JPS6134503Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a self-timer device for a camera, and more particularly to a self-timer device that automatically changes the delay time of the self-timer depending on the distance from the camera to a subject.

As is well known, when taking photographs, when the photographer joins the photographic subject, or when the photographer himself becomes the subject, a predetermined period of time elapses after pressing the camera's shutter release button. A self-timer device is used after which the shutter is automatically released. After pressing the shutter release button, the photographer moves from the camera position to the subject position during the time until the shutter release is delayed by the self-timer device, and moves within the camera image. After that, the shutter is automatically released, and a photograph is taken including the photographer.

By the way, in conventional camera self-timer devices, the self-timer delay time from when the camera's shutter release button is pressed until the shutter is released is, for example, 20 seconds.
The self-timer delay time was set to a fixed time such as 15 seconds, and no special means was provided to set the self-timer delay time to a desired time. However, some self-timer devices that mechanically determine the delay time have become able to change and set the self-timer delay time by adjusting the amount of movement of the self-timer setting member. Things were hot.

However, in the above-mentioned self-timer device where the self-timer delay time is always constant,
Even if the subject is far away from the camera, it is customary to set the self-timer delay time to a sufficiently long fixed number of seconds so that the photographer can move to the subject within the self-timer delay time. When photographing a close-up subject using a self-timer with a sufficiently long delay time, the photographer must press the shutter release button on the camera and move to the subject position. Even after the shutter is finished, the shutter may not be released easily, and the subject may move or the Bose may be accidentally set before the photo is taken, resulting in a photo with a composition different from the desired one. was.

In addition, in mechanical self-timer devices that can change the delay time of the self-timer by adjusting the amount of movement of the self-timer setting member, the self-timer setting can be adjusted according to the distance to the visually measured subject position. The desired delay time is obtained by adjusting the set movement amount of the component, but since both visual measurement of distance and adjustment of movement amount rely on the photographer's sense, it is not always necessary to use the self-timer that is optimal for the subject distance. There was no way we could get the delay time. Furthermore, there is also the problem that the shutter may be released before the photographer reaches the subject position. moreover,
Since the adjustment operation of the self-timer delay time is troublesome, there is a drawback that even the cram school instructor is prone to operational errors.

An object of the present invention is to provide a timing means for making the delay time of the self-timer variable, and to link this timing means to the distance setting means of the photographing lens of the camera, in order to eliminate the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks. The timer delay time depends on the distance to the subject.
To provide a self-timer device for a camera that is automatically set to an optimal time.

According to the present invention, when adjusting the distance of the camera to the subject, the self-timer device automatically sets a delay time appropriate for the distance to the subject, so the photographer and the subject do not have to wait too long. There is no longer a need to remain patient while the pose elapses. Therefore, the conventional disadvantages of moving impatiently during the standby time, wasting film and missing shutter starts are eliminated. Furthermore, by displaying the self-timer delay time set on the self-timer device externally, the photographer can know this delay time in advance.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a zone focus camera incorporating the self-timer device of the present invention. In this camera 1, the upper and lower parts of the camera body 2 are respectively closed by an upper lid-shaped decorative upper plate 3 and a lower lid-shaped decorative lower plate 4, and on the upper surface 3a of the decorative upper plate 3, From the left end to the right end, a film winding knob 5, a shutter release button 6, a self-timer selection button 7, a display window 8 for displaying the self-timer delay time, etc., and a film rewind knob 9 are arranged in sequence. has been done. Further, in the center of the right half of the front surface of the decorative top plate 3, an objective window 10 of a finder optical system is provided. A photographing lens barrel 11 is disposed at the center of the front surface of the camera body 2.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a self-timer device showing an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the photographic lens barrel 11 includes a fixed barrel 12 whose rear end is fixed to the camera body 2, and a helicoid male thread 12a threaded on the outer peripheral surface of the front part of the fixed barrel 12.
There is a helicoid female thread 1 screwed on the inner peripheral surface of the rear part.
3a, the distance adjusting cylinder 13 is arranged so as to be able to move forward and backward while rotating with respect to the fixed cylinder 12. a group photographing lens optical system 14;
It is comprised of a front group photographing lens optical system 15 disposed on the inner surface of the front end of the distance adjusting barrel 13.

