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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a display system, especially that for a camera system.
2. Prior art
Film speed is one of parameters that is necessary to determine an exposure condition of a photographing. An automatic film speed reading mechanism is already known where the film speed of a film is printed on the film cartridge (DX code) and an
array of electric contact points provided in a camera body detects the film speed. For skillful photographers, a manual film-speed setting switch (or dial) is provided on some types of camera to override the automatically read film speed value.
Besides film speed, there are many parameters that affect an exposure condition, e.g., aperture value, shutter speed, exposure override setting, etc. These parameters should be displayed on the camera body (or on an attachment of the camera such
as a special back cover of the camera body) so that the photographer could expect the exposure condition of the picture. There are two types of displays: one is a dot matrix display and the other is a segment display. The dot matrix display is composed
of a two-dimensional array of a large number of small dots (pixels), and the segment display is composed of a comparatively small number of segments which have normally certain predetermined shapes. The dot matrix display is versatile (i.e., gives a
large freedom of presentation) but consumes more energy. The segment display is not so versatile in presentation but consumes less energy. Some cameras use both display systems (dot matrix and segment displays) in one body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a display system for a camera system that elaborately displays information about exposure settings (especially the film speed) so that the photographer can recognize the exposure condition
instantaneously even by a glance.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a control system for a combination of dot matrix display portion and segment display portion that reduces the total energy consumption while giving the photographer necessary information at
all time.
Further object of the present invention is to provide another control system for such a combined display system that enhances visibility of both the dot matrix display portion and segment display portion.
In order to achieve the first object, a camera according to the present invention comprises: reading means (such as the DX-code detector) for automatically reading a film speed of a film loaded in the camera; setting means for manually setting a
film speed; and display means for displaying a difference between the film speed automatically read by the reading means and the film speed manually set by the setting means. The photographer can instantaneously and easily expect the effect of his
manual film-speed setting because the film-speed difference on the display teaches him the bias (shift) of the exposure condition from the normal (optimal) condition determined by the automatically set value.
For the second object, a display apparatus according to the present invention comprises: first display (e.g., a segment display portion of the combined display); second display that consumes more energy than the first display (a dot matrix
display); first driver for driving the first display; second driver for driving the second display; timer for counting a predetermined time period; and controller for controlling the second driver so that the second driver stops driving the second
display after the predetermined time period. By displaying minimum all-time necessary information by the first display that consumes less energy, the photographer is kept informed all time and the total energy consumption is reduced greatly.
In order to achieve the third object, a display apparatus according to the present invention comprises: first display for displaying information by means of a plurality of display segments; second display for displaying information by means of a
dot matrix; and a driver for driving the first display and the second display with different duty ratios. Normally, the duty ratios for the two displays are selected so that the duty ratio for the segment display is larger than that for the dot matrix
display for clearer visibility of the respective displays.
The present invention includes other various features, which are described in the detailed description of the embodiments that follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an electric block diagram of the camera system including accessories.
FIG. 2A is a circuit diagram of the display power source circuit.
FIG. 2B is a circuit diagram of the normal battery and a temporary battery.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a camera body.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel provided on the top of the camera body.
FIG. 5A is a timing chart of the driving signal of the segment part of the LCD panel.
FIG. 5B is a timing chart of the driving signal of the dot matrix part of the LCD panel.
FIG. 6 is a broken perspective view of the LCD panel including a panel switch.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are flowcharts integrally showing the main routine of the controller of the camera system.
FIGS. 8A through 8Z are display examples of the LCD panel.
FIGS. 9A and 9B are two variations of the panel switch construction.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for displaying the initial loading results.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for displaying the rewinding process.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart for displaying the film speed setting process.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart for displaying the frame advancing mode setting process.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart for displaying the exposure override setting process.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart for displaying the exposure control mode setting process.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart for displaying the AF zone setting process.
FIGS. 17A and 17B are flowcharts integrally for displaying the card setting process.
FIGS. 18A through 18D are flowcharts integrally for displaying the operation of the display IC.
