JPH0618974A - Camera with data imprinting function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To imprint data without degrading quality for a photograph. CONSTITUTION:A control means 32 comparing information from photometry means (AE sensor 2 and AE circuit 34) with an exposure by the control of a shutter, executed by an exposure control means, and controlling a light quantity for imprinting by a data imprinting means 12 based on the result of the comparison, is provided, photometric information obtained by the photometry means 2 and 34 is compared with the exposure by the actual control of the shutter, and when there is a difference between them, the light quantity for imprinting by the data imprinting means 12 is changed, according to the difference.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a camera with a data imprinting function, which is equipped with a data imprinting means for imprinting data on a film surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, the exposure control of a camera is performed by measuring the brightness of a subject and controlling the opening of a shutter based on the measured data so that the exposure amount becomes appropriate.

This type of camera generally has a function of imprinting data such as date on a film by means of a transmissive LCD or LED, and the quantity of light for imprinting is optimized by the film sensitivity or the like. ing.

[0004]

However, even with a camera having an exposure control function as described above, when the number of shutter opening control points is small due to factors such as cost, subject brightness measurement (hereinafter referred to as photometry). ) Shows an accurate value, an error may occur in the shutter opening amount, so that the exposure on the film may slightly deviate from the proper amount. FIG. 20 shows this state, that is, an example of the difference between the proper exposure time and the shutter opening time.

For this reason, the above-mentioned deviation of the exposure amount is corrected by the laboratory at the time of printing and is properly finished to the subject brightness. On the other hand, the data such as date imprinted with an appropriate amount of light at the time of photographing is in this case. The correction resulted in improper prints of over or under, resulting in poorly visible prints with bleeding, crosstalk, or insufficient light in the data area.

Another problem will be described.

As described above, the conventional camera is generally provided with an exposure control function and a data imprinting function, but in addition to this, it is suitable for photographing a low-luminance subject such as a night view. Some cameras have a shutter opening function for long seconds or a valve function.

However, the state of performing long-time shooting or bulb shooting as in the above-described conventional example is when shooting a dark subject such as a night view, and when only the main subject is bright due to flash emission or the like, the background, so-called data imprinting is performed. Since the subject at the position is dark, the data part may be too conspicuous.

Further, if the underexposure, which is often the case in dark subject photography, is optimized by burning in the laboratory at the time of over-exposure during printing, the data optimized during imprinting based on film sensitivity will be over-printed, and cross It will result in poor quality photos with talk and bleeding.

In the case of bulb photography, it is often not necessary to imprint data in scenes such as nightscapes, fireworks, stars, etc., but when forgetting to stop the data imprinting function at the time of photography. Etc., the quality as a photograph may be deteriorated due to the above crosstalk.

In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera with a data imprinting function, which is capable of imprinting data without deteriorating the quality of a photograph.

[0012]

The present invention compares the information from the photometric means with the exposure amount by the shutter control performed by the exposure control means, and based on the result of this comparison, the quantity of light projected by the data imprinting means. A control means is provided to control the photometric information obtained by the photometric means and the exposure amount obtained by the actual shutter control. If there is a difference between them, the data imprinting means imprints the data according to the difference. I try to change the amount of light.

Further, a discriminating means for discriminating the exposure time at the time of photographing and a control means for controlling the amount of light projected by the data imprinting means on the basis of the discrimination result are provided, and the data imprinting means performs the imprinting according to the exposure time. I am trying to change the light intensity.

[0014]

1 to 7 show a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic internal configuration diagram of a camera in the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a taking lens unit in which the taking lens system is unitized, and 2 is an A for performing photometry.
An E sensor, 3 is a shutter for controlling the exposure amount according to photometric data at the time of shooting, and 4 is a film cartridge for accommodating the film 5 and having a film information display portion (hereinafter referred to as a DX display portion) such as film sensitivity and number of sheets. , 6 is a perforation provided in the film 5, 7 is a photoreflector used when the perforation 6 is detected and the film 5 is fed at a constant distance, 8 is a film feeding motor arranged in a spool, and 9 is A gear train for switching winding and rewinding of the film 5, 10 is a rewinding fork, 11 is a DX contact piece for taking in information from the DX display portion of the film cartridge 4, and 12 is information such as date on the film 5. This is a data imprinting unit that imprints data.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the data imprinting unit 12.

