JPH04199034A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a camera that has a built-in or attachable strobe unit that can be rotated between an extended position and a stored position and has a variable illumination angle.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, various automatic pop-up strobe mechanisms have been proposed.

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-12428, there is a method in which the strobe unit is biased in the pop-up direction and the tension that is held by the electromagnetic magnet is released.

[Problem that the invention is trying to solve]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, a dedicated actuator such as an electromagnetic magnet is required to pop up the strobe, which is expensive and cannot be simplified. Furthermore, if a strobe zoom mechanism is added, a new motor, etc. will be required, resulting in an increase in the size of the camera.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention provides a camera that is rotatably supported between a storage position and a protrusion position and can be built-in or attached to a strobe unit having a variable illumination angle mechanism, in which the strobe unit is moved to the storage position by one motor rotating in one direction. By driving the locking mechanism that is locked in position to release the lock, and at the same time driving the variable irradiation angle mechanism, there is no need to use an expensive and complicated mechanism such as an electromagnetic magnet. To provide a low-cost and miniaturized camera.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

First, the mechanical structure of the present invention will be explained using FIGS. 1 and 2, and the details and operation will be explained using FIGS. 3 through 6. The operation based on the flowchart will be explained below.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an upper cover as an exterior of the camera body, and constitutes a part of the camera body. 2 is a case, upper cover 1
It is rotatably supported on the shaft and forms the framework of the strobe unit. 2a is an elongated hole and a lead wire 4, which will be described later.
It has the role of passing 0 through and absorbing the movement of the member due to zooming. 3 is a strobe cover that forms the appearance of the strobe unit, and is fixed to the case 2. Reference numeral 4 designates a panel that covers the entire surface of the strobe unit, and has a Fresnel lens portion 4a for controlling strobe light and a window portion 4b corresponding to a red-eye prevention lamp to be described later. Reference numeral 5 denotes a base plate, which has a plurality of gear shafts, a bearing 5a whose outer periphery serves as the rotation axis of the case 2, a bearing 5b, and a spring hook 5C, and is fixed to the back side of the upper cover 1 with screws.

A gear 6 meshes with a motor M2 fixed to the main body of the camera or the mirror box, and is connected to the motor M2 to transmit rotation in only one direction from a gear train including a planetary gear mechanism described later.

7 and 8 are gears, and the rotation of gear 6 is transmitted from gear 7 to gear 8.

A gear 9 meshes with the gear 8, and is rotationally fitted to the inner periphery of the bearing 5a of the base plate 5. A gear 10 meshes with the gear 9, and has a blade portion 10a on one side.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a lever, which has a detail 11a, a protrusion 11b, a spring hook 11c, and a switch pushing part 11d, and the shaft part 11a is rotatably supported on the inner periphery of the bearing 5b. Note that the switch pusher lid turns on the switch SW3 when the lever 11 is moved during pop-up. Reference numeral 12 denotes a tension lever having a claw portion 12b, and a projection 12a near the claw portion 12b.
and is fixed to the shaft 11a of the lever 11. 13 has a spring, and one end is hung on the spring hook 5C of the base plate 5, and the other end is hooked on the spring hook llc of the lever 11, so that the tension lever 12 is rotated counterclockwise, that is, in the locking direction of the claw portion 12b. to energize. 14 is a bearing, a part of which is attached to the upper cover 1
A part of the case 2 serves as the rotating shaft.

15L and 15R are screws that act as stoppers when the case 2 rotates in the protruding direction relative to the upper cover 1, and are tightened to the upper cover. ] 6 is a spring that biases the case 2 in the pop-up direction, and is attached to a part of the outer periphery of the bearing 14, and the thin arm is hooked to the case 2 with a screw 15R. A fixed locking member 17 has a hook 17a for hooking the claw portion 12b of the tension lever 12, and has cams 17b and 17c as shown in detail in FIG.
c is a circular arc from the rotation axis of the case 2, and is fixed to the case 2.

When the motor M2 is driven as shown in FIG. Push down the protrusion 11b of the lever 11. Then, the tension lever 12 is rotated clockwise like the lever 11, the claw portion 12b of the tension lever 12 is released from the hook 17a of the fixed locking member 17, and the case 2 is rotated in the projecting direction by the bias of the spring 16. The protrusion 12a engages the cam portion 17 of the fixed locking member 17.
b.

