JP2695502B2 - Camera self-shooting method - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a self-photographing method for a camera, and more particularly to a self-photographing method for a camera having an automatic focusing function.

[Related Art] In general, when performing self-photographing, a self-timer that gives a predetermined time difference (for example, 10 seconds) from when a shutter release button is pressed to when a shutter actually operates is used.

Recently, some cameras can perform self-photographing using a remote controller.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, when using the self-timer, there is a problem that the user goes to a position where he stands and poses during a predetermined self-time, and the self-time is too long. is there. Furthermore, in order to measure the distance to the subject when a shutter release button is pressed, a general camera measures the distance by pointing the camera to the subject at the same distance as the position where the camera stands, and then changes the composition to use the self-timer. It was necessary to start, and it was complicated.

On the other hand, a camera equipped with a remote controller has the disadvantage that it is expensive and the camera is also large.

In addition, in recent AF cameras, in order to compensate for the drawbacks of active AF, a mode for fixing the subject distance to infinity (hereinafter referred to as INF mode) can be set by a distant view or night view control switch. .

The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a self-shooting method for a camera that can solve these drawbacks and can achieve consistency with the INF mode. .

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a self-shooting method for a camera having an automatic focusing function and an INF mode for fixing a subject distance to infinity, in which an auto-self mode is set by operating a self-shooting switch,
And when the INF mode is set, the INF mode is released, and the step of not accepting the setting of the INF mode while the auto self mode is set, and the shutter release switch is turned on during the setting of the auto self mode. Then, a step of starting a sequence for performing self-shooting in the auto self mode, a step of measuring a subject distance at the start of the sequence, and storing a first distance measurement data corresponding to the subject distance. After the first distance measuring step and the first distance measuring step, the distance to the object is measured at a constant cycle, and the second distance is obtained to obtain the second distance data corresponding to the object distance. A step of detecting the change in the distance measurement data by comparing the first distance measurement data and the second distance measurement data with each other; When the change of the distance measurement data is detected by, it is characterized by consisting of, executing a predetermined shutter release operation.

[Action]

The present invention is a self-photographing method based on the auto-self mode. Here, the auto self mode is AF
This is a mode in which a predetermined shutter release operation is automatically performed by using (auto focus) when the distance measurement data changes after mode setting. That is, the first distance measurement data measured and stored when the sequence for performing self-shooting in the auto self mode is started, and then,
The second distance measurement data obtained by repeatedly performing distance measurement at a constant cycle is compared, and when the distance measurement data changes, it is determined that the photographer has entered the photographing position. Then, a predetermined shutter release operation (for example, an operation of blinking the self-LED for 3 seconds and then releasing the shutter) is started from the time when the distance measurement data changes.

Since the auto self mode and the INF mode for fixing the subject distance to infinity are contradictory modes, the auto self mode is prioritized. That is, when the INF mode is set when the auto self mode is set, the INF mode is released and the auto self mode is set, and the INF mode setting is not accepted during the auto self mode. There is.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a self-photographing method for a camera according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the entire circuit of a camera to which the method of the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the circuit of the camera mainly includes a central processing unit (CPU) 10, an operation switch group 12, a photometric unit 14, a distance measuring unit 16, a shutter unit 18, a liquid crystal display unit 20, and the like. .

The operation switch group 12 is, for example, a main switch of a camera.
SM, shutter release switch SP, focus lock switch SPFL, self-mode switch SSELF, film manual rewind switch SMR, distant view or night view control switch SINF, option mode switch SOPT, tele operation control switch STELE, wide operation control switch SWIDE, etc. The outputs of these switches are added to the CPU 10.

The photometry unit 14 measures the brightness of the subject, and outputs a signal SHAE indicating the photometry data and a signal SHγ indicating the γ correction data of the photoconductive element of the photometry unit 16 to the CPU 10.

The distance measuring unit 16 measures the subject distance by triangulation,
The distance measurement data AFD is output to the CPU 10. That is, CPU10
Outputs to the infrared light emitting diode 30 a drive signal AFLED for causing the infrared light emitting diode 30 to emit light during distance measurement, and AF logic clock signals AFLCK, AF serial data AFSD, AF for driving the distance measuring unit 16. The serial clock signal AFSCK is output to the distance measuring unit 16. Here, the infrared light emitting diode 30 can emit a multi-beam of the beams L, C, and R according to a drive signal AFLED from the CPU 10 and a single beam of only the beam C. . The distance measurement 16 is AF serial data AFSD indicating a distance measurement command by the beams L, C, and R.
Distance measurement is performed by and the distance measurement data AFD is serially transferred to the CPU.

