AU649806B2 - Exposure control apparatus of camera - Google Patents

Description

S F Ref: 208334

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL 6 4 9 8 6 'St.

0* S Name and Address of Applicant: Asahl Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha 36-9, Maenocho 2-chome Itabashi-ku Tokyo

JAPAN

Actual Inventor(s): S. S

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*5S0 S S .5 5 Osamu Sato, Satoshi Nakano, Isamu Hirai, Toshiyuki Kitazawa, Takayuki Sensul, Masato Yamamoto, Toshimata Yamanaka, Takenao Shishikura, Akio Takahashi Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Exposure Control Apparatus of Camera Address for Service: Invention Title: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845/3 EXPOSURE CONTROL APPARATUS OF CAMERA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an exposure contro] apparatus of a camera having a plurality of exposure modes.

2. Description of Related Art In a conventional camera having a plurality of exposure modes, a photographer can select a desired exposure mode by actuating an associated switch or button etc.

In a recent camera having modes other than the exposure modes, such as a continuous shot mode, etc., mode Sselection is effected by activating a plurality of switches .5 in combination.

However, ordinary photographers do not often use all of the various exposure modes, but rather only a few specific exposure modes. Therefore, for the ordinary je photographer, the need to activate several switches in combination to effect mode selection is troublesome and complicated. A photographer is therefore prevented from easily setting a desired exposure mode.

Furthermore, in a program exposure mode of a known camera, a shutter speed and a diaphragm value are automatically determined in a specific, interdependent relationship, and accordingly, a photographer cannot vary the shutter speed and diaphragm values outside of this predetermined relationship.

When a known program shift mode is actuated in a program exposure mode, the shutter speed and the diaphragm value are always varied together while maintaining the predetermined relationship. Namely, it is impossible to vary only one of either the shutter speed or the diaphragm value in the program exposure mode, in a known exposure control system.

Therefore, in a conventional camera, if a photographer wants to vary only oie of the shutter speed and the diaphragm value in the program exposure mode, it is necessary for him or her to troublesomely switch the 5 program exposure mode to a shutter speed priority (EE) automatic exposure mode or a diaphragm priority (ES) automatic exposure mode.

o In the prior aft, the accuracy of the APEX values of the shutter speed and the diaphragm value was generally 4/8 20 step at the manual setting and 1/8 step at the automatic setting, respectively. Namely, the accuracy of S the manual setting is lower than that of the e'tomatic setting. Furthermore, the shutter speed Tv and the diaphragm value Av which can be manually set are values on an arithmetic progression having a difference of 1/2, such as 1 0/8, 1 4/8, 2 0/8, mixed numbers (which will be referred to as manual series values hereinafter) having an antilogarithm portion represented by 0/2 or 1/2.

On the other hand, the shutter speed Tv and the diaphragm value Av which can be automatically set are values on an arithmetic progression having a difference of 1/8, such as 1 0/8, 1 1/8, 1 2/8, 1 3/8, mixed numbers (which will be referred to as auto series values or oputimum value hereinafter) having an antilogarithm portion represented by 0/8, 1/8, 2/8, 7/8. Consequently, upon manual setting, it is impossible to obtain values other than the manual series values which can be set in the automatic setting, 9* *C such as 1 1/8, 1 2/8, etc. In addition to the foregoing, the S. accuracy of the exposure value Ev and the exposure values 5 which can be set at the manual setting are 1/2 Ev and the manual series values at the manual exposure mode and 1/8 Ev and the auto series values at the automatic exposure mode and the program exposure mode, respectively.

The primary object of the present invention is to o 20 eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of a known exposure control system, having a plurality of exposure modes St including program, shutter priority, diaphragm priority and bulb exposure modes etc., by providing a simple exposure control apparatus in which the exposure modes can be easily changed and a photographer can easily set optional exposure factors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achie-v the object mentioned above, according to the present invention, there is provided an exposure control apparatus of a camera including a photometering means for detecting the brightness of an object to be taken, an exposure value calculating means for calculating an optimum exposure value in accordance with the object brightness, and an exposure factor setting means for setting a pair of exposure factors having a shutter speed and a diaphragm value. The exposure control apparatus comprises a manual setting means for manually setting at least one of the exposure factors, a specific program

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exposure mode in which the pair of exposure factors corresponding to the optimum exposure value are automatically set, and an exposure factor modifying means for permitting one of the associated exposure factors to be

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manually set by the manual setting means when the manual setting means is actuated.

With this arrangement, when the program exposure mode is selected, the photographer can easily modify the shutter speed or the diaphragm value by actuating the first or second manual setting means without changing the exposure mode.

Preferably, a clear switch means is provided for cancelling the operation of the first or second manual setting means. This makes it possible to easily return the selected mode to the program exposure mode.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exposure control apparatus of a camera including a photometering means for detecting the brightness of an object to be taken, and automatic exposure modes in which one of a pair of exposure factors having a shutter speed and a diaphragm value can be manually set while the other exposure factor is automatically adjusted to be set in accordance with the object brightness. The exposure control apparatus comprises, a specific program exposure mode in which the pair of exposure factors are automaticall.y set in accordance with the object brightness, first and second manual setting means for manually setting the exposure .i factors, an exposure mode selecting means for selecting one the exposure modes, wherein the exposure modes include the automatic exposure modes and the specific program exposure mode, and an exposure mode shifting means for compulsively shifting the specific program exposure mode to the automatic exposure mode, in which the shutter speed or the diaphragm has priority; when the associated first or second manual setting means is actuated.

With this construction, when the specific program exposure mode is selected, the mode can be easily shifted to the shutter speed priority or diaphragm priority au--matic exposure mode by the first or second manual ing means.

Preferably, when the first or second manual setting means is actuated after the mode is shifted to the automatic exposure mode by the other of the first or second manual setting means, the exposure mode shifting means io compulsively shifts the automatic exposure mode to the other automatic exposure mode. This simplifies the mode shift operation from the specific program mode to a particular automatic exposure mode.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exposure control apparatus of a camera comprising a photometering means for detecting the brightness of an object to be taken, first and second manual actuating means for independently setting a pair of exposure factors having a shutter speed and a diaphragm value, an automatic exposure mode in which one of the exposure factors can be manually set while the other exposure factor is automatically adjusted to be sat in accordance with the object brightness, a specific program exposure mode in which said exposure factors are automatically set in accordance with the object brightness, an exposure mode shifting means for compulsively shifting the specific program exposure mode to the automatic exposure mode, in which the shutter speed or the diaphragm can be manually set, when the associated first or second manual actuating means is actuated, and an exposure mode returning means for returning the automatic exposure mode, compulsively selected by the exposure mode shifting means, to the specific program exposure mode.

According to still another aspect of the invention, an exposure control apparatus of a camera includes a photometering means for detecting the brightness of an object to be taken, first and second manual actuating means V 0 for independeitly setting a pair of exposure factors having a shutter speed and a diaphragm value, an automatic .5 exposure mode in which one of the exposure factors can be manually set while the other exposure factor is automatically adjusted to be set in accordance with the object brightness, a specific program exposure moe in which said exposure factors are automatically set in :'20 accordance with the object brightness, an exposure mode shifting means for compulsively shifting the specific Sprogram exposure mode to the automatic exposure mode, in which the shutter speed or the diaphragm can be manually set, when the associated first or second manual actuating means is actuated, and an indicating means having indicating elements which indicate the selection of the specific program exposure mode and the selection of the automatic exposure mode, which is compulsively selected by the exposure mode shifting means, respectively.

Furthermore, according to another aspect of the invention, an exposure control apparatus of a camera comprises a photometering means for delecting the brightness of an object to be taken, first and second manual setting means for indeendently setting a pair of 31Q exposure factors having a shutter speed and a diaphragm value, an automatic exposure mode in which one of the exposure factors can be manually set while the other exposure factor is automatically adjusted to be set in accordance with the object brightness, a specific program exposure mode in which said exposure factors are automatically set in accordance with the object brightness, an exposure mode shifting means for compulsively shifting the specific progra exposure mode to the automatic 9.

exposure mode in which the shutter speed or the diaphragm :4"20 can be manually set when the associated first or second manual setting means is actuated, and an exposure factor holding means for holding one of the exposure factors, which is set at the specific program exposure mode, when the specific program exposure mode is compulsively shifted to the automatic exposure mode by the exposure mode shifting means.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exposure control apparatus of a camera comprising a photometering means for detecting the brightness of an object to be taken, first and second manual setting means for independently setting a pair of exposure factors having a shutter speed and a diaphragm value, two automatic exposure modes in which one of the exposure factors can be manually set by the manual setting means while the other exposure factor is automatically adjusted to be set in accordance with the object brightness, and an exposure mode shifting means for *000' compulsively shifting the automatic exposure mode, in which one of the exposure factors can be manually set, by the 15 first or second manual setting means to the other automatic 4 exposure mode, in which the other exposure factor can be manually set, by the other of either the first or second manual setting means when the latter is actuated in the first mentioned automatic exposure mode.

It is also possible to provide an exposure control apparatus of a camera comprising a photometering means for f:es: detecting the brightness of an object to be taken, first and second manual setting me-riis for independently setting a pair of exposure factors having a shutter speed and a diaphragm value, two automatic exposure modes in which one of the exposure factors can be manually set by the manual setting means while the other exposure factor is automatically adjusted to be set in accordance with the object brightness, a specific program exposure mode in which said exposure factors are automatically set in accordance with the object brightness, an exposure factor selecting means for selecting one of the exposure modes including the specific program exposure mode and the automatic exposure mode, and an exposure mode shifting I0 means for compulsively shifting the specific program exposure mode to the automatic exposure mode, in which one of the exposure factors can be manually set, when the associated first or second manual setting means is actuated, and for compulsively shifting the automatic 15 exposure mode to the other of the two automatic exposure modes, in which the other exposure factor can be manually set, when the associated second or first manual setting means is actuated.

*o An exposure control apparatus of a camera according to another aspect of the present invention comprises a photometering means for detecting the brightness of an object to be taken, first and second manual setting means for independently setting a pair of exposure factors having a shutter speed and a diaphragm value, an automatic exposure mode in which one of the exposure factors can be 1 0 given priority by actuating the first or second manual setting means while the other exposure factor is automatically adjusted to be set in accordance with the object brightness, and a modifying means for modifying an exposure factor having priority, so that when a first of the two exposure factors is manually set by the first or second manual setting means at the specific automatic exposure mode, the second of the two exposure factors is modified in accordance with the object brightness while the first exposure factor is fixed to a particular value, and when the second exposure factor reaches a predetermined upper or lower limit, the second exposure factor is fixed 5 at the upper or lower limit and the first exposure factor is modified in accordance with the object brghtness.

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5 e 0 2..2 0:6* BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a single lens reflex camera to which the present invention is applied; Figures 2 and 3 are a back view and a front elevational view of a main part of a single lens reflex camera shown in Fig. 1, respectively; Figure 4 is a block diagram of a circuit arrange::ent of a single lens reflex camera shown in Fig. 1; Figure 5 is a flow chart of a main operation of a CPU, according to the present invention; *8 Figure 6 is a timing chart of a communication operation between a CPU and an IPU, according to the S* !"35 present invention; 004o• Figure 7 is a flow chart of an automatic exposure mode operation, according to the present invention; Figure 8 is a flow chart of an error correcting operation, according to the present invention; Figure 9 is a flow chart of a hyper-program exposure mode operation according to the present invention; Figure 10 is a diagram of a hyper-program exposure mode shown in Fig. 9; Figure 11 is a flow chart of a limited program exposure mode operation, according to the present invention; 1 2 Figure 12 is a diagram of a limited program exposure mode shown in Fig. 11; Figure 13 is a flow chart of a hyper-shutter speed priority automatic exposure mode operation, according to the present invention; Figure 14 is a flow chart of a hyper-shutter speed priority automatic exposure mode operation, according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 15 is a diagram of a hyper-shutter speed priority automatic exposure mode shown in Figs. 13 and 14; Figure 16 is a flow chart of a hyper-diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode operation, according to the present invention; Figure 17 is a flow chart of a hyper-diaphragm 15 priority automatic exposure mode operation, according to S another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 18 is a diagram of a hyper-diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode shown in Figs. 16 and 17; Figure 19 is a flow chart of a LA manual exposure mode operation, according to still another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 20 is a flow chart of an LM manual exposure mode operation, according to the present invention; Figure 21 is a flow chart of an LM aperture priority automatic exposure mode operation, according to the present 1 3 invention; Figures 22 and 23 are flow charts of an LA bulb and LM bulb exposure mode operation, fespectively, according to the present invention; Figure 24 is a flow chart of an LA hyper-manual exposure mode operation, according to the present invention; Figure 25 is a view showing an example of a hyper-manual select flag; Figure 26 is a flow chart of a main operation of an IPU, according to the present invention; Figure 27 is a flow chart of a communication operation between an IPU and a taking lens, according to the present invention; Figure 28 is a flow chart of a switch input operation; a "15 Figure 29 is a flow chart of a Tv electronic dial 0 operation; Figure 30 is a flow chart of a diaphragm value AV changing operation as effected by an Av electronic dial; Figure 31 is a flow chart of an Av electronic dial operation; Figure 32 is a flow chart of a shutter speed changing op eration as effected by a Tv electronic dial; 00* Figure 33 is a flow chart of a mode shifting operation; Figures 34A and 34B are together a flow chart of a 1 4 mode selecting operation; Figure 35 is a flow chart of a checking operation; Figure 36 is an example of data storage in a RAM of an IPU; Figure 37 is a flow chart of a memory locking operation; Figure 38 is an example of a memory locking flag in a RAM of an IPU; Figures 39A, 39B, 39C, 39D, 39E, 39F, 39G and 39H are flow charts of an indication operation, according to the present invention; Figure 40 is a flow chart of an Ev checking operation, according to the present invention; Figures 41A, 41B, 41C, 41D, 41E, and 41F show an a* indication of an LCD panel and an indication unit within a a a finder shown in various initial indication positions; Figures 42A, 42B, 42C, 42D, 42E, 42F, 42G and 42H show various exposure modes indicated on an LCD panel and an indication unit within a finder; Figures 43A, 43B and 43C show various exposure modes in a lens manual mode, as indicated on an LCD panel and an indication unit within a finder; Figures 44A and 44B are modified flow charts of an indicating operation of a hyper-program shown in Fig. 39A; Figure 45 is a flow chart of a sub-routine of a second Tv dial checking operation; and, Figure 46 is a flow chart of a sub-routine of a second Av dial checking operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention will be discussed below with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Figures 1 and 3 are a plan view and a front elevational view of a single lens reflex camera body having an exposure control apparatus according to the present invention, respectively. Figure 2 is a back view of a DX code reading portion of the camera body shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The camera body 11 has a grip portion 13 which is provided, on a front end the object side) of an upper surface thereof, with a shutter button 15. A Tv electronic dial 17 and an Av electronic dial 19 are provided behind the shutter button 15 and on an upper end of the back surface of the grip portion 13, respectively.

Both the Tv electronic dial 17 and the Av electronic dial 19 are in the form of rotary dials which will be discussed below in detail. When the Tv electronic dial 17 and the Av electronic dial 19 are rotated, the shutter speed Tv, the diaphragm value Av and the exposure mode can be changed.

The Tv electronic dial 17 and the Av electronic dial 19 1 6 constitute part of first and second manual setting means or first and second shutter speed and diaphragm value manual setting means, respectively.

A clear button 23 is provided on the upper portion of the back surface of the camera body 11 in the vicinity of the Av electronic dial 19. A hold button 25 is provided on the right side of the clear button 23. The clear button 23 constitutes a part of a clear switch means.

The electronic dials 17 and 19, the clear button 23, and the hold batton 25 are arranged so that when a photographer holds the camera body 11 in a normal posture, they can be actuated by his or her thumb or forefinger without having to shift the camera body 11.

A slidable exposure correction/ISO lever 27 and a slidable exposure mode/drive lever 29, both being slidable 4.

in opposite directions from a neutral position are located on the top surface of the camera body 11 to the left of a pentagonal prism. A main switch 31 is located on the top surface of the camera body 11 to the right of the pentagonal prism and can be moved to three different positions in a slidable manner.

DX pins DX1 DX6 are provided in a patrone receiving chamber 33 of the camera body 11 and come into contact with

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DX codes, which are printed on the surface of a patrone of film, to thereby read the data. In particular, the DX pins 1 7 DX1 DX6 are brought into contact with the portion of the DX codes which represents the ISO sensitivity Sv, so as to read the data thereof.

A group of mount pins (CONT, RES/Fmin3, SI/Fmin2, Fmaxl, A/M, Fmax2, and -SCK~ /Fminl) are provided on a body mount 35 of the camera body 11 to effect, for example, data communication between the camera body 11 and a taking lens. When the body mount 35 is attached to a lens mount of the taking lens, the mount pins of the body mount 35 are electrically connected to the corresponding mount pins of the taking lens, so that the camera body 11 can read lens data, including a minimum F number Fmin (open F number) and a maximum F number, from the taking lens and perform data communication with a control means (ROM or CPU). The control means (ROM or CPU) is provided in the taking lens to read additional lens data, such as focal length data f, Sor data representing the kind of taking lens attached, etc. Note that a mark or a symbol, etc., with an affix and a suffix SCK- as mentioned above) represent an active low or an inverted value in this specification.

Figure 4 shows a circuit arrangement of a control unit of a camera system according to the present invention.

The camera body 11 has CPU 41 and IPU 43 as a control means. The CPU 41 performs the fundamental photographic 1 8 calculations and control functions, such as the calculation and determination of the exposure factors diaphragm value Av and shutter speed Tv), exposure control, calculation of data necessary for automatic focus control, etc. The CPU 41 also functions as a means for compulsively changing the mode, returning an exposure mode, changing a priority exposure factor, compulsively changing an exposure mode within a specific exposure mode, setting a limit value, holding an exposure value, manual shifting, and switching a set mode.

