Display device of a camera system

• US 4,697,898 A
• Filed: 10/25/1985
• Issued: 10/06/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Kogaku K. K. (Nikon Corporation)
• Inventors: Kazami, Kazuyuki, Uchida, Isao, Wakabayashi, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W. B.
• Application Number:
  US06/791,450
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 354/127.13, 354/195.13, 354/289.1, 354/289.12, 354/195.12
• US Class Current: 396/88
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light indicating depth of field G03B13/30

Abstract

A camera having a photo-taking lens changeable over to two different focal lengths includes display means for displaying a scale indicative of distances, the scale being displayed by the display means so as to be along a predetermined surface, the scale having a plurality of symbols, means for producing a first detection signal when the focal length of the photo-taking lens is one of the two different focal lengths and producing a second detection signal when the focal length of the photo-taking lens is the other of the two different focal lengths, and control means for controlling the display means, the control means being responsive to the first detection signal to control the display means so that a part of the plurality of symbols is displayed and being responsive to the second detection signal to control the display means so that the remainder of the plurality of symbols except said part is displayed.

Claims

1. A camera having a photo-taking lens whose focal length is changeable, said camera including:

(a) means responsive to said photo-taking lens for producing a detection signal according to the focal length of said photo-taking lens;

(b) flash means for emitting flash light;

(c) display means; and

(d) control means responsive to said detection signal to cause said display means to display the distance to objects which can be photographed when said flash means emits the flash light.

2. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said display means has a plurality of parts for displaying the distance to objects which can be photographed when said flash means emits the flash light, and said plurality of parts are arranged on a predetermined surface of said camera.

3. A camera according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of parts are arranged in one direction on said predetermined surface.

4. A camera having a photo-taking lens whose focal length is changeable, said camera including:

(a) display means for displaying a scale indicative of distances, said scale being displayed by said display means so as to be along a predetermined surface, said scale having a plurality of symbols which form a plurality of groups, said plurality of symbols being arranged in one row on said predetermined surface so that symbols of one of said plurality of groups are adjacent to symbols of another of said plurality of groups;

(b) means responsive to said photo-taking lens for producing a detection signal according to the focal length of said photo-taking lens; and

(c) control means responsive to said detection signal for selecting one of said plurality of groups and causing said display means to display said plurality of symbols of said selected one of said plurality of groups.

5. A camera having a photo-taking lens changeable over to two different focal lengths, said camera including:

(a) display means for displaying a scale indicative of distances, said scale being displayed by said display means so as to be along a predetermined surface, said scale having a plurality of symbols;

(b) means for producing a first detection signal when the focal length of said photo-taking lens is one of said two different focal lengths and producing a second detection signal when the focal length of said photo-taking lens is the other of said two different focal lengths; and

(c) control means for controlling said display means, said control means being responsive to said first detection signal to control said display means so that a part of said plurality of symbols constituted by every other symbol is displayed and being responsive to said second detection signal to control said display means so that the remainder of said plurality of symbols except said part is displayed, said plurality of symbols being arranged in a single row along said predetermined surface.

6. A camera having a photo-taking lens changeable over to two different focal lengths, said camera including:

(a) display means for displaying a scale indicative of distances, said scale being displayed by said display means so as to be along a predetermined surface, said display means displaying a plurality of index marks, said plurality of index marks being displayed so as to be arranged in opposed relationship with said scale and substantially along said predetermined surface, said scale having a plurality of symbols;

(b) means for producing a first detection signal when the focal length of said photo-taking lens is one of said two different focal lengths and producing a second detection signal when the focal length of said photo-taking lens is the other of said two different focal lengths;

(c) control means for controlling said display means, said control means being responsive to said first detection signal to control said display means so that a part of said plurality of symbols is displayed and being responsive to said second detection signal to control said display means so that the remainder of said plurality of symbols except said part is displayed; and

(d) means for producing a film speed signal indicative of the film speed of a film and wherein said control means controls said display means in accordance with said film speed signal so that at least one of said plurality of index marks is displayed.

7. A camera according to claim 6, further having a plurality of other symbols indicative of different film speeds, said plurality of other symbols being secured to said camera so as to be opened to said plurality of index marks and substantially along said predetermined surface.

8. A camera according to claim 7, further including flash means capable of emitting a flash light and wherein when said flash means is capable of emitting a flash light, said control means controls said display means so that said scale is displayed.

9. A camera having a photo-taking lens changeable over to two different focal lengths, said camera including:

(a) display means for displaying a scale indicative of distances, said scale being displayed by said display means so as to be along a predetermined surface, said scale having a plurality of symbols;

(b) means for producing a first detection signal when the focal length of said photo-taking lens is one of said two different focal lengths and producing a second detection signal when the focal length of said photo-taking lens is the other of said two different focal lengths;

(c) control means for controlling said display means, said control means being responsive to said first detection signal to control said display means so that a part of said plurality of symbols is displayed and being responsive to said second detection signal to control said display means so that the remainder of said plurality of symbols except said part is displayed; and

(d) flash means emitting flash light, said plurality of symbols of said scale being indicative of the distances to objects which can be photographed when said flash means emits flash light.

