Nonmechanical Visual Display Patents (Class 396/287)
  • Patent number: 6801717
    Abstract: A digital imaging device that allows the user to mark multiple objects with UI markers is disclosed. The digital imaging device automatically adjusts the focus and aperture to include the marked objects in the depth of field of the digital imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Gregory V. Hofer
  • Patent number: 6788894
    Abstract: A digital camera includes an outer casing cover. An open portion is formed in the outer casing cover, and an LCD unit is mounted to the open portion such that the display surface of the LCD unit is exposed to the outside through the open portion. The LCD unit includes a plate-like LCD module of a package type and a mounting frame having the LCD mounted thereto. The mounting frame is formed of a thin member such as a thin metal plate, and the holding frame for housing and holding the display element includes a display frame covering the peripheral portion of the display surface. The display surface and the display frame are exposed to the outside through the open portion of the outer casing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Suzuki, Hiroyuki Ando
  • Publication number: 20040136703
    Abstract: A camera body of an instant camera is provided with four light sources LED1 to LED4 for a display. The four light sources LED1 to LED4 flash on and off in mutually different display modes in accordance with the state of progress of a series of processing of an exposure operation, a developing operation and a delivery operation which is carried out in accordance with one time photographic operation. This feature makes it possible to exactly inform a user of the state of progress of a series of processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru Sasaki, Seimei Ushiro
  • Patent number: 6760548
    Abstract: A disclosed photographing apparatus has a LCD display, a select member, and a controller. The display displays information about a photographic condition, in arbitrary display form using a dot-matrix. The select member selects one display mode among a plurality of display modes. In each mode of the plurality of display modes, display forms are different to each other, standard information required for photographing is displayed common to every display mode, and at least one information inherent to each display mode is displayed. The controller controls the display to display the display mode selected by the selector, and at a time of starting the camera, to display a display mode which has been displayed when the camera was previously switched off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Reiji Seki, Makoto Akesaka, Hiroaki Minami, Tatsuya Suzuki, Reiko Yoshida, Masami Ohyama, Hirofusa Kondo
  • Patent number: 6738577
    Abstract: A display device 70 having an organic luminescent element arranged at an object image-forming position of a finder optical system. Frames are formed by parts 31b, 32b, 33b of the negative electrode formed of non-transparent material, an organic electroluminescent material is laminated thereon on the eyepiece side, and a positive electrode formed of transparent material is superimposed thereon on the eyepiece side. Since the non-transparent negative electrodes 31b, 32b, 33b shield the light, the frames are recognized as black frames. When the periphery is dark, a voltage is applied between the electrodes causing the organic electroluminescent material to luminesce, such that the frame itself becomes brighter in display and is readily visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Maeda, Akihiko Fujino, Reiji Seki, Noriyuki Ishii, Makoto Akesaka, Satoshi Yokota
  • Patent number: 6714293
    Abstract: An exposure meter has both function of an incident light type exposure meter for measuring an exposure value of an object by an incident light to the object and a reflected light type exposure meter for measuring exposure value of the object by a reflected light from the object. A latitude of a film is calculated from the exposure value by the incident light. The exposure value by the incident light and an upper and a lower limit values of the latitude are displayed on a display device. At least one exposure value measured by the reflected light is further displayed on the display device comparably with the latitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Goto, Yoshio Yuasa
  • Patent number: 6704506
    Abstract: A movable power switch member mounted on the front face of a camera body is provided with a luminous display unit comprising any number (preferably a plurality) of illuminants, and light emission is so controlled as to realize different forms of displaying according to the operating state of the camera. For instance, the lighting, either continuous or intermittent, of the illuminants is controlled according to the remaining charge or the progress of charging of the battery. There are available a mode in which the luminous display unit is also used as a battery indicator, another mode in which the state of light is altered according to the initial mode (at the time of turning on power supply), still another mode in which the illuminants are used as a substitute for a tally lamp at the time of self-timed shooting and yet others, resulting in the achievement of an illumination effect in addition to the displaying of the operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mikio Sasagawa
  • Patent number: 6654559
