JPH03236036A - Operation display device for zoom lens - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily recognize that a zoom lens reaches a telephoto or wide-angle end by displaying a state wherein the zoom lens is nearby a zooming limit end part on a display means in its own mode. CONSTITUTION:A signal from a distance measurement part 16 is outputted to a distance arithmetic part 18. Focal length information from a focal length read part 13, on the other hand, is outputted to a zoom control part 20. In formation on focusing and defocusing which is calculated by the arithmetic part 18 and information regarding the telephoto end and wide-angle end, and the zooming direction of the zoom lens which is detected by the control part 20 are outputted to a lighting control part 22. A 2nd blinking circuit 26 operates when the read part 13 detects the zoom lens reaching the telephoto or wide-an gle end to make a display element 30 blink by a driver 32 at a period shorter than that of blinking drive by a 1st blinking circuit 24 at the time of defocusing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention provides a camera equipped with a motorized zoom lens, which has an existing device in the viewfinder that indicates when the zoom lens has reached the telephoto end or wide end position. The present invention relates to a zoom lens operation display device that displays images on a display element.

"Prior Art and its Problems" Recently, cameras with electrically driven zoom lenses have been developed. Usually, this type of camera has functions such as a constant magnification mode that automatically controls the zoom lens so that the subject remains a constant size regardless of the distance, and an electric zoom mode that drives the zoom lens electrically by operating a manual switch. have.

However, in the past, in such cameras, there was no display indicating the position of the telephoto end, wide end, etc. of the zoom lens, which sometimes caused the photographer to feel uneasy. For example, when automatic zooming is being performed in accordance with the movement of the subject in the constant magnification mode described above, if the zoom lens reaches the telephoto end or wide end, zooming will automatically stop. Even in such a case, since nothing is displayed, the photographer may misunderstand that there is a malfunction.

Also, in the electric zoom mode described above, unlike manual zoom, it is difficult to feel when the zoom lens has reached the telephoto end or wide end.
There is an inconvenience that it is not easy to recognize that the wide end has been reached. Therefore, it is more convenient to have such a display, and it can be said that the camera becomes easier to use.

``Purpose of the Invention'' The present invention has been made in order to eliminate such conventional problems, and it is an object of the present invention to display an indication that the zoom lens is at the telephoto end or the wide end by installing an existing display in the viewfinder. An object of the present invention is to provide a zoom lens operation display device that displays information on a display unit.

"Summary of the Invention" To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a camera equipped with a display means for displaying in-focus or out-of-focus during autofocus, which indicates when the zoom lens is near the zooming limit end. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a display control means for causing the display means to display a display in a unique display mode.

According to the above configuration, in a conventional camera, the operating state of the zoom lens, that is, whether the zoom lens is at the telephoto end or the wide end, can be displayed on the existing display means that is conventionally provided.

This display is performed in a unique display format that is different from the display format during autofocus. One of the display modes is such that when the telephoto end or wide end of the zoom lens is detected, the display means is operated intermittently at a unique cycle. In other words, the display means blinks at a cycle different from the blinking cycle during autofocus. This difference in blinking cycle allows distinguishing between in-focus and out-of-focus indications during autofocus, and detection of telephoto and wide-angle ends.

As yet another display mode, the display means is operated in a display mode that takes into account the rotational direction of the zoom lens and allows you to recognize whether the rotation end has been reached, the telephoto end or the wide end. ing. For example, if the display means is composed of a plurality of display elements arranged in a straight line, the lights may be turned on sequentially in the same direction as the direction in which the zoom lens was rotating, or if the display means is in the shape of an arrow. For example, an arrow-shaped display element indicating the same direction as the direction in which the zoom lens was rotating is turned on.

Further, the display means may be operated only when the zoom lens is automatically controlled by a signal from the camera side. In this way, the number of display modes is reduced, so it is possible to reduce costs, and the usability is improved compared to a system that includes all display modes related to a zoom lens.

Furthermore, in cameras equipped with a display device that displays in-focus or out-of-focus status during autofocus, and an alarm output device that outputs an alarm sound when shooting with a self-timer or when focusing, the camera is uniquely equipped with The operating state of the zoom lens can be recognized both visually and audibly if it has a display control means that causes the display means to display the display in the display mode and to recognize it with a unique alarm sound output from the alarm sound output means. can be recognized.

"Embodiments of the Invention" Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a zoom lens operation display device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a layout diagram of optical components of a camera.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a display element constituting display means in the zoom lens operation display device according to the present invention.

The split barrel system of the zoom lens operation display device of the present invention is constructed as shown in the control block shown in FIG. The focus drive unit 10 controls the drive of the focus lens, and the zoom drive unit 12 controls the drive of the variable power lens.

