Camera with a remote control unit

• US 5,682,557 A
• Filed: 12/22/1995
• Issued: 10/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konica Corporation (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Corporation (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Harada, Satoshi, Miyauchi, Kosei
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chizmar, John
• Application Number:
  US08/577,868
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 354/266, 396/56, 396/59, 348/211
• US Class Current: 396/59
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/38 Releasing-devices separate from shutter integral with shutter G03B9/08

Abstract

A camera includes: a switching circuit for switching the camera between a suspending status and a photographable status; a remote control unit which includes an operation member for conducting a photographing operation and a transmitter for outputting a photographing signal when the operation member is operated; a receiver for receiving the photographing signal; and a control circuit for controlling the camera so that a photographing operation is always conducted in accordance with a receipt of the photographing signal with the receiver when the switching circuit is switched to the photographable status. In order to conserve battery voltage, the control circuit sends a signal to the receiver to turn the receiver off after a set period of time has lapsed and no photographing signal has been received from the control unit.

Claims

1. A camera, comprising:

a switching means for switching said camera between a suspending status and a photographable status;

a remote control unit attachable and detachable from said camera, said remote control including;

an operation member for conducting a photographing operation located on said remote control unit, said remote control unit further comprising

a single transmitter means for outputting a single photographing signal when said operation member is operated;

a receiver means for receiving said photographing signal from said remote control unit; and

a control means for controlling said camera so that a photographing operation of said camera is only conducted when said single transmitter means outputs said single photographing signal to said receiver means and only when said switching means is switched to said photographable status.

2. A camera, comprising:

a switching means for switching said camera between a suspending status and a photographable status;

a remote control unit, including;

an operation member for conducting a photographing operation; and

a transmitter means for outputting a photographing signal when said operation member is operated;

a receiver means for receiving said photographing signal; and

a control means for controlling said camera so that a photographing operation is always conducted in accordance with a receipt of said photographing signal with said receiver means when said switching means is switched to said photographable status;

said control means providing alternatively a receivable time period when said receiver means is available for receiving said photographing signal and non-receivable time period when said receiver means is not available for receiving said photographing signal, both said receivable time period and said non-receivable time period being within a predetermined time period.

3. The camera of claim 2, wherein said remote control unit is attachable onto a main body of said camera and said remote control unit is detachable from said main body of said camera.

4. The camera of claim 2, said photographing operation is conducted only by an operation of said operation member.

5. The camera of claim 2, wherein said control means controls said camera so that said switching means is switched from said photographable status to said suspending status when said switching means is switched to said photographable status and said receiver means does not receive said photographing signal within said predetermined time period.

6. The camera of claim 2, wherein said receivable time period is shorter than said non-receivable time period.

7. The camera of claim 2, further comprising:

a holding portion, provided on said main body of said camera, for holding said remote control unit wherein said holding portion is rotatable.

8. A camera, comprising:

a switching means for switching said camera between a suspending status and a photographable status;

a remote control unit, including;

an operation member for conducting a photographing operation; and

a transmitter means for outputting a photographing signal when said operation member is operated;

a receiver means for receiving photographing signal; and

a control means for controlling said camera so that a photographing operation is always conducted in accordance with a receipt of said photographing signal with said receiver means when said switching means is switched to said photographable status;

wherein said remote control unit is attachable onto a main body of said camera and said remote control unit is detachable from said main body of said camera;

wherein said camera is capable of holding said remote control unit at one of a plurality of positions on said main body of said camera.

9. A camera, comprising:

a switching means for switching said camera between a suspending status and a photographable status;

a remote control unit, including;

an operation member for conducting a photographing operation; and

a transmitter means for outputting a photographing signal when said operation member is operated;

a receiver means for receiving said photographing signal; and

a control means for controlling said camera so that a photographing operation is always conducted in accordance with a receipt of said photographing signal with said receiver means when said switching means is switched to said photographable status;

wherein said remote control unit is attachable onto a main body of said camera and said remote control unit is detachable from said main body of said camera;

said camera is capable of slidably holding said remote control unit along a guide path, formed on said main body of said camera, so that said remote control unit is capable of being held at a preferable position in said guide path.