    Abstract: A camera is disclosed that includes: a plurality of operating members which is operated to set states of the camera and operating conditions, or to cause the camera to perform operations; a display unit which displays guidance information on the set state of the camera, the set operating condition, and the operating members; and a control circuit which allows setting the state of the camera and the operating condition in accordance with operation of the operating member and prohibiting any image-taking operation, with the guidance information displayed on the display unit. According to the camera of this invention, a photographer can operate various operating members while seeing the guidance information without waste of image-taking operation. The photographer can also perform various settings while seeing the guidance information since setting the state (mode or the like) of the camera or the operating condition is allowed even when the guidance information is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keisuke Aoyama
  • Patent number: 6621988
    Abstract: A camera includes a lens barrel capable of extending and collapsing in which when the lens barrel is extended, exposures are possible. The camera includes an aperture member in which any one of a plurality of aperture values can be selected, an aperture set up handler varying a position based on the aperture value, and a coupling member for mechanically coupling the aperture member with the aperture set up handler to transmit the position of the aperture set up handler to the aperture member so that said aperture member is set up to an aperture value according to the position of the aperture set up handler. The aperture member returns to an original setting when the lens barrel is collapsed. The aperture set up handler returns to a position to set up the aperture member to the original setting in accordance with the collapse operation of the lens barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Takagi
  • Patent number: 6614996
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus automatically determines the photographing mode and displays on a display a kind of the photographing mode with the image of the subject. The image forming apparatus comprises an image pickup part for forming an image of the subject, a photographing mode automatically setting part for automatically selecting one photographing mode from among a plurality of photographing modes based on a photographing condition when the subject is photographed, and setting the selected photographing mode, a display part for displaying the image of the subject; and a display control part for displaying on the display part a kind of the photographing mode set by the photographing mode automatically setting part together with the image of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Okisu, Jun Minakuti, Ayumi Itoh, Motohiro Nakanishi, Shoichi Minato
  • Patent number: 6614495
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display unit for a camera has a liquid crystal display panel and a back light source panel arranged along a back side of the liquid crystal display panel to illuminate the liquid crystal display panel. The back light source panel has a panel portion that extends farther than the back side of the liquid crystal display panel to be located beyond the back side in order to provide illumination other than to the back side when the back light source panel illuminates the liquid crystal display panel. A transparent protective cover panel covers a front side of the liquid crystal display panel to view the liquid crystal panel through the protective cover panel and has a panel portion that extends farther than the front side of the liquid crystal display panel to cover the panel portion of the back light source panel in order to permit illumination from the panel portion of the back light source panel to shine through the panel portion of the protective cover panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Dennis R. Zander
  • Publication number: 20030123874
    Abstract: an electronic camera includes: an image-capturing unit that creates an image by capturing an image of a subject; an enlarged image generating unit that creates an enlarged image by enlarging a portion of the image created by the image-capturing unit; an optical viewfinder that enables verification of a subject range corresponding to a range of the image created by the image-capturing unit; and a warning output unit that issues a warning when the enlarged image generating unit is in operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Kazami
  • Patent number: 6571063
    Abstract: A protective cover for a camera having a housing with front and rear portions, the front portion including a mounting structure for an image capture lens and the rear portion having an electronic image display, the protective cover, including front and rear portions, the cover being slideably mounted on the camera so that it is effective in at least a first camera active position and in a second camera storage position, and the rear portion including an opening corresponding to the electronic image display such that, in the first camera active position, the opening corresponds to and permits viewing of the electronic image display and in the second camera storage position, the rear portion covers the electronic image display to protect such electronic image display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dale F. McIntyre, Michael W. DeVries
  • Patent number: 6542698
    Abstract: A shading hood member for a digital camera, which can easily be attached to a liquid crystal monitor of a digital camera of the existing type, and which has a simple structure and is compact in size, and which can be manufactured at low cost, is disclosed. The shading hood member is detachably attached to the liquid crystal monitor in such a manner as to cover the periphery of the liquid crystal screen of the liquid crystal monitor that is openably provided on the outside surface of a camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Kakuyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Izawa
