JPH0572594A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need of interlocking a finder optical system with a photographing optical system by detecting the range of the visual field of the finder optical system and moving the photographing optical system to a focal distance corresponding to the range of the visual field. CONSTITUTION:The present position of the finder optical system, that is, the focal distance of a finder is recognized based on an output signal from a finder zoom setting position detection circuit 52 and data based on the information of the output signal is stared. Next, a CPU 51 instructs a motor driving circuit 55 based on the data to drive a lens barrel zoom driving mechanism 56, so that the photographing optical system in the lens barrel of a photographing lens is moved to perform zooming, and the present position of the lens barrel of the photographing lens is detected based on an output signal from a zoom position detecting mechanism 60 which detects the position of a zoom encoder fixed in the lens barrel of the photographing lens. The mechanism 56 is driven until the position of the lens barrel of the photographing lens attains a position corresponding to the focal distance of the finder.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a zoom lens camera with a barrier, and more particularly to a camera having a zoom lens barrel that does not hinder the opening and closing of the barrier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, tele / wide or zoom, etc.
Various compact cameras with a lens capable of changing the focal length of the photographing lens are provided.

Many of these cameras use a dedicated motor or the like for driving the zoom lens barrel to switch the focal length of the taking lens, and by rotating the motor forward or reverse, the zoom lens barrel is made wider. → Tele, Tele → Wide.

Further, the viewfinder optical system for confirming the visual field is composed of an optical system different from the taking lens optical system, and the viewfinder visual field is changed according to the operation of the taking lens optical system. There is also a camera equipped with a mechanism for interlocking the finder optical system and the taking lens optical system.

On the other hand, in a camera having a tele / wide switching mechanism without a zoom mechanism, a release operation is performed after manually switching the viewfinder optical system to the tele or wide state. A camera for taking out an image by extending the taking lens barrel to a position corresponding to the telescopic or wide state of the finder optical system was also announced later.

Many of these cameras are so-called blade type cameras in which only the opening of the taking lens barrel is covered with a barrier. In addition, a sliding barrier system that covers not only the taking lens barrel but also the viewfinder is adopted, and the barrier cannot be closed in the tele state where the taking lens barrel is extended until the lens barrel is collapsed. There is also a camera provided with a stopper mechanism for stopping the closing operation of the barrier so that the lens barrel is not sandwiched by the barrier.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a camera using the above-mentioned slide type barrier system having a conventional tele / wide switching mechanism, and is a plan view of the appearance as seen from above.

As shown in the figure, when the zoom switching knob 3a for changing the focal length, which is disposed on one side of the upper surface of the camera body 1a of the camera, is set to the telephoto side T, accordingly, The taking lens barrel 5a arranged at the center of the front surface of the camera body 1a is in a state of being extended forward.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a shooting sequence when a normal shooting is performed using the conventional camera shown in FIG.

First, the photographer opens the barrier 2a (see FIG. 18) provided on the front surface of the camera body 1a so as to be openable and closable, and turns on the power supply of the control circuit of the camera (step S).
61). Next, the zoom switching knob 3a (see FIG. 18) is operated to set a desired visual field range. At this time, the camera performs the zoom operation of the photographing optical system in the lens barrel,
In general, the zoom operation of the finder optical system is performed in conjunction with the zoom operation of the photographing optical system (step S62).

After that, when the photographer operates the release button 4 (see FIG. 18) (step S63), the camera performs photometry and distance measurement (step S64), focusing (step S65), and then opens and closes the shutter. The film surface is exposed (step S66). After the film is wound up one frame (step S6).
7), the taking lens barrel 5a (see FIG. 18) is retracted (step S68). After confirming that the taking lens barrel 5a is in the retracted state, the photographer closes the barrier 2a and turns off the power of the camera body 1a (step S69).

[0012]

A camera having such a conventional tele / wide or zoom mechanism can be operated in any of wide-to-tele or tele-to-wide directions in view of setting an angle of view. In addition, it is necessary to normally or reversely rotate the motor to normally or reversely rotate the cam ring and the like. Therefore, in many cases, a dedicated motor for driving the zoom lens barrel is provided. A control circuit for controlling forward / reverse rotation is required, which is one of the causes of increasing the size of the camera body and the cost.

Further, in the camera, as described above, it is necessary to provide a complicated interlocking mechanism for interlocking the finder optical system with the zooming operation of the taking lens barrel (see FIG. 19). Is a restriction on the layout inside the camera body, which is an obstacle to the design.

Further, in the camera for taking a picture by extending the taking lens barrel to the position corresponding to the tele or wide state of the finder optical system after the above-mentioned release operation, the finder optical system and the taking lens optical system are interlocked. No mechanism is required, but it does not have a zoom mechanism,
Further, a motor for forward / reverse rotation is required, and it is necessary to provide a control circuit for the motor as in the above camera.

On the other hand, in the camera adopting the slide type barrier system (see FIG. 18), as described above, the photographing lens barrel protruding in the telescopic state is not pinched and damaged by the barrier closing operation. As described above, a stopper mechanism for blocking the barrier is required so that the barrier can be closed only when the lens barrel is retracted. In this case, too, the camera body and the cost are increased. Become.

Further, in the case of the camera having the above stopper mechanism, when the photographer tries to close the barrier in the telescopic state, the barrier cannot be closed unintentionally, which causes discomfort.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is a camera that solves each of the above problems and has a zoom mechanism, but does not require the finder optical system and the photographing optical system to be linked. The purpose is to provide.