Further, the case 2 rotates, and as the case 2 rotates due to the force of the spring 16, the cam portion 17 of the fixed locking member 17
b to 17c pushes the protrusion 12a of the tension lever 12, and the tension lever 12 rotates until the protrusion 11b of the lever 11 leaves the rotation region of the blade part 10a of the gear 10 in the area of the cam part 17c. (Figure 5 (B) ~
(C)). In other words, the tension lever 12 is
is released, the case 2 moves up, and the up movement of the case 2 further releases the tension lever 12, rotates the protrusion 11b of the lever 11 out of the rotation range of the blade 10a, and prevents further rotation of the motor M from the lever 11 and the lever 12. The tension lever 12 is prevented from being transmitted to the tension lever 12. Further, the protrusion 12a is connected to the spring 13.
While generating a constant frictional force on the arc portion of the cam portion 17c due to the urging force of
Rotate in the protruding direction until it comes into contact with (Fig. 5 (A) - (
C)).

Next, 18 is a gear, which is fixed coaxially with the gear 9 in the upper cover 1 and transmits the signal into the rotating case 2. 19.20
is an idler that transmits the rotation of the gear 18. 21 has a cam 21a on one side and a contact piece 31 on the other side (see Figure 2).
is the gear to which it is fixed. 32 is a substrate (see FIG. 2) on which the contact piece 31 slides, and detects the phase of the cam 21a. As described above, the gears 19 to 21 are rotatably supported on the shaft of the case 2. Reference numeral 22 denotes a transmission lever having a bearing rotatably mounted on the shaft of the case 2, a roller 22a that traces the cam 21a, and a pusher 22b that presses the holder 27.

23 is a spring, which is attached to the outer periphery of the transmission lever 22 bearing;
One end is hung on the case 2 and the other end is hung on a holder 27 which will be described later. Reference numeral 24 denotes a holding plate, which is screwed to the case 2 while holding down the gears 19 to 21 and the transmission lever 22.

25 is a xenon tube, which is fixed to the reflective shade 26 with rubber (not shown). A holder 27 holds the xenon tube 25 and the reflective shade 26. A holding member 28 is fixed to the inside of the case 2. A shaft 29 is held by the holding member 28 and extends perpendicularly to the surface of the panel 4. 30
is a rail, and the shaft 29 and the flat rail-shaped elongated hole 30a
and is fixed to the inside of the case 2. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the holder 27 is supported on one side by a shaft 29 so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and on the other side, the host section 27b is supported by the rail 30.
It is slidably held on the rail portion 30a of the. One end of the spring 23 is applied to the protrusion 27a of the holder 27, and the holder 27 is biased toward the panel 4, and is restricted in the opposite direction by the transmission lever 22.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the rotation is transmitted from the motor M2 based on the cam displacement of the cam portion 21a of the gear 21, and the bar 22 is swung, and the push portion 22b pushes the protrusion 27a of the holder 27 onto the spring 23. The xenon tube 25 of the holder 27 and the light emitting part of the reflective shade 26 are moved back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the panel 4 by pushing against it.

Next, 33 is a red-eye prevention lamp, and 34 is a reflective shade that collects the light, which is fixed to the back side of the window 4b of the panel 4. As shown in Figure 2 above, case 2 is divided into three rooms,
The light emitting parts 25 to 27 moving to the center are laid out, the driving mechanisms 18 to 24 are laid out on the left side, and the red-eye prevention lamp units 33 and 34 are laid out on the right side. A lead wire 40 extends through the bearing 14 to one side of the case 2, is connected to the lamp 33, and is further connected to the xenon tube 25 through the elongated hole 2a.

In FIG. 4, a planetary gear mechanism that transmits the output of the motor M2 will be explained. Output gear 51 of motor M2 is transmitted to sun gear 53 via a transmission gear. A friction-coupled planetary lever 54 is coupled to the central axis of the sun gear 53, and a planetary gear is pivotally supported by the planetary lever 54. Therefore, the sun gear, the planetary lever 54, the planetary gear 5
5 constitutes a planetary gear mechanism.

Reference numeral 56 denotes a mirror drive gear, and although detailed illustration is omitted, the unidirectional rotation of this mirror drive gear allows the main mirror 60 to be photographed from the observation position (down position) shown in FIG. 2 using a cam mechanism. Retracted position (up position)
and then return to the observation position.

When the motor M2 rotates in reverse, the sun gear 53 rotates counterclockwise to engage the planet gear 55 with the gear 6, and when the motor M2 rotates in the normal direction, the planet gear 55 meshes with the mirror drive gear 56.

FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram of this embodiment.

PR3 controls the camera, for example, it has an internal CPU.
(Central processing unit) 1-chip microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as
(abbreviated as microcomputer). The microcomputer PR8 performs automatic exposure control function, automatic focus detection function, strobe control function, according to the camera sequence program stored in ROM.
Controls a series of camera operations such as film winding and mechanical charging functions.