  • Patent number: 6539177
    Abstract: In a camera and method, an archival image is captured. During the capturing of the archival image, a plurality of evaluation images are also captured. A verification image is generated from the evaluation images. Characteristics of the evaluation images are compared to predetermined standard ranges and an output quality warning is generated when a characteristic is outside a respective range. The output quality warning is communicated while the verification image is displayed on the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Parulski
  • Patent number: 6535695
    Abstract: A functional device has an operating button to control a function, a display window containing an indication of the function and a luminous device, containing a luminous material to illuminate the operating button and display window. The luminous device is formed from a one-piece continuous member containing luminous material. The material forming the luminous material is an aluminum oxide luminous material. A plurality of corresponding operating buttons and display windows may be formed in the functional device, with the luminous device formed of a plate to back light the plurality of display windows, luminous material formed in the plurality of operating buttons and connecting arms to connect plate to the operating buttons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hidenori Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6519419
    Abstract: In a camera having an LCD and a clock device, a power source consists of a battery and a booster circuit. When a power switch button is pressed, the camera moves to an ON mode including a drive mode and a standby mode. In the drive mode, the booster circuit is continuously turned on to supply voltage of a predetermined high level. In the standby mode, the booster circuit is intermittently turned on to output voltage of between the predetermined high level and a minimum display voltage level that is necessary for the LCD to keep its display density in a proper range. The booster circuit is normally turned off in an OFF mode. But if the battery voltage goes below a reset level below which a clock device of the camera cannot work, the booster circuit is intermittently turned on in the OFF mode, to boost the battery voltage up above the reset level and drive the clock device by the output voltage of the booster circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Shimada, Katsuji Ozawa, Takao Umetsu
  • Publication number: 20030026610
    Abstract: A camera has a body and a capture system disposed in the body. The capture system is actuable to capture an archival image and an assessment image. The capture system defines a different field of view for each of those images. The field of view of the assessment image is larger than the field of view of the archival image. A display unit mounted on the body, shows a first portion of the assessment image corresponding to the field of view of the archival image and is selectively switchable to show a second portion of the assessment image that is non-concentric with the field of view of the archival image. In a method using the camera, an electronic image defining the assessment field of view is captured; then the different portions of the assessment field of view are selectively displayed in alternation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Stephen G. Malloy Desormeaux
  • Patent number: 6516154
    Abstract: In a method and camera, a scene is captured as an original electronic image. The original electronic image is stored as an archival image in memory in the camera. A plurality of parameters of the scene are evaluated. The parameters are matched to one or more of a plurality of editorial suggestions to define a suggestion set. One or more editorial suggestion images are generated. Each editorial suggestion image is a copy of the original electronic image modified in accordance with a respective editorial suggestion. The editorial suggestion images are displayed. User input is accepted designating one depictions as a user selection. The user input is recorded for later use in preparation of a final image or the stored archival image is edited in accordance with the selected suggestion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Parulski, James W. Cannon, Stephen G. Malloy Desormeaux
  • Patent number: 6507699
    Abstract: A one-time use camera including film. The camera comprises a shutter release and a device adapted to deactivate a camera function in order to prevent unauthorized reuse of the camera. The deactivating device comprises: a first counter whose value can be changed when it is detected successively that, on the one hand, the film is moved inside the camera and that, on the other hand, the shutter release is activated, and, a detector for detecting the film movement. The camera function is deactivated when the first counter reaches a limit value S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Michel Lemoine
  • Patent number: 6505002
    Abstract: A camera and method are usable for capturing multicolor images of multicolor scenes. The camera has a color detector determining from the multicolor scene and/or a captured multicolor image of the scene, a predominant color in the captured image and/or multicolor scene. The camera also has a display showing a predominant color determined by the color detector, whereby one is alerted to color predominance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Roger A. Fields
