Camera

• US 20060067677A1
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Hiroshi, Tokiwa, Kentaro, Senba, Takehiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,452,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/502
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/38 Releasing-devices separate from shutter integral with shutter G03B9/08

Abstract

A camera has a shutter release button that is held in an initial position while being not pressed, and is movable from the initial position to a full-pressed position via a half-pressed position. The camera is provided with first to third detectors for detecting that the shutter release button is in the initial position, in the half-pressed position and in the full-pressed position respectively. When the first detector detects that the shutter release button is displaced from the initial position, the shutter release button is considered to start being pressed down, so the camera starts preparatory operations for shooting, like photometry. When the second detector detects that the shutter release button reaches the half-pressed position, the camera completes the preparatory operations for shooting by carrying out aperture control and focusing. When the third detector detects that the shutter release button reaches the full-pressed position, the camera carries out an actual shutter release to write image data on a memory card.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

a shutter release button that is held in an initial position while being not pressed, and is movable from said initial position to a full-pressed position via a half-pressed position;

a position detecting device for detecting whether said shutter release button is in the initial position or not, in the half-pressed position or not, or in the full-pressed position or not; and

a control device for controlling operations of the camera in accordance with the position of said shutter release button, such that the camera carries out a first operation step when said position detecting device detects that said shutter release button is displaced from the initial position, a second operation step when said position detecting device detects that said shutter release button comes to the half-pressed position, and a third operation step when said position detecting device detects that said shutter release button comes to the full-pressed position, wherein shooting is carried out in said second operation step and/or said third operation step.

2. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of preparatory operations for shooting, including photometry, aperture control and focusing, is carried out in said first operation step.

3. A camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein said preparatory operations are carried out in said first and second operations, such that those members consuming less power are driven in said first operation step than those driven in second operation step.

4. A camera as claimed in claim 3, wherein aperture control and focusing, which need to drive motors, are carried out in said second operation.

5. A camera as claimed in claim 2, further comprising an imaging device for picking up an image signal from an optical image of a subject and a display device for displaying an image based on said image signal, wherein aperture control and/or focusing is carried out in said first operation step, and an image is displayed on said display device in said second operation step, whereas an image signal of said image is stored in a storage device in said third operation step.

6. A camera as claimed in claim 5, further comprising an operation device for choosing whether to store said displayed still image or not in said third operation step.

7. A camera as claimed in claim 2, further comprising an imaging device for picking up an image signal from an optical image of a subject and a display device for displaying an image based on said image signal, wherein aperture control and/or focusing is carried out in said first operation step, and an image is shot and stored in a storage device, and said image is displayed on said display device in said second operation step, whereas any of stored image is displayed on said display device in said third operation step.

8. A camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein aperture control and/or focusing is carried out in said first operation step, and a still image frame is shot in said second operation step, whereas a plural number of successive still image frames are shot in said third operation step.

9. A camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein aperture control and/or focusing is carried out in said first operation step, and moving images are shot in said second operation step, whereas a still image frame is shot in said third operation step.

10. A camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein aperture control and/or focusing is carried out in said first operation step, and a still image frame is shot in said second operation step, whereas moving images are shot in said third operation step.

11. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said position detecting device comprises a first detector for detecting whether said shutter release button is in the initial position or not, said first detector comprising first and second contact members which are kept in contact with each other so long as said shutter release button is in the initial position, and are separated from each other when said shutter release button is displaced from the initial position.

12. A camera as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first contact member is mounted on said shutter release button.

13. A camera as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second contact member is resiliently deformed in a direction away from said first contact member as said shutter release button is displaced from the initial position toward the half-pressed position.

14. A camera as claimed in claim 13, wherein said position detecting device comprises a second detector for detecting whether said shutter release button is in the half-pressed position or not, and said second detector comprises said second contact member and a third contact member, said second contact member being brought into contact with said third contact member when said shutter release button comes to the half-pressed position.

15. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said position detecting device comprises a first detector for detecting whether said shutter release button is in the initial position or not, said first detector comprising a spring biasing said shutter release button toward the initial position and a piezoelectric sensor detecting load applied on said spring.

16. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said position detecting device comprises a first detector for detecting whether said shutter release button is in the initial position or not, said first detector comprising a mirror provided on said shutter release button, a light source projecting light toward said mirror, and a photo sensor located to receive light reflected by said mirror.

17. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said position detecting device comprises a first detector for detecting whether said shutter release button is in the initial position or not, said first detector comprising a shielding plate provided on said shutter release button and a photo interrupter for detecting said shielding plate.