is the focal-distance step of the cam ring. Tests whether is at the focal-distance step closer to the WIDE angular term than is stored in the Mpos of the S11C. If POS? Mpos-1, the process returns to S175C, and the loops S175C to S179C are repeatedly executed until POS = Mpos-1. When POS = Mpos-1, S180C executes waiting processing for tmsec for the reasons described above; The process then proceeds to S164C. Thereafter, POS = Mpos is obtained by performing the processing of S164C to S172C. The cam ring then returns to the memorized position after moving the position in the forward direction.

In this embodiment, the TELE subroutine and the WIDE subroutine are the same as each subroutine of the first embodiment. For this reason, no further explanation is necessary.

[Operation of Embodiment 4]

The processing results of S1C to S24C in FIGS. 51 and 52 will be described later. However, description of the processing having the same operation as that of the counterpart of the previous embodiment is omitted.

(1) The battery 106 is connected and none of the following switches are operated: the winding motor control switch 119, the shutter release button 99, and the zoom switch 102.

a) If the mode switching switch 101 is in the LOCK position, the first loop is executed as in clause a) in the description of the first to third embodiments.

b) If the mode switching switch 101 is changed from the LOCK to the ZOOM position, the CPU of the CM / C 100 exits the above first loop and proceeds to S16C. Since POS = 0, the process proceeds to S19C to forwardly rotate the zoom motor 5, and then branches to the WIDE subroutine (FIG. 52) to execute the processes (S150C, S153C, and S162C to S163C, S165C, and S166C). do. Under the condition that the mode switching switch 101 is not moved from ZOOM to LOCK or MACRO in S167C and S168C, the loop processing (S169C, S165C and S168C) causes the cam ring to run until the motor is POS = Mpos. S170C then stops zoom motor 5, and the process returns to S2C in FIG. 51 through S171C or S171C and S172C. When shipped from the factory, divalent Mpos is remembered. Then, when the camera is used for the first time after shipment from the factory, the cam ring 14 is driven with a wide angle termus (POS = 2) with focal length fo at POS = ψ. When the camera is next used, the cam ring is driven to the zoomed position in the last zoom mode (i.e., the position stored in register (Mpos) in S11) at POS = ψ. After the CPU of the ZM / C returns to S2C, each processing of the second processing loops (S4C, S8C to S12C, S16C, S17C, S20C, S22C, S24C and S4C) is repeated under the condition that no control of the camera is changed. do. However, since the POS data remains unchanged through any range of zoom positions, the previous zoom position does not always exactly match the stop position obtained under the stop control of the POS data change point based on the Mpos value. But the error is only small; If the cam ring returns to a position very close to the previous zoom position, the zoom position very close to the photographer's choice automatically determines the use of the camera very conveniently.

c) If the mode switching switch 101 is changed from ZOOM to MACRO position under the condition that the cam ring 14 is located at the wide end, the result is the same as in section c) described in the previous embodiment.

d) If the mode switch 101 is changed from MACRO to ZOOM position, the CPU of the ZM / C 100 causes the processing to exit the loop at S12C and proceed to S16C. Since POS = C, the process of S17C is executed, the process proceeds to S14C, and the zoom motor 5 is instructed to rotate in the reverse direction. Processing then branches to the mode subroutine of FIG. 52 and proceeds through S151C to S153C. If the switch 101 is in the ZOOM position, processing proceeds to S162C, S173C, S175C, and S176C. After executing S177C and S178C, the loops S175C, S176C to S179C are repeatedly executed until POS = Mpos-1. When POS = Mpos-1, S180C causes the motor to continue to rotate in the reverse direction for a time of tmsec before S164C reverses the rotation of the zoom motor 5, and to rotate in the forward direction.

The cam ring 14 stops as soon as it reaches a position corresponding to POS = Mpos from a position corresponding to POS = Mpos-1. When the zoom motor 5 rotates in the reverse direction to drive the cam ring from POS = A to POS = Mpos and stops at POS = Mpos-1 before being forward driven to POS = Mpos, the zoom motor 5 drives the cam ring. Note that in transmission systems that can be stopped without removing reverse rotation of gears, etc. However, the processing of S180C and S164C causes the zoom motor 5 to continue to operate in reverse rotation for the tmsec time of the detection of the next POS = Mpos-1 before the rotation of the motor is reversed, and the motor 5 moves the POS during forward rotation. The cam ring is returned to a position corresponding to = Pos and can be stopped at a position that eliminates reverse rotation of the forward rotation. After the completion of the processing of S164C, the processing loops of S165C to S169C are repeatedly executed until POS = Mpos; Thereafter, the zoom motor 5 stops at S170C, and processing proceeds to S2C in FIG. 51 through S171C or S171C and S172C. Then, the cam ring 14 stops at the wide angle termus Pos if no zooming operation is performed after the camera is shipped from the factory. If the zooming operation has been previously performed, the cam ring will stop at the previous zoom position stored in Mpos. The zoom position at which the cam ring stops based on Mpos is not always consistent with the previous zoom position, but is very close as described above. After the CPU of the ZM / C 100 returns to S2C as in section b) above, each loop executed during the aforementioned second loop is repeated under the condition that no switch setting is changed.

