Indicator unit for an electronically controlled camera
First Claim
1. An indicator unit for an electronically controlled camera, comprising:
- (a) a first memory for storing a value representing a number of film frames which have been advanced by said camera;
(b) a further memory for storing a valve representing a focal length of a movable lens associated with said camera;
(c) means for selectively providing an indication on a specific portion of a display area of information corresponding to either said value representing said number of advanced film frames or said value representing said focal length of said movable lens associated with said camera;
(d) means for assigning a priority to providing an indication of information corresponding to said value representing said number of advanced film frames by said means for providing an indication;
(e) at least one switch that is actuatable to update said value representing said focal length of said movable lens associated with said camera in said further memory, said switch comprising a tele switch and a wide switch for enabling the movement of said lens associated with said camera; and
(f) means for changing the indication provided by said means for providing an indication in response to the actuation of said switch, from said value representing said number of advanced film frames to said value representing said focal length of said lens.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An indicator unit for an electronically controlled camera that is able to effectively indicate required information for operating the camera. Such information includes, for example, the frame number of the film in the camera, the focal length of the camera lens, the picture-taking mode, the status of the battery in the camera, and the status of the loading of the film. A display panel constructed according to the invention can display such information within a limited indication space while providing a legible display format. More specifically, the present invention provides an indicator unit for an electronically controlled camera that includes an indicator that is adapted to store a first piece of updatable information in a first memory and another piece of updatable information in a further memory. Display priority is given to the first piece of information stored in the first memory. In response to the further piece of information, the indication status of the indicator is switched from indicating the first piece of information to indicating the other piece of information in accordance with the operation of the indication control device when the switch that is responsive to the other piece of information is operated when the first piece of information being displayed on the indicator.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. An indicator unit for an electronically controlled camera, comprising:
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(a) a first memory for storing a value representing a number of film frames which have been advanced by said camera; (b) a further memory for storing a valve representing a focal length of a movable lens associated with said camera; (c) means for selectively providing an indication on a specific portion of a display area of information corresponding to either said value representing said number of advanced film frames or said value representing said focal length of said movable lens associated with said camera; (d) means for assigning a priority to providing an indication of information corresponding to said value representing said number of advanced film frames by said means for providing an indication; (e) at least one switch that is actuatable to update said value representing said focal length of said movable lens associated with said camera in said further memory, said switch comprising a tele switch and a wide switch for enabling the movement of said lens associated with said camera; and (f) means for changing the indication provided by said means for providing an indication in response to the actuation of said switch, from said value representing said number of advanced film frames to said value representing said focal length of said lens. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 29, 30, 31)
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15. An indicator unit for a camera, comprising:
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(a) a specific display area for indicating any of a plurality of items of camera-related information, said plurality of camera-related items including at least a value representing a number of film frames which have been advanced by said camera and a value representing a focal length of a movable lens associated with said camera; and (b) means for controlling which of said plurality of items of information is indicated by on said specific display area, said controlling means comprising; (i) means for assigning an indication priority to at least one predetermined item of information of said plurality of items of camera-related information, for enabling an indication of said at least one predetermined item of information on said specific display area under predetermined conditions; and (ii) means for overriding said means for assigning an indication priority, for enabling an indication of at least one predetermined other item of camera-related information on said specific display area under predetermined conditions by operating a switch that enables a movement of said movable lens. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 32, 33, 34)
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18. An indicator unit for an electronically controlled camera, comprising:
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means for obtaining a value representing a number of film frames which have been advanced by said camera; means for obtaining a value representing a focal length of a movable lens associated with said camera; means for selectively providing an indication on a specific display area of information corresponding to either said value representing said number of advanced film frames or said value representing said focal length of said movable lens associated with said camera; means for assigning a priority to provide an indication of information corresponding to said value representing said number of advanced film frames by said means for providing an indication; at least one switch that is actuatable to update said value representing said focal length of said movable lens, comprising; an operation button array having a two-stage switch that operates as a photometry switch and as a shutter release switch; a tele switch for moving said lens towards a tele end; and a wide switch for moving said lens towards a wide end, wherein said two-stage switch, said tele switch, and said wide switch are actuatable by operating said operation button array; and means for changing the indication provided on said specific display area, in response to the actuation of said at least one switch, from said value representing said number of advanced film frames to said value representing said focal length of said lens. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 35, 36)
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21. An indicator unit for an electronically controlled camera, comprising:
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means for obtaining a value representing a number of film frames which have been advanced by said camera; means for obtaining a value representing a focal length of a movable lens associated with said camera; means for selectively displaying either said value representing said number of advanced film frames or said value representing said focal length of said lens on a specific display area; means for assigning a priority for displaying on said specific display area either said value representing said number of advanced film frames or said value representing said focal length of said lens; means for updating said value representing said focal length of said movable lens associated with said camera and said value representing said advanced film frames; and means for changing said specific display area to indicate said priority value in response to said updating means. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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37. An indicator unit for an electronically controlled camera, comprising:
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means for providing an indication on a specific display area of information corresponding to a value representing a number of advanced film frames; means for providing an indication on said specific display area of information corresponding to a value representing a focal length of a movable lens associated with said camera; means for assigning a priority indication on said specific display area to said information corresponding to said value representing said number of advanced film frames; and means for changing the indication on said specific display area from said value representing said number of advanced film frames to said value representing said focal length of said movable lens in response to an actuation of a switch for driving said movable lens, said switch operating to vary a focal length of said movable lens. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification