JPH0473631A - Camera with remote release device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need of a transmitter and a receiver by allowing an object to perform prescribed movement in response to the display of a camera and executing an exposure action based on the detection signal thereof. CONSTITUTION:Remote release is executed at the display timing of a display pattern by the prescribed action of a photographer that the designation of the release is executed toward the camera. Then, the exposure is executed by detecting the movement of the object 10 by a range-finding device 2. In such a way, the change of a distance or a speed is given to the object 10 at the time of a display action and the exposure action is executed based on the change. Thus, the receiver and the transmitter for remote controlling are not specially required and the remote release is performed at shutter timing based on the intention of the photographer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a camera with a remote release device, and more particularly, to a camera having a device that enables remote release operation.

[Prior Art] Cameras equipped with a so-called self-timer mechanism, which starts exposure a certain predetermined time after a photographer presses a release button, are extremely popular.

Furthermore, in photography using the self-timer, there has been progress to the extent that the camera emits a signal such as light or sound just before exposure to notify the person who is the subject.

Furthermore, in recent years, remote control systems have been proposed in which the release timing is remotely controlled using a remote control unit. For example, the camera disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-310332 is a camera having a remote control function, and the control operation is performed by the photographer pressing the transmit button of the transmitter 52, as shown in FIG. A signal such as light or radio waves is transmitted to a receiving section 51 of the camera 50, and the camera 50 detects the transmitted signal and executes a release operation.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, since the above-mentioned conventional camera with a remote control device requires a transmitter and a receiver,
The configuration was also complicated and the cost was high. Furthermore, the transmitter is usually housed in the camera and carried around, which causes the camera body to be correspondingly large.

An object of the present invention is to provide a camera with a remote release device.
A camera with a remote release device that allows remote release operation without using a transmitter or receiver to instruct the release, has a higher degree of freedom, is portable, and is advantageous in terms of cost. It is on offer.

[Means and effects for solving the problems] The camera with a remote release device of the present invention includes a remote release instruction means for instructing a remote release operation, and a display means for displaying a display on a subject in response to the remote release operation. and a detection means that detects a change in distance or speed of the subject during display operation by the display means, and outputs a detection signal when the distance changes or the speed falls within a predetermined range; The camera is characterized by comprising an exposure control means that performs an exposure operation when a change in speed is detected, and a change in distance or speed is given to the subject during the display operation by the display means, and the exposure operation is performed based on the change. It is something to be done.

[Implementation example] The present invention will be described below based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the main parts of a camera with a remote release device showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and the main parts of the camera are composed of a CPU that controls the entire system,
A distance measuring device 2 is a detection means that detects a change in the distance to a subject and outputs a detection signal based on the change, and a display means that displays a display on the subject includes a high-intensity LED as a display section. an exposure device 5 which is an exposure control means, and a mode switch 3 which is a remote release instruction means and which selects the remote release mode. First, the outline of the remote release operation of the camera of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the time chart of FIG. 2 and the diagram showing the distance measurement state of FIG. 3.

The release in the remote release processing mode of this camera detects a predetermined movement of the subject 10, which is the photographer, in synchronization with the display timing of the display device 4, and performs exposure based on the detection signal. The display of the above-mentioned display device has three table display formats of display patterns I, n, and m. These displays shall always be visible from the subject side. The patterns I and II are a pair, and the display pattern I is one in which the display LED 4a blinks only a few times as shown in the display output of the display device in FIG. , display pattern (2) is one in which the LED 4a is lit continuously for a relatively short period of time. And these patterns I.

(2) is a predetermined interval T as shown in FIG. is repeated.

Furthermore, pattern (2) is a pattern that is displayed as a shirt release warning immediately before the above-mentioned exposure operation, and is a pattern that repeatedly blinks for a predetermined period of time.

In the remote release of the camera of this embodiment, as described above, the photographer issues a release instruction by a predetermined motion toward the camera in accordance with the display timing of the display pattern, and the movement of the subject 10 is measured by distance measurement. Exposure is performed by the detection by the device 4. That is, Figure 3 (^), (B)
As shown in FIG. 2, in synchronization with the display of the pattern (3) on the display LED 4a of the camera 11, the photographer, who is the subject 10 located within the distance measurement range, pushes his hand forward, for example, if he intends to release the camera. The distance measurement device 2 detects the moved position, and the measured distance value is I! ■Incorporated as. Furthermore, when pattern H is displayed, the photographer lowers his or her hand to enter the photographing state, and the measured distance value at that time is taken as 12.

These distance measurement timings are set immediately after and/or during output of each pattern display.

If there is a difference between the distance measurement value 11 and I12, the same confirmation operation is repeated.

This repeated operation is performed in order to more reliably distinguish between a case where the subject 10 moves carelessly and a case where the subject 10 moves in order to issue a release command. Then, the distance measurement according to each pattern described above is repeated twice, and the distance measurement value g11
If the change in distance difference g2 is within a predetermined range in the two distance measurement results, the camera determines that the photographer has issued a release command. Then, after displaying the pattern (2), exposure is performed.

Next, the remote release process by the camera of this embodiment is performed in the fourth step.
This will be explained using the flowchart shown in the figure.

First, when the mode switch 3 is turned on to specify the remote release mode, the above-mentioned remote release process starts, and the distance measurement repetition number m is reset to 0 (step S
101). Subsequently, the display pattern I is displayed on the display device 4.
is output from the display LED 4a (step S i 0
2). Then, the distance measurement device 2 measures the distance value g of the subject distance.
1 is fetched (step 5103). Furthermore, the output of the display pattern (■) and the distance measurement of the measured distance value g2 are executed (steps 5104, 5105), steps 5102 to 5 described above.
At step 105, if the photographer who is the subject 10 has the intention of releasing the camera at this point, he or she sticks out his hand in response to the display of pattern I, as described above, and lowers his hand in response to the display of pattern ■. The above operation should not be performed unless there is a will to release the camera.

Next, step 5106 increments the number of times m.
), the difference between the measured distance values g1 and p2 is read as a distance difference Δ1 (intestine) (step 5107).

This distance difference Δi) (m) has a value approximately equal to the length of the arm in the case of sticking out the hand. And the number m is 1,
That is, the process returns to step 5102 only during the first distance measurement or when the value Δ11(*) is 0, that is, there is no change; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 5110. Therefore, the final distance difference Δ1(I) and the previous distance difference Δit (m−
1) is read as the fluctuation value Δε. If this variation value Δε is within a predetermined range, that is, between the values gN and IIF, it means that the photographer has performed the predetermined action for the release command twice in a row, and the CPU 1 then executes the release command. If there is a command, the process advances to step 8113. After displaying and outputting the pattern (1), exposure processing is performed (step 5114), and the remote release operation is completed. On the other hand, in step 5111, if the variation value Δε is not within the above-mentioned predetermined range, it means that the operation for the release command has not been detected twice in a row, and the photographer has no intention of executing the release yet. It is judged that. Then, the process returns to step 5102 and repeats distance measurement within a range where the number of times m does not exceed 50 times. 50 years without the above conditions being met
If the number of times exceeds the number of times, it is determined that some problem has occurred in distance measurement or that there is no intention to release the camera, and the process is terminated.

As described above, according to the camera of this embodiment, the receiver 51 and the transmitter 5 for remote control are different from those of the conventional example.
2, and it is possible to execute remote release with shutter timing based on the photographer's will. Since the release is executed only when the operation for the release command is performed twice in succession, it is certain that the release is a remote release operation. Further, the number of repetitions is limited to a predetermined value, 50 times in the embodiment, and the remote release mode is automatically exited unless there is a long open command, making it easy to use. Note that the remote release mode may be canceled each time the remote release for - times is completed.

