Nikon Corporation

Tadashi Ohtani

Daiki Tsukahara

Hiroshi Wakabayashi

Yoshikazu Iida

Hiroyuki Tsuru

Riichi Higaki

Hidenobu Kaji

Yukikazu Iwane

When displaying operational settings and measurements on a pointer type display device, the starting position of the needles is automatically adjusted even when there are battery exchange and needle drive process errors. The display device may be used to display physical quantities using pointers which move above scale plates. Even though the displays may be changed by electric supply loading, battery exchange or a fall in electric supply voltage, the display can be automatically corrected. A memory stores the movement destination position of the pointers, and instructions are generated by a controller which calculates the movement destinations of the pointers after the electrical supply voltage is stabilized properly. The instructions which control operation of a driver for the pointers preferably use a combination of movement to predefined positions and incremental movement. This minimizes the number of instructions when moving automatically, while enabling the pointers to follow movement of operator controls.

Rotary pointer display device

A needle-type display device for displaying photographic data in a camera, the display device including a display having indicating needles which move directly from displaying presently displayed values to displaying new values without temporarily returning to an origin position. The display device includes a half-press switch having first and second positions, and a rangefinder and photometric unit which operate when the half-press switch is in the first position. The display displays photographic data measured by the range finder and photometric unit according to an amount of movement from an origin position by the respective indicating needles. When the half-press switch switches to the second position, a hold command unit operates to hold the respective indicating needles for a predetermined period of time at the display position displaying the measured amount. When a new measurement is performed by the rangefinder or photometric unit during the hold period, an update command unit moves the indicating needles directly from their present positions to new positions without returning to their origins. By the indicating needles moving directly to new display positions, the time required for the display needles to move is reduced, and a quick display response to measured photographic data is possible.

Camera display device with reduced display time

A camera is provided with several displays illuminated by several illuminators which are controlled to be turned on and off in dependence upon the operation of several illuminator buttons. Further, the brightness of the illuminators, when turned on, may be determined according to the operation of the illuminator buttons and according to the brightness of the object to be photographed.

Display illumination device for camera

When a preparation for photography signal is input from a release switch assembly without said photography command signal being input therefrom, the brightness of an object to be photographed is measured and an exposure value is calculated therefrom, the focus adjustment state of the photographic lens is detected, and these values are displayed. At the time point when this display operation has been completed, if and only if the preparation for photography signal is still being input from the release switch assembly, focus adjustment of the photographic lens is performed based upon the detected focus adjustment state. Further, when the photography command signal is input from the release switch assembly without any substantial time lapse after the preparation for photography signal is input therefrom, the brightness of the object to be photographed is measured and an exposure value is calculated therefrom, the focus adjustment state of the photographic lens is detected, thereafter focus adjustment of the photographic lens is performed, and thereafter exposure of the film is performed according to the exposure value.

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Ohtawara, Japan

Tadashi Ohtani