Apparatus for remotely controlling a camera

• US 4,937,604 A
• Filed: 09/25/1989
• Issued: 06/26/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Yoichi, Kunishige, Keiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Hix, L. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SPYROU, CASSANDRA
• Application Number:
  US07/412,134
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 354/266, 354/267.1, 354/131, 354/268, 354/289, 358/210, 340/825.72, 455/603
• US Class Current: 396/59
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/38 Releasing-devices separate from shutter integral with shutter G03B9/08

Abstract

A wireless remote control apparatus for a camera comprises a transmitter unit which is detachably mounted on the camera body and a receiver unit disposed in the camera. The wireless remote control apparatus determines if the remote control operation is possible prior to initiating a photographing operation of the camera.

Claims

1. A wireless remote control apparatus for a camera comprising;

a receiver unit associated with said camera and an independent transmitter unit;

said transmitter unit including;

means for generating a confirmation mode signal;

means for generating a photographing execution mode signal;

switching means for selectively operating one of said confirmation mode and execution mode signal generating means;

means for transmitting the signal being generated;

said receiver unit including;

means for detecting said transmitted signal;

means for determining whether the signal detected by the detecting means is the confirmation mode signal or the photographing execution mode signal to respectively generate a confirmation mode reply or a photographing execute signal;

means responsive to a reply signal for generating an indication that the camera may be remotely controlled by the wireless remote control apparatus; and

means responsive to a photographing execute signal for initiating a photographing operation.

2. A wireless remote control apparatus for a camera as defined in claim 1 wherein said camera includes a camera body and said transmitter unit is detachably mounted upon said camera body.

3. A wireless remote control apparatus for a camera as defined in claim 1 wherein said camera includes a camera body and said camera body includes means for detachably mounting said transmitter unit.

4. A wireless remote control apparatus for a camera as defined in claim 1 wherein said camera includes a camera body and said receiver unit is located in said camera body.

5. A wireless remote control apparatus for a camera as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for detachably mounting includes magnetic means.

6. A wireless remote control apparatus for a camera as defined in claim 1 in which said means for generating a confirmation mode signal further comprises means for generating pulses generated at predetermined spaced intervals, and

said photographing execution mode signal generating means comprises means for generating pulses at predetermined spaced intervals different from the spaced intervals between the pulses of said confirmation mode signal.

7. A wireless remote control apparatus for a camera as defined in claim 1 or 2 further comprising means for controlling the transmission output of said photographing execution mode signal so that it has a greater amplitude than said confirmation mode signal.

8. A wireless remote control apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said indication generating means generates a visual indication responsive to said photographing execution mode signal.

9. A wireless remote control apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said indication generating means generates an audible indication responsive to said photographing execution mode signal.

45. A wireless remote control apparatus for a camera as defined in claim 1 wherein said transmitter unit further includes means normally disabling said means for generating a photographing execution mode signal and enabling said means for generating a photographing execution mode signal responsive to said means for generating at indication provided in said receiving unit.

46. A wireless remote control apparatus for a camera as defined in claim 45 wherein said means for normally disabling said means for generating a photographing execution mode signal comprises sensor means for sensing an output from said means for generating an indication;

and

means responsive to said last-mentioned sensor means for enabling said normally disabled means for generating an execution mode signal.

49. A wireless remote control apparatus for operating a camera according to claim 1 wherein said transmitter unit further comprises;

means for indicating that wireless remote control operation is possible responsive to said confirmation acknowledge signal.

10. A transmitter for remotely controlling a camera comprising means for generating a confirmation mode signal to selectively confirm that remote control of said camera is possible;

means for generating a photographing execution mode signal to initiate a photographing operation by the camera;

switching means to selectively operate one of said signal generating means; and

means for transmitting signals responsive to the operative one of said signal generating means.

11. A transmitter for remotely controlling a camera as defined in claim 10 in which said transmitting means comprises a light emitting element for generating infrared pulses.

12. A receiver for use in the remote control of a camera comprising;

means for detecting a control signal transmitted to said camera which control signal is one of a confirmation mode signal and a photographing execution mode signal;

means for determining whether the signal detected by the detecting means is the confirmation mode signal or the photographing execution mode signal;

means responsive to the confirmation mode signal for providing an indication that the camera may be remotely controlled by a remote control apparatus; and

means responsive to the photographing execution mode signal for initiating a photographing operation.

