JPH0823647B2 - camera - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a camera information setting device that sets shooting information such as shutter speed.

(Background of the Invention) Conventionally, as this type of device, a sliding resistor or a dial incorporating a substrate on which a code value of 4 to 5 bits is patterned is used. For example, shutter speed is 1 / 125,1. You want to increase the currently displayed set value, such as setting the engraved value by adjusting it to a specified position with a dial in which the discrete value is engraved for each step such as / 250, 1/500. When the UP button or the DOWN button is pressed depending on whether the value is desired to be reduced, the counter output that stores the information for each stage as described above changes, and the set value displayed is sequentially changed, and the desired set value is displayed. It has been proposed that the user should stop pressing the button when the message is given.

Each of these conventional devices has a configuration in which information can be set for each stage. For a normal user, if information can be set for each stage, there will be almost no problem. However, this is not enough for professional or professional photographers, and there is a strong demand for setting every 1/2 step or 1/3 step, for example. In order to meet such a demand, the former type is provided with a setting dial for setting a certain number of stages, for example, 1/2 stage or 1/3 stage, in addition to the setting dial for setting each stage. Type is 1
In the counter that stores the information for each stage, 1/2 more or 1
It is conceivable to store the information for every / 3 steps and select the desired set value from them. However, these methods require a large space and cannot be applied to cameras that require compactness.
Since a desired setting value has to be selected from a lot of information, the operation is very troublesome for an ordinary user who needs little special information.

(Object of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to solve the above problems, one of a large value and a small value as a unit of a photographing information value to be changed without causing problems such as enlargement and deterioration of operability. An object of the present invention is to provide a camera capable of updating the shooting information value for each selected value.

(Characteristics of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a manual operation means for setting shooting information by a manual operation, and a counting operation in response to a count signal formed by the operation of the manual operation means. In a camera that includes a counter unit that performs an operation and a computer circuit that inputs a count value of the counter unit, the computer circuit performs a substantial addition process to the count value, and sets the shooting information in the camera, A first mode in which a first value as a shooting information value with respect to a change in value per unit amount is set as an update value and addition processing is performed, and a second value smaller than the first value is set as an update value. And a second mode for performing addition processing as a processing mode of the computer circuit, and the processing mode is selected by the selection means. It is characterized in that the count value of the counter means is repeatedly transferred to the computer circuit, the counter means is reset every time the count value is transferred to the computer circuit, and a counting operation is performed after reset.

(Examples of the Invention) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on illustrated examples.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numeral 1 is a battery as a power source, 2 is a ROM storing a camera control program, and RAM for storing various data (RAM 1 to
A microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) that controls the entire camera having a built-in 13), 3 is a clock oscillation circuit that generates a reference clock of the microcomputer 2, 4 is a reset circuit that resets the microcomputer 2 when the power is turned on, 5 Drives the LCD (liquid crystal) display 6 based on the data sent from the microcomputer 2 via the data bus DBUS, and the LCD display 6 is set by the photographer such as shutter speed, shooting mode, etc. A drive circuit for displaying information, 7 drives an LED display 8 based on the data sent from the microcomputer 2 via the data bus DBUS, and causes the LED display 8 to display information such as the focus state of the lens. The drive circuit 9 is based on the data sent from the microcomputer 2 via the address data bus DBUS designated by the address bus ABUS.
AF control magnet 10, quick return mirror control magnet 11, shutter front curtain holding magnet 12, shutter rear curtain holding magnet 13, shutter / AE mechanical charging motor 14, film winding motor 15, film rewinding motor 16 is a drive control circuit that controls the drive of the LCD lamp 16 and the LCD illumination lamp 17.

18 is selected from the photometry circuit 19 for average photometry, the photometry circuit 20 for partial photometry, or the photometry output obtained by the photometry circuit 21 for spot photometry based on the address designated by the address bus ABUS from the microcomputer 2. The A / D conversion circuit outputs the result to the microcomputer 2 via the data bus DBUS. Here, the photometric circuits 19 to 21
Is composed of, for example, an SPC, a MOS amplifier, and a logarithmic compression diode, and the photometric circuit 19 is used for average photometry.
20 is used for partial photometry, and the photometry circuit 21 is used for spot photometry. 22 is an up / down counter for transmitting the shift amount of the photographing information to the microcomputer 2,
A switch that turns on and off in conjunction with dial operation (not shown)
The count contents up or down depending on the signals from 23 and 24. The switch 23 is an up / down counter 22.
The switch 24 is for setting the up or down count mode, and the switch 24 generates a signal of 1 pulse when the dial is clicked in one of the rotating directions to increase the count content by "1" or It has a function to bring down.

