Camera system using remote control unit

• US 5,561,492 A
• Filed: 08/18/1994
• Issued: 10/01/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Ohsawa, Keiji
• Primary Examiner(s): PERKEY, WILLIAM B
• Application Number:
  US08/291,507
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 354/402, 354/432, 354/410, 354/403, 354/266, 348/211, 348/212, 348/214
• US Class Current: 396/56
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/38 Releasing-devices separate from shutter integral with shutter G03B9/08
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 7/09979 Multi-zone light measuring

Abstract

A camera body incorporates an information detecting portion for detecting respective pieces of information on photography with respect to a plurality of areas within a photographing picture and an information selecting portion for selecting specific pieces of information from plural pieces of information. A remote control unit incorporates an area designating portion for designating an arbitrary area among the plurality of areas irrespective of a position of the remote control unit. The information selecting portion is constructed to select the information on the area designated by the area designating portion.

Claims

1. A camera system comprising a camera body and a remote control unit capable of communications with said camera body, said camera system including:

a plurality of information detectors which correspond to a plurality of areas within a photographing picture and which are provided in said camera body for detecting respective pieces of information on photography in said plurality of areas;

an information selecting part, provided in said camera body, for selecting one of said pieces of information; and

an area designating part, provided in said remote control unit, for designating any area among said plurality of areas irrespective of an existing position of said remote control unit, wherein said information selecting part selects a piece of information on photographing in an area designated by said area designating part.

2. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein said area designating part has a number of area designating components which correspond to said plurality of areas, respectively.

3. The camera system according to claim 2, wherein said area designating means are release switches.

4. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein each of said information detectors detects information on a distance to a subject existing in a corresponding one of said areas.

5. The camera system according to claim 4, further comprising a focalizing part, provided in said camera body, for performing focalization of a photographing lens, wherein said focalizing part performs the focalization of said photographing lens on the basis of said distance information.

6. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein each of said information detectors detects information on a luminance of a subject existing in a corresponding one of said areas.

7. The camera system according to claim 6, further comprising an exposure control part, provided in said camera body, for controlling an exposure, wherein said exposure control part controls the exposure on the basis of said luminance information.

8. A camera capable of communications with a remote control unit incorporating an area designating part for designating any area among a plurality of areas within a photographing picture irrespective of an existing position of a photographer operating the remote control unit, said camera comprising:

an information detector, including a plurality of sensors corresponding to said plurality of areas, for detecting respective pieces of information on photography in said plurality of areas; and

an information selecting part for selecting a piece of information on photographing said any area designated by said area designating part.

9. A remote control unit capable of communications with a camera having an information detector provided with a plurality of sensors for detecting respective pieces of information on photography in a plurality of areas within a photographing picture, and an information selecting part for selecting any piece of information from said pieces of information, said remote control unit comprising:

an area designating part for designating any area among said plurality of areas irrespective of an existing position of said remote control unit, wherein the piece of information selected by said information selecting part is specified by the designation.

10. A camera system comprising a camera body and a remote control unit capable of communications with said camera body, said camera system including:

a plurality of information detectors which correspond to a plurality of areas within a photographing picture and which are provided in said camera body, for detecting respective pieces of information on photography in said plurality of areas;

an information selecting part, provided in said camera body, for selecting one of said pieces of information; and

an area designating part provided in said remote control unit for designating at least any two areas among said plurality of areas irrespective of an existing position of said remote control unit, wherein said information selecting part selects a piece of information on photographing in an area satisfying a given condition from said at least any two areas designated by said area designating part.

11. The camera system according to claim 10, wherein each of said information detectors detects information on a distance to a subject existing in a corresponding one of said areas.

12. The camera system according to claim 11, further comprising a focalizing part for performing focalization of a photographing lens, wherein said focalizing part performs the focalization of said photographing lens based on said distance information.

13. The camera system according to claim 10, wherein each of said information detectors detects information on a luminance of a subject existing in a corresponding one of said areas.

14. The camera system according to claim 13, further comprising an exposure control part, provided in said camera body, for controlling an exposure, wherein said exposure control parts controls the exposure based on said luminance information.

15. The camera system according to claim 10, wherein said given condition is that said subject exists at the closest distance.

16. The camera system according to claim 15, further comprising a focalizing part for performing focalization of a photographing lens, wherein said focalizing part performs the focalization of said photographing lens based on said closest distance.

17. The camera system according to claim 10, wherein said given condition is that said subject exists at the farthest distance.

18. The camera system according to claim 17, further comprising a focalizing part for performing focalization of a photographing lens, wherein said focalizing part performs the focalization of said photographing lens based on said farthest distance.