The rear part of the distance adjustment cylinder 13 has an outer circumferential surface that is more raised and thicker than the front part, and a knurl is carved on the surface to form an operation part 13b for adjusting the distance (see Figure 1). It is becoming. and,
A stepped portion 1 is located on the inner peripheral surface of the rear end of the operating portion 13b.
3c is formed on the same step portion 13c, and a distance interlocking ring 18, which will be described later, controls the rotation of the distance adjusting cylinder 13.
A transmission member 16 for transmitting information is fixed by screws 17. As shown in FIG. 3, this transmission member 16 is formed of a T-shaped plate, and the legs extending from the middle thereof are bent rearward at an approximately right angle. It has 1 screw on both arms.
7 serves as a mounting portion, and the distal end of the leg portion serves as a transmitting portion 16a.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fixed cylinder 1
A step portion is also formed on the inner circumferential surface of the rear end portion of 2, and a ring-shaped distance interlocking ring 18 is rotatably disposed in the step portion. Further, in the same step part, a storage hole 12b into which a coil spring 19 for a click stop and a ball 20 are inserted is bored toward the rear. Ball 2 dropped into this storage hole 12b and biased by coil spring 19
0 is bored in the front surface of the distance interlocking ring 18,
For example, it is designed to fit into three recessed portions 18a for click stops. The number of the recesses 18a corresponds to the number of focus zones. Further, a notch 18b for receiving transmission is formed on the inner peripheral edge of the distance interlocking ring 18,
The notch 18b has a transmission portion 16a of the transmission member 16 that extends along the inner circumferential surface of the fixed cylinder 12 through an elongated play hole 12c bored in the fixed cylinder 12 substantially along the circumferential direction. are mated. Therefore, the rotation of the distance adjustment tube 13 is controlled by the transmission section 16.
The signal is transmitted to the distance interlocking ring 18 through a. Further, on the rear surface of the distance interlocking ring 18, a movable contact terminal of the timing changeover switch _SW1 is provided.
SW ₁ d is fixed by screw 21. This movable contact terminal SW ₁ d is formed of a conductive plate spring member having two bifurcated contact contacts, and its elasticity allows it to be used as a timing changeover switch SW _{1 d} . Each fixed terminal SW ₁ a, SW ₁ b, SW ₁ c
and common fixed terminal SW ₁ e, respectively. Fixed terminal SW ₁ a, SW ₁ b,
SW ₁ c and the common fixed terminal SW ₁ e are formed as a printed pattern on the front surface of the arc-shaped board 22 fixed to the camera body 2, and the fixed terminal
SW ₁ a, SW ₁ b, and SW ₁ c are formed sequentially on the same radius, and the common fixed terminal SWe is connected to the fixed terminals SW ₁ a,
It is formed long on a radius one circle smaller than the radius on which SW ₁ b and SW 1 c are arranged, and parallel to each of the fixed terminals SW ₁ a, SW ₁ b _, and SW ₁ c. Then, the lead wires 23 drawn out from the fixed terminals SW ₁ a, SW ₁ b, SW ₁ c and the common fixed terminal SWe
are connected to a self-timer circuit, which will be described later.

The camera 1 is a zone focus camera having a so-called front lens rotating focus adjustment mechanism, and when the distance adjustment barrel 13 is rotated to extend the front group photographing lens optical system 15, the camera 1 sequentially adjusts the focus to a distant view and a middle view. ,
Focus adjustment is performed in the order of the foreground. At each of the focusing positions for the distant view, middle view, and foreground, the distance adjustment cylinder 13 is click-stopped by the balls 20 fitting into the respective recesses 18a, and the distance adjustment cylinder 13 is operated. 1
The index 24 engraved on 3b and the distance mark 25 engraved on the outer circumferential surface of the rear portion of the fixed cylinder 12 are arranged to match each other. In addition, at the focusing positions of the distant view, middle view, and foreground, the fixed terminals SW ₁ a, SW ₁ b, and SW ₁ c of the time adjustment switch SW ₁ are connected to each other.
But through the movable single terminal SW ₁ d, the common fixed terminal
Each is connected to SW ₁ e in turn. Note that FIG. 1 shows a state in which focus adjustment has been performed on a near view.