As a modification of the above embodiment, a camera capable of remote zoom instruction can be proposed. In this camera 11', the display device outputs the display pattern three times. For example, when zooming to the telephoto side, as shown in FIGS. 5(^), (B), and (C), In synchronization with the display timing of the pattern, the photographer, who is the subject 10, first sticks out his hand and sets the measured distance value to Ill (FIG. 5(A)). During the next two pattern displays, the hand is lowered, and the measured distance value is set to 12 (Figure 5 (B), (
C) ).

On the other hand, for wide-side zooming, Fig. 6(A) shows.

As shown in (B) and (C'), the hand is held out during the first two pattern displays, and the measured distance value is gl (Fig. 6 (^), (B)). ). When the final pattern is displayed, the hand is lowered and the measured distance value is set as I2 (FIG. 6(C)). As described above, the intention to set the zoom is conveyed to the camera by the movement of the subject in synchronization with the telephoto and wide-angle instructions and the pattern display, and zooming is performed based on the instruction.

As described above, in this modified example, more complicated remote control is possible without a transmitter/receiver, making it possible to provide a highly functional camera.

Note that although the display devices in the above embodiments and modifications use high-intensity LEDs in the display section to appeal to the visual sense of the subject, it is also possible to use a sounding element such as a PCV in the display section.

Next, a camera with a remote release device showing a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In contrast to the first embodiment, this embodiment attempts to detect the photographer's intention to issue a release command based on the moving speed of the subject 10. That is, if the photographer who is the subject 10 has the intention of releasing the camera, he or she moves the hand of the subject 10 within the ranging range of the ranging device at a certain speed in response to the display of the pattern I from the camera 11'. (See Figure 7). Then, if the speed V is within a predetermined range (V × × v2), and if there is a change in speed by stopping the movement of the hand, etc., in accordance with the display of the pattern If it is recognized, it is determined that the release command has been definitely output, and exposure is performed. Furthermore, as mentioned above, only when the speed of the subject within a predetermined range is detected using the display pattern I and then a change in the predetermined speed is confirmed using the display pattern ■ is treated as a release command.
Cases such as when the subject moves carelessly can be excluded from the release command operation.

The main structure of the camera of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. However, the distance measuring device 2' is assumed to have a built-in integration circuit system for determining the moving speed V of the subject based on the subject distance at each predetermined timing. As shown in FIG. 8, the distance measuring optical system of the distance measuring device 2' is similar to a conventional active triangular distance measuring section. In FIG. 8, AF (autofocus) light is projected from an IRED (infrared light emitting diode) 14 toward a subject 10 via a projection lens 12.

Then, the reflected light from the subject 10 for AF is captured through the condensing lens 13, and the PSD (position detection element)
15. In addition, IRED14. Both PSDs 15 are disposed at a focal length f of the light emitting lens 12 and the light receiving lens 13, and both lenses 12 and 13 are disposed at a distance between principal points, that is, a base line length S. In addition,
The IRED 14 is set at a predetermined interval Δ during speed detection operation.
It shall be made to blink at t.

In the ranging optical system arranged as described above, the incident position fx of the reflected light is expressed by the following equation based on the principle of triangulation based on the object distance g.

X-(S-f) /Q ・・・・・・・・・(1
) Then, the PSD 15 outputs two photocurrent signals 11°I2, and these photocurrent values are determined as a function of the incident position X of the AF light as shown in the following equation.

Here, I gold photocurrent pφ a; a point where a line that passes through the principal point of the light-receiving lens 13 and is parallel to the straight line connecting the emission center of the IRED and the principal point of the light-emitting lens intersects the light-receiving surface of the PSD 15; Distance to the edge of the effective light receiving surface on the IRED14 side of PSDI5.

From the above equations (2) and (3), the ratio of I1 and 11+I2 is obtained as shown in the following equation.

(4) In FIG. 8, the distance g indicates the closest object distance that can be measured by the PSD 15.

