JPH08271954A - camera - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] (Correction) [Problem] To prevent unnecessary battery consumption by prohibiting light emission for red-eye prevention when the main flash device is not fully charged. An electronic flash device having a flash command output means for outputting a flash command, a main capacitor, and illuminating an object with illumination light by causing a light emitting tube to emit light by a charge stored in the main capacitor in response to the main flash command; Based on the above, it is determined whether or not red-eye has occurred, and if it is determined that red-eye has occurred, a red-eye prevention unit that outputs a red-eye prevention command, and a red-eye prevention arc tube that emits light to illuminate the subject with red-eye prevention irradiation light Light emitting device, a first charge state detecting means for detecting a charge state of the main capacitor and outputting a first charge completion signal when the charge is completed, and the red-eye prevention command and the main flash command when the release operation is performed. Out It is.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a red-eye prevention control device for preventing the red-eye phenomenon during flash photography.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The red-eye phenomenon means that a human eye shines red or gold in color photography using an electronic flash device. This phenomenon occurs when the flash of the light emitting portion of the electronic flash device that has passed through the pupil of the eye is reflected by the retina and the reflected light is reflected on the film. There are many capillaries in the retina of the eye, and the hemoglobin in the blood is red, so the reflected light appears reddish.

It has been empirically found that the red-eye phenomenon remarkably appears in photographs under the following conditions. 1) When the photographing environment is dark The size of the pupil of the human eye changes depending on the ambient brightness, and when it is dark, the diameter thereof expands to about 7 to 8 mm. At this time, since the amount of incident light and the amount of reflected light on the eye are large, the red eye phenomenon is naturally conspicuous. 2) When the distance between the light emitting part of the electronic flash device and the optical axis of the photographing lens is short The retina part of the eye has a considerably high reflectance and at the same time the directivity of reflection is also high. Therefore, if the light emitting part of the electronic flash device and the optical axis of the taking lens are close to each other, and there are three elements (light emitting part, taking lens, and eye) in a positional relationship in which specularly reflected light from the retina is likely to enter the taking lens as it is, the red eye Occurs strongly. That is, when the pupil of the person who is the subject sees the photographing lens and the light emitting portion of the flash light source at an angle smaller than a certain small angle, the red eye always occurs. Empirically, this angle is about 2-2.5 degrees. Therefore, if the light emitting section of the electronic flash device is separated from the optical axis of the photographing lens, the occurrence of red eye is prevented, but there is a limit due to the distance from the camera to the subject (hereinafter referred to as the subject distance), and the subject distance is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. It is difficult to avoid red eyes.

Therefore, a technique for preventing the red eye phenomenon has been conventionally known. For example, in the July 1952 issue of "psa JOURNAL", a method of accommodating the eyes in a bright environment before shooting and striking a flash with a pupil reduced to 3 mm or less to prevent red eyes is disclosed. There is. Further, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-48088, pre-irradiation by a preliminary irradiation lamp is carried out before photographing for a time required for closing the pupil, and the main flash device of the main flash device is provided when the pupil has a substantially minimum diameter. A technique is disclosed in which a light emitting unit emits light to take a photograph. Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-9130, two flash discharge tubes are provided, one discharge tube is pre-lighted to close the pupil, and then the second discharge tube is main-lighted (main flash). Then, a method of actually photographing is disclosed.

A camera provided with such a conventional device is usually provided with a lamp for detecting the charging state of the main flash device under the condition of flash photography and notifying the completion of charging. Therefore, generally, the camera operator confirms the completion of charging with the lamp and then performs the release operation.

However, there are cases where it is desired to perform the release operation before the completion of charging, and in a camera adopting the release priority system, flash photography is allowed by the release operation even if charging is not completed. On the other hand, there is a high possibility that the battery will be underexposed when the charging is not completed, so a camera that releases the lock before charging is also known.

