Information switch and method for a digital camera

• US 20060055805A1
• Filed: 11/01/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kenneth R. Stockton, Michael P. Fennelly
• Original Assignee: Kenneth R. Stockton, Michael P. Fennelly
• Inventors: Stockton, Kenneth R., Fennelly, Michael P.
• Application Number:
  US11/264,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20060055805A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera

Abstract

Digital cameras and methods of using digital cameras are disclosed herein. An embodiment of a digital camera comprises a display and a help switch. The help switch causes the digital camera to enter a help mode when it is activated. In addition help information that informs a user of various functions associated with operating the digital camera when the help switch is displayed on the display.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising:

a display; and

a help switch that when actuated causes the digital camera to enter a help mode and display, on said display, help information that informs a user of various functions associated with operating said digital camera.

2. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein said help information includes a table of contents relating to the operation of said digital camera.

3. The digital camera of claim 2, wherein said table of contents comprises a list of items, and wherein at least one item of said list of items is selectable.

4. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the help information includes a searchable index.

5. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein said help information includes a list of help items.

6. The digital camera of claim 5, wherein at least one of said items of said list of help items is selectable.

7. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein said help mode enables the user to enter characters and display help topics that correspond to said entered characters.

8. The digital camera of claim 1 and further comprising a processor and an input device, said processor being operatively connected to said display device and said input device, wherein said input device is adapted to transmit at least one signal to said processor, and wherein said display device is adapted to display at least one character representative of said at least one signal transmitted to said processor by said input device.

9. The digital camera of claim 1 and further comprising a second switch, said second switch having a first operative position and a second operative position, and wherein said display displays information related to at least one function associated with said second switch when said second switch is toggled between said first operative position and said second operative position and when said digital camera is in said help mode.

10. The digital camera of claim 1 and further comprising a second switch and an illumination device associated with said second switch, said illumination device being illuminatable in response to said help switch switching from said first operative position to said second operative position.

11. The digital camera of claim 1 and further comprising an audio device, said audio device being activated when said help switch is switched from said first operative position to said second operative position.

12. A method of obtaining information relating to at least one function associated with a digital camera, said method comprising:

toggling a first switch associated with said digital camera; and

audibly presenting information pertaining to said at least one function associated with said digital camera by way of an audio device associated with said digital camera upon said toggling of said first switch.

13. The method of claim 12 and further comprising toggling a second switch, wherein said function is related to said second switch.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said function is related to a second switch and further comprising illuminating an illumination device associated with said second switch.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the audible information includes a table of contents relating to the operation of said digital camera.

16. The method claim 12, wherein said audible information includes a list of help items.

17. A method of obtaining information relating to at least one function associated with a digital camera, said method comprising:

toggling a help switch associated with said digital camera; and

displaying information pertaining to said at least one function associated with said digital camera on a display device associated with said digital camera upon said toggling of said first switch.

18. The method of claim 17 and further comprising presenting information relating to said at least one function associated with said digital camera by way of an audio device associated with said digital camera upon said toggling of said first switch.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said displaying comprises displaying a list of items and further comprising:

selecting one item of said list of items; and

displaying information related to said one item of said list of items.

20. The method of claim 17 and further comprising:

entering at least one character into said digital camera by way of an input device;

displaying a list of at least one item corresponding to said at least one character;

selecting at least one item of said list; and

displaying information pertaining to said at least one item.