Image taking apparatus having selectively enabled IC tags

• US 7,298,269 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Photo Imaging Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Photo Imaging Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Nanba, Katsuyuki, Hamamura, Toshihiro, Teramoto, Tougo, Ban, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAU, HOI CHING
• Application Number:
  US11/202,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20060163339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5728, 340/626.1, 340/686.2, 340/686.4, 348/207.99, 235/375, 235/492
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03

Abstract

A metallic sliding cover that covers an image taking lens system when an image taking apparatus is not in use is attached at the front side of the image taking apparatus, and an IC tag of a type that has an internal power supply and an IC tag of a type that has not an internal power supply are stuck to the front side of the image taking apparatus. A plural number of IC tags are alternatively covered with the sliding cover by movement of the cover. Thereby, communication only by one IC tag becomes possible when the image taking apparatus is in use; meanwhile, communication only by the other IC tag becomes possible when the image taking apparatus is not in use. As a result, interference between a plurality of IC tags having mutually different characteristics can be prevented.

Claims

1. An image taking apparatus comprising:

a movable member for moving between a first position and a second position in accordance with a condition of the image taking apparatus;

a first IC tag for memorizing information concerning the imaging taking apparatus and that is disposed at a position that is covered with the movable member at said second position and that is not covered with the movable member at said first position; and

a second IC tag for memorizing information concerning the imaging taking apparatus and that is disposed at a position that is covered with the movable member at said first position and that is not covered with the movable member at said second position,

wherein said movable member is positioned at said first position when the imaging taking apparatus is in use and that is positioned at said second position when the imaging taking apparatus is not in use.

2. The image taking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first IC tag and said second IC tag have mutually different characteristics.

3. The image taking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first IC tag has a power source and said second IC tag does not have a power source.

4. The image taking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein frequency characteristics of said first IC tag and said second IC tag are mutually different, and said first IC tag uses a frequency higher than one for said second IC tag.

5. The image taking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information amount memorized in said first IC tag is larger than the information amount memorized in said second IC tag.

6. The image taking apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first IC tag memorizes information to connect the image taking apparatus to a network.

7. The image taking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movable member is a member for shielding a radio wave.

8. The image taking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said movable member is a metallic cover.

9. An image taking apparatus comprising:

a first IC tag for memorizing a first information concerning the imaging taking apparatus and that is capable of transmitting the first information to an external device when the image taking apparatus is in an operation state;

a second IC tag for memorizing a second information concerning the imaging taking apparatus and that is capable of transmitting the second information to an external device when the image taking apparatus is not in an operation state; and

a switching member for switching between an operation of said first IC tag and that of said second IC tag.

10. The image taking apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said switching member is a power switch.

11. The image taking apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said switching member is a lens cover.

12. The image taking apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first IC tag and said second IC tag have mutually different characteristics.

13. The image taking apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first IC tag has a power source and said second IC tag does not have a power source.

14. The image taking apparatus according to claim 12, wherein frequency characteristics of said first IC tag and said second IC tag are mutually different, and said first IC tag uses a frequency higher than one for said second IC tag.

15. The image taking apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the information amount memorized in said first IC tag is larger than the information amount memorized in said second IC tag.

16. The image taking apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said first IC tag memorizes information concerning to a network communication.

17. A method of transmitting information concerned with an image taking apparatus by using a plurality of IC tags, comprising the steps of:

setting the image taking apparatus in a first condition;

transmitting information memorized in a first IC tag to an external device when the image taking apparatus is in first condition;

setting the image taking apparatus in a second condition; and

transmitting information memorized in a second IC tag to an external device when the image taking apparatus is in second condition,

wherein said first condition is in power on state and said second condition is in power off state.

18. The method of information transmitting according to claim 17, wherein said first IC tag and said second IC tag have mutually different characteristics.