When the process proceeds from S162C to S173C because the mode switching switch 101 has been changed from MACRO to ZOOM position, caming at a position corresponding to POSA during execution of the loops (S151C to S153C to S158C, S160C, S161C and S151C). The above processing also takes place when the mode switching switch 101 is changed to the ZOOM position during this position. However, in this case, when the processing of S174C rotates the motor in the reverse direction, the zoom motor 5 is rotating in the forward direction.

e) If the mode switching switch 101 is changed from ZOOM to MACRO position under the condition that the cam ring 14 stops at POS = A, the same processing described in the above section c) is performed without the starting point POS = 2. It will be executed, except that it corresponds to = A.

f) If, in the tests of S167C, S168C, S177C, and S178C in Figure 52 with reference to paragraphs b) and d), the mode changeover switch 101 indicates a change in the ZOOM position to the LOCK or MACRO position, The processing executed is as described in connection with the previous embodiment.

g) If the cam ring is positioned at POS = 1 during the loop processing S151C to S156C and S151C in FIG. 52, after the mode switching switch 101 is changed from LOCK to ZOOM, the CPU of the ZM / C 100 is S162C. The process proceeds from S153C to S164C through S163C, and the motor 5 receives a rotation command in the forward direction. Subsequent processing is then as described in section d).

(2) If the winding motor control switch is operated while the CPU of the ZM / C 100 executes any of the various loops described above, the result is as described above in connection with the previous embodiment.

(3) When the zoom switch 102 is changed to the TELE side while the CPU of the ZM / C 100 executes the above-described second loop, the result is as described in section (3) of the first embodiment.

Cam ring 14 has zoom range (2 POS 4) When the CPU returns to the above-described second loop after stopping at any control in 4), if the result data indicating the zoom position (lens position) is stored in the register (Mpos) in S11C, the current position of the cam ring is the next zoom. It becomes the initial zoom position during the mode operation.

(4) If the zoom switch 102 is changed to the WIDE side while the CPU of the ZM / C 100 executes the second loop, the result of the processing to be executed is described in section (4) of the first embodiment. Same as If the CPU returns to the second loop described above after the cam ring 4 stops at an arbitrary position within the zoom range 2 * POS * A, the POS data indicating the zoom position is stored in the register (Mpos) at S11C. I remember.

(5) If the mode switching switch 101 is changed from ZOOM to LOCK and back to ZOOM, or from ZOOM to MACRO and back to ZOOM, the cam ring 14 moves as shown in FIG.

In the fourth embodiment, the data 2 POS A) is stored in a register (pos) in the CPU or RAM. However, this embodiment may also be configured to be stored in a non-volatile memory such as an E ² PROM to preserve data when the battery 106 is removed from the camera.

The various embodiments described above use the TELE terminus position as a reference to emphasize that reverse rotation is eliminated when the rotation of the motor changes from reverse to forward. However, the invention may also be configured such that reverse rotation is eliminated when the rotation of the zoom motor 5 changes from forward to reverse using WIDE termination as reference.

Also in the first and fourth embodiments, the power supply of the lens can be set continuously instead of just steps, such as f2 to f7; Other types of position detectors, such as potentiometers that detect continuous values, may be used. The extra time of tmsec in which the zoom motor operates in the reverse direction to ensure reverse removal has an absolute value dependent on practical conditions such as the precision of the mechanical coupling between the motor and the cam ring, ie the actual amount of focal-distance step. The stop time of t'msec, which is the time that the cam ring pauses between stepping from one focus-distance step to the next in the second to fourth embodiments, provides more time to determine whether the photographer has a correctly constructed subject. Or it relies on a design that takes into account the desire for fast scanning of the zoom range.

