Camera

• US 5,014,079 A
• Filed: 12/22/1989
• Issued: 05/07/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konica Corporation (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Corporation (Konica Minolta Inc.), Tohru Horiuchi, Yasutsugu Nakagawa
• Inventors: Higuchi, Hirokazu, Hoshino, Yosushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hix, L. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOH, JAE
• Application Number:
  US07/454,907
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 354/266, 354/267.1, 354/269, 354/81, 354/94, 354/99, 354/293, 354/467
• US Class Current: 396/59
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/38 Releasing-devices separate from shutter integral with shutter G03B9/08

Abstract

A camera includes a sound pressure section, a release determining section, and a shutter driving section. The sound pressure detecting section detects the sound pressure level of an input sound. The release determining section outputs a release signal when the sound pressure level detected by the sound pressure detecting section in a reference value of more for a predetermined period of time. The shutter driving section performs a release operation in response to the release signal from the release determining section.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

mode setting means for setting an automatic release mode;

sound pressure detecting means for detecting a sound pressure level of an input sound;

release determining means for outputting a release signal in accordance with the sound pressure level detected by said sound pressure detecting means in the automatic release mode set by said mode setting means;

photographing lens protruding means for causing a photographing lens to protrude toward an object to be photographed by a predetermined distance when the automatic release mode is set by said mode setting means; and

shutter driving means for performing a release operation in response to the release signal from said release determining means.

2. A camera comprising:

sound pressure detecting means for detecting a sound pressure level of an input sound;

timer means for measuring a time interval between release operations;

reference sound pressure level control means for setting a reference sound pressure level to be a predetermined value, raising the reference sound pressure level by a predetermined amount when the time interval between release operations which is detected by said timer means is shorter than a first predetermined time, and lowering the reference sound pressure level by a predetermined amount when a release operation is not performed for longer than a second predetermined time;

release determining means for outputting a release signal when the sound pressure level detected by said sound pressure detecting means is equal to or higher than the reference sound pressure level set by said reference sound pressure level control means for a third predetermined time; and

shutter driving means for performing a release operation in response to the release signal from said release determining means.

3. A camera according to claim 2, further comprising inhibiting means for inhibiting a release operation for a fourth predetermined time when the reference sound pressure level, reaches a maximum level.

4. A camera according to claim 3, further comprising means for performing a release operation when the reference sound pressure level is set at a minimum level and a release operation is not performed for longer than a fifth predetermined time.

5. A camera comprising:

sound pressure detecting means for detecting a sound pressure level of an input sound;

release determining means for outputting a release signal when the sound pressure level detected by said sound pressure detecting means is equal to or higher than a predetermined value for a predetermined period of time, said release determining means including determining means for determining when the sound pressure level, which is initially equal to or higher than the predetermined value, becomes lower than the predetermined value and subsequently becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined value again within a predetermined period of time, and for determining that a state in which the sound pressure level is equal to or higher than the predetermined value has continued; and

shutter driving means for performing a release operation in response to the release signal from said release determining means.