On the other hand, as the above-mentioned pre-irradiation system,
(A) Press the release button halfway to emit light for pre-irradiation,
There are cameras that emit a main flash device for illuminating a subject with a subsequent full-press operation, and (b) a camera that emits light for pre-irradiation for the first time when the shutter release button is fully pressed and then emits the main flash device after a predetermined time has elapsed. . (C) Alternatively, an operation button for pre-irradiation, which is provided separately from the release button, is provided, and the illumination light for pre-irradiation is applied to the subject by the operation of this operation button prior to the release operation to reduce the pupil. A camera that performs a flash operation by performing a release operation is also known.

[0008]

However, in a release priority type camera, if the above-mentioned red-eye preventing pre-irradiation is always performed prior to the main flash during flash photography, the Even though the capacitor allows the photographing even if the charging is not completed, a time delay occurs from the pre-irradiation for red-eye prevention to the main flash, and there is a risk that the photo opportunity will be missed.

Further, even in a camera which is release-locked when charging is not completed, if the pre-irradiation method of the above (b) is adopted, the pre-irradiation is performed by pressing halfway though the release-lock is not performed and the photographing is not performed. , The battery will be uselessly consumed.
Also, in the case of adopting the pre-irradiation method of the above (c), the pre-irradiation is performed by the pre-irradiation operation member even though the release is locked, and the battery is wasted.

An object of the present invention is to prevent light emission for red-eye prevention so as not to miss a shutter chance when the main flash device is not fully charged, and prevent wasteful battery consumption. The present invention is to provide a red-eye prevention control device.

[0011]

The red eye prevention control device for a camera according to the invention of claim 1 has a flash command output means 101 for outputting a main flash command. , Having a main capacitor 10a,
The electronic flash device 10 that illuminates the subject with illumination light by causing the arc tube Xe1 to emit light by the charge stored in the main capacitor 10a in accordance with the main flash command, and whether or not red eye has occurred is determined based on shooting conditions, and red eye occurrence is determined. And a red-eye preventing arc tube X for outputting a red-eye preventing command.
A first charging state that detects the charging state of the red-eye preventing light-emitting device 11 that emits red light to illuminate the subject to emit red-eye preventing irradiation light and the main capacitor 10a, and outputs a first charging completion signal when charging is completed. When the detection means 103, the red-eye prevention command and the main flash command when the release operation is performed, and the first charging completion signal are output,
The red-eye prevention light-emitting device 11 is activated, and then the electronic flash device 10 is activated when a predetermined time has elapsed; the first-eye command is issued even if the red-eye prevention command and the main flash command are output when the release operation is performed. If the charging completion signal is not output, the above problem is solved by including the control means 104 that operates the electronic flash device 10 without operating the red-eye preventing light emitting device 11. Explaining with reference to FIG. 1 (b) which is a claim correspondence diagram, the red-eye prevention control device for a camera according to the invention of claim 3 has a main flash command output means 101 for outputting a main flash command, and a main capacitor 10a. An electronic flash device 10 for illuminating the subject with illumination light by causing the arc tube Xe1 to emit light by the charge stored in the main capacitor 10a according to the main flash command, a red-eye prevention command output means 202 for outputting a red-eye prevention command, and a red-eye prevention device. The red-eye prevention light-emitting device 11 that emits red-eye-prevention irradiation light to the subject by causing the arc tube Xe2 to emit light, and the charging state of the main capacitor 10a is detected, and a first charging completion signal is output when the charging is completed. Charge state detection means 103,
If the first charging completion signal is output when the red-eye prevention command is output, the operation of the red-eye prevention light emitting device 11 is permitted, and when the red-eye prevention command is output, the first charging completion signal is output. If not, the red-eye prevention light emitting device 11
The above-mentioned problem is solved by providing the control means 104 for prohibiting the operation of.

