Display system for camera having segment display portion and dot matrix display portion

• US 5,218,399 A
• Filed: 10/30/1991
• Issued: 06/08/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ishida, Tatsuya, Kuroda, Hirokazu, Nanba, Katsuyuki, Yoshino, Hiroshi, Ishii, Noriyuki, Ishimura, Toshihiko, Izumi, Shuji
• Primary Examiner(s): PERKEY, WILLIAM B
• Application Number:
  US07/784,064
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 354/484, 354/412, 354/465, 354/471, 354/474, 354/475, 354/289.1, 354/289.12
• US Class Current: 396/292
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light indicating depth of field G03B13/30

Abstract

A display system for a camera that includes both a segment display portion and a dot matrix display portion. The two different display systems are driven by different duty ratios for assuring clearer presentation and quicker recognition by the photographer. The disclosure also includes an energy-saving control system for such a combination display system where the more energy-consuming dot matrix portion is stopped operating while the less energy-consuming segment portion remains operation after a predetermined time since the last operation of any switch of the camera. The disclosure further includes an elaborate analog display that clearly shows exposure parameters of the camera.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

means for changing the state of said camera among a first state in which said camera is in an OFF state, a second state in which said camera is in an ON state without substantial power consumption to hold said camera in operation, and a third state in which said camera is in an ON state consuming power to hold said camera in operation;

means for displaying photographic information of said camera, said displaying means including first display means for displaying the information by means of a plurality of display segments and second display means for displaying the information by means of a dot matrix; and

means responsive to said changing means for controlling said displaying means so as to only turn on the first display means when the camera is in the second state.

2. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said changing means is a manually operable member.

3. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said controlling means controls said displaying means so as to turn on both of the first and second display means when said camera is in the third state.

4. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said controlling means includes means for counting a predetermined time period since said camera is changed into the second state by said changing means and said controlling means controls said displaying means so as to turn off the second display means after the predetermined period.

5. A camera comprising:

means for changing the state of said camera among a first state in which said camera is in an OFF state, a second state in which said camera is in an ON state without substantial power consumption to hold said camera in operation, and a third state in which said camera is in an ON state consuming power to hold said camera in operation;

means for displaying photographic information of said camera, said displaying means including first display means for displaying the information by means of a plurality of display segments and second display means for displaying the information by means of a dot matrix; and

means responsive to said changing means for controlling said displaying means so as to only turn on the first display means when the camera is in the first state.

6. A camera according to claim 5, wherein said changing means is a manually operable member.

8. A camera comprising:

means for changing the state of said camera among a first state in which said camera is in an OFF state, a second state in which said camera is in an ON state without substantial power consumption to hold said camera in operation, and a third state in which said camera is in an ON state consuming power to hold said camera in operation;

means for displaying photographic information of said camera, said displaying means including first display means and second display means different from the first display means;

means for driving said displaying means wherein said driving means drives the first display means by using a first method of driving and drives the second display means by using a second method of driving different from the first method; and

means for controlling said displaying means so as to turn on at least one of the first and second display means in response to said changing means.

7. A camera according to claim 8, wherein said controlling means includes means for counting a predetermined time period since said camera is changed into the first state by said changing means and said controlling means controls said displaying means so as to turn off the second display means after the predetermined period.

9. A camera according to claim 8, wherein said driving means drives the first display means with a first duty ratio under the first method and drives the second display means with a second duty ratio under the second method different from the first duty ratio.

10. A camera according to claim 8, wherein said changing means is a manually operable member.

11. A camera according to claim 8, wherein said controlling means controls said displaying means so as to turn on only one of the two display means when said camera is in the second state.

12. A camera according to claim 8, wherein said controlling means controls said displaying means so as to turn on only one of the two display means when said camera is in the first state.

13. A camera according to claim 8, wherein said controlling means controls said displaying means so as to turn on both of the first and second display means when said camera is in the third state.

14. A camera according to claim 8, wherein said controlling means includes means for counting a predetermined time period since the state of said camera is changed by said changing means and said controlling means controls said displaying means so as to turn off one of the two display means after the predetermined period.