FIGS. 19A through 19C are three other examples of the analog scale for showing the film speed setting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Hardware construction
The main controller 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a microcomputer and controls the entire camera system. The controller 1 is connected to a photomeasurement circuit 5 provided in the camera body, and a flash circuit 4 or a card circuit 6 when a
flash unit or an IC card is attached to the camera body. The card circuit 6 includes a microcomputer. The controller 1 receives the guide number data from the flash circuit 4, the photomeasurement data from the photomeasurement circuit 5, and card data
from the card circuit 6.
The controller 1 is also connected to a display IC 2 and sends various display data to the display IC 2. The display IC 2 includes a microcomputer to control a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel 7. The LCD panel 7 is placed at the right-hand
side of the top of the camera body 15 as shown in FIG. 3. As detailed in FIG. 4, the LCD panel 7 is composed of two parts: a dot matrix part (DOT-LCD) 16 including a two-dimensional array of dots, and a segment part (SEG-LCD) 17 including arranged
segments.
Returning to FIG. 1, the display IC 2 further includes an internal LCD driver to drive the segment part 17 of the LCD panel 7. The display IC 2 controls the dot matrix part 16 of the LCD panel 7 by using an external LCD driver IC 3. The two
parts 16, 17 are placed adjacent in the LCD panel 7, as shown in FIG. 4.
The reason why the LCD panel 7 includes two different display systems is now explained. The dot matrix LCD can present almost any pattern, but it requires a large number of tiny dots to make an eloquent presentation. This leads to a broader
display area and higher driving voltage, which further leads to larger energy consumption. When a large battery with a big energy capacity is not allowed, it is not proper to always energize the dot matrix LCD. In some LCD systems for a camera, the dot
matrix LCD is stopped when the camera is not operated for a predetermined time period. But there are some kinds of information (e.g., a frame counter) that need to be always displayed in a camera system. The two-part LCD system of the present
embodiment addresses the problem. The dot matrix LCD part 16 is used to display various kinds of information that require subtle expression, and the segment LCD part 17 is used to display the full-time information.
The different physical characteristics of the dot matrix LCD and the segment LCD is another reason to adopt the two LCDs. Since the dot matrix LCD includes a lot of pixels (dot elements), it originally requires a number of terminals
corresponding to the number of pixels. In order to avoid the wiring complexity and the resultant low reliability and high cost, the duty control method is devised to drive a lot of pixels of a dot matrix LCD using a time-division driving signals. As
the number of pixels increases, or as the number of terminals decreases, the duty ratio of the time-division signal should be reduced. But as the duty ratio becomes smaller, the contrast of the presentation on the LCD panel becomes dimmer. Therefore,
such kinds of information that need be perceived quickly and assuredly at a shutter chance (e.g., the shutter speed or the aperture value) are preferably displayed on the segment LCD which can be driven by high-duty-ratio driving signals and can show
conspicuous signs, rather than the low-contrast dot matrix LCD.
The segment part 17 of the LCD panel 7 is driven by 1/4-duty 1/3-bias driving signals as shown in FIG. 5A, and the dot matrix part 16 is driven by 1/16-duty 1/5-bias driving signals as shown in FIG. 5B. In the time-dividing signals shown in
FIGS. 5A and 5B, the period denoted by A is the selecting period in which the pertinent pixel can be displayed, and the period B is the non-selecting period in which the pertinent pixel is not displayed. The voltage steps (V.sub.0, V.sub.1, V.sub.2 and
V.sub.3 in FIG. 5A, and V.sub.0, V.sub.1, V.sub.2, V.sub.3, V.sub.4 and V.sub.5 in FIG. 5B) of the driving signals are derived from the circuit of FIG. 2A, in which the voltages V.sub.0 through V.sub.5 are produced by dividing the voltage V.sub.5 output
from the LCD source circuit 14 by the resistances R.sub.1 through R.sub.5. To the internal LCD driver within the display IC 2 are supplied the voltages V.sub.0 through V.sub.3 to drive the segment part 17, and to the external LCD driver IC 3 are
supplied the voltages V.sub.0 through V.sub.5 to drive the dot matrix part 16. The LCD source circuit 14 is composed of a thermistor Th.sub.1 for compensating for the temperature change, resistances R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 for coefficient adjustment and a
DC/DC converter. Since the optimal driving voltage of the liquid crystal decreases as the temperature increases, the negative coefficient thermistor Th.sub.1 is used to compensate for the temperature change. The DC/DC converter stabilizes the driving
voltages V.sub.0 through V.sub.5 irrespective to the fluctuation in the source voltage V.sub.DD.
