JPH02269331A - Remote control camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a remote control transmitter from being forgot to be attached by giving an alarm at the time of detecting that the remote control transmitter is detached in a portability mode. CONSTITUTION:When the remote control transmitter 7 is detached, a detection switch 9 is actuated to make a camera in a remote control mode, and a sequence of photographing actions are performed by receiving a remote control signal from the transmitter 7. When the transmitter 7 is attached to the camera again, the detection switch 9 is turned off and the remote control mode is finished. Next, when a stroboscope 4 is made to fall, the main switch 5 is turned off by mechanically interlocking with the stroboscope 4 and a photographing mode is finished. In the case that the transmitter 7 is not attached to the camera, at such a time, power supply is continuously performed to a microcomputer for control and the alarm is given by flickering an LED 10 for a specified time. When the transmitter 7 is attached, the power source of the microcomputer is shut off and the sequence is completed. Thus, the remote control transmitter 7 is prevented from being forgot to be attached.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a remote control camera that can be operated remotely using infrared light or the like.

(Prior art) Methods that use infrared light or ultrasonic waves to remotely control televisions, audio systems, air conditioners, etc. have become popular, but recently, remote control and remote control cameras have also become available.

In conventional remote control cameras, when the remote control transmitter attached to the camera body is removed, it automatically becomes remote control mode, and when the signal from the transmitter of the remote control transmitter is received by the receiver of the camera body, the release action is performed. Generally, the remote control transmitter described above is small enough to be attached to a camera and is easy to operate.

However, because it is small, it can be stuck in a pocket,
If you leave it lying around, you may forget to attach it to your camera, or in the worst case scenario, you may lose it.

(Object and Structure of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to prevent forgetting to attach the remote control transmitter when the remote control transmitter is removed. A detection means for detecting the removal of the remote control transmitter, and a warning means for issuing a warning when the removal of the remote control transmitter is detected in the portable mode. Note that handheld mode means that if the user does not have the will to take pictures, the user can close the barrier or lock the release to avoid taking pictures and to avoid unnecessary power consumption. Or, when the shooting interval exceeds a certain time, a circuit that automatically prohibits the operation of the camera's main functions is activated.Of course, if the user wants to take a photo, 1wl simply changes from mobile mode to shooting mode. Needless to say, it is possible to switch to

(Example) The present invention will be explained below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a remote control camera according to the present invention,
In the figure, l is a camera body, 2 is a finder, 3 is a photographic lens, 4 is a tiltable strobe, 5 is a main switch, and 6 is a release button.

When the main switch 5 is turned on, a lens cover (not shown) is opened and the strobe 4 is raised to put the camera in portable mode, and when the release button 5 is pressed, a photographing operation is started. When the strobe 5 is pressed and tilted down, the barrier closes and the camera enters a mode in which it cannot take pictures, and even when the release button 6 is pressed, it does not operate.

7 is a remote control transmitter detachably attached to the camera body l, and 8 is a remote control receiver on the camera side. When the remote control transmitter 7 is removed from the camera body l, a push button 7a is provided on the back side thereof as shown in FIG. 2, and when the button 7a is operated, infrared light is emitted from the light emitting section 7b. When this light is received by the light receiving section 8, the camera starts a photographing operation.

On the camera body side where the remote control transmitter 7 is installed,
A detection switch 9 for detecting removal of the remote control transmitter 7 and a warning LEDIO are attached. In mobile mode, if only the removal of the remote control transmitter 7 is detected, the LEDIO will flash and the user will be notified of the remote control transmitter 7.
Note that when the remote control transmitter 7 of this camera is removed, the camera enters a remote control mode in which the camera can be operated using both the release button 6 and the remote control transmitter 7.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the remote control camera of Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, 21 is the camera's power battery, 22 is a power supply holding circuit that supplies a predetermined power supply voltage to each part of the camera, and 9a is the main The starting switch is connected in series with the switch 5a and is linked to the main switch 5a, the release button 6, and the attachment/detachment of the remote control transmitter, and is linked to the detection switch 9. 24 is a microcomputer for control. When the main switch 5 is turned on and the start switch 9a or the release switch 6a is turned on, the power supply holding circuit 22 supplies a predetermined power supply voltage to the microcomputer 24. The microcomputer 24 outputs a self-holding signal to the power holding circuit 22 via the signal line A, and thereafter controls the power supply by itself.
Even if the main switch 5 is turned off, the microcomputer 24 maintains its operating state for a predetermined period of time.