For this purpose, the microcomputer PR3 uses the synchronous communication signals S○ and SI.
, 5CLK, communication selection signal CLCM, C3DR1CDD
R is used to communicate with peripheral circuits and lenses within the camera body to control the operations of each circuit and lens.

SO is the data signal output from microcomputer PR3, SI
is the data signal output from microcomputer PR3, 5CLK
is a synchronous clock of signals SO and SI. LCM is a lens communication buffer circuit that supplies power to the lens power terminal when the camera is in operation, and also supplies power to the microcontroller P.
The selection signal CLCM from R3 is at a high potential level (hereinafter “H”).
”), it becomes a communication buffer between the camera and the lens. In other words, the microcomputer PR3 transmits the selection signal CLCM as “
When the buffer circuit LCM outputs the buffer signals of the synchronization clock 5CLK and the signal SO to the lens via the camera-lens interface, the buffer circuit LCM outputs the buffer signals of the synchronization clock 5CLK and the signal SO to the lens through the camera-lens interface. Similarly, a signal such as the lens focal length from the lens is applied as the signal SI, and the microcomputer PR8 inputs the signal SI as data from the lens in synchronization with the synchronization clock 5CLK.

SDR is a drive circuit for a line sensor device for focus detection consisting of a CCD, etc., and the communication selection signal C3DR is “
Selected when “H”, signal 5O1SI, clock 5C
Controlled using LK.

SPC is a photometric sensor for exposure control that receives light from the subject through the photographic lens, and its output 5spc is input to the analog input terminal of microcomputer PR3, and after A/D conversion, automatic exposure control ( AE).

DDR is a switch detection and display circuit, which is selected when the signal CDDR is H" and is controlled by the microcomputer PR3 using the signals SO, SI, and synchronized clock 5CLK.FMS is a film feed detection circuit; The detection output is input to the circuit DDR as a signal SFMS.MES is a mechanical phase detection circuit such as a shutter or a mirror, and the detection output is input to the circuit DDR as a signal SMES.

The FLS detects the presence or absence of pop-up or the zoom phase using a strobe phase detection circuit, and inputs it to the circuit DDR as a signal SFLS. X is a switch that is turned on when the leading curtain has completed traveling, and CN2 is a switch that is turned on when the trailing curtain has completed traveling.

That is, based on the data sent from the microcomputer PR3, the display on the display member DSP of the camera is switched, and switches or status signals linked to various states of the camera are notified to the microcomputers PR and S by communication.

The switches SWI and SW2 are switches linked to a release button (not shown), and when the release button is pressed down to the first stage, the switch SWI is turned on, and when the release button is pressed down to the second stage, the switch SW2 is turned on. As will be described later, the microcomputer PR3 performs photometry, automatic focus adjustment, strobe pop-up, and red-eye prevention emission when the switch SWI is turned on, and performs exposure control, strobe emission, and film winding when the switch SW2 is turned on as a trigger. SW3 is a switch that detects the completion of pop-up of the strobe, and detects the movement of the above-mentioned SH/X-11. Ml is a motor for film feeding, M2 is a motor for mirror up/down, shutter charge, strobe pop-up, and zoom driving, and forward and reverse rotation is controlled by respective drive circuits MDRI and MDR2. Signal M input from microcomputer PR3 to drive circuits MDRI and MDR2
IF, MIR, M2F, M2R are signals for motor control.

MCI and MG2 are magnets for starting the running of the front and rear shutter curtains, respectively, and are energized by the signals SMGI, 5MG2, and amplification transistors TRI and TR2, and the shutter control is controlled by the microcomputers PR and S.

LAMP is a red-eye prevention lamp and is a signal SLAMP.

The amplification transistor Tn3 is energized, and the microcomputer PR3 controls light emission.

FLS is a strobe circuit including a main capacitor and a xenon tube, and is controlled by PR3 via a light emission signal FS, a light emission stop signal FO1, a charge start signal SC1, and a charge completion signal CF.

SW4 is a switch that indicates whether or not the red-eye prevention mode is set.

The operation of the camera in the above configuration will be explained according to the flowchart in FIG. When a power switch (not shown) is turned on, power supply to the microcomputer PR3 is started, and the microcomputer PR3 starts executing the sequence program stored in the ROM. When execution of the program is started by the above operation, the switch SW1, which is turned on by pressing the release button in the first step, is detected after step 1.
When the SWI is off, the process moves to step #3, where all control flags and variables set in the RAM in the microcomputer are cleared and initialized.

Step 2.3 is repeatedly executed until the switch SW1 is turned on or the power switch is turned off.

