JPH1172836A - Camera capable of switching picture size - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To grasp the number of taken photographs in the case of taking photographs in different picture sizes. SOLUTION: The number of the taken photographs and the total number thereof counted for every picture size through a CPU every time a shutter 4 performs exposing operation in the selected picture size are stored in a storage means M, and displayed by switching operation. A display means 2 ordinarily displays data and other information but it is changed over to display the number of the taken photographs by depressing a display changeover switch Sw. As a method for displaying the number of the taken photographs; for example, the number of the taken photographs of standard size and that of panoramic size and the total number thereof are displayed side by side or the number of the taken photographs of each size and the total number thereof are alternately changed over to be displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera whose screen size can be switched.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, cameras having a screen size switching function capable of selectively switching standard photographing, panoramic photographing, and the like via switching means have been increasingly used. The information on the number of images shot by these cameras indicates the total number of images currently shot using a liquid crystal display device or the like, or the remaining number of images that can be shot at present, as in cameras without such switching means.

[0003]

In the case of displaying the number of shots in the camera, the number of shots of the standard size and other screen sizes is not notified to the photographer. Inconveniences such as the inability to calculate charges at the time.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a camera capable of switching the screen size according to the present invention is capable of displaying on a display means the number of shots for each screen size and the total number thereof. The display means can be switched between a normal display mode for displaying the shooting date and the like and a shooting number display mode by operating a display changeover switch.

The switching of the display mode includes switching detection means for detecting the switching of the screen size, counting means for receiving the output of the switching detection means and counting the number of shots for each corresponding screen size, and the display means. This is performed by a control circuit including a display changeover switch for switching the content to be displayed, and storage means for storing the number of shots for each screen size, the total number of shots, and the state of the display changeover switch.

In another means, a display means is provided in the vicinity of a second display element different from the first display element serving as a display screen for the date and the like to increase the degree of freedom in displaying the number of shots. is there.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A screen size switchable camera according to the present invention comprises a display means having a first display element for displaying a date, time, and the like by numerals, and has a standard screen size and other screen sizes. It is characterized in that a camera capable of selectively switching photographing via a switching means can display the number of photographed images for each screen size and the total number of photographed images on a display means.

[0008] As means for performing such display, a switching detecting means for detecting a size change, a counting means for receiving the output of the switching detecting means and counting the number of images taken for each corresponding screen size, It is preferable to include a display changeover switch for changing the content displayed on the display means, and a storage means for storing the number of shots for each screen size, the total number of shots, and the state of the display changeover switch.

It is preferable that the display means selectively switches and displays the number of shots in each screen size or the total number of shots using the first display element in conjunction with the display changeover switch. .

As the above-mentioned display means, in addition to the first display element, a second display element for displaying identification information corresponding to each screen size is provided near the first display element to correspond to the number of photographed images being displayed. It is preferable to increase the degree of freedom in displaying the number of shots for each screen size by selectively displaying the identification information on the second display element.

[0011]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the basic configuration of this camera is as follows: a display means 2, a film feeder 3 and a shutter 4 operated by a control circuit 1, and a standard or panoramic image size of a photographing screen are switched. Is input to the control circuit 1 and a display changeover switch Sw for switching the number of images to be displayed on the number-of-images display means 2.

The control circuit 1 includes a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a “CP”).
U)), a storage unit M for storing contents to be displayed on the display unit 2, a shutter driving unit Cd for driving the shutter 4, and a switching detection unit De for detecting a screen size.

The storage means M includes a standard size counter for counting the number of shots of the standard size, a panorama size counter for counting the number of shots of the panorama size, and a total number counter for counting the total number of shots of both the standard and panorama sizes. A counting means including three counters is provided (all are not shown).

When the release button (not shown) is pressed, the CPU outputs a shutter drive signal to the shutter drive means Cd, and the shutter 4 is driven to perform the exposure operation. When the exposure is completed, the CPU outputs a winding signal to the film feeding device 3 to wind the film by one frame. When the winding is completed, the CPU instructs the switching detection unit De to confirm the state of the screen switching unit 5, and the switching detection unit De confirms the state of the screen switching unit 5 and outputs the state to the CPU. As a result, if the screen switching means 5 is set to the standard size, it is regarded that the standard size photographing has been performed, and the CPU adds 1 to the standard size counter in the storage means M. If it is, it is considered that the panorama-size shooting has been performed, and the CPU adds 1 to the panorama-size counter in the storage unit M.

Thereafter, the CPU also adds 1 to the total number counter which holds the total number of images, and reads the state of the display changeover switch Sw to determine the display method of the display means 2.

The display means 2 comprises a liquid crystal display element provided on the upper or rear side of the camera body, and serves both as a date display module and a number-of-photographs display module. The display method by these display modules is such that when the display changeover switch Sw is off in the normal state, the current date (for example, year / month / day) is displayed as shown in FIG. ing.

