JPH06258682A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform diaphragm driving operation on a lens barrel side even in an interchangeable lens and a camera where a diaphragm is driven by a motor such as a stepping motor. CONSTITUTION:A focus preset switch SW2 is a driving switching means for switching a focus driving mode and a diaphragm driving mode. When the switch SW2 is turned off, the diaphragm driving mode is set, and when a focus preset ring is operated to be rotated, a motor-driven diaphragm device 20 is driven and further the diaphragm value is changed by the operation of a manual focus ring. By operating the switch SW2 provided in the interchangeable lens, the diaphragm device can be driven, so that the camera is operated much more easily than the conventional camera.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is capable of transmitting information between an interchangeable lens incorporating an electric diaphragm device and communication and control means, and the communication and control means, as well as transmitting diaphragm information relating to the electric diaphragm device. The present invention relates to an interchangeable lens camera including a camera main body having a main control unit capable of performing control.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an interchangeable lens and a camera that are diaphragm driven by a motor such as a stepping motor, the set value of the diaphragm value can be changed only from the camera side regardless of the automatic exposure state and the manual exposure state. , The diaphragm is driven by the release operation.

When the diaphragm is driven to check the depth, the diaphragm button set on the camera body is pressed,
Further, the depth is confirmed by operating the aperture value setting member of the camera body.

[0004]

However, the conventional camera described above has the following problems.

(I) When the diaphragm is driven to check the depth (especially when a large lens such as a super telephoto lens is used for hand-held photography), the diaphragm button provided on the camera body side with the left hand supporting the lens You have to operate
Therefore, there is a drawback that it is very difficult to use because the weight of the entire camera and the super telephoto lens must be supported only by the right hand.

(Ii) When the aperture value is narrowed down or the aperture value is changed, the aperture value changing operation member has to be operated with the right hand while pressing the aperture value button with the left hand, which is a troublesome operation.

(Iii) Even when photographing is performed using a tripod, the camera user usually puts his left hand in the vicinity of the super-telephoto lens where the manual focus ring and the A / M switching switch are provided. However, when checking the depth, the left hand had to be bothered to bring it into the camera body, so there was the drawback that speedy operation was not possible.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the inconvenience in the conventional single-lens reflex camera system as described above, and to operate the diaphragm even when a heavy lens such as a super telephoto lens is attached to the camera body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera configured so as to easily and quickly perform.

[0009]

In order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of conventional cameras, in the present invention, the focus preset switch provided on the interchangeable lens is a drive switching means for switching between the aperture drive mode and the focus drive mode. The aperture driving mode is selected when the focus preset switch is turned off, and the electric aperture device in the interchangeable lens is driven by rotating the aperture operating ring of the interchangeable lens in this state.

Therefore, in the camera of the present invention, since the diaphragm device can be driven by operating only the operation member provided on the interchangeable lens, the operation is much easier than that of the conventional camera, and the operation is quick. You can

[0011]

1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes an electric diaphragm device main body having a diaphragm driving step motor 21 incorporated therein, which is connected to a diaphragm driving circuit 22 and is connected to a lens side microcomputer 3 (hereinafter referred to as a lens microcomputer). It is connected.

The terminal S-MO of the lens side microcomputer 3 activates the diaphragm drive circuit 22 at a high level (hereinafter referred to as H level) and stops it at a low level (hereinafter referred to as L level). It is a stop terminal. S-DIR
The terminal is a terminal for controlling the direction of rotation of the diaphragm.
A signal for rotating the step motor 21 in the opening direction is output at the L level. Reference numeral 23 is a known aperture open detection switch.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a camera side microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a camera microcomputer), one of which is connected to a grounded switch SW _{1 which} is, for example, a distance measuring switch which is turned on by pressing the first stroke of a release button, and R ₁ is This is a pull-up resistor. When the distance measuring switch SW ₁ is turned on, the camera microcomputer 1 is activated, and a known distance measuring device for measuring the position of the object from this image shift produces data corresponding to the position of the measured object. Based on this, the correlation calculation is executed by the camera microcomputer 1 to calculate the defocus amount (that is, the deviation between the surface on which the object is imaged by the photographing lens (not shown) and the film surface (not shown)).

The camera microcomputer 1 transmits the defocus amount to the lens microcomputer 3 via the communication line DCL in synchronization with the clock pulse sent on the clock signal line CLK.

The lens microcomputer 3 performs a predetermined calculation to calculate the amount of extension of the photographic lens (not shown), and also calculates the amount of rotation of the motor 4 connected to the lens distance setting member (not shown) as the number of pulses, It is stored in the counter memory 31. Reference numeral 5 is an encoder having a known photocoupler, which is directly connected to the motor 4 and generates a pulse when the motor 4 rotates. Reference numeral 6 is a drive circuit for the motor 4.
A counter 7 counts the number of pulses generated by the encoder 5.