The IPU 43 functions as an input interface of the switches, such as the shutter button 15, the Tv electronic dial 17, the Av electronic dial 19, etc. The IPU 43 also functions as an exposure mode setting means, a means for controlling the indicators, a regulator for making the *i power source of the CPU 41 ON and OFF (power holding), and memory means for storing the set data and shutter speed Tv, etc. The IPU 43 has a ROM 43a which stores programs for determining the input of the switch data, indication of the modes, communication with the CPU 41, communication with the taking lens, etc. The IPU 43 also has a RAM 43b which temporarily stores the set modes, the shutter speed Tv, and the diaphragm value, etc. The IPU 43 further has an E PROM (E PROM) 43c which holds the number of film, the ISO sensitivity, etc., even after the camera power source is 1 9 turned OFF.

The IPU 43 communicates with the taking lens 65 and receives lens data, such as a maximum F number Fmax, the minimum F number Fmin and the focal length f, etc. The IPU 43 communicates with the CPU 41 to transmit and receive the data therebetween to control the photographic operation and the indication of the data.

The output of a light receiving element 45 is logarithmically comnpressed by an operation amplifier 47 and a diode Dl, amplified by an amplifier 49, converted to a digital value (Bv, BV) corresponding to an apex value by an A/D converter 51, and input to the CPU 41 through input ports P30 P37.

The A/D converter 51 operates at a predetermined time to input the level signals of the ports P30 P37 to the CPU 41 which reads object brightness signals and diaphragm *b99 value signals set by the taking lens 65 and converts the signals to corresponding apex values. The port P40 is an input switching control port which switches the logarithmically compressed voltages amplified by the amplifier 49 and the diaphragm voltages set by the diaphragm volume 53. The diaphragm volume 53 generates diaphragm vLltage which corresponds to the value set by the photographer when rotating the diaphragm ring of a taking lens (not shown) in the manual mode.

The ports P10 P14 of the CPU 41 are connected to the DX pins DX2 DX6. The CPU 41 checks the levels of these ports P10 P14 at a predetermined time to read the ISO sensitivity Sv. The CPU 41 then stores the input data including the diaphragm value Av, the object brightness By and the ISO sensitivity Sv, etc., in the RAM 41b at predetermined addresses.

A winding motor 55 winds and rewinds the film, and a mirror motor 57 moves a mirror up and down. The operations of the motors 55 and 57 are controlled by the CPU 41 through a motor drive circuit 59.

A release magnet RL releases the mechanical engagement of the shutter to begin the release operation. A shutter mechanism (shutter curtain) thus released from the mechanical engagement by the release magnet RL is a e disengageably engaged by a leading curtain magnet ES1 and a trailing curtain magnet ES2, so that the movement of the shutter curtain is controlled thereby. A diaphragm magnet EE stops the stop-down operation of the the taking lens diaphragm. The operations of these magnets are controlled by the CF" 41 through a magnet drive circuit 61.

An EE pulse counter 63 generates EE pulses in association with the stop-down operation, which is in turn associated with the up-down movement of the mirror, subsequent to the shutter release and sends the outputs n 1 thereof to the port PDD of the CPU 41. The CPU 41 counts the level change of the port PDD and when the counted number reaches a value corresponding to the set diaphragm value Av, the diaphragm magnet EE is turned ON through the magnet drive circait 61 to stop the stop-down operation thereby maintaining the diaphragm value Av.

The ports PLO- PL6 of the CPU 43 are connected to the mount pins CONT, RES/Fmin3, SI/Fmin2, Fmaxl, Fmax2, -SCK-/Fminl) thereby completing an electrical connection to the taking lens 65 memory or control means thereof). The IPU 43 communicates with the taking lens through the ports PLO PL6 to read the lens data including the open F number Fmin, the maximum F number Fmax, the focal length f, etc.

The taking lens 65 has a lens auto/manual selection switch 67 which switches between a manual diaphragm mode (lens-manual mode) and an automatic diaphragm mode (lens-auto mode) in association with a diaphragm ring 12.

The lens auto/manual selection switch 67 is connected to an input port PLO of the IPU 43 through the mount pin A/M. The IPU 43 determines the existence of the manual diaphragm **44 mode or the automatic diaphragm mode in accordance with the level of the port PLO. The "lens-auto mode" mentioned above is an automatic diaphragm mode in which the stop-down mechanism of the camera continues the stop-down operation 2 2 until the diaphragm value becomes a predetermined value which has been set in the camera body. The "lens manual mode" mentioned above is a manual diaphragm mode in which the diaphragm value is manually set on the taking lens side. The lens-auto mode will also be referred to as a "body set" hereinafter.

Input ports PCO PC2 and PB0 PB5 of the IPU 43 are connected to a main switch SWMAIN, a photometer switch SWS, a release switch SWR, an exposure mode switch SWMODE, a dr've switch SWDRIVE, an exposure correcting switch SW± EF, an ISO sensitivity setting switch SWISO, a clear switch SWCL and a hold switch SWHOLD, respectively.

The main switch SWMAIN is associated with a main t. switch lever 31. The photometer switch SWS and the release 15 switch SWR are associated with the shutter button 15. The switch SWS remains open until the shutter button 15 is depressed by a half step at which point it is turned ON.

The switch SWR is turned ON when the shutter button 15 is depressed by full step. The exposure mode switch SWMODE and :,20 the drive switch SWDRIVE are associated with the exposure mode/drive lever 29. The exposure correcting switch SW± EF and the ISO sensitivity setting switch SWISO are associated with the exposure/ISO lever 27. The clear switch SWCL and the hold switch SWHOLD remain open until their respective associated buttons, clear button 23 and holl button 25, are 23 effected.

The IPU 43 detects the ON/OFF state of the switches SW, mentioned above, in accordance with the input levels of the input ports PC and PB of the IPU 43 to perform the necessary operations.

A pair of input ports PAO and PAl and another pair of input ports PA2 and PA3 of the IPU 43 are connected to the TV electronic dial 17 and the Av electronic dial 19, respectively. Each of the TV electronic dial 17 and the Av electronic dial 19 has a click-stop rotation mechanism per se known. For example, a pair of input ports PAO and PAl are in a floating state at a click-stop position, when the electron.c dials 17 and 19 are rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the level of one of the input 1 5 ports first drops to and then the level of the other drops to level in accorda nce with the direction of the rotation of the dials. Thereafter, the one input port, the level of which has dropped to level prior to the other, is returned to the floating state prior to the other. Since ~0 the order of change in the lev&l of the input ports PAO and PA1 or rA2 and PA3 depends on the rotation of the dials, the IPU 43 can discriminate the direction of rotation based on the order of change.

A group of ports PLCD of the IPU 43 are connected to an LCD display panel 69 and an indicator 71. The indicator 2 4 71 is located in the finder. The LCD panel 69 is controlled by the IPU 43 to indicate various photographic information, such as the exposure mode, the shutter speed Tv, the diaphragm value Av, the number of remaining frames in a roll of film, the drive mode and other data ISO sensitivity data, and exposure correcting data± EF, etc,).

The indicator 71 within the finder has indicating elements 71a and 71b which indicate the shutter speed Tv, the diaphragm value Av, and an under-exposure, over-exposure or optimum exposure of the film. The indicator 71 also has an indicating element 71c which indicates whether or not the memory is locked.

The main circuit structure of the camera system according to the present invention, as discussed above, a operates as follows. Note that the values of the shutter S° speed Tv, the diaphragm value Av, and the object brightness By in the arithmetic operation discussed below are all those csed in calculating the APEX values.

2 Main Operation of CPU The main operation of the CPU 41 will be discussed below with reference to the flow chart shown in Fig. 5. The main operation is carried out in accordance with the program stored in the ROM 41a of the CPU 41.

When the photometer switch SWS is turned ON after the main switch SWMAIN is turned ON, electrical power is supplied to the CPU 41 and the operation shown in the flow chart of Fig. 5 is performed.

The CPU 41 first initializes all the input ports P at step Sll, and then initializes the RAM 41b at step S12.

Thereafter, the DX code (ISO sensitivity SV), the object brightness Bv, and the diaphragm value Av set by the diaphragm volume 53 when in the LM mode, are input to the 5 CPU (steps S13, S14 and Thereafter, the CPU 41 communicates with the IPU 43 69*9 to receive the necessary data, such as the set photographic exposure mo aind the exposure factors, etc., from the IPU 43 (step 6).

The control proceeds to step S18 in which the

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exposure calculation is effected to obtain optimum exposure factors in accordance with the selected photographic exposure mode, the calculation being based on the ISO S sensitivity Sv and the object brightness By, etc.

Thereafter, the CPU 41 performs data communication with the 2 6 IPU 43 to send the calculated exposure factors shutter speed Tv and diaphragm value Av) to the IPU 43 (step S19).

After the exposure factors are determined, the control proceeds to step S20 where it is determined whether or not the release switch SWR is turned ON. If the release switch SWR is turned ON, the releasing operation is effected (step S21). If the release switch SWR is turned OFF, the control is returned to step S13. While the power is held while the power continues to be supplied), the operations of step S13 to step S20 are repeated.

Data Communication with IPU S. The CPU 41 performs data communication with the IPU "15 43. The data communication will be explained below with reference to Fig. 6 and Table 1 (attached to the last page 6** of the specification). Each of the CPU 41 and IPU 43 has terminals corresponding to CE, READY, -SCK-, and DATA which are connected to each other.

The CPU 41 raises the level of the terminal CE (not shown), so that IPU 43 is ready for communication. When the IPU 43 monitors the level of the terminal CE which is changed from to the level of the terminal READY is Sdropped and then raised, so that interruption by the CPU 41 is permitted.

27 When the CPU 41 monitors the permission to interrupt, a clock signal is output to the terminal -SCK-(not shown), and a command is output to the terminal DATA. Upon completion of receipt of the command, the IPU 43 drops and then raises the level of the terminal READY, so that the CPU 41 detects the completion of the receipt. The IPU 43 outputs data corresponding to the received command in accordance with the clock signal sent from the terminal -SCK~ of the CPU 41, or receives data from the CPU 41.

When the communication of the necessary data is completed, the IPU 43 drops the level of the terminal READY. Thereafter, the CPU 41 drops the level of the terminal CE, so that the IPU 43 detects tiiat the data communication with the CPU is completed. When the IPU 43 .*15 monitors the level drop of the terminal CE, the IPU 43 eele

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raises the level of the ter:minal READY to finish the data communication.

AE Sub-routine

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2 0 The sub-routine for calculating the exposure 00 (automatic exposure mode) at step S18 will be discussed 9:* 0*0* below with reference to the flow chart shown in Fig. 7.

In this AE process, the DX codes representing the ISO sensitivity are converted to APEX values (film sensitivity Sv) at step S50. The DX codes of the ISO sensitivity 2 8 consist of 5 bit signals and are read by the five DX pins bits) DX4, DX3, DX2, DX5 and DX6 which come into contact with the codes in the illustrated embodiment. The upper three bits (DX4, DX3 and DX2) constitute an integer and the lower two bits (DX5 and DX6) a decimal. For example, if the decimal is "01" or the APEX value is 0/3, if the decimal is the APEX value is 1/3, and if the decimal is the APEX value is 2/3. The decimal thus converted to the APEX value is added to the integer. For example, the DX code of ISO 100 is represented by Sv=5, since the integer "101" is converted to an APEX value and the decimal "01" is converted to an APEX value Thereafter, the object brightness By is converted to a calculating object brightness BVD suitable for "15 calculation by using the following equation: BVD=Bv 7, (step S51). Thereafter, the film sensitivity Sv and the *ee exposure correcting value Xv are converted to a calculating sensitivity SVD and a calculating exposure correcting value XVD suitable for calculation by using the following equations, respectively (step S52): SVD=Sv- 1; XVD=4- Xv The above-mentioned operations are effected not only to prevent the values of the calculating exposure factors BVD, SVD, XVD from being negative, but also to unify the accuracy or precision of the exposure factors to be a 1/8Ev 2 9 step. Consequently, the APEX calculation (i.e addition and subtraction) can be easily effected without considering the calculation accuracy. Note that since the precision of Sv and Xv is within 1/3 Ev, it is in theory impossible to convert them to values of a 1/8Ev step. To this end, Sv and Xv are rounded to approximately 1/3Ev and 2/3Ev to 3/8Ev and 5/8Ev, respectively.

Thereafter, tie brightness correction value MND depending on a change of the open F number, is calculated at step S53. TLe brightness correction value MND is adapted to correct the object brightness Bv so as to maintain the exposure on a film plane at a constant value, regardless of, for example, a change in the open F number change in brightness of the lens) during zooming and is a 15 value peculiar to the taking lens. The brightness correction value MND is input from the taking lens by communication of the IPU 43 with the taking lens (IPU-lens communication), which will be discussed hereinafter, and is transferred from the IPU 43 to the CPU 41 through the 20 CPU-IPU communication at step S16.

Thereafter, the calculating exposure value LVD is calculated, based on the calculating object brightness BVD, the calculating sensitivity SVD, the calculating exposure correcting value XVD, and the brightness correcting value MND by using the following formula; LVD=BVD SVD XVD MND The CPU 41 detects the selected exposure mode and calls the exposure factor calculating sub-routine corrernonding to the selected exposure mode (steps S55-1- S55-n, S56-1- S56-n). The diaphragm value Av and the shutter speed Tv are then calculated in accordance with the algorithm of the selected exposure mode. Thereafter, the control is returned. If an incorrect exposure mode is set, an error operation as described below is carried out (step S57).

Error Operation In the error operation at step S57, the calculating S' shutter speed TVD and the calculating diaphragm value AVD are replaced with a calculating maximum shutter speed TVDMAX and a calculating maximum diaphragm value AVDMAX, respectively, and the number PN (or Pno) of EE pulses is set at the maximum value, 225. Thereafter, the calculating shutter speed TVD (the calculating maximum o shutter speed TVDMAX and the calculating diaphragm value AVD the calculating maximum diaphragm value AVDMAX) are converted to values suitable for transmission to the IPU in processes labeled TVDT (TVD- TVT) and AVDT (AVD- AVT), as explained in detail hereinafter (see Fig. 8).

Thereafter, the control is returned.

It is possible to replace one or both of the calculating shutter speed TVD and the calculating diaphragm value AVD with a calculating minimum shutter speed TVDMIN and a calculating minimum diaphragm value AVDMIN, in place of the calculating maximum shutter speed TVDMAX and the calculating maximum diaphragm value AVDMAX, respectively.

Exposure Calculating Sub-routine In the illustrated embodiment, the exposure modes include a program automatic exposure mode in which the shutter speed and the diaphragm value are automatically set in accordance with the object brightness, a shutter speed priority (EE LA) automatic exposure mode (lens-auto mode) Sin which the diaphragm value is automatically set in accordance with the manually set shutter speed and object brightness, a diaphragm priority (ES LA) automatic exposure mode in which the shutter speed is automatically set in accordance with the manually set diaphragm value and object brightness, a manual exposure (Manual LA) and bulb o exposure (Bulb LA) modes, and a diaphragm priority (ES LA) automatic exposure iode (lens-manual mode).

Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, there is a limited program (Program LIMT) automatic exposure mode, a hyper-program (Hyper Program) automatic exposure mode used as a specific program exposure mode, a hyper shutter 3 2 priority (Hyper EE) automatic exposure mode (lens-auto mode), and a hyper diaphragm priority (Hyper ES) automatic exposure mode.

The following discussion will be directed to an exposure factor calculation process in the above-mentioned exposure modes with reference to Figs. 9 through 23.

Hyper Program The hyper program exposure mode referred to herein is a mode in which the program mode, the EE automatic exposure mode and the ES automatic exposure mode are changed by optionally selecting the hyper program exposure mode, the hyper EE automatic exposure mode, or the hyper ES automatic exposure mode. Operations of Hyper-program mode are identical to those of the ordinary program mode, except that the exposure mode can be varied between the above three modes by actuating the electronic dials 17,19 or the clear button 23.

Figure 9 shows a flow chax l involving the hyper 20 program exposure mode and the ordinary program exposure mode and Fig. 10 shows a program diagram thereof.

First, the relationship between the calculating TVD corresponding to the Tv value and the calculating AVD corresponding to the Av value is obtained by the following formula, in accordance with the formula at step S54.

3 3 LVD=BVD+ SVD XVD MND (Sv Xv) MND Sv- Xv+ MND)+ =Ev =Tv Av+ 5 (Av 4 4/8) =TVD+ AVD Here, Ev=Bv Sv- Xv+ MND TVD=Tv 5 4/8 (1) AVD=Av 4 4/8 (2) From the equations and the relationships between Tv and TVD and between Av and AVD are obtained. The respective constants added to Tv and Av in equations (1) 0 *0* and are not limited to 5 4/8 and 4 4/8 and can be any 0* two values whose sum is 10. The values of 5 4/8 and 4 4/8 0 are selected to be approximate to each other in the embodiment. Correspondences between Tv and TVD and between Av and AVD thus obtained are shown in Table 2 and Table 3 io0 (attached to the last page of the specification), by way of example: In the program exposure mode, the optimum calculating shutter speed TVD is obtained by the following equation: TVD=3/8 LVD 4 6/8 The calculating exposure value LVD is obtained at 3 4 step S54. Consequently, the optimum calculating diaphragm value AVD is obtained from the result of this calculation (steps S61~ S78).

The equation mentioned above is obtained from the basic formula of the program line (Tv=3/8 Ev+ 3) in which TVD=Tv+ 5 4/8 and AVD=Av+ 4 4/8. When the optimum calculating shutter speed TVD and the optimum calculating diaphragm value are within the shutter capability range of the camera body 11 (range between the calculating maximum shutter speed TVDMAX and the calculating minimum shutter speed TVDMIN) and the diaphragm capability range of the taking lens (range between the calculating maximum diaphragm value AVDMAX and the calculating minimum diaphragm value AVDMIN), the optimum calculating shutter speed and the optimum calculating diaphragm value are n* maintained, and the EE pulse number PN, used to maintain 4 the diaphragm value Av of the diaphragm of the taking lens during the releasing operation, is calculated (steps S62, S64 ~-S66, S68, S69, S72). The maximum shutter speed TVDMAX io and the minimum diaphragm value AVDMIN referred to are the maximum shutter speed and the open F number, respectively.