Next, the self-timer circuit connected to the timing changeover switch _SW1 will be explained. As shown in FIG. 4, this self-timer circuit consists of the timing changeover switch _SW1 and
A diode matrix circuit DMC converts this into numerical information representing the self-timer delay time according to the switching position of SW ₁ , and receives the self-timer delay time information from this diode matrix circuit DMC and calculates the self-timer delay time. Presetter/predown counter PPC to control
, an oscillation circuit OSC that provides a reference pulse for counting the self-timer delay time to the presetter/predown counter PPC, and a solenoid drive circuit SDC that operates upon receiving a signal indicating the end of the self-timer delay time from the presetter/predown counter PPC. And this solenoid drive circuit
A shutter opening solenoid L receives the output from the SDC and starts the shutter; a decoder/driver DD receives the self-timer delay time information from the diode matrix circuit DMC and converts it into a display signal; It receives the drive signal from the decoder/driver DD and displays the self-timer delay time. The display section DE is made up of two well-known 7-segment light-emitting display elements arranged in series, and the diode matrix circuit described above.
Connected to DMC, said self-timer selection button 7
(See Fig. 1) A normally closed delay selection switch SW ₃ is connected to the presetter/predown counter PPC and is linked to the shutter release button 6 (See Fig. 1). It consists of a delay time count instruction switch _SW2 .

As shown in FIG. 5, the display section DE is disposed corresponding to the display window 8 provided in the camera 1, and displays the self-timer delay time using a number within two decimal digits. It's becoming like that. Note that the reference numeral 26 is an instruction symbol indicating the display position of the self-timer delay time.

As described above, the self-timer device of the present invention is configured.

Next, the operation of this self-timer device will be explained together with the operation of the camera 1.

First, the photographer visually measures the distance to the subject position, determines whether the index 24 should be aligned with the distance mark 25 for near, medium, or distant view, and then adjusts the focus by rotating the distance adjustment barrel 13. . and,
When the index 24 is brought into alignment with, for example, the distance mark 25 for a close-up view, the front group photographing lens optical system 15 is extended to its maximum extension position, and the image of the close-range object can be formed on the film surface. Further, the rotation of the distance adjustment tube 13 is transmitted to the distance interlocking ring 18 through the transmission member 16, and one contact point of the movable arm terminal SW ₁ d of the timing changeover switch SW ₁ is connected to the fixed terminal SW ₁ a. and the other contact part contacts the common fixed terminal SW ₁ e, and both terminals
Shorted between SW ₁ a and SW ₁ e. Both terminals
A short circuit between SW ₁ a and SW ₁ e is detected by the diode matrix circuit DMC, and some of the diodes that make up the matrix can be turned on. It is in a position to generate numerical information representing time, for example, 5 seconds.

Subsequently, when the self-timer selection button 7 is pressed, the delay selection switch SW ₃ linked to the button 7 is opened, the operating voltage is supplied to the self-timer circuit, and the presetter pre-down is applied from the diode matrix circuit DMC. Self-timer delay time information is input to the counter PPC and decoder driver DD, respectively. The presetter/predown counter PPC presets and stores this self-timer delay time information, and the decoder/driver DD converts the self-timer delay time information into a display signal to display a display consisting of a 7-segment light-emitting display element. The section DE is driven to emit light. Therefore, the self-timer delay time of 5 seconds is displayed on the display window 8, allowing the photographer to know this.

Next, the shutter release button 6 is pressed, and the delay time count instruction switch linked with the button 6 is pressed.
When SW ₂ is closed, the presetter/predown counter PPC starts counting down the self-timer delay time that was preset when the delay selection switch SW ₃ was closed, based on the oscillation pulse from the oscillation circuit OSC. Since the photographer knows in advance that the self-timer delay time is 5 seconds from the light-emitting display on the display DE, he can move to the subject position during this time so that the subject is within the photographed image.

When the self-timer delay time counts down to zero, the presetter/predown counter PPC outputs an output to the diode drive circuit SDC, which operates to drive the shutter opening solenoid L. Therefore, the shutter is released and a photo is taken using the self-timer.

Furthermore, when the index 24 of the distance adjustment tube 13 is matched with the distance mark 25 for mid-range or distant view,
Fixed terminal SW ₁ b of timing changeover switch SW ₁ or
SW ₁ c is short-circuited to the common fixed terminal SW ₁ e and the diode matrix circuit DMC is in a position to generate numerical information representing the self-timer delay time for medium or long distance objects, e.g. 10 seconds or 15 seconds. Become. From now on, indicator 2
4 is matched with the distance mark 25 in the foreground. That is, the display section DE
The self-timer delay time of 10 seconds or 15 seconds will be displayed, and after pressing the shutter release button 6, the shutter will be released after this delay time of 10 seconds or 15 seconds has elapsed, and you can take a photo using the self-timer. will be carried out.