The focus drive section 1O and the zoom drive section 12 are as follows:
It is controlled based on a signal from the lens drive circuit 12.

The distance measuring unit 16 detects the distance to the subject,
The signal from the distance measuring section 16 is output to the distance measuring calculation section 18, where the amount of defocus for the subject is calculated and whether the subject is in focus or out of focus is determined. Note that when calculating this defocus amount, the zoom control unit 20 described later
Reference is also made to the focal length signal from .

The defocus information for the subject calculated by the distance measurement calculation section 18 is output to the lens drive circuit 14, and based on this information, the lens drive circuit 14 drives the focus drive section 10 to move the focus lens in the optical axis direction. let

On the other hand, the focal length information from the focal length reading section 13 is output to the zoom control section 20.
Information on the amount of defocus, in-focus, and out-of-focus calculated by the distance measurement calculation unit 18, manual operation commands, and shooting the main subject at a constant size relative to the screen regardless of the distance. The zoom lens drive amount is calculated by also taking into consideration the zoom lens drive amount calculation value in the constant magnification mode.

This calculated zoom lens drive amount is determined by the lens drive circuit 1.
4, and the lens drive circuit 14 drives the zoom drive section 12 based on this drive amount to perform zooming. Focal length information is then sent from the focal length reading section 13 to the zoom control section 20. The zoom control unit 20 stops the zooming operation based on this information.

Information on in-focus and out-of-focus calculated by the distance measurement calculation unit 18 and information regarding the tele end, wide end, and zooming direction of the zoom lens detected by the zoom control unit 20 are output to the lighting control unit 22.

The first blinking circuit 24 operates when the information calculated by the distance measurement calculation section 18 indicates that the focus is out of focus, and when the telephoto end or wide end is detected while taking into account the rotational direction of the zoom lens, and displays the information. A display element 30 as a means is driven to blink at a constant cycle by a driver 32.

The second blinking circuit 26 operates when the focal length reading section 13 detects that the zoom lens has reached the telephoto end or the wide end, and causes the display element 30 to blink by the driver 32 and by the first blinking circuit 24. Drive to blink at a shorter cycle than driving.

Further, the lighting circuit 28 operates when the information calculated by the distance measurement calculation section 18 indicates that the object is in focus, and causes the display element 30 to be turned on by the driver 32.

Note that the distance measurement calculation section 18, the zoom control section 20, the lighting control section 22, the first blinking circuit 24, the second blinking circuit 26, the lighting circuit 28, and the driver 32 constitute a display control means.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of optical components of the camera, which is roughly configured as follows.

Light incident from the zoom lens L is reflected by the main mirror 40, passes through the focusing plate 41, and enters the pentaprism 42.
There are two types: one that is guided to the main mirror 40 and one that is reflected by the sub mirror 43 and guided to the AF module 16A that constitutes the distance measuring section 16.

The light guided to the pentaprism 42 forms a finder image. Further, a display element 30 is provided in the finder to display in-focus, out-of-focus, telephoto end, and wide end.

Therefore, the viewfinder field contains 4 pentaprisms.
The image of the subject inputted through 2 and the above-mentioned display made by the display element 30 are displayed. In addition, 45.46 in the figure
is a photometric sensor, 47 is a TTL photometric sensor, and 48 is a screen.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of the display element 30 shown in FIG. 2.

This display element 30 is mounted behind the pentaprism 42 (on the viewfinder side). Display element 3
In the frame 50 of 0, there is a flexible cable 51.

An LED 52 and a conductive zebra 53 are attached, and an LCD 54 is further attached to the conductive zebra 53. These parts are fixed by a holding plate 55. LED52
has marks that indicate in-focus, out-of-focus, and zooming limit states of the zoom lens, respectively. This LE
D52 also has a function as an LED for illuminating the LCD 54. The light from this display element 30 is transmitted through a small prism 5
6 into the finder optical system of the pentaprism 42. Therefore, the photographer can see the mark displayed by the display element 30 below the viewfinder field of view.

The zoom lens operation display device according to the present invention having such a configuration operates as schematically shown in FIG. 4.

One of the examples exemplified in this example lights up when in focus and blinks when out of focus, so that only one mark indicates in focus or out of focus, and the other one lights up when in focus and blinks when out of focus. teeth,
When the subject is in focus, a special mark lights up, and when the subject is out of focus, the mark blinks to indicate whether the subject is in focus or not.

In the case of the former, which uses only one mark to indicate in-focus or out-of-focus, a hexagonal mark is displayed based on the focus signal from the distance measurement calculation section 18 as shown in FIG. 4(A). Light. This lighting is performed based on a command from the lighting circuit 28. On the other hand, when an out-of-focus signal is output from the distance measurement calculation unit 18, the hexagonal mark blinks as shown in FIG. 4(C). This blinking is performed by the first blinking circuit 24.