[0018]

To achieve the above object, a camera according to the present invention comprises a photographing optical system whose focal length can be changed and a viewfinder optical system whose visual field range can be changed according to the operation of the photographer. And the field-of-view range detection means for detecting the field-of-view range of this finder optical system, and the focal length of the above-mentioned photographic optical system immediately before the exposure operation on the film surface correspond to the field-of-view range at the time when the photographer performs the release operation. And a focal length setting means for achieving the above.

[0019]

In the present invention, first, the photographer moves only the finder optical system to set the field of view, and
The visual field range detecting means detects the visual field range of the finder optical system. Next, when the photographer performs a release operation, the photographic optical system is moved to a focal length corresponding to the field of view range at the time when the release operation is performed immediately before the exposure operation on the film surface.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 are external views of a camera showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 1 and 2 are a front view and a plan view of the camera when a barrier is opened, respectively. 3 and 4 are an external front view and a plan view, respectively, when the barrier of the camera is closed.

The camera of this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
A photographic lens barrel 5 is arranged in the center of the front surface of the camera body 1, and a finder window 6 is arranged above the photographic lens barrel 5. An autofocus light projecting window 7 (hereinafter referred to as AF light projecting window 7) and an autofocus light receiving window 8 (hereinafter referred to as AF light receiving window 8) are sandwiched between the viewfinder windows 6 on the left and right sides. It is arranged as shown.

Further, on one side of the front surface of the camera body 1, when the camera of this embodiment is not used, the taking lens barrel 5, the viewfinder window 6, the AF light projecting window 7, and the AF light receiving window 8 are provided. A barrier 2 is provided for covering and protecting. The barrier 2 is provided with convex guide portions 2b and 2c (see FIG. 2) on the back side of the upper and lower surfaces thereof in the left-right direction of the camera body 1 and is located on one side from the central portion of the camera body 1. It is slidably fitted in guide grooves 1a and 1c respectively provided in the upper and lower portions of the front surface which are hung on one side. Then, the user moves the handle 2a for opening and closing the barrier, which is provided on the front side of the barrier 2, so that the camera body 1
The taking lens barrel 5, the finder window 6, the AF light projecting window 7, and the AF light receiving window 8 in the central part of can be opened and closed.

1 and 2 show the case where the barrier 2 is slid to one side of the camera body 1 to expose the taking lens barrel 5, the finder window 6, the AF light projecting window 7, and the AF light receiving window 8. In this state, the power supply in the camera is turned on, and the control circuit for controlling the drive of the entire camera in the camera body 1 (see FIG. 14).
Is in an operating state (see FIG. 5). 3 and 4 show the case where the barrier 2 is slid on the central portion of the camera body 1 to cover the taking lens barrel 5, the finder window 6, the AF light projecting window 7, and the AF light receiving window 8. In this state, the power supply is off and the control circuit remains off.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, a release button 4 is provided on one side of the upper surface of the camera body 1, and a strobe light emission window 9 is provided on one side of the upper front portion of the camera body 1. Each is arranged. Further, a zoom switching knob 3 for tele / wide switching is provided behind the release button 4 on one side of the upper surface of the camera body 1. The state of the zoom switching knob 3 shown in FIG. 2 indicates that the finder optical system 71 (see FIG. 7) is in the wide state.

Next, referring to the sequence diagram of FIG. 5, a description will be given of a shooting sequence when shooting is performed using the camera of the first embodiment having the above-described schematic structure.

First, the photographer opens the barrier 2 of the camera body 1 and turns on the power supplied to the control circuit of the camera (see FIG. 14) (step S1). Next, the zoom switching knob 3 (see FIG. 2) is operated to set a desired visual field range. At this time, in a conventional camera, after the zoom operation of the photographing optical system in the photographing lens barrel is performed, the zoom operation of the viewfinder optical system is generally performed in conjunction with the zoom operation of the photographing optical system. However, the operation of the camera of the present embodiment is different from that of the conventional camera, and although the details will be described later, only the finder optical system is zoomed without performing the zoom operation of the photographing optical system (step S2).

After that, when the photographer operates the release button 4 (see FIG. 1) (step S3), the camera performs photometry and distance measurement (step S4), and then by means to be described later, the photographing lens barrel. The photographing optical system in 5 (see FIG. 1) is zoomed to a position corresponding to the zoom operation of the finder optical system (step S5). After that, the camera performs focusing (step S6) and then exposes the film surface by opening and closing the shutter (step S7). Next, the camera resets the taking lens barrel 5 by a means to be described later, that is, makes the lens barrel retracted (step S8), and then winds the film by one frame (step S9). Then, the photographer closes the barrier 2 and turns off the power of the camera body 1 without confirming that the photographing lens barrel 5 is in the collapsed state (step S10).

6 to 9 are views showing the structure of the finder section 70 in the camera of the first embodiment.
The finder section 70 includes a finder optical system 71.
(See FIGS. 7 and 9) and viewfinder switching section 72 (see FIGS. 6 and 6).
8), and FIGS. 6 and 7 show the wide state, and FIGS. 8 and 9 show the tele state, respectively. 6 to 9, the left side is the front side of the camera and the right side is the rear side of the camera.

