JPH11271596A - camera - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] When a focus detection area automatic selection mode is set in a multi-point AF camera, all the focus detection areas are lit and displayed, so that the subject cannot be seen. SOLUTION: A plurality of focus detection areas 51 to 89 are arranged in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction in a finder visual field to form a focus detectable range, and an area for performing a focus detection operation among the plurality of focus detection areas is automatically determined. In a camera capable of setting an automatic selection mode to be set, when the automatic selection mode is set, focus detection areas 66 and 7 farthest from the optical axis visual field (the center of the viewfinder visual field) in the outer periphery of the focus detectable range.
4, focus detection areas 51, 58, 66, 75, which constitute two linear portions facing each other in the horizontal or vertical direction.
83, 57, 65, 74, 82, and 89 are illuminated and displayed by superimposition or the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-point AF (autofocus) type camera, and more particularly to a camera capable of setting an automatic selection mode for automatically selecting a focus detection area to be AF.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a multi-point AF camera, when the mode is switched from a mode for arbitrarily selecting a focus detection area to an automatic selection mode, a camera capable of displaying that the automatic selection mode is set in a viewfinder is provided. Proposed.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 6-130481 discloses a focus detection area which is automatically selected from among focus detection area display sections 211 to 215 provided in a finder and focused by AF as shown in FIG. There has been proposed a device in which an in-focus region is notified by lighting and displaying an area display unit by superimposing.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-54675 discloses that
It has been proposed that, when there are five such focus detection area display sections, all five focus detection areas are lit to indicate that the automatic selection mode is set.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-109321 discloses a plurality of focus detection areas 221-2 as shown in FIG.
When the wide focus detection area 225 including the H.24 is set and the wide focus detection area is selected, only the wide focus detection area 225 is displayed and the focus from each focus detection area in the wide focus detection area is displayed. A camera that drives a lens so as to focus on the basis of detection data has been proposed.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-98236 discloses that
It has been proposed to increase the focus detection area.

[0007]

However, the multipoint A
When the range in which the focus can be detected by the F camera expands two-dimensionally (horizontally and vertically) and the number of focus detection areas increases, as in the camera proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-54675, the focus can be detected. If all the focus detection areas are illuminated and displayed when the automatic detection mode selection mode is set, the illuminated display makes the subject invisible and becomes cumbersome for photographing.

In the camera proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-109321, there is an error between the focus detection area where the focus detection operation is actually performed when the wide focus detection area is selected and the wide focus detection area. However, there is a possibility that even the subject in the display may be out of the focus detection target.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a multi-point AF camera having a plurality of focus detection areas having a two-dimensional spread, in which the automatic selection mode of the focus detection areas is set. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera which can be notified by a display and accurately display a focus detectable range.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a plurality of focus detection areas are arranged in the finder field in the horizontal and vertical directions to form a focus detectable range. In a camera capable of setting an automatic selection mode for automatically setting a region for performing a focus detection operation among a plurality of focus detection regions, when the automatic selection mode is set,
The focus detection areas constituting the two linear portions opposed to each other in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction including the focus detection area farthest from the visual field optical axis in the outer periphery of the focus detectable range are illuminated and displayed. .

According to this configuration, for example, when the focus detectable range is formed to be wider in one of the horizontal and vertical directions around the optical axis of the visual field (the center of the finder) than in the other direction, Since the focus detection areas constituting the two linear portions facing each other in the direction are illuminated and displayed when the automatic selection mode is set, the focus detection areas are displayed near the center of the finder and the subject is not visible. The photographer can be clearly notified that the selection mode has been set, and the focus detectable range can be accurately communicated to the photographer.

[0012]

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 and 2
1 shows a configuration of a single-lens reflex camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a viewfinder view of the camera.

1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a photographing lens. Although the drawing shows two lenses 1a and 1b for convenience, the lens is actually composed of a larger number of lenses. Reference numeral 2 denotes a main mirror which is inclined (mirror down) in the photographing optical path during finder system observation and moves out of the photographing optical path (mirror up) during photographing.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a sub-mirror that moves up and down together with the main mirror 2. The sub-mirror reflects a light beam transmitted through the main mirror 2 downward of the camera body when the mirror is down.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a shutter. Reference numeral 5 denotes a photosensitive member, which is formed of a silver halide film, a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD or a MOS type, or an imaging tube such as a vidicon.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a focus detection device, which includes a field lens 6a and reflection mirrors 6b and 6 arranged near the image plane.
c, a secondary imaging lens 6d, an aperture 6e, and a plurality of CCDs
And a line sensor 6f.