In the present invention, the red-eye preventing light emitting device 11 is operated under the condition that the red-eye preventing signal, the main flash command and the first charging completion signal are output, and so-called pre-irradiation is performed, and then When a predetermined time has elapsed, the electronic flash device 10 can be operated to perform flash photography. In the apparatus according to the first aspect, the presence / absence of red-eye occurrence is automatically determined on the camera side according to the shooting conditions.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

-First Embodiment- A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 2 showing the overall configuration, a lens drive circuit 2, a focus detection circuit 3, a photometric circuit 4, and a camera control circuit 5 are connected to the CPU 1 by a signal transmission line BL1. The focus detection circuit 3 has a pair of light receiving elements such as CCD, and forms a pair of subject images on these light receiving elements via the taking lens RE and a pair of lenses (not shown). A focus detection signal representing the amount of deviation between the image plane of the subject and the planned image plane and its direction is output to the CPU 1 based on the electric signal from the CPU 1. The photometric circuit 4 has a light receiving element that receives light from a subject, and outputs the output of this light receiving element to the CPU 1 as photometric data.

An exposure control device 6 such as a diaphragm and a shutter and a display device 7 such as a liquid crystal display are connected to the camera control circuit 5. The camera control circuit 5 causes the display device 7 to display information relating to shooting such as an exposure value and a shutter speed in response to a command from the CPU 1, and drives the exposure control device 6 to shoot.

A motor 9 for driving the focusing lens 8 is connected to the lens drive circuit 2, and the motor 9 is drive-controlled by the lens drive signal from the CPU 1 to drive the focusing lens 8 for focusing. Here, the lens drive signal is a signal formed by the CPU 1 based on the focus detection signal described above.

An external electronic flash device 10 and a red-eye preventing light emitting device 11 formed integrally with the electronic flash device 10 are connected to the CPU 1. The electronic flash device 10 controls the xenon tube Xe1 as a light emitting element, the main capacitor 10a that stores the charge for charging the xenon tube Xe1, the charging circuit 10b that charges the main capacitor 10a, and the start and end of light emission of the xenon tube Xe1. It has a light emitting circuit 10c. The charging circuit 10b has completed charging of the main capacitor 10a, and the xenon tube X
When the light emission of e1 becomes possible, the charge completion signal (first charge completion signal) is output to the CPU 1. When the charging completion signal is input, the CPU 1 causes the full-press switch S, which will be described later, to be pressed.
A light emission start signal is output to the light emitting circuit 10c when W2 is turned on. In response to this, the light emitting circuit 10b supplies the electric charge charged in the main capacitor 10a to the xenon tube Xe1 to start the emission of light from the xenon tube Xe1. Xenon tube Xe
The light emission amount of 1 is measured by the dimming circuit 12, and is input to the CPU 1 as dimming light emission data. This light-emission light amount data is compared with a reference light-emission amount determined by the film sensitivity, etc.
A light emission stop signal is input from U1 to the light emitting circuit 10c.
When this light emission stop signal is input from the CPU 1 to the light emitting circuit 10c, the light emitting circuit 10c cuts off the charging charge supplied to the xenon tube Xe1 and stops the light emission of the xenon tube Xe1.

The red-eye preventing light emitting device 11 has a xenon tube Xe2 for irradiating light for reducing the pupil of the human eye, a capacitor 11a, a charging circuit 11b for the same, and a light emitting circuit 11c for controlling the start of light emission. , When the operation signal is input from the CPU 1 to the light emitting circuit 10c, the xenon tube Xe2 emits light to perform so-called pre-irradiation. The charging circuit 11b has completed charging of the main capacitor 11a, and the xenon tube X
When the light emission of e2 becomes possible, the charge completion signal (second charge completion signal) is output to the CPU 1. When this charge completion signal is input, the CPU 1 causes the full-press switch S described later
A light emission start signal is output to the light emitting circuit 11c when W2 is turned on. In response to this, the light emitting circuit 11b supplies the charge charged in the main capacitor 11a to the xenon tube Xe2 to cause the xenon tube Xe2 to emit light.

Further, the CPU 1 is connected with a release switch SW which is interlocked with the operation of a release button (not shown). This release switch SW is a switch SW1, S
The switch SW1 is turned on when the release button is half pressed, and the switch SW2 is turned on when the release button is fully pressed. When the switch SW1 is turned on, the CPU 1 operates the focus detection circuit 3 and the photometric circuit 4 described above, and calculates the distance (distance information) D (FIG. 8) to the object from the focus detection signal input from the focus detection circuit 3. At the same time, the lens drive amount for guiding the focusing lens 8 to the in-focus position is calculated. Next, a lens drive signal is output to the lens drive circuit 2 for driving the focusing lens 8 to the in-focus position based on this lens drive amount. Also switch SW
When 1 is turned on, the subject brightness (luminance information) B is calculated based on the photometric data from the photometric circuit 4. After that, when the switch SW2 is turned on, the exposure control device 6 is driven through the camera control circuit 5 to perform photographing, and at this time, the electronic flash device 10 or the red-eye preventing light emitting device 11 is operated as necessary.