If the display switch Sw is on,
The date is blinked (for example, at 2 Hz and a duty of 50% for 2 seconds) in order to make it easy to determine the date display mode. Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, the standard size counter, panorama size counter, and total number of sheets are displayed. The contents of the counter, that is, the total number of shots, the standard number, and the total number of panoramas are displayed.

As another display method, as shown in FIG. 3, normally, a mode (a) for displaying only the total number of shots is set, and each time the display switch Sw is pressed, the standard size and the panorama size are displayed. Side by side mode (b)
May be performed.

As shown in FIG. 4, every time the display changeover switch Sw is turned on once, the total number of shots (a) → the standard size shots (b) → the panorama size shots (c) →
The total number of shots (a) and the three display modes may be displayed so as to transition in an annular manner.

As another embodiment, the number-of-photographs display means may be provided separately from the date display module.
In this configuration, a second display element made of a liquid crystal display element is provided in the vicinity of the first display element separately from the above-mentioned first display element, and the date module and the number-of-photographs module are displayed independently. Thus, the degree of freedom of the display means is increased as compared with the case where the number-of-photographs display module and the date display module are shared.

As shown in FIG. 5, each of the standard size and the panorama size, such as "S", is small above the standard size, and "P" is small over the panorama size. Is displayed. Thus, each time the display changeover switch Sw is switched, the number of shots of each size is displayed, so that the number of shots of each size can be distinguished at a glance.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of a camera in still another embodiment. Since there are many things in common with FIG. 1, only different parts will be described here.

FIG. 6 differs from FIG. 1 in that a film rewind button R and a warning means 21 are provided.

When the film rewind button R outputs a film rewind signal to the control circuit 1, the control circuit outputs a reverse signal to the film feeding means 31 to rewind the film. .

The warning means 21 alerts the user by sound or the like when the panorama size is mixed in the film to be rewound or is being rewound. is there.

When a warning signal is transmitted to the warning means 21, data of each size output from the switching detection means De to the CPU is stored in the storage means M, and the CPU reads the data when rewinding the film. The warning signal can be transmitted only when the panorama size is mixed in the number of shots.

In the above arrangement, when the photographing is completed, a signal from the film rewind button R is inputted to the CPU, and the signal for rewinding the photographing completed film is provided as a signal.
The film feeding means 31 is reversed. At the same time, an acoustic signal is output from the CPU to the warning means 21 based on the signal.

That is, if the information stored in the storage means M is only the number of standard shots, there is no signal output. However, if information such as panorama size and half size is mixedly stored, the type is not changed. Different acoustic signals are output depending on the situation.

In place of the film rewind button R,
The CPU outputs a signal to the warning means 21 by using a known means of a type in which the film feeding means 31 detects the end of the film and automatically outputs an inversion signal when the film is not operated for a predetermined time. You may make it. Further, the warning unit 21 is not limited to the one that outputs an acoustic signal, and may be an optical display or a voice display.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified and implemented within the scope of the concept of the present invention. For example, in FIG. 1, the CPU memorizes the states of the screen switching means 5 and the display changeover switch Sw at the time of setting, and instructs each operation to immediately display on the display means 2 without checking the state. Can also.
The display timing of the display means 2 is displayed when the display changeover switch Sw is independently operated, and the display changes each time the switch is turned on once. , The number of shots of the panorama size and the switching of the total number of shots in one cycle can be sequentially displayed. Further, such display can be automatically performed following the normal display when the operation of the film feeding means 3 is completed.

Although the present invention has been described for the case where the standard size and the panoramic size are mixed, the present invention is also applicable to the case where the standard size and the half size and others are mixed.

[0032]

According to the present invention, since the number of shots is displayed by counting each time a film is shot and one frame is fed, the number of shots of each size such as a standard or panorama can be known. As a result, the timing of changing the film is improved, and the charge at the time of film development and printing can be predicted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show display examples on a display means according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG.
Is a front view showing that the display switch is in an on state.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state in which a toggle operation is performed between two modes of a total number display (a) and a standard / panorama size display (b) on the display means of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the display means of one embodiment of the present invention performs an annular operation among three modes of full number display (a), standard size display (b), and panorama size display (c). It is a front view.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the display means of another embodiment of the present invention performs a circular operation among three modes of full number display (a), standard size display (b), and panorama size display (c). FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 display means 5 switching means Sw display changeover switch M storage means De switching detection means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A first method of displaying a date, time, and the like by numerals.
A camera having display means having a display element and capable of selectively switching between photographing of a standard screen size and another screen size via a switching means; and a switch detecting means for detecting the change of the size; Counting means for receiving the output of the means and counting the number of shots for each corresponding screen size, a display changeover switch for switching the content displayed on the display means, the number of shots for each screen size, the total number of shots and the display Storage means for storing a state of a changeover switch, wherein the number of photographed images or the total number of photographed images in each of the screen sizes is selectively switched using the first display element in conjunction with the display changeover switch. A screen size changeable camera characterized by displaying. 2. The display means includes a second display element for displaying identification information corresponding to each of the screen sizes near the first display element, and an identification corresponding to the number of photographed images being displayed. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein information is selectively switched and displayed on the second display element.