Camera capable of being remote-controlled

• US 5,093,679 A
• Filed: 04/20/1990
• Issued: 03/03/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Arita, Hiroshi, Maeda, Kazuyuki, Taniguchi, Hidenori
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W. B.
• Application Number:
  US07/513,060
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 354/400, 354/266
• US Class Current: 396/56
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/38 Releasing-devices separate from shutter integral with shutter G03B9/08

Abstract

This invention discloses a camera capable of being remote-controlled by a remote control signal, comprising a memory for storing a distance information in response to the operation of an operating member, and a control circuit for permitting the memory to hold the distance information stored in the memory in response to the setting to enable remote control by the remote control signal even after the operation of the operating member was cancelled.

Claims

1. A camera capable of being remote-controlled by a remote control signal when said camera is set in a remote control state, comprising:

(a) memory means for storing distance information in response to an operation of an operating means; and

(b) control means for permitting said memory means to hold said distance information stored in said memory means in response to the setting of said camera in said remote control state to enable remote control by said remote control signal even after said operating means is released from said operation thereof.

2. A camera according to claim 1, further comprising release means for disabling said control means in response to a setting of said camera in a state other than said remote control state thereof.

3. A camera according to claim 1, further comprising renewal means for renewing said distance information held by said memory means under the control of said control means, in response to a re-operation of said operating means.

4. A camera according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting said camera in said remote control state in which remote control by said remote control signal is enabled, said setting means cancelling said remote control state if said remote control signal is not received for a predetermined period.

5. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said operating means includes a shutter release button.

6. A camera according to claim 1, which further comprises means for setting said camera in said remote control state in response to a dismounting of a remote control signal transmitter from the camera.

7. A camera according to claim 1, which further comprises timer means for disabling said control means in response to a lapse of a predetermined time.

8. A camera capable of being remote-controlled by a remote control signal, comprising:

(A) detection means for detecting data for focus adjustment, and

(B) holding means for storing and holding the data detected by said detection means in response to said camera being placed in a remote controllable condition.

9. A camera according to claim 8, wherein said detection means includes means for detecting distance data.

10. A camera according to claim 8, which further comprises remote control mode setting means for setting said camera in a remote control mode, whereby said holding means stores and holds the data detected by said detection means in response to the setting of the remote control mode by said remote control mode setting means.

11. A camera according to claim 8, wherein said holding means includes means for storing and holding the data detected by said detection means in response to removal of a remote control signal transmitter from the camera.

12. A camera according to claim 8, which further comprises timer means for releasing the holding means in response to a lapse of a predetermined time.

13. A camera according to claim 8, which further comprises means for releasing the holding means in response to removal of the camera from the remote controllable condition.

14. A camera according to claim 8, which further comprises mode change-over means for changing over the camera from a remote control photographing mode to an ordinary photographing mode, whereby said holding means releases the storing and holding of the data detected by said detection means in response to the change-over from the remote control photographing mode to the ordinary photographing mode by said change-over means.

15. A camera according to claim 8, wherein said holding means includes means for releasing the storing and holding of the data detected by said detection means in response to a mounting of a remote control signal transmitter on the camera.

16. A camera according to claim 8, which further comprises judgment means for judging a condition of the holding means in response to receipt of said remote control signal.

17. A camera according to claim 16, which further comprises means for focus adjustment of a photographing optical system on the basis of data stored and held by said holding means in response to the judgment of said judgment means that said holding means stores and holds data detected by said detection means.

18. A camera according to claim 16, which further comprises means for focus adjustment of a photographing optical system on the basis of data stored and held by said holding means in response to judgment of said judgment means that said holding means does not store and hold data detected by said detection means.

19. A camera according to claim 8, which further comprises means for focus adjustment of a photographing optical system on the basis of data stored and held by said holding means in response to a depression of a shutter button.

20. A camera according to claim 8, which further comprises timer means for releasing an operation of said holding means when said remote control signal is not received for a predetermined time.

21. A camera capable of being remote-controlled by a remote control signal, comprising:

(A) storing means for storing data for focus adjustment in response to an operation of an operation means; and

(B) control means for continuing the storing of the data for focus adjustment by said storing means even after the operation of said operation means is released in response to said camera being placed into a remote controllable condition.