FIG. 9 shows a subject moving speed detection circuit built into the distance measuring device used in this embodiment. In FIG. 9, the photocurrent of the PSD 15 is amplified by low input impedance preamplifiers 16 and 17, respectively, and the output currents II and 12 are constant photocurrents ■. into compression diodes 18, 19 for removing the fraction. The compression voltage of the compression diode 18.19 is passed through the buffer circuit 20.21, and the output voltage vA, VB of the compression diode 18.19 becomes NPN.
) is input to a differential arithmetic circuit comprised of transistors 22, 2B and a current source 27 whose current value is 17□.

The relational expressions between the terminal voltage v2 of the current source 27 of the differential arithmetic circuit and the voltages VA and Va are as follows. Here, Ia;) Current Ib flowing through transistor 23;) Current Is flowing through transistor 22, diode 18.19 and transistor 22
．． Reverse saturation current VT of No. 23: Thermal voltage Vref': Reference voltage of the compression diode. Furthermore, the sum of the currents Ia and Ib is the current ■φ1 of the current source 27
Since it is equal to Ia+Ib-I, -old-...=(7). From equations (5), (6), and (7) above, the relational expression can be found.

Therefore, the relational expression between the signal current value 1a and the subject distance Mβ can be obtained from the above-mentioned equation (4) and the above-mentioned equation (8).

That is, (9) It can be seen that the current value ra and the reciprocal of the distance I have a linear relationship.

A compression diode 24 and a current source 25 are connected in parallel to the collector terminal of the transistor 23. Then, the current value rc of the current source 25 is obtained by substituting equations (9) and (10).

Furthermore, the compression voltage value of the compression diode 24.27 is
Each is input via a buffer 26, 29 to a differential arithmetic circuit comprising a transistor 30, 31 and a current source 32 whose current value is I2 and φ2. This circuit is of the same type as the differential arithmetic circuit composed of the transistors 22 and 23 and the current source 27 described above. The collector current I of the transistor 31, which is the output current of the differential arithmetic circuit, is connected to the current source 28 via the negative node 27 because the compression diodes 24 and 27 generate a compression voltage with reference to the power supply side. This is the value of the current flowing through. Furthermore, the current value I flowing through the compression diode 24 is
X, denoted by Ia-1c, will be denoted by . Then, by substituting the equation (11) into the above equation (I2), the output II becomes, and this output current IN shows a value proportional to the subject distance g.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, it is necessary to detect the moving speed of the subject according to the output of the display pattern. Its moving speed is not necessarily constant during the measurement period. Therefore, malfunction may occur depending on variations in measurement results.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the average speed is determined by integrating the change in object distance during the measurement period.

Therefore, to explain the speed detection circuit of the present embodiment, first, the output of the differential amplifier circuit is connected to a circuit that detects the moving speed of the subject.

That is, on the collector side of the transistor 31, there is a PNP
A current mirror circuit consisting of transistors 33 and 34 is connected, and an integrating capacitor 37 is further connected via an integrating switch 36. Furthermore, the collector of the transistor 34 constituting the current mirror circuit is connected to the capacitor 37 via an integrating switch 35.

Furthermore, the capacitor 37 is connected to a reset circuit 38. Further, a detection output for calculating speed is outputted from an output terminal 39 connected to a capacitor 37.

The switches 35 and 36 are connected to the IRED 14 mentioned above.
It is switched on and off in synchronization with the blinking light emission. That is,
It is controlled so that the switch 35 is turned on (open state) only when the IRED 14 emits light the odd number of times, and the switch 36 is turned on (closed state!) only when the light is emitted the even number of times. for IRED14
Prior to the light emission, the charge in the integrating capacitor 37 is discharged by the reset circuit 38, and the integrated capacitor 37 is returned to its initial state.

The operation of the speed detecting section configured in this way is first performed using the IR
Switch 3 at the first light emission, which is the odd numbered time of ED14.
5 is closed, but in that case, the output current of the transistor 34 based on the current In corresponding to the object path M1 at that time flows into the integrating capacitor 37, and the voltage at the output terminal 39 is equal to the light emission time width of the IRED 14. During τ, it rises in the positive direction.

This integrated voltage value is determined by the elapsed time shown in FIG.
It corresponds to the area S1 of a trapezoid surrounded by the time width τ and the object path Ml (t).