The focus detection device 6 according to the present embodiment uses a well-known phase difference method. The focus detection device 6 in the field corresponding to the positions of the focus detection area display patterns 51 to 89 in the finder visual field shown in FIG. Focus detection can be performed for 39 areas.

Here, FIG. 4 shows a state in which all display contents displayed in the viewfinder visual field are turned on.
The focus detection area display patterns 51 to 89 are 39 sets of line sensors CCD-0 to 39 for performing focus detection shown in FIG.
It corresponds to the CCD-38, and is arranged so as to be lit in the viewfinder field when the lens is focused or the focus detection area is selected, and is selected by turning on one or more of these focus detection area display patterns. Focus detection area can be displayed. Outside the finder field of view, there are provided a focus mark 30 illuminated at the time of focusing, a shutter speed display section 28, and an aperture display section 29.

It should be noted that the 39 focus detection areas allow:
A focus detectable range that is wider than the vertical direction in the horizontal direction around the optical axis of the visual field (the center of the viewfinder visual field) is formed.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a focusing plate arranged on a predetermined image forming plane of the photographing lens 1, and 8 denotes a pentaprism for changing a finder optical path.

Reference numerals 9 and 10 denote an imaging lens and a photometric sensor for measuring the brightness of each subject in the photographing screen, respectively. The imaging lens 9 is connected to the focusing plate 7 and the photometric sensor 10 via a reflection optical path in a pentaprism 8. Is related to the conjugate.

An eyepiece 11 is disposed behind the exit surface of the pentaprism 8 and is used for observing the focus plate 7 with the eyes of the photographer.

The main mirror 2, the focusing plate 7, the pentaprism 8, and the eyepiece 11 constitute a finder optical system.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a high-brightness LED that can be visually recognized even in a bright subject, and has a light emission center wavelength of 680 nm red. Reference numeral 22 denotes an LCD in which the positions of the 39 focus detection areas are patterned (hereinafter referred to as SI-LCD).
And L corresponding to the position where the focus detection area is selected
Only the CD pattern is in the transmission state. SI-LCD22
The light emitted from the LED 21 disposed behind the
The light passes through only the transmission pattern of the I-LCD 22, passes through the light projecting lens 23 and the dichroic mirror 24, and reaches the eyeball of the photographer through the eyepiece 11. Thereby, the photographer can visually check the focus detection area display pattern.

Here, the dichroic mirror 24 has a characteristic of reflecting light having a wavelength of 680 nm or more, and efficiently guides the light of the LED 21 to the eyes of the observer.
In addition, the light from the photographing lens 1 is observed by the photographer as a viewfinder image with almost no decrease in light amount.

Reference numeral 25 denotes an LCD in a finder (hereinafter, referred to as F-LCD) for displaying photographing information outside the finder field of view, and is illuminated by an illumination LED 26. F-
The light transmitted through the LCD 25 is converted by the triangular prism 27
As shown in FIG. 4, the light is guided out of the viewfinder. Thereby, the photographer can know various photographing information. 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes an aperture provided in the photographing lens 1, 32 denotes an aperture driving device including an aperture driving circuit 111, 33 denotes a lens driving motor, and 34 denotes a lens driving member including a driving gear and the like.

Reference numeral 35 denotes a photocoupler, which is a lens driving member 3
The rotation of the pulse plate 36 interlocking with No. 4 is detected and transmitted to the lens focus adjustment circuit 110. The focus adjustment circuit 110
The lens driving motor 33 is driven by a predetermined amount based on this information and the information on the lens driving amount from the camera side, and the photographing lens 1 is moved to the in-focus position. Reference numeral 37 denotes a mount contact which serves as an interface between a known camera and a lens.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as C) of a microcomputer built in the camera body.
The CPU 100 includes a photometry circuit 102, an automatic focus detection circuit 103, a signal input circuit 10
4. LCD drive circuit 105, LED drive circuit 106, shutter control circuit 108, and motor control circuit 109
Is connected. Also, a focus adjustment circuit 110 and an aperture driving circuit 111 arranged in the taking lens 1 are shown in FIG.
The signal is transmitted through the mount contact 37 shown by.

EEPROM 10 attached to CPU 100
0a has a storage function of storing various adjustment data.

The photometric circuit 102 amplifies the luminance signal corresponding to the brightness of the object scene sent from the photometric sensor 10, performs logarithmic compression and A / D conversion, and outputs C as the object scene luminance information.
Transmit to PU100.

The line sensor 6f includes 39 sets of line sensors CCD-0 and CCD- corresponding to the positions of the 39 focus detection area display patterns 51 to 89 in the finder screen.
It is a known CCD line sensor composed of CCD-38.