25 is a metering switch, 26 is a release switch, 27 is a switch that is turned on when film winding is completed, and turned off when mechanical charging of a shutter or the like is completed, 28 is an AE mode setting switch, 29
Is a metering mode setting switch, 30 is a film sensitivity setting switch, 31 is a continuous shooting single shooting switching switch that is on during continuous shooting and is off during single shooting, 32 is a switch that is turned on when release is completed, and is turned off when AE mechanical shutter charge is completed , 33 is a multiplex shooting mode setting switch, 34 is a switch that outputs a 4-bit signal indicating the open F value of the lens, 35 is a switch that outputs a number of pulses according to the driving amount of the aperture, and 36 is the AE mode of the lens In the case of, a switch is turned off in the case of, and a switch is turned on in the case of manual, 37 is a switch for selecting lighting or non-lighting of the LCD lighting lamp 17 for illuminating the LCD display 6, and 38 is a set number of steps at the shutter speed in the shutter priority mode. This is a switch for instructing (one or one half in this embodiment).

40 is a signal line for transmitting a read signal output when the microcomputer 2 receives data from another circuit via the data bus DBUS to the other circuit, and 42 is a signal line for the microcomputer 2 to another circuit via the data bus DBUS. A signal line for transmitting a write signal to be output when transmitting data to the other circuit, 42 is a signal line for transmitting a clock signal output from the microcomputer 2 to each circuit in order to take the cycle of the entire circuit,
Reference numeral 43 is a signal line for transmitting a reset signal output from the microcomputer 2 to each circuit in order to reset the entire circuit.

The RAM built in the microcomputer 2 corresponds to RAMs 1 to 13 as shown in FIG. 2, and corresponds to AE mode, photometric mode, ISO sensitivity, frame number, multiplex number setting value, aperture setting value, Shutter-second setting, subject brightness A /
D-converted value, calculated aperture value, calculated shutter speed, aperture control step number, multiple exposure remaining exposure, multiple flags,
The magic flag is stored by an 8-bit signal. Here, the multiple flag is "0" when the film is unexposed, that is, when the film is set to the multiplex mode but no photographing is performed, and when the film is exposed, that is, the photographing is performed once. Will be "1". The magic flag is a flag that indicates whether or not the magic shooting in which the exposure information such as the aperture value and the shutter speed is automatically shifted when the subject is too bright or too dark is performed.

Next, the operation will be described. In a steady state in which power is supplied to each circuit of the camera from the battery 1 and the shooting operation is not performed, the switch 27 is turned off because the film winding to the predetermined position is completed. In this state, the microcomputer 2 displays the LCD as shown in the third (1).
The display 6 displays information such as the number of shots, AE mode, film presence and winding completion, shutter speed, and photometric mode. The microcomputer 2 is a switch interface
The states of the switches 25 to 33 are sequentially and repeatedly detected via 39, and whether or not the content of the up / down counter 22 has changed from "0" is repeatedly detected. This state is hereinafter referred to as a standby mode.