Next, when the IRED 14 emits light for an even number of times, the switch 36 side is closed. Then, the voltage of the integrating capacitor 37 decreases in the opposite direction during the light emission time width τ due to discharge, corresponding to the subject distance at that time. Similarly, the backward drop in the integrated voltage value is determined by the elapsed time τ from -Δt to t−Δt+τ and the object path Nil (
t) corresponds to the area S2 of the trapezoid surrounded by. and,
The output voltage value itself is determined by the difference between the areas S1 and 82 of the trapezoid, that is, the difference in the subject distance of the forward and reverse integration times, and the light emission time width τ.
(equal to the integration time width).

Further, when the I RED 14 receives light for the third and fourth time, the above charging and discharging is repeated. Then, the terminal voltage is output from the output terminal 39, and the output voltage (ΔVO
LIT value) corresponds to a value obtained by accumulating the product of the object distance difference and the integration time τ at the time of each forward and reverse integral corresponding to the total number of distance measurements. Therefore, by dividing this value by, for example, the total time T of the forward integration time and the distance measurement aperture Δt, which is the execution time interval of the forward and reverse integration, the speed of the subject can be determined.

The arithmetic expression for the moving speed will be explained in detail with reference to the change state diagram of the object distance shown in FIG. 10 and the time chart of distance measurement timing and output voltage shown in FIG. 11.

The subject distance N (t) after the elapsed time is the initial measurement position p1. As the moving speed V, p co-j71-v・t ・・・・・・・・・(14
), and the output current IN of the differential amplifier circuit described above is (1
3) Replace the subject distance g in equation 1(t), set its proportionality constant as A, and then substitute equation (14), 1 g -A-ri (t) -A (N ,
−v・t) is obtained.

(15) On the other hand, the output voltage VOUT is output to the output terminal 39 based on the reference voltage V ref' of the integrating capacitor 37.
' is・V −V −V ・・・・・・(16)
It is shown in the format OUT 0UTI 0LIT2. Here, ■oUT1 indicates the total value of the output voltage by positive direction integration during odd-numbered distance measurements, and V
OtlT2 indicates the total value of the output voltage obtained by backward integration during even-numbered distance measurements.

And the above output voltage V. UTI is the total integration time, which is the total execution time of the forward integration of the light emission time τ of each IRED 14, and by substituting equation (15),...
...(17) becomes. Here, C represents the capacitance of the integrating capacitor 37. Furthermore, the integral interval (0-T) in the above equation corresponds to all of the odd-numbered ranging periods τ shown in FIG.

In addition, the above V. UT2 is similarly determined with the total integration time in the reverse direction being T, but as shown in FIG. 11, it is integrated with a timing shift of the distance measurement interval Δt.

That is, ......(18). In this case as well, the integral interval of the above equation (Δt−T+Δt)
corresponds to all of the even-numbered ranging periods τ.

Therefore, the output voltage value ΔvotIT, which is the detected value for calculating the speed of the subject 10 with respect to the camera, is “OU
T'= vOUT2− vOLITI111・V
・Δt-T...(19) (It is obtained as follows.In the end, the moving speed V of the subject 10 is obtained by transforming this equation (19).Here,
D is a constant determined by the distance measurement interval, total integration time, etc. on the circuit. Further, the total integration time T is the sum of the light emission times τ of each IRED 14 in the forward direction or the reverse direction as described above, and if the total light emission time is T1, then in the case of light emission duty 1/2, The above total integration time T is T1/2
It is indicated by. In addition, calculation of the speed V using a constant based on the above output voltage value is calculated on the CPUI, and furthermore, the object distance is calculated by converting the above Ig into a voltage, and then converting it from A/D to the CPUI. shall be captured and digitally processed.

As described above, in this embodiment, by using the value of the difference between the outputs of two types of integrating means, it is possible to easily obtain the subject velocity (2) with little error.