The maximum and minimum shutter speeds TVDMAX and TVDMIN are peculiar to the camera body 11 and are TVDMAX =13 (1/8000 sec.) and TVDMIN 5 (30 sec.) in the illustrated embodiment, respecti'vely. Consequently, as 3 TVD=TV+ 5 4/8, the calculating maximum and minimum shutter speed TVDMAX and TVDMIN are represented respectively by; TVDMAX =TVMAX 5 4/8=18 4/8 TVD ,IN =TVMIN 5 4/8=0 4/8 The calculating maximum and minimum shutter speed TVDMAX and TVDMIN are stored in advance in the internal ROM 41a of the CPU 41 and are memorized at predetermined addresses of the RAM 41b during the operations.

Using the inherent maximum and minimum diaphragm values AVMAX and AVMIN and the formula (AVD=AV+ 4 the calculating maximum and minimum diaphragm values AVDMAX and AVDMIN are represented respectively by; AVDMAX =AVMAX 4 4/8 SAVDMIN =AVMIN 4 4/8 The maximum and minimum 'iaphragm values AVMAX and 8 AVMIN are input by the communication with the taking lens at step S35 and the calculating maximum and minimum diaphragm values AVDMAX and AVDMIN are stored in the internal RAM 41b of the CPU 41 at predetermined addresses *8 20 thereof.

If the object is too bright or dark to calculate the optimum exposure factors using the above-mentioned program line, the following operations are carried out.

When the object is too bright: If the calculating shutter speed TVD is larger than 3 6 the calculating maximum shutter speed TVDMAX, the optimum calculating diaphragm value AVD is calculated after the calculating shutter speed TVD is replaced with the calculating maximum shutter speed TVDMAX (steps S62 ~S64).

If the optimum calculating diaphragm valae AVD thus obtained is within the diaphragm capability range, the EE pulse number PN is obtained in accordance therewith (steps S66, S68 and S72).

If the optimum calculating diaphragm value AVD is larger than the calculating maximum diaphragm value AVDMAX, the optimum calculating shutter speed TVD is recalculated after the optimum calculating diaphragm value AVD is replaced with the calculating maximum diaphragm value AVDMAX (steps S65 S68). If the recalcula-ed calculating *9*e *15 shutter speed TVD is larger than the calculating maximum shutter speed TVDMAX, it is out of the range in which optimum exposure can be obtained by any combination of the calculating shutter speed TVD and the calculating diaphragm value AVD. Consequently, an Ev out-of association 0- so bit is set at to indicate that the calculating shutter speed is out of association the allowable range), and the calculating shutter speed TVD is then replaced with the calculating maximum shutter speed TVDMAX to calculate the EE pulse number PN (steps S69 ~8 72). If the recalculated calculating shutter speed TVD is within the shutter 3 7 capability range, since optimum exposure can be effected, the control skips steps S70 and S71 and performs the calculation of the EE pulse number PN in accordance with the optimum calculating diaphragm value AVD (steps S69 and 72).

When the EV out-of association bit is set at the shutter speed (maximum shutter speed TVMAX) and the diaphragm (maximum diaphragm value AVMAX) is indicated in the LCD display panel 69 in a flickering manner.

When the object is too dark: If the optimum calculating diaphragm value AVD is smaller than thle calculating minimum diaphragm value AVDMIN, the optimum calculating shutter speed TVD is S* recalculated after the calcalating diaphragm value AVD is replaced with the calculatin, minimum diaphragm value .9 AVDMIN. If the recalculated calculating shutter speed TVD is within the shutter capability range, the value is held and the EE pulse number PN is set at 0, as the diaphragm is an open F number (steps S73- S75, S78).

~0 If the optimum calculating shutter speed TVD is smaller than the calculating minimum shutter speed TVDMIN, under-exposure conditions exist, and accordingly, the Ev out-of association bit is set at and the calculating shutter speed TVD is replaced with the calculating minimum shutter speed TVDMIN. 'hereafter, the EE pulse number PN 3 8 is set at (steps S75- TVD and AVD are stored at predeteriined, addresses of the, RAM 41b and are utilized to control the shutter speedI and diphragm value when releasing.

When the above-mentioned operations are completed, the calculating diaphragm value AVD and the calculating shutter speed TVD are replaced with a transferring diaphlragm value AVIP and a transferring shutter speed TVT, respectively (steps S79 and~ S80). The relationships between 1o Lbe calculating diaphragm value AVD and the transferring diaphragm value AVT and betwfien the calculatiag shutter speed TVD and the transferring shutter speed TVT are as follows;.

TVT=TVD+ 10 4,/8

AVT=-AVD

Although TVT an~d AVT are not rounded in the above equations, VT anI ?O;T are rounded in the actual operation., The tr~jsfel.'rinq shutter speed TVT and the transferrinig diaphrarn value AVT are data of a 1/2Ev step.

Namely, w'jien this data is transfer-red from th, i CPU 41. to IPU 43, the calculated values of a 1/8Ev step are rounded to 1/2Ev. This i,ei bo cause the data is used only to indicate the necessary inforination in the IPU 43, so that accuracy greater than a 1/2Ev step is unnecessary. Tables 2 and 3 mentioned above Show indicating sections corresponding to the values of TVD and AVD by way of example.

Thus, the operation of the program exposure mode is finished and the program line (diagram) shown as a solid line in Fig. 10 is obtained.

4% 6 254 4 0 Limited Program Exposure Mode Fi ure 11 shows a sub-routine of the limited program exposure (automatic exposure) mode in which a photographer can set the calculating minimum and maximum shutter speeds TVD1 and TVD2 and the calculating minimum and maximum diaphraigm values AVD1 and AVD2, respectively. The operational flow in this sub-routine is similar to that of the sub-routine of the program exposure mode except for the following points. Namely, in the sub-routine shown in Fig.

10 11, the calculating minimum and maximum diaphragm values AVDMIN and AVDMAX are replaced with the set minimum and maximum diaphragm values AVlD and AVD2, respectively (steps S93, S86, S87), and the calculating minimum and maximum shutter speeds TVDMIN and TVDMAX are replaced with 5 the set minimum and maximum shutter speeds TVD1 and TVD2, respectively (steps S95, S97, S82,S83, S89, S91). The program diagram of the limited program exposure mode is shown in Fig. 12.

The calculating minimum and maximum diaphragm values

*I

20 AVDMIN and AVDMAX, and the calculating minimum and maximum shutter speeds TVDMIN and TVDMAX are set by actuating the hold button 25 and rotating the Tv electronic dial 17 and the Av electronic dial 19 when the limited program exposure mode has been selected. The setting operation shown in the flow chart of Figs. 39C and 39D will be discussed in 41 detail hereinafter.

Hyper-EE Automatic Exposure Mode Figure 13 shows a flow chart of the hyper-shutter priority (Hyper-EE) automatic exposure mode. The program diagram thereof is shown as a dotted-dashed line in Fig. The operation for calculating the exposure factors at the hyper-shutter priority automatic exposure mode is basically the same as the operation of the ordinary shutter priority automatic exposure mode (lens-auto mode), except that the exposure mode can be changed by actuating the electronic dials 17, 19 or the clear button 23.

The hyper-EE automatic exposure mode is an EE automatic exposure mode which is compulsively selected when the hyper program exposure mode is selected and when the Tv -4 electronic dial 17 has been actuated. Return from the 4 hyper-EE automatic exposure mode to the hyper-program exposure mode is effected by the operation of the clear button 23 or the power switch, etc. The switch from the 20 hyper-EE automatic exposure mode to the hyper-ES exposure mode is compulsively effected by the rotation of the Av electronic dial 19.

In the hyper-EE automvtic exposure mode, the set shutt-r speed TVT transferred from the IPU 43 by the data communication is read and converted to the calculating 4 2 shutter speed TVD (step S101). The relationship between the transferring shutter speed TVT and the calculating shutter speed TVD is as follows.

TVD=TVT- 10 4/8 The transferring shutter speed TVT, which is 1/2 Tv in step, is converted to the calculating shutter speed TVD, which is 1/8 Tv in step, by the above operation.

The transferring shutter speed TVT is represented by data of a 1/2Ev step and is processed upon calculating, so that the decimal place thereof is identical to that of the calculating shutter speed TVD data which is 1/8Ev in step). Accordingly, the TV value, which is set by the user TVT) set as the calculating shutter speed TVD in predetermined addresses of RAM 41b.

Thereafter, the optimum calculating diaphragm value s'e" AVD is calculated using the calculating shutter speed TVD

S

and the calculating exposure value LVD (step S102).

If the optimum calculating shutter speod AVD is within the diaphragm capability range, the values are held 20 and the EE pulse number is calculated (steps S103, S104, S108~ S110).

If the optimum calculating diaphragm value AVD is out of the diaphragm capability range, namely, if the object is too bright or dark, the following operations are performed.

When the object is too bright: 4 3 If the optimum calculating diaphragm value AVD is greater than the calculating maximum diaphragm value AVDMAX, the calculating diaphragm value AVD is replaced with the calculating maximum diaphragm v&lue AVDMAX. This replacement causes an over-exposure condition, and accordingly, the EE pulse number PN is set after the Av outof-association bit signal is set at to indicate that the optimum calculating diaphragm value AVD is out of association (steps S103, S106 -S110). When the Av out-of-association bit signal is set, the number "22", indicating the diaphragm value Av in the LCD display panel 69, flickers to indicate over-exposure.

When object is too dark: .t If the optimum calculating diaphragm value AVD is *i smaller than the calculating minimum diaphragm value AVDMIN, the calculating diaphragm value AVD is replaced with the calculating minimum diaphragm value AVDMIN. This replacement causes an under-exposure condition, and accordingly, the EE pulse number PN is set at after the Av out-of-association bit signal is set at (steps S103- S105, S107, S108, and S110), Thus, the diagram as shown as a dotted and dashed line in Fig. 10 is obtained.

When the setting of the EE pulse number PN is finished, the calculating diaphragm value AVD) and the calculating shutter speed TVD are converted to the 44 transferring diaphragm value AVT and the transferring shutter speed TVT to complete the operation, respectively (steps Sill and S112).

Hyper-ES Automatic Exposure Mode An embodiment of the hyper diaphragm priority (ES) automatic exposure mode (lens-auto mode) will be explained below with reference to Figs. 10 and 16.

The basic operations in the hyper-ES automatic exposure mode is basically the same as the operation of the conventional ES automatic exposure mode (lens-auto or body-set mode).

The hyper-ES automatic exposure mode is an ES automatic exposure mode which is compulsively selected when ::s5 the hyper program exposure mode is selected and when the Av electronic dial 19 has been actuated. The return from the 0 S* hyper-ES automatic exposure mode to the hyper-program exposure mode is effected by the operation of the clear button 23 or the power switch, etc. The switch from the hyper-ES automatic exposure mode to the hyper-EE exposure mode is compulsively effected by the rotation of the Tv electronic dial 19.

6 *666 In the hyper-ES automatic exposure mode, the set diaphragm value AVT transferred from the IPU 43 by the data communication is read to convert same to the calculating 4 diaphragm value AVD (step S131). The transferring diaphragm value AVT is identical to the calculating diaphragm value AVD AVD=AVT). Accordingly, the diaphragm value Av manually sec by the user(i.e., AVT) is set as the calculating diaphragm value AVD at predetermined addresses of the RAM 41b.

The transferring diaphragm value AVT is represented by data which is 1/2Ev in step, and it is processed upon calculating so that the place thereof is identical to that of the calculating diaphragm value AVD data which is 1/8Ev in step).

Thereafter, the optimum calculating shutter speed TVD is calculated using the calculating exposure value AVD and the calculating exposure value LVD (step S132).

If the optimum calculating shutter speed TVD is 4 i within the shutter capability range, the values are held and the EE pulse number is calculated in accordance with the calculating diaphragm value AVD (steps S133, S134, S138 S140).

'o If the optimum calculating shutter speed TVD is out of the shutter capability range, namely, if the object is too bright or dark, the following operations are performed.

**ee When the object is too bright: If the optimum calculating shutter speed TVD is greater than the calculating maximum shutter speed TVDMAX, 4 6 the calculating shutter speed TVD is replaced with the calculating maximum shutter speed TVDMAX. This replacement causes an over-exposure condition, and accordingly, the EE pulse number PN is set after the Tv out-of-association bit signal is set at to discriminate that the optimum calculating shutter speed TV is out of association (steps S133, S136- S140).

When the object is too dark: If the optimum calculating shutter speed TVD is less than the calculating minimum shutter speed TVDMIN, the calculating shutter speed TVD is replaced with the calculating minimum shutter speed TVDMIN. This replacement causes an under-exposure condition, and accordingly, the EE pulse number PN is set at after the Tv out-of-association 15 bit signal is set at (steps S133~ S135, S137, S138- S140).

o When the EE pulse number PN is set, the calculating diaphragm value AVD and the calculating shutter speed TVD are converted to the transferring diaphragm value AVT and 20 the transferring shutter speed TVT to complete the calculation of the exposure factors (steps 5141 and S142), respectively. Thus, the diagram as shown as a dotted line in Fig. 10 is obtained.

2* *Se Second Hyper-EE or ES Automatic Exposure Mode 4 7 The second hyper--EE or ES aut, atic exposure mode is an automatic exposure mode in which the priority exposure factor is modified only under the condition that the non-priority exposure factor cannot be adjusted to avoid the occurrence of under-exposure or over-exposure. Namely, unlike the above mentioned hyper-EE or hyper-ES automatic exposure modes in which a change of the priority exposure factor diaphragm value or shutter speed having a priority) does not take place even if the object is too bright or dark, the exposure factor having a priority is modified when the modification of the exposure factor having no priority cannot be adjusted to avoid over-exposure or under-exposure.

In the second hyper-EE or ES automatic exposure mode, if the shutter speed or the diaphragm value having priority causes under-exposure or over-exposure, the shutter speed or the diaphragm value is modified to provide an optimum exposure (Figs. 15 and 18).

The operations in the second hyper-EE automatic :20 exposure mode and the second hyper-ES automatic exposure mode will be discussed below with reference to Figs. 14 and 17, respectively.

In the second hyper-EE automatic exposure mode, the set shutter speed TVT stored in the IPU 43 is read by the operation of the Tv electronic dial 17 to convert same to 4 8 the calculating shutter speed TVD, so that the optimum calculating diaphragm value AVD is calculated in accordance with the calculating shutter speed TVD and the calculating exposure value LVD (steps S121 and S122). If the optimum calculating diaphragm value AVD is within the diaphragm capability range, the control enters step S132 of the hyper-ES automatic exposure mode as can be seen in Fig.

16 (steps S123, S125 and S127).

If the optimum calculating diaphragm value AVD is greater than the calculating maximum diaphragm value AVDMAX if the object is too bright), the calculating diaphragm value AVD is replaced with the calculating maximum diaphragm value AVDMAX, and then the control enters step S132. Conversely, if the optimum calculating '15 diaphragm value AVD is less than the calculating minimum e diaphragm value AVDMIN if the object is too dark), the control enters step S132 after the calculating diaphragm value AVD is replaced with the calculating minimum diaphragm value AVDMIN (steps S123, S125~ S127).

.6:6 20 In step S132 of the hyper-ES automatic exposiure mode (diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode), the calculating shutter speed TVD is recalculated to modify the shutter speed.

Consequently, the diagrams as shown by a solid line, a dotted line and a two-dotted and dashed line in Fig. 4 9 are obtained. As can be seen in Fig. 15, the optimum exposure range is widened. This can be considered a kind of program automatic exposure mode in which the shutter priority automatic exposure mode functions in a certain exposure range.

In the second hyper-ES automatic exposure mode, the set diaphragm value AVT stored in the IPU 43 is read by the operation of the Av electronic dial 17 to convert the same to the calculating diaphragm value AVD, so that the optimum calculating shutter speed TVD is calcula ed in accordance with the calculating diaphragm value AVD and the calculating exposure value LVD (steps S151 and S152). If the optimum calculating shutter speed TVD is within the shutter capability range, the values are held and the control enters step S102 of the hyper-EE automatic exposure mode in Fig. 13 (steps S153, S155 and S157).

If the optimum calculating shutter speed TVD is greater than the calculating maximum shutter speed TVDMAX if the object is too bright), the calculating 20 shutter speed TVD is replaced with the calculating maximum shutter speed TVDMAX, and then, the control enters step S102 of the shutter priority automatic exposure mode.

*fob Conversely, if the optimum calculating shutter speed TVD is less than the calculating minimum shutter speed TVDMIN if the object is too dark), the control 0 enters step S102 after the calculating shutter speed TVD is replaced with the calculating minimum shutter speed TVDMIN. In step S102, the calculating diaphragm value AVD is recalculated to modify the diaphragm value (steps S103 S112).

Consequently, the diagrams as shown by a solid line, a dotted line and a two-dotted and dashed line in Fig. 18 are obtained. As can be seen in Fig. 18, the optimum exposure range is extended. This can be considered a kind of program automatic exposure mode in which the diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode functions in a certain exposure range.

Although the first and second hyper EE automatic exposure modes and the first and second hyper ES automatic 15 exposure modes are separately explained, the operations of iie these modes can be performed in the same camera. Namely, 2 S" bit signals of the exposure mode data of the E PROM 43c included in the IPU 43 correspond to those of the above-mentioned first and second methods in the hyper-EE 20 and hyper-ES automatic exposure modes, respectively. The signal data is transferred to the CPU 41 by the CPU-IPU communication, so that the 2 bit signals can be determined, S, after the hyper-EE mode or the hyper-ES mode is detected, to switch the first or second hyper-EE and hyper-ES modes.

to switch the first or second hyper-EE and hyper-ES modes.