The shutter unit 18 is a stepping motor drive lens shutter that electromagnetically controls the opening and closing of the shutter blades, and is controlled by the stepping motor drive control signals SH0, SH1, SH2, and the FH magnet drive control signal SHAFMg applied from the CPU 10. To be done. That is, when performing shutter control, first, the AF magnet is excited by the AF magnet drive control signal SHAFMg to enable lens driving,
The stepping motor drive control signals SH0, SH1, SH2 drive the stepping motor to move the lens.
When a step position corresponding to the distance measurement data AFD measured in advance is reached, the AF magnet is demagnetized to enable shutter blade driving. Thereafter, when the stepping motor is further driven, the shutter blades are opened. Then, when the step position corresponding to the photometry data SHAE measured in advance is reached, the stepping motor is rotated in the reverse direction, the shutter blades are closed, and a series of operations is completed when returning to the initial position.

The liquid crystal display unit 20 has a self-timer display unit 22, film number display units 24A and 24B, a film feeding display unit 26, a battery warning display unit 28, etc., as shown in FIG. Required display is performed based on the control signal from the CPU 10. FIG. 2B shows the display contents of a mode in which a picture is taken after a predetermined time has elapsed after the shutter release switch SP is pressed (hereinafter, referred to as a normal self mode). FIG. 2C shows a display content of a self-photographing mode (hereinafter, referred to as an auto-self mode) according to the present invention, which will be described later. Is displayed, and "A" is displayed using the film number display section 24B. Further, FIG. 2D shows the display contents of a mode for taking a plurality of images in the auto self mode (hereinafter referred to as multi auto self mode). In the case of the multi auto self mode, the self-timer display section 22 is shown. Is displayed, "A" is displayed using the film number display section 24A, and the number is displayed using the film number display section 24B.

In FIG. 1, the CPU 10 outputs a signal SELFLED to the self-light-emitting diode 32 during the self-operation to control the lighting thereof. Further, 4-bit signals EA, EB, EC, and ED indicating the zoom position are added to the CPU from the encoder 34, and a signal SO is added from the 1-frame detection switch 36 every time the film is fed one frame. Film sensitivity detection switch 38
Is a 4-bit signal DX2, DX indicating the film's ISO sensitivity
3, DX4 and DX5 are added. Further, the CPU 10 outputs a date imprint signal X to the date imprint device 40, and further outputs a 3-bit motor drive signal MD0, MD1, MD3 to a drive circuit 42 for driving the zoom motor and the film feed motor.
Output MD2.

Next, the self-photographing method of the camera according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

The CUP 10 operates when the main switch SM of the camera is turned on, performs a key check of the operation switch group 12 at high speed, and when the key input changes, executes a process corresponding to the key.

First, the case where the key input from the option mode switch SOPT is changed will be described.

In this case, the switch SOPT is turned on first as shown in FIG.
It is determined whether it has been done (step 50). Switch SOPT
When the switch SOPT is turned ON to OFF, the process returns to the main routine (not shown), and when the switch SOPT is turned ON, the process proceeds to step 52. That is, the switch SOPT is a non-locking type push button switch, and when the switch SOPT is pressed, the process proceeds to step 52 when the switch SOPT is pressed. That is, the switch SOPT is a non-locking type push button switch, and when the switch SOPT is pressed, the process proceeds to step 52 when the switch SOPT is pressed.

In step 52, it is determined whether or not the current mode is the auto self mode, and if it is not the auto self mode, the auto self mode is set (step 54), and the current mode is the INF mode or not. The INF mode is released (step 56). On the other hand, if the current mode is the auto self mode, the auto self mode is released (step 58).

That is, if the switch SOPT is pushed one time when the current mode is not the auto self mode, the auto self mode is set and the INF mode is released, and if the switch SOPT is pushed once in the auto self mode, the auto self mode is released. To do.

Next, a case where the key input from the distant view or night view control switch SINF is changed will be described.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the switch SINF is turned on first.
It is determined whether it has been done (step 60). Switch SINF
If is turned off from ON, the process returns to the main routine (not shown), and if switch SINF is turned on, the process proceeds to step 62. The switch SINF is also a non-lock type push button switch like the switch SOPT.

In step 62, it is determined whether or not the current mode is the INF mode. If the current mode is the INF mode, the INF mode is released (step 64). If the current mode is not the INF mode, the process proceeds to step 66.

In step 66, it is determined whether or not the current mode is the auto self mode. If the current mode is the auto self mode, the INF mode is not set and the process returns to the main routine. If the auto self mode is not set, the INF mode is set ( Step 68).

That is, if the switch SINF is pushed one time when the current mode is neither the INF mode nor the auto self mode, the INF mode is set, and if the switch SINF is pushed one time when the current mode is the INF mode, INF is set.
Cancel the mode.

Next, the case where the shutter release switch is turned on will be described.