When the switch SW1 is turned on, the process moves to step 4. In step 4, a photometry subroutine for exposure control is executed. The microcomputer PR8 inputs the output 5 spc of the photometric sensor SPC shown in Fig. 7 to the analog input terminal, performs A/D conversion, and calculates the optimal shutter control value and aperture control value from the digital photometric value. , determines the necessity of using the strobe and stores it at a predetermined address in the RAM. Then, the AF operation in step 5 is completed, and in step 6, if the strobe is required, the strobe is set to use. Further, during a release operation, the shutter and aperture are controlled based on these values.

In step 7, the motor M2 is reversed, the gears 6 to 10 mentioned above are rotated, the tension by the tension lever 12 is released, and the strobe is popped up. Next step 8a
, and check whether the strobe is up or not by pressing the switch SW.
It is detected when 3 is turned on. Then, when the completion of lifting is detected, the motor M2 is temporarily stopped in step 8b.

In step 9, it is determined whether the strobe is fully charged. If the battery is not fully charged, the process moves to step 10, where the microcomputer PR3 outputs a strobe charging start signal SC to start charging, and when charging is completed, a charge completion signal CF is generated and the process moves to step 11. Here, the microcomputers PR, S input current focal length information of the photographing lens via the lens communication buffer circuit. Next, in step 12, the motor M2 is reversed again. Since the strobe is popped up due to the reverse rotation of the motor M2 in step 7, the tension release mechanism retreats to the disengaged position and continues to swing, causing the blade 10a to
[Protrusion of the lever 11 from the rotation area], strobe zoom mechanism in which 1 b is removed (the transmission lever 22 swings by the cam 21a, thereby moving the holder 27)
only is driven. The signal from the strobe zoom detection board 32 is sent to the microcomputer P via the strobe phase detection circuit FLS.
R3, and the reverse rotation of the motor M2 is stopped when the strobe irradiation angle reaches the position corresponding to the focal length of the photographing lens.

Note that the detection board 32 is formed with a pattern corresponding to the focal length (cam phase), and the zoom state of the strobe can be detected by sliding the contact piece 31 on the pattern. Next, the process moves to step 13, where it is determined whether the red eye prevention mode is set or not or the state of the switch SW4.

If red-eye prevention mode is not set, step 17
If the red-eye prevention mode is set, the process moves to step 14.

When the red-eye prevention mode is set, the lamp LAMP is activated by the "H" signal of the signal SLAMP of the microcomputer PR3 in Figure 7.
(Red-eye prevention lamp 33) is turned on to illuminate the subject and narrow the pupils to prevent red-eye. Next, the process proceeds to step 15, and the state of the switch SW2, which is turned on by the second pressing of the release button, is detected. If the switch SW2 is off, it waits here. If the switch SW2 is on, the process moves to step 16. In step 16, it is determined whether the time required to narrow the pupil has elapsed. If the required time has not elapsed, turn on the lamp LAM until the time has elapsed.
Keep P lit. When the necessary time has elapsed, the process moves to step 18. If it is determined in step 6 that the strobe is not necessary, the process proceeds to step 17, where it is determined whether the switch SW2 is on. Also, if the red-eye mode is not set in step 13, the process moves to step #17 and it is determined whether the switch SW2 is on. When the switch SW2 is turned on, the process moves to step 18 and a release operation is performed. The motor M is activated by the signal M2F of the microcomputer PR8.
2 rotates in the normal direction, the planetary gear 55 meshes with the mirror drive gear, and a mirror-up operation is performed. When the mirror up is completed, the microcomputer PR3
A signal SI is sent to the motor M2, and the motor M2 is stopped. Next, the front curtain magnet MG1 of the shutter is excited by the signal SMGI from the microcomputer PR3, and the shutter front curtain is moved by a spring force (not shown) to expose the film. Thereafter, a signal 5MG2 is generated after a predetermined time delay based on the shutter time calculated in step 4, and the shutter trailing curtain magnet MG2 is excited, causing the shutter trailing curtain to run. When a strobe is required, this shutter time is set to the strobe synchronization time. If a strobe is required, the process moves to step 19, where it is determined whether the X contact is turned on when the front curtain completes travel. When the X contact is turned on, a signal is sent to the microcomputer PR3 via the circuit DDR, and in step 20, the strobe emits light (flashes the xenon tube 25). If a strobe is not needed, the strobe will not fire. When the strobe emits light, a strobe light emission stop signal FO is generated based on the output of a dimming circuit (not shown), and the strobe light emission is stopped. Next, the process moves to step 21, and it is determined whether the trailing curtain has completed running. When the running of the trailing curtain is completed, the switch CN2 is turned on, a signal is transmitted to the microcomputer PR3 via the circuit DDR, and the process moves to step 22. Step 22
Then, the motor M2 rotates forward based on the signal M2F to lower the mirror and charge the shutter. When mirror down and shutter charging are completed, a signal is transmitted to the microcomputer via the mechanical phase detection circuit MES, and the motor M
Normal rotation of No. 2 stops. Next, the process moves to step 23 to feed the film. Based on the signal MIF from the microcomputer PR3, the motor M1 rotates forward to wind the film.