The remote release operation of the camera of this embodiment using the distance measuring device 2' incorporating the subject speed detection circuit will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the mode switch 3 is pressed to set the remote release mode, the processing routine shown in FIG. 12 starts. Then, the number of measurement repetitions m is reset to O (step 5121). Then, display pattern I is output from the display device (step 5122). Therefore, subject 10
When a photographer has the intention of releasing the camera, he or she moves toward the camera, for example, by moving his/her hand forward.

At that time, the camera detects the moving speed V of the subject 10 using the speed detection circuit and inputs it into the CPUI (step 3123). Next, the number of times m is incremented (step 5124), and it is determined whether the speed (2) is within a predetermined speed, that is, v2. If the speed is outside the range, the process jumps to step 5126, assuming that there is no intention to release yet. If the subject moves and its speed is within the range, step S1
Proceed to step 27.

In step 5127, display pattern ■ is output,
Warns the photographer that exposure is about to take place. Therefore, when the photographer attempts to perform the release, the camera remains stationary. Then, the moving speed V of the subject 10 is detected again (step 5L2B), and it is determined whether the moving speed V is outside the predetermined range (step 5129). For example, if the subject 10 is stationary, the speed V is of course approximately 0, so it is outside the above range and the exposure process of step 8130 is executed. Then, this routine ends.

If the speed V is within the predetermined range in step 5129, and if the speed ■ is outside the predetermined range in step 5125, it is assumed that there is no intention to release the release yet, and the process jumps to step 5126. . Then, in step 5126, the number of repetitions m is checked, and if the number m exceeds 50, it is assumed that there is no intention of remote release, and this routine is ended. However, if the number of times m does not exceed 50, the process returns to step 5122 to perform speed detection again.

As described above, in the remote release operation of the camera of this embodiment, when the photographer has an intention to release the camera, he or she can make an action such as moving his or her hand in accordance with pattern I, and the intention will be transmitted to the camera side. I can do it. Furthermore, if it is desired to interrupt the release just before exposure, it is also possible to transmit an exposure stop command to the camera by moving the hand in response to the output of display pattern (2). In addition, in the case of this example as well, the limit of the number of repetitions of measurement is 50, and more repetitions are
Since this is not desirable from the standpoint of energy conservation, remote release can be interrupted.

In addition, in conventional cameras with remote control,
It is generally equipped with an LED for display.

Therefore, by using the display means of the present invention as the display LED, it is also possible to incorporate the remote release device of the present invention into the conventional remote control camera.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the camera with the remote release device of the present invention performs the exposure operation based on the detection signal when the subject makes a predetermined movement in response to the camera display. Therefore, according to the present invention, unlike the conventional remote control release device, a transmitter/receiver is not required, and therefore, it is advantageous in terms of cost and has a simple configuration. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a camera with a remote release device that has many remarkable effects, such as a higher degree of freedom in instructing the timing of photographing, compared to conventional self-timer type release devices.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main block configuration diagram of a camera with a remote release device showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a time chart of remote release operation of the camera shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 (A) , (B) are diagrams showing the state of detection of a subject's motion in the camera of FIG. 1, respectively, and FIG.
The flowchart of the remote release process of the camera shown in FIG. 1 above, and FIGS. 6(A), 6(B), and 6(C) are diagrams each showing a detection state of a subject's motion in the camera of the modified example of FIG. 5, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the distance measuring optical system of the distance measuring device of the camera shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the movement of the subject during remote release operation in the camera shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of remote release processing in the camera shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. 13 shows the remote control operation of the conventional camera with remote control. FIG. 2.2' ... Distance measuring device (detection means that outputs a detection signal) 4 ...... Display device (display means that displays the subject) )

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) a remote release instruction means for instructing a remote release operation; a display means for displaying a display on the subject in response to the remote release operation; and a change in distance or speed of the subject when the display means performs a display operation. a detection means that detects a change in distance or a speed within a predetermined range and outputs a detection signal; an exposure control means that performs an exposure operation when a change in the distance or speed is detected by the detection means; A camera with a remote release device.