The finder section 70 has a cylindrical lens support frame on the front side of the camera and a prism support section on the rear side of the camera, and is fixed at a predetermined position in the camera body 1 (see FIG. 1). The finder main body frame 10 is provided, and cam plate supporting portions 10b and 10c are provided to project upward at the upper front portion and the upper central rear portion of the finder main body frame 10, respectively. This support 10
Guide grooves 10 are provided on b and 10c so as to face each other.
A cam plate 11 is slidably fitted to the front upper surface of the finder body frame 10 in a direction orthogonal to the finder optical axis so as to be sandwiched by the guide grooves. ing.

Lens holding frames 14 and 16 are movably inserted in the axial direction in the lens support frame in front of the finder body frame 10. Pins 12, 13 are provided on the outer circumferences of the upper portions of the lens holding frames 14 and 16, respectively.
Are attached, and these pins 12 and 13 penetrate through the linear groove 10a formed in the optical axis direction on the upper part of the finder body frame 10 and respectively into the cam grooves 11a and 11b formed on the cam plate 11. Has been inserted.

The finder optical system 71 includes the lens 1
5, a real image type finder optical system including an objective lens group including lenses 17, a Porro prism 18, and an eyepiece lens 19. The lenses 15 and 17 are fixed in the lens holding frames 14 and 16, respectively, and the Porro prism 18 is the finder body frame 1
The eyepiece lens 19 is arranged in the prism support portion 10f formed toward the rear of the center of 0, and the eyepiece lens 19 is arranged in the rear portion of the finder body frame 10.

The subject image formed by the objective lens group (lenses 15 and 17) is erected by the Porro prism 18 and then observed through the eyepiece lens 19. In FIG. 7, the Porro prism 18 is shown not in a sectional view but in a side view seen from the side.

On the other hand, in the finder switching section 72 including the cam plate 11, as shown in FIG. 6, one side of the upper part of the cam plate 11 in the figure is integrated with the zoom switching knob 3. It is formed and this zoom switching knob 3
By moving the camera body 1 in the left-right direction, the camera body 1 moves in the arrow X direction in FIG. 6 or in the direction opposite to the X direction. Further, since the linear groove 10a extends along the axial direction of the finder main body frame 10 and the cam grooves 11a and 11b are formed as leftward rising grooves as shown in the drawing, the zoom switching knob 3 is indicated by the arrow X. When the cam plate 11 moves to any position in the direction, the cam plate 11 also moves in the X direction. Therefore, the pins 12 and 13 fitted in the cam grooves 11a and 11b respectively move toward the front side of the camera, whereby the lens holding frame 1
The lenses 15 and 17 are linearly moved by 4 and 16 to an arbitrary position in front of the finder optical system 71 in the optical axis direction.

6 and 7 show the viewfinder optical system 7.
1 shows the finder unit 70 when it is in the wide state, and FIGS. 8 and 9 show the finder optical system 71.
The viewfinder unit 70 is shown when is in the tele state.

At a position of the cam plate 11 facing the zoom switching knob 3 in the upper part of the drawing, an elastic conductor having a bifurcated tip, for example, a contact piece 20 made of phosphor bronze. Are fixed as shown. Below the contact piece 20, a lower portion is fixed at a predetermined position in the camera body 1, and an upper portion has a resistance pattern 2 having an arbitrary resistance value.
A resistance substrate 21 is provided in which 2 and a conductor pattern 23 having a resistance value of almost 0 are arranged in a row.

The forked ends of the contact piece 20 are respectively
6 is in sliding contact with the resistance pattern 22 and the conductor pattern 23, and is interlocked with the movement of the zoom switching knob 3, as shown in FIG.
It slides from the position shown in to the position shown in FIG. Terminals 25 and 26 are connected to both ends of the resistance pattern 22 as shown in the drawing, and the conductive pattern 2
A terminal 24 is connected to one end on the upper side in FIG.
Then, the resistance value between the terminal 24 and the terminal 25 or the terminal 26 changes depending on the position of the contact piece 20, and the value corresponding to the position of the lenses 15 and 17, that is, the view range of the finder. Indicates. Also, each of the terminals 24 to 26
Is connected to a finder zoom set position detection circuit 52 (see FIG. 14) in the camera body 1, and the resistance value is connected via the detection circuit 56 to the CPU 51.
(See FIG. 14).
Then, the CPU 51 knows the positional relationship of the finder optical system 71 based on the read resistance value.

10 to 12 are enlarged cross-sectional views of the essential parts showing the zooming mechanism of the taking lens barrel 5 of the camera of the first embodiment.

In FIG. 10, the taking lens barrel 5 is used.
Is the film aperture section 1 of the camera body 1 at the rear end.
Cylindrical fixed frame 4 having a mounting portion 43b around b
3, a cylindrical cam ring 39 is rotatably fitted on the outer periphery of the fixed frame 43. Also, the cam ring 3
The tip of the cam ring 9 is locked by a cam ring pressing plate 41 fitted to the outer periphery of the tip of the fixed frame 43.
9 cannot move in the optical axis direction.

A cylindrical first lens group outer frame 29 and a second lens group lens frame 35 are movably inserted in the fixed frame 43 along the axial direction. The rear portions of the first-group lens outer frame 29 and the second-group lens frame 35 are respectively provided to project inward and outward, and the projecting portions above and below the fixed frame 43 are arranged in the optical axis direction. In parallel, through hole 2
9a, 35a and guide holes 29b, 35b are provided. Further, at a vertically symmetrical position in the fixed frame 43, a main shaft 44 having a base end fixed to the fixed frame mounting portion 43b, and a distal end extending parallel to the optical axis and a guide shaft 45 are provided. .. The first group lens outer frame 29 and the second group lens frame 35 are slidably fitted to the main shaft 44 through the through holes 29a and 35a, and the guide shafts are inserted into the guide holes 29b and 35b. By inserting 45, it is possible to move in the optical axis direction but not to rotate in the rotation direction with the optical axis as the central axis.