13. A receiver for remotely controlling a camera as defined in claim 12 in which said indication providing means is also operative responsive to said photographing execution mode signal.

14. A receiver for remotely controlling a camera as defined in claim 12 in which said indication means comprises an element which generates one of a visual and an audible indication.

15. A wireless remote control apparatus for a camera comprising;

a transmitter for selectively generating a signal for executing a photographing operation and a confirmation signal for performing only an indication of reception of the confirmation signal without initiating a photographing operation; and

a receiver including means for initiating a photographing operation responsive to said photographing signal and means for operating an indication means responsive to said confirmation signal.

16. A transmitter for remotely controlling a camera comprising;

a power source;

actuating means;

an oscillation circuit which selectively generates a photographing execution signal for initiating a photographing operation and a confirmation signal which activates only an indication operation without initiating a photographing operation in response to actuation of said actuating means; and

a light emitting element for generating infrared light pulses responsive to the output from said oscillation circuit.

17. A transmitter for remotely controlling a camera as defined in claim 16 in which said actuating means comprises an oscillation circuit actuation member and a change-over member having at least first and second positions, said oscillation circuit generating one of a photographing execution signal and a confirmation signal responsive to the position of the change-over member and the operation of said oscillation actuation member.

50. A transmitter as defined in claim 16 further comprising;

sensing means for sensing an indication from said device acknowledging receipt of said confirmation signal;

means normally disabling said oscillation circuit and responsive to said sensing means for enabling said oscillation circuit responsive to a confirmation acknowledge indication signal for enabling said oscillation circuit to generate a photographing execution signal responsive to a actuation of said actuating means.

51. A transmitter according to claim 50 wherein said sensing means includes means adapted to sense an infrared light pulse.

18. A remotely controlled photographic camera comprising;

a power source;

a receiving means which receives at least first and second signals generated from a location external to and remote from said camera and includes means to discriminate said first and second signals from one another to respectively provide first and second outputs;

indicating means being operative responsive to at least said first output; and

photographing operation executing means which operates responsive to said second output.

19. A wireless remote control apparatus for operating a device from a remote location, said remote control apparatus comprising;

a receiver unit associated with said device and an independent transmitter unit;

said transmitter unit including;

means for generating a confirmation mode signal,

means for generating a device execution signal;

switching means for selectively operating one of said confirmation mode and execution mode signal generating means; and

means for transmitting the signal being generated;

said receiver unit including;

means for detecting said transmitted signal;

means for determining whether the signal detected by the detecting means is a confirmation mode signal or a device execution mode signal to respectively generate a confirmation mode reply or a device execute signal;

means responsive to a reply signal for generating an indication that said device may be remotely controlled by the wireless remote control apparatus; and

means responsive to a device execution signal for initiating operation of said device.

20. A wireless remote control apparatus for operating a device as defined in claim 19 wherein said device includes;

a device housing, said transmitter unit being detachably mounted upon said housing.

21. A wireless remote control apparatus for operating a device as defined in claim 19 wherein said device includes a housing, said housing including means for detachably mounting said transmitter unit.

22. A wireless remote control apparatus for operating a device as defined in claim 21 wherein said means for detachably mounting includes magnetic means.

47. A wireless remote control apparatus for a device as defined in claim 19 wherein said transmitter unit further includes means normally disabling said means for generating an execution mode signal and enabling said means for generating an execution mode signal responsive to said means for generating an indication provided in said receiver unit.

48. A wireless remote control apparatus for a device as defined in claim 47 wherein said means for normally disabling said means for generating an execution mode signal comprises sensor means for sensing an output from said means for generating an indication;

and

means responsive to said last-mentioned sensor means for enabling said normally disabled means for generating an execution mode signal.