The imprinting lamp 21 is turned on, the projection light of the lamp 21 is reflected by the mirror 22, and the imprinting L
The light enters the film 5 through the "bright" portion (imprint data portion) of the CD 23. As a result, data such as the date is imprinted at a predetermined position on the film 5.

FIG. 3 is an overall circuit block diagram of a camera having the above mechanism.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 31 is a battery serving as a power source, 32 is a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) for controlling the entire drive, 33 is a release switch for starting a photographing operation, and 34 is an AE sensor 2. An AE circuit for converting the received photometric information into data compatible with the microcomputer 32,
Reference numeral 35 is an AF circuit for performing known distance measurement (for example, by an active method), 36 is a feeding circuit for driving the film feeding motor 8, and 37 is "bright" detected by the photoreflector 7.
A pulse detection circuit for converting “dark” into pulses and sending it to the microcomputer 32, and a film counter 38 for displaying the number of shot images.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram for controlling the lighting of the imprinting lamp 21 in the data imprinting unit 12.

The microcomputer 32 causes an NP via a resistor 42.
By turning on the N-transistor 41, the imprinting lamp 21 is turned on. That is, the amount of light exposed on the film 5 is determined by the time that the microcomputer 32 is turned on.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the operation of the camera having the above-mentioned structure, which will be described below. "Step 101" Whether or not the film cartridge 4 is loaded in the camera is detected by a film cartridge presence / absence switch (not shown), and the process proceeds to step 102 when the film cartridge 4 is loaded. [Step 102] Information such as the sensitivity and the number of frames of the film loaded through the DX contact piece 11 is fetched into the microcomputer 32. "Step 103" The imprinting time by the data imprinting unit 12 corresponding to the film sensitivity information captured in step 102 is set. [Step 104] The film feeding motor 8 is started by the feeding circuit 36 to start winding the film 5. [Step 105] The perforation 6 moving by winding the film 5 is detected by the photo reflector 7, and it is determined whether the first frame of the film 5 is set at the aperture (shooting screen position) of the camera according to the number of detections by the photo reflector 7. , Is set, the process proceeds to step 106. "Step 106" The film feeding motor 8 is stopped, the film winding is stopped, and the count of the film counter 38 is set to "1". "Step 107" It is detected whether or not the release switch 33 is turned on, and when the release switch 33 is turned on, the photographing operation described below is performed. "Step 108" The AF circuit 35 measures the distance to the subject by performing a known distance measuring operation. "Step 109" The AE sensor 2 and the AE circuit 34 measure the photometric information (subject brightness) by performing a known photometric operation. [Step 110] The shutter opening time closest to the proper exposure is selected from the shutter opening times which are predetermined based on the luminance information measured in step 109. “Step 111” The photometric information measured in step 109 is compared with the shutter opening time selected in step 110. If the exposure amount judged from the shutter opening time is larger than the proper exposure amount, the process proceeds to step 112, and vice versa. If it is less than the amount, the process proceeds to step 113, and if it is the proper exposure amount, the process proceeds to step 114. "Step 112" A correction time is added and reset so that the data imprinting time set in the above step 103 is lengthened. "Step 113" The correction time is subtracted and reset so as to shorten the data imprinting time set in step 103. "Step 114" The shutter opening / closing control is performed according to the shutter opening time selected in step 110, and the film 5 is exposed. "Step 115" Step 103, Step 1
12, or the data imprinting lamp 21 is turned on for the data imprinting time set in step 113 to imprint the data on the film 5. [Step 116] The film feeding motor 8 is started by the feeding circuit 36 to start winding the film 5. "Step 117" The perforation 6 is detected by the photoreflector 7, and it is determined whether or not one frame has been wound up based on the number of times of detection by this, and when it is wound up, the process proceeds to step 118. "Step 118" The film feeding motor 8 is stopped to stop film winding. "Step 119" The film counter 38 is incremented by "1". [Step 120] The film counter value counted up in the above step 119 is compared with the information on the number of photographable frames fetched in step 102. If the film counter value is less than or equal to the number of photographable frames, the process returns to step 107 to prepare for the next photographing. . If the number of frames that can be photographed is exceeded, it is determined that the photographing of all frames has been completed, and the process proceeds to step 121. "Step 121" The film feeding motor 8 is started in the reverse direction by the feeding circuit 36, and the rewinding of the film 5 is started. [Step 122] Whether or not the film 5 has been rewound into the film cartridge 4 is detected by the output of the photo reflector 7, and when the rewinding is completed, the process proceeds to step 123. "Step 123" The film feeding motor 8 is stopped and the film rewinding is completed. [Step 124] A film cartridge presence / absence switch (not shown) is used to switch the film cartridge 4 from the camera.
The film cartridge 4 by detecting whether or not the
Is removed, the process returns to step 101.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the data imprinting time in the first embodiment, which is the step 103, the step 112, or the step 11 as described above.
It will be appropriately set in 3.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 8 to 10 are views according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is basically the same as the first embodiment, and therefore the same parts are omitted. is there.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration for controlling the lighting of the imprinting lamp 21 in the data imprinting unit 12, 81, 82 and 83 being resistors and 84, 85 and 86 being analog switches.