A first group pin 36 is attached to the outer periphery of the upper rear portion of the first group lens outer frame 29.
Is formed on the cam ring 39 through the straight guide groove 43a formed in the fixed frame 43 along the axial direction.
It is inserted in the group cam groove 39a. Similarly to the first group lens outer frame 29, the second group pin 37 is attached to the upper rear outer periphery of the second group lens frame 35.
The group pin 37 also penetrates the guide groove 43a, and the cam ring 39
It is inserted into the second group cam groove 39b formed in the.

The guide groove 43a extends in the optical axis direction, and the first group cam groove 39a and the second group cam groove 39 are also provided.
Since b is formed of a cam groove inclined with respect to the optical axis on the outer peripheral surface of the cam ring 39, by rotating the cam ring 39, the first group lens outer frame 29 and the second group lens frame 35 are formed. Moves linearly along the optical axis. In order to prevent external light from entering the gap between the fixed frame 43 and the first group lens outer frame 29, the inner peripheral surface of the front end of the fixed frame 43 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the first group lens outer frame 29 by a light shielding cloth. 46 is attached.

The front end of the first-group lens outer frame 29 forms a connecting wall facing inward, and the front end of the shutter body frame 32 is fixed to the inside of the front end of the connecting wall. The shutter body frame 32 has a cylindrical shape, and a fixed helicoid screw 32a, which is a female helicoid screw, is engraved in the center of the inner peripheral surface of the shutter body frame 32, and the rear group inner periphery of the first group lens 30 Exposure control sectors 33 and 34, which are shutter blades, are disposed in the rear, and the exposure control sectors 33 and 34 are arranged in the shutter drive mechanism 5.
8 (see FIG. 14) to open and close.

The first lens group frame 31 is inserted in the shutter body frame 32 so as to be movable in the optical axis direction. A helicoid screw 31a, which is a male helicoid screw for moving the lens frame, is engraved on the rear outer peripheral surface of the first group lens frame 31, and is arranged so as to be screwed with the fixed helicoid screw 32a of the shutter body frame 32. It is set up.

The inner surfaces of the first-group lens frame 31 and the second-group lens frame 35 respectively have first-group lenses 30,
The second group lens 38 is adhesively fixed. Then, the first group lens frame 31 includes the focus lens extension drive mechanism 5
7 (see FIG. 14), the first group lens 30 is rotated in one direction around the optical axis, and this rotational movement causes the first group lens 30 to be extended in the optical axis direction.
The focus position of the can be adjusted.

A drive ring 40 having a gear 40a on its peripheral surface is fixed to the outer periphery of the tip end of the cam ring 39, and the gear 40a is mounted on the lens barrel zoom drive mechanism 56 (see FIG. 1).
(See 4) output gear. The cam ring 39 is rotated by the driving force of the lens barrel zoom drive mechanism 56. This cam ring 39
The rotation position of the zoom encoder 42 is arranged in the vicinity of the zoom encoder 42, which is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the rear portion of the cam ring 39, and which is formed by, for example, a resistance pattern. It can be known by reading with the zoom position detection mechanism 60 (see FIG. 14). The zoom encoder 42 may use a gray code, a magnetic tape or the like in addition to the resistance pattern.

The first-group cam groove 39a and the second-group cam groove 39b are both formed by a cam groove formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cam ring 39, and the cam grooves 39a and 39b are partially formed. Is an assembly hole 39c that vertically penetrates the cam groove,
39d is provided. The holes 39c and 39d are through holes for fixing the first group pin 36 and the second group pin 37 to the first group lens outer frame 29 and the second group lens frame 35, respectively, and the pins 36 and 37 are the same. The lens frames 29 and 35 are screwed from the outside through the holes.

FIG. 13 is a development view of the cam ring 39 seen from the outer peripheral surface side. In the figure, the first group cam groove 39a and the second group cam groove 39b are actually the same as described above.
Although it does not appear on the outer circumferential surface of 9, it is shown by a solid line for convenience.

As shown in the drawing, the first and second group cam grooves 39
Reference characters a and 39b are mountain-shaped curves with the apex at the position where the cam ring 39 is rotated about half way (the position at an angle of 180 ° in the figure), and the cam ring 39 is moved by the driving force of the lens barrel zoom drive mechanism 56 in the figure. When rotated in the direction of arrow Z, the guide groove 4 of the fixed frame 43
The first-group pin 36 and the second-group pin 37 guided by 3a are moved along the first-group and second-group cam grooves 39a and 39b, respectively, and moved in the optical axis direction indicated by arrow Y in the figure. As a result, the first group lens outer frame 29 and the second group lens frame 35 to which the first group pin 36 and the second group pin 37 are respectively fixed are
By moving in the optical axis direction along the main axis 44 and the guide axis 45, the focal lengths of the first group lens 30 and the second group lens 38 change.