  • Patent number: 6501912
    Abstract: A dual film image capture, electronic image capture camera is capable of electronic information editing after each substantially simultaneous film and electronic exposure, and it magnetically records the information adjacent each one of the exposed film frames after completed exposure of the entire film length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert G. Hills, James W. Fulmer
  • Patent number: 6496656
    Abstract: A camera, adapted for recording individual sound files to be re-recorded onto associated photographic prints, includes an operator interface for pre-selecting photographic print characteristics which would affect the amount of recording time available on an associated photographic print. An audio memory is adapted to store sound files to be re-recorded onto associated photographic prints. An indicator is adapted to provide an operator-recognizable indication of recording time available as a function of print characteristics pre-selected by an operator. The print characteristics may include a print's two-dimensional surface area, a print's shape, a sound file's type or sound quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David J. Nelson, Jose A. Rosario
  • Patent number: 6490417
    Abstract: With a camera, a photographing prohibition state can surely be recognized only by viewing a liquid crystal display. In the camera, an LCD with a variable transmissivity is disposed within a finder. A film is fed by a film feed section. When a film rewinding operation by the film feed section is completed, a CPU instructs an LCD drive section to lower the transmissivity of the LCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20020176709
    Abstract: Modes of a camera are classified into groups according to their type. On an LCD panel, the different groups are displayed on different rows, and modes to be selected out of each group are displayed in different columns. Group selection is accomplished by vertically manipulating a selector button, and mode selection out of each group is accomplished by laterally manipulating the selector button. This makes possible displaying of selectable modes classified by group on the LCD panel in a way perceivable at a glance. Furthermore, the choice of a group and that of a mode within each group are matched in the mode display arrangement to facilitate the operation for mode selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO OPTICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takao Umetsu, Haruo Onozuka, Minoru Ishiguro, Yasuhiro Nishitani, Kunihiko Tanaka, Makoto Akiba
  • Publication number: 20020172516
    Abstract: A camera is disclosed that includes:
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventor: Keisuke Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20020168187
    Abstract: An image capture camera for capturing successive electronic images includes an electro-optical display that displays a captured electronic image in a vertical orientation. The electro-optical display permits a displayed image to be viewed within a permissible horizontal viewing angle that is wider than a permissible vertical viewing angle in order to allow at least two people to view the displayed image side-by-side. A light control film is positioned over the electro-optical display and has parallel, closely spaced, thin black microlouvers which are spaced apart by respective transparent film sections to reduce the vertical viewing angle of the display to 48°+/−6°, but do not reduce the horizontal viewing angle of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: David L. Funston
  • Patent number: 6477329
    Abstract: A digital camera with rotatable components is disclosed. In the front of camera there is provided a lens, a flash, and a viewfinder, while in the rear thereof there is provided a liquid crystal display (LCD) corresponding to lens, a control button, and the rear of viewfinder. Control button is operable to press for rotating lens, flash, viewfinder, and LCD in the same direction and into a desired angle with respect to an object. Next a shutter button on the camera is operable to press for taking a picture. This camera has the benefits of ergonomic, precise picture taking, and full covering of the object by flash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Inventec Multimedia & Telecom Corporation
    Inventors: Shih-Hsiung Weng, Chee-Heem Hoe
  • Patent number: 6459856
    Abstract: A camera having a control dial/display panel unit includes a ring member which can be manually rotated about a first axis; a display panel which is surrounded by the ring member so as to be viewed through an aperture of the ring member from outside the camera; a rotational member which is rotatable about a second axis which is inclined with respect to the first axis; a transmission device for transmitting the rotation of the ring member to the rotational member; a detection device which is disposed on the rotational member to detect rotation information of the rotational member; and a controller which determines rotation information of the ring member via the rotation information of the rotational member, which is detected by the detection device, to indicate information corresponding to the rotation information of the ring member on the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Kawano
  • Publication number: 20020131775
