Camera

• US 4,589,754 A
• Filed: 04/15/1983
• Issued: 05/20/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamasaki, Masafumi, Tsunefuji, Katsuhiko, Maitani, Yoshihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, William B.
• Application Number:
  US06/485,432
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 354/429, 354/433, 354/434, 354/465, 354/471-475, 354/481, 354/431, 354/432, 354/289.1, 354/289.12, 354/412, 354/410, 356/215, 356/218, 356/221, 356/222, 356/223, 356/226, 356/227
• US Class Current: 396/290
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/20 visible in viewfinder
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 7/091 Digital circuits

Abstract

A multi-mode camera is provided which permits a selection from among a plurality of photographing modes including an automatic mode, a manual mode, an average photometry mode and a spotwise photometry mode. The camera includes a photographing information display which is located within a finder and which is formed by a liquid crystal display panel. The display includes a plurality of display regions, which enable necessary and sufficient photographing information to be displayed within the finder during a particular photographing mode selected, by providing a bar representation in which display regions from one end of the display and extending to a point corresponding to photographing information are activated and providing a point display in which a selected display region is activated which corresponds to photographing information.

Claims

1. A camera including selection means which permits a selection among a plurality of photographing modes which may include an automatic mode, a manual mode, an average photometry mode and a spotwise photometry mode;

comprising;

a photographing information display located within the viewfinder of the camera and including fixed photographing indicia and a plurality of display elements which are arranged in linear succession;

means for activating those display elements of the display which begins at a display region located at one end of the display and extends to another location in the display corresponding to one of said indicia for representing photographing information, thereby displaying photographing information in a bar-like form;

and means responsive to a mode changing operation by said selection means for indicating such mode changing, once devativting all of said display elements and subsequently activating those display elements which begin from the display region located at one end of the display to a further location in said display corresponding to photographing information which is to be used in the new photographing mode.

2. A camera including selection means which permits a selection among a plurality of photographing modes including an automatic mode, a manual mode, an average photometry mode and a spotwise photometry mode;

comprising;

a photographing information display located within a finder of the camera and including a plurality of diplay elements which are arranged in linear succession,

means for activating those display elements of the display which begins at a display region located at one end of the display and extends to another location in the display corresponding to photographing information, thereby displaying photographing information in a bar-like form;

means responsive to a mode changing operation by said selection means for indicating such mode changing, by one deactivating all of said display elements and subsequently activating those display elements which begin from the display region located at one end of the display to a further location in said display corresponding to photographing information which is to be used in the new photographing mode;

spotwise photometric means being energized responsive to selection of the spotwise photometry mode to permit a photographing operation in the spotwise photometry mode;

means for calculating a brightness value responsive to said spotwise photometric means;

exposure correction means for providing a correction of an exposure factor;

said display including means for displaying the brightness values obtained without any correction and for displaying an exposure factor incorporating the correction generated by the exposure correction means;

average photometric means being energized responsive to selection of the average photometry mode to permit a photographing operation in the average photometry mode; and

means for automatically changing the photographing mode from the spotwise mode to the average mode in response to completion of a photographing operation in the spotwise ode.