Further, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the photographing condition in which a red-eye phenomenon occurs as described later is based on the calculated subject distance D and subject brightness B during flash photographing.
Then, when it is determined that the shooting condition is such that red eye occurs, and the first charge completion signal is output, the red eye determination signal is output to set the red eye prevention mode, and in response to the switch SW2 being turned on. To activate the red-eye prevention light emitting device 11,
After 0.75 seconds have passed, the exposure control device 6 is driven via the camera control circuit 5 and the light emission circuit 1
A light emission start signal is output to 0c.

In the configuration of the above embodiment, the CPU
1 constitutes the main flash command output means 101, the red-eye determination means 102 and the control means 104, and the charging circuit 10b constitutes the first charging detection means 103.

Next, the procedure of control by the CPU 1 will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. When the half-push switch SW1 is turned on, the programs shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are started. First, in step S1 of FIG. 3, the memory is reset to the initial value and each circuit is reset. As a result, the focus detection circuit 3 and the photometric circuit 4 convert the detection result of each light receiving element into an electric signal and input it to the CPU 1. Then, the focus detection signal from the focus detection circuit 3 is read in step S2, the subject distance D is calculated in step S3, and the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the lens drive amount for guiding the focusing lens 8 to the in-focus position is calculated from the image shift amount and the shift direction obtained by the above-mentioned focus detection signal, and in step S5 the lens drive circuit 2 receives the lens. The drive signal is output and the focusing lens 8 is driven by the motor 9.
To the in-focus position.

Next, in step S6, the photometric data from the photometric circuit 4 is read, in step S7 the subject brightness B is calculated, and in step S8 of FIG. 4, the subject brightness B and the ISO sensitivity are calculated. The shutter speed and aperture value are calculated. These shutter speed and aperture value are output to the camera control circuit 5 in step S9. The camera control circuit 5 displays these values on the display device 7.

Next, in step S10, it is determined whether or not the electronic flash device 10 is used for photographing. This is for example
It is determined whether or not the use of the electronic flash device 10 is prohibited by an electronic flash device use prohibition switch (not shown), or whether it is necessary to use the electronic flash device 10 based on whether the subject brightness B is high or low. If step S10 is positive, the process proceeds to step S15, and if negative, step S1
In step 4, the red-eye prevention mode is released and the process returns to step S2. In step S15, charging of the main capacitor 10a of the electronic flash device 10 is started, and the process proceeds to step S11.

In step S11, it is determined whether or not the photographing condition is such that red eye occurs. In this embodiment, the possibility of red eye occurrence is determined based on the subject distance D and the brightness B.

If step S11 is affirmed, step S
16, the condenser 11 of the red-eye preventing light emitting device 11
Start charging of a. Next, in step S12, it is determined whether or not the first charging completion signal is output from the charging circuit 10b of the electronic flash device 10 and the second charging completion signal is output from the charging circuit 11b of the red-eye preventing light emitting device 11. To judge. That is, it is determined whether or not charging of the main capacitor 10a of the electronic flash device 10 and the capacitor 11a of the red-eye preventing light emitting device 11 has been completed. If the first and second charging completion signals are respectively output from both charging circuits 10b and 11b, step S11 is affirmative and the process proceeds to step S13 to set the red-eye mode, and one of the charging completion signals is not output. If step S11 is denied, the process proceeds to step S14 to cancel the setting of the red-eye mode.