At the top of the LCD panel 7 is placed a transparent panel switch 8, as shown in FIG. 6. The panel switch 8 is composed of an upper plate 8a and a lower plate 8b clad together, and the panel switch 8 has six switch regions S.sub.A, S.sub.B,
S.sub.C, S.sub.D, S.sub.E and S.sub.F (also see FIG. 1) on the dot matrix part 16.
Returning to FIG. 1, many switches are connected to the controller 1 to effect various functions of the camera. Every switch function is described here referring to FIG. 3.
S.sub.M =Main switch. When the main switch 21 is slid to the left, the main switch S.sub.M turns on and the camera is ready to operate various functions.
S.sub.1 =Photomeasurement switch. When the operating button 20 is half pressed, the photomeasurement switch S.sub.1 turns on.
S.sub.SET =Set switch. When the set switch 18 is pressed, various settings about the camera functions can be made. The switch 18 turns on while pressed, and turns off when released.
S.sub.UP =Up switch. In various setting operations, the switch S.sub.UP is used to increase the value, or to change the value in one direction.
S.sub.DN =Down switch. In various setting operations, the switch S.sub.DN is used to decrease the value, or change the value in the opposite direction. When the slide switch 19 is pressed to the right (direction b in FIG. 3), the up switch
S.sub.UP turns on, and when the slide switch 19 is pressed to the left (direction a), the down switch S.sub.DN turns on. When the slide switch 19 is released, the switch 19 returns to the center.
S.sub.RC =Back cover switch. When the back cover of the camera body 15 is closed, the switch S.sub.RC turns off.
S.sub.PAT =Film cartridge switch. When a film cartridge is loaded in the camera body 15, the switch S.sub.PAT turns on.
S.sub.CAS =DX code detecting switch. The switch S.sub.CAS is composed of contact points, and a DX code printed on a film cartridge (which indicates the film speed) is read by the contact points.
S.sub.REW =Film rewinding switch. The switch S.sub.REW is used to rewind the film.
S.sub.SLS =Spool switch. When the leader of the film is wound on the spool, the switch S.sub.SLS turns off.
The controller 1 is connected to a clock oscillator 9 whose clock signal is delivered to the display IC 2 and the external LCD driver IC 3 for making the LCD driving signals. Another clock oscillator 10 is connected to the controller 1 to
provide a system clock signal, which is also delivered to the display IC 2 and the external LCD driver IC 3 for the system clock.
The source voltage V.sub.DD for these circuits is provided from the battery 11 shown in FIG. 2B. In order to prevent a power interruption when the battery 11 is replaced, a temporary battery 12 with a diode 13 is provided in the system.
Operations of the controller
The operations of the controller 1 is now explained centering on the display. FIGS. 7A and 7B are flowcharts of the display-related routine executed by the controller 1. This routine is started when the battery 11 is installed in the camera
body 15 (step #1). First, the main switch S.sub.M is checked at step #2. When the main switch S.sub.M is off, step #3 is processed where data indicative of "main switch is off" and data of the frame counter are sent to the display IC 2. When the
display IC 2 receives these data, the display IC 2 sends data of a character string (detailed later) stored in a RAM and data of current time to the external LCD driver IC 3, and also outputs the data of the frame counter to the segment part 17 using the
internal LCD driver. The external LCD driver IC 3 outputs the given character data and time data to the dot matrix part 16 of the LCD panel 7. The display which appears on the LCD panel 7 in this case is shown in FIG. 8A. The character string "M.