LA Hyper-Manual Exposure Mode The hyper-manual exposure mode (body set mode) in which both the shutter speed and the diaphragm value can be manually set by the operation from the camera body side will be discussed below with reference to Fig. 19.

In the hyper-manual exposure mode (lens-auto or body set mode), a photographer can set the exposure factors by actuating the electronic dials 17 and 19. However, when the clear button 23 is turned ON, the optimum exposure factors are automatically calculated in accordance with the object brightness Bv, based on the algorithm identical to that of the program exposure mode. When the clear button 23 is turned uFF, the calculated exposure factors are replaced with those which are manually set.

0 15 *0 0 0 0 060 In the LA hyper-manual exposure mode, both the shutter speed Tv and the diaphragm value Av can be set when the Tv and Av electronic dials 17 and 19 are actuated, respectively. Furthermore, when the clear button 23 is turned ON, the function equivalent to the program automatic exposure mode can be performed. The set shutter speed Tv and diaphragm value Av are stored in the RAM 43b of the IPU 43 at predetermined addresses thereof and are indicated in the LCD panel 69 and the indicator unit 71 within the finder.

While the clear button 23 is turned ON, 52 calculating shutter speed TVD and the calculating diaphragm value AVD are 'culated in accordance with the program exposure mode and the control then proceeds to step S167 (step S164).

If the clear button 23 is not turned ON, the set diaphragm value AVT and the set shutter speed TVT, transferred from the IPU 43, are converted to the calculating diaphragm value AVD and the c,-iculating shutter speed TVD, and the control then proceeds to step S167 (steps S161 S163).

At step S167, an exposure error A Ev is calculated by the following eqLation which is based on the optimum calculating exposure value LVD, obtained from the result of the actual photometering, and the exposure value (AVD 5 TVD), which is obtained by the calculating diaphragm value 9004 AVD, identical to the set calculating diaphragm value, and the calculating shutter speed TVD, identical to the set calculating shutter speed: 6 Ev=LVD- (AVD+ TVD) .20 If the exposure error A Ev is within an allowable 0 limit 3/8 A Ev< overexposure and 0.. underexposure indication bits are set to illuminate a pair of LED exposure indicating elements 71a and 71b (Fig. 42E) in the indicator unit 71 within the finder (steps S168, S170. S171).

3 If the exposure error A Ev is greater than the allowable upper limit, only the overexposure indication bit is set to illuminate the indicating element 71a to thereby indicate over-exposure (steps S168 and S16). Conversely, if the exposure error A Ev is less than the allowable lower limit, only the underexposur dication bit is set to illuminate the indicating ele 'Ib to thereby indicate under-exposure (steps S168, S170 and S172). Although the allowable limit of exposure error 6 Ev is 3/8Ev in the illustrated embodiment, another limit may be selected.

Furthermore, the upper limit value and the lower limit value can be different from each other. It is also possible to read the latitude of the loaded film from the DX code, so that the allorable limit is determined to be identical to that of the film latitude.

Thereafter, the number PN of EE pulses is obtained ee*** from the calculating diaphragm value AVD (steps S173, S174 and S175), and the calculating diaphragm value AVD and the calculating shutter speed TVD are converted to the transferring diaphragm value AVT and the transferring shutter speed TVT, respectively.

When the clear button is turned OFF after being ON, the optimum exposure value in the program exposure mode is converted to the series ilue at steps S162 and S163, which will be discussed hereinafter, and is stored at 54 predetermined addresses of the RAM 41b with the accuracy equivalent to that of the manual mode.

As can be understood from the foregoing, since, when the clear button 23 is turned ON in the hyper-manual exposure mode, both the shutter speed TV and the diaphragm value Av are modified to optimum values depending on the photometering data (object brightness Bv) in accordance with the program exposure mode, the optimum exposure value can be manually and quickly set by a simple operation.

Although the calculation of the optimum exposure factors continues while the clear button 23 is turned ON in the above mentioned embodiment, it is possible to calculate the exposure factors and store the same in the R.M 41b only when the clear button 23 is switched from OFF to ON. In this alternative, at step S161, whether the clear button 23 S is switched from OFF to ON is checked.

2 9..E Second LA Hyper-manual Exposure Mode In the above mentioned embodiment, the diaphragm value Av and the shutter speed Tv are modified to those detected by the photometering operation, in accordance with the program automatic exposure mode, when the clear button 23 is turned ON. It is possible to modify only one of the exposure factors Av and Tv to an optimum value.

Furthermore, it is also possible to set the exposure factor or factors at the rounded or system Av and Tv values instead of the optimum exposure value Ev. The rounded (or system) values referred to herein mean values having s'ps (accuracies) which can be manually set and obtained by rounding calculated APEX values, taking into account the V, step of the APEX values calculated by the CPU 41 being smaller than that of the manually set APEX values.

Selection of the optimum value and the rounded value is determined in accordance with one bit of the hyper manual select flag of the E 2 PROM 43c. In the illustrated embodiment, as can be seen in Fig. 25, when the 0-order .0 bits are 0" and the optimum value and the rounded value are selected, respectively. Furthermore, the kind of automatic exposure mode is determined in accordance with the first and second bits of the flag. The bit data can be preset when the camera is shipped or can optionally be set and modified by a photographer.

6 Fig. 24 shows a flow chart of an example in which at least one of the exposure factors is modified to an optimum value and an example in which the optimum/system value selection is effected in combination, using the data of the hyper manual select flag of the E2PROM 43c within the IPU 43. The data of the E2PROM 43c is stored in the RAM 43b of the IPU 43 upon operation, and the same data is transferred to the CPU 41 also to be stored in the RAM 41b thereof by the 'PU-CIP communication.

The state of the clear button 23 is checked at step S601. If the clear button 23 is turned ON, the control proceeds to step S603 at which point the modifying mode of Tv and Av in the LA hyper-manual mode, in accordance with the hyper-manual select flag data, is checked. In the illu-trated embodiment, the first and second bits of the S* hyper-manual select flag data are used. If the value represented by the 2 bits is and the control proceeds to step S605 (program automatic exposure mode operation), step S607 (LA diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode operation), and step S609 (LA shutter priority automatic exposure mode operation), respectively.

If the value represented by the 2 bits is the control proceeds to step S611 without performing the exposure mode *aaaa.

Soperation. Consequently, the calculating shutter speed TVD, the calculating diaphragm value AVD, the indicat 'g shutter 7 speed TVT, and the indicating diaphragm value AVT are memorized in the RAM 41b of the CPU 4i.

Thereafter, the system/optimum bits of the select flag data are checked at step S611. If the value represented by the bits is the control proceeds to step S163 (system value setting operation) and if the value is the control proceeds directly to the sub-routine of the Manual-1 (optimum value setting operation).

The optimum value setting operation is the same as that of the first embodiment. The system value setting operation will be explained below. The calculation of AVTD and TVTD subsequent to the operations at steps S605, S607 and S609 means that the calculating shutter speed TVD (S613) and the calculating diaphragm value AVD (S615) are calculated again after the calculating optimum values AVD and TVD are obtained, based on the indicating optimum values TVT and AVT which are obtained in accordance with the obtained calculating optimum values AVD (=AVT) and TVD (TVT) (by the last calculation of AVDT and TVDT in the S0 sub-routine of steps S605, S607 and S609). As a result, the calculating optimum diaphragm values AVD and the calculating optimum shutter speed TVD once obtained are replaced with the calculating system diaphragm value and the calculating system shutter speed, respectively. The operations subsequent to step 167 are identical to those in 8 the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment mentioned above, six kinds of LA hyper-manual exposure modes (control modes) below can be selected.

(D Exposure control by the optimum shutter speed Tv and the optimum diaphragm value Av which are obtained when the clear button 23 is actuated in the program automatic exposure mode (first embodiment); 0 Exposure control by the system (rounded) shutter speed Tv and the system (rounded) diaphragm value Av which are obtained when the clear button 23 is actuated in the program automatic exposure mode; Exposure control by the optimum diaphragm value Av which is obtained when the clear button 23 is actuated in 0 the shutter speed priority automatic exposure mode; Exposure control by the system (rounded) diaphragm *e* value Av which is obtained when the clear button 23 is actuated in the shutter speed priority automatic exposure mode; 0 (o Exposure control by the optimum shutter speed Tv 0* which is obtained when the clear button 23 is actuated in the diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode; 0 Exposure control by the system (rounded) shutter speed Tv which is obtained when the clear button 23 is actuated in the diaphragm priority automatic exposure mnod&.

9 LM Hyper-Manual Exposure Mode The following discussion will be directed to the hyper-manual exposure mode (lens-manual mode) in which the shutter speed is set on the camera body side and the diaphragm value is set by the taking lens 65, with reference to Fig. 17.

In the LM hyper-manual exposure mode, the shutter speed TV is manually set by adjusting the Tv electronic dial 17, but when the clear button 23 (clear switch SWCL) is turned ON, the shutter speed is automatically modified to an optimum value in accordance with the object brightness Bv.

If the clear button 23 is not turned ON, the transferring shutter speed TVT (value of 1/2EV step) sent *"15 from the IPU 43 is directly converted to the calculating oo:% shutter speed TVT (steps S181 and S182). Thereafter, the t control proceeds to step S185.

Conversely, if the clear button 23 is turned ON, the shutter speed Tv is calculated in accordance with the *O lens-manual diaphragm priority (ES) automatic exposure mode which will be discussed hereinafter, based on the diaphragm value which is set by the diaphragm ring of the taking lens 65 and which is input through the diaphragm volume 53 and the A/D converter 51 by step S15 in fig. 5 (steps S181 and S183). Thereafter, the selection of the system/optimum 6 0 values is effected similar to the LA hyper-manual exposure mode at step S184. If the system value is selected, the calculation of TVDT is effected for the same reason as that in the LA hyper-manual exposure mode.

At step S185, the calculating diaphragm value AVVRD is calculated, based on the diaphragm value Av converted to the digital value AvA/D and set by the diaphragm ring of the taking lens 65 and based on the adjusting value AVadj peculiar to the camera body 11. Consequently, the exposure error A Ev is obtained by the following equation (step S186): A Ev=LVD- TVD AVVRD MND If the exposure error A Ev is within the allowable limit, the overexposure and underexposure indication bits e are set. If the exposure error A Ev is greater than the upper limit value, the overexposure indication bit data is set, and if the exposure error A Ev is less than the lower limit value, the underexposure indication bit data is set (steps S187 S191). Thereafter, the EE pulse number PN is 20 set to the greatest value (255 in the illustrated embodiment), and the calculating shutter speed TVD is se* converted to the transferring shutter speed TVT. This completes the exposure factor setting operation (steps S192 and S193). The reason that the EE pulse number PN is set to the greatest value is to ensure that the stop-down 6 1 mechanism of the camera body 11 is driven to an extreme stop-down position corresponding to the diaphragm value set by the diaphragm ring of the taking lens As can be seen from the foregoing, according to the present invention, since the shutter speed Tv is set to the optimum value or the rounded system value obtained in the diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode when the clear button 23 is turned ON in the LM hyper-manual exposure mode, the optimum .exposure value can be manually and quickly obtained by a simple operation.

LM Diaphragm Priority Automatic Exposure Mode The following discussion will be addressed to the lens-manual diaphragm priority (ES) exposure mode in which the diaphragm is set by the diaphragm ring of the taking lens 65, with reference to Fig. 21.

The calculating diaphragm value AVVRD is calculated in accordance with the converted diaphragm value AvA/D which is obtained by converting the diaphragm value Av set 0 0 by the diaphragm ring of the taking lens 35, and the inherent adjusting value AVADJ of the camera body 11 (step S201). Based on the AVVRD value thus obtained, the calculating shutter speed TVD is calculated by the following equation (step S202); TVD=LVD AVVRD MND 6 2 Thereafter, if the calculating shutter speed TVD is within the shutter capability range, the EE pulse number PN is set to be the largest value (steps S203, S205, S208). If the calculating shutter speed TVD is greater than the calculating maximum shutter speed TVMAX, or less than the calculating minimum shutter speed TVMIN, the calculating shutter speed TVD is replaced with the calculating maximum shutter speed TVMAX (steps S203 and S204), or with the calculating minimum shutter speed TVMIN (steps S203, S205 and S206). Thereafter, the EE pulse number PN is set at the largest value after the Ev out-of-association bit is set (steps S207, S208).

Finally, the calculating shutter speed TVD is converted to the transferring shutter speed to be '5 transferred to the IPU 43 to thereby complete the operation (step S209).

LA, LM Bulb Exposure Mode The bulb exposure mode will be discussed below with reference to Figs. 22 and 23.

In the lens-auto bulb exposure mode, the transferring diaphragm value AVT set by the Av electronic dial 19 is read through the CPU-IPU communication and converted to the calculating diaphragm value AVD (step S211). Thereafter, the EE pulse number PN corresponding to 6 3 the calculating diaphragm value AVD is calculated (steps S212 and S213), the underexposure and overexposure indication bits are reset, and then, the calculating diaphragm value AVD is again converted to the transferring diaphragm value AVT (steps S215 and S216). The operation is thus completed. If the calculating diaphragm value AVD is identical to the calculating minimum diaphragm value AVDMIN, the EE pulse number PN is set at (steps S212, S214).

In the lens-manual bulb exposure mode, the EE pulse number PN is set at the greatest value, so that the stop-down mechanism can be driven to the diaphragm value set by the diaphragm ring of the taking lens. Thereafter, the underexposure and overexposure indication bits are reset to finish the operation.

IPU Main Routine The above explanation has been directed to the operations of the CPU 41. The main routine of the IPU 43 0 will be explained below (Fig. 26). The photographic data, such as the manually set diaphragm value Av and shutter 4:*4 speed Tv, the indicating diaphragm value Av and shutter speed TV, the selected exposure modes, the transferring diaphragm value AVT and shutter speed TVT transferred through the communication between the CPU 41 and the taking 6 4 lens, the maximum F number FNo, and the minimum F number FNo are stored in the internal RAM 43b of the IPU 43 at different addresses thereof.

The IPU 43 always operates when the battery is in the camera performing IPU-MAIN shown in Fig. 26. The IPU 43 first initializes the ports thereof and the RAM 43b to carry out the initial setting of the modes (steps S220-, S222). Thereafter, the exposure mode is set to its initial mode. The initial mode is determined in accordance with the state of the port PLO of the IPU 43 and is either the hyper program exposure mode or the diaphragm priority atomnatic exposure mode corresponding to the case of the lens-auto mode and the lens-manual mode, respectively.

Thereafter, intermittent operations are repeated by the 32ms timer (steps S223- S229-2). The IPU 43 performs the following intermittent operations. When the set time w.es*: of the 32ms timer is up, the switch inputs, the levels of the switch input ports PCO- PB5 are successively input to the IPU 43. If the level of the ports is (ON), the input operation corresponding to the switches and the determination of the type of taking lens are performed, so "0'o that the data, such as the modes set by the switches or the lens type data, etc., is written into the RAM 43b, and the lens data is input to the 1VU 43 through the communication with the lens (steps S223 S225). If time of the 32ms 6 timer is not up, the control jumps to step S228 (steps S223 and S228).

Thereafter, whether or not the main switch SWMAIN is turned ON is checked. If the main switch is turned OFF, the Hyp-Tv flag and the Hyp-Av flag are reset to turn the power-hold OFF turn the main power source of the CPU 41 OFF). Thereafter, the ML mode flag is reset hold bit is cleared), and the control is then returned to step S223 (steps S226, S226-2, $229-2). If the main switch SWMAIN is turned ON, whether or not the photometering switch SWS is turned ON is checked. If the photometering switch SWS is turned ON, which usually means the picture taking operation has already begun, the photometering timer starts and the power-hold is activated to actuate the CPU 41 (steps S226, S227-1, S227-2 and S228). Thereafter, control proceeds to step S228. Conversely, if the photometoring switch SWS is not turned ON, control skips the start of the photometering tilier and the power-hold operation to step S228 (steps $226, S227-1 and S221).

In step S228, the diaphragm value and the shutter speed etc., used in the photographing operation at the selected photographic mode are indicated in the LCD panel 69 and the indicator unit 71 within the finder.

Thereafter, whether or not the set time of the photometering timer is up is checked. If the time is up, the power-hold is inactivated and the control is then returned to step $223. Conversely, if the time is not up, the control is directly returned to step S223 (steps S229-1, S229-2, S223).

If the intermittent operation by the timer is interrupted by the communication with the CPU41, the communication is performed. Similarly, if the electronic dials 17 and i are rotated, the electronic dial setting is carried out. Note that when the main switch SWMAIN is turned OFF, interruption does not occur.

Communication with Lens The sub-routine of the conunication with the lens CPU at step S225 will be described below with reference to Fig. 27. The CPU 43 drops the level of the pin CONT to 'L"

S

(Logic and receives the mount pin data (open F number Fmin, the maximum F number Fmax, and Auto/Manual data input thereto (steps S31 and S32). As disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai (Unexamined Publication) No. 63-184719 filed 20 in the name of the assignee of the present application, the pins of the taking lens coming into contact with the pins RES/Fmin3, SI/Fmin2, Fmaxl, Fmax2 and -SCK- /Fminl are connected to the transistors, so that the maximum F number Fmax of 2 bits and thie open F number Fmin of 3 bits are constituted by the levels thereof in combination depending 6 7 on the ON/OFF states of the transistors. The pin A/M is connected to the A/M selection switch SWA/M, so that the diaphragm Auto/Manual data of 2 bits is constituted by the ON/OFF states of the A/M selection switu...

The CPU 41 inverts the level of the pin CONT into logic level to determine the presence of the automatic focusing (AF) lens KAF attached to the camera body and the kind of the attached lens (steps S33 and S34).