In this case, the CPU 10 first determines whether or not the shooting mode is set to the auto self mode (step
100). Here, if the auto self mode is not set, it is determined whether or not the normal self mode is set (step 110). The auto self mode is the option mode switch SO
It can be set by PT, and the normal self mode can be set by the self mode changeover switch SSELF.

If it is determined in step 110 that the normal self mode has not been set, normal shooting is performed. That is, the distance measuring unit
As well as inputting the distance measurement data from the photometer 16 and the photometry data from the photometry unit 14 (steps 120 and 130), the lens extension amount and the exposure are controlled based on the distance measurement data and the photometry data as described above. Output the stepping motor drive control signals SH0, SH1, SH2 and the AF magnet drive control signal SHAFMg to the shutter section 18 (step 14).
0), end the shooting.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 110 that the normal self mode is set, the self LED 32 is turned on for 7 seconds (step 150), and then the self LED 32 is blinked for 3 seconds (step 160). Ten seconds after the SP is pressed, shooting is performed via steps 120, 130, and 140 in the same manner as described above.

Next, a case where it is determined in step 100 that the auto self mode has been set will be described.

In this case, first, the self LED 32 is turned on, the distance is measured by the distance measuring section 16, and the distance measurement data AF (1) when the shutter release switch SP is pressed is input and stored (steps 200 and 210). .

Subsequently, a predetermined time T ₁ (e.g., 0.5 seconds) determines whether elapsed (step 220), the time T ₁ after, to perform again ranging in distance measuring unit 16, the distance measurement data AF ( 2) enter the (step 230), comparing the stored distance measurement data AF (1) and the distance measurement data AF that the distance measuring time T after _one (2) (step 240).

If the distance measurement data AF (1) is equal to the distance measurement data AF (2), it is determined whether or not a predetermined time T ₂ (for example, 30 seconds) has elapsed since the start of the auto self mode ( step 250), until the time T ₂ has elapsed, the process returns to step 220, the comparison of the input and ranging data AF distance measurement data AF every time T ₁ (2) and (1) and distance data AF (2) Execute repeatedly.

On the other hand, if the distance measurement data AF (1) and the distance measurement data AF (2) are different, it is determined that the photographer has entered a predetermined photographing position, and when the distance measurement data changes, steps 240 to 160 are performed. Then, after the self LED is blinked for 3 seconds, the photographing is performed through steps 120, 130, and 140.

Also, during the time T _2, the distance measurement data AF (1) the distance data
If the distance measurement data does not change evenly with AF (2),
After time T ₂ elapses, turns off the self LED (step 260) and ends without imaging by automatic self-mode.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the self-photographing method of the camera according to the present invention, a predetermined shutter release operation is performed by detecting that the photographer has entered the photographing position.
The conventional self-timer device does not have the problem of creating a pause or lengthening the wait time as in the conventional self-timer device, and a series of ranging operations for measuring the distance to the position where you stand before starting the self-operation There is an advantage that is unnecessary. Furthermore,
The use of the existing distance measuring means does not cause a significant increase in cost as compared with a case where a remote control transceiver is separately provided.

Furthermore, since the photographing mode (auto self mode) according to the present invention is prioritized over the conflicting INF mode, erroneous operation during self photographing according to the present invention can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the entire circuit of a camera to which the self-photographing method for a camera according to the present invention is applied, and FIGS. 2A to 2D are views of the liquid crystal display unit of FIG. The drawings used for explaining the details and FIGS. 3 to 5 are flowcharts used for explaining the self-shooting method of the camera according to the present invention. 10 central processing unit, 12 operation switch group, 14 photometric unit, 16 distance measuring unit, 18 shutter unit, 20 liquid crystal display unit, 30 infrared light emitting diode, 32 ... Self-emitting diode.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A self-shooting method for a camera having an automatic focus adjustment function and an INF mode for fixing an object distance to infinity, wherein an auto-self mode is set by operating a self-shooting switch, and the INF mode is set. If the shutter release switch is turned on while the auto self mode is set, the step of canceling the INF mode is canceled, and the step of not accepting the setting of the INF mode while the auto self mode is set. A step of starting a sequence for performing self-shooting in a mode, a first distance measuring step of performing distance measurement of a subject distance at the start of the sequence, and storing first distance measurement data corresponding to the subject distance. After the distance measurement in the first distance measurement step, the object distance is measured at a constant cycle. Compares the second distance measuring step of obtaining a second distance measurement data corresponding to the object distance, and said first distance measurement data and the second distance measurement data,
A self-shooting method for a camera, comprising: a detection step of detecting a change in distance measurement data; and a step of executing a predetermined shutter release operation when a change in the distance measurement data is detected by the detection step. .