The determination as to whether or not redeye has occurred in step S11 will now be described. As shown in FIG. 8, when the pupil P is photographed on the photograph, a straight line l1 (equivalent to the optical axis of the camera) passing through the centers of the pupil P and the taking lens RE,
When the angle θ formed by the pupil P and the straight line 12 passing through the center of the xenon tube Xe1 of the electronic flash device 10 is about 2 degrees or less, a large amount of red eye occurs. Now, taking lens RE and xenon tube X
If the distance between the optical axes of e1 is H, the angle θ is

## EQU1 ## It is expressed by tan θ = H / D. From this equation, the subject distance D is

## EQU2 ## It can be expressed by D = H / tan θ (1). Therefore, for example, when the distance H between the optical axes of the photographing lens RE and the xenon tube Xe1 of the electronic flash device 10 is 0.1 m and it is specified that red eye occurs at θ = 2 degrees or less, the subject distance D is Almost

(3) D = 28.6 × 0.1 m = 2.86 m It can be considered that the above occurs. Therefore,
The subject distance D obtained by the equation (1) can be used as a reference value for determining the shooting condition for red eye occurrence.

On the other hand, when the subject brightness is high enough to exceed the predetermined reference value, the pupil is closed, and therefore the red-eye phenomenon hardly occurs due to the catchlight effect by the eyes reflecting the flash light. In other words, it can be said that red eye occurs when the subject brightness is equal to or lower than a predetermined reference value such that the human pupil becomes so large as to cause red eye.

As described above, in the present embodiment, it is determined that red eye occurs when the detected subject distance D is equal to or greater than the reference value of 2.86 m and the subject brightness B is equal to or less than the predetermined reference value. The above-mentioned distance H is calculated by the CPU 1, for example, when a signal corresponding to the height position of the xenon tube Xe1 is input from the electronic flash device 10 side to the camera side.

In this state, the full-press switch SW2 (Fig. 2)
When is turned on, the interrupt routine shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 is started, and first, at step S21 of FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not the red-eye prevention mode is set. If an affirmative decision is made, the operation proceeds to step S22, in which an operation signal is output to the red-eye prevention light emitting device 11 to cause the xenon tube Xe2 to flash and illuminate the subject. As a result, the person who is the subject sees the flash of the xenon tube Xe2, and the pupil of the eye closes.

Next, in step S23, it is determined whether or not the time (for example, 0.75 seconds) at which the pupil opening of the subject is minimized has elapsed after the light emission of the xenon tube Xe2. This is timed by operating a timer at the same time as the emission start command to the xenon tube Xe2. If a negative determination is made, the process stays in step S23 until the affirmative determination is made, and waits for the above-described delay time, and if a positive determination is made, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S24, the diaphragm is driven via the camera control circuit 5,
Next, in step S25, the main mirror is moved up, and in step S26, the shutter front curtain is run. Then, in step S27 of FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the electronic flash device 10 is used.

If step S27 is denied, step S
In step 31, it is determined whether or not a predetermined shutter opening time has elapsed. If the result in step S31 is negative, the process stays in step S31 until the result is affirmative, and waits for a predetermined shutter opening time. If the result is affirmative, the shutter rear curtain is caused to travel in step S34 in FIG. To end. As described above, normal shooting is performed without flash light emission.

If step S27 is positive, step S
In step 28, it is determined whether the shutter is fully opened. If step S28 is negative, the process stays in step S28 until it is affirmed and waits until the shutter is fully opened, and if affirmative, it outputs a light emission start signal to the light emitting circuit 10c of the electronic flash device 10 to emit light from the xenon tube Xe1. To start. After that, the process proceeds to step S30, and it is determined whether or not the shutter opening time has reached the sync synchronization second time. If the result is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S34.

When step S30 is denied, step S
In step 32, it is determined whether the amount of light emitted from the xenon tube Xe1 has reached a predetermined value. This is performed based on the light emission amount data which is measured by the light control circuit 12 and is input to the CPU 1. If step S32 is denied, step S
Returning to step 30, if affirmative, in step S33 the light emitting circuit 1
A light emission stop signal is output to 0c to stop the light emission of the xenon tube Xe1. After that, the process proceeds to steps S34 and S35. As a result, flash photography is performed when the pupil of the eye is minimized, so that the occurrence of red eyes is prevented.