The terminal I ₁ of the lens microcomputer 3 is a data input terminal for receiving data from the camera microcomputer 1 via the communication line DCL, and the terminal I ₂ is a clock for receiving a clock pulse from the camera microcomputer 1 via the communication line CLK. Input terminal. The terminal O ₁ is a data output terminal for transmitting data from the lens microcomputer 3 to the camera side microcomputer 1 via the communication line DLC. The MO terminal is a motor start / stop terminal for starting the motor drive circuit 6 at H level and stopping it at L level. The DIR terminal is a motor rotation direction control terminal and outputs a signal for rotating the motor in the CL direction (clockwise rotation direction) at the H level and in the CCL direction (counterclockwise rotation direction) at the L level. The ROT terminal is a terminal for designating the rotation speed or rotation speed of the motor 4 according to the calculated rotation amount of the motor 4. The COUNT terminal is a terminal for receiving the number of pulses of the counter 7 that counts the pulses generated by the encoder 5 by the rotation of the motor 4, and as described above, in the normal AF mode, the encoder 5 input via the COUNT terminal When the number of pulses in (3) matches the data in the counter memory 31 of the lens microcomputer 3, the MO terminal is set to L level and the motor 4 is stopped. The RESET terminal is a terminal for resetting the contents of the counter 7, and is used when resetting the contents of the counter 7 when the power is turned on. When the motor 4 is stopped, the distance is measured by the distance measuring device 2 on the camera side, the in-focus state is determined, and if the in-focus state is determined, the motor 4 is not restarted. In this case, the motor drive operation is repeated from the above-described distance measurement.

The FP terminal is a focus preset terminal,
When the focus preset switch SW ₂ (hereinafter, FP switch) is turned on and the FP terminal becomes L level, the count value of the counter 7 indicating the current position of the lens distance ring as the lens distance setting member is stored in the memory 32.

[0019] RB terminal in the terminal to be L level by FP playback switch SW ₃ is turned on, the photographing lens distance to the lens position of the aforementioned stored in FP switch SW ₂ in response to the turn on of the FP regeneration switch SW ₃ The distance ring of the taking lens as a setting member rotates. That is, by turning on the FP reproduction switch SW ₃ , the FP counter memory 3
2 data is transferred to the counter memory 31, and the RB terminal is set to L level in response to the switch SW ₃ being turned on,
The motor 4 is rotated, the number of pulses generated by the encoder 5 is counted by the count 7, and the motor 4 is rotated until the data of the number of pulses stored in the counter memory 31 and the content of the counter 7 match. The MODE terminal is a terminal that becomes L level when the mode switch SW ₄ is turned on.
In response to turning on the E switch SW ₄ , the FP switch SW ₂
When turned on, the current position of the lens distance ring as the lens distance setting member can be stored.

When the MODE switch SW ₄ is off, the diaphragm drive mode is set and the FP reproduction switch SW
_In response to the turn-on of ₃ , the lens microcomputer 3 causes the switch S
The ON information of W ₃ is transmitted to the camera microcomputer 1 via the communication line DLC. The camera microcomputer 1 that received the data
The amount of light measured by a photometry circuit (not shown) of the camera is calculated in a known manner in consideration of factors such as film sensitivity, shutter speed, and aperture value to determine the number of aperture steps, and the communication line DCL
A diaphragm drive command is transmitted to the lens microcomputer 3 via.
The lens microcomputer 3 which has received the aperture driving command converts the number of aperture steps from the camera side into the stepping step of the step motor,
The S-MO terminal is set to the H level to activate the diaphragm drive circuit 22, the diaphragm rotation direction is specified by the S-DIR terminal, and the step motor 21 is rotated by an arbitrary amount. In other words, it is possible to set the specified aperture.

Reference numeral 10 is a manual focus ring equipped with a pulse generator, and 11 is a pulse counter S-COU.
It is input through the NT terminal.

Normally, when the manual focus ring is rotated and a pulse is generated, the lens microcomputer 3 performs a predetermined calculation to calculate the amount of extension of the photographic lens (not shown),
In addition, the rotation amount of the motor 4 connected to the distance setting member (not shown) of the lens is calculated as the number of pulses, and the counter memory 3
It is stored in No. 1 and the motor is driven as described above.

Further, when the MODE switch SW ₄ is OFF, the diaphragm drive mode is set, and the FP reproduction switch S
The diaphragm is driven as described above in response to the turning on of W ₃ .
At this time, only when the FP reproduction switch SW _{3 is} on and the aperture open detection switch 23 is on, the manual focus ring 10 is rotated, the generated pulse becomes the aperture drive amount, the lens microcomputer 3 detects the rotation direction, and the communication line DLC is set. Via the camera microcomputer 1. Upon receiving the data, the camera microcomputer 1 determines how many steps and in which direction (open side or small aperture side) the aperture should be set from the current set aperture value, and issues an aperture drive command to the lens microcomputer 3 via the communication line DCL. Send. Further, the aperture value of the camera side aperture value display unit (not shown) is changed.

