JPH0627366A - Ranging device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The intended macro shooting is performed without repeatedly operating the switch for starting the distance measurement. When the macro distance measuring mode is set by the distance measuring mode setting means 4, the distance measuring means 1 is repeatedly instructed to perform the distance measuring operation while the distance measuring start switch 5 is being operated. The control means 2 is provided so that the distance measuring operation is continuously performed while the distance measuring start switch is operated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a distance measuring device arranged in a camera and capable of macro distance measuring.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in addition to a normal photographing range, a camera capable of performing close-up photographing (hereinafter referred to as macro photographing) has been commercialized in recent years.

[0003]

However, the above distance measuring device has the following problems.

1) Since the depth of field in macro photography is shallow, it is unlikely that the distance will be within the depth of field in the conventional one-time distance measurement, and the switch SW1 is turned on and off every time.
However, I had to remeasure the distance.

2) In the macro distance measurement, there was no display inside or outside the focusing range. Further, in order to realize this, normally three display devices are required to display the states of the in-focus range, the near side, and the far side,
The cost is high.

(Object of the Invention) A first object of the present invention is to provide a distance measuring apparatus capable of performing an intended macro photographing without repeatedly operating a distance measuring start switch. Is.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a distance measuring device which can inform the distance measuring result for each macro distance measuring.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a distance measuring device which can inform the state of the obtained distance measuring result in more detail without increasing the cost.

[0009]

According to the present invention, when the macro distance measuring mode is set by the distance measuring mode setting means,
While the switch for starting the distance measurement is operated, the distance measuring means is provided with control means for repeatedly instructing the distance measuring operation, and while the switch for starting the distance measurement is operated, the distance measuring operation is continuously performed. I'm trying to get it done.

Further, according to the present invention, display means for displaying the distance measurement result obtained by the distance measurement means is provided to display the macro distance measurement result.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a single display means for displaying any one of in-focus, out-of-focus on the far side and out-of-focus on the near side in a different display form according to each state. The different distance measurement results are displayed on one display means.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below based on the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a distance measuring apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention incorporated in a camera. Reference numeral 101 indicates macro distance measurement in addition to normal distance measurement. Distance measuring means 102 is a microcomputer or the like, control means for inputting the distance measuring data from the distance measuring means 101, and 103 is a display means such as an LED controlled by the control means 102. Reference numeral 104 is a switch for setting a distance measurement mode for setting the normal distance measurement mode or the macro distance measurement mode, 105 (SW1) is a switch which is turned on in association with the first stroke of a release button of a camera (not shown), 106 (SW2) ) Is a release switch that is turned on in association with the second stroke of the release button.

Next, the operation of the main part of the control means 102 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. [Step 1] It is determined whether or not the switch SW1 is turned on, and when it is turned on, the process proceeds to step 2. [Step 2] The state of the switch 4 is checked to determine whether the current distance measuring mode is the normal distance measuring mode or the macro distance measuring mode. If the current distance measuring mode is the normal distance measuring mode, the process proceeds to step 3 to select the macro distance measuring mode. If so, proceed to step 8. [Step 3] Here, the distance measuring means 101 is instructed to measure the distance in the normal photographing range, and this distance measuring result is fetched. [Step 4] The distance measurement result is output to the display unit 103 and displayed here. [Step 5] It is determined whether the switch SW1 is still ON, and if it is ON, the process proceeds to step 6,
If it is turned off, the process returns to step 1. [Step 6] It is determined whether or not the release switch SW2 is turned on, and if it is still off, the process returns to step 5, and if it is confirmed that it is turned on, the process proceeds to step 7. [Step 7] Here, the photographing lens (not shown) is driven based on the result of the distance measurement, and the switch S
Shutter control and film feeding are performed based on the photometric information obtained when W1 is turned on. That is, a known photographing operation is performed.