22. A camera according to claim 21, wherein said data for focus adjustment stored in said storing means include object distance data.

23. A camera according to claim 21, which further comprises remote control mode setting means for setting said camera in a remote control mode and wherein said control means acts in response to said remote control mode setting means.

24. A camera according to claim 21, wherein said control means includes means for releasing an operation of said control means in response to a lapse of a predetermined time.

25. A camera according to claim 21, which further comprises remote control mode setting means for setting said camera in a remote control mode, wherein said control means acts in response to said remote control mode setting means and wherein said control means includes means for releasing an operation of said control means in response to a lapse of a predetermined time.

26. A camera according to claim 21, wherein said control means includes means for releasing an operation of said control means in response to the camera being taken out of a remote controllable condition.

27. A camera according to claim 21, which further comprises mode change-over means for changing over said camera from a remote-controlled photographing mode to an ordinary photographing mode, and means for releasing an operation of said control means in response to the change-over from the remote-controlled mode by said change-over means.

28. A camera according to claim 21, wherein said control means includes means for releasing an operation of said control means in response to a mounting of a remote control signal transmitter on the camera.

29. A camera according to claim 21, which further comprises judgment means for judging a condition of said storing means in response to receipt of said remote control signal.

30. A camera according to claim 29, which further comprises means for focus adjustment of a photographing optical system on the basis of data stored in said storing means in response to a judgment of said judgment means that the storing means stores data for focus adjustment.

31. A camera according to claim 29, which further comprises detection means for detecting data for the focus adjustment and means for effecting focus adjustment of a photographing optical system on the basis of the data detected by said detection means in response to judgment of said judgment means that said storing means does not store data for focus adjustment.

32. A camera according to claim 21, which further comprises means for effecting focus adjustment of a photographing optical system on the basis of data stored in said storing means when a shutter button is depressed while said control means is operating.

33. A camera according to claim 21, wherein said control means includes means for releasing an operation of said control means if the remote control signal is not received within a predetermined time.

34. A camera according to claim 21, which further comprises renewal means for renewing data stored in said storing means according to the control means in response to a re-operation of the operation means.

35. A camera according to claim 21, wherein said operation means includes a shutter release button.

36. A focus adjustment device capable of being remote-controlled by a remote control signal, comprising:

(a) memory means for storing distance information in response to an operation of an operating means; and

(b) control means for permitting said memory means to hold said distance information stored in said memory means in response to the setting to enable remote control by said remote control signal even after said operating means is released from its operation.

37. A focus adjustment device according to claim 36;

further comprising release means for releasing an operation of said control means in response to the setting to disable remote control by said remote control signal.

38. A focus adjustment device according to claim 36, further comprising renewal means for renewing said distance information held by said memory means under the control of said control means, in response to a re-operation of said operating means.

39. A focus adjustment device according to claim 36, further comprising setting means for setting said device in said remote control state in which remote control by said remote control signal is enabled, said setting means cancelling said remote control state if said remote control signal is not received for a predetermined period of time.

40. A focus adjustment device according to claim 36, wherein said operating means includes a shutter release button.

41. A focus adjustment device according to claim 36, which further comprises means for setting said camera in said remote control state in response to a dismounting of a remote control signal transmitter from the camera.

42. A focus adjustment device according to claim 36, which further comprises timer means for releasing an operation of said control means in response to a lapse of a predetermined time.

43. A focus adjustment device capable of being remote-controlled by a remote control signal, comprising:

(A) detection means for detecting data for focus adjustment, and

(B) holding means for storing and holding the data detected by said detection means in response to said focus adjustment device being placed in a remote controllable condition.

44. A focus adjustment device according to claim 43, wherein said detection means includes means for detecting distance data.

45. A focus adjustment device according to claim 43, which further comprises remote control mode setting means for setting said focus adjustment device in a remote control mode, whereby said holding means stores and holds the data detected by said detection means in response to the setting of the remote control mode by said remote control mode setting means.

46. A focus adjustment device according to claim 43, wherein said holding means includes means for storing and holding the data detected by said detection means in response to removal of a remote control signal transmitter from the focus adjustment device.

47. A focus adjustment device according to claim 43, which further comprises timer means for releasing the holding means in response to a lapse of a predetermined time.