Furthermore, when the zoom control unit 20 detects that the zoom lens has reached the telephoto end or the wide end while driving the zoom lens, a hexagonal mark is displayed when the lens is out of focus, as shown in FIG. 4(E). Blinks at a faster rate than the blinking cycle of This blinking is performed by the second blinking circuit 26. Since the display mode is changed as described above, it is possible to recognize in-focus, out-of-focus, telephoto end, or wide end with only one mark.

In addition, in the case of the latter, which displays in-focus and out-of-focus with dedicated marks respectively, a hexagonal shape is displayed based on the focus signal from the distance measurement calculation unit 18 as shown in FIG. 4(A). The mark lights up. This lighting is performed based on a command from the lighting circuit 28.

On the other hand, when an out-of-focus signal is output from the distance measuring calculation section 18, the arrow-shaped mark blinks as shown in FIG. 4(B). This blinking is performed by the first blinking circuit 24.

Furthermore, when the zoom control unit 20 detects that the zoom lens has reached the telephoto end or the wide end while driving the zoom lens, an arrow-shaped mark is displayed indicating that the focus is out of focus, as shown in FIG. 4(D). Blinks at a faster rate than the blinking cycle of This blinking is performed by the second blinking circuit 26.

Further, when the rotation direction of the zoom lens is detected by the zoom control section 20 and furthermore, when the zoom control section 20 detects that the zoom lens has reached the telephoto end, if the rotation direction is on the telephoto side, the rotation direction shown in FIG. As shown in (F), only the arrow mark that corresponds to the rotational direction of the zoom lens is made to blink. On the other hand, when the zoom control unit 20 detects the rotational direction of the zoom lens and further detects that the zoom lens has reached the wide end, the zoom lens rotates as shown in FIG. 4(G). Only the arrow mark that matches the direction of rotation will blink. The display mode described above allows recognition of in-focus, out-of-focus, telephoto end, or wide end.

Furthermore, the process by which the above-mentioned display mode is performed will be explained in detail based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 to 7.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the display mode during in-focus and out-of-focus during autofocus.

Distance measurement processing in the distance measurement section 16 starts on condition that the photometry switch is turned on (step 1.2).

Next, when the autofocus mode is set to shutter priority mode, release processing is executed by turning on the release switch (step 3.4.5).
. If the release switch is not turned on, the release permission flag is turned on and the process proceeds to step 6.

In step 3, when the focus priority mode is set, it is determined whether distance measurement is possible (distance measurement OK), and if possible, the focus lens is driven, and if it is not possible, it is determined as shown in Fig. 4 (B). ) starts the process of flashing an arrow-shaped mark. This mark blinks based on the signal from the distance calculation unit 18, but the lighting control unit 2
2 receives the signal from the distance measuring calculation unit 18 and causes the above blinking to occur via the first blinking circuit 24 and the driver 32 (step 6.7.8).

Next, the distance measurement calculation unit 18 determines whether or not it is in focus,
When in focus, the lighting control unit 22 lights the hexagonal mark via the lighting circuit 28 and the driver 32.
Turn on the light as shown in Figure (A) (Step 10.11)
). If it is not in focus, the lighting control unit 22 causes the arrow-shaped mark to blink as shown in FIG. 4(B) via the first blinking circuit 24 and driver 32, and returns (step 10.12). .

After it is determined that the camera is in focus in step 10, when the release switch is turned on, a release process is performed and the subject is photographed (steps 13 and 14). Returns if the release switch is not turned on.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 6 shows a display mode when manually power zooming the zoom lens to the tele side or wide side using a zoom switch (not shown).

In this case, if the zoom switch is not turned on, the zoom drive unit 12 stops driving the zoom lens (step 20.21); if it is turned on, it is turned to either the telephoto side or the wide side. The zoom control section 20 determines whether to rotate the zoom lens, and according to the determination, drives the zoom lens until the zoom end of the zoom lens is reached (steps 22 to 25).

When the zoom lens is driven in this manner and the zoom end is detected, the telephoto end and wide end are detected according to the zooming direction. In the case of the telephoto end, a blinking arrow as shown in FIG. 4(F) is displayed, and in the case of the wide end, a blinking arrow as shown in FIG. 4(G) is displayed. This display is made by the first blinking circuit 24 and the driver 32 in response to a blinking command of the arrow-shaped mark of the lighting control section 22.
(step 26).

The flowcharts shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 show the display mode in a constant image magnification mode in which zooming is automatically sectioned so that the size of the object is constant regardless of its distance.