When the first-group pin 36 and the second-group pin 37 are in the position of reference numeral A in the drawing (this position is the reference angle of 0 ° in the rotation direction), the first-group lens outer frame 29, the second-group lens The frame 35 is in the retracted state, which is located closest to the rear in the optical axis direction, and the state inside the taking lens barrel 5 at this time is shown in FIG. The pins 36 and 37 are the above-mentioned symbols A
When it is at the position of symbol B slightly rotated from the position of, the first lens group outer frame 29 and the second lens group frame 35 are in a wide state, and the state inside the taking lens barrel 5 at this time is shown. 11 shows. When the pins 36 and 37 are at the position of the symbol C, that is, at a position rotated by about 90 ° with respect to the position of the symbol A, the first group lens outer frame 29 and the second group lens frame 3
No. 5 is in the standard state, and the photographing is normally performed at this position.

When the pins 36 and 37 are at the position D, that is, at a position rotated by 180 ° with respect to the position A, the first group lens outer frame 29 and the second group lens frame 35 are FIG. 12 shows the state in the telephoto lens barrel 5 in the telephoto state, which is located closest to the front in the optical axis direction.
Shown in. The first and second groups of cam grooves 39a and 39b have the movement directions of the pins 36 and 37 reversed at the position of the symbol D, so that the cam ring 39 continues to rotate in the same direction thereafter. Then, the first-group lens outer frame 29 and the second-group lens frame 35 move backward, and when the cam ring 39 makes a rotation angle of 360 °, that is, makes one rotation, it finally reaches a retracted state.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the electric circuit of the control circuit in the camera of the first embodiment.

In the figure, a CPU 51 is the core of the control circuit of the camera, and controls the circuits and mechanisms described below.

The CPU 51 has its input terminals P1, P
2, P3, P6 and P8 are respectively provided with the release button 4
Is connected to the release switch 50, the output end of the viewfinder zoom setting position detection circuit 52, the output end of the zoom position detection mechanism 60, the output end of the photometry circuit 53, and the AF light receiving window 8. The output terminals of the distance measuring circuit 54 are connected, and output signals are received from these output terminals to control a motor drive circuit 55 and the like described later. Further, the CPU 51 has its output terminals P4, P5 and P7 respectively serving as a drive source of a drive system of the camera, the motor drive circuit 55 and the photometry circuit 5 described above.
3. It is connected to the input terminal of the distance measuring circuit 54 and controls these circuits.

The output terminals P10, P11, P12 and P13 of the motor drive circuit 55 are the lens barrel zoom drive mechanism 56 and the lens extension drive mechanism 5, respectively.
7, shutter drive mechanism 58, film winding and rewinding mechanism 59
Is connected to the input terminal of, and controls these mechanisms in accordance with instructions from the CPU 51.

The operation of the camera of the first embodiment thus constructed will be described with reference to the flow chart showing the operation of the CPU 51 shown in FIG.

First, the photographer opens the barrier 2 of the camera body 1 and turns on the power supplied to the control circuit (see FIG. 14) of the camera to operate the CPU 51 (start in FIG. 15). The CPU 51, which has started the operation, displays the release button 4
It waits until the release switch 50 interlocked with is turned on (step S21). When the photographer operates the release button 4 (see FIG. 1) and the release switch 50 is turned on, the CPU 51 instructs the photometry circuit 53 to perform photometry (step S22) and also instructs the distance measurement circuit 54. To measure the distance (step S23). Next, from the output signal of the finder zoom setting position detection circuit 52 to which the resistance value of the resistance substrate 21 (see FIG. 6) is input, the current position of the finder optical system 71 (see FIG. 6), that is, the finder. The focal length is recognized (step S24), and the data based on the information of the output signal is stored.

Next, the CPU 51 gives an instruction to the motor drive circuit 55 based on the above data to drive the lens barrel zoom drive mechanism 56, thereby zooming the photographing optical system in the photographing lens barrel 5 (step S25), the zoom encoder 4 fixed to the taking lens barrel 5
2 (see FIG. 10), the current position of the taking lens barrel 5 is detected from the output signal of the zoom position detecting mechanism 60, and the position of the taking lens barrel 5 corresponds to the finder focal length. The lens barrel zoom drive mechanism 56 is driven until the position is reached (step S26). When the zoom encoder 42 reaches the desired position in step S26, the operation of the lens barrel zoom drive mechanism 56 is stopped, and the zoom operation of the taking lens barrel 5 is terminated (step S27).

Next, the CPU 51 causes the above step S23.
The lens extension driving mechanism 57 is driven so as to focus on the subject distance measured in step S28 (step S28). Thereafter, the shutter drive mechanism 58 is opened and closed to expose the film surface (step S29), and the lens barrel zoom drive mechanism 56 is driven to set the taking lens barrel 5 in the retracted state (step S29). S30), the film winding / rewinding mechanism 59 is driven to wind the film one frame (step S31). If the main switch of the camera (which accompanies the opening / closing operation of the barrier 2 in the first embodiment) is on, the process returns to step S21 again to enter the standby state for the release operation, and if the switch is off, the operation is performed. Is finished (step S32).

Note that the information on the setting position of the viewfinder zoom need not be read after the release operation as described above. For example, the information is always read immediately after the power supply of the control circuit is turned on, and the release switch 50 is turned on. It is also possible to store the above-mentioned position information immediately before. Alternatively, the release switch 50 may be configured by a two-step switch, and the photometry and distance measurement operations may be performed by turning on the first stage of the release switch 50. In this case, the position information may be stored when the first stage is turned on.