The taking lens which can be discriminated in the present invention is a manual lens K having no mount pin, an auto lens KA having the mount pins but no lens ROM, or an auto AF lens KAF having the mount pins and the lens ROM.

If the level of the pin CONT is the communication with the taking lens 65 is carried out and the lens data is input (steps S34 and S35). If the levels of the mount pins Fmaxl, Fmax2, Fmnl, Fmin2 and Fmin3 are all and if the 5 bits representing the kind of lens are "11111", it is determined that there is a problem with 0 the lens, and accordingly, the no lens bit NoLens is set 0o0 and the control is returned (steps S36, S37 and S38). If the level of at least one of the mount pins Fmaxl Fmax2 and Fminl Fmin3 is and if the kind of lens discriminated is the AF lens KAF, the AF lens KAFLens bit is set and the control is returned (steps S36, S39 and 6 8 Otherwise, whether or not the mode is the lens-auto mode or the lens-manual mode is checked. If the mode is the lens-auto, the auto lens KALens bit is set and the control is returned (steps S34- S36, S39, S41, S42).

If the mode is the lens-manual and if the levels of the pins Fmaxl and Fmo2 are "11" and the levels of the pins Fminl- Pmin3 are "111", the no lens flag (NoLens bit) is set and control is returned, since the taking lens is not attached to the camera body (steps S43 and S44).

If the mode is the lens-manual mode and if the levels of the pins Fmax 1 and Fmax2 are "00" and the levels of the pins Fminl~ Fmin3 are "000", the lens is the manual lens K, and accordingly the manual lens flag (KLens bit) is set and S• the control is returned (steps S45 and S46).

Unless the levels of the pins Fmaxl Fmax2, Fminl- Fmin3 are all or the lens is the auto lens KALens in the lens-manual mode, and accordingly, the auto lens KAlens bit is set and the control is returned (i :eps S41, 43, S45 and S42).

o Thus, the type of lens, the lens data, and the lens Auto/Manual data are set in the memory of the IPU 43 and are transferred to the CPU 41.

Figure 28 shows a sub-routine of the switch input operation at step S224. If any one of the drive switch SWDRIVE, the ISO sensitivity setting switch SWISO, the 69 exposure correcting switch SW EF, and the exposure mode switch SEMODE is turned ON, the operation in the corresponding sub-routine (note: only the mode shift and MODE IN sub-routines are shown in Fig. 28) is performed (steps S231 S233). Upon completion of the input operation, the mode shift operation, the MODE IN operation, and the memory lock operation are effected and the control is returned (steps S234 S236). The mode shift sub-routine, the MODE IN sub-routine and the memory lock sub-routine will be discussed hereinafter.

C

*C

*i

*C

*i 7 0 Operation of Electronic Dials Figures 29 and 30 show the sub-routines of the operations of the Tv and Av electronic dials 17 and 19. The main routine is interrupted by these sub-routines when the Tv or Av electronic dial 17 or 19 is rotated, so that any one of the ports PAO, PA1, PA2, ?A3 is turned ON to set the associated Tv or Av dial change bit (steps S271, S281).

When the Tv electronic dial 17 is rotated, the direction of the rotation of the Tv electronic dial 17 is checked at step S272. If the Tv electronic dial 17 is rotated in the right (clockwise) direction, the port PAO is set at (the port PAl remains at the clockwise rotation bit is set, and if the Tv electronic dial 17 is p rotated in the left (counterclockwise) direction, the port '5 PAl is set at (the port PAO remains at the right direction bit is reset, and then the control is returned (steps S273 and S274).

Similarly, when the Av electronic dial 19 is rotated, the Av dial change bit is set, and the right direction bit 20 is set or reset (steps S282 S284). The electronic dial change bits and the right direction bits are used in the setting operations of the Av and Tv electronic dials 17 and 19 and the exposure mode selecting operation, etc., which will be explained below.

7 1 Setting of Tv, Av Electronic Dials The following discussion will be addressed to the operation of the IPU 43 in accordance with the sub-routine shown in Figs. 31 and 32 when the electronic dial 17 or 19 is actuated in a specific exposure mode.

The specific exposure mode in the illustrated embodiment is either the program mode, the limited program mode, the hyper-program mode, the EE automatic mode, the lens-auto ES automatic mode, or the manual mode.

Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the shutter capacity of the camera is 30 sec. 1/8000 sec. (Tv= 5Tv 13Tv) and the diaphragm capacity is the open F number Fmin (=Avmin) read from the taking lens through the maximum F number Fmax (=Avmax). For clarification, it is assumed that Tv and Av are both 1/2Ev.

Concerning the Tv dial check, the Tv dial change bit is first checked. If the bit is the control is directly returned, and if the bit is whether or not the right direction rotation bit is set is checked (steps S401, S402). If the right 6drection rotation bit is set the Tv electronic dial 19 is rotated in the right direction), the shutter speed Tv is increased to the maximum shutter speed Tvmax 1/2 Tv by 1/2 Tv (steps S402, S403, S404). Conversely, if the right direction rotation 2" bit is reset the Tv electronic dial 19 is rotated in 7 2 the left direction), the shntter speed Tv is decreased 1/2 Tv by 1/2 Tv until the minimum shutter speed Tvmin is reached (steps S402, S405, S406). Thereafter, the Tv dial change bit is cleared and the Tv right direction rotation bit is reset (step With respect to the Av dial check, if the Av electronic dial 17 is rotated in the right direction, the diaphragm value Av is increased 1/2 Av by 1/2 Av until the maximum diaphragm value Avmax is reached (steps S411- S414). Thereafter, the Av dial change bit is cleared and the Av right direction rotation bit is reset (step S418).

Conversely, if the Av electronic dial 17 is rotated in the left direction, the diaphragm value Av is decreased 1/2 Av by 1/2 Av until the minimum diaphragm value Avmin is .":615 reached (steps S411, S412, S415, S416). Thereafter, the Av 0* dial change bit is cleared and the Av right direction 4 rotation bit is reset (step S418), and the control is returned. The sub-routines of figures 31 and 32 are called at the Tv dial set and the Av dial set, respectively, which 20 will be discussed hereinafter.

*oo* Selection of Exposure Mode Figures 33, 34A and 34B show sub-routines of the selection or modification operation of the exposure modes.

The change of the exposure modes is effected by the IPU 43 7 3 in accordance with the program memorized in the internal ROM 43a of the IPU 43.

SMode Shift The mode shift operation is effected to convert the IPU exposure mode to the CPU exposure mode. Namely, the IPU mode which is used in the IPU 43 is converted to the CPU mode which is used in the CPU 41. Tabie 4 (attached to the ,ast page of the specification) shows a relationship between the IPU mode NO. and the CPU mode No.

In the mode shift operation (Fig. 33), the IPU 43 checks the lens diaphragm mode. If the lens diaphragm mode is a manual mode, the CPU mode is set to be the lens-manual mode one of IPU modes LB 2) is set as the CPU mode) and the control is returned (steps S621 and S623). If the hyper-Tv flag and the hyper-Av flag are both cleared in the lens-auto mode, the CPU mode corresponds to the a 9 lens-auto mode plus 8, and the control is returned. If the hyper-Tv flag is set, the CPU mode is set at and the control is returned (st ps S621, S625, S629 and S631).

fo Mode-In The mode-in operation (step S235) is performed as a sub-routine of the SW-IN operation (step S224) when the exposure mode/drive lever 29 is moved to the MODE side when the exposure mode switch SWMODE is turned ON, during the intermittent operation by the 32 ms timer. The 74 variation of the exposure modes is effected by the Tv electronic dial 17 when the exposure mode/drive lever 29 is moved to the MODE side. The exposure modes corresponding to the exposure mode numbers are shown in Table 4 mentioned above.

The mode-in operation will be described below in more detail with reference to Figs. 34A and 34B. The hyper-EE and hyper-ES modes have no independent mode No. and have an exposure mode No. (14) which is the same as that of the hyper program. The hyper-EE and hyper-ES modes can be discriminated by the Hyp-TV and Hyp-Av flags, respectively.

The taking lens in the illustrated embodiment has, an auto/manual selection switch SWA/M which is actuated by the C. diaphragm ring thereof. When the auto/manual selection t switch SWA/M is moved to the manual side, the diaphragm is set on the taking lens side. If the lens-manual mode is detected at step S241, the control proceeds to step S242 to select a desired exposure mode from among the LM diaphragm priority (ES) automatic exposure mode (exposure mode No.

the LM hyper-manual exposure mode (exposure mode No. 1) and the LM bulb exposure mode (exposure mode No. The LM diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode (exposure mode No. 2) is the initial exposure mode.

At step S242, whether or not the mode switch SWMODE is turned ON is checked. If the mode switch SWMODE is 7 turned ON, whether or not the Tv electronic dial 17 is actuated the Tv dial change bit is set) is checked.

If there is no change, the Tv dial change bit is reset, and the control then proceeds to the checking sub-routine.

If there is a dial change, the direction of rotation of the dial is checked (steps S243, S244 and S251).

When the Tv electronic dial 17 is rotated in the leftward direction (counterclockwise direction), if the right direction bit is the exposure mode is switched from the LM diaphragm priority mode to the LM hyper-manual mode and the LM bulb mode in this order one by one. After the TV dial change bit is reset, the control jumps to the check sub-routine (steps S241 S247 and S251).

When the Tv electronic dial 17 is rotated in the S right direction (the right direction bit is the 0 ,osure mode is changed in the order opposite to the above-mentioned order. After the Tv dial change bit is reset, the control jumps to the check sub-routine (steps 20 S244, S248-- S251).

.If the exposure mode switch SWMODE is turned OFF, or if the TV electronic dial 17 is not actuated (the TV dial change bit is the Tv dial change bit is reset without modifying the exposure mode, so that the control jumps to the check sub-routine (steps S242, S243 and S251).

7 6 Check Sub-routine In the check sub-routine, if one of the NOLens bit flag, the hyper-Av flag, or the hyper-Tv flag is set, the mode indication operation is carried out after the hyper-Av flag and the hyper-Tv flag are reset. The hyper-Av flag and the hyper-Tv flag represent the AE mode.

Namely, although the hyper-EE mode and the hyper-ES mode are not included in the types of AE modes, the hyper-EE mode and the hyper-ES mode can be discriminated by the hyper-Av flag and the hyper-Tv flag, respectively.

Consequently, the hyper program No. 14 and the hyper Tv flag are set in the hype EE mode, and the hyper program No. 14 and the hyper Av flkg are set in the hyper-ES mode, 69":%5 respectively.

To return the mode from the hyper-EE mode or hyper-ES mode to the respective hyper program modes, the hyper-Av flag or the hyper Tv flag is reset. The hyper-Av flag and the hyper-Tv flag are always reset in the lens-manual mode a.

20 by the check sub-routine, and accordingly, when the auto/manual selection switch SWA/M is switched from "MANUAL" to "AUTO", or when the taking lens is detached from, and again attached to the camera body, the exposure mode is initialized to be the hyper-program exposure mode.

If the taking lens is the auto-lens, and accordingly, 7 7 the auto/manual selection switch SWA/M is switched to "AUTO", the exposure mode is switched mode by mode in the order: program mode- hyper-program mode- limited program mode-- LA bulb mode- program mode. The exposure mode is indicated (steps S241, S251~ S257, S264), when the exposure mode switch SWMODE is turned ON and the Tv electronic dial 17 is rotated in the leftward direction.

If the Tv electronic dial 17 is rotated in .ne right direction, the exposure mode is changed in the order opposite to the above-mentioned order and is then indicated (steps S258 S260 and S264).

If the taking lens is an auto-lens and if one of the exposure mode switch SWMODE or the Tv electronic dial 17 is ee *4 turned OFF, exposure selection operation is not effected (steps S241, S251 S253, S261). If the clear button 23 is not turned ON clear switch SWCL is not turned ON), the latest exposure mode is indicated (steps S261 and S264).

If the clear button 23 is turned ON, and if the exposure mode is the hyper-EE mode or the hyper ES mode, 2o the exposure mode is initialized to be the hyper-program mode. If the exposure mode is neither the hyper-EE mode nor the hyper ES mode, the current exposure mode is maintained.

Namely, since the hyper-TV flag or the hyper-Av flag is set when the exposure mode is the hyper-EE mode or the hyper-ES mode, the flag is reset (steps S261 and S263).

Consequently, when the photographer presses the clear button 23, the hyper-EE automatic exposure mode or the hyper-ES automatic exposure mode is returned to the hyper-program exposure mode.

In the exposure mode selection operation mentioned above, it is impossible to directly select the hyper-EE or hyper-ES automatic exposure mode. The selection of the hyper-EE or hyper-ES automatic exposure mode is effected by the electronic dial 17 or 19 when the hyper-program exposure Riode is selected. Namely, when the electronic dial 17 or 19 is actuated at the hyper-program mode, the hyper-Tv flag or the hyper-Av flag is set, so that the mode can be compulsively changed to the hyper-EE or hyper-ES automatic exposure mode. Furthermore, when the electronic .00 5 dial 17 or 19 is actuated at the hyper-EE or hyper-ES program mode, the mode can be compulsively changed to the hyper-ES or hyper-EE automatic exposure mode, respectively.

If the clear button 23 is turned ON, the hyper-EE or hyper-ES automatic exposure mode can be compulsively changed to the respective hyper-program exposure modes. The indication of the compulsive change of the exposure mode is performed in the exposure mode indication operation which will be discussed hereinafter.

In the illustrated embodiment, the exposure modes in the lens-auto mode and the lens-manual mode are designated 79 with serial numbers. However, in practice, the exposure modcs in the lens-auto mode and the exposure modes in the lens-manual mode are stored in the memory of the IPIT 43 as separate data. Furthermore, the lens-auto/lens-manual (A/M) data, the Hyp-Tv flag and the Hyp-Av flag are separately allocated in tha memory of the IPU 43, as can be seen in Fig. 36.

The exposure mode is determined in accordance with the 3-bits for the lens-auto mode and the Hyp-Tv or Hyp-Av flag when the auto/manual data (A/M terminal), which is switched by the diaphragm ring of the taking lens, is "AUTO", On the other hand, when the auto/manual data (A/M terminal) is "MANUAL", the exposure e0 "o Smode is determined in accordance with the 2-bits for the lens-manual mode.

4* 0 *6* The exposure mode data of 4-bits including both the auto exposure mode and the manual exposure mode is sent to the CPU 41. The correspondence in the exposure modes (IPU mode and CPU mode) between the IPU and CPU is shown in 20 Table 4 listed above.

Memory Lock In the memory lock operation, the exposure value Ev is locked in the memory when the hold button 25 is pressed once and the lock is released when the hold button 25 is 8 0 pressed twice. Namely, every time the hold button 25 is turned ON and OFF, the memory lock of the exposure value Ev and the release thereof are repeated. For example, 3 bits within the memory lock flag data in the RAM 43b are employed in the memory lock operation. As can be seen in Fig. 38, one bit is the ML mode flag (hold bit), another bit the present hold switch data, and another bit the old hold switch data. All of these data are cleared at the initial state.

The memory lock operation at step S236 is performed as follows (Fig. 37). In this operation, every time the hold switch 25 is ON and OFF, the ML mode flag is set and reset.

6 *01 Owss First, the present hold switch data is transferred to the old hold switch data, so that the ON/OFF state of the hold switch 25 is input to the present hold switch data (steps S641 and 5643). Namely, when the hold switch is turned ON and OFF, the ML mode flag is set at and reset at respectively. The nold switch 25 is a normally open 20 self-returning type. Generally speaking, since the processing time of i-'le microcomputer is extremely short, the memory lock sub-routines are repeated several times while the photographer actuates the hold switch Thereafter, the state of the present hold switch data is checked (step S645). Since the ML mode flag is reset 8 1 when the hold switch 25 is turned OFF, the control proceeds to the memory lock indication operation. Since when the hold switch 25 is turned ON, the ML mode flag is set, the control proceeds to step S647 to check the old hold switch data. Upon the first operation when the hold switch 25 is turned ON, or upon the second and subsequent operationswhen the hold switch 25 is turned OFF, the ML mode flag is reset, and accordingly, the control proceeds to step S651.

Upon the second and subsequent operations when the hold switch 25 is turned ON or upon the first operation when the hold switch 25 is turned OFF, the ML mode flag is set, and accordingly, the control proceeds to step S649.

Whether or not the ML mode flag is set is checked at e step S651. If the ML mode flag is set, the flag is cleared.

If the flag is cleared, the ML mode flag is set (steps S655 Sand S653). When the ML mode flag is set, the current exposure value Ev is stored (locked), and the power hold flag is set for 5 sec. Thereafter, the control proceeds to the ML indication operation (steps S655, S657 and $659). If the ML mode flag is cleared, the control directly proceeds to the ML indication operation (steps S651 and S653).

*:ao At step S649, whether or not the ML mode flag is set is checked. When the hold switch 25 is turned ON, the ML mode flag is set, and accordingly, the control proceeds to step S659. Conversely, when the hold switch 25 is turned 8 2 OFF, the ML mode flag is cleared, and accordingly, the control directly proceeds to the ML indication operation.

In the ML indication operation, the asterisked mark indication flag is cleared. If the ML mode flag is reset, the control is returned. If the ML mode flag is set, the asterisked mark indication flag is set, and then the control is returned (steps S663 and S665). When the hold switch 25 is turned off, the present ML switch data, the old ML switch data and the ML mode flag are all cleared.

Exposure Mode Indication; Mode and Set Value Modification Examples of the indication of the LCD panel 69 and the indicator unit 71 within the finder are shown side by side to the left and right, respectively, in Figs. 41A 0*e through 41F, Figs. 42A through 42F, and Figs. 43A through 43C. In Fig. 41A, all the indicating elements (liquid crystal segments) such as letters, marks, symbols and figures, etc., constituting the indication information are shown. Fig. 41B shows the indication (display) when the main swit-h SWMAIN is turned OFF. The other figures show various indication examples. The relationship between the exposure mode indication operation and the indication (display) will be described below with reference to Figs.