Jackson" displayed at the above left is previously inputted by the owner or photographer of the camera for showing the ownership of the camera. The data of the current time "16:35:24" is made by counting up the clock signal generated by the system clock
10. The part bearing the character string and the current time is the dot matrix part 16. The right side part of the display panel 7 is the segment part 17 where the frame counter "8" (which shows that the film frame behind the lens is the eighth), a
film cartridge mark (which shows that a film cartridge is loaded in the camera) and a film mark (which shows that the film is correctly wound on the spool) are displayed. That is the display when the main switch S.sub.M is off. The character string
display may be used for any other purpose.
It is noted here again that the dot matrix part 16 is driven by the external LCD driver IC 3, but the display data of the dot matrix part 16 is given from the display IC 2. The display IC 2 directly drives the segment part 17. Thus, all display
data including that on the dot matrix part 16 and that on the segment part 17 are given from the controller 1. Therefore, it may be expressed hereinafter that "the controller makes a display".
While the main switch S.sub.M is off, the process loops between steps #2 and #3. When the main switch S.sub.M is turned on, the process proceeds to step #4, where the photomeasurement switch S.sub.1 is checked. When the photomeasurement switch
S.sub.1 is on, various data are inputted to the controller 1 at step #5. Specifically saying, photomeasurement data from the photomeasurement circuit 5, guide number data from the flash circuit 4, and card data from the card circuit 6. Then an exposure
calculations are performed at step #6 according to the exposure control mode currently selected. The shutter speed Tv and the aperture value Av are calculated here. According to the exposure calculation results, it is determined at step #7 whether to
conduct the available light photographing or flashlight photographing. When the available light photographing is determined, display data of various settings are sent to the display IC 2. The display examples in this case are shown in FIGS. 8B, 8C and
8D. The number in the upper area AR-A of the dot matrix part 16 shows the exposure override value. In FIG. 8B (" +/-:-2.0") the override is -2.0 Ev and in FIG. 8D ("+/-:0.0") no override is set. When another film speed is set different from that
detected by the switch S.sub.CAS from the DX code on the film cartridge surface, the set film speed "ISO200" is displayed instead of the override value, as shown in FIG. 8C. In the lower left area AR-B is shown the currently effective AF (auto-focusing)
zone mode. The symbol in FIG. 8B shows the spot AF zone mode, and that in FIGS. 8C and 8D shows the wide AF zone mode. The lower center area AR-C displays the frame advancing mode. The symbol in FIG. 8B shows the continuous advancing mode, that in
FIG. 8C shows the single-frame advancing mode, and that in FIG. 8D shows the self-timer mode. The lower right area AR-D displays the state of the card-function selecting switch, which appears only when a card is attached to the camera body. FIGS. 8C
and 8D show the display when a card is attached, and FIG. 8B shows the display when no card is attached. The word "CARD" is reversed here to effectively distinguish this display from the rest of the dot matrix part 16, and to remind the photographer
that this is a display relating to a switch.
Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 7A, when a flashlight photographing is determined at step #7, various data relating to the flashlight photographing mode are displayed on the LCD panel 7, as shown in FIG. 8E. In this case, the dot matrix part
16 is divided into the upper area AR-E and the lower area AR-F. In these areas is displayed the recommended subject distance for the flashlight, in meters in the upper area AR-E "0.7-5.0 m", and in feet "2.3-16 ft" in the lower area AR-F. The distance is
calculated from the guide number data from the flash circuit 4 and the minimum and maximum aperture value data from the lens both inputted at step #5. Precisely saying, the shortest distance is the quotient of the minimum guide number to the maximum
aperture value, and the longest distance is the quotient of the maximum guide number to the minimum aperture value.
After either display at step #8 or step #9, the shutter speed Tv and the aperture value Av are displayed at step #10. As shown in FIGS. 8B-8E, the shutter speed Tv is shown in area AR-G second from the top of the segment part 17, and the
aperture value Av is shown in area AR-H down next.
