Alarm systems for cameras

• US 20070053678A1
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fujinon Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujinon Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamane, Kenji
• Application Number:
  US11/512,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20070053678A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/286
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light indicating depth of field G03B13/30

Abstract

An alarm system for a camera changeable between a normal mode in which exposure is made in response to operation of a shutter release button and a premonitory mode in which exposure is made with a delay of time comprises an acoustic or a visible alarm device which raises an alarm by a countdown for acquainting a photographer with a timing of exposure during progress of the delay time in the premonitory mode.

Claims

1. An alarm system for a camera changeable between a normal photographic mode in which exposure is made immediately in response to operation of a shutter release button and a premonitory photographic mode in which exposure is made with a delay of time, said alarm system comprising:

signal generating means for generating a trigger signal in response to operation of a release button of said camera for triggering actuation of said exposure means of said camera;

control means for delaying actuation of said exposure means a predetermined period of time from generation of said triggering signal in said premonitory photographic mode; and

prealarm means for raising an alarm for acquainting a photographer with a timing of exposure for said predetermined period of time in said premonitory photographic mode.

2. An alarm system for a camera as defined in claim 1, and further comprising mode switch means for selectively switching the camera between said normal photographic mode and said premonitory photographic mode.

3. An alarm system for a camera as defined in claim 1, wherein said alarm means comprises acoustic alarm means for sounding a voice alarm by which a photographer is acquainted with a timing of exposure.

4. An alarm system for a camera as defined in claim 3, wherein said acoustic alarm means comprises a built-in speaker for delivering a voice alarm and volume control means for controlling a sound volume of said built-in speaker.

5. An alarm system for a camera as defined in claim 4, wherein said volume control means switches said built-in speaker between a small voice audible for a photographer and a loud voice audible for a person to be photographed besides said photographer.

6. An alarm system for a camera as defined in claim 3, wherein said acoustic alarm means comprises an external voice output unit which a photographer wears on photographer'"'"'s ear to hear a voice alarm.

7. An alarm system for a camera as defined in claim 6, wherein said acoustic alarm means further comprises a voice output terminal installed in a camera body to which said external voice output unit is detachably connected.

8. An alarm system for a camera as defined in claim 7, wherein said acoustic alarm means further comprises a built-in speaker and switch means for rendering only said built-in speaker ineffective when said external voice output unit is connected.

9. An alarm system for a camera as defined in claim 1, wherein said alarm comprises a countdown voice.

10. An alarm system for a camera as defined in claim 1, wherein said alarm comprises a visual numerical character going down in order.

11. An alarm system for a camera as defined in claim 10, wherein said alarm comprises light flashing on and off in synchronism with every count of a countdown.