39A through 39D. The exposure mode indication operation is 8 3 carried out by the IPU 43 in accordance with the program stored in the ROM 43a of the IPU 43.

When the taking lens attached to the camera body is an auto-lens, the control proceeds to step S302 from step S301 to perform the following operations.

2:.15 s 84 Hyper-Program Exposure Mode If the hyper-program exposure mode is set, but none of the electronic dials 17 and 19 are actuated, the hyper-program exposure mode is indicated as shown in Fig.

42B. Namely, "Hy P" representing the hyper-program exposure mode, "Tv 8000" representing the initial value (1/8000 sec.) of the shutter speed, "Av 5.6" representing the initial value of the diaphragm value, "22" representing the number of the photographed frames of film all appear in the LCD panel 69, and the initial values of the the shutter speed Tv and the diaphragm value Av appear in the indicator unit 71 within the finder (steps S302 through S308).

The IPU 43 reads the optimum shutter speed Tv e (transferring shutter speed TVT) and the optimum diaphragm *6 value Av (transferring diaphragm value AVT), calculated in the hyper-program exposure sub-routine by the CPU 41, provided that the power of the CPU 41 is held (remains on) and stores these data in the RAM 43b at predetermined *e I addresses thereof (steps S309 and S310). The transferring shutter speed TVT and the transferring diaphragm value AVT, stored in the RAM 43b are indicated in the LCD panel 69 and the indicator unit 71 within the finder provided that the power of the CPU 41 is held.

When the Tv electronic dial 17 is actuated when the Tv dial change bit is set at the hyper-Tv flag is set and the hyper-Av flag is reset thereby actuating the hyper-EE automatic exposure mode (steps S303 and S311). Thereafter, the shutter speed Tv is modified in accordance with the operation of the Tv electronic dial 17, with the modified shutter speed being stored in the RAM 43b at a predetermined address thereof and the hyper-EE automatic exposure mode and the set shutter speed Tv, etc., being indicated in the LCD panel 69 and the finder indicator unit 71, as shown in Fig. 42G (steps S312 and S313).

The initial value of the set diaphragm value Av is a value calculated at the hyper-program exposure mode or the hyper-EE exposure mode. Note that in Fig. 42G, the three oee quarter circle which surrounds the symbol "Tv" and the two 0S S :3a black arrows located above the symbol in the LCD panel, and the line underlining the numeral "4000" in the finder indicator unit 71 represent the feasibility of the shutter speed Tv modification by rotation of the Tv electronic dial 17.

While the power of the CPU 41 is held, the IPU 43 reads (or receives) data (AVT) corresponding to the optimum diaphragm value Av (AVD), calculated in the hyper-EE automatic exposure sub-routine, and stores the data in the RAM 43b while indicating the same in the LCD panel 69, etc.

(steps S314 and S315).

86 When the Av electronic dial 19 is actuated when the Av dial change bit is the hyper-Av flag is set and the hyper-Tv flag is reset thereby actuating the hyper-ES automatic exposure mode (steps S304 and S316). The diaphragm value Av is varied in accordance with the direction of rotation of the Av electronic dial 19, so that the modified diaphragm value Av is stored in the RAM 43b. The hyper-ES automatic exposure mode and the modified diaphragm value Av are indicated in the LCD panel 69 and the finder indicator unit 71, as shown in Fig. 42H (steps S317 and S318).

The initial value of the set diaphragm value Av is a value calculated in the hyper-program exposure mode or the 1 hyper-EE exposure mode. Note that in Fig. 42H, the three i l: 15 quarter circle which surrounds the symbol "Av" and the two a black arrows located below the symbol in the LCD panel, and the line underlining the numeral in the Sfinder indicator unit 71, represent the feasibility of the diaphragm value Av modification by rotation of the Av electronic dial 19.

The IPU 43 reads data (TVT) corresponding to the *0S0 optimum shutter speed Tv (TVD) calculated in the hyper-ES automatic exposure sub-routine and stores the data in the RAM 43b, provided that the power of the CPU 41 is held. The stored data is indicated in the LCD panel 69 and the finder 8 7 indicator unit 71 (steps S319 and S320).

When the hyp-.r-EE or ES automatic exposure mode is selected when the hyper-Tv or hyper-Av flag has already be.ui set), the IPU 43 stores the optimum transferring shutter speed TVT and the optimum transferring diaphragm value AVT, calculated in the hyper-ES or hyper-EE automatic exposure sub-routine by the CPU 41, into the RAM 43b and displays the same on the LCD panel 69, etc., even if neither of the electronic dials 17 or 19 are actuated. Nevertheless, the IPU 43 does not perform the modification of the diaphragm value Av or the shutter speed Tv (steps S303~ S305, S313- S315 or S303- S306, S319- S320).

Thus, the photographer can rotate the Tv electronic dial 17 to switch the hyper-program exposure mode to the hyper-EE automatic exposure mode and select the shutter speed Tv. Similarly, it is possible for the photographer to switch the hyper-program exposure mode to the hyper-ES *o automatic exposure mode and select the diaphragm value Av by rotating the Av electronic dial 19. In the illustrated embodiment, upon switching exposure modes, the optimum shutter speed or the optimum diaphragm value, calculated in the previous exposure mode, become the initial value of the exposure factor the shutter speed or the diaphragm value) which can be set at the newly selected exposure 8 8 mode. The initial value of the exposure factor, set at the newly selected exposure mode, can again be varied by the subsequent operation of the electronic dial 17 or 19.

Alternatively, it is possible to adopt a control system in which the exposure factors are modified at the time the exposure mode is changed.

As can be understood from the above discussion, the mode can be switched from the hyper-EE automatic exposure mode or the hyper-ES automatic exposure mode to the hyper o0 program exposure mode when the clear button 23 is turned ON. The change from the hyper-EE automatic exposure mode to the hyper-ES automatic exposure mode and vice versa can be effected by the rotation of the Av electronic dial 19 '0 and the Tv electronic dial 19, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, when the hyper-program exposure mode is selected, the diagrams shown at a solid line, a dotted line and a dotted and dashed line in Fig. 10 can be easily obtained by actuating the clear button 23 and the electronic dials 17 and 19, respectively.

As mentioned above with reference to Figs. 33 and 34, the hyper Tv and Av flags are released when either the 9**t clear button 23 is turned ON (steps S261- S263), the hyper-program exposure mode is selected, the main switch SWMAIN is turned OFF or the taking lens is detached from the camera body. When the main switch SWMAIN is turned on 8 9 or when the taking lens is attached, the mode is returned to the initial mode, the hyper-program automatic exposure mode.

Program Exposure Mode When the ordinary program exposure mode is selected, which represents the program exposure mode, is indicated in the LCD panel 69 (steps S301, S302, S321 S323). Furthermore, when the power hold of the CPU 41 is effected, the IPU 43 reads the communication TVT, AVT data corresponding to the the optimum shutter speed Tv and the optimum diaphragm value Av, calculated in the program exposure sub-routine, and stores the data in the PAM 43b.

6 0S The data is indicated in the LCD panel 69, etc., as shown in Fig. 42A (steps S324 and S325).

Limited Program Exposure Mode In the limited program exposure mode, the photographer can modify the upper and lower limits of the shutter speed and the diaphragm value, both varying along the program diagrams, by actuating the electronic dials 17 S and 19 and the hold switch

C

Selection of the limited program exposure mode is indicated by illuminating the three quarter circle surrounding the symbols and as shown in Fig. 41C 9 0 (steps S461 and S462).

When the clear switch SWCL is turned ON, the lower and upper limits TV1 and TV2 of the shutter speed and the lower and upper limits AV1 and AV2 of the diaphragm value are initialized (steps S463-1, S463-2). The initial values of the shutter speed limits and the diaphragm value limits at the limited program exposure mode in the illustrated embodiment are as follows. Namely, TV1=TVMIN=30 TV2 =TVMAX=1/8000 AV1=AVMIN; AV2=AVMAX. These initial values are set when the limited program exposure mode is selected for the first time after the battery is charged.

If the clear switch SWCL is turned OFF, the control proceeds to :1tep S464 to check the photometering switch SWS without initializing the shutter speed limits TVI and TV2 4* :li and the diaphragm value limits AV1 and AV2. Namely, the limits set by the photographer in accordance with the following processes are initialized when the clear button 23 (clear switch SWCL) is turned ON.

.t When the photometering switch SWS is turned ON or when the power is held, even if the photometering switch SWS is turned OFF, the control proceeds to step S485 (steps **06 0 S464, S465-1). When the photometering switch SWS is turned OFF and when the power of the CPU 41 is held, the limit value is modified, and the control then proceeds to step S485 (steps S465-1, S465-2, S466- S486). At step S485, 9 1 whether or not the power of the CPU 41 is held is checked.

If the power is held, the CPU 41 reads the optimum diaphragm value Av and the optimum shutter speed Tv calculated at the limited program exposure mode and stores the data in the RAM 43b. The data is indicated in the LCD panel 69, etc. Thereafter, the control is returned. If the power is not held, the control is directly returned (step S486).

Change of the limit values is effected as follows (step S465-2 and steps subsequent thereto).

When the Tv electronic dial 17 is actuated, the limits of the shutter speed Tv are increased or decreased in accordance with the direction of the rotation of the TV electronic dial 17. The limits are stored in the RAM 43b S and indicated (steps S465-2, S466).

ad i When the hold button 25 is turned ON, the upper and lower limits TV1 and TV2 of the shutter speed art set, Namely, when the hold button 25 is turned ON for the first time or an odd number of times, since the ML mode flag is set, the set Tv data is modified to the lower limit TV1 (steps S467 S470), and when the hold button 25 is turned ON the second time or an even number of times, the set Tv a data is modified to the upper limit TV2, and the control proceeds to step S485 (steps S467, S468, S469,S472). If the hold button 25 is not turned ON, change of the shutter 92 speed is not effected (steps S467, S485).

On the other hand, when the Av electronic dial 19 is turned ON, the limits of the diaphragm value are changed simultaneously with the limits of the shutter speed Tv.

Namely, the diaphragm value is increased or decreased in accordance with the direction of rotation of the Av electronic dial 19. The diaphragm value is consequently stored in the RAM 43b and indicated in the LCD panel 69, etc., (steps S475, S476). If the hold button is turned ON for the first time or an odd number of times, since the ML mode flag is set at the set Av data is modified to the lower limit AV1, and when the hold button 25 is turned ON the second time or an even number of times (Ml mode flag is the set Av data is modified to the upper limit AV2, 044 and the control proceeds to step S485 (steps S478, S479, S S482).

Upon completion of the modification of the limits TV1 and TV2 and AVI and AV2 of the shutter speed and the diaphragm value, the CPU 41 reads the optimum shutter speed Tv and diaphragm value Av calculated in the limited program exposure mode and stores the data in the RAM 43b, provided *S that the power of the CPU 41 is held (steps S485, S486).

The stored data is indicated in the LCD panel 69 and the indicator unit within the finder.

93 As can be understood from the foregoing, in the limited program exposure mode, the shutter speed and the diaphragm value set by the photographer are changed to the upper or lower shutter speed limit and the upper or lower diaphragm limit when the hold switch 25 is turned ON. In an alternative, to change the shutter speed limits or the diaphragm limits every time the electronic dial 17 or 19 is actuated, it is possible to skip the operations at steps S467 and S477.

LA ES Automatic Exposure Mode When the body-set diaphragm priority (ES) automatic exposure mode (lens-auto ES automatic exposure mode) is selected, the LCD panel 69 and the indicator unit 71 *e

S

:As 5 within the finder are displayed as shown in Fig. 42D (steps S301, S302, S321, S461, S331- S333). When the Av electronic dial 19 is rotated, the diaphragm value Av is increased or decreased in accordance with the direction of rotation thereof, stored as the set diaphragm value Av in the RAM 43b, and indicated in the LCD panel 69, etc. When the power go** of the CPU 41 is held, the IPU 43 outputs the diaphragm value AVT, calculated in the diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode, to the CPU 41 which reads the optimum shutter speed Tv calculated in the LA diaphragm priority automatic exposure sub-routine, stores the data in the RAM 9 4 43b and indicates the same in the LCD panel 69, etc. (steps S334- S338).

LA EE Automatic Exposure Mode When the shutter speed priority (EE) automatic exposure mode is selected, the display of the LCD panel 69 and the indicator unit 71 within the finder is as shown in Fig. 42C, in which the initial value (1/8000 sec.) of the shutter speed Tv appears (steps S301, S302, S321, S331, S341- S343). When the TV electronic dial 17 is rotated, the shutter speed TV is increased or decreased in accordance with the direction of rotation thereof, stored as the set shutter speed Tv in the RAM 43b, and indicated in the LCD panel 69, etc. When the power of the CPU 41 is held, kthe

C.

.AS IPU 43 outputs the shutcer speed TVT calculated in the a shutter speed priority automatic exposure mode to the CPU 41 which reads the optimum transferring diaphragm value AVT calculated in the EE automatic exposure sub-routine, and stores the data in the RAM 43b and indicates the same in the LCD panel 69, etc., respectively, as shown in Fig. 42C

C**

(steps S344 S348).

Hyper-Manual Exposure Mode In the hyper-manual exposure mode in the illustrated embodiment, the function equivalent to the calculation of 9 the shutter speed Tv and/or the diaphragm value Av in the program exposure mode, the EE automatic exposure mode or the ES automatic exposure mode is achieved by actuating the clear button 23.

When the body-set hyper-manual exposure mode is selected, the display of the LCD panel 69, etc., is as shown in Fig. 42E (steps S301, S302, S321, S461, S331, S341, S379- S351). When the Ev check sub-routine is performed, the shutter speed Tv and the diaphragm value Av which are increased or decreased in accordance with the direction of rotation of the electronic dials 17 and 19 are set in the RAM 43b and indicated in the LCD panel 69, etc., respectively (step S352).

a e.e. If the power of the CPT 41 is held, the snutter speed TVT and the diaphragm value AVT selected in the manual exposure mode are output to the CPU 41, which reads the specific point LED bit calculated in the body-set manual exposure sub-routine, stores the same in the RAM 43b, and .o controls the illumination of the exposure indicating elements 71a and 71b (steps S353~ S360).

*A.

LA Bulb Exposure Mode a When the body-set bulb exposure mode is selected, the display of the LCD panel 69, etc., is as shown in Fig. 42F (steps S301, S302, S321, S461, S331, S341, S349, S361, S362).

q R When the Av electronic dial 19 is rotated, the diaphragm value Av is increased or decreased in accordance with the direction of rotation of the Av electroilic dial 19, stored in the RAM 43b, and indicated in the LCD panel 69 and the indicator unit 71 (steps S363 S365).

In the body-set shutter priority exposure mode, diaphragm priority exposure mode, manual exposure mode and bulb exposure mode, as mentioned above, the photographer can set the shutter speed Tv and the diaphragm value Av by actuating the electronic dials 17 and 19. In this case, the three quarter circle, the arrows, and the letters "Tv" and "Av" appear in the LCD panel 69. Also, the shutter speed Tv or the diaphragm value Av is underlined, as mentioned eo o above. Accordingly, the photographer is alerted that the shutter speed Tv and the diaphragm value Av can be manually set by actuating the electronic dials 17 and 19, respectively.

S. Furthermore, when the hold button 25 is turned ON, 0* the asterisk mark of the indicating element 71c is illuminated in the indicator unit 71 within the finder, and accordingly, the photographer is alerted that the memory is locked.

I

Lens-Manual Mode Indication of the exposure mode in the lens-manual 9 7 mode, in which the diaphragm value is set on the taking lens side, is effected by the IPU 43 as follows: LM hyper-Manual Exposure Mode Selection of the LM byper-manual exposure mode is indicated in the LCD panel 69, etc., as shown in Fig. 43A (steps S301, S371 373). When the Tv electronic dial 17 is rotated, the shutter speed Tv which is increased or decreased in accordance with the direction of rotation thereof is stored in the RAM 43b as the set shutter speed Tv and indicated in the LCD panel 69 and the indicator unit 71 within the finder (steps S374- S376).

Furthermore, when the power of the CPU 41 is held, e: the shutter speed TVT and the diaphragm value AVT selected a *15 in the manual exposure mode are output to the CPU 41 which a** reads the exposure indication bit set in the LA manual exposure sub-routine, stores the read data in the RAM 43b, and controls the illumination of the indicating elements 71a and 71b (steps S377 and S378). Figs. 43A, and designate optimum exposure, over exposure, and under exposure, respectively.

98 LM Manual ES Automatic Exposure Mode The lens-manual diaphragm priority (ES) automatic exposure mode is indicated in the LCD panel 69, as shown in Fig. 43B (steps S301, S381- S383). If the power of the CPU 41 is held, the CPU 41 reads the shutter speed TVT calculated in the lens-manual ES automatic exposure sub-routine and stores the data in the RAM 43b. The data is indicated in the LCD panel 69, etc., and the control is returned (steps S384, S385).

LM Bulb Exposure Mode When the lens-set bulb exposure mode is selected, the shutter speed TV is set at (bulb) which is indicated in the LCD panel 69, as shown in Fig. 43C (steps S301, S371, ee* S381, S391, S393).

Ev Checking Sub-Routine In the Ev check operation, when the hold switch 25 is turned ON, the optimum exposure value at that time is locked, and if the electronic dial 17 or 19 is actuated thereafter, the associated exposure factor (shutter speed i S or diaphragm value) is increased or decreased in 0 accordance with the direction of rotation of the electronic dial 17 or 19, and the other exposure factor (diaphragm value or shutter speed) is decreased or 9 9 increased, respectively, to retain the locked exposure value. In the Ev checking sub-routine at step S352, every time the electronic dial 17 and 19 are rotated by one step when the hold button 25 is turned ON, the increment or decrement of the shutter speed TV and the diaphragm value Av by 1/2 Tv and 1/2 Av takes place, respectively. The Ev checking sub-routine will be discussed below with reference to Fig. The RAM 43b of the IPU 43 has a hold bit corresponding to the switching operation of the hold button If the hold bit is if the hold button 25 is not turned ON, the shutter speed Tv and the diaphragm value Av, which have already been set are not modified (steps S421, S437). Conversely, if the hold bit is if *m 0 o..15 the hold button 25 is turned ON, the following operation is seee S* performed.