At the subsequent step #11, current exposure control mode is displayed in the top area AR-J of the segment part 17. As shown in FIG. 4, four capital letters are prepared in this area AR-J for the four exposure control modes: "P" for the program
controlled automatic exposure mode, "A" for the aperture priority automatic exposure control mode, "M" for the manual exposure control mode, and "S" for the shutter speed priority automatic exposure control mode. One of them currently selected is
displayed at step #11.
At the subsequent step #12, the frame counter and the film marks are displayed in the bottom area AR-I of the segment part 17. The "film marks" here includes two segments SEG-A (film cartridge mark) and SEG-B (film mark), and neither is
displayed when a film cartridge is not in the camera body.
Then the card function is checked and displayed at step #13. When the card function is on, the segment SEG-C "CARD" is displayed as shown in FIG. 8C. When no card is attached to the camera body (FIG. 8B), or when the card function is off while
a card is attached to the camera (FIG. 8D), the segment SEG-C is not displayed. After step #13, the process returns to step #2.
When the photomeasurement switch S.sub.1 is off at step #4, it is determined at step #14 whether to make the initial loading. The initial loading is the first winding action of the film loaded in the camera body. When: a) the back cover switch
S.sub.RC has turned to off (back cover is closed) this time from on (back cover is open) last time, and b) the cartridge detecting switch S.sub.PAT is on, the initial loading condition is satisfied. When this condition is satisfied, the initial loading
related process is executed at step #17, which is detailed referring to FIG. 10.
Initial loading
First the film motor is driven to initially wind up the film at step #17-1. Then the spool switch S.sub.SLS is checked at step #17-2 to determined whether the film is correctly wound on the spool. When the initial film loading is successfully
completed, display data indicative of the initial loading completion (OK data) is sent to the display IC 2 at step #17-3, whereby the display as shown in FIG. 8F is made to indicate the successful completion of the film loading. At this time, the frame
counter is reset to "1", and the film mark segments SEG-A and SEG-B are displayed. Then a five-second timer TMA is started at step #17-4, and the process returns to step #2 of FIG. 7A. The five-second timer is for counting the time period for lasting
the display, and in this case it stops counting when the main switch S.sub.M is turned off or when the photomeasurement switch S.sub.1 is turned on. The five-second timer is detailed later at step #39.
When it is determined at step #17-2 that the initial loading is unsuccessful, display data indicating the initial loading failure is sent to the display IC 2 at step #17-5, whereby the display as shown in FIG. 8G is made to urge the user to
reload the film. This time, the frame counter is made "0" and the frame counter and the film cartridge mark (segment SEG-A) are made to blink. The film mark segment SEG-B is not displayed. The arrow shown in the dot matrix part 16 is for prompting the
user to open the back cover. The process waits at step #17-6 until the back cover is opened. When the back cover is opened, i.e., when the back cover switch S.sub.RC turns on, the process returns to step #2 of FIG. 7A.
When the initial loading condition is not satisfied at step #14, the film rewind switch S.sub.REW is checked at step #15. When the film rewind switch S.sub.REW is on and the film cartridge switch S.sub.PAT is on (i.e., a film is in the camera
body), a film rewinding process is executed at step #18, which is detailed by the flowchart of FIG. 11.
Film rewinding
First at step #18-1, the film rewinding motor is started to rewind the film. At the subsequent step #18-2, the display as shown in FIG. 8H is made to show that the film rewinding process is under way. Then the spool switch S.sub.SLS is checked
at step #18-3 to detect whether the film leader has left the spool. When the switch S.sub.SLS is off, the back cover switch S.sub.RC is checked at step #18-4. When the back cover switch S.sub.RC is also off (i.e., the film is still wound on the spool
and the back cover is closed), the process returns to step #18-3 to continue driving the film rewinding motor. When the spool switch S.sub.SLS turns on, the motor is stopped at step #18-5, and the display as shown in FIG. 8I is made at step #18-6 to
indicate that the film rewinding process is finished. The process waits at step #18-8 until the back cover is opened. When the back cover is opened (i.e., when the back cover switch S.sub.RC turns on), the process returns to step #2 of FIG. 7A. When
the spool switch S.sub.SLS is off and the back cover switch S.sub.RC is on (i.e., the back cover is opened while the film is still being rewound), the rewinding operation is stopped at step #18-7, and the process returns to step #2.
