Camera with remote-control photography and stroboscopic photography function

• US 6,041,185 A
• Filed: 01/27/1999
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): PERKEY, WILLIAM B
• Application Number:
  US09/238,276
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 396/56-59, 396/176-178, 396/171, 396/155
• US Class Current: 396/56
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/04 collapsible, foldable or extensible, e.g. book type
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/38 Releasing-devices separate from shutter integral with shutter G03B9/08
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0507 Pop-up mechanisms

Abstract

In a camera in accordance with the present invention, when a barrier is slid and the camera is set to a photography-enabled state, a strobe light unit is raised to a strobe light irradiation-enabled position. A remote-control light receiving unit is mounted in the face and back of the distal part of the frame of the strobe light unit. The remote-control light receiving units move to a position at which they are projecting from the camera body. During remote-control photography, a remote-control light signal propagating from a position ahead of the camera can be received reliably by the remote-control light receiving unit. Furthermore, a remote-control light signal propagating from behind the camera can be received reliably. Moreover, the camera can contribute to the realization of a compact and high-density design.

Claims

1. A camera with a remote-control photography function, comprising:

a strobe light unit having a strobe light mounted in a side thereof; and

a light receiving unit, mounted in said strobe light unit, for receiving remote-control light signals.

2. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said strobe light unit is movable between a stowed position at which it is stowed in a camera body, and an irradiation-enabled position at which it is raised from said camera body and irradiates strobe light.

3. A camera according to claim 2, wherein said light receiving unit for receiving remote-control light signals is mounted in the same side of said strobe light unit as said strobe light.

4. A camera according to claim 2, wherein said light receiving unit for receiving remote-control light signals is mounted near an edge of said strobe light unit.

5. A camera according to claim 2, wherein said light receiving unit for receiving remote-control light signals is mounted in a side of said strobe light unit opposite to said strobe light.

6. A camera according to claim 2, wherein said light receiving unit for receiving remote-control light signals is mounted in a side of said strobe light unit other than said side in which said strobe light is mounted.

7. A camera with a remote-control photography function in which when said camera is set to a photography-enabled state, a strobe light unit is moved to an irradiation-enabled position, said camera comprising:

a light receiving unit for receiving remote-control light signals mounted in a surface of said strobe light unit and positioned at a location selected from the group consisting of a distal part, an uppermost part, a lowermost part, and an inner part of a frame of said strobe light unit.