Nikon Corporation

Nippon Kogaku K.k.

Takashi Saegusa

Seiichi Yasukawa

Nobuaki Sasagaki

Tetsuro Goto

Toru Fukuhara

Osamu Maida

Tsutomu Wakabayashi

Hidehiro Ogawa

Hisatoshi Fujiwara

Toshihiro Sato

Hidenori Miyamoto

Hiroshi Hasegawa

Tadao Takagi

Norikazu Yokonuma

Masaharu Hara

Kimio Uematsu

Keiji Ohsawa

Mikihito Furuya

Kenji Isono

Koichi Higashi

Yoshiyuki Daimon

A camera comprises a photographing data memory for storing data determined for each photographing at the time of photographing, a setting memory for determining whether to store the photographing data or not, a remaining memory capacity discriminator for outputting a first signal when a memory area to store the photographing data is present and outputting a second signal when the memory area to store the photographing data is exhausted. When the second signal is outputted, an alarm is displayed or a release operation is inhibited. In accordance with another aspect, the camera may comprise an inhibit circuit for comparing a memory capacity necessary to store the photographing data and a film end mark with a remaining memory capacity and inhibiting the storing of the photographing data when the remaining memory capacity is smaller than the required memory capacity. In accordance with another aspect, the camera may comprise an inhibit circuit to inhibit the updating of the setting of the type of the photographing data to be stored when a film loaded in the camera is in the course of photographing.

Camera capable of storing photographing data and display device connectable thereto

A display device to indicate positive and negative display values by increasing or decreasing a number of lit display elements to provide a display device that allows an expansion of the display range in the limited analog display area of a display section. The display device includes a first display element group that is lit to indicate display values; a second display element group located near the first display element group that is lit to indicate an origin corresponding to the display value; and a control device to control, lighting of a display value by the first display element according to a position of the origin.

Display device having an expanded display range in a limited analog

A battery check device which assesses a state of exhaustion of a battery installed in a camera, and which can accurately assess at any time the state of exhaustion of the battery according to the drive state of a camera mechanism, such as a mirror. The battery check device includes a voltage detection device to detect the voltage of the camera battery, a drive detection device to detect the required time needed to drive the camera mechanism, a memory in which is stored the required time detected by the drive detection device, and a calculating device which inputs the battery voltage detected by the voltage detection device and the required time which has been recorded in the memory, and calculates a degree of exhaustion of the battery corresponding to these values. A display then displays the degree of exhaustion of the battery which has been found by the calculating device.

Battery check device for a camera

An optical system including a first microcomputer having a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal, a second microcomputer having a third communication terminal which is connected to the first communication terminal and sends and receives data, and a non-volatile memory having a fourth communication terminal which is connected to the second communication terminal and able to receive data, the non-volatile memory storing contents even after power to the non-volatile memory is turned OFF. The first microcomputer reads first data which is stored in a first region of the non-volatile memory, from the non-volatile memory via the second communication terminal, transfers the first data from the first communication terminal to the second microcomputer immediately after power is supplied, and uses second data, which is stored in a second region of the non-volatile memory and which has been transferred via the second communication terminal, to perform processing.

Apparatus having a first microcomputer for reading first and second data

Camera capable of storing photographing data and display device

To cope with undefined codes of coded information, an information setting device is provided having a code read-in device, a memory device to store information corresponding to the codes, and an information reading device to read information from the memory device corresponding to the codes read by the code reading device. The memory device of the information setting device of a camera which sets information read from the information reading device in the camera can be an information overwritable memory device having an information storage area for undefined codes where information is not set.

Information setting device of a camera

A display device for use in a camera includes a display having a plurality of display units for displaying character patterns. A memory stores character patterns for a first display and character patterns for a second display. The character patterns for the second display include matching pairs of half character patterns for display in adjacent display units to form a complete pattern. A control unit controls the operation of the display device and displays the stored character patterns on the display device. Duplicate character patterns and patterns containing numerals and decimals are stored in the memory. The control unit displays the character patterns on the display such that character pattern display appears uniformly spaced to user. In the method for displaying character patterns on the display device, the character patterns for a first display and half patterns for a second display are stored in memory. After a display has been selected the character patterns are displayed on a display device.

Camera display system and method

A camera having a device for setting plural modes of camera operation with a single operating member. The camera operates in various modes of operation, including a first focus detection region mode in which focus detection of a photographic lens is performed in a first focus detection region in a photographic picture plane, and a second focus detection region mode in which focus detection of a photographic lens is performed in a second focus detection region which is narrower than the first focus detection region. The camera also operates in plural focusing adjustment modes of operation, including a first drive mode in which further focusing adjustment movement of the lens is inhibited once the photographic lens has been focused, and a second drive mode in which focus adjustment movement continues even after focusing of the photographic lens. The various combinations of the focus detection region modes and the focus adjustment modes are changed by the single operating member.

