The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 21, 1996
Filed:
Oct. 18, 1994
Katsuhiro Ohtake, Ohmiya, JP;
Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd., , JP;
Abstract
A photographic camera is provided with an automatic preparation function including a built-in microcontroller and a solar cell provided on an outer surface of the camera, wherein an electromotive force generated by the solar cell energizes the microcontroller and thereby makes the camera ready for photographing and wherein, if no electromotive force is generated by the solar cell within a predetermined period, the microcontroller is de-energized and the camera is made not ready for photographing. The microcontroller