Next, the operation when the microcomputer 2 detects that the AE mode setting switch 28 is turned on in this state will be described.
Each RAM is set to a predetermined state, and the content of RAM1 before the AE mode setting switch 28 is turned on is, for example, "1".
Is set to. The relationship between the contents of the RAM1 and the setting mode is as shown in FIG. 4, which means that the shutter priority mode is set. When detecting that the AE mode setting switch 28 is turned on, the microcomputer 2 sends RA
The contents of M1 are output to the drive circuit 5 via the data bus DBUS, and the LCD display 6 is caused to display "TV" shown in FIG. 3 (2). When a dial (not shown) is rotated from this state, the switches 23 and 24 are repeatedly turned on and off in conjunction with this. Here, the input signals A and B to the up / down counter 22 accompanying the turning on / off of the switches 23 and 24 have a waveform as shown in FIG. 5 (1) when the dial is rotated to the right, and to the left. When rotated, the waveform becomes as shown in FIG. 5 (2). Therefore, for example, if the dial (not shown) is rotated rightward by three clicks, the up / down counter 22 performs an up-counting operation and sets the count content to "3". As described above, the microcomputer 2 repeatedly detects whether or not the content of the up / down counter 22 has changed from "0". The microcomputer 2 fetches the count value of the up / down counter 22 at each detection. , Reset. Therefore, when the count value reaches "3", the up / down counter 22 is reset. At this time, since the AE mode setting switch 28 is turned on as described above, the count value is added to the content "1" of the RAM1, so that the content becomes "4", that is, the normal program, and the LCD
The display on the display 6 is as shown in FIG.

If the dial is rotated further to the right, a signal as shown in FIG. 5 (1) is generated, the up / down counter 22 performs an up-counting operation, and the count value is stored in the RAM 1 by the microcomputer 2. Is added to the contents of. The contents of RAM1 at this time are "4" → "5" → "1" →
It changes cyclically like “2” → “2” → “3”. When the AE mode is Normal Program, the above AE
When the M mode setting switch 28 is turned off, the microcomputer 2 resets the count content of the up / down counter 22 to "0" and then returns to the standby mode. At this time, the display on the LCD display 6 is as shown in FIG.

Next, the operation when the microcomputer 2 detects that the photometric mode setting switch 29 is turned on will be described.
When it is detected that the photometry mode setting switch 29 is turned on, the microcomputer 2 outputs the contents of RAM2 to the drive circuit 5 via the data bus DBUS, and FIG. 3 (4) corresponding to the contents.
~ LCD display 6 to display the metering mode as shown in Fig. 3 (6)
Let it be done. In Fig. 3 (4), the average metering mode is
FIG. 5 (5) shows the respective display modes when the partial metering mode and the spot metering mode (6) are respectively measured. The relationship between the contents of the RAM2 and the photometric mode is the fourth.
Shown in the figure. Here, as in the case of the AE mode setting described above, when the dial rotation operation (not shown) is performed to change the photometric mode, the count value of the up / down counter 22 changes and the content is added to the content of RAM2. The metering mode corresponding to the contents of RAM2 can be set. RAM2 for example
When it is detected that the photometry mode switch 29 is turned off after setting the content of "2" to "2", the microcomputer 2 finishes the above operation, resets the up-down counter 22 and returns to the standby mode, and the LCD display 6 displays Content of RAM2 "2"
The AE mode corresponding to, that is, the normal program display (see FIG. 3 (7)) is performed.

Next, the operation when it is detected that the film sensitivity setting switch 30 is turned on will be described. When it is detected that the film sensitivity setting switch 30 is turned on, the microcomputer 2 outputs the contents of RAM3 to the drive circuit 5 via the data bus DBUS, and corresponds to the contents, for example, in the photometry mode as shown in FIG. 3 (8). The LCD display 6 is made to display. Also in this case, as in the case of setting each mode, when the rotating operation of the dial (not shown) is performed, the count value of the up / down counter 22 changes, and the content is added to the content of RAM3 to correspond to the content of RAM3. The film sensitivity can be set. For example
When it is detected that the film sensitivity setting switch 30 is turned off after setting the content of RAM3 to "3", the microcomputer 2 finishes the above operation, resets the up / down counter 22 and returns to the standby mode, and the LCD display 6 The film sensitivity corresponding to the content "3" of the RAM3, that is, "ISO100" is displayed (see FIG. 3 (8)).