48. A focus adjustment device according to claim 43, which further comprises means for releasing the holding means in response to removal of the focus adjustment device from the remote controllable condition.

49. A focus adjustment device according to claim 43, which further comprises mode change-over means for changing over the focus adjustment device from a remote control mode to an ordinary mode, whereby said holding means releases the storing and holding of the data detected by said detection means in response to the change-over from the remote control mode to the ordinary mode by said change-over means.

50. A focus adjustment device according to claim 43, wherein said holding means includes means for releasing the storing and holding of the data detected by said detection means in response to a mounting of a remote control signal transmitter on the focus adjustment device.

51. A focus adjustment device according to claim 43, which further comprises judgment means for judging a condition of the holding means in response to receipt of said remote control signal.

52. A focus adjustment device according to claim 51, which further comprises means for focus adjustment of an optical system on the basis of data stored and held by said holding means in response to a judgment of said judgment means that said holding means stores and holds data detected by said detection means.

53. A focus adjustment device according to claim 51, which further comprises means for focus adjustment of an optical system on the basis of data stored and held by said holding means in response to a judgment of said judgment means that said holding means does not store and hold data detected by said detection means.

54. A focus adjustment device according to claim 43, which further comprises means for focus adjustment of an optical system on the basis of the data stored and held by said holding means in response to a depression of a shutter button.

55. A focus adjustment device according to claim 43, which further comprises timer means for releasing an operation of said holding means when said remote control signal is not received for a predetermined time.

56. A focus adjustment device capable of being remote-controlled by a remote control signal, comprising:

(A) storing means for storing data for focus adjustment in response to an operation of an operation means; and

(B) control means for continuing the storing of the data for focus adjustment by said storing means even after the operation of said operation means is released in response to said focus adjustment device being placed into a remote controllable condition.

57. A focus adjustment device according to claim 56, wherein said data for focus adjustment stored in said storing means include distance data.

58. A focus adjustment device according to claim 56, which further comprises remote control mode setting means for setting said focus adjustment device in a remote control mode, wherein said control means acts in response to said remote control mode setting means.

59. A focus adjustment device according to claim 56, wherein said control means includes means for releasing an operation of said control means in response to a lapse of a predetermined time.

60. A focus adjustment device according to claim 56, which further comprises remote control mode setting means for setting said focus adjustment device in a remote control mode, wherein said control means acts in response to said remote control mode setting means and wherein said control means includes means for releasing an operation of said control means in response to a lapse of a predetermined time.

61. A focus adjustment device according to claim 56, wherein said control means includes means for releasing an operation of said control means in response to the focus adjustment device being taken out of a remote controllable condition.

62. A focus adjustment device according to claim 56, which further comprises mode change-over means for changing over said focus adjustment device from a remote-controlled mode to an ordinary mode, and means for releasing an operation of said control means in response to the change-over from the remote-controlled mode to the ordinary mode by said change-over means.

63. A focus adjustment device according to claim 56, wherein said control means includes means for releasing an operation of said control means in response to a mounting of a remote control signal transmitter on the focus adjustment device.

64. A focus adjustment device according to claim 56, which further comprises judgment means for judging a condition of said storing means in response to receipt of said remote control signal.

65. A focus adjustment device according to claim 64, which further comprises means for focus adjustment of an optical system on the basis of data stored in said storing means in response to a judgment of said judgment means that the storing means stores data for focus adjustment.

66. A focus adjustment device according to claim 64, which further comprises detection means for detecting data for focus adjustment and means for effecting focus adjustment of the optical system on the basis of data detected by said detection means in response to a judgment of said judgment means that said storing means does not store data for focus adjustment.

67. A focus adjustment device according to claim 56, which further comprises means for effecting focus adjustment of said optical system on the basis of data stored in said storing means when a shutter button is depressed while said control means is operating.

68. A focus adjustment device according to claim 56, wherein said control means includes means for releasing an operation of said control means if the remote control signal is not received within a predetermined time.

69. A focus adjustment device according to claim 56, which further comprises renewal means for renewing data stored in said storing means according to the control means in response to a re-operation of the operation means.

70. A focus adjustment device according to claim 56, wherein said operation means includes a shutter release button.