Manual Manipulators On Camera Body Unit Patents (Class 396/299)
  • Patent number: 5758214
    Abstract: An UP/DOWN dial is used with at least one of switches including a back cover switch detecting whether the cover switch of the camera is opened or closed, so as to also serve as a switch for driving a feed motor by the manual operation. As a result, the number of switches can be reduced. That is, the switch for driving the feed motor by the manual operation is used only when the film is set in the camera (only when the back cover opens). Therefore, if the cover switch detects that the back cover opens, the UP/DOWN dial is operated regardless of the currently-set mode, so that the feed motor can be driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Saito, Shigenori Goto
  • Patent number: 5752108
    Abstract: A recording data erecting apparatus for a camera comprises a data input section for inputting a recording data, and a data recording section for recording the recording data in a vertical direction of a photosensitive surface of a film or a horizontal direction thereof. An erection direction input unit is electrically connected to the data recording section for inputting an erection direction of the recording data. A display unit is electrically connected to the data input section for displaying the erection direction of the recording data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Tadashi Sato
  • Patent number: 5745809
    Abstract: In a camera for displaying a plurality of control contents such as set values and functions controlled by a plurality of operation members on an LCD device, there are provided a plurality of display areas which constitute the LCD device and are formed by dividing the LCD device so as to correspond to the respective control contents of the operation members. An operation section is constituted of the operation members and disposed such that the divided shape of the display areas is the same as, or similar to, a divided shape of the operation section constituted of the operation members. According to a preferred embodiment, in a camera for displaying a plurality of control contents such as set values and functions controlled by a plurality of operation members on an LCD device, there are provided a plurality of display areas which constitute the LCD device and are formed by dividing the LCD device so as to correspond to the respective control contents of the operation members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuya Kawahata
  • Patent number: 5742853
    Abstract: An information setting and displaying device for a camera has a rotary dial mounted on a camera body to be rotatable stepwise. A display member is provided adjacent the rotary dial, and includes at least a pair of display sub-areas arranged along the direction in which the rotary dial rotates. An information setting mechanism sets information by operating said rotary dial. A display control mechanism displays current set information in one of the display sub-areas and displays a proposed information, to be set as the rotary dial rotates in a direction from one of the display sub-area toward the other display sub-area by at least one step. The proposed information is displayed in the other display sub-area. The information includes at least one of a shutter speed, a diaphragm stop, and an exposure compensation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Haga, Katsuki Machida, Hideaki Tsuji
  • Patent number: 5734940
    Abstract: A camera adapted to obtain a correct exposure, even with a film having a film sensitivity outside an automatic setting range of the camera. A film sensitivity outside the automatic setting range of the camera is stored, or canceled by manipulating a manipulation member in a manipulation order that differs from that used during photography. Further, two manipulation members may be used in a combined manipulation order that differs from that used during photography. For example, a zoom up and a zoom down switch may be used in conjunction with a main switch to set a higher and a lower, respectively, film sensitivity. Additionally, the setting may be canceled by manipulating the zoom up and zoom down switches simultaneously. A display device which normally displays photographic information regarding the camera, temporarily displays the manually set film sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yukikazu Iwane, Yoshikazu Iida, Kiyosada Machida, Masayuki Koga
  • Patent number: 5721989
    Abstract: A camera including a main switch which turns on/off a power supply, and a first memory unit for storing a mode/function which is selected from changeable modes/functions to be used in photography. The camera further includes a second memory unit for storing the changeable modes/functions separately from the first memory unit, and a mode call switch for calling the modes/functions stored in the second memory unit, the mode call switch being interlocked with the main switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kitazawa, Satoshi Nakano
  • Patent number: 5715487
    Abstract: A password protected camera system, comprising a camera incorporating, means for receiving user entered passwords for controlling access to the camera's features and to the film cartridge is disclosed. The camera incorporates circuitry for writing and reading password data to and from the camera film to control access to the film when it is in the camera and when it is removed from the camera. Different levels of access are provided either by multiple passwords, one for each level, or by single passwords, where multilevel access is granted with one password while another password may limit access to just one level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dale Frederick McIntyre, J. Kelly Lee
  • Patent number: 5715486
    Abstract: An advanced photo system (APS) camera includes a keyboard mounted on the inner surface of a rear cover hinged to the camera body. The camera also includes an LCD for displaying information entered on the keyboard, wherein the LCD is mounted at the rear of the camera body so as to be exposed when the rear cover is opened to provide user access to the keyboard. The information entered on the keyboard and displayed on the LCD is recorded on a magnetic track included on the photographic film advanced through the camera. The keyboard and the LCD may be separated from or remote from the APS camera, and the keyboard may be replaced with a plurality of input dials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Aerospace Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo-Bok Kim, Byong-Wook Jin, Eun-Ju Song, Jung-Yun Han