Next, a camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the camera of the second embodiment, the cam ring 39 in the camera of the first embodiment is replaced with a cam ring 39 'having a cam groove having the shape shown in FIG. 16, and the details will be described later. However, the lens extension driving mechanism 57 in the camera of the first embodiment is unnecessary, and the position of the first group lens frame 31 is fixed with respect to the shutter body frame 32. .. Other configurations and operations are similar to those of the camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a development view of the cam ring 39 'viewed from the outer peripheral surface side. In the figure, the first and second groups of cam grooves 3
Since 9a 'and 39b' are actually cam grooves formed on the inner peripheral surface as in the case of the first embodiment, the cam ring 3
Although it does not appear on the outer peripheral surface of 9 ', it is shown by a solid line for convenience.

As shown in the drawing, the first group cam groove 39a 'is
While the cam ring 39 'draws a mountain-shaped curve with the apex at a position about half a turn (a position slightly larger than the angle of 180 ° in the figure), the second group cam groove 39b' has the apex at the above position. And the cam ring 39 ′ on the left side of the drawing has a rotation angle of 0 ° to
When it is located at about 180 °, it is formed in a step-like shape that rises to the right.
When it is located at 360 °, it is formed in a slanting cam groove having a substantially straight downward slope. Then, like the camera of the first embodiment, when the cam ring 39 'is rotated in the direction of the arrow Y'in the figure by the driving force of the lens barrel zoom drive mechanism 56, the cam ring 39' is guided by the guide groove 43a of the fixed frame 43. Group pin 36 '
And the second group pin 37 'are provided with the first group cam grooves 39a', 39 '.
It is pushed along b ′ and moves in the optical axis direction indicated by arrow Z ′ in the figure. As a result, the first group pin 36 'and the second group pin 3
First group lens outer frames 29, 2 fixed to 7 ', respectively
The group lens frame 35 moves in the optical axis direction along the main axis 44 and the guide axis 45, and the focal lengths of the first group lens 30 and the second group lens 38 change.

The first group pin 36 'and the second group pin 37'
Is the position of the symbol a in the figure (this position is the reference angle 0 in the rotation direction).
Angle)), the first group lens outer frames 29, 2
When the group lens frame 35 is in the retracted state, which is located closest to the rear in the optical axis direction, and the pins 36 'and 37' are located at the position of the symbol b slightly rotated from the position of the symbol a, the first group The lens outer frame 29 and the second group lens frame 35 are in a wide state. When the pins 36 'and 37' reach the position of the code k through the positions of the codes c to j, that is, the position rotated by an angle of about 180 ° with respect to the position of the code a, the first group lens The outer frames 29 and the second group lens frame 35 are in the tele state in which they are located closest to the front in the optical axis direction. After that, when the cam ring 39 ′ continues to rotate in the same direction, the first group lens outer frame 29 The second group lens frame 35 moves backward, and when the cam ring 39 'rotates at an angle of 360 °, that is, makes one rotation, the retracted state is reached.

The operation of the camera of the second embodiment constructed as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the photographer opens the barrier 2 of the camera body 1 and turns on the power supplied to the control circuit (see FIG. 14) of the camera to operate the CPU 51 (start in FIG. 17). The CPU 51, which has started the operation, displays the release button 4
It waits until the release switch 50 interlocked with is turned on (step S41). When the photographer operates the release button 4 (see FIG. 1) and the release switch 50 is turned on, the CPU 51 instructs the photometry circuit 53 to perform photometry (step S42) and also instructs the distance measurement circuit 54. To measure the distance (step S43). Next, from the output signal of the finder zoom setting position detection circuit 52 to which the resistance value of the resistance substrate 21 (see FIG. 6) is input, the current position of the finder optical system 71 (see FIG. 6), that is, the finder. The focal length is recognized (step S44), and the data based on the information of the output signal is stored.

The flow up to this point is the same as that of the camera of the first embodiment. However, in the case of the camera of the second embodiment, the CPU 51 next sets the photographic optical system in the photographic lens barrel 5 to the above data. Based on the above, among the positions b, d, f, h, and j in FIG. 16, the position closest to the focal length corresponding to the viewfinder field range immediately before the release operation is calculated (step S45), and then the above step Based on the information of the distance measurement result in S43, the section M1 (reference symbols b to c in FIG. 16).
, M2 (between symbols d and e), M3 (between symbols f and g),
The movement amount of the photographing optical system to the focus position between M4 (between symbols h to i) and M5 (between symbols j to k) is calculated (step S46).

Then, in order to move the photographing optical system to the optimum position based on the calculation result, the motor drive circuit 55
To drive the lens barrel zoom drive mechanism 56 to move the photographing optical system in a zoomed manner (step S
47), the current position of the taking lens barrel 5 is detected from the output signal of the zoom position detecting mechanism 60 that detects the position of the zoom encoder 42 (see FIG. 10) fixed to the taking lens barrel 5. Then, the lens barrel zoom drive mechanism 5 is operated until the position of the taking lens barrel 5 reaches the optimum position.
6 is driven (step S48). Then, in step S48, when the zoom encoder 42 reaches the desired position, the operation of the lens barrel zoom drive mechanism 56 is stopped, and the zoom operation of the taking lens barrel 5 ends (step S4).
9).