The automatic focus detection circuit 103 A / D converts the voltage obtained from the line sensor 6f and sends the voltage to the CPU 100.

SW-1 (12) is the first release button.
ON by stroke operation (half-press operation), photometry, AF,
This is a photometric switch that starts the line-of-sight detection operation. SW-
A release switch 2 (13) is turned on by a second stroke operation (full press operation) of the release button to start a shutter operation.

SW-DIAL1, SW-DIAL2 (1
Reference numeral 5) denotes a dial switch provided in an electronic dial (not shown).
4 is input to the up / down counter and used to count the amount of rotation click of the electronic dial.

The signals of these switches are supplied to the signal input circuit 1
04 and transmitted to the CPU 100 via the data bus.

Reference numeral 105 denotes a known LCD drive circuit for driving the liquid crystal display element LCD to display an aperture value, a shutter time, a set photographing mode, and the like in accordance with a signal from the CPU 100. LC
It controls the display on the D (F-LCD) 25 and controls the operation of the superimpose SI-LCD 22.

The LED drive circuit 106 includes an illumination LED
(F-LED) 26 and LED 21 for superimpose
(SI-LED) is turned on and off.

The shutter control circuit 108 controls the magnet MG-1 for running the front curtain and the magnet MG-2 for running the rear curtain when energized, so that the photosensitive member 5 is exposed to a predetermined amount of light.

The motor control circuit 109 controls a motor M1 for winding and rewinding the film and a motor M2 for charging the main mirror 2 and the shutter 4.

CPU 100, shutter control circuit 10
8 and the motor control circuit 109 execute a series of camera release sequences.

Next, the overall operation of the camera will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the camera is set to a predetermined shooting mode from a non-operation state (this embodiment will be described as being set to shutter priority AE), the camera is turned on (step # 100),
When the release button is pressed halfway, the switch S
Wait until W1 (12) is turned on (step # 1)
01).

When the signal input circuit 104 detects that the switch SW1 has been turned on, the CPU 100 performs mutual communication with the lens 1 mounted on the camera. Accordingly, lens information necessary for the camera to perform photometry and AF, for example, the opening FNO. And information such as the best focus position are transferred to the memory of the camera. Here, 39 sets of line sensors CCD-0, CCD-1, -CC
D-38 starts the accumulation operation of the field light and measures the image shift amount (defocus amount) at the present time (step # 10).
2).

Next, in order to perform focus adjustment, it is confirmed whether the focus detection area selection switch 14 is in the automatic mode or the manual mode (step # 10).
3). If the focus detection area selection switch 14 is set to the manual mode, the operation enters the focus detection area selection manual mode.

Here, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, when the photographer operates the dial switch 15 while the focus detection area display pattern 61 is illuminated, the illuminated areas move one by one. Thereby, the photographer can arbitrarily select one of the 39 focus detection areas (step # 105).
In this case, "SEL" is displayed on the shutter speed display section 28 and "AF" is displayed on the aperture display section 29 so that the display outside the finder field of view can be understood that the focus detection area selection mode is the manual mode. Is displayed.

On the other hand, when the focus detection area selection switch is set to the automatic mode, as shown in FIG.
Of the focus detectable range constituted by the two focus detection areas, the focus detection areas forming two linear portions opposed to each other in the lateral direction (that is, the focus detection areas farthest from the visual field optical axis) Display patterns 51, 58, 66, 75, 8)
3, 57, 65, 74, 82 and 89 are lit.

Thus, it is possible to clearly notify the photographer that the automatic mode has been set, and to accurately confirm the focus detectable range. In addition, since the display pattern that is lit and displayed is sufficiently away from the optical axis of the visual field, it is possible to prevent the subject from being difficult to see and causing the photographer to feel annoying.

At this time, the display outside the finder field is also performed by the shutter speed display unit 2 so that the focus detection area selection mode is set to the automatic mode.
8, a rectangular mark as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, and “AF” is displayed on the aperture display unit 29. The display patterns 51, 58, 66, 75, 83, 57, 65, 7 thus displayed.
4, 82 and 89 are turned off after a lapse of a predetermined time. In the automatic mode, a focus detection area automatic selection subroutine (step #) is performed based on the image shift amounts in the 39 focus detection areas.
In step 104), a specific focus detection area is selected. Several methods can be considered as an algorithm of automatic selection of a focus detection area. A near-point priority algorithm which weights a central focus detection area, which is known for a multi-point AF camera, is effective.

In this way, the focus detection area where AF is performed is determined by automatic selection by the camera or manual input by the photographer (step # 106).

