Camera having mode-selecting power-controlling buttons

• US 7,525,594 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2005
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
• Original Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuda, Takashi, Tatamiya, Hisashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRABHAKHER, PRITHAM DAVID
• Application Number:
  US11/208,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20060044462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 348/372
• US Class Current: 348/372
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

A camera has a power switching processor for switching on and off the power supply, a mode-setting processor for setting a selected mode among a plurality of mode, and a plurality of buttons, each corresponding to one mode. When one of the buttons is pushed in a state where the power supply is off, the power switching processor switches the power supply on, and the mode-setting processor sets the selected mode corresponding to the pushed button. When one of the buttons is pushed in a state where the power supply is on, the mode-setting processor changes the selected mode to the mode corresponding to the pushed button. Further, when a specific operation, carried out by pushing at least one of the buttons, which is different from an operation or changing the selected mode, is performed, the power switching processor switches the power supply off.

Claims

1. A camera configured to enter one selected mode of a plurality of modes, when a power supply to said camera is turned ON, the camera comprising:

a plurality of user operable buttons, each button corresponding to one of said modes, operation of each of the buttons placing the camera in the ON state,

a power switching processor that switches the power supply ON and OFF, and

a mode-setting processor that sets a selected mode of said plurality of modes;

wherein when one of said buttons is operated in a state where the power supply is OFF, said power switching processor switches the power supply ON, and said mode-setting processor sets said selected mode corresponding to said operated button,

when one of said buttons which does not correspond to said selected mode is operated in a state where the power supply is ON, said mode-setting processor changes said selected mode to a new selected mode corresponding to said operated button, and

when one of said buttons is continuously operated for a longer time period than a predetermined period when said power supply is ON, said power switching processor switches said power supply OFF.

2. A camera according to claim 1, wherein when said camera is set to a specified mode, said camera carries out a function corresponding to the specified mode, and when said camera is sets to an other specified mode, said camera carries out the function corresponding to the other specified mode.

3. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of modes includes a still picture mode for photographing a still picture, a moving picture mode for photographing a moving picture, and sound recording mode for recording sound.

4. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said camera has a lens barrel and a camera lens which is provided inside said lens barrel,

when said mode-setting processor sets a predetermined mode, said lens barrel is set in an extended position, and when said mode-setting processor sets another predetermined mode, said lens barrel is set in a retracted position, and

when one of said buttons is continuously operated for the longer time period is performed in a state where said mode-setting processor has set said another predetermined mode, said lens barrel is first extended and is then retracted to said retracted position and said power supply is turned OFF.

5. A camera according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of modes includes a still picture mode for photographing a still picture, a moving picture mode for photographing a moving picture, and sound recording mode for recording sound, and

said predetermined mode is one of said still picture mode and said moving picture mode.

6. The camera according to claim 1, wherein each of said user operable buttons is discrete and said power switching processor is configured to switch said power supply OFF when any one of said discrete buttons is continuously operated for said longer time period.

7. The camera according to claim 1, wherein, when said camera is in said power supply OFF state, operation of any one of said buttons causes said power supply to enter said power supply ON state and, when any one of said buttons is continuously operated for said longer time period, causes said power supply to enter said power OFF state.

8. The camera according to claim 1, wherein, each of said user operable buttons is configured to cause said camera to enter said power ON state, to set selected mode and to enter said power OFF state independently of any other of said plurality of user operable buttons.

9. The camera according to claim 1, wherein, when said camera is in said power ON state, and any one of said plurality of user operable buttons is operated, and said operated button is not associated with the set mode, said camera sets said selected mode corresponding to said operated button and then, upon expiration of said longer time period, switches said power supply to said OFF state.

10. The camera according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of buttons, is configured, upon operation, to turn said power supply ON, to set a mode, and to turn said power supply OFF.

11. A camera operable in any one of a plurality of functional modes, said camera comprising:

a plurality of operationally discrete user operable buttons, each button corresponding to one of said plurality of function modes;

a power switching processor configured to switch a power supply of said camera between ON and OFF conditions;

a mode setting processor configured to set a selected mode of said plurality of functional modes;

wherein;

when any one of said buttons is operated and the power supply is OFF, said power switching processor being configured to switch the power supply ON and said mode setting processor being configured to set the mode associated with said operated button,

wherein when said power supply is ON and any one of said buttons, which is not associated with a presently set mode of said camera is operated, said mode setting processor being configured to change the set mode to a new selected mode associated with the operated button, and

when any one of said plurality of buttons is continuously operated for a period of time longer than a predetermined period of time said power switching processor is configured to switch the power supply OFF.

12. A camera according to claim 11, wherein, when said camera is set to any one of said modes, said camera performs an operational function corresponding to the set mode.

13. The camera according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of modes comprises a still picture taking mode for photographing a still picture, a moving picture taking mode for photographing a moving picture, and a sound recording mode for recording sound.

14. The camera according to claim 11, wherein said camera includes a lens barrel and a camera lens provided within said lens barrel, wherein, when said mode setting processor sets a predetermined mode, said lens barrel is set to an extended position, and when said mode setting processor sets another of said predetermined modes, said lens barrel is set to a retracted position, and when one of said buttons is continuously operated for the longer time period, in a state where said mode setting processor has set said another predetermined mode, said lens barrel is first extended and is then retracted to said retracted position and said power supply is turned OFF.

15. The camera according to claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of buttons, is configured, upon operation, to turn said power supply ON, to set a mode, and to turn said power supply OFF.