Data recording device for camera and film type camera with lens

• US 5,854,950 A
• Filed: 08/13/1997
• Issued: 12/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Akaiwa, Masao, Handa, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): ADAMS JR, RUSSELL E
• Application Number:
  US08/910,872
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 396/281, 396/282, 396/292, 396/310, 396/315, 396/318, 396/319, 396/429
• 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 2217/243 Optical devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/246 Details of the markings

Abstract

A data recording device is provided which is capable of preventing the recording of incorrect date and time data on photographic film due to malfunction of the time counter that generates date and time data for recording. Drive IC 31A of data recording device 30 is equipped with time counter 161 that generates date and time data for recording, and the count value of the date and time data generated by this time counter is stored in storage circuit 33. At the point immediately prior to the operation that changes the count value of the time counter, the date and time data in storage circuit 33 and the counter value of the date and time data from the time counter are compared in comparison judgment circuit 34, and if the two do not agree, malfunction detection signal 34S which indicates that the time counter has malfunctioned is output to driver 162 and the recording of date and time data by liquid crystal display panel 12 is stopped. Therefore, the recording of incorrect date and time data on the photographic film can be reliably prevented.

Claims

1. A data recording device for recording data on a recording medium comprising:

a recording element;

a time counter for providing an output to said recording element to record on the recording medium;

a storage circuit for storing, during an updating operation, the output of said time counter as stored data; and

a comparison judgment circuit that judges when said time counter malfunctions if at least one of;

1) the output from said time counter having a first count value corresponding to the data and the store data stored in said storage circuit having a second count value are compared before the update operation are unequal; and

2) the first count value and the second count value are compared -after completion of the update operation and a difference between the first and second count value exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2. The data recording device of claim 1, wherein the update operation for said storage circuit is performed for the count of said time counter.

3. The data recording device of claim 2, wherein said comparison judgment circuit compares the first and second count value during at least one of:

1) a first predetermined time before a next update operation of the first count value of said time counter when performed before entering the update operation of said storage circuit, and

2) a second predetermined time after a first update operation of said storage circuit and before a second subsequent update operation when performed after completion of the first update operation of said storage circuit.

4. A data recording device of claim 1, wherein when said comparison judgment circuit detects that said time counter malfunctions, the data is not recorded on said recording medium by said recording element.

5. A data recording device of claim 1 wherein the data comprises at least one of time and date.

6. A lens-equipped film type camera comprising:

a data recording device for recording data on a recording medium comprising;

a recording element;

a time counter for providing an output to said recording element to record on the recording medium;

a storage circuit for storing, during an updating operation, the output of said time counter as stored data; and

a comparison judgment circuit that judges when said time counter malfunctions if at least one of;

1) the output from said time counter having a first count value corresponding to the data and the store data stored in said storage circuit having a second count value are compared before the update operation are unequal; and

2) the first count value and the second count value are compared after completion of the update operation and a difference between the first and second count value exceeds a predetermined threshold.

7. A lens-equipped film type camera of claim 6, wherein the update operation for said storage circuit is performed for the count of said time counter.

8. A lens-equipped film type camera of claim 7, wherein said comparison judgment circuit compares the first and second count value during at least one of:

1) a first predetermined time before a next update operation of the first count value of said time counter when performed before entering the update operation of said storage circuit, and

2) a second predetermined time after a first update operation of said storage circuit and before a second subsequent update operation when performed after completion of the first update operation of said storage circuit.

9. A lens-equipped film camera to claims 6, wherein said date and time data are not recorded on said recording medium when said comparison judgment circuit detects that said time counter has malfunctioned.

10. A lens-equipped film type camera of claim 6, further comprising a shutter, and wherein the update operation of said storage circuit is performed in synchronism with an operation of said shutter for taking photographs.

11. A lens-equipped film type camera of claim 6, further comprising a shutter, and wherein a comparison judgment operation of said comparison judgment circuit is performed at a time between an operation of said shutter for taking photographs and a next shutter operation.

12. A method for recording data on a recording medium by a recording element comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an output by a time counter to the recording element to record on the recording medium;

(b) storing, during an updating operation, the output of step (a) as stored data; and

(c) judging when the time counter malfunctions if at least one of;

1) the output from the time counter having a first count value corresponding to the data and the store data stored in step (b) having a second count value are compared before the update operation are unequal; and

2) the first count value and the second count value are compared after completion of the update operation and a difference between the first and second count value exceeds a predetermined threshold.