- When a frame of film is wound, a signal is transmitted to the microcomputer PR8 via the film signal detection circuit FMS,
The normal rotation of the motor M1 is stopped.

The motor M1 is configured to rotate in reverse direction based on the signal MIR to rewind the film. Said steps 22 and 23
do not necessarily have to operate in series, but may operate simultaneously.

When shutter charging and film feeding are completed, the process moves to step 24, where it is determined whether charging is complete, and if the battery is not fully charged, the process moves to step 25, where charging is carried out and preparation is made for the next photographing.

The characteristic feature of the above-mentioned embodiment is that the strobe unit is released from the storage position using a transmission system for driving the variable illumination angle mechanism within the strobe unit. No need to use an electromagnetic magnet to release the lock.

Therefore, it was possible to prevent the camera from increasing in size and to reduce the cost.

In addition, since the unidirectional rotation of the motor is used as the driving source to both release the lock of the strobe unit and drive the variable beam angle mechanism, even after the lock is released, if the variable beam angle mechanism is being driven, the lock release operation will continue. However, this problem does not occur because the pushed member and the pushing member that are pushed during driving are separated in conjunction with the rotation of the strobe unit to the protruding position after the lock is released.

Further, since the rotation of the motor as a drive source in the other direction can be used as a power source other than the strobe, there is no need to add a motor just for the strobe unit.

In the above-described embodiments, a type in which the strobe unit is built into the camera body has been described, but a type in which the strobe unit is detachable from the camera body may also be used. Even in this case, by aligning the rotation center axis of the strobe unit with the center axis of the transmission wheel, the transmission system will not be adversely affected in any way even if the position changes from pop-up (extended position) to down (retracted position). .

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments, gears were used for the entire transmission system, but it is also possible to use a belt drive for a part of the transmission system.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the rotating locking lever and the locking release device were provided inside the camera body, and the fixed locking claw was installed inside the strobe unit, but the effect would not change in any way even if they were installed on opposite sides. is obtained.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The present invention provides a camera that is rotatable between a stowed position and an extended position with respect to the camera body, and that can have a built-in or attached strobe unit equipped with a variable illumination angle mechanism. To provide a compact and low-cost camera without using a conventional electromagnetic magnet by releasing the strobe unit from its storage position and driving a variable irradiation angle mechanism.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the camera showing the configuration of the embodiment, Figure 2 is a sectional view of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a diagram showing how the holder is held in Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a zoom of the strobe unit. Fig. 5 is a diagram of the operation of the automatic pop-up of the strobe unit; Fig. 6 is a diagram of the cam shape of the fixed locking member shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a circuit diagram of the embodiment; FIG. 8 is a flowchart diagram. 1...Top cover 2...Strobe unit case 3...Strobe unit covers 6-10 and 18-21...Gear 11...Lever 12...Tension levers 13, 16, and 23 ... Spring 14 ... Bearing 17 ... Fixed locking member 22 ... Lever 24 ... Holding plate 25 ... Xenon tube 27 ... Holder Fig. 3 (A) 13ρ 5th flash (A) Nokumu/7t- (B) Figure 5 Fugaku/Ria

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a camera that is rotatably supported between a storage position and a protruding position and has a built-in or attachable strobe unit having a variable illumination angle mechanism, the strobe unit is locked in the storage position and engaged. a tightening mechanism that operates to release the lock; a drive mechanism that rotates the strobe unit to the protruding position when the lock of the tightening mechanism is released; a motor serving as a drive source; a transmission system that transmits the output rotation of the motor to the variable irradiation angle mechanism and the tensioning mechanism, the transmission system being provided so as to transmit a driving force to both the mechanisms by rotation of the motor in one direction; A camera characterized in that rotation of the motor in the one direction releases the locking of the tension mechanism and drives the variable illumination angle mechanism. (2) The tensioning mechanism includes a pushing mechanism for unlocking the strobe unit, and the pushed member of the pushing mechanism is pushed by the pushing member when driven by the transmission system. When the lock is released, the pushed member is moved out of the movement area of the pushing member in conjunction with the rotation of the strobe unit to the protruding position. The camera according to claim (1).