According to the above procedure, the subject distance D is θ when the main capacitor 10a of the electronic flash device 10 and the capacitor 11a of the red-eye preventing light emitting device 11 are both fully charged during flash photography. When the distance is such that <2 and the subject brightness B is lower than a predetermined reference value, it is determined that red eye occurs, and the red eye preventing light emitting device 11 is activated prior to the main flash, and other than that. In this case, that is, when the flash photography is not performed, when either one of the capacitors 10a and 11b is uncharged, or when the condition for the red eye occurrence is not determined, the red eye preventing light emitting device 11 is not activated. Further, even if the main capacitor 10a is not completely charged, the xenon tube Xe1 is caused to emit light by the release full-press operation to perform flash photography. Therefore, when the so-called release priority method is adopted, it is possible to prevent the shutter chance from being missed by undesired pre-irradiation. The red-eye prevention light-emitting device 11 may be operated without detecting the charging state of the capacitor 11a of the red-eye prevention light-emitting device 11 and if the charging of the main capacitor 10a is completed.

-Second Embodiment- A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. 9 and 10 show the processing procedure of the second embodiment. The procedure of FIG. 9 is performed from step S8 shown in FIG.
10 is used instead of S14, and the procedure of FIG. 10 is used instead of steps S21 to S26 shown in FIG.
The same parts as those in FIGS. 4 and 5 are designated by the same reference numerals in the following description.

In FIG. 9, proceeding to step S41 after step S9, it is determined whether or not the condition for using the electronic flash device 10 is satisfied in the same manner as in step S10. If denied, the flag is reset in step S47, and FIG.
If the determination is affirmative, the charging of the main capacitor 10a of the electronic flash device 10 is started in step S42. Next, in step S43, it is determined in the same manner as in step S11 whether or not the shooting condition is such that red-eye occurs, and if the result is negative, the main flash flag FLG indicating use of only the electronic flash device 10 in step S46.
1 is set and the process proceeds to step S2 in FIG. Step S
When 43 is affirmed, charging of the capacitor 11a of the red-eye prevention light emitting device 11 is started, and in the next step S45, the red-eye flag FLG2 indicating that both the red-eye prevention light emitting device 11 and the electronic flash device 10 are used. Is set and the process proceeds to step S2 in FIG.

That is, in the second embodiment, when the half-push switch SW1 is turned on, step S1 in FIG.
Is executed, and thereafter, steps S2 to S9 shown in FIGS. 3 and 9 are performed until the full-press switch SW2 is turned on.
S41 to S47 are repeated.

When the full-press switch SW2 is turned on, the procedure of FIG. 10 is interrupted, and first, step S51.
In step S52, it is determined whether or not the flag FLG1 is set, and if a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step S52, and it is determined whether or not the flag FLG2 is set. If step S52 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step S53 to determine whether or not the capacitor 11a of the red-eye prevention light emitting device 11 has completed charging, and if affirmed, the capacitor 10a of the electronic flash device 10 is charged in step S54. Is completed. If affirmative, steps S22 to S26 are executed in the same manner as described above to execute step S in FIG.
34, proceed to S35. If step S51 is positive, the process proceeds to step S54. On the other hand, in step S53,
If the result in S54 is negative, the program proceeds to step S55, in which the release lock is applied and the engine is returned.

According to the second embodiment, under the photographing condition in which both the red-eye preventing light emitting device 11 and the electronic flash device 10 are used, when one of the capacitors 11a or 10a is not fully charged, the relay is released. It is locked and shooting is prohibited without pre-irradiation.

Even under the shooting condition using only the electronic flash device 10, if the charging of the main capacitor 10a is not completed, the release lock is performed to prohibit the shooting.

-Modification- In the above, the photographing condition for the occurrence of red eye is automatically determined based on the brightness B and the distance D to the subject, and the red eye prevention command is output to enable the operation of the red eye prevention light emitting device 11. However, by the red-eye prevention command, the warning device first notifies that the photographing condition for the red-eye generation is generated, and the operator gives an operation command for operating the red-eye prevention light emitting device 11 from a switch provided separately,
The red-eye preventing light emitting device 11 may be activated when the main flash command and the charging completion signal are output.
Alternatively, the notification device may not be provided, and only the operation member that gives an operation command of the red-eye prevention light emitting device may be provided.

