Electroluminescent display device and a digital camera using an electroluminescent display device

• US 7,606,483 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
• Original Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Inventors: Kurosawa, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Rodney E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Linda B
• Application Number:
  US11/459,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20070019942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 396287-296, 396/281, 396/299, 396/540, 345/33, 345/36, 345/79
• US Class Current: 396/299
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/02 Viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/20 visible in viewfinder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera

Abstract

An electroluminescent display device includes an electroluminescent display, and

at least one switch which is positioned adjacent to an inner surface of the electroluminescent display, the switch being activated upon an outer surface of the electroluminescent display being pressed to resiliently deform the switch.

Claims

1. A digital camera, comprising:

an electroluminescent display;

a plurality of switches which are positioned adjacent to an inner surface of said electroluminescent display, each of said switches being activated upon an outer surface of said electroluminescent display being pressed to resiliently deform said switch, said plurality of switches comprising one or more switches provided at a right side of said electroluminescent display, and one or more switches provided at a left side of said electroluminescent display;

a right release button provided on a right portion of a body of said digital camera; and

a left release button provided on a left portion of said body,

wherein said digital camera is configured to operate in a right-handed mode and a left-handed mode, based on a dominant-hand setting operation, and

when said digital camera operates in said right-handed mode, said right release button is enabled, and said electroluminescent display displays one or more function indicators corresponding to said one or more switches at said right side of said electroluminescent display, and

when said digital camera operates in said left-handed mode, said left release button is enabled, and said electroluminescent display displays one or more function indicators corresponding to said one or more switches at said left side of said electroluminescent display.

2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said electroluminescent display is flexible so that in the case where said outer surface of said electroluminescent display is depressed, a depressed portion thereof is deformed so that an inner surface of said depressed portion operates one of said plurality of switches.

3. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein said electroluminescent display displays each of said function indicators at an area at which a switch is operated upon said electroluminescent display being depressed.

4. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein an inner layer of said electroluminescent display adjacent to a switch is made of an opaque material.

5. The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein each of said function indicators indicates a function which is performed when a corresponding switch which is operated.

6. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said electroluminescent display device displays object images captured via an image pickup device, and extends over substantially an entire surface of said body of said digital camera.

7. The digital camera according to claim 6, wherein said electroluminescent display displays information on various modes of said digital camera.

8. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein each of said switches comprises:

an insulating substrate;

at least one switch pad formed on a surface of said insulating substrate; and

a resiliently deformable switch member which is resiliently deformed to come in contact with said switch pad when said resiliently deformable switch member is depressed toward said switch pad.

9. The digital camera according to claim 8, wherein said resiliently deformable switch member comprises a dome-shaped tactile member.

10. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said digital camera visually indicates the release button which is enabled.

11. The digital camera according to claim 10, wherein each of said right release button and said left release button comprises a light emitter, and

wherein said light emitter of the release button which is enabled emits light.

12. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein each of said right release button and said left release button comprises a second flexible electroluminescent display and a switch positioned adjacent to an inner surface of said second flexible electroluminescent display, and

wherein said second flexible electroluminescent display of one of said right release button and said left release button which is enabled is made to display an indication indicating that said one of said right release button and said left release button is currently enabled.

13. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein each of said right release button and said left release button comprises:

a push button member made of a translucent resin; and

a light emitter which illuminates said push button member when the associated one of said right release button and said left release button is enabled.

14. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said right release button and said left release button are provided on the top of said camera body, and

wherein said electroluminescent display is provided on the back of said camera body.

15. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a self-portrait mirror fixed to a front surface of said camera body.