As a lighting voltage of the lamp 21, a resistor 81,
Of the three voltage levels divided by 82 and 83, the analog switch 84 or 8 determines which voltage is used.
It is determined by the states of 5,86. After that, the NPN transistor is turned on through the resistor 42, the lamp 21 is turned on, and data is imprinted on the film.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation of the main part in the above structure, and the other parts are omitted since they are the same as in the first embodiment.

In step 111, step 109
The photometric information measured in step 110 is compared with the shutter opening time selected in step 110. If the exposure amount judged from the shutter opening time is larger than the proper exposure amount, step 203 is executed.
On the contrary, if the exposure amount is less than the proper exposure amount, the process proceeds to step 201, and if it is the proper exposure amount, the process proceeds to step 114. "Step 201" Only the analog switch 86 is turned on.
Then, the supply voltage to the lamp 21 is set to a low value. "Step 202" Only the analog switch 85 is turned on.
Then, the supply voltage to the lamp 21 is set to an appropriate value. "Step 203" Only the analog switch 84 is turned on.
Then, the supply voltage to the lamp 21 is set to a high value.

After that, the operations after step 114 described above are performed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the voltage applied to the imprinting lamp 21 in the second embodiment, which corresponds to steps 201, 202, as described above.
Alternatively, it is appropriately set in step 203.

In the first and second embodiments, the data imprinting time or the voltage applied to the imprinting lamp is changed according to the photometric information and the shutter control error. By controlling the imprinting time and the voltage applied to the imprinting lap at the same time and detecting the error between the photometric information and the shutter control in finer steps, more appropriate exposure control for imprinting data becomes possible.

According to the first and second embodiments described above, the proper exposure amount according to the brightness at the time of photographing is compared with the exposure amount by the actual shutter control, and the light amount of data imprinting is controlled by the comparison result. Therefore, even if the correction is made by the laboratory at the time of printing, the appearance of the data portion can be optimized.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 11 is an overall circuit block diagram of a camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.
Further, the mechanism shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 in the first embodiment is the same in this embodiment as well, so that the illustration is omitted here.

In FIG. 11, 39 is a valve switch for instructing valve control of the shutter 3.