When the rewinding condition is not satisfied at step #15, the set switch S.sub.SET is checked at step #16. When the set switch S.sub.SET is on here, the five-second timer TMA is restarted at step #19, and the display as shown in FIG. 8J is made
at step #20 to indicate each function of the panel switches S.sub.A -S.sub.F. That is, the dot matrix part 16 is divided into six areas AR-K, AR-L, AR-M, AR-B, AR-C and AR-D, respectively corresponding to the six panel switches S.sub.A, S.sub.B,
S.sub.C, S.sub.D, S.sub.E and S.sub.F, and the functions of the switches at this time is indicated in the areas.
Then every panel switch S.sub.A -S.sub.F is checked at steps #21 through #26. When an operation on one of them is sensed, the corresponding process (step #36, #32, #37, #33, #38, #34 or #35) is executed.
When all the six switches are off, the photomeasurement switch S.sub.1 is checked at step #27. When the switch S.sub.1 is on, the process returns to step #2, otherwise the main switch S.sub.M is checked at step #28. When the main switch S.sub.M
is off, the process returns to step #2, and otherwise the five-second timer TMA is checked at step #29. When the timer TMA is counting (i.e., five seconds have not yet elapsed since it was started at step #19), the process returns to step #21, and
otherwise (i.e., five seconds have passed) the process returns to step #2. The above-mentioned process at steps #27 et seq. are described as follows. After the set switch S.sub.SET is turned on, the panel switch checking process (steps #21-#26) is
repeated for five seconds. While the panel switches S.sub.A -S.sub.F are checked through, the main switch S.sub.M and the photomeasurement switch S.sub.1 are also checked: when the main switch S.sub.M is turned off, or the photomeasurement switch S.sub. 1 is turned on, the process returns to step #2.
Here the respective display process of steps #36, #32, #37, #33, #38, #34 and #35 are described.
Film speed setting
When the panel switch S.sub.B is pressed, the process proceeds to step #32 for setting the film speed (in ISO), which is detailed by the flowchart of FIG. 12 and the display example of FIG. 8K. First at step #32-1, a down switch mark is
displayed in the lower left area AR-N of the dot matrix part 16, then an up switch mark is displayed in the lower right area AR-Q. When the corresponding panel switch S.sub.D or S.sub.F is pressed, the down or up switch S.sub.DN, S.sub.UP turns on and
the film speed is manually changed. The film speed can also be changed by operating the slide switch 19 on the camera body 15 (up switch S.sub.UP turns on when slid to the right and down switch S.sub.DN turns on when slid to the left). Then the five
second timer TMA is started at step #32-3, and the currently-set film speed is displayed in the lower center area AR-P. Further at subsequent step #32-5, an index pointer mark is shown in the central row area AR-S, and a linear scale is displayed in the
top row area AR-R. The linear scale is for indicating the film speed value: the square mark at the center of the scale indicates the DX film speed automatically read from the film cartridge. The index mark in the area AR-S indicates the currently-set
film speed. When the set film speed is the same as the DX film speed, the index mark is placed at the center, under the square mark. When the film speed is manually increased from the DX value, the index mark is displaced to the right. The larger
graduations on the scale are placed at every 1 Ev step, and the smaller graduations are at ever (1/3)Ev step. For example, when the film speed is manually set to 200 in ISO scale while the DX value is 100, the index mark is placed 1 Ev to the right of
the central square mark. That is, the distance between the central square mark above and the index mark below the linear scale show the difference between the automatic and manual settings of the film speed, and when the index mark is to the right of
the central square mark, the difference is positive, and vice versa. When the manual film speed value is further increased after the index mark stops at the rightmost (2+1/3)Ev point, the linear scale with the central square mark in the area AR-R moves
to the left. For example, when the film speed is manually set to 1600 ISO for the DX value of 100, the display appears as shown in FIG. 8M. Various other display method can be used to indicate large differences between the automatic and manual values.
