JPH02176641A - Camera with film end warning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To securely give a film end warning by controlling a stroboscopic device in such a way that it detects the ending of a film and flashes a strobe intermittently and continuously. CONSTITUTION:The stroboscopic device is controlled in such a way that it detects the ending of a film and flashes the strobe 2 continuously and intermittently when the film ends. When film sensitivity increases, a photographable distance is extended even if the amount of the flash light of the strobe 2 is the same, so that it is convenient for a photographer to charge the strobe speedily by reducing the amount of the flash light of the strobe 2. Therefore, the cycle of flashing the strobe 2 can be shortened, by speedily charging the strobe with the charge voltage of the strobe 2 lowered even when a film end warning is given. This securely achieves a warning for the ending of a film.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] do.

(Prior art) In recent years, cameras have become increasingly automated, and in consideration of this trend, the applicant proposed an auto-release camera that automatically releases the shutter in response to the sound pressure level of input audio (December 1988). Patent application ``Auto-release camera'' submitted on the 28th).

Other automatic cameras include cameras that use a remote control to release the camera and various sensors (infrared, temperature, etc.).
There are also cameras that control the release operation using a camera, etc.).

In this type of camera, the camera is operated separately from humans, so even if you issue a warning that the film counter is blinking when the film is completely used up, which is based on the assumption that the camera will be operated directly, the camera will not run out of film. If you don't pay particular attention to it, you may not be able to take the next photo, and you may end up missing out on a great photo opportunity. Also, unless the photographer has his back to the camera or is paying close attention to the camera's shooting conditions, he will not notice the end of the film.

Therefore, such cameras require a different end-of-film warning than traditional cameras.

(Objects and Structure of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above two points, and is directed to a camera that automatically performs the release operation and film winding and rewinding without the photographer's direct operation. , the purpose is to reliably warn the end of the film.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention includes a strobo device, a detection means for detecting the end of the film, and a strobo device for intermittently and continuously emitting light from the stroboscopic device when the film ends. It is configured to include a control means for controlling.

Further, a light emitting means disposed on the front surface of the camera, a detection means for detecting the end of the film, and a control means for controlling the light emitting means to emit light in a predetermined manner when the film ends.

(Example) The present invention will be explained below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a camera having a film end warning device according to the present invention.
0 is a lens barrier that protects the photographic lens.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a photographing display panel which displays a film counter indicating the number of film shots and other photographing-related information, and is configured as, for example, an LCD.

Reference numeral 6 is a release switch located on the front of the camera, and when this lever 6 is slid to one side -1, microphone hole 7 appears, and the camera picks up the signal from the microphone placed below microphone hole 7. By comparing the sound pressure level of the recorded voice with the reference sound pressure level, the camera enters the O1-release mode in which the shutter is automatically released. The O-L-release switch 6 is provided with five display LEDs 8.

9 is a level setting mode l~switch button that switches the setting of the reference sound pressure level at which the shutter is released in auto release mode to AU/H/manual; 10 is a switch button when the reference sound pressure level setting is set to manual mode, when the operator or the reference sound This is a level setting button for setting the pressure level.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the embodiment.

This camera is a fully automatic camera that automatically releases the shutter in response to the sound pressure level of the input audio, and then automatically winds the film. However, only the portions related to the gist of the present invention, ie, warning of the end of film rewinding, will be explained.

In FIG. 2, 11 is a power supply circuit that supplies power to each part of the circuit, and 12 is a CPU that controls the camera's photographing sequence and the film rewind end warning operation. CPU is 2
The clock signals of different frequencies from the two oscillators 1 and 2 operate as a high-speed mote or a low-speed mote.

Reference numeral 13 designates an LCD and its driving circuit constituting the photographing display panel 5, and reference numeral 14 designates a stroboscope circuit that causes the stroboscope 2 to emit light.

To explain the switches, PMS is a switch that is turned ON when auto release mode 1 or higher is set by O1~Release lever 6, SB is a switch that is turned ON when WM is opened, and SL is a switch that is turned ON when release button 4 is not pressed. The switch AT is a switch that is turned ON when the level setting mode switching button 9 is set to O1 to MOTE. Further, SFE is a switch for detecting the end of the film.

The end of the film can be detected by, for example, comparing the specified film frame and the actual film frame and detecting that they are the same, a signal based on the start of film rewinding, or a film presence detection installed in the film transport section. Many methods can be used, such as detecting when the film is no longer in the exposure frame where it cannot be moved, such as by rewinding the film using a switch. It goes without saying that this also includes the fact that the film needs to be replaced or will need to be replaced soon. The above detection method is just an example.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the camera after the end of film rewinding is detected by the film end detecting means.

FIG. 3 shows a subroutine for warning the end of film rewinding, and the symbols used in the flowchart are defined as follows.