    Abstract: In a camera having a lens barrel capable of extending and collapsing in which when the lens barrel is extended, a photography is available, the camera comprises an aperture member in which any one of a plurality of aperture values is set up in accordance with a mechanical force, an aperture set up handler varying a position or a posture in accordance with a set up operation for an aperture value, and a coupling member for mechanically coupling said aperture member with said aperture set up handler to transmit the position or the posture according to the set up operation for the aperture value by said aperture set up handler to said aperture member so that said aperture member is set up to an aperture value according to a position or a posture after the set up operation of said aperture set up handler. The aperture member returns to an aperture value of a predetermined opening in accordance with a collapse operation of said lens barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD
    Inventor: Junichi Takagi
  • Patent number: 6453125
    Abstract: A camera including a liquid crystal display is provided with a light interception hood mounting portion corresponding to the liquid crystal display, and a light interception hood which is detachably attached to the light interception hood mounting portion. The light interception hood is provided with a hood body which prevents external light entering the liquid crystal display when the light interception hood is attached to the light interception hood mounting portion, and a magnifier through which the liquid crystal display can be viewed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuji Shono
  • Patent number: 6449435
    Abstract: A camera includes a finder optical system. A transmissivity variable element is arranged in the finder optical system and changes the light transmissivity. A release signal outputting circuit outputs a release signal. A light exposure mechanism effects a light exposure operation in accordance with the release signal from the release signal outputting circuit. A control circuit effects control such that, after the outputting of the release signal but before the start of the light exposure operation by the light exposure mechanism, the transmissivity of the finder optical system is made lower by the transmissivity variable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6438325
    Abstract: A photographic camera system includes a photographic camera that can successively expose a photographic film in different frame sizes and an automatic printer for automatically printing the processed photographic film exposed with those different frame sizes. The camera varies the aspect of an exposure opening in the camera body and the film is fed for a length corresponding to the selected aspect by detecting a hole located in a marginal area of the film. The photographic camera magnetically or optically records at a location away from the hole an aspect information signal indicative of the selected aspect of the exposed frame on the photographic film, and the automatic printer automatically prints the photographic film using the magnetically or optically recorded aspect information signal detected from the photographic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiko Saito, Akira Nakanishi, Shunzi Obayashi, Hideki Toshikage
  • Publication number: 20020110372
    Abstract: A camera and method are usable for capturing multicolor images of multicolor scenes. The camera has a color detector determining from the multicolor scene and/or a captured multicolor image of the scene, a predominant color in the captured image and/or multicolor scene. The camera also has a display showing a predominant color determined by the color detector, whereby one is alerted to color predominance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Roger A. Fields
  • Publication number: 20020097997
    Abstract: A shading hood member for a digital camera, which can easily be attached to a liquid crystal monitor of a digital camera of the existing type, and which has a simple structure and is compact in size, and which can be manufactured at low cost, is disclosed. The shading hood member is detachably attached to the liquid crystal monitor in such a manner as to cover the periphery of the liquid crystal screen of the liquid crystal monitor that is openably provided on the outside surface of a camera body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventor: Masao Izawa
  • Patent number: 6415108
    Abstract: The user a mode setting section to optionally set one of a first mode that enables a predetermined operation necessary for recording, on the printing medium, a voice code image based on the voice input by the voice input section, and a second mode that disables the predetermined operation necessary for recording, on the printing medium, the voice code image based on the voice input by the voice input section. The mode set by the mode setting section is displayed on a display section incorporated in an output section. The predetermined operation that can be executed when the first mode is set is, for example, a voice input operation by a voice input section, a conversion operation by a digital conversion section, and a compression operation by a voice compression section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gakuzi Kamishima, Daikichi Morohashi
  • Publication number: 20020067920
    Abstract: A digital camera with rotatable components is disclosed. In the front of camera there is provided a lens, a flash, and a viewfinder, while in the rear thereof there is provided a liquid crystal display (LCD) corresponding to lens, a control button, and the rear of viewfinder. Control button is operable to press for rotating lens, flash, viewfinder, and LCD in the same direction and into a desired angle with respect to an object. Next a shutter button on the camera is operable to press for taking a picture. This camera has the benefits of ergonomic, precise picture taking, and full covering of the object by flash.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Applicant: Inventec Multimedia & Telecom Corporation