10. A camera according to claim 9, wherein said control means is responsive to said first detection signal to cause said display means to display said part of said plurality of symbols corresponding to said one of said two different focal lengths, and is responsive to said second detection signal to cause said display means to display said remainder of said plurality of symbols corresponding to said other of said two different focal lengths.

11. A camera having a photo-taking lens whose focal length is changeable, said camera including:

(a) display means for displaying a plurality of index marks and a scale indicative of distances, said scale being displayed by said display means so as to be along a predetermined surface, said plurality of index marks being displayed so as to be arranged in opposed relationship with said scale and substantially along said predetermined surface, said scale having a plurality of symbols which form a plurality of parts;

(b) means responsive to said photo-taking lens for producing a detection signal indicative of the focal length of said photo-taking lens;

(c) control means responsive to said detection signal for selecting one of said plurality of parts and causing said display means to display said plurality of symbols of said selected one of said plurality of parts; and

(d) means for producing a film speed signal indicative of a film speed, said control means controlling said display means in accordance with said film speed signal so that at least one of said plurality of index marks is displayed.

12. A camera having a photo-taking lens whose focal length is changeable, said camera including:

(a) display means for displaying a scale indicative of distances, said scale being displayed by said display means so as to be along a predetermined surface, said scale having a plurality of symbols which form a plurality of parts;

(b) means responsive to said photo-taking lens for producing a detection signal indicative of the focal length of said photo-taking lens;

(c) control means responsive to said detection signal for selecting one of said plurality of parts and causing said display means to display said plurality of symbols of said selected one of said plurality of parts; and

(d) flash means emitting flash light, said plurality of symbols of said scale being indicative of the distance to objects which can be photographed when said flash means emits the flash light.

13. A device for emitting a flash light toward an object to be photographed to photograph the image of the object on a film, said device including:

(a) a first scale formed by a pluralitly of symbols arranged so as to be substantially along a predetermined surface, said plurality of symbols being indicative of different film speeds, said plurality of symbols being secured to said device;

(b) display means for displaying a plurality of index marks and a second scale indicative of distances, said plurality of index marks being opposed to said first scale and displayed by said display means so as to be substantially along said predetermined surface, said second scale having a plurality of symbols, said plurality of symbols of said second scale being opposed to said plurality of index marks and displayed by said display means so as to be substantially along said predetermined surface;

(c) a member operable for said flash light emission;

(d) means for detecting that said member is operated and producing a detection signal; and

(e) control means for controlling said display means so that at least one of said plurality of index marks is displayed and said plurality of symbols of said second scale are not displayed, said control means being responsive to said detection signal to control said display means so that at least one of said plurality of index marks and at least one of said plurality of symbols of said second scale are displayed.

14. A device according to claim 13, further including means for producing a film speed signal indicative of the film speed of a film and wherein said plurality of index marks correspond to said plurality of symbols of said first scale, and said control means controls said display means so that one of said plurality of index marks which is opposed to one of said plurality of symbols of said first scale which corresponds to the film speed indicated by said film speed signal is displayed.

15. A device according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of symbols of said second scale are the distances to objects capable of being photographed during said flash light emission.

16. A camera for emitting a flash light toward an object to be photographed to photograph the image of the object on a film, said camera including:

(a) a first scale formed by a plurality of symbols arranged so as to be substantially along a predetermined surface, said plurality of symbols being indicative of different film speeds, said plurality of symbols being secured to a flash device;

(b) display means for displaying a plurality of index marks and a second scale indicative of distances, said plurality of index marks being opposed to said first scale and displayed by said display means so as to be substantially along said predetermined surface, said second scale having a plurality of symbols, said plurality of symbols of said second scale being opposed to said plurality of index marks and displayed by said display means so as to be substantially along said predetermined surface;

(c) means for producing a first detection signal when said camera effects photography accompanied by flash light emission and producing a second detection signal when said camera effects photography not accompanied by flash light emission; and

(d) control means for controlling said display means, said control means being responsive to said first detection signal to control said display means so that at least one of said plurality of index marks and at least one of said plurality of symbols of said second scale are displayed and being responsive to said second detection signal to control said display means so that at least one of said plurality of index marks is displayed and said plurality of symbols of said second scale are not displayed.

17. A camera according to claim 16, further including means for producing a film speed signal indicative of the film speed of a film and wherein said plurality of index marks correspond to said plurality of symbols of said first scale, and said control means controls said display means so that one of said plurality of index marks which is opposed to one of said plurality of symbols of said first scale which corresponds to the film speed indicated by said film speed signal is displayed.

18. A camera according to claim 16, wherein said plurality of symbols of said second scale are the distances to objects capable of being photographed during said flash light emission.