■ ... Judgment (proceeds in the direction of the arrow if the condition written next to the symbol is met) ○ ... Process (performs the process written next to the symbol) ■ ... Subroutine ◎ ... Display (Lights up the LCD or LED) ■ ・
... Timer (sets the waiting time written next to the symbol) SLOW ... Sets the clock to low speed mode FA
ST... Set clock to high speed mode φMR・
... A flag that is set to ``0'' when the film is completely used and is automatically rewound, and ``rlJ'' when the film is rewound by the photographer's operation. The end of rewinding the film is detected by an SFE switch output or the like that detects the end of the film.

φDX... A flag that is set to "0" when the ISO sensitivity of the film detected by the DX detection circuit is 100, and "1" when it is 400.

$1. #J... Counter PMS, SB, SL, AT... With the switches explained in Figure 2, when OFF, Ill,
It is "0" when it is ON.

First, if the flag φMR is not 1, that is, if the film is automatically rewound, check the switch PMS and set PMS=
If it is not 1, that is, in auto release mode,
Go further down and check the switch AT. A.T.
When = 1, the flow advances to the right, and when AT = 1, that is, when the auto release level setting mode is auto mode, counter #I is set to "5" and the slot camera is activated in the next loop LPI. Lights up 5 times in a row. At this time, φDX is set to rlJ. This is l5O400
This means that as the film sensitivity increases, the distance that can be photographed increases even if the flash output is the same, so it is more beneficial for the user to charge faster by reducing the flash output. be. Therefore, this camera sets the strobe charging voltage to a low value when using the 15O400, making fast charging possible. Utilizing this, even when a film end warning is issued, the strobe charging voltage can be lowered to enable high-speed charging, thereby making it possible to shorten the strobe firing interval.

When AT=1, that is, when in auto-release sound pressure level setting mode or manual mode, counter #
Set I to "20" and LEDP in loop LP2.
20 points will be deducted. That is, while decrementing the counter #I, if #I is an even number, all the LEDs are turned on, and if it is an odd number, all the LEDs are turned off. Repeat this action 20 times. The lighting and extinguishing times are set to l O0nsecX 5 = 0, 5 seconds by subloop LP3.

Note that when the auto-release is canceled (PMS=1) or the back cover is opened (SB=0) in the loop LPI, 2, the loop is removed and the warning operation by the strobe and LED ends. This is to notify the photographer who is far away from the camera that the film has ended, so the release of the auto release or the opening of the camera back can be interpreted as a sign that the photographer has recognized the end of the film. It is.

Next, the counter I is set to "20" and the film counter on the photographing display panel 5 is blinked 20 times by loop LP4. After that, if the release button is pressed (S1=
O) If the film counter repeats blinking or KM is opened (SB=0), the film counter stops blinking.

In the above explanation, the film end warning is given by continuous flashing of a strobe light or blinking of an LED, but it is also possible to give the end warning by other methods. For example, in a camera having a swing mechanism that automatically changes the shooting direction after shooting, the camera may swing for a predetermined period of time after the end of the film to signal the end of the film. Furthermore, in a camera in which the lens barrel is inserted and removed (such as a zoom lens-equipped camera, a bifocal camera, or a collapsible camera), the lens barrel may be inserted and removed after the end of the film to signal the end of the film.

In this embodiment, the warning of the end of the film is given after the end of film rewinding is detected, but it goes without saying that the warning of the end of the photographed film may be given before or during film rewinding. .

In addition, the second embodiment takes as an example a camera that automatically performs a release operation in accordance with the sound pressure level of input audio. It can also be applied to other types of cameras as long as they can be wound and rewinded. It can also be applied to video cameras and still videos that only require rewinding. Further, in this embodiment, the strobe is emitted by detecting the end of the film, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the strobe may be emitted by detecting an abnormality in the camera.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, the film end warning is issued by a conspicuous method of continuous flashing of a strobe or flashing of a light emitting means provided on the front of the camera, so that the film end warning is not required by the photographer's direct operation. In a camera that performs a release operation and winds and rewinds a film without depending on the camera, it is possible to reliably issue a film end warning.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a camera having a film end warning device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the embodiment. be. 2... Strobe, 8... LED

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a camera that performs the release operation and film winding/rewinding without direct operation by the photographer,
A film end warning device comprising a strobe device, a detection means for detecting the end of the film, and a control means for controlling the strobe device so that the strobe flashes intermittently and continuously when the film ends. Camera with. (2) A camera having a film end warning according to claim 1, wherein said strobe device performs charging at a lower voltage among preset charging voltage levels. (3) In a camera where the release operation and film winding/rewinding are performed without direct operation by the photographer,
A film characterized in that it is provided with a light emitting means disposed on the front surface of the camera, a detection means for detecting the end of the film, and a control means for controlling the light emitting means to emit light in a predetermined manner when the film ends. Camera with termination warning device.