12 and 13 are flowcharts showing the operation of the camera of the third embodiment of the present invention, which will be described below. "Step 301" Whether or not the film cartridge 4 is loaded in the camera is detected by a film cartridge presence / absence switch (not shown), and the process proceeds to step 302 when the film cartridge 4 is loaded. [Step 302] Information such as the sensitivity and the number of frames of the film loaded through the DX contact piece 11 is fetched into the microcomputer 32. "Step 303" The imprinting time by the data imprinting unit 12 corresponding to the film sensitivity information captured in step 102 is set. [Step 304] The film feeding motor 8 is started by the feeding circuit 36 to start winding the film 5. [Step 305] The perforation 6 that moves by winding up the film 5 is detected by the photo reflector 7, and it is determined whether the first frame of the film 5 is set at the aperture (shooting screen position) of the camera based on the number of detections by the photo reflector 7. , Is set, the process proceeds to step 306. "Step 306" The film feeding motor 8 is stopped, the film winding is stopped, and the count of the film counter 38 is set to "1". [Step 307] It is detected whether or not the release switch 33 is turned on, and when the release switch 33 is turned on, the photographing operation described below is performed. "Step 308" The AF circuit 35 measures the distance to the subject by performing a known distance measuring operation. [Step 309] The AE sensor 2 and the AE circuit 34 measure the photometric information (subject brightness) by performing a known photometric operation. [Step 310] The shutter opening time closest to the proper exposure is selected from the shutter opening times which are predetermined based on the luminance information measured in step 309. [Step 311] It is determined whether or not the shutter opening time selected in step 310 exceeds a preset long time determination time. If the shutter opening time is long, the process proceeds to step 313. If it is within the range, the process proceeds to step 314. "Step 312" The correction time is subtracted and reset so as to shorten the data imprinting time set in step 303. "Step 313" The shutter opening / closing control is performed according to the shutter opening time selected in step 310, and the film 5 is exposed. [Step 314] The data imprinting lamp 21 is turned on for the data imprinting time set in the above step 303 or step 312 to imprint the data on the film 5. "Step 315" The film feeding motor 8 is activated by the feeding circuit 36 to start winding the film 5. [Step 316] The perforation 6 is detected by the photoreflector 7, and it is determined whether or not one frame has been wound up based on the number of detections by the photoreflector 7, and when winding up, the process proceeds to step 317. "Step 317" The film feeding motor 8 is stopped to stop film winding. "Step 318" The film counter 38 is incremented by "1". [Step 319] The film counter value counted up in the above step 318 is compared with the information on the number of photographable frames fetched in step 302. If the film counter value is less than or equal to the number of photographable frames, the process returns to step 307 to prepare for the next photographing. . If the number of frames that can be photographed is exceeded, it is determined that the photographing of all frames has been completed, and the process proceeds to step 320. [Step 320] The film feeding motor 8 is started in the reverse direction by the feeding circuit 36, and the rewinding of the film 5 is started. "Step 321" It is detected by the output of the photo reflector 7 whether or not the film 5 is rewound into the film cartridge 4, and when rewinding is completed, the process proceeds to step 322. "Step 322" The film feeding motor 8 is stopped and the film rewinding is completed. “Step 323” The film cartridge presence / absence switch (not shown) is used to switch the film cartridge 4 from the camera.
The film cartridge 4 by detecting whether or not the
Is removed, the process returns to step 301.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the data transfer time corresponding to the shutter opening time in the third embodiment, which is set appropriately in step 303 or step 312 as described above. .

(Fourth Embodiment) FIGS. 15 to 17 are diagrams according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, which are basically the same as the above-mentioned third embodiment, and therefore different here. Only the part will be described.

FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration for controlling the lighting of the imprinting lamp 21 in the data imprinting unit 12, 81 and 82 being resistors and 84 and 85 being analog switches.

As a lighting voltage of the lamp 21, a resistor 81,
Which of the two voltage levels divided by 82 is to be used is determined by the states of the analog switches 84 and 85. After that, the NPN transistor is turned on through the resistor 42, the lamp 21 is turned on, and data is imprinted on the film.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the operation of the main part in the above construction, and the other parts are omitted since they are the same as in the third embodiment.

In step 311, step 310.
It is determined whether or not the shutter opening time selected in step 1 has exceeded the preset long time determination time. If the shutter open time is long, the operation proceeds to step 401. If it is within the long time determination time, operation proceeds to step 402. Transition. "Step 401" Only the analog switch 85 is turned on.
Then, the supply voltage to the lamp 21 is set to an appropriate value. "Step 402" Only the analog switch 84 is turned on.
Then, the supply voltage to the lamp 21 is set to a high value.