If the current distance measuring mode is the macro distance measuring mode in step 2, the process proceeds to step 8 as described above. [Step 8] Here, the distance measuring means 101 is instructed to measure the distance in the macro photographing range, and the distance measuring result is fetched. [Step 9] The distance measurement result is output to the display unit 103 and displayed here. The display control here will be described later. [Step 10] It is determined whether or not the release switch SW2 is turned on, and if it is kept off, step 11
If it is confirmed that it is turned on, the process proceeds to step 7 above. [Step 11] Here, in order to extend the continuous distance measurement interval, the process waits here for a predetermined time and then returns to step 1. That is, in the case of an active type distance measuring device that projects infrared light onto a subject and receives the reflected light to measure the distance, if the continuous distance measurement interval becomes too short, power consumption increases and Therefore, by waiting for a predetermined time in step 11, the continuous distance measurement interval is widened to prevent the above inconvenience.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the "display" subroutine executed in step 9 above. When the "display" subroutine is called in step 9 of FIG. 2, the operation from step 21 is started. [Step 21] It is determined whether or not the distance measurement result obtained by the distance measuring means 101 is within the in-focus range,
If it is out of the focus range, the process proceeds to step 22, and if it is within the focus range, the process proceeds to step 23. [Step 22] Here, display means (LED) 103
Is turned off, that is, turned off. [Step 23] Here, the display means 103 is turned on, that is, turned on.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the above display control state, in which the horizontal axis indicates distance (∞ on the left side, close to the right side), and the vertical axis indicates the drive signal (ON, OF) of the display means 103.
F).

By performing the display control as shown in FIG. 3 above, if the macro distance measurement result is within the in-focus range, the display means 1 is displayed.
A lighting display is made at 03, and if it is out of the focusing range (far side or near side), it is in a non-lighting state.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an operation corresponding to the "display" subroutine performed in step 9 of the first embodiment of the distance measuring apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. is there. The other operations and circuit configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and are omitted here. [Step 31] It is determined whether or not the distance measurement result obtained by the distance measuring means 101 is within the in-focus range,
If it is out of the focusing range, the process proceeds to step 32, and if it is within the focusing range, the process proceeds to step 33. [Step 32] Here, the display means 103 is driven by an ON / OFF signal at a predetermined interval and blinks. [Step 33] Here, the display means 103 is turned on, that is, turned on.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the above-mentioned display control state. As in FIG. 4, the horizontal axis indicates the distance and the vertical axis indicates the drive signal of the display means 103.

By performing the display control as shown in FIG. 5, if the macro distance measurement result is within the in-focus range, the display means 1
A lighting display is made at 03, and a blinking display is made if it is out of the focusing range.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the distance measuring apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention which corresponds to the "display" subroutine performed in step 9 of the first embodiment. is there. The other operations and circuit configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and are omitted here. [Step 41] Whether or not the distance measurement result obtained by the distance measuring means 101 is a value within the in-focus range, and if it is out of the in-focus range, whether it is the far side or the near side. If it is within the in-focus range, the process proceeds to step 43. If it is out of focus on the far side, the process proceeds to step 42. If it is out of focus on the near side, the process proceeds to step 44. . [Step 42] Here, the display means 103 is turned off,
That is, the non-lighting state is set. [Step 43] Here, the display means 103 is turned on, that is, turned on. [Step 44] Here, the display means 103 is turned on and off at a predetermined interval to blink.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the above-mentioned display control state. Similar to FIG. 4, the horizontal axis indicates the distance and the vertical axis indicates the drive signal of the display means 103.

By performing the display control as shown in FIG. 7 above, if the macro distance measurement result is within the in-focus range, the display means 1 is displayed.
At 03, a lighting display is made, and when the far side is out of focus, the non-lighting state is set, and when the near side is out of focus, a blink display is made.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an operation corresponding to the "display" subroutine performed in step 9 of the first embodiment of the distance measuring apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. is there. The other operations and circuit configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and are omitted here. [Step 51] Whether or not the distance measurement result obtained by the distance measuring means 101 is a value within the in-focus range, and if it is out of the in-focus range, it is the far side or the near side. If it is within the in-focus range, the process proceeds to step 53, if it is out of focus on the far side, the process proceeds to step 52, and if it is out of focus on the near side, the process proceeds to step 54. . [Step 52] Here, the display means 103 is turned on and off at predetermined intervals and blinks. [Step 43] Here, the display means 103 is turned on, that is, turned on. [Step 44] Here, the display means 103 is turned off,
That is, the non-lighting state is set.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the above-mentioned display control state. Similar to FIG. 4, the horizontal axis indicates the distance and the vertical axis indicates the drive signal of the display means 103.