Next, the CPU 51 causes the shutter drive mechanism 5
The film surface is exposed by opening and closing 8 (step S50), and the lens barrel zoom drive mechanism 56 is driven to set the taking lens barrel 5 in the retracted state (step S51). The return mechanism 59 is driven to wind the film one frame (step S52). Then, if the main switch of the camera (also in the second embodiment, which accompanies the opening / closing operation of the barrier 2 as in the first embodiment) is on, the process returns to step S41 again to enter the standby state for the release operation. If the switch is off, the operation ends (step S53).

As described above, in the camera of the second embodiment, the focal length corresponding to the viewfinder field range is, for example, 1
When the group pin 36 'and the second group pin 37' are closest to each other in the position near the reference sign b in FIG. 16, the cam ring 39 'first rotates until the pins 36' and 37 'come to the position of the reference sign b. Then, it is rotated to a corresponding position in the section M1 of the symbols b to c so that the focus position corresponds to the distance measurement result. During this section M1, the second group cam groove 39b 'is not displaced in the optical axis direction, and the first group cam groove 39a' is linearly displaced. Thereby, the first group lens 30 (see FIG. 10)
Only the second lens group 31 moves (i.e., moves), and optically brings about the same result as focusing by moving out the first group lens frame 31 (see FIG. 10) in the first embodiment. Therefore, in the camera of the second embodiment, the lens extension driving mechanism 56 for extending the first group lens frame 31 in the camera of the first example is not necessary, and the first group lens frame 31 also has the shutter. The position of the body frame 32 (see FIG. 10) may be fixed.

The extension of the focus lens in the section M1 is similarly performed in the sections M2 to M5, and in the second embodiment, the sections are set to M1 to M.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the zoom area may be subdivided to provide more focus lens extension sections.

Further, for the zoom and focus position information which can be detected by the zoom encoder 42, a slit plate which rotates in accordance with the number of rotations of the cam ring 39 'is provided, and this rotation amount can be read by a photo interrupter or the like. Good.

[0074]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be expected.

1. The interlocking mechanism between the viewfinder optical system and the shooting optical system is unnecessary.

2. Since the zoom drive of the taking lens barrel can be realized only by rotating the taking barrel in one direction, the control of the drive motor of the taking optical system can be simplified.

3. Above 1.2. This allows the camera to be smaller and less expensive.

4. Since the shooting optical system is zoomed after the release operation, the shooting optical system is in the collapsed state in the normal release standby state, and at this time, the barrier can be closed without the barrier and the shooting lens barrel interfering with each other. Becomes Further, unlike the conventional camera, the barrier lock mechanism for preventing the interference with the lens barrel becomes unnecessary.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external front view of a camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention when a barrier is opened.

FIG. 2 is an external plan view of the camera of the first embodiment when a barrier is opened.

FIG. 3 is an external front view of the camera of the first embodiment when the barrier is closed.

FIG. 4 is an external plan view of the camera of the first embodiment when the barrier is closed.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining a shooting operation of the camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a finder unit in a wide state of the camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a finder optical system in a wide state of the camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a finder unit in a tele state of the camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the finder optical system in the telephoto state of the camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the taking lens barrel of the camera of the first embodiment when the taking lens barrel is in the retracted position.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the taking lens barrel of the camera of the first embodiment when the taking lens barrel is in a wide state.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the taking lens barrel of the camera of the first embodiment when the taking lens barrel is in a tele state.

FIG. 13 is a development view of a cam ring portion of the camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an electric circuit block configuration diagram of a control circuit of the camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation of the camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a development view of a cam ring portion in the camera of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the operation of the camera of the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an external plan view showing an example of a conventional camera.

FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram for explaining a shooting operation of the conventional camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Camera body 2 ... Barrier 3 ... Zoom switching knob 4 ... Release button 5 ... Shooting lens barrel 6 ... Viewfinder window 7 ... AF light emitting window 8 ... AF light receiving window 9 ... Strobe light emitting window 10 ... Viewfinder body frame 11 ... Cam Plate 30 ... First group lens 38 ... Second group lens 39 ... Cam ring 43 ... Fixed frame 51 ... CPU 52 ... Viewfinder / zoom setting position detection circuit 60 ... Zoom position detection mechanism 70 ... Viewfinder section 71 ... Viewfinder optical system

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] September 3, 1992

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0008

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As shown in the figure, the camera is a camera body.
1 Setting 'disposed on one side of the upper surface of the zoom switch knob 3 for changing the focal length' on the telephoto side T, accordingly, is disposed on the front center of the camera body 1 ' a state of the photographing lens barrel 5 'is fed forward.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0010] First, the photographer turns on the power supply of the control circuit of the camera by opening the 'barrier is disposed openably in front 2' (see FIG. 18) the camera body 1 (step S
61). Next, the zoom switching knob 3 ' (see FIG. 18) is operated to set a desired visual field range. At this time, the camera performs the zoom operation of the photographing optical system in the lens barrel.
In, it is common to the zooming operation of the viewfinder optical system in conjunction with the zoom operation of the imaging optical system (step S62).

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

After this, the photographer releases the release button 4 ' (see FIG. 18).
(See step S63), the camera performs photometry and distance measurement (step S64), focusing (step S65), and then opens and closes the shutter to expose the film surface (step S66). Ko
Wind up (step S67). And the photographer
Operate the dome switching knob 3'to move the shooting lens barrel 5 '.
(See FIG. 18) was in the retracted state (step S68), the photographic lens barrel 5 to turn off the Close 'is the barrier 2 After confirming that it is now collapsed state' camera body 1 '( Step S69).