After that, the operations after step 314 described above are performed.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the voltage applied to the imprinting lamp 21 in the fourth embodiment, which is step 401 or step 40 as described above.
It will be appropriately set in 2. (Fifth Embodiment) FIGS. 18 and 19 are diagrams according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, which are basically the same as the third and fourth embodiments. Therefore, only different parts will be described here.

FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration for controlling the lighting of the imprinting lamp 21 in the data imprinting unit 12, which is turned on by the microcomputer 32 as compared with FIG.
The configuration is such that an analog switch 91 for controlling OFF is added.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing the operation of the main part of the camera in the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The operation in the third and fourth embodiments, that is, the same parts as in FIGS. 12 and 16 are the same. The step numbers are attached.

After photometry is performed in step 309, the process proceeds to step 501. [Step 501] Here, the state of the valve switch 39 is checked, and if it is ON, it is determined that the bulb photographing mode is set, and if it is not ON, the operation proceeds to step 301 already described, that is, step 310 → 311 → 401 → 341 → ... Or step 310 → 311 → 402 → 341 → ... "Step 502" Only the analog switch 91 is turned on.
And the applied voltage to the imprinting lamp 21 is 0 [V],
That is, the data imprinting function is stopped, and step 31
Go to 4.

When the valve switch 39 is ON,
That is, if the shutter control is in the valve state, step 3
The operation of 14 is different from the operation described in the third and fourth embodiments, but since it is not directly related to the present invention, its details are omitted.

According to the above third to fifth embodiments, the light amount of the imprinting lamp 21 in the data imprinting unit 12 is controlled according to the set shutter opening control time and the bulb photographing mode. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the unsightly appearance of the imprinted data on the finished photograph.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The information from the photometric means is compared with the exposure amount by the shutter control performed by the exposure control means, and the control means for controlling the projected light quantity by the data imprinting means is provided based on the comparison result. The measured photometric information is compared with the actual exposure amount by shutter control, and if there is a difference between them, the imprinting light amount by the data imprinting means is changed according to this difference.

Further, a discriminating means for discriminating the exposure time at the time of photographing and a control means for controlling the amount of light projected by the data imprinting means on the basis of the discrimination result are provided, and the data imprinting means performs the imprinting according to the exposure time. I am trying to change the light intensity.

Therefore, it becomes possible to imprint data without deteriorating the quality of the photograph.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main configuration of a camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a data imprinting unit of FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram for performing lighting control of an imprinting lamp in the data imprinting unit of FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing an operation of a part of the control circuit of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the operation of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a data imprinting time in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram for performing lighting control of an imprinting lamp in the data imprinting unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation of the main part of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a voltage applied to an imprinting lamp in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of the camera of the control circuit of FIG.

13 is a flowchart showing a continuation of the operation of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of data imprinting time corresponding to shutter opening time in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram for performing lighting control of an imprinting lamp in a data imprinting unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation of the main part of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of applied voltage to the imprinting lamp in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram for performing lighting control of an imprinting lamp in a data imprinting unit according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the operation of the main part of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a relationship between a proper exposure time and a shutter opening time in a general camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 AE sensor 3 Shutter 5 Film 12 Data imprinting unit 21 Imprinting lamp 32 Microcomputer 34 AE circuit 39 Valve switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A data imprinting means for imprinting data on a film surface, a photometric means for measuring subject brightness, and an exposure control means for controlling a shutter based on information from the photometric means. In the camera with the data imprinting function, the information from the photometric means is compared with the exposure amount by the shutter control performed by the exposure control means,
A camera with a data imprinting function, comprising control means for controlling the amount of imprinting light by the data imprinting means based on the comparison result. 2. A camera with a data imprinting function, which comprises a data imprinting means for imprinting data on a film surface, a discrimination means for discriminating an exposure time at the time of photographing, and the data transcription based on the discrimination result. A camera with a data imprinting function, comprising a control means for controlling the amount of imprinting light by the imprinting means. 3. The control means, as the exposure time becomes longer,
The camera with a data imprinting function according to claim 2, wherein the camera is a means for reducing the amount of imprinting light.