Further, in the above, when the subject distance D is equal to or more than the value given by the equation (1) and the subject brightness B is equal to or less than the predetermined value, it is determined that the photographing condition is such that the red eye is generated. Since it is highly likely that red-eye will occur if at least one of the above conditions is satisfied, it may be determined that the photographing condition is for red-eye generation.

In the above, when the brightness B is equal to or less than the predetermined value, it is determined that the photographing condition is such that the red eye is generated when the subject distance D is equal to or more than the predetermined value. Considering that red eyes are less likely to occur when the brightness is relatively bright and conversely red eyes are likely to occur when it is considerably dark like darkness, within the brightness range below the predetermined reference value, the object distance is relatively bright. The reference value of may be set far, and it may be set close if it is dark.

Further, the single-lens reflex camera for obtaining the object distance D from the deviation amount and the deviation direction between the image plane of the object and the planned image plane obtained by the pair of light receiving elements has been described. For example, light is projected onto the object. The present invention can also be applied to a camera that performs active distance measurement in which light is received, the reflected light is received by a light receiving element, and the object distance is obtained from the detection signal of the light receiving element.

Furthermore, although an example in which an external electronic flash device is mounted is shown, the present invention can also be applied to a camera incorporating the electronic flash device. Further, although the electronic flash device is shown as an example of being automatically activated when the subject is dark, it is possible to manually operate the electronic flash device to instruct whether or not to use the electronic flash device and to emit light in synchronization with the release operation. Good.

Further, for the electronic flash device 10 capable of emitting light at a plurality of light emitting positions, at each position, a signal indicating the height position of the light emitting tube is taken into the camera, whereby the light emitting tube and the image are photographed. By calculating the distance H between the optical axes of the lenses, it is possible to change the limit photographing distance D according to the equation (1).

[0048]

According to the present invention, since the operation of the red-eye preventing light emitting device is prohibited at least when the main capacitor of the electronic flash device is not fully charged, so-called release priority which enables flash photography even when the main capacitor is not fully charged. In the camera of the system, the delay time due to the pre-irradiation for preventing red eye does not occur, and there is no risk of missing a shutter chance. Also, in a camera in which the release lock is performed when the main capacitor of the electronic flash device is not fully charged, it is prevented that only the pre-irradiation for preventing red eye is performed in response to the operation of the release button. It is possible to prevent wasteful consumption. Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the presence or absence of the occurrence of red eye is automatically determined on the camera side, so that the usability is further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

[Fig.1] Claim correspondence diagram

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a red-eye prevention light emitting device for a camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating shooting conditions in which a red-eye phenomenon occurs.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to the first embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: CPU 3: Focus detection circuit 4: Photometric circuit 5: Camera control circuit 8: Focusing lens 10: Electronic flash device 10a: Main capacitor 10b: Charging circuit 11: Red-eye prevention light emitting device 11a: Red-eye capacitor 11b: Red-eye charging Circuit 101: Flash command output means 102: Red eye determination means 103: Charge state detection means 104, 204: Control means 202: Red eye prevention command output means

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 24, 1996

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Title of invention

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Title of invention Camera

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Claims]

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera having a red-eye prevention control device which prevents a shutter chance from being missed and prevents wasteful battery consumption.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0011]

The camera according to the invention of claim 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 which is a diagram corresponding to claims.
In a camera that performs sub-irradiation prior to main-irradiation, a determination unit 102 that automatically determines whether or not the sub-irradiation command should be output based on the photographing condition, and a sub-irradiation command that is operated to operate the sub-irradiation command. When the operation member 30 selects whether or not to output the auxiliary irradiation command, and the determination result of the determination unit 102 indicates that the secondary irradiation command should be output in the imaging situation, when the operation member 30 selects not to output the secondary irradiation command, the secondary irradiation is selected. The above problem is solved by including the sub-irradiation command output control means 104 which prohibits the output of the command and outputs the sub-irradiation command when the operation member 30 is selected to output the sub-irradiation command. The camera according to the invention of claim 6 is a camera that performs sub-irradiation prior to main irradiation, and automatically determines whether or not a shooting situation in which a sub-irradiation command should be output is based on shooting conditions.
And an operation member 30 that is operated to select whether or not to output the secondary irradiation command, and the determination unit 102
The above-mentioned problem is solved by making the determination operation of (3) operate regardless of the state of the operation member 30.