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0045

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The inner surfaces of the first-group lens frame 31 and the second-group lens frame 35 respectively have first-group lenses 30,
The second group lens 38 is adhesively fixed. Then, the first group lens frame 31 includes the focus lens extension drive mechanism 5
7 around the optical axis of the first group lens 30 (see FIG. 14)
The rotation position of the first group lens 30 can be adjusted so as to be extended in the optical axis direction by this rotational movement.

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0046

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

A drive ring 40 having a gear 40a on its peripheral surface is fixed to the outer periphery of the tip end of the cam ring 39, and the gear 40a is mounted on the lens barrel zoom drive mechanism 56 (see FIG. 1).
(See 4) output gear. The cam ring 39 is rotated by the driving force of the lens barrel zoom drive mechanism 56. This cam ring 39
The rotational position of the zoom encoder 42 is the rotational position of the zoom encoder 42 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rear portion of the cam ring 39 and formed of, for example, a resistance pattern.
The zoom position detecting mechanism 60 (see FIG. 14) arranged in the vicinity of can read the information. The zoom encoder 42 may use a gray code, a magnetic tape or the like in addition to the resistance pattern.

[Procedure Amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0047

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The first-group cam groove 39a and the second-group cam groove 39b are both formed by a cam groove formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cam ring 39, and the cam grooves 39a and 39b are partially formed. Is an assembly hole 39c that vertically penetrates the cam groove,
39d is provided. The holes 39c and 39d are through holes for assembling and fixing the first group pin 36 and the second group pin 37 to the first group lens outer frame 29 and the second group lens frame 35, respectively. Penetrates through the hole and is screwed to the lens frames 29 and 35 from the outside.

[Procedure Amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0049

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As shown in the drawing, the first and second group cam grooves 39
Reference characters a and 39b are mountain-shaped curves with the apex at the position where the cam ring 39 is rotated about half way (the position at an angle of 180 ° in the drawing), and the cam ring 39 is driven by the lens barrel zoom drive mechanism 56 in the figure. When rotated in the direction of arrow Y , the guide groove 4 of the fixed frame 43
The 1st group pin 36 and the 2nd group pin 37 guided by 3a are moved along the 1st group 2nd group cam grooves 39a and 39b, respectively, and move to the optical axis direction shown by arrow Z in the figure. As a result, the first group lens outer frame 29 and the second group lens frame 35 to which the first group pin 36 and the second group pin 37 are respectively fixed are
Moves in the optical axis direction along the main shaft 44 and the guide shaft 45, the first lens group 30 and second lens 38 in the optical axis direction
The focal length as the taking lens changes due to the change in the position .

[Procedure Amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0050

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

When the first-group pin 36 and the second-group pin 37 are in the position of reference numeral A in the drawing (this position is the reference angle of 0 ° in the rotation direction), the first-group lens outer frame 29, the second-group lens The frame 35 is in the retracted state, which is located closest to the rear in the optical axis direction, and the state inside the taking lens barrel 5 at this time is shown in FIG. The pins 36 and 37 are the above-mentioned symbols A
When it is at the position of symbol B slightly rotated from the position of, the first lens group outer frame 29 and the second lens group frame 35 are in a wide state, and the state inside the taking lens barrel 5 at this time is shown. 11 shows. When the pins 36 and 37 are at the position of the symbol C, that is, at a position rotated by about 90 ° with respect to the position of the symbol A, the first group lens outer frame 29 and the second group lens frame 3
5 is in standard condition.

[Procedure Amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0064

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As shown in the drawing, the first group cam groove 39a 'is
While the cam ring 39 'draws a mountain-shaped curve with the apex at a position about half a turn (a position slightly larger than the angle of 180 ° in the figure), the second group cam groove 39b' has the apex at the above position. And the cam ring 39 ′ on the left side of the drawing has a rotation angle of 0 ° to
When it is located at about 180 °, it is formed in a step-like shape that rises to the right, and the cam ring 39 'on the right side of the drawing has a rotation angle of about 180 °.
When it is located at 360 °, it is formed in a slanting cam groove having a substantially straight downward slope. Then, like the camera of the first embodiment, when the cam ring 39 'is rotated in the direction of the arrow Y'in the figure by the driving force of the lens barrel zoom drive mechanism 56, the cam ring 39' is guided by the guide groove 43a of the fixed frame 43. Group pin 36 '
And the second group pin 37 'are provided with the first group cam grooves 39a', 39 '.
It is pushed along b ′ and moves in the optical axis direction indicated by arrow Z ′ in the figure. As a result, the first group pin 36 'and the second group pin 3
First group lens outer frames 29, 2 fixed to 7 ', respectively
The group lens frame 35 moves in the optical axis direction along the main axis 44 and the guide axis 45, and changes in the positions of the first group lens 30 and the second group lens 38 in the optical axis direction cause a focal length as a photographing lens. Changes.

[Procedure Amendment 10]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Fig. 11

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

FIG. 11

[Procedure Amendment 11]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Figure 12

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Fig. 12]

[Procedure Amendment 12]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Fig. 18

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

FIG. 18

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A photographic optical system whose focal length can be changed, a finder optical system whose visual field range can be changed according to an operation of a photographer, and a visual field range detecting means for detecting the visual field range of this finder optical system. A focal length setting means for setting the focal length of the photographing optical system just before the exposure operation on the film surface to correspond to the visual field range at the time when the photographer performs the release operation. camera.