Camera

• US 5,416,560 A
• Filed: 07/29/1994
• Issued: 05/16/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Taka, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): PERKEY, WILLIAM B
• Application Number:
  US08/282,225
• Time in Patent Office: 291 Days
• Field of Search: 354/471, 354/289.1, 354/289.12, 354/195.1, 354/195.12, 348/64, 348/220, 348/231, 348/233, 348/358
• US Class Current: 396/287
• 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: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00925 Inhibiting an operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/212 Motion video recording combined with still video recording television signal recording H04N5/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2129 Recording in, or reproducing from, a specific memory area or areas, or recording or reproducing at a specific moment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2137 with temporary storage before final recording, e.g. in a frame buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

The present patent application discloses improvements in the camera having an image memory for storing still image information, such that when a still image is displayed on a monitor, actuation of a camera release is ignored; when meaningless still images of the image memory are prevented from appearing on the monitor; and further good manageability of the camera is assured when writing and reading the image information in and from the image memory.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

(A) display means for displaying image information, said display means selectively displaying moving image information or still image information;

(B) first memory means for storing the moving image information to be supplied to the display means;

(C) second memory means for storing the still image information to be supplied to the display means;

(D) mode setting means for setting a mode; and

(E) memory control means for causing the first and second memory means to vary their operation according to combination of the mode set by the mode setting means with operation of common operation means.

2. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said display means includes means for inputting present image information as said moving image information.

3. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said display means includes means for memorizing said still information.

4. A device for outputting an image signal stored in a memory, comprising:

(A) first memory means for storing the image signal,

(B) second memory means for storing the image signal,

(C) mode setting means for setting at least a first mode and a second mode,

(D) indication means, and

(E) control means for controlling operation of said first and second memory means according to said first or second mode or combination of first and second mode with operation of said indication means.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said control means causes read-out of the image signal from the second memory means when the indication means is operated in the first mode, causes read-out of the image signal from the first memory means through the second memory means when the indication means is operated in the second mode, and causes read-out of the image signal from the first memory means when the first mode is shifting to the second mode.

6. A camera comprising:

(A) display means for displaying image information, said display means selectively displaying moving image information and still image information; and

(B) common operating means, when the moving image information is displayed on said display means, working as means for varying a focal length of said camera, and, when the still image information is displayed on said display means, working as means for changing the still image information displayed on said display means to another still image information.

7. A camera according to claim 6, wherein said display means includes means for inputting present image information as said moving image information.

8. A camera according to claim 6, wherein said display means includes means for memorizing said still information.