Camera having a device for setting plural modes of camera operation with

A dot matrix LCD system able to provide a flashing effect having a control unit to output a signal indicative of a symbol to be displayed and a reversal signal indicative of whether the symbol is to be displayed in the reverse. A first memory unit connected to the control unit stores the symbol to be displayed, and a second memory unit connected to the control unit stores an indication of whether the symbol is to be displayed in the reverse. A character generator connected to the first memory unit generates a pattern of dots based on the indication stored in the first memory unit, while a pattern memory unit connected to the character generator stores the pattern of dots. An LCD display unit having a plurality of display dots, is driven by a driver to illuminate the display dots, corresponding to the pattern. A temperature detection circuit detects ambient temperature. A reversal operation unit connected between the pattern memory unit and the driver transmits the pattern from the pattern memory unit to the driver. The reversal operation unit reverses the pattern based on the indication stored in the second memory unit and reverses the pattern at a rate which is dependent upon the ambient temperature detected.

Flashing LCD display system

A display and method for selecting a control mode or an operational parameter of a camera utilizes a display screen located laterally adjacent a plurality of switches on the camera. During a first display condition, a plurality of control mode symbols are displayed on the display screen, each control mode symbol appearing adjacent a corresponding switch. Indicators on the display screen indicate which of the plurality of switches may by operated to select each control mode. During a second display condition, at least one operational parameter is displayed on the display screen. The indicators indicate which of the switches correspond to each displayed opertional parameter, and which of the switches to operate to change the displayed operational parameter. The indicators may also indicate how the displayed operational parameter will change upon operation of each of the switches.

Display system and method for a camera

A camera includes a memory, a display component, a selector, a controller and a shutter assembly. The memory stores a plurality of preset parameters used to control the camera during a photographic operation. The display component is coupled to the memory and displays a selection of parameters from the stored parameters. The selector is coupled to the display and allows a user to select at least one of the displayed parameters for the photographic operation. The controller is coupled to the memory, the display component and the selector. The controller controls the photographic operation based on either a parameter selected from a display when the selector is operated or a parameter automatically selected by the controller when the selector is not operated. The shutter assembly is coupled to the controller and executes the photographic operation based on the selected parameter.

Camera and method for assuring photography with selected parameter

A camera is provided so that an inexperienced photographer is able to see the data easily regarding the necessary parameter for setting, and furthermore, the setting input operation of that parameter can be accomplished easily. The camera has a display that offers a selection of parameters and a display that verifies the parameter selected. The display showing the selected parameter is easily returned to the original selection display. Two operating modes are provided, a simple mode and an advanced mode. In the simple mode, an automatic preprogrammed mode may be selected at any time by continuously depressing a menu switch. In the advanced mode, continuous depression of the menu switch allows a user to automatically use a prestored favorite mode or the previously selected mode. Thus, operation is easy and selections are quickly executed.

Camera with simplified parameter selection and dual mode operation and

A camera information setting device temporarily sets a shutter speed during flash photography. The original camera shutter speed is automatically recovered without further operation from the photographer. A first display is disposed within the viewfinder of the camera for displaying a warning if the camera shutter speed presents a risk of image blur due to camera shake and second display is disposed external to the camera for indicating that a flash device will limit the set shutter speed of the camera. The device cooperates with a removable flash device. A manual setting member performs a shutter speed setting which is then stored in a first memory unit. A first display unit and a second display perform display of the shutter speed. A change unit determines the presence or absence of the flash device, performs a change of the shutter speed and stores it to a second memory unit. When a change of the shutter speed is performed by the change unit, a shutter speed display is performed in the second display unit, based on the information stored in the second memory unit. A shutter speed display is also performed in the first display unit, based on the information which was stored in the first memory unit.

Camera which sets shutter speed and lights display in accordance with

A camera includes a control unit and display assembly permitting the selective input of operating parameters by a user. A selection component permits the selective input of operating parameters displayed on a display device. Different operating parameters are displayed based upon the selected operating mode. In a first operating mode, the control unit displays a designated number of preset parameters on the display device and only permits the user to select from these designated preset parameters. In a second operating mode, the control unit permits the user to select from a plurality of parameters displayed on said display device. In addition, the control unit permits the user to display additional parameters on the display device. In the method for selectively inputting operating parameters into a camera, an operating mode for the camera is selected. The operating parameters are displayed on a display device based upon the selected operating mode. The operating parameters are then selected and displayed on the display device.

Camera for selectively inputting operating parameters and method

A system for setting data of a camera comprises at least two accessories and a tranferring unit. The two accessories are attachable to and detachable from a camera body. The accessories are capable of transferring set data for controlling the camera body to the camera body. When one accessory transfers the set data to the camera body, the transferring unit transfers the same set data to the other accessory. The camera body executes a predetermined action on the basis of the transferred data.

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Kawasaki, Japan

Takashi Saegusa