    Inventors: Shih-Hsiung Weng, Chee-Heem Hoe
  • Patent number: 6393222
    Abstract: A digital camera comprises an electronic view finder (EVF) for electronically displaying an image of a subject and a movable monitor. The movable monitor is slidable along guide grooves and movable between a first position in which the EVF is covered with the movable monitor and a second position in which the EVF is not covered. By a sensor for position detection, when it is detected that the movable monitor is in the first position, no image is displayed on the EVF but an image is displayed on the movable monitor. When it is detected that the movable monitor is in the second position, no image is displayed on the movable monitor but an image is displayed on the EVF. Consequently, power can be saved, and when the movable monitor is in the first position, adhesion of dusts and dirt onto the display face of the EVF can be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Nakagawa, Tatsuro Izumi, Yoshiyuki Inoue, Daigo Yoshioka, Hisanori Itoh, Shoichi Minato
  • Patent number: 6374052
    Abstract: To provide a camera configured to be supported by the hands of a photographer on the bottom surface of the body thereof whose operability is improved by allowing various settings to be easily made with the camera body supported reliably and allowing a set value to be stored and retrieved with a small number of operation members, a configuration is provided which includes a grip portion protruding in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of a photographic optical system provided in a predetermined position of a lateral surface of the body of the camera and an operating member for allowing input of information to cause execution of a predetermined operation, the operating member being provided in the vicinity of the grip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Satoh, Hirohide Fukazawa, Akira Kasai, Kazuo Akai, Nobuharu Namikawa, Jun Inoue
  • Patent number: 6363224
    Abstract: A camera for successively capturing images of subjects, has a print quantity selector that can be manually operated to provide various print quantity designations of the number of prints to be made for each one of the captured images. A print reset can be manually operated to change the print quantity designations used for the captured images simultaneously to the same print quantity designation. A print quantity totaller is connected to the print quantity selector and to the print reset for updating a print quantity total which is the sum of the number of prints to be made for the captured images, both when the print quantity selector is used and when the print reset is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Stephen G. Malloy Desormeaux, James W. Fulmer, Robert Hills
  • Publication number: 20020031345
    Abstract: A functional device has an operating button to control a function, a display window containing an indication of the function and a luminous device, containing a luminous material to illuminate the operating button and display window. The luminous device is formed from a one-piece continuous member containing luminous material. The material forming the luminous material is an aluminum oxide luminous material. A plurality of corresponding operating buttons and display windows may be formed in the functional device, with the luminous device formed of a plate to back light the plurality of display windows, luminous material formed in the plurality of operating buttons and connecting arms to connect plate to the operating buttons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hidemori Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6353712
    Abstract: A camera substantially simultaneously captures a film image of a subject being photographed and an electronic image of the subject which corresponds to the captured film image. The captured electronic image of the subject corresponding to the captured film image of the subject is displayed to permit one to verify they got the captured film image they wanted. The camera includes an optional-use self-timer used to delay film image and electronic image capture of the subject. When the self-timer is intended to be used, the camera electronically captures a preview image without capturing a film image of the subject, and displays the electronically captured preview image to determine whether the camera is correctly positioned to take a picture of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Stephen G. Malloy Desormeaux
  • Publication number: 20020025160
    Abstract: In a camera having an LCD and a clock device, a power source consists of a battery and a booster circuit. When a power switch button is pressed, the camera moves to an ON mode including a drive mode and a standby mode. In the drive mode, the booster circuit is continuously turned on to supply voltage of a predetermined high level. In the standby mode, the booster circuit is intermittently turned on to output voltage of between the predetermined high level and a minimum display voltage level that is necessary for the LCD to keep its display density in a proper range. The booster circuit is normally turned off in an OFF mode. But if the battery voltage goes below a reset level below which a clock device of the camera cannot work, the booster circuit is intermittently turned on in the OFF mode, to boost the battery voltage up above the reset level and drive the clock device by the output voltage of the booster circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Shimada, Katsuji Ozawa, Takao Umetsu