23. A method for operating a device from a remote location through the employment of a wireless remote control apparatus comprising a transmitter unit and a receiver unit;

said transmitter unit including signal transmitting means and said receiver unit including signal receiving and signal transmitting means, said method comprising the steps of;

generating a signal of a first type for operating said transmitting unit transmitting means;

determining the type of signal received by said receiver unit receiving means;

operating said receiver unit transmitting means when the signal being examined is of said first type;

generating a signal of a second type responsive to the presence of an indication by said receiver unit transmitting means;

applying said second type of signal to said transmitter unit transmitting means;

determining if the signal received by said receiver unit receiving means is a signal of said second type; and

initiating operation of said device when the signal is of said second type.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said device is a camera and the step of initiating operation of said device comprises the step of initiating a photographing operation.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of generating said first type of signal further comprises the step of generating pulses at predetermined time intervals.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of generating a second type of signal further comprises the step of generating pulses at predetermined time intervals wherein the time intervals between pulses of said second type of signal are different from the time intervals between the pulses of said first type of signal.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said transmitter unit transmitting means comprises light generating means and the steps of producing first and second types of signals each comprise the step of generating pulses for operating said light generating means in a pulsed manner.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said light generating means comprises means for generating light in the infrared range and said receiver unit receiving means comprises means for detecting light in the infrared range, and wherein the step of detecting the first type of signal further comprises the step of analyzing the pulse signals generated by said receiving unit receiving means.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of analyzing said first type of signals further comprises the steps of;

initiating a timing means responsive to receipt of a pulse;

terminating said timing means upon receipt of the next pulse; and

determining the type of signal received based on the elapsed time accumulated by said timing means.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of analyzing said pulses further comprises the steps of;

generating clock pulses at a predetermined rate;

accumulating said clock pulses responsive to receipt of a pulse from said receiving unit receiving means;

determining the number of clock pulses counted upon receipt of the next pulse from said receiving unit receiving means; and

determining the type of signal received based upon the number of accumulated clock pulses.

31. The method of claim 23 wherein the steps of generating first and second type signals each further comprises the steps of;

providing switching means having a first state for initiating a confirmation mode and a second state for initiating a device execution mode;

operating said switching means to said first state to develop a confirmation signal;

operating said switching means to said second state to develop an execution signal;

generating pulses of a first type when the switching means is in said first state and generating signals of a second type when said switching means is in said second state.

32. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of;

increasing the amplitude of the output of said transmitter unit transmitting means when said switching means is in said second state.

33. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of;

increasing the amplitude of the output of said transmitter unit transmitting means when said switching means is in said second state.

34. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of;

energizing said receiving unit indication means responsive to detection of said second type of signal.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of;

energizing said receiving unit indication means responsive to completion of the operation of the device initiated by said device execution signal.

36. The method of claim 23 further comprising the steps of;

activating said indication means responsive to detection of said second type of signal and thereafter initiating operation of said device.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the step of operating the indication means responsive to the presence of a second type of signal further comprises the step of;

operating said receiver unit indication means in a manner different from operating said receiver unit indication means responsive to the presence of a first type of signal.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the step of operating said indication means further comprises flashing the indication means at a first rate in the presence of said first type of signal and at a second rate in the presence of said second type of signal.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the step of operating said receiver unit indication means is further comprised of the step of energizing the indication means for a first predetermined time interval in the presence of said first type of signal and at a different time interval in the presence of said second type of signal.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein said indication means is operated to flash in the presence of one of said first and second types of signals and is operated to be constantly illuminated for a predetermined time interval in the presence of the remaining one of said first and second types of signals.

41. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of generating a first type signal further comprises the step of;

energizing the transmitting unit transmitting means according to a predetermined binary code comprised of a plurality of binary bits wherein one bit state of said binary bits energizes said transmitting means and the other bit state of said binary bits deenergizes said transmitter unit transmitting means.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein said binary code comprises five binary bits arranged in a predetermined format.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of generating a second type signal further comprises the step of;

energizing the transmitting unit transmitting means according to a predetermined binary code comprised of a plurality of binary bits wherein one bit state of said binary bits energizes said transmitting means and the other bit state of said binary bits deenergizes said transmitter unit transmitting means; and

wherein said binary code representing said second type signal is different from the binary code representing said first type signal.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein the second type binary code for the second type signal is comprised of five binary bits arranged in a combination different from the binary code combination representing said first type signal.