If the Tv electronic dial 17 is rotated in the leftward direction (counterclockwise direction) by one step or more the Tv change bit is the shutter speed Tv is decreased 1/2 Tv by 1/2 Tv and the diaphragm value Av So is increased 1/2 Av by 1/2 Av until the shutter speed Tv is c"s equal to- 5 5 30 sec.) or the diaphragm value Av 0 0 is equal to the maximum diaphragm value AVMAX (steps S422 S427). If the Av electronic dial 19 is rotated in the rightward direction (clockwise direction), the same 100 operation as above is performed (steps S422, S428, S429, S424- S427).

If the Tv electronic dial 17 is rotated in the rightward direction (clockwise direction), the shutter speed Tv is increased 1/2 Tv by 1/2 Tv and the diaphragm value Av is decreased 1/2 Av by 1/2 Av until the shutter speed Tv is equal to 13 (Tv=13~ 1/8000 sec.) or the diaphragm value Av is equal to the minimum diaphragm value AVMIN (steps S422, S423, S430 ~S433). If the Av electronic dial 19 is rotated in the leftward direction (counterclockwise direction), the same operation as above is performed (steps S422, S428- S433). The increased or decreased shutter speed Tv and the diaphragm value Av are 0 0 Co0 stored in the RAM 43b and the Tv, Av change bits are reset e004 e (steps S434 S437).

**CC

S Thus, both the shutter speed Tv and the diaphragm value Av can be simultaneously adjusted by actuating one of Sthe electronic dials 17 or 19 while maintaining the

C.

S*e exposure value Ev constant, when the hold button 25 is turned ON after the optimum shutter speed and the diaphragm value are manually set. For instance, on the assumption that the optimum shutter speed Tv and diaphragm value Av 0 are 1/125 sec., and F8.0, in the hyper-manual mode, respectively, if the hold button 25 is turned ON, the memory is locked. Thereafter, if for example the Tv 1 0 1 electronic dial 17 is rotated by two steps, the shutter speed Tv and the diaphragm value Av are changed to 1/60 sec., and Fll, respectively, while maintaining exposure at the optimum value. For comparison's sake, if the Tv electronic dial Tv is actuated at the ordinarl hyper-manual exposure mode, only the shutter speed is varied, resulting in a change in exposure value. This mode will be cancelled when the hold button is actuated again.

Second Exposure Mode Indication Operation The second exposure mode indicating operation is different from the first exposure mode indicating operation in that the exposure mode can be changed only when the electronic dials 17 or 19 are rotated by more than two 1 5 steps in the hyper-program exposure mode.

When neither of the electronic dials 17 or 19 is actuated and both the hyper-Tv and hyper-Av flags are "0" in the lens-auto hyper-program mode when the hyper-program exposure mode is selected) the display in the 2 10 LCD 69 and the indicator unit 71 within the finder is as e Sshown in Fig. 42B (steps S501 S508). The transferring shutter speed TVT and the transferring diaphragm value AVT, calculated by the CPU 41, are stored in the RAM 43b (steps 509, S510), provided that the power of the CPU 41 is held.

When the hyper-EE automatic exposure mode is 102 selected, the control proceeds from step S505 to step S514, since the hyper-Tv flag is set. Thereafter, in steps S514 S518, the operations similar to those in steps S311 -S315 are effected. On the other hand, if the hyper ES automatic exposure mode is selected, the control proceeds from step S506 to step 5524, since the hyper-Av flag is Let.

Thereafter, in steps S524 S528, the operations similar to those in steps S316 S320 are effected.

When the TV electronic dial 17 or the Av electronic dial 19 is rotated, namely, when the Tv-change bit or the Av-change bit is the operations in the Tv dial or Av dial checking sub-routine are effected. As can be understood from the foregoing, in the Tv dial or Av dial checking sub-routine, the exposure mode is changed only when the Tv or Av electronic dial 17 or 19 is rotated by two or more steps in the same direction.

When the Tv or Av electronic dial 17 or 19 is rotated by one step in a predetermined direction, or when the Tv or Av electronic dial 17 or 19 is rotated thereafter by one 'o0 step in the opposite direction, the control proceeds to step S505 (steps S503, S511, S505 or steps S503, G521, S505).

When the Tv electronic dial 17 is rotated by two steps in the same direction, the control proceeds from step S511 to step S512 in which, if the hyper-Tv flag is the 1 0 3 Tv dial change flag is reset to permit the mode to be changed to the hyper-EE automatic exposure mode and prevent the shutter speed Tv from being changed, since the hyper-EE automatic exposure mode is not selected. Thereafter, the control proceeds to step S514 (steps S512, S513 and S514).

If the hyper-Tv flag is since the hyper-EE automatic exposure mode is selected, the control proceeds directly to step S514 in which the shutter speed Tv can be adjusted (steps S512, S514).

On the other hand, when the Av electronic dial 17 is rotated by two steps in the same direction, the control proceeds from step S521 .to step S522 in which, if the hyper-Av flag is the Av dial change flag is reset to permit the mode to be changed to the hyper-ES automatic exposure mode and prevent the diaphragm value Av from being Schanged, since the hyper-ES automatic exposure mode is not S selected Thereafter, the control proceeds to sten S524 (steps S521, S522, S523, S524). If the hyper-Av flag is since the hyper-ES automatic exposure mode is 0 selected, the control proceeds directly to step S524 in which the diaphragm value Av can be adjusted (steps S521, S522, S524).

The Tv, Av dial check sub-routines will be discussed below with reference to stepA S511 and S521 in Figs. 45 and 46. In the Tv dial check sub-routine, whether or not the Tv 104 dummy flag is is checked at step S551. Since the Tv dummy flag is not initially set, the Tv dummy flag is set and the old Tv dial direction flag is replaced with the present Tv dial direction flag, and the control is then returned to step S505 (step S552). The second time through the sub-routine, if the direction of rotation of the Tv electronic dial 17 is the same as that of the first rotation, the Tv dial dummy flag is set and the Av dial dummy flag is reset, since the present Tv dial direction flag is identical to the old Tv dial direction flag (steps S553, S555). After that, the control proceeds to step S512.

Conversely, if the direction of the second rotation of the Tv electronic dial 17 is different froMi that of the first rotation, the Tv dial dummy flag is reset and the S 5 old Tv dial direction flag is replaced with the present dial direction flag, since the old Tv dial direction flag is different from the present flag (steps S551, S553, S554). After that, the control proceeds to step S505.

In the Av dial check sub-routine, whether or not the Av dummy flag is is checked at step S561. Since the Av dummy flag is not initially set, the Av dummy flag is set and the old Av dial direction flag is replaced with the present Av dial direction flag, and the control is then returned to step S505 (step S562}. The second time through the sub-routine, if the direction of rotation of the Av 105 electronic dial 19 is the same as that of the first rotation, the Av dial dummy flag is set and the Tv dial dummy flag is reset, due to the fact that the present Av dial direction flag is identical to the old Av dial direction flag (steps S563, S565). After that, the c ntrol proceeds to step S524.

Conversely, if the direction of the scond rotation of the Av electronic dial 19 is different from that of the the first rotation, the Av dial dummy flag is reset and the old Av dial direction flag is replaced with the present dial direction flag, since the old Av dial direction flag is different from the present flag (steps S561, S563, S564). After that, the control proceeds to step S505.

As can be understood from the above discussion, according to the second indication sub-routine, since there is no change in the exposure mode, as long as the electronic dial 17 or 19 is not rotated by more than two steps, even if the electronic dial 17 or 19 is rotated accidentally or by mistake, the mode is not changed. In an alternative embodiment, it is possible to realize a control system in which mode change does no take pjace if the electronic dial 17 or 19 is successively rotated twice within an extremely short space of time.

25 e 1 0 6 As can be seen from the above discussion, according to the present invention, when the hyper-program exposure mode is selected, the shutter speed Tv and the diaphragm value Av can be varied in accordance with the direction of the rotation of the electronic dial 17 or 19, and the mode can be switched to the shutter speed priority automatic exposure mode or the diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode merely by rotating the electronic dial 17 or 19.

Furthermore, after the mode is changed to the automatic exposure mode, the shutter speed and the diaphragm value can be adjusted by actuating the electronic dial 17 or 19.

Accordingly, if the photographer cannot fully express his or her photographic intention when using the program exposure m'ode, the photographer may switch the program exposure mode to the automatic exposure mode in which his or her intention can be more easily and freely reflected.

,I addition, since the mode can be returned to the initial hyper-program exposure mode when the clear button 23 is turned ON, even after the mode is compulsively 0 switched to the automatic exposure mode, the exposure factor priority automatic exposure mode can be conveniently selected particularly when it is temporarily necessary.

Although the above discussion has been directed to the embodiment in which there are two automatic exposure modes, the ordinary program exposure mode and the 107 hyper-program exposure mode which can be switched to the exposure factor priority automatic exposure mode when the electronic dial 17 or 19 is actuated, it is possible to provide only the hyper-program exposure mode or more than two program modes.

According to the present invention, when a specific program exposure mode is selected, the shutter speed or the diaphragm value can be easily adjusted by the first or second manual setting means in accordance with the photographer's intention without changing the exposure mode.

Furthermore, according to tB, present invention, when a specific program exposure mode is selected, the mode can be switched to the shutter speed priority or diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode by the corresponding first or second manual setting means Accordingly, the mode change between the program exposure mode and the automatic exposure mode, which is frequently done, can be easily

S

effected particularly in a camera having many kinds of exposure modes.

In the illustrated embodiment, when the electronic dial 17 or 19 is actuated in the hyper-program exposure mode, the mode is changed to the shutter speed priority or diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode, depending on the dial that is rotated. The shutter speed or the diaphragm value corresponding to the rotated dial is then 1 n A manually adjusted. The other one of either the diaphragm value or the shutter speed is then varied in accordance with the object brightness. Consequently, the function in which the shutter speed and the diaphragm value are changed in combination to achieve optimum exposure conditions, similar to the program exposure mode, can be effected.

Furthermore, when the clear button 23 is actuated (turned ON), after the exposure mode is compulsively changed to the hyper-program exposure mode, the mode is easily returned to the program exposure mode. Accordingly, it is convenient for the photographer when he or she wants to temporarily switch to the automatic exposure mode, which gives priority to both of the exposure factors.

If the accuracy of the exposure factors which can be 9 manually set is different from that of the automatically set exposure factors, the shutter speed or the diaphragm 0*99 value varying in accordance with the rotation of the corresponding electronic dial 17 or 19 can be rounded to be identical to the value of an accuracy which can be manually 0 .0 set. It is also possible to use the exposure factors which are modified to the values greater than or less than those determined by the program exposure mode.

Namely, according to the present invention, since one of the exposure factors is retained at the value set in the program exposure mode and the other exposure factor is 109 automatically varied in accordance with the object brightness, by a single operation of the associated electronic dial in the program exposure mode, the combination of the shutter speed and the diaphragm value can be easily adjusted in the program exposure mode without switching the exposure mode.

In the present invention, the exposure mode is compulsively changed to either the shutter speed or diaphragm priority exposure mode when the corresponding electronic dial 17 or 19 is actuated in the hyper-program exposure mode. Thereafter, when the other electronic dial 19 or 17 is actuated, the shutter speed or diaphragm priority exposure mode is compulsively changed back to the diaphragm or shutter speed priority exposure mode.

5i Therefore, the photographer can easily change the exposure mode without moving his or her eye from the finder.

g Furthermo; when the exposure mode is compulsively changed by act ng the electr" dial 17 or 19, the shutter speed or the dicphragm value can be modified by the o electronic dial 17 or 19 which has been actuated, resulting in a high level of operability.

Although the above discussion has been directed to mode change among the three specific automatic exposure I modes including the program exposure mode, the shutter speed priority automatic exposure mode and the diaphragm 1 1 0 priority automatic exposure mode, the present invention is not limited thereto but can be applied to mode change, for example, between two specific automatic exposure modes, such as the shutter speed priority automatic exposure mode and the diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode. In summary of the present invention, as the exposure modes can be compulsively changed, the specific exposure modes which are frequently used by the photographer can be selected from among the various exposure modes.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, since the exposure mode can be changed between the two automatic exposure modes in which either the shutter speed or the diaphragm value can be manually set, the mode change between the specific exposure modes is simplified.

*0 In an embodiment of the present invention, when the hyper-program exposure mode is selected, the mode can be too.. easily changed to the shutter speed priority automatic exposure mode or the diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode by actuating the associated electronic dial 17 or 19.

0 Namely, the mode change between the automatic exposure Co modes is simplified. In addition to the simplification of the mode change between the automatic exposure modes, the selected automatic exposure mode can be simply returned to the hyper-program mode by actuating the clear button 23.

In particular, in the case that the hyper-program 1 1 1 exposure mode is most frequently used, even if the mode is compulsively and temporarily changed to the shutter speed priority automatic exposure mode or the diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode to take a picture with a shutter speed or diaphragm value which has been deviated from the associated program diagram stored in the memory by actuating the associated electronic dial 17 or 19, the temporarily selected mode can be easily returned to the hyper-program exposure mode by turning the clear button 23 ON. Accordingly, the operability is increased. Furthermore, since the mode is also returned to the hyper-program mode when the main switch 31 is turned OFF or when the taking lens 65 is exchanged, failure to return the exposure mode is avoided.

The requirements needed to return the shutter speed 0* priority or diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode switched away from the hyn'er-program exposure mode back to 0 the hyper-program exposure mode are not limited to those mentioned above. For instance, it is possible to return the shutter speed priority or diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode to the hyper-program exposure mode when the photometering switch SWS or the release switch SWR is not actuated for a predetermined period of time.

Alternatively, it is also possible to return the shutter speed priority or diaphragm priority automatic 112 exposure mode to the hyper-program exposure mode only when the clear button 23 is turned ON.

According to the present invention, if a specific program exposure mode is compulsively switched to another specific program exposure mode, the program mode can be easily returned to the former program mode under a predetermined condition, for example, when the clear switch is turned ON, not only can the mode return be easily effected, but also failure to return the exposure mode after the mode has been temporarily switched is avoided.

According to the present invention, the selected mode is indicated in the LCD panel 69 and the indicator unit 71 within the finder in a predetermined manner (Figs.

27, 28 and 29), so that the photographer can visually 5 confirm the selected exposure mode.

For example, when the hyper-program exposure mode is selected, the letter "HY" appears in the LCD panel 69 in addition to the marks, symbols or letters which are ordinarily indicated in the program exposure mode.

0o Accordingly, the photographer is alerted to the fact that

*A

the mode can be compulsively switched to the EE or ES automatic exposure mode by actuating the electronic dial 17 or 19. Furthermore, when the hyper-program exposure mode is switched to the EE or ES automatic exposure mode by the operation of the Tv or Av electronic dial 17 or 19, the 113 photographer can see the set shutter speed Tv and the diaphragm value Av as well as the presently activated mode in the LCD panel 69 and the indicator unit 71, as shown in Figs. 42G and 42H.

When the hyper-manual exposure mode is selected, since the letter "HY" appears in the LCD panel 69 in addition to the marks, symbols or letters which are ordinarily indicated in the program exposure mode, the photographer can recognize at a glance that the optimum shutter speed Tv and diaphragm value Av can be manually adjusted by actuating the clear button 23, as shown in Figs. 41F and 43A.

Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, since the three quarter circle and the underlined value appear in the 4 LCD panel 69 and the indicator unit 71, the photographer is alerted that the shutter speed or the diaphragm can be modified by actuating the electronic dial 17 or 19.

In the present invention, since the specific program exposure mode which can be switched to the shutter speed or diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode by the first and 0 second manual setting means is indicated in the indicating means, the photographer can visually recognize the same.

Furthermore, when the mode is compulsively changed to the 6*06 automatic exposure mode in which the shutter speed and the diaphragm value are manually adjusted, since the selected 114 automatic exposure mode is indicated, the photographer can easily see the variation of the exposure mode and the exposure factors which can be manually adjusted.

In the body-set shutter speed priority automatic exposure mode or diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode, when the diaphragm value or the shutter speed whxch is automatically set in accordance with the object brightness reaches the limit, since the automatically set diaphragm value or the shutter speed is fixed at the limit and the manually set shutter speed and the diaphragm value is varied in accordance with the object brightness, the optimum exposure range is expanded. Consequently, little or no readjustment of the shutter speed or diaphragm value requires manual adjustment.

Furthermore, in the shutter speed priority automatic e exposure mode or diaphragm priority automatic exposure mode, it is possible to construct the control system in which the upper and lower limits of the shutter speed and the diaphragm value, which can be automatically set, can eo also be manually set by the photographer.

S. Consequently, the optimum exposure range can be expanded, and the possibility that a photographer unitent.onally sets an incorrect shutter speed or diaphragm value, is reduced. This makes it possible for the photographer to take a picture at a desired shutter speed 115 and diaphragm value.

Finally, the exposure control apparatus according to the present invention includes an automatic exposure mode in which one of the exposure factors (shutter speed and diaphragm value) can be given priority by effecting the first or second manual setting means while the other exposure factor is automatically adjusted in accordance with the object brightness, and an exposure factor varying means for varying one of the exposure factors in accordance with the object brightness when the other exposure factor is manually set by the first or second manual setting means in the automatic exposure mode, without modifying the manually set exposure factor. The exposure control apparatus of the present invention further includes 99 a means for varying one of the exposure factors in 9 accordance with the object brightness when the other exposure factor reaches an upper or lower limit, while 9 retaining the other exposure factor at the upper or lower limit. The exposure range which can be manually set is expanded, so that it is not necessary for the photographer *0 to readjust the shutter speed or the diaphragm or to modify the exposure mode.