Next, in the determined focus detection area, the automatic focus detection circuit 103 performs a focus detection calculation to determine whether or not the focus detection area can detect focus (step # 107). The CPU 100 sends a signal to the LCD drive circuit 105 to blink the focus mark 30 of the LCD 25 in the viewfinder, and warns the photographer that the focus detection is NG. On the other hand, if focus detection is possible and the focus adjustment state of the determined focus detection area is not in focus, C
The PU 100 sends a signal to the lens focus adjustment circuit 110 to drive the photographing lens 1 by a predetermined amount (step # 10).
8).

After driving the lens, it is determined whether or not the photographing lens 1 is in focus (step # 109).

If the photographing lens 1 is in focus in the determined focus detection area, the CPU 100 sends a signal to the LCD drive circuit 105 to send the signal to the F-LCD 25 and the SI-L.
It controls the CD 22 and also sends a signal to the LED drive circuit 106 to control the F-LED 26 and the SI-LED 2
By turning on 1, at least one of the display patterns 51 to 89 corresponding to the focus mark 30 and the focused focus detection area in FIG. As a result, the fact that the taking lens 1 is in focus and the position of the focused focus detection area are displayed.

At the same time, the CPU 100
2 to perform photometry (step # 11).
0). In the case of the present embodiment, an aperture value (for example, F5.6) 2 using a segment and a decimal point as the photometric calculation result.
9 is displayed.

Next, the SW determines whether or not the focus state and the photometric value in the determined focus detection area are acceptable by the SW.
1 (ON / OFF) (step # 111)
Furthermore, the release button is fully pressed and the switch SW
It is determined whether or not 2 is ON. If the switch SW2 is OFF, the state of the switch SW1 is confirmed again (step # 112).

If the switch SW2 is ON, C
The PU 100 transmits a signal to each of the shutter control circuit 108, the motor control circuit 109, and the aperture driving circuit 111. First, the motor M2 is energized to raise the main mirror 2, and the diaphragm 31 is stopped down.
To open the front curtain of the shutter 4. The aperture value of the aperture 31 and the shutter speed of the shutter 4 are determined from the exposure value detected by the photometry circuit 102 and the sensitivity of the film 5.

At a predetermined shutter time (for example, 1/12
5 seconds), the magnet MG2 is energized, and the shutter 4
Close the second curtain.

When the exposure of the film 5 is completed, the motor M2 is energized again, the mirror is moved down, the shutter is charged, and the motor M1 is also energized to advance the frame of the film. The process ends (step # 113).

Thereafter, the switch SW1 of the camera is turned on again.
(Step S101).

In the present embodiment, the case where the focus detectable range is formed by the 39 focus detectable regions has been described. However, in the present invention, the focus detectable range is formed by the other number of focus detectable regions. It can also be applied when it is done.

In this embodiment, the case where the focus detectable range is wider in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction has been described. However, in the present invention, the focus detectable range is wider in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction. Also applicable to cases. In this case, of the outer peripheral portion of the focus detectable range, two
The display pattern of the focus detection area forming the two linear portions is lit and displayed.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the automatic selection mode is set, the focus detection areas constituting two opposing linear portions including the focus detection area farthest from the optical axis of the visual field (the center of the viewfinder) of the outer periphery of the focus detectable range are lit and displayed. , It is possible to clearly notify the photographer that the automatic selection mode has been set without causing any adverse effects such as displaying near the center of the viewfinder and making the subject invisible, and also accurately capturing the focus detectable range Can be told.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the camera.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the camera.

FIG. 4 is a viewfinder view of the camera.

FIG. 5 is a viewfinder view when the focus detection area is manually selected in the camera.

FIG. 6 is a viewfinder view when a focus detection area automatic selection mode is set in the camera.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating display contents of a display in a viewfinder of a conventional camera.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining display contents of a display in a viewfinder of a conventional camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Photographing lens 6: Focus detection device 6f: Image sensor 7: Focus plate 11: Eyepiece 21: LED for superimposition 22: LCD for superimposition 23: Imaging lens for superimposition 51 to 89: Focus detection Area display pattern 100: CPU 103: focus detection circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of focus detection areas are arranged in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction in a finder visual field to form a focus detectable range, and an area for performing a focus detection operation among these plurality of focus detection areas is automatically set. In a camera capable of setting an automatic selection mode, at the time of setting the automatic selection mode, two cameras opposing each other in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction including a focus detection area farthest from a visual field optical axis in an outer periphery of the focus detectable range. A camera comprising display means for lighting and displaying a focus detection area constituting two linear portions. 2. The focus detectable range is formed so as to extend in one of horizontal and vertical directions about the optical axis of the field of view from the other direction, and wherein the two linear portions extend in the one direction. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the cameras face each other. 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the display unit performs superimposition display of a focus detection area.