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0020

[Correction method] Delete

[Procedure correction 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0048

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0048]

According to the present invention, since it is possible to prohibit the operation of the red-eye preventing light-emitting device by the photographer's selection, the delay time due to the secondary irradiation for preventing red-eye in a photographing situation where priority is given to the photo opportunity. Does not occur, and there is no risk of missing a photo opportunity. The present invention is also useful when it is desired to suppress the consumption of the battery due to the low remaining capacity of the battery. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the possibility of the occurrence of red eyes is notified by the notification device, so that the failure can be prevented.

[Procedure Amendment 7]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Figure 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

FIG.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Toshio Dobashi 1-6-3 Nishioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Oi Manufacturing Co., Ltd. of Japan Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Nobuaki Sasaki 1-6-6 Nishioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo No. 3 Japan Optical Industry Co., Ltd. Oi Works

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A flash command output means for outputting a main flash command, and a main capacitor, wherein a light-emitting tube is caused to emit light by a charge charged in the main capacitor in response to the main flash command to illuminate an object with illumination light. An electronic flash device, a red-eye determination unit that determines whether red-eye has occurred based on the shooting conditions, and outputs a red-eye prevention command when red-eye has been detected, and a red-eye prevention arc tube that emits light to prevent red-eye prevention on the subject. A red-eye prevention light emitting device that emits irradiation light, a first charge state detection unit that detects a charge state of the main capacitor and outputs a first charge completion signal when the charge is completed, and a release operation is performed. When the red-eye prevention command and the main flash command are output and the first charging completion signal is output, the red-eye prevention light-emitting device is activated, and then a predetermined time elapses. The electronic flash device is operated; and when the release operation is performed, even if the red-eye prevention command and the main flash command are output, if the first charging completion signal is not output, the red-eye prevention And a control means for operating the electronic flash device without operating the light emitting device. 2. The red-eye preventing light-emitting device is a flash device that has a red-eye preventing capacitor and causes the arc tube to emit light by the charge of the red-eye preventing capacitor. A second charging state detecting means for detecting and outputting a second charging completion signal at the time of completion of charging, wherein when the second charging completion signal is not output,
The red-eye prevention control device according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the flash device for red-eye prevention is prohibited even if the red-eye prevention command is output during a release operation. 3. A main flash command output means for outputting a main flash command, and a main capacitor, and in accordance with the main flash command, the charge of the main capacitor causes the arc tube to emit light to illuminate an object. An electronic flash device, a red-eye prevention command output means for outputting a red-eye prevention command, a red-eye prevention light-emitting device for emitting a red-eye prevention irradiation light to a subject to emit red-eye prevention irradiation light, and a charging state of the main capacitor And a first charge state detection unit that outputs a first charge completion signal when charging is completed, and a red-eye prevention unit that outputs the first charge completion signal when the red-eye prevention command is output. When the red-eye prevention command is output, the first light-emitting device is allowed to operate, and
Control means for inhibiting the operation of the red-eye preventing light emitting device when the charging completion signal is not output. 4. The red-eye prevention control device according to claim 3, further comprising an operation member that outputs the red-eye prevention command when operated. 5. If the release operation is performed while the red-eye prevention command is being output by operating the operating member, the control is performed if the main flash command and the first charge completion signal are output. The light emitting device for preventing red eye is operated by means.
The red-eye prevention control device according to the item. 6. When the red-eye prevention command is output by operating the operation member, and if the first charge completion signal is output, the control means controls the red-eye prevention light-emitting device regardless of the release operation. The red-eye prevention control device according to claim 4, which is operated.