Power supply control circuit for a display of a camera

• US 5,365,305 A
• Filed: 02/25/1993
• Issued: 11/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Precision Incorporated (Seiko Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Seikosha Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Saito, Hiroyuki, Seki, Yoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): ADAMS JR, RUSSELL E
• Application Number:
  US08/023,011
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 354/484
• US Class Current: 396/279
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light indicating depth of field G03B13/30
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/007 Details of energy supply or management
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 7/26 Power supplies; Circuitry or arrangement to switch on the power source; Circuitry to check the power source voltage

Abstract

In a power supply control circuit for a display of a camera, when an operation signal is input, a control circuit determines that an operation mode exists and activates a boosting circuit and a voltage dividing circuit. The control circuit activates a power supply switching circuit to switch the power supply for a display unit driving circuit to the output of the voltage dividing circuit. In response to the input operation signal, the control circuit executes such processes as photographing, film rewinding and/or film loading by the operation of the rear lid switch, etc. Upon completion of the operation, the control circuit sets the mode to a waiting mode, and monitors the detection output of a battery voltage detecting circuit. If the voltage of the battery exceeds a predetermined voltage stored in the ROM in the control circuit, the control circuit determines that the battery voltage has been restored, and applies a power supply switching signal to a power supply switching circuit, so that the power supply for the display unit driving circuit is switched to the battery and the boosting circuit and the converting circuit are both deactivated

Claims

1. A power supply control circuit for a display of a camera energized by a battery, comprising:

display means for displaying photographic information data or a date;

boosting means for boosting the voltage of the battery to a predetermined voltage;

control means for determining the existence of a waiting mode in which a load beyond a predetermined value is not applied to the battery and an operation mode in which a load beyond the predetermined value is applied to the battery;

battery voltage detecting means for detecting the voltage of the battery; and

power supply switching means for switching a power input of said display means to said boosting means during said operation mode and for switching said power input to the battery when said battery voltage detecting means detects restoration of the battery voltage after the end of said operation mode, according to an output signal of said control means.

2. A power supply control circuit for a display of a camera energized by a battery, comprising:

display means for displaying photographic information data or a date;

boosting means for boosting the voltage of the battery to a predetermined voltage;

control means for determining the existence of a waiting mode in which a load beyond a predetermined value is not applied to the battery and an operation mode in which a load beyond the predetermined value is applied to the battery;

battery voltage detecting means for detecting the voltage of the battery;

a timer circuit connected to start a time counting operation after an end of said operation mode; and

power supply switching means for switching a power input for said display means to said boosting means during said operation mode and for switching said power input to the battery when said battery voltage detecting means does not detect restoration of the battery until the timer circuit counts a predetermined time after the end of said operation mode.

3. A power supply control circuit for a camera having a display, a load, signal input means for receiving an operation signal representative of energization of said load, and a battery connected to energize said load, the improvement wherein said power supply control circuit comprises:

voltage stabilizing means having a power input coupled to said battery and a stabilized voltage output;

switching means connected to selectively energize said display from said battery and said output of said voltage stabilizing circuit;

voltage detecting means for detecting the voltage of said battery; and

control means comprising means for controlling said switching means to energize said display with said stabilized voltage output in response to the receipt by said signal input means of said operation signal and means responsive to cessation of said operation signal for controlling said switching means to energize said display with said battery in response to detection by said voltage detecting means of a battery voltage exceeding a predetermined voltage.

4. The power supply control circuit of claim 3, wherein said voltage stabilizing means comprises a voltage boosting circuit connected to receive the output voltage of said battery, and a voltage dividing circuit connected to receive the output of said voltage boosting circuit, to produce said stabilized voltage output.

5. The power supply control circuit of claim 3, wherein said control means further comprises means connected to control said switching means to energize said display from said battery a predetermined time following said cessation of said operation signal, independently of the output of said voltage detecting means.

6. A method for controlling the energization of a display of a camera having a display, a load, signal input means for receiving an operation signal representative of energization of said load, a battery connected to energize said load, and a source of stabilized voltage energized by said battery, said method comprising:

energizing said display from said voltage stabilizing source in response to said operation signal at said signal input means;

detecting the voltage of said battery; and

energizing said display from said battery upon a cessation of said operation signal at said signal input means, in response to detection of a battery voltage exceeding a predetermined voltage.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising energizing said display from said battery upon the lapse of a predetermined time following a cessation of said operation signal at said signal input means, independently of said step of detecting the voltage of said battery.