19. A camera system comprising a camera body and a remote control unit capable of communications with said camera body, said camera system including:

a plurality of information detectors which correspond to a plurality of areas within a photographing picture and which are provided in said camera body for detecting respective pieces of information on photography in said plurality of areas;

an information selecting part, provided in said camera body, for selecting at least two of said pieces of information; and

an area designating part provided in said remote control unit for designating at least any two areas among said plurality of areas irrespective of an existing position of said remote control unit, wherein said information selecting part selects said at least two pieces of information on photography corresponding to said at least two areas designated by said area designating part.

20. The camera system according to claim 19, wherein each of said information detectors detects information on a distance to a subject existing in a corresponding one of said areas.

21. The camera system according to claim 20, further comprising a focalizing part for performing focalization of a photographing lens, wherein said focalizing part performs the focalization of said photographing lens based on said distance information.

22. The camera system according to claim 19, wherein each of said information detectors detects information on a luminance of a subject existing in a corresponding one of said areas.

23. The camera system according to claim 22, further comprising an exposure control part, provided in said camera body, for controlling an exposure, wherein said exposure control part controls the exposure based on said luminance information.

24. A camera system comprising a camera body and a remote control unit capable of communications with said camera body, said camera system including:

a plurality of information detectors which correspond to a plurality of areas within a photographing picture and which are provided in said camera body for detecting respective pieces of information on photography in said plurality of areas;

an information selecting part, provided in said camera body, for selecting two of said pieces of information;

a computing unit, provided in said camera body, for processing said at least two pieces of information selected by said selecting part in accordance with a predetermined algorithm; and

an area designating part provided in said remote control unit for designating at least any two areas among said plurality of areas irrespective of an existing position of said remote control unit, wherein said information selecting part selects said at least two pieces of information on photography corresponding to said at least two areas designated by said area designating part.

25. The camera system according to claim 24, wherein each of said information detectors detects information on a distance to a subject existing in a corresponding one of said areas.

26. The camera system according to claim 25, further comprising a focalizing part for performing focalization of a photographing lens, wherein said focalizing part performs the focalization of said photographing lens based on a processed result of said computing unit.

27. The camera system according to claim 24, wherein each of said information detectors detects information on a luminance of a subject existing in a corresponding one of said areas.

28. The camera system according to claim 27, further comprising an exposure control part, provided in said camera body, for controlling an exposure, wherein said exposure control part controls the exposure based on a processed result of said computing unit.

29. A method of information selection in a camera system comprising a camera body and a remote control unit capable of communications with said camera body, said method comprising:

dividing, in said camera body, a photographing picture into a plurality of areas to detect respective pieces of information on photography in said plurality of areas;

inputting to said camera body, from said remote control unit, a signal designating any one of said plurality of areas, independently of an existing position of said remote control unit; and

selecting, in said camera body, a piece of information on photography in the designated area.

30. A method of information selection in a camera capable of communications with a remote control unit incorporating an area designating part for designating any area among a plurality of areas within a photographing picture, irrespective of an existing position of a photographer operating the remote control unit, said method comprising:

dividing, in said camera, said photographing picture into a plurality of areas to detect respective pieces of information on photography in said plurality of areas; and

inputting to said camera, from said remote control unit, a signal designating any one of said areas to select a piece of information on photography in the designated area.

31. A method of information selection in a camera system comprising a camera body and a remote control unit capable of communications with said camera body, said method comprising:

dividing, in said camera body, a photographing picture into a plurality of areas to detect respective pieces of information on photography in said plurality of areas;

inputting to said camera body, from said remote control unit, a signal designating at least any two areas in said plurality of areas;

selecting, in said camera body, at least two pieces of information on photography in said at least two designated areas; and

selecting, in said camera body, one piece of information satisfying a given condition from said at least two pieces of information.

32. A method of information selection in a camera system comprising a camera body and a remote control unit capable of communications with said camera body, said method comprising:

dividing, in said camera body, a photographing picture into a plurality of areas to detect respective pieces of information on photography in said plurality of areas;

inputting to said camera body, from said remote control unit, a signal designating at least any two areas in said plurality of areas; and

selecting, in said camera body, at least two pieces of information on photography in said at least two designated areas.

33. A method of information selection in a camera system comprising a camera body and a remote control unit capable of communications with said camera body, said method comprising:

dividing, in said camera body, a photographing picture into a plurality of areas to detect respective pieces of information on photography in said plurality of areas;

inputting to said camera body, from said remote control unit, a signal designating at least any two areas in said plurality of areas; and

selecting, in said camera body, at least two pieces of information on photography in said at least two designated areas.