  • Patent number: 5696998
    Abstract: A sight line detecting device includes a controller operable in a sight line information using mode for controlling an optical apparatus for use in accordance with sight line information, and usable in a sight line information prohibiting mode for controlling the apparatus without using the sight line information. A selector selects either mode for controlling the optical apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Yamada, Keiji Nagata, Yoshiaki Irie, Akihiko Nagano
  • Patent number: 5687410
    Abstract: An information setting apparatus of a camera, which permits an exposure mode to be set, includes a first setting unit for setting a shutter speed of the camera when the exposure mode is a manual mode, and a second setting unit for setting an aperture value of the camera when the exposure mode is the manual mode. When the exposure mode is one other than the manual mode, third information except for the shutter speed and aperture value is set by either one of the first and second setting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuaki Sasagaki
  • Patent number: 5659820
    Abstract: A camera having a covering member which covers the upper side of the camera and having a projecting portion shaped as a pentagonal reflecting member; a first manually operable portion located at the covering member on one side of the projecting portion for designating one of a plurality of kinds of photographic data; a second manually operable portion located at the covering member on the other side of the projecting portion and adapted for commonly altering any of the plurality of kinds of photographing data to actually alter the designated one thereof in combination with the actual designation by the first manually operable portion; a light measuring device for measuring the luminance of the object to be photographed; a calculator for carrying out an exposure calculation based on the result of the light measuring; a display portion for displaying at least either one of shutter speed and aperture value obtained by the exposure calculation; and a display controller for controlling the display such that, when
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Taniguchi, Masatake Niwa, Akira Fujii, Takeo Hoda, Masaaki Nakai, Minoru Sekida, Masayoshi Sahara
  • Patent number: 5649245
    Abstract: A camera setting and display device has a visual display and includes setting members that set corresponding photographic information in a camera. A storage device included in the camera has a first storage area that selectively stores a first set of photographic information from the setting members and a second storage area that selectively stores a second set of photographic information, different from the first set of photographic information, from the setting members. A visual display of the camera setting and display device has a first display section corresponding to the first storage area that displays the first set of photographic information and a second display section corresponding to the second storage area that displays the second set of photographic information. A permission member selects either the first display section and the second display section for display on the visual display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Inoue, Kimio Uematsu
  • Patent number: 5634154
    Abstract: A display and method for selecting a control mode or an operational parameter of a camera utilizes a display screen located laterally adjacent a plurality of switches on the camera. During a first display condition, a plurality of control mode symbols are displayed on the display screen, each control mode symbol appearing adjacent a corresponding switch. Indicators on the display screen indicate which of the plurality of switches may by operated to select each control mode. During a second display condition, at least one operational parameter is displayed on the display screen. The indicators indicate which of the switches correspond to each displayed opertional parameter, and which of the switches to operate to change the displayed operational parameter. The indicators may also indicate how the displayed operational parameter will change upon operation of each of the switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki Sasagaki, Takashi Saegusa
  • Patent number: 5630185
    Abstract: An information setting device for a camera which, according to various photographic modes of the camera, automatically sets either a valid mode in which changing of set information is permitted or an invalid mode in which changing of set information is not permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Koichiro Kawamura, Satoshi Ejima
  • Patent number: 5627623
    Abstract: A camera includes a memory, a display component, a selector, a controller and a shutter assembly. The memory stores a plurality of preset parameters used to control the camera during a photographic operation. The display component is coupled to the memory and displays a selection of parameters from the stored parameters. The selector is coupled to the display and allows a user to select at least one of the displayed parameters for the photographic operation. The controller is coupled to the memory, the display component and the selector. The controller controls the photographic operation based on either a parameter selected from a display when the selector is operated or a parameter automatically selected by the controller when the selector is not operated. The shutter assembly is coupled to the controller and executes the photographic operation based on the selected parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki Sasagaki, Takashi Saegusa
  • Patent number: RE35767
    Abstract: When an exposure counter in a single-use camera indicates that the maximum number of exposures on a roll of film in the camera have been exposed, a function of the camera such as an electronic flash capability is disabled to prevent unauthorized recycling of the camera. A reset code must be inputted to the camera to initialize the exposure counter and to enable the electronic flash capability, to permit authorized reuse of the camera with another roll of film. If an invalid code is inputted to the camera, the electronic flash capability is permanently disabled or cannot be re-enabled for a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dennis Roland Zander, Clay Allen Dunsmore