The lens microcomputer 3 which has received the diaphragm drive command converts the number of diaphragm stages from the camera side into the step motor drive step, sets the S-MO terminal to the H level, and activates the diaphragm drive circuit 22 to execute the S-DIR. The aperture rotation direction is designated by the terminal, and the step motor 21 is rotated by an arbitrary amount. In other words, it is possible to set the specified aperture.

The operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flow chart of FIG. [Step # 1] When the power is turned on, the motor 4 and other drive units are reset to a stopped state. Also, the counters 7 and 11
Is set to zero by a reset signal from the RESET terminal of the lens microcomputer 3, and the internal memory and various flags of the lens microcomputer 3 are initialized.

[Step # 2] The lens microcomputer 3 checks the presence or absence of the FP reproduction flag indicating whether the FP operation is being executed. If the FP reproduction is not in progress, the process proceeds to step # 3 and the FP reproduction is already in progress. If so, step # 19
However, in this case, it is assumed that the FP is not in operation (FP is being reproduced).

[Step # 3] The mode SW ₄ is checked. When ON is the focus preset mode, the process proceeds to # 4. When SW _{4 is} OFF, the diaphragm drive mode is entered and the process proceeds to # 6.

[Step # 4] The presence or absence of the aperture flag is checked. The aperture flag is a flag that is generated when a request to drive the aperture is issued from the lens side to the camera side. When the aperture is narrowing down (open SW ON), either the lens side or the camera side This is a flag for determining whether or not. When there is no aperture flag, step # 1
2. If yes, go to step # 5. Wherein squeezing the hula tag check SW ₄ is in OFF, SW ₃ ON
This is a check for preventing the aperture flag from being generated in response to the, and then SW ₄ being turned on and leaving the aperture open.

[Step # 5] The aperture flag is cleared, and when the aperture is being narrowed down, an aperture open drive request is transmitted to the camera side. Open SW is used to determine whether or not narrowing down
It is performed by detecting the ON and OFF states of the. (Open S
The state of W detection is not shown here.) After the above processing is completed, the process proceeds to step # 12.

[Step # 6] Switch SW4 is OFF
In this case, the aperture drive mode is entered as described above, and first, the open SW is detected to check whether the aperture is open. Open SW ON is narrowing down, step #
Proceed to 9. The open SW OFF is in the open state, and the process proceeds to step # 7.

[Step # 7] FP reproduction switch SW ₃
Check the on / off status of. Switch SW ₃ is S
When W _{4 is} ON, that is, the focus preset mode, it serves as an FP reproduction switch, and when SW _{4 is} OFF, that is, it serves as a diaphragm switch in the diaphragm drive mode.

When the switch SW _{3 is} OFF, the process proceeds to step # 19, and when the switch SW _{3 is} ON, the process proceeds to step # 8.

[Step # 8] Since the switch SW ₃ ON means that the photographer wants to narrow down, the diaphragm flag is generated, the lens microcomputer 3 transmits a diaphragm drive request to the camera side, and proceeds to step # 19.

After that, it has a diaphragm drive command from the camera. Actually, it is processed in step # 25.

[Step # 9] If the open SW is ON and the aperture is being narrowed down, the on / off state of the switch SW ₃ is checked. When the switch SW _{3 is} on, the aperture is continuously narrowed down and the process proceeds to step # 9A.

When the switch SW _{3 is} off, step # 1
Go to 0.

[Step # 9A] The manual focus ring 10 is rotated, the generated pulses are counted, and the rotation direction is determined. A diaphragm value change request is transmitted to the camera side from the rotation direction and the number of pulses. After the transmission, the pulse counter 11 is reset and the process proceeds to step # 19. If the pulse counter 11 is zero, then step # 1
Proceed to 9.

[Step # 10] The aperture flag is checked. When there is no aperture flag, the aperture drive request is not issued from the lens side and the aperture is narrowed down. Therefore, the aperture is narrowed down and the process proceeds to step # 19.

[Step # 11] When the aperture flag is present, the aperture flag is cleared and an aperture open drive request is transmitted to the camera side, and the flow advances to step # 19.

[Step # 12] Then, it is checked whether or not the driving of the taking lens is prohibited by the communication with the camera microcomputer 1. If it is not prohibited, the process proceeds to step # 13, and if it is prohibited, the process proceeds to step # 17. The operation of step # 12 has a function of preventing the lens side from inadvertently operating when the camera side is locked.