Claims (32)

A zoom lens having a focal length that is variable within a predetermined range bounded by first and second extreme focal length positions; Means for driving the zoom lens to a selected focal length position and at least two extreme focal length positions within the range; First control means for controlling the driving means to move the zoom lens to a selected focal length position within the range; And second control means for controlling the driving means for selectively moving the zoom lens to each of the two extreme focal length positions. The zoom lens of claim 1, wherein the driving means comprises a motor. 2. A zoom lens having a variable focal length according to claim 1, wherein said first control means comprises a first switch means. 4. The variable focus distance of claim 3, wherein the first switch means comprises a plurality of switches including at least two separate switches for moving the lens to the two extreme focal length positions and to a position therebetween. Having a zoom lens. 4. The variable focusing distance of claim 3, wherein the first switch means comprises a plurality of switches including at least one switch for moving the lens to the two extreme focal length positions and a position therebetween. zoom lens. The zoom lens of claim 1, wherein the second control means comprises a second switch means. 7. A variable focus according to claim 6, wherein the first extreme focal length position is an extreme wide angle position, and the second switch means consists of direct moving means of the zoom lens from the inoperative position to the extreme wide angle position. Zoom lens with distance. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second extreme focal length position is an extreme telephoto position, and the second switch means is further configured as a direct moving means of the zoom lens from the macro shooting position to the extreme telephoto position. Zoom lens with variable focal length. The zoom lens having a variable focal length according to claim 1, wherein said second control means includes means for moving said zoom lens to a photographing position with a macro located beyond one of said first and second extreme positions. The zoom lens of claim 1, wherein the zoom lens is combined with a camera. The zoom lens of claim 10, wherein the camera has a separate finder and a photographing optical axis. A zoom lens having at least one optical element mounted for movement along a predetermined range to change the variable focal length and the focal length of the zoom lens; Means for driving said at least one optical element to two positions within said range and defining opposite end points of said range, said at least one optical element driving motor for changing a focal length of said zoom lens; Switch means for controlling a motor and thereby selecting a focal length for said at least one optical element; One of the end positions of the range consists of means for selectively driving the at least one optical element directly or to a position within the range, the at least one optical element being selected at a selected focal length in the range including the two positions. And a means for controlling the motor in response to the switch means for driving. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said switch means comprises at least one first switch for moving said at least one optical element within said range and at least one for selectively moving said at least one optical element to each of said two positions. Zoom lens device, characterized in that consisting of the second switch. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the movement of the at least one optical element is selected by the switch means from the starting position determined by the position of said at least one element when the operator first operates the switch means to a final position determined by the switch means. And the control means further responds to the switch means for operating the motor such that the at least one element is always terminated after moving the at least one element to its final position in a predetermined direction irrespective of the focal length. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the switch means is individually selected by an operator who selects a zoom position and one operating position selectable by the operator and one end position of the range and the other operating position recognizes another end position of the range. And a mode switch having two selectable additional operating positions of the zoom lens device. 13. The zoom lens apparatus of claim 12, wherein the two positions are the end positions of the range, that is, the first is a wide angle position and the second is a tele position. 13. The zoom lens apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one optical element of the zoom lens is movable to a macro position beyond the telephoto end position. 13. The zoom lens apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the switch means has a macro photographing position selectable by an operator. The zoom lens device of claim 12, wherein the zoom lens device is coupled to a camera. 20. The zoom lens apparatus of claim 19, wherein the camera has a separate photographing finder and an optical axis. A power zoom device for continuously changing a focal length of a photographing optical system, wherein the focal length is changed for a drive source, and the device is (a) at least one position corresponding to the shortest or longest focal length of the system. Means for directly moving the system, the means for controlling movement of the photographing light system; And (b) the photographing light system comprises switch means operable to move directly to the at least one position. 22. The power zoom device according to claim 21, wherein the driving source is a motor. 22. The power zoom device of claim 21, wherein said at least one position is comprised of an extreme wide-angle position. 22. The power zoom device of claim 21, wherein said at least one position is comprised of an extreme telephoto position. 22. The power zoom device according to claim 21, wherein said switch means comprises a first switch composed of means for directly moving said photographing optical system to said shortest and longest focal length position. 27. The power zoom device of claim 25, wherein the first switch comprises means for moving the optical system from the inoperative shooting position to the shortest focal length position and from the macro shooting position to the longest focal length. 26. The power zoom device according to claim 25, wherein said first switch is unable to move said photographing optical system to a focal length position of a zoom range located between said shortest and said longest focal length positions. 26. The power zoom device of claim 25, wherein the first switch is further configured by means for moving the photographing light system to a position very close to and somewhat beyond the longest focal length position. 29. The power zoom device of claim 28, wherein said first switch comprises means for selectively moving said imaging optical system only to one of said shortest focal length, longest focal length or very close position. 29. The power zoom device according to claim 28, wherein said very adjacent and somewhat beyond position constitutes a macro shooting position. 22. The power zoom device of claim 21, coupled with a camera. 32. The power zoom device of claim 31, wherein the camera has a separate finder and a photographing optical axis.