When the macro distance measurement result is within the in-focus range by performing the display control as shown in FIG.
The display is turned on at 03, and if it is out of focus on the far side, it is displayed blinking.

According to the above-described first to fourth embodiments, during macro distance measurement, as long as the switch SW1 is ON, the distance measurement is automatically and continuously performed. , It is possible to perform the intended macro photography without repeatedly turning on SW1.

Further, since the result of the macro distance measurement is displayed, that is, whether the result is within the in-focus range or out of the in-focus range, it is easy to confirm whether or not it is within the narrow in-focus range. You can

Furthermore, "focus",
Since the display of "out of focus on the far side" and "out of focus on the near side" is performed by changing the display form such as lighting, non-lighting, and blinking, the cost is increased. Instead, it becomes possible to know the state of the distance measurement result more.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the macro distance measuring mode is set by the distance measuring mode setting means, the distance measuring means is provided with control means for repeatedly instructing the distance measuring operation while the distance measuring start switch is being operated. The distance measuring operation is continuously performed while the distance starting switch is operated.

Therefore, it becomes possible to perform the intended macro photography without repeatedly operating the switch for starting the distance measurement.

Further, according to the present invention, display means for displaying the distance measurement result obtained by the distance measurement means is provided to display the macro distance measurement result.

Therefore, it is possible to inform the distance measurement result for each macro distance measurement.

Further, according to the present invention, a single display means for displaying any one of in-focus, out-of-focus on the far side, and out-of-focus on the near side by changing the display form according to each state. Is provided, and different distance measurement results are displayed on one display means.

Therefore, it is possible to inform the state of the obtained distance measurement result in more detail without increasing the cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration when a distance measuring device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is incorporated in a camera.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control means of FIG.

3 is a flowchart showing a "display" subroutine at the time of macro distance measurement in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between a distance and a display form when the display control of FIG. 3 is performed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a "display" subroutine at the time of macro distance measurement in the second embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the distance and the display form when the display control of FIG. 5 is performed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a “display” subroutine at the time of macro distance measurement in the third embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between a distance and a display form when the display control of FIG. 7 is performed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a "display" subroutine at the time of macro distance measurement in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between a distance and a display form when the display control of FIG. 9 is performed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Distance measuring means 2 Control means 3 Display means 4 Distance measuring mode setting switch 5 Switch (SW1) 6 Release switch (SW2)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A distance measuring device comprising a distance measuring mode setting means for setting a distance measuring mode of either a normal photographing range or a distance measuring on the near side, and a distance measuring means for measuring a distance to a subject. When the macro distance measuring mode is set by the distance measuring mode setting means, a control means is provided for repeatedly instructing the distance measuring means to perform the distance measuring operation while the switch for starting the distance measuring is operated. Distance measuring device characterized in that 2. A distance measuring device comprising a distance measuring mode setting means for setting a distance measuring mode of either a normal photographing range or a distance measuring on the near side, and a distance measuring means for measuring a distance to a subject. A distance measuring device comprising display means for displaying a distance measuring result obtained by the distance measuring means. 3. A distance measuring device comprising a distance measuring mode setting means for setting a distance measuring mode of either a normal photographing range or a distance measuring on the near side, and a distance measuring means for measuring a distance to a subject. When the macro distance measuring mode is set by the distance measuring mode setting means, control means for repeatedly instructing the distance measuring means to perform the distance measuring operation while the switch for starting the distance measuring is operated, A distance measuring device comprising: a display unit for displaying the distance measuring result obtained by the distance measuring unit for each distance measuring. 4. The display means is a single means for displaying any one of in-focus, out-of-focus on the far side, and out-of-focus on the near side in a different display form according to each state. The distance measuring device according to claim 2 or 3.