25 is a remote control receiving circuit that receives a remote control signal from the remote control transmitter 7; 26 is a photometry circuit that measures the subject brightness; 27 is an LED display in the finder that displays the results of photometry and distance measurement in the finder 2; An infrared light emitting circuit for emitting infrared light for distance measurement, 29 an AF light receiving circuit that outputs distance measurement data according to the object distance from light reflected from the object, and 30 an AF light receiving circuit for outputting distance measurement data according to the object distance from light reflected from the object; 31 is a shutter drive circuit for opening and closing the shutter; 32 is a winding and rewinding drive circuit for feeding the film; 33 is a helia drive circuit for opening and closing the barrier; 34 is an LED display circuit for blinking the LED 10.

Next, the switches will be explained. 6a is a switch that is turned on when the shutter button 6 is pressed lightly, and 6b is a switch that is turned on when the shutter button 6 is pressed down further. The detection switch 9 has interlocking switches 9a and 9b, and the main switch 5 has interlocking switches 5a and 5b, which are connected to a power supply holding circuit 22 and a microcomputer 24.

Now, with the above configuration, first turn on the main switch 5.
When set to , the camera enters a shooting mode in which it can accept a release, and when the release button 6 is pressed to turn 6a on, photometry and distance measurement are performed, and the results are displayed in the finder 2. Further, when the release button 6 is pressed deeply, the switch 6b is turned on, whereby the lens is moved in accordance with the distance measurement result, the shutter is driven, and then the film is wound.

Next, when the remote control transmitter 7 is removed, the detection switch 9 is activated, and the switch contacts 9a and 9b are turned on, so that the camera becomes a remote control mode. At this time, if a remote control signal is received from the remote control transmitter 7, the above-mentioned series of photographing operations, namely photometry, distance measurement, viewfinder white display, lens extension, shutter drive 5, and film winding are performed.

When the remote control transmitter 7 is attached to the camera again, the detection switch 9 is turned off and the remote control mode ends.

Next, if you knock down strobe 4, it will be mechanically linked (not shown)
When the main switch 5 is set to 0FFL/, the photographing mode ends, or if the remote control transmitter 7 is not attached to the camera, a warning will be issued.

That is, the power holding circuit 22 supplies power to the microcomputer 24 through the signal line A until it detects that the main switch 5b is OFF, and when the detection switch 9b is OFF, the main switch 5
b is detected to be OFF and the power holding circuit 22 is released. Fourth
The figure is a flowchart showing the operation at that time. First, check whether the main switch 5b is OFF (F-1).
If it is OFF, it is in portable mode, and the fifth step is to use the detection switch 9 to determine whether the remote control transmitter 7 is attached (F-2), and if it is not attached, the LEDIO
flashes for a predetermined period of time to warn you (F-3), and when the user attaches the remote control transmitter 7 after seeing this warning, (F-3)
-2), the microcomputer 24 is powered off and the sequence ends.

As described above, if the main switch 5 is turned off without attaching the remote control transmitter, a warning is given, so forgetting to attach the remote control transmitter can be prevented. The method or location of the warning display is not limited in any way; for example, a buzzer or other known warning means may be used, or the warning means is not provided alone, but is shared with other display means or warning means. However, if a warning means is provided at the location where the remote control transmitter is installed as in the embodiment, there is an effect that the location where the remote control transmitter is installed is easy to understand.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the second invention, a warning is issued when it is detected that the remote control transmitter is removed in portable mode, thereby preventing forgetting to attach the remote control transmitter. can do.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a remote control camera according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external view of a remote control transmitter. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the embodiment. 7...Remote control transmitter, 8...Remote control receiver, 9...Detection switch, l O...LED

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a remote control camera that has a shooting mode and a portable mode, and has a remote control transmitter detachably attached to the camera body for transmitting a remote control signal for remotely operating the camera, whether or not the remote control transmitter is removed. and a control means for activating a warning means to issue a warning when the detection means detects that the remote control transmitter is removed while in portable mode. camera.