Also, if only the shutter release button 6 is pressed without pressing the self-timer selection button 7,
Since delay selection switch SW ₃ is not open,
At the same time as the delay time count instruction switch _SW2 , which also serves as a release switch, is closed, the solenoid drive circuit SDC is activated, the shutter release solenoid L is energized, and the shutter is released.
Normal shooting is performed.

In the self-timer device of this embodiment, the self-timer delay time information displayed on the display section DE is taken from the diode matrix circuit DMC, so that the time from the pressing of the shutter release button 6 to the shutter release is always Although the entire self-timer delay time is displayed, the self-timer delay time information that is being counted down by the presetter/predown counter PPC is input to the decoder/driver DD, and the remaining self-timer is displayed on the display DE. Of course, the delay time may also be displayed. In this way, even if the photographer spends time fumbling around the camera after pressing the shutter release button 6, he or she will know the remaining self-timer delay time, so he or she will know how quickly to move to the subject position. It is very convenient to know what is going on.

FIG. 6 is an electrical circuit diagram of a self-timer device showing another embodiment of the present invention. This self-timer device has a diode matrix circuit in the electrical circuit of the embodiment shown in FIG.
DMC, presetter/predown counter
While the self-timer delay time was obtained using PPC, oscillation circuit OSC, etc., the self-timer delay time was obtained using the CR timer circuit CRT. That is, the CR timer circuit CRT is connected between the timing changeover switch _SW1 and the solenoid drive circuit SDC, and the movable contact terminal _SW1d of the changeover switch _SW1
is sequentially switched to the fixed terminals SW ₁ a, SW ₁ b, and SW ₁ c, a short self-timer delay time for foreground, a medium self-timer delay time for mid-range,
Longer self-timer delay times for distant views are gradually becoming available. Also, CR timer circuit
A delay selection switch SW ₃ and a delay time count instruction switch SW ₂ are respectively connected to the CRT, and when the delay selection switch SW ₃ is opened, the CR timer circuit CRT is activated.

Further, the mechanical part of the self-timer device of this embodiment is constructed exactly the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 above. Although the display means for the self-timer delay time is omitted in the electric circuit of FIG. 6, it is of course possible to display the delay time.

According to the self-timer device of this embodiment configured in this way, similarly to the self-timer device of the embodiment shown in FIGS. Since switch SW ₁ can be changed, the optimal self-timer delay time can be automatically obtained depending on the distance to the subject.

In each of the above embodiments, the self-timer device of the present invention is installed in a zone focus camera having a front lens rotary focus adjustment mechanism. The camera to be obtained is not limited to the above-mentioned camera, and it goes without saying that any camera can be installed as long as it has distance setting means for the photographing lens.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the self-timer delay time is automatically changed using electrical means, but the self-timer delay time may be automatically changed using mechanical means. Of course.

Furthermore, although the self-timer delay time can be switched to the third stage corresponding to the focus zone, it is of course possible to switch over three or more stages or to switch continuously.

As described above, according to the present invention, the optimum delay time is set in conjunction with the distance setting means of the photographing lens of the camera, so that the longer the distance to the subject is, the longer the delay time is, and the closer the distance to the subject, the shorter the delay time. Since the self-timer delay time is automatically obtained, it is possible to provide a camera self-timer device that is extremely convenient to use and eliminates the conventional drawbacks mentioned at the beginning of the specification.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera incorporating the self-timer device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the self-timer device showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is an exploded perspective view of the delay time switching section of the self-timer device shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram of the self-timer device shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the delay time display section of the self-timer device shown in FIG. 6...Shutter release button, DMC, PPC,
CRT...delay circuit, SDC, L...electromagnetic drive source for shutter opening operation, 13...distance adjustment tube (shooting distance setting means), SW ₁ ...switching circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] a delay circuit that starts a timekeeping operation in response to the press of the release button; an electromagnetic drive source for shutter opening operation that operates in response to the output of the delay circuit upon completion of the timekeeping operation; a photographing distance setting means; and the photographing distance setting means. and a switching circuit that changes the time measured by the delay circuit, and is configured to increase the delay time if the distance to the subject is long, and shorten the delay time if the distance to the subject is short. timer device.