Next, the setting of the shutter speed in the TV priority mode will be described. When the camera is in the standby mode and the display state of the LCD display 6 is as shown in FIG. 3 (1) (shutter speed is 1/125 second), the dial (not shown) is rotated leftward by one click. Then, the up-down counter 22 performs a down-count operation and sets the count content to "-1". Microcomputer 2 is up / down counter 22
When it is detected that the contents of (1) have changed and at this time that the other switches have not changed, the shutter speed setting operation is performed. That is, the microcomputer 2 first reads and stores the count content "-1" of the up / down counter 22. Next, the state of the switch 38 is detected, and if the switch 38 is off, the count content is multiplied by 8
The value "-8" is added to the content "88" (see FIG. 4) of RAM7 corresponding to 5 seconds, and the result is stored again in RAM7.
Therefore, the shutter speed in this case is 1/60 second, and LC
The display on the D display 6 is as shown in FIG.
On the contrary, if the switch 38 is turned on, the count content is multiplied by 4, the value "-4" is added to the content "88" of the RAM 7 at this time, and the result is stored again in the RAM 7. Therefore, the shutter speed in this case is "1/90 second", and the display on the LCD display 6 is as shown in FIG. 3 (10).

As can be seen from the above, if the switch 38 is off, the shutter speed changes every step, and if the switch 38 is on, the shutter speed changes every half step. A detailed description will be given later according to the flowchart of FIG. 6-2.

Next, the control of the LCD lighting lamp 17 by the microcomputer 2 will be described. As described above, the microcomputer 2 detects that the state of each switch has changed, and performs various information settings, display changes or operation control such as photometry and release.
When the switch is turned on, the LCD illumination lamp 17 is turned on via the drive control circuit 9 and is turned off when turned off. Further, the microcomputer 2 keeps the LCD illumination lamp 17 lit for a predetermined time, for example, 1 second, and keeps it unlit after a predetermined time, for example, 1 second, after performing the above-mentioned information setting, display change or operation control such as photometry and release.

Next, the flowchart of FIGS. 6-1 and 6-2 will be described. In FIG. 6-1, when the battery 1 is put into the camera, the microcomputer 2 starts its operation, and the switch 37
(Step), the process proceeds to step if the switch 37 is off, and to step if on.
In the step, after turning off the lamp 17 for LCD lighting,
Go to step. Lamp for LCD lighting in step 17
After turning on, proceed to the step. In the step, a timer built in the microcomputer 2, for example, a 1 second timer is operated, and the process proceeds to the step. In step, the set state of the camera is displayed on the LCD display 6, and the process proceeds to step. In the step, a change in the state of the switches 25 to 33 and 36 is detected, and when the change is detected, the process jumps to a program for performing each process. If there is no change in each switch, proceed to step. In the step, check whether the count value of the up / down counter 22 has changed,
If it is "0", the process proceeds to step. If it is not "0", the process proceeds to the dial mode process (described in FIG. 6-2). In the step, the operation check of the 1-second timer is performed. If the 1-second timer is operating, the process proceeds to step. If the 1-second timer is not operating, the process proceeds to step, and the LCD lighting lamp 17 is turned off, and then the process returns to the step again. In the step, the state of the switch 37 is detected, and if it is on, the process returns to the step. If it is off, the process proceeds to the step.
After 7 is turned off, the process proceeds to the step. After the 1 second timer is turned off, the process returns to the step.

When it is detected that any one of the switches 25 to 33 and 36 is turned on in the step, and when the content of the up-down counter 22 is not "0" in the step, it is shown in FIG. 6-2. The dial mode processing after the step is performed.

In step, the mode is checked, and if it is the shutter priority mode, the process proceeds to step. If it is another mode, the process proceeds to those processes. In steps 1 to 3, the state of the switch 37 is detected, and if it is off, the LCD lighting lamp 17
Is turned off, and if it is turned on, it is turned on and the process proceeds to step. In the step, the count value of the up / down counter 22 is read and stored in the register B in the microcomputer 2, and then the process proceeds to the step, where the up / down counter is
Reset 22 and go to step. In the step, the state of the switch 38 for setting the number of steps of the shutter speed is detected, and if it is off, the process proceeds to the step of changing the shutter speed for each step. Conversely, if it is on, 1 / shutter speed
Proceed to the step of changing every two steps. In the step, the value of the register B is multiplied by 8, the value is stored in the register C, and then the process proceeds to the step. In the step, the value of the register B is multiplied by 4, the value is stored in the register C, and then the process proceeds to the step. In the step, the value of the register C (the number of steps after the shutter speed is changed) and the contents of the RAM 7 (the contents corresponding to the shutter speed that has been set up to now) are added, the value is stored in the RAM 7, and the process proceeds to the step. From step to step, it is checked whether the value in the RAM 7 is a settable value, the upper limit value and the lower limit value are checked based on the sign of the register B, and if the limit value is exceeded, the upper limit value (execution) is executed. In the example, 1/400 second) or the lower limit (8 in the example)
Sec)). If the limit value is not exceeded, the shutter speed corresponding to the contents of RAM 7 is set as described above. After that, the process proceeds to the step, the newly set shutter speed value is displayed on the LCD display 6, and the process returns to the standby mode. In standby mode, as described above, LC
When the D-illumination lamp 17 is turned on, the 1-second timer operates and the lamp 17 is kept on for a certain period of time, so that the changed information can be viewed even in a dark place.