  • Publication number: 20020025161
    Abstract: A disclosed photographing apparatus has a LCD display, a select member, and a controller. The display displays information about a photographic condition, in arbitrary display form using a dot-matrix. The select member selects one display mode among a plurality of display modes. In each mode of the plurality of display modes, display forms are different to each other, standard information required for photographing is displayed common to every display mode, and at least one information inherent to each display mode is displayed. The controller controls the display to display the display mode selected by the selector, and at a time of starting the camera, to display a display mode which has been displayed when the camera was previously switched off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Reiji Seki, Makoto Akesaka, Hiroaki Minami, Tatsuya Suzuki, Reiko Yoshida, Masami Ohyama, Hirofusa Kondo
  • Publication number: 20020025158
    Abstract: A camera and a camera reset device comprises a liquid crystal display unit that displays the camera setting and/or control state, a mode dial operated to select at least one mode setting position at which a function (P, CSM, ISO or the like) related to or not related to a photographing operation can be selected and set, a command dial operated to select and set the function, a reset operation unit that resets the function to a specific initial state (by depressing an exposure compensation button and a bracketing button at the same time) and an arithmetic operation circuit that indicates a reset by temporarily turning off the display at the liquid crystal display unit or the like when the reset operation unit has been operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Tsutomu Wakabayashi, Sachio Mutou
  • Patent number: 6351612
    Abstract: A camera body includes a body mount adopted to detachably attach an interchangeable lens thereto, a body index mark which indicates a position of proper alignment of the interchangeable lens with respect to the body mount in order to attach the interchangeable lens to the camera body, and an illuminating device which illuminates the body index mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayuki Misawa
  • Patent number: 6347192
    Abstract: A dual image capture camera for capturing successive film images on a filmstrip and for capturing successive electronic images that correspond to the respective film images, includes a preview screen that can be turned on to display a captured electronic image in order to preview what a print of a captured film image would look like and that can be turned off, a preview button that is manually depressed to turn the preview screen on when the preview screen is off and can be manually depressed to turn the preview screen off when the preview screen is on, and a control connected to the preview screen and to the preview button to turn the preview screen on automatically without having to manually depress the preview button when an electronic image corresponding to the last film image available on the filmstrip is captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Stephen G. Malloy Desormeaux, Robert L. Kuhn
  • Patent number: 6347190
    Abstract: A camera has a finder device. A liquid crystal element is arranged in the finder device and has an image area and at least one of an index area indicating an image range and an index area indicating information relating to photographing. A control circuit switches modes between a first mode in which the image area is set into a light transmitting state and a second mode in which the image area is set into a light shielding state according to a voltage applied to the liquid crystal element. The index areas always provide index display irrespective of application of the voltage to the liquid crystal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Ishimaru
  • Publication number: 20020012536
    Abstract: A camera having a control dial/display panel unit includes a ring member which can be manually rotated about a first axis; a display panel which is surrounded by the ring member so as to be viewed through an aperture of the ring member from outside the camera; a rotational member which is rotatable about a second axis which is inclined with respect to the first axis; a transmission device for transmitting the rotation of the ring member to the rotational member; a detection device which is disposed on the rotational member to detect rotation information of the rotational member; and a controller which determines rotation information of the ring member via the rotation information of the rotational member, which is detected by the detection device, to indicate information corresponding to the rotation information of the ring member on the display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA of Tokyo, JAPA
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Kawano
  • Patent number: 6342930
    Abstract: A display device includes a liquid crystal capable of displaying a central region, a first peripheral region at the periphery of the central region, and a second peripheral region at the periphery of the central region and differing from the first peripheral region. A first electrode is connected to a region including the central region and first peripheral region of the liquid crystal. A second electrode is connected to a region including the central region and second peripheral region of the liquid crystal. The display regions of the liquid crystal are controlled by supplying driving signals to the first electrode and second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Ishimaru