Camera having an information recording function

• US 5,768,640 A
• Filed: 10/17/1996
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konica Corporation (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Corporation (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Nojima, Yoshiyuki, Takahashi, Yoshiharu, Fujii, Yasutoshi, Hayashida, Takaichi, Kaedeoka, Noriyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUCCILLO, NICHOLAS
• Application Number:
  US08/734,470
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 396/310, 396/311, 396/312, 396/319, 396/320, 396/429, 396/434, 348/232, 348/233
• US Class Current: 396/310
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/24 with means for separately producing marks on the film, e.g. title, time of exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/244 Magnetic devices

Abstract

An apparatus for recording a photographed image on a recording medium together with information received from a satellite of GPS (Global Positioning System). The apparatus includes a first memory to store recording data on the recording medium; a second memory to store the information received thereafter by a GPS receiver; and a judging circuit for determining whether the later recording data is to be shifted from the second memory to the first memory when the shutter is actuated.

Claims

1. An apparatus for recording a photographed image on a recording medium together with recording data obtained from original and subsequent information received from a satellite of a GPS (Global Positioning System), said apparatus comprising:

(a) a GPS receiver adapted to periodically receive said original and subsequent information from said satellite and to output original and subsequent position data and original and subsequent accuracy data of said position data based on said information;

(b) a first memory to store first position data and first accuracy data of said first position data based on said original information;

(c) a second memory to store subsequent position data and subsequent accuracy data of said subsequent position data based on said subsequent information outputted by said GPS receiver;

(d) a comparator for comparing said subsequent accuracy data in said second memory with said first accuracy data in the first memory;

(e) a replacing element for replacing said first position data and said first accuracy data with said subsequent position data and said subsequent accuracy data when said comparator judges that said subsequent accuracy data is more accurate than said first accuracy data; and

(f) a recorder for recording said first position data stored in said first memory onto said recording medium.

2. The camera of claim 1, wherein the recording records the first accuracy data stored in the first memory onto the recording medium.

3. The camera of claim 1, further comprising

a display on which the first position data and the first accuracy data are indicated.

4. The camera of claim 1 wherein said first accuracy data different rates among a position-measuring mode, a DOP (Dilution of Precision) value, and DGPS (Differential GPS).

5. An apparatus for recording a photographed image on a recording medium together with recording data obtained from original and subsequent information received from a satellite of GPS (Global Positioning System), said apparatus comprising:

(a) a GPS receiver adapted to periodically receive said original and said subsequent information from the satellite and to output plural data having at least two components based thereon;

(b) a first memory adapted to store original plural data having at least two components to be recorded on said recording medium;

(c) a second memory adapted to store subsequent plural data outputted by said GPS receiver;

(d) a replacing element adapted to replace said original plural data in said first memory with said subsequent data in said second memory;

(e) a latching device for identifying designated data from said original plural data in the first memory and for inhibiting said replacing element from replacing said designated data; and

(f) a recorder for recording said plural data stored in said first memory onto said recording medium and for indicating said designated data.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said plural data stored in said first memory is position data.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 comprising an azimuth sensor for measuring an azimuth based on earth'"'"'s magnetic north.

8. An apparatus for recording a photographed image on a recording medium together with recording data obtained from information received from a satellite of GPS (Global Positioning System), said apparatus comprising:

(a) a GPS receiver adapted to periodically receive new information from said satellite and to output new GPS data including plural recording data, having at least two components, for each receipt of said new information;

(b) a second memory adapted to receive and store said new GPS data;

(c) a selector adapted to select said plural recording data from said new GPS data for each receipt of said new GPS data by said second memory;

(d) a first memory adapted to receive and store each selection of said plural recording data made by said selector;

(e) a processor adapted to judge whether said plural recording data necessary for recording exists in said first memory;

(f) a third memory adapted to receive said plural recording data from said first memory only when said processor determines that said plural recording data necessary for recording exists in said first memory and to store said plural recording data therein;

(g) a shutter adapted for actuation to conduct a photographing operation;

(h) a detector to detect whether said shutter is actuated; and

(i) a recorder to record said plural recording data stored in said third memory onto said recording medium when said detector determines that said actuator shutter is actuated.

9. The camera of claim 8 wherein said plural recording data includes latitude and longitude.

10. The camera of claim 8 wherein, when said processor judges that said plural recording data necessary for recording does not exist in said first memory when said shutter is actuated, said processor continues judging and said recorder delays recording for a predetermined time period after said shutter is actuated.

11. The camera of claim 10 wherein when, said processor judges, during said predetermined time period, that said plural recording data exists in said first memory, said recorder records said plural recording data stored in said first memory onto the recording medium.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein when, said processor judges, during said predetermined time period, that said plural recording data does not exist in said first memory, said recorder records said plural recording data in said third memory onto said recording medium.