*eem 116 tabl1e 1 command name of command fcontent number of bytes 0 IPU check communication check with 1.

I PC 1 CPU -*IPU transfer 1 output all data 1 0 2 CPU -IPU transfer 2 output data for indication 3 IPU -bCPU transfer 1 input all data 2 0 4 IPU -CPU trainsfer 2 input lens data 1 0 5 IPU -CPU transfer 3 input switch data 1 6 IPU -CPU transfer 4 input ex,, sure mode 1

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G .t 0*0 .1 tabl1e 3 0. AvD augmen- indication FNO. Av AvT AvD tation classification 11 11 15 4/8 38 10.5 10.5 32 10 10 14 4/8 F1i 27 9.5 9.5 14 11 3/8 22 9 9 13 4/8 11 2/8 19 8.5 8.5 13 11 1/8 16 8 8 12 4/8 11 0/8 13 7.5 1. 5 12 10 7/8 11 7 7 11 4/8 10 6/8 9.5 6. 5 6.5 11 10 5/8 8 6 6 10 4/8 10 4/8 F8 6.7 5.5 5.5 10 10 3/8 5.6 5 5 9 4/8 10 2/8 4.5 4.5 9 10 1/8 4 4 4 8 4/8 10 0/8 F6.7 3.5 3.5 8 9 7/8 2.8 3 3 7 4/8 9 6/8 2.5 2.5 7 9 5/8 2 2 2 6 4/8 9 4/8 F5.6 1.7 1 5 1.5 6 9 3/8 1i 0_ 0 4/8 ft ft.

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lens A' lens (4b i t) (3b it) (2 b it) Program 7 1 Hyper Program 6 1 4 Program LIMIT 5 1 3 EE LA 4 1 2 ES LA 3 1 (Hlype,,) Manual LA 2 1 0 :.~.Bulb LA 19 Hyper EE 8 Hyper ES7 6 4 3 ES LM 2 2 (Hyper) Manual LM 1 1 Bulb LM 0 0 110

Claims (34)

1. An exposure control apparatus for a camera that includes photometering means for detecting a brightness of an object to be taken, means for calculating an optimum exposure value in accordance with said detected object brightness, and means for setting a pair of exposure factors including a shutter speed and a diaphragm value, comprising: means for manually setting at least one of said pair of exposure factors; a specific program exposure mode, in which said pair of exposure factors are automatically set in accordance with said optimum exposure value; and exposure factor modifying means for enabling said manual setting means to manually set one of said pair of exposure factors only when said manual setting means is actuated in said specific program exposure mode, said specify program exposure mode being automatically set from among a plurality of exposure modes upon >e occurrence of a predetermined event. 15 2. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the manual setting means sets one of the exposure values, that exposure value is given priority and said exposure factor setting means automatically sets the other exposure factor in accordance with the optimum exposure value and the manually set exposure se factor. 20 3. An exposure control apparatus according to claim *I (a\WPUSER\LIMMI0a12O:LMM 1, wherein said manual setting means comprises first and second manual setting means for independent;Ly setting the exposure factors.

4. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said exposure factor modifying means enables one of the manual setting means to set the exposure factor associated therewith when said one of the manual setting means is actuated after the actuation of the other manual setting means, so that the exposure factor associated with the other manual setting means is then automatically sat. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a means for overriding the actuation I of the manual setting means, whereby exposure factors are set by the corresponding manual setting means in the specific program mode, so that the exposure factor is then automatically set by the exposure factor setting means, wherein the means for overriding the actuation of the ga Smanual setting means is a clear switch. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, when a first or second manu&I setting means is actuated in the specific program exposure mode, said exposure factor modifying means sets the associated exposure factor to a value which is identical to the automatically set value.

7. An txposure control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, when the manual setting means is further actuated, after the initial activation, the associated exposure factor is modified in accordance therewith.

8. An exposure control apparatus according to claim S 1, wherein, when a first or second manual setting means is actuated in the specific program exposure mode, the associated exposure factor, which can be manually set, is set to a value which is identical to the automatically set value, said automatically set value being rounded to have an accuracy which can be manually set.

9. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first and second iianual setting means comprise rotatable electronic dials which can be clicked and locked step by stip.

10. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein. when the electronic dials are rotated by one step, said exposure factor modifying means enables the associated exposue factors to be manually set.

11. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, when the electronic dials are rotated by two steps within a predetermined period of time, said exposure factor modifying means enables the associated exposure factors to be manually set.

12. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said exposure factor modifying means modifies 1 Z3 the associated exposure factors in accordance with the rotation of the electronic diLls.

13. An exposure control apparatus acccrding to claim 2, further comprising a modifying means for modifying the exposure factor having priority, so that when one of the exposure factors is manually set by the first or second manual setting means in the specific automatic exposure mode, the other exposure factor is modified in accordance with the optimum exposure factor with reference to said one exposure factor, and when the other exposure factor reachecs a predetermined upper or lower limit, the other exposure factor is fixed at the upper or lower limit and said one exposure factor is modified in accordance with the optimum exposure value.

14. An exposure control apparatus of a camera that includes photometering means for detecting a brightness of an object to be taken, and automatic exposure modes in which one of a pair of exposure factors including a shutter speed and a diaphragm value can be manually set while another exposure factor is automatically adjusted to be set in accordance with said object brightness, comprising: a specific program exposure mode in which said pair of exposure fictors are automatically set in accordance with said object brightness; first and second manual setting means for manually setting said pair of exposure .factors; means for selecting an exposure mode from among a plurality of various possible exposure modes that include said automatic exposure modes and said specific program exposure mode; and means for compulsively shifting a specific program exposure mode to one of said autminatic exposure modes in which said shutter speed or said diaphragm value is given priority when as associated first or second manual setting means is actuated, said specific program exposure mode' .ing automatically selected from among said plurality of ,arious a possible exposure modes by said exposure inode selecting means upon occurrence of a predetermined event.

15. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising an exposure factor modifying means for modifying the associated exposure factor when the first or second manual setting means is actuated after the specific program exposure mode is shifted to the automatic exposure mode, in which the shutter speed or the diaphragm has priority, by the first or second manual setting means.

16. An expouire control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein when the fur;t or second manual setting means is actuated after the mode has been shifted to the automatic exposure mode by the activation of the second or first manual setting mean said exposure mode shifting means compulsively shifts the automatic exposure mode to the first or second automatic exposure mode, respectively. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a 'clear switch, wherein when the clear switch is actuatea after the specific program i (G\WPUSER\LIBMM001 26:LMM X s exposure mode is compulsively shifted to the automatic exposure mode, said exposure mode shifting means retuns the automatic exposure mode to the program exposure mode.

18. An exposure control apparatus of a camera that includes photometering means for detecting a brightness of an object to be taken, and automatic exposure modes in which one of a pair of exposure factors including a shutter speed and a diaphragm value can be manually set while another exposure factor is automatically adjusted to be set ;n accordance with said object brightness, comprising: a specific program exposure mode in which said pair of exposure factors are automatically set in accordance with said object brightness; first and second manual setting means for manually setting said pair of exposure factors; means for selecting an exposure mode from among a plurality of various possible exposure modes that includes said automatic exposure modes and said specific program exposure mode; means for compulsively shifting a specific program exposure mode to one of said automatic exposure modes in which said shutter speed or said diaphragm value is given priority when as associated first or secoi' manual setting means is actuated; means for modifying an associated exposure factor when said first or second manual setting means is actuated after said specific program exposure mode is shifted to said 2o automatic exposure mode, in which said shutter speed of said diaphragm value has priority, by said first or second manual setting means; and a second program exposure mode, wherein said exposure mode shifting means operates to shift said exposure mode only when said specific program exposure mode is selected.

19. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first and 2,6 second manual setting means comprise rotatable electronic dials which are clicked and o*o* locked step by step. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 19, wherein when the electronic dials are r"-ated by one step, said exposure mode shifting means compulsively shifts the specific program exposure mode to the corresponding automatic exposure mode.

21. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 19, wherein when the electronic dials are rotated by more than one step, said exposure mode shifting means compulsively shifts the specific program exposure mode to the corresponding automatic exposure mode.

22. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 19, wherein when the 3s specific program exposure mode is compulsively shifted to the corresponding automatic exposure mode, said exposure factor modifying means modifies the corresponding shutter speed or diaphragm value in accordance with the rotation of the associated electronic dial.

23. An exposure control apparatus of a camera, comprising: photometering means for detecting a brightness of an object to be taken; IG\WPUSER\LI8MM100126:LMM first and second manual actuating means for independently setting a pair of exposure factors including a shutter speed and a diaphragm value; an automatic exposure mode, in which one of said pair of exposure factors can be manually set while another of said pair of exposure factors is automatically adjusted to be set in accordance with said object brightness; a specific program exposure mode, in which said pair of exposure factors are automatically set in accordance with said object brightness; an exposure mode shifting means for compulsively shifting said specific program exposure mode to said automatic exposure mode, in which said shutter speed or said diaphragm can be manually set, when an associated first or second manual actuating means is actuated; and means for automatically returning said automatic exposure mode, compulsively shifted by said exposure mode shifting means, to said specific program exposure mode upon the occurrence of a specific event.

24. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said exposure Smode returning means comprises a clear switch, so tJat when clear switch is actuated, said exposure mode returning means operates.

25. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said exposure mode returning means comprises a lens detecting means for detecting the attachment and 20 detachment of a taking lens to and from the camera, so that the exposure mode is returned when the detachment of the taking lens from the camera body is 'etected by the lens detecting means.

26. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said lens detecting means detects levels of mount pins, provided on the camera body, to detect the 25 attachment and detachment of the taking lens to and from the camera body.

27. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said lens detecting means detects the attachment and detachment of the taking lens to and from the camera body by data communication with the taking lens through mount pins provided on the camera body.

28. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said exposure mode returning means comprises an auto/manual dete/cting means for detecting diaphragm auto or manual modes of the diaphragm of a taking lens, so that when the diaphragm auto mode is detected by the auto/manual detecting means, the exposure mode returning operation is effected. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising a main switch for controlling power supply to various elements of the camera, wherein, when the main switch is turned OFF, the exposure mode returning operation is effected. An exposure control apparatus of a camera, comprising: photometering means for detecting a brightness of an object to be taken; I:\WPUSER\LIBMM100O1 26:LMM first and second manual actuating means for independently setting a pair of exposure factors including a shutter speed and diaphragm value; an automatic exposure mode in which one of said pair of exposure factors can be manually set while another one of said pair of exposure factors is automatically adjusted to be set in accordance with said object brightness; a specific program exposure mode, in which said pair of exposure factors are automatically set in accordance with said object brightness; means for compulsively shifting said specific program exposure mode to said automatic exposure mode, in which said shutter speed or said diaphragm value can be manually set, when an associated first or second manual actuating means is actuated; an indicator having indicating elements which indicate a selection of said specific program exposure mode and a selection of said automatic exposure mode, which has been compulsively shifted by said exposure mode shifting means; and means for changing an APEX accuracy of a set exposure factor in association with a variation in exposure mode between said automatic exposure mode and said specific Sprogram exposure mode.

31. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said indicating means comprises an indicating element which indicates that the shutter speed or the to a diaphragm value can be manually modified by the first or second manual actuating means 20 when the mode is shifted to the automatic exposure mode by said exposure mode shifting means.

32. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said indicating means comprises indicating elements which indicate the first and seco,- manual actuating 0means, and wherein, when the automatic exposure mode is selected, only the indicating 25 element corresponding to the exposure factor which can be manually set, is indicated.

33. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said indicating means comprises an indicating element which discriminates the exposure factor, which can be manually set, from the other exposure ftctor, which is automatically set, when the automatic exposure mode is selected.

34. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said indicating means displays the shutter speed or diaphragm value which can be manually modified by the first or second manual actuating means, in a flickering manner. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said indicating means comprises an LCD or LED panel which is provided within a finder.

36. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said indicating means comprises an LCD panel which is provided outside the camera body.

37. An exposure control apparatus of a camera, comprising: photometering means for detecting a brightness of an object to be taken; first and second manual setting means for independently setting a pair of exposure G:\WPUSER\LIBMMIOO126:LMM ,Ij 128 factors including a shutter speed and a diaphragm value; an automatic exposure mode, in which one of said pair of exposure factors can be manually set while another one of said pair of exposure factors is automatically set in accordance with said object brightness; a specific program exposure mode, in which said pair of exposure factors are automatically set in accordance with said object brightn2-;s; exposure mode shifting means for compulsively shifting said specific program exposure mode to said automatic exposure mode, in which said shutter speed or said diaphragm value can be manually set, when an associated first or second manual setting lo means is actuated; and means for holding one of said pair of exposure factors, which is set at said specific program exposure mode, when said specific program exposure modes is compulsively shifted to said automatic exposure mode by said exposure mode shifting means, said exposure control apparatus being automatically shifted back to said specific program exposure mode upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

38. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said first and second manual setting means comprises electronic dials which vary the shutter speed and -the diaphragm value, respectively. :O 39. The exposure control apparatus of claim 37, wherein said exposure factor to 20 be held by said holding means comprises an exposure factor manually set in said compulsively shifted automatic exposure mode. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said exposure factor holding means modifies the exposure factor, which is held thereby, when the first 5or second ti. Aual setting means is actuated after the exposure mode is compulsively u 25 shifted to the automatic exposure mode by the first or second manual setting means.

41. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 38, wherein, when the program exposure mode is compulsively shifted to the specific automatic exposure mode by the first or second manual setting means, the exposure factor holding means modifies the exposure factor corresponding to the first or second manual setting means to be greater than or less than the value set at the program exposure mode, by a predetermined value, to hold the modified exposure factor.

42. An exposure control apparatus of a camera, comprising: photometering means for detecting a brightness of an object to be taken; first and second manual setting means for independently setting a pair of exposure factors including a shutter speed and a diaphragm value; two automatic exposure modes, in which one of said pair of exposure factors can be manually set by a manual setting means while another one of said pair of exposure factors is automatically adjusted to be set in accordance with said object brightness; exposure mode shifting means for compulsively shifting a current automatic IGAWPUSER\UBMM1O01 26:LMM exposure mode, in which one of said pair of exposure factors can be manually set by said first and second manual setting means, to another automatic exposure mode, in which said another one of said pair of exposure factors can be manually set, by another manual setting means when said another manual setting means is actuated in said first automatic exposure mode; and means for changing an APEX accuracy of a set exposure factor in association with a variation in exposure mode between said two automatic exposure modes.

43. An exposure control apparatus of a camera, comprising: photometering means for detecting a brightness of an object to be taken; first and second manual setting means for independently setting a pair of exposure factors including a shutter speed and a diaphragm vilue; two automatic exposure modes, in which one of said pair of exposure factors can be manually set by a manual setting means while another one of said pair of exposure factors is automatically adjusted to be set in accordance with said object brightness; a specific program exposure mode in which said pair of exposure factors are automatically set in accordance with said object brightness; exposure factor selecting means for selecting one exposure mode that includes said specific program exposure mode and said two automatic exposure modes; and fI an exposure mode shifting means for compulsively shifting said specific program oeoo*: 20 exposure mode to one automatic exposure mode, in which one of said pair of exposure factors can be manually set, when an associated first or second manual setting means is actuated, and for compulsively shifting said one automatic exposure mode to a second 6666 automatic exposure mode, in which said another one of said pair of exposure factors can be manually set, when an associated second or first manual setting means is actuated, said specific program exposure mode being automatically selected upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

44. An exposure control apparatus of a csmera, comprising:

6666.: photometering means for detecting a brightness of an object to be taken; first and second manual setting means for independently setting a pair of exposure factors including a shutter speed and a diaphragm value; an automatic exposure mode, in which one of said pair of exposure factors can b. manually set given a priority by said first or second manual setting means, while another one of said pair of exposure factors is automatically set in accordance with said object brightness; means for modifying said exposure factor having said priority, so that when one of said pair of exposure factors is manually set by said first or second manual setting means at a specific automatic exposure mode, said another one of said pair of exposure factors being modified in accordance with said object brightness while said one of said pair of exposure factors is fixed at a specific value, and when said another one of said pair of G [\WPUSER\LIBMM OO126:LMM 130 exposure factors reaches a predetermined upper or lower limit, said another one of said pair of exposure fators is fixed at said upper or lower limit and said one of said pair of exposure factors is modified in accordance with said object brightness; and means for changing an APEX accuracy of a set exposure factor in association with a variation in exposure mode between said automatic exposure mode and said specific automatic exposure mode. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the upper and lower limits of the shutter speed are defined by a shutter capability range of the camera body. 46. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the upper and lower limits of the diaphragm values are defined by a diaphragm capability range of a taking lens. 47. An exposure control apparatus according to claim 44, further comprising a limit value setting means for setting the upper and lower limits of the shutter speed and the diaphragm value by an external operation. 48. An exposure control apparatus of a camera having a photometering means for detecting a brightness of an object to be taken; and exposure value calculating means for calculating an optimum exposure value in accordance with said object brightness, comprising: 20 a program exposure mode, in which both an optimum shutter speed and an optimum diaphragm value are automatically set by said exposure calculating means; an automatic exposure mode, in which one of said shutter speed or said diaphragm value is automatically set by said exposure calculating means, based on said object brightness and another one of said shutter speed of said diaphragm value selected by a 25 photographer; means for switching said program mode to said automatic exposure mode, wherein said switching means is also operated to set said desired value after a mode switching thereby; and means for automatically returning said automatic exposure mode to said program exposure mode upon the occurrence of a predetermined event. Dated 7 March, 1994 Asahi Kogaku Kopyo Kabushiki Kaisha Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON [G:\WPUSER\LIBMM1001 26:LMM