Camera

• US 4,636,055 A
• Filed: 03/28/1985
• Issued: 01/13/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Alyfuku, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): ADAMS JR, RUSSELL E
• Application Number:
  US06/716,849
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 354/127.11, 354/127.12, 354/465, 354/468, 354/471, 354/474, 354/475, 354/217, 354/218, 354/215, 354/266, 354/267.1, 354/268, 354/289.1, 354/288
• US Class Current: 396/203
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light indicating depth of field G03B13/30

Abstract

In the disclosed camera, the display indicating the camera'"'"'s operating condition is visible from outside of the camera housing. When a lens cap, barrier, or other operating member makes it substantially impossible to expose the film in the camera, the information on the display is erased to warn the user that the camera is not ready for shooting film.

Claims

1. A camera comprising,

(A) A display circuit for displaying information necessary for exposing film;

(B) exposure interrupting means for making it substantially impossible for said camera to expose film;

(C) switching means for erasing display of said display circuit in response to the exposure interrupting means becoming operative, and for causing said display circuit to display in response to the operative state of the exposure interrupting means being released; and

(D) intrusion means for causing said display circuit to display necessary information even when said exposure interrupting means has made it substantially impossible for said camera to expose film.

2. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said intrusion means includes charging state detecting means for causing said display circuit to display a charging state of a flash device.

3. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said intrusion means includes blank feeding state detecting means for causing said display circuit to display a blank feeding state of film.

4. A camera according to claim 3, wherein said blank feeding state detecting means includes timer means for operating said blank feeding state detecting means only for a predetermined time.

5. A camera according to claim 3, wherein said camera includes a shutter and said blank feeding state detecting means includes inhibition means for inhibiting release of the shutter when detecting a failure of blank feeding.

6. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said intrusion means includes feeding state detecting means for causing said display circuit to display a feeding state of film.

7. A camera according to claim 6, wherein said feeding state detecting means includes feeding response means for causing said display circuit to display only during the feeding of film.

8. A camera according to claim 7, wherein said feeding state includes a blank feeding state.

9. A camera according to claim 7, wherein said feeding state includes a rewinding state.

10. A camera comprising:

(A) a display circuit for displaying information;

(B) exposure interrrupting means for making it substantially impossible for said camera to perform photography;

(C) switching means for erasing display of said display circuit in response to the exposure interrupting means becoming operative, and for causing said display circuit to display in response to the operative state of the exposure interrupting means being released; and

(D) intrusion means for causing said display circuit to display necessary information even when said exposure interrupting means makes it substantially impossible for said camera to perform photography.

11. A camera according to claim 10, wherein light sensitive means are exposed in the camera and said intrusion means includes feed state indicating means for causing said display circuit to display a feed state of light sensitive means.

12. A camera according to claim 11, wherein said feeding state indicating means includes feed response means for causing said display circuit to display during the feeding operating.

13. A camera according to claim 12, wherein said feed response means includes latch means for maintaining the displaying state.

14. A camera according to claim 13, wherein said latch means includes a flip-flop circuit.

15. A camera according to claim 11, wherein said feed state indicating means includes blank feeding state indicator means for causing said display circuit to display a blank feeding state of light sensitive means.

16. A camera according to claim 15, wherein said blank feeding state indicator means includes timer means for causing said display circuit to display a blank feeding state of light sensitive means for a predetermined time.

17. A camera according to claim 15, wherein said blank feed state indicator means includes evidencing means for evidencing failure of the blank feeding in said display circuit if the blank feeding fails.

18. A camera according to claim 17, wherein said blank feeding failure evidencing means includes flicker indication control means for effecting a flicker indication in said display circuit.

19. A camera according to claim 15, wherein said blank feeding state indicator means includes blank feeding success indicating means for indicating success of the blank feeding in said display circuit if the blank feeding is successful.

20. A camera according to claim 19, wherein said blank feeding success indicating means includes timer means for evidencing for a predetermined time in said display circuit that the blank feeding is successful.

21. A camera according to claim 11, wherein said feed state indicating means includes rewinding state indicating means for causing said display circuit to display a rewinding state of light sensitive means.

22. A camera according to claim 17, wherein said blank feeding failure indicator means includes an inhibition means for inhibiting an exposure operation when the blank feeding fails.

23. A camera according to claim 10, wherein said intrusion means includes charging state indicating means for causing said display circuit to display a charging state of a flash device.