[Step # 13] FP reproduction switch SW
Check the on / off state of ₃ . If the switch SW ₃ is already turned on to execute the FP operation, the process proceeds to step # 14 to start the FP operation, and if it is off, the process proceeds to step # 15 to prepare for the FP operation.

[Step # 14] The FP reproducing operation is started. The FP reproducing flag is set and the data in the FP counter memory 32 is transferred to the counter memory 31. The motor drive circuit 6 is controlled so that the value of the counter 7 matches the data of the counter memory 31 inside the lens side microcomputer 3.

[Step # 15] The FP switch SW ₂ is checked. If the switch SW ₂ is on, the process proceeds to step # 16, and if it is off, the process proceeds to step # 17.

[Step # 16] In step # 16, the position of the distance ring (not shown) of the taking lens is shown. The value of the counter 7 is read and stored in the FP counter memory 32 of the lens side microcomputer 3.

[Step # 17] By communication between the camera microcomputer 1 and the lens microcomputer 3, it is checked whether or not an instruction to drive the motor 4 has been given. If there is a motor drive instruction, the process proceeds to step # 18, and if not, step # 1.
Proceed to 9.

[Step # 18] The lens microcomputer 3
The added value of the motor drive amount according to the defocus amount transmitted from the camera microcomputer 1 and the count value of the counter 7 at that time is stored in the counter memory 31, and the value of the counter 7 matches the data of the counter memory 31. The motor drive circuit 6 is controlled so that

[Step # 19] It is checked whether there is a stop instruction by communication. If there is a stop instruction, the process proceeds to step # 22, and if not, the process proceeds to step # 20. This is used, for example, to stop the driving of the motor 4 when the shutter is actuated by release or the like.

[Step # 20] It is checked whether the motor 4 is being driven. If it is driving, the process proceeds to step # 21, and if it is stopped, the process proceeds to step # 24.

[Step # 21] The completion of driving the motor 4 is checked. If the value of the counter 7 matches the data of the counter memory 31, the driving is completed and the process proceeds to step # 22. If they are not the same, the process proceeds to step # 23.

[Step # 22] The motor driving circuit 6 is operated by setting the MO terminal of the lens side microcomputer 3 to the L level.
Stops the motor 4. Further, at this time, the FP reproducing flag is reset.

[Step # 23] Motor drive control is performed. To briefly explain the control method, the counter 7
Depending on whether the difference between the counter memory 31 and the counter memory 31 is positive or negative.
Drive direction is transmitted to the drive circuit 6 through the DIR terminal. Further, the number of rotations of the motor 4 is designated by the ROT terminal according to the magnitude of the absolute value of the difference between the counter 7 and the counter memory 31. When the absolute value of the difference is large, the high rotational speed is designated, and when the absolute value is small, the low rotational speed is designated, whereby the motor 4 can be smoothly stopped.

[Step # 24] It is checked whether there is command communication from the camera other than focus drive. When there is a diaphragm drive command or the like, the process proceeds to step 25 to drive.
If not, return to step # 2.

[Step # 25] Processing of commands other than motor drive is started.

[0054]

As described above, in the camera of the present invention, the diaphragm drive can be operated from the lens side, and especially in the case of a super telephoto lens in which the left hand must be attached to the lens and used, This has the effect of eliminating the hassle of having to move the left hand to the camera side to operate the aperture button when checking the depth.

There is also an effect that the aperture value can be set from the lens side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an embodiment of a camera according to the present invention.

2 is a flowchart showing a control operation performed in the configuration shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... camera microcomputer 2 ... distance measuring device 3 ... lens side microcomputer 4 ... motor 5 ... Encoder SW ₂ ... focus preset switch SW ₃ ... FP regeneration switch SW ₄ ... mode switch 20 ... electric throttle device 22 ... stop driver 23 ... Aperture open detection switch 10 ... Manual focus ring 11 ... Pulse counter

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A camera body having a built-in main control device for controlling the entire camera, an electric diaphragm device, a rotary operation type first narrowing operation member, and a first numbering operation member according to a rotation amount of the first narrowing operation member. An exchange that has a means for generating one output signal and a sub-control device that has a function of driving and controlling the electric diaphragm device and performing information communication with the main control device, and is detachable from the camera body. In the camera constituted by a lens, the interchangeable lens includes a drive switching means for switching between a focus mode and an aperture drive mode, a second aperture operation member, and a second aperture operation member according to an operation of the second aperture operation member. Second output signal generating means for generating an output signal is provided, and when the second narrowing operation member is operated while the drive switching means is in the diaphragm drive mode. The sub-control unit transmits the second output signal to the main control unit, and the main control unit transmits an aperture driving command based on the second output signal to the sub-control unit. A camera, wherein the device is configured to drive and control the electric aperture device.