One is to make the index mark blink when the difference exceeds the rightmost (or leftmost) value. Another is to change the shape of the index mark. These methods have an advantage that they simplify the display program.
A method for facilitating the manual film speed setting is introduced here. As shown in FIG. 9A, the upper part of the transparent panel switch 8-1 (corresponding to the linear scale display area AR-R) is finely divided into small parts
TS1-TS15, and the film speed is directly set by pressing one of the small panel switches TS1-TS15. For example, when the photographer presses on the leftmost larger graduation of the linear scale, the panel switch TS2 turns on and the film speed is
directly changed to 50 ISO from the automatically-set DX value of 200. FIG. 9A shows another similar example at the top. The panel switch 8-2 is divided larger than that shown below (8-1): in the example 8-2, the interval between switches is 1 Ev. The
minute adjustment in (1/3)Ev intervals are made by pressing the up switch S.sub.F or down switch S.sub.D. FIG. 9B shows still another example of manual film speed setting. In this example, four panel switches S.sub.A, S.sub.C, S.sub.D and S.sub.F are
used: rough setting by 1 Ev steps is made by pressing the lower switches S.sub.D and S.sub.F, and fine setting by (1/3)Ev steps is made by pressing the upper switches S.sub.A and S.sub.C (or using the slide switch 19). The "<<" and ">>"
marks in the areas AR-N and AR-Q under the panel switches S.sub.D and S.sub.F show the rough setting function of the switches.
Returning to FIG. 12, the down switch S.sub.DN (i.e., the panel switch S.sub.D or the left slide of the slide switch 19) is checked at step #32-7. When the down switch is on (i.e., either panel switch S.sub.D is pressed or the slide switch 19 is
slid to the left), the film speed value is decreased by (1/3)Ev at step #32-13, returning to step #32-3. When neither down switch is operated, the up switch S.sub.UP is checked at step #32-8. When either panel switch S.sub.F is pressed or the slide
switch 19 is slid to the right, the film speed is increased by (1/3)Ev at step #32-12. When neither down switch nor up switch is operated, the main switch S.sub.M is checked at step #32-9 and the photomeasurement switch S.sub.1 is checked at step
#32-10, followed by checking of the five second timer TMA at step #32-11. The timer TMA has been started when the process entered this film speed setting routine (i.e., when the panel switch S.sub.B is pressed at step #22 of FIG. 7B). The process of
the steps #32-9 to #32-11 is the same as that by the steps #27 to #29 described before.
Film winding mode setting
When the panel switch S.sub.D is pressed while the dot matrix part 16 is as shown in FIG. 8J, the process proceeds to step #33 for setting the frame advancing mode, which is detailed by the flowchart of FIG. 13. First the five second timer TMA
is started at step #33-1, and then the display as shown in FIG. 8N is made at step #33-2. In the lower left area AR-B is displayed a mark representing the single frame advancing mode, in the lower center area AR-C is displayed a mark representing the
continuous advancing mode, and in the lower right area AR-C is displayed a clock mark representing the self-timer mode. An index mark is displayed above one of the these three modes to indicate the current mode setting (single frame advancing mode in
FIG. 8N). Then the panel switches S.sub.D, S.sub.E and S.sub.F corresponding to these areas AR-B, AR-C and AR-D are checked at steps #33-3, #33-4 and #33-5. When one of the switches is pressed, the mode corresponding to the switch is selected and the
index mark is moved to above the selected area (step #33-9, #33-10 or #33-11). When no switch is pressed, steps #33-6 through #33-8 are executed similarly to the steps #27 through #29 of FIG. 7B.
