Camera having automatically controllable shooting features

• US 4,858,012 A
• Filed: 03/18/1988
• Issued: 08/15/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Company
• Inventors: Hino, Hiromasa, Fujimura, Ikuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haghani, Mehdi
• Application Number:
  US07/170,362
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 358/209, 358/210, 358/335, 358/78 C, 358/231.13, 358/906, 354/106
• US Class Current: 348/211.6
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2621 Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects during image pickup, e.g. digital cameras, camcorders, video cameras having integrated special effects capability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/906 Hand-held camera with recorder in a single unit

Abstract

There is connected to a video camera having automatically controllable shooting features a memory unit in which a program for setting those features is stored. A control circuit in the camera reads out the program from the memory unit upon actuation of a program button. The control circuit is responsive to actuation of the shooting start/stop button to control the shooting features under the conditions and sequence prescribed by the program. The shooting sequence proceeds in response to each actuation of the shooting start/stop button. Upon actuation of a program skip button or a pause program button, the shooting feature to be performed next in the program may be skipped or reserved. In this manner, the operator may learn or make an effective use of the shooting features of the camera merely by actuating the shooting start/stop button.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

imaging means for picking up an image of an object field, said imaging means having a plurality of shooting features for achieving shooting of the image, said imaging means including,

an imaging device for imaging the object field to produce video signals representing the object field,

shooting feature means for causing the video signals to be processed in accordance with the plurality of shooting features;

operating means including a first manual operating member for entering a shooting instruction;

selecting means for entering a selecting instruction associated with the plurality of shooting features, said selecting means including second and third manual operating members;

control means responsive to be instructions from said operating means and said selecting means for controlling said imaging means to cause said shooting feature means to accomplish the plurality of shooting features;

said control means being responsive to actuation of said second manual operating member to cancel that one of the plurality of shooting features scheduled to follow the shooting feature being performed;

said control means being responsive to actuation of said third manual operating member to halt that one of the plurality of shooting features which is being performed until the next time said third manual operating member is actuated; and

memory means for storing feature setting information for selectively activating the plurality of shooting features under a prescribed sequence and condition;

said control means being responsive to the shooting instruction from said operating means to read out said feature setting information from said memory means to control said imaging means in accordance with the feature setting information to cause said imaging means to accomplish the plurality of shooting features in accordance with the feature setting information, said control means causing, when the selecting instruction is entered from said selecting means, said imaging means to preferentially accomplish any of the plurality of shooting features associated with the selecting instruction.

2. A camera comprising:

imaging means for picking up an image of an object field, said imaging means having a plurality of shooting features for achieving shooting of the image, said imaging means including,

an imaging device for imaging the object field to produce video signals representing the object field, and

shooting feature means for causing the video signals to be processed in accordance with the plurality of shooting features;

operating means including a first manual operating member for entering a shooting instruction;

selecting means for entering a selecting instruction associated with the plurality of shooting features;

control means responsive to the instructions from said operating means and said selecting means for controlling said imaging means to cause said shooting feature to accomplish the plurality of shooting features; and

memory means for storing feature setting information for selectively activating the plurality of shooting feature under a prescribed sequence and condition;

said control means being responsive to the shooting instruction from said operating means to read out said feature setting information from said memory means to control said imaging means in accordance with the feature setting information to cause said imaging means to accomplish the plurality of shooting features in accordance with the feature setting information, said control means causing, when the selecting instruction is entered from said selecting means, said imaging means to preferentially accomplish any of the plurality of shooting features associated with the selecting instruction;

the feature setting information including a program for setting title insertion under a prescribed condition as one of the plurality of shooting features, the prescribed condition including plural kinds of fixed titles;

said shooting feature means including a feature of the title insertion as the one shooting feature, said shooting feature means being responsive to said control means to subject the video signals to the title insertion under the prescribed condition;

said control means comprising a second manual operating member;

said control means being responsive to actuation of said second manual operating member to select the plural kinds of titles in accordance with the feature setting information.