Distance measurement processing in the distance measurement section 16 starts on condition that the photometry switch is turned on (step 30.
31).

Next, when the autofocus mode is set to shutter priority mode, release processing is executed by turning on the release switch (steps 33, 34.
35). If the release switch is not turned on, the release permission flag is turned on and the process proceeds to step 35 (step 40).

In step 32, when the focus priority mode is set, it is determined whether distance measurement is possible (range measurement OK), and if OK, distance measurement is executed and the focus lens is driven, and the zoom control unit 20 Calculates the image magnification and drives the zoom lens (steps 35 and 36).
).

If it is not OK, the arrow-shaped mark is made to blink as shown in FIG. 4(B) (step 39). The blinking of this mark is performed based on the signal from the distance calculation section 18, and the lighting control section 22 receives the signal from the distance calculation section 18 and controls the first blinking circuit 24 and the driver 32. (Steps 35 to 39)
.

Next, the distance measurement calculation unit 18 determines whether or not it is in focus,
When in focus, the lighting control unit 22 lights the hexagonal mark via the lighting circuit 28 and the driver 32.
Turn on the light as shown in Figure (A) (Step 4 1.4)
3).

If the focus is not focused, the lighting control unit 22 causes the arrow-shaped mark to blink as shown in FIG. 4(B) via the first blinking circuit 24 and driver 32 (step 41.
43).

Furthermore, when the image magnification reaches the set magnification, the hexagonal mark remains lit (step 44).
．． 45) When the release switch is turned on in this state, release processing is performed and the subject is photographed (steps 46 and 47).

In addition, when the end of the lens is detected when the image magnification is not the set magnification, if the end of the lens detected is the telephoto end according to the zooming direction, as shown in Figure 4 (F). In the case of wide end, a display as shown in FIG. 4(G) is displayed. This display is caused by the blinking command of the arrow-shaped mark of the lighting control unit 22.
This is done via the blinking circuit 24 and driver 32 (
Step 44.48).

As described above, in this embodiment, the existing display elements that display in-focus and out-of-focus conditions are effectively used to display the telephoto end and wide end, which are the limits of zooming. In addition,
In the above embodiment, when the telephoto end or wide end is reached, a hexagonal or arrow-shaped mark is flashed at a different flashing cycle than the display when out of focus. If the camera has a mark, it is possible to recognize the tele end and wide end by simply lighting up the mark.

Further, the display of the tele end and wide end may be activated only when the zoom lens is automatically controlled by a signal from the camera side. In this way, the number of display modes is reduced, so it is possible to reduce costs, and the usability is improved compared to a system that includes all display modes related to a zoom lens.

Furthermore, since the camera is equipped with a PLV or buzzer that outputs a warning sound when using the self-timer, this warning sound can be used in conjunction with the display in the viewfinder.
The recognition of the tele end and wide end can be further ensured.

"Effects of the Invention" As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the arrival of the rotation end of the zoom lens can be displayed on the existing display means. Moreover, the cost for displaying it is also very low.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a zoom lens operation display device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a layout diagram of optical components of a camera, and FIG. 3 is a display means in a zoom lens operation display device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing various display modes of the zoom lens operation display device according to the present invention. FIGS. 5 to 8 are display modes shown in FIG. 4. This is a specific flowchart. 18... Distance calculation section (display control means) 20... Zoom control section (display control means) 22... Lighting control section (display control means) 24... First blinking circuit (display control means) 2
6... Second blinking circuit (display control means) 28... Lighting circuit (display control means) 30... Display element (display means) 32... Driver (display means)

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) In a camera equipped with a zoom lens and a display means for displaying in-focus or out-of-focus during autofocus, a display control means for displaying the zooming end of the zoom lens in a unique display mode on the display means. A zoom lens operation display device characterized by the following. (2) The operation of the zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the display control means causes the display means to operate intermittently at a unique cycle when a telephoto end or a wide end of the zoom lens is detected. Display device. (3) In claim 1, the display control means operates the display means in a display mode that allows it to be recognized whether the zooming end is reached, taking into account the rotational direction of the zoom lens. A zoom lens operation display device characterized by: (4) The zoom lens operation display device according to claim 2, wherein the display control means operates only when the zoom lens is automatically controlled by a signal from the camera side. (5) In a camera equipped with a display means for displaying in-focus or out-of-focus during autofocus and an alarm sound output means for outputting an alarm sound during self-timer shooting or focusing, the zoom lens reaches the zooming end. An operation display device for a zoom lens, comprising display control means for displaying on the display means in a unique display mode and for recognizing a unique alarm sound output from the alarm sound output means.