Camera system including a monitor device

• US 6,393,216 B1
• Filed: 07/10/1997
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Maehama, Shinichi, Ohmori, Shigeto, Ootsuka, Hiroshi, Maeda, Katsunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Mahoney, Christopher E.
• Application Number:
  US08/891,314
• Time in Patent Office: 1,776 Days
• Field of Search: 396/7, 396/56, 396/57, 396/58, 396/59, 396/374, 396/265, 396/296, 348/207, 348/220, 348/231
• US Class Current: 396/56
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04

Abstract

A camera system includes a camera main body having a photographic device for photographing an image of object to produce image signal and a monitor device separatable from the camera main body. The monitor device is provided with a control portion for controlling the exposure of photographic device in addition to a display portion. The operator can check a photographed image before or after the image is recorded on a film. Also, the monitor device selectively provides a singular display of monitor image for usual shooting and a continuous display of monitor images for serial shooting.

Claims

1. A camera system comprising:

a photographic device which photographs an image of an object;

an image pick up device which picks up an image of an object;

a monitor device which displays a picked up image to check the photographed image;

an instruction device which instructs recording of a photographed image;

a recording device responsive to the instruction device which records a photographed image, the recording device having a singular recording mode of recording a photographed image on a storage medium each time recording is instructed by the instruction device and a continuous recording mode of recording photographed images on the storage medium during the time when recording is being instructed by the instruction device; and

a control device which controls the monitor device so as to display a picked up image in a first display mode, the first display mode having a first prescribed timing between recording and image display that corresponds to the singular recording mode, and so as to display a picked up image in a second display mode, the second display mode having a second prescribed timing between recording and image display that corresponds to the continuous recording mode, where the second timing is different from the first timing.

2. A camera system according to claim 1, wherein the control device controls the monitor device so as to display, in the singular recording mode, a picked up image which has been recorded, and so as to display, in the continuous recording mode, picked up images which are being recorded.

3. A camera system according to claim 1, further comprising a remote controller which is functionable in a condition of being separated from the camera main body and includes:

a display device to display at least an image photographed by the photographing device; and

an instruction device which instructs the photographic device of the camera main body to execute photography for display.

4. A camera system according to claim 1, wherein the instruction device includes a user-operated actuator, and when in the continuous recording mode, images are recorded during a time when the actuator is operated.

5. A camera system comprising:

a camera main body including;

a photographic device which photographs an image of an object;

a first display device to display at least a captured image; and

a remote controller which is functionable in a condition of being separated from the camera main body and includes;

a second display device to display at least the captured image; and

an instruction device which instructs the photographic device of the camera main body to execute photography for display.

6. A camera system according to claim 5, wherein the photographic device includes:

an image pick up device which photographs an image of the object to produce image data; and

an exposure control device which controls exposure of the image pick up device to the object, the exposure control device being capable of executing a plurality of different exposure controls in accordance with an instruction from the instruction device of the remote controller.

7. A camera system according to claim 5, wherein the remote controller further includes a second instruction device that instructs the photographic device to carry out a function other than photography for display.

8. A camera system according to claim 5, wherein the captured image displayed by the first display device is a still image.

9. A camera system comprising:

a camera main body, including;

a photographic device which photographs at least a still image of an object;

a first display device which displays at least a captured image;

a first instruction device which instructs the photographic device to execute photography; and

a remote controller detachably fixable to the camera main body, including;

a second display device which displays at least the captured image; and

an instruction device which instructs the photographic device of the camera main body to execute photography of a desired still image.

10. A camera system which records an object image through a taking lens, the camera comprising:

an image sensor to pick up an image of the object;

a storage medium to store a picked up image;

a display to display an image;

an instruction device, having a user-operated actuator, adapted to instruct the image sensor to pick up an image;

a recording controller having at least a first mode of recording and a second mode of recording, wherein in the first mode, a single image is picked up by the image sensor and stored on the storage medium, and in the second mode, a plurality of images are continuously picked up by the image sensor and stored on the storage medium; and

a display controller, coupled to the display and selectively coupled to the image sensor and the storage medium, to control the display to display an image stored on the storage medium when the camera is in the first mode and to continuously display a plurality of images being picked up by the image sensor when the camera is in the second mode,

wherein when in the second mode, images are recorded during a time when the actuator is operated.

11. A camera system according to claim 10, wherein in the second mode, the display controller effects the display of the plurality of picked up images during the storage of the plurality of picked up images.

12. A camera system according to claim 10, further comprising a remote controller which is functionable in a condition of being separated from the camera main body, the remote controller including:

a display device to display at least an image picked up by the image sensor, and

an instruction device which instructs the image sensor to pick up an image.

13. A camera system which records an object image through a taking lens, the camera comprising:

a camera main body, including;

an image sensor to pick up an image of the object;

a first display device to display at least an image picked up by the image sensor;

a recorder to record an image; and

a remote controller which is functionable in a condition of being separated from the camera main body, including;

a second display device to display at least an image picked up by the image sensor; and

an instruction device to instruct the recorder to record a desired picked up still image.

14. A camera system according to claim 13, wherein the photographic device further includes an exposure control device which controls exposure of the object to the image sensor, the exposure control device being capable of executing a plurality of different exposure controls in accordance with an instruction from the instruction device of the remote controller.

15. A camera system according to claim 13, wherein the remote controller includes a second instruction device to instruct the image sensor to perform an image sensing operation.

16. A camera system according to claim 13, wherein the image displayed on the first display device is a still image.

17. A camera system which records an object image through a taking lens, the camera comprising:

a camera main body, including;

an image sensor to pick up an image of the object;

a first display device to display at least an image picked up by the image sensor;

a first instruction device to instruct that a picked up image be recorded;

a recorder to record an image; and

a remote controller detachably fixable to the camera main body, including;

a second display device to display at least an image picked up by the image sensor; and

a second instruction device to instruct the recorder to record a desired still image.