According to this embodiment, by detecting ON / OFF of the switch 38, the count content of the up / down counter 22 corresponding to the count value “1” corresponding to 1/8 stage is multiplied by 4 or 8 and the RAM 7 is calculated based on the result. Since the shutter speed is selected more, it is possible to set information according to an arbitrary number of steps, such as 1/2 step or 1 step.

Further, since the shutter speed can be changed step by step or step by step only by newly providing the switch 38, the apparatus does not become large and the compactness of the camera can be maintained. . Further, when it is not necessary to change every 1/2 step, it is only necessary to operate the switch 38, so there is the trouble that a desired set value must be selected from a lot of information. It will become a camera that is easy to use, not only for ordinary users but also for professional photographers.

(Correspondence between Invention and Embodiment) In this embodiment, the switches 23 and 24 are the manual operation means of the present invention, the up / down counter 22 is the counter means, the microcomputer 2 is the computer circuit, and the switch 38 is the selection means. Equivalent to.

(Modification) In the present embodiment, the shutter speed is changed for each arbitrary number of steps, such as 1/2 step or 1 step.
The invention is not limited to this, and the aperture value or the exposure correction value may be changed for each arbitrary number of steps. Although the up / down counter 22 is used, it may be an up counter or a down counter. Further, the number of stages that can be changed is set to 1/2 stage and 1 stage, but for example, another switch may be arranged to make it finer such as 1/3 stage, 1/2 stage, 1 stage, Conversely, it may be increased to 1/2 step or 2 steps so that information can be set more quickly.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, a first mode in which a first value as shooting information for a change in count value per unit amount is set as an update value and addition processing is performed,
A second mode in which a second value smaller than the first value is set as an update value and an addition process is performed is provided as a processing mode of the computer circuit, and the processing mode is selected by the selecting means. It is possible to update the shooting information value for each selected value of the large value and the small value as the unit of the shooting information value to be changed, without causing problems such as upsizing and deterioration of operability. Further, the count value of the counter means is repeatedly transferred to the computer circuit, and the counter means is reset each time the count value is transferred to the computer circuit so that the count operation is performed after resetting. Even if one of the above is used, a large value can be set as the shooting information value set as a result.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing allocation of RAM built in the microcomputer 2 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a table of the LCD display 6 of FIG. Figure showing an example,
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the correspondence between the contents of the RAM built in the microcomputer of FIG. 1 and the shooting information, and FIG. 5 is the switch 2 of FIG.
The figure which shows the signal waveform when 3,24 is turned on and off, 6-1 and 6
-2 is a program flow chart of the microcomputer 2 of FIG. 1 ... Battery, 2 ... Microcomputer, 6 ... LCD display, 17 ...
… LCD lighting lamp, 23,24 …… switch, 25 ～ 38 …… switch, 39 …… switch interface, DBUS …… data bus.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A manual operation means for manually setting photographing information, a counter means for performing a counting operation in response to a count signal formed by the operation of the manual operation means, and a count of the counter means. A camera circuit for inputting a value, wherein the computer circuit performs a substantial addition process on the count value and sets the shooting information, in a camera, as a shooting information value with respect to a change per unit amount of the count value. A first mode in which a first value of is set as an update value and addition processing is performed, and a second mode in which a second value smaller than the first value is set as an update value and addition processing is performed, It is provided as a processing mode of the computer circuit, the processing mode is selected by the selecting means, and the count value of the counter means is repeated. Causes transfers the serial computer circuitry, resets said counter means every transfer to the computer circuitry of the count value, characterized in that to perform a reset after counting camera.