Exposure override setting
When the panel switch S.sub.A is pressed while the dot matrix part 16 is as shown in FIG. 8J, the process proceeds to step #36 for setting the exposure override, which is detailed by the flowchart of FIG. 14. First the five second timer TMA is
started at step #34-1, and then the display as shown in FIG. 8O is made at step #34-2. The manner of display in the dot matrix part 16 is the same as in the case of the film speed setting (FIGS. 8K-8M), except that the lower center area AR-P shows the
exposure override value ("-2.0 Ev" in FIG. 8O). The linear scale in the area AR-R spans +/-4.0 Ev, and thus the small graduations on the scale indicate (1/2)Ev steps. When no exposure override is set, the index mark in the area AR-S is placed below the
central square mark. By pressing the panel switch S.sub.D or S.sub.F (or sliding the slide switch 19 to the left or right), the exposure override value is decreased or increased by (1/2)Ev steps (steps #36-3 through #36-11). This process is similar to
that from steps #32-7 to #32-13.
Exposure control mode setting
When the panel switch S.sub.C is pressed while the dot matrix part 16 is as shown in FIG. 8J, the process proceeds to step #37 for setting the exposure control mode, which is detailed by the flowchart of FIG. 15. First the five second timer TMA
is started at step #37-1, and then the display as shown in FIG. 8P is made at step #37-2. In this case, four areas AR-K, AR-M, AR-B and AR-D at the four corners of the dot matrix part 16 are used to indicate the four modes: "P" for the program
controlled automatic exposure mode; "A" for the aperture priority automatic exposure control mode; "S" for the shutter speed priority automatic exposure control mode; and "M" for the manual exposure control mode. At the inner side of each of the four
areas AR-K, AR-M, AR-B and AR-D is provided an area AR-O for displaying an index mark for pointing the currently effective exposure control mode. In the central area AR-Z is displayed a sign "MODE" to indicate that the exposure control mode setting is
under way.
After the display process at step #37-2 of FIG. 15, the panel switches S.sub.A, SC, S.sub.D and S.sub.F corresponding to the areas AR-K, AR-M, AR-B and AR-D are checked at steps #37-3 through #37-6. When one of the switches S.sub.A, S.sub.C,
S.sub.D and S.sub.F is pressed, the corresponding step #37-10, #37-11, #37-12 or #37-13 is executed in which the exposure control mode is changed to the selected mode and the index mark is moved to point the selected mode. Steps #37-7, #37-8 and #37-9
are the same as the steps #27, #28 and #29. Currently effective mode can be indicated in other ways in the dot matrix part 16. FIG. 8Q shows a method showing the current mode by blinking the mode display, FIG. 8R shows a method where the current mode
display is reversed, and FIG. 8S shows a method in which the current mode symbol is displayed also at the center.
AF zone setting
When the panel switch S.sub.E is pressed while the dot matrix part 16 is as shown in FIG. 8J, the process proceeds to step #38 for setting the AF zone setting, which is detailed by the flowchart of FIG. 16. First the five second timer TMA is
started at step #38-1, and then the display as shown in FIG. 8T is made at step #38-2. In this case, the sign "AF" is displayed in the upper center area AR-T to indicate that the AF zone setting is under way, and two symbols representing the wide AF
zone mode and the spot AF zone mode are displayed in the two lower corner areas AR-B and AR-D. Currently effective AF zone mode is pointed by an index mark in the area AR-AA provided above each of the areas AR-B and AR-D. After the display process at
step #38-2, the panel switches S.sub.D and S.sub.F corresponding to the areas AR-B and AR-D are checked at steps #38-3 and #38-4. When either switch is pressed, the AF zone mode is changed to the selected one and the index mark moves to above the
selected mode area at step #38-9 or #38-10. When neither panel switch is pressed, the up switch and the down switch (slide switch 19) are then checked at step #38-5. When the slide switch 19 is slid to either direction, the two AF zone modes (wide and
spot) change alternately. When no switch is operated, steps #38-6, #38-7 and #38-8 are executed to check the main switch S.sub.M and the photomeasurement switch S.sub.1 for five seconds similarly to steps #27-#29. In this case, als | | |
