Camera information display

• US 5,652,930 A
• Filed: 02/14/1995
• Issued: 07/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Teremy, Paul, McIntyre, Dale Frederick, Leavy, James Vergil, Janson, Wilbert Frank Jr., Dowe, David Reynolds
• Primary Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, HOWARD BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US08/388,094
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 354/219, 354/222, 354/289.1, 354/289.11, 354/289.12, 354/465, 354/468, 354/471-475, 428/457, 428/690, 428/313, 313/504, 396/281, 396/287, 396/292, 396/535, 396/540, 396/541
• 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

Abstract

A photographic camera is provided with a display including organic electroluminescent material energizable in patterns representing camera information. The patterns are defined by electrically isolated illumination elements that are controlled to emit light by selectively applying a voltage to the elements forming the desired pattern. The material may be chosen to emit light in different colors representing levels of concern associated with camera conditions. Certain features provide a display having an in-line array of alpha-numeric character generators comprising a matrix of closely spaced illumination elements and a control for energizing selected combinations of the elements to emit light collectively defining alpha-numeric characters. Display brightness can be adjusted by changing the applied power as a function of the ambient light conditions to enhance viewability of the display.

Claims

1. A photographic camera, comprising:

a casing having a curved exterior surface;

an information display mounted on said curved exterior surface, said display comprising a substrate curved to match said curved exterior surface and a layer of organic electroluminescent material applied to said curved substrate in a pattern to define said information;

a control within said casing; and

means coupling said display to said control for applying voltages to said pattern to cause said pattern of material to luminesce to display said information.

2. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is flexible and is flexed to match said curved exterior surface.

3. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is rigid.

4. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a rigid layer shaped to match said curved exterior surface and a flexible layer applied to said rigid layer, said material being applied to said flexible layer.

5. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said pattern defines individual shapes representing said information.

6. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said pattern defines individual illumination elements which collectively define said information.

7. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said pattern includes first and second groups of illumination elements, said first group including electroluminescent material which emits light of a first color and said second group including electroluminescent material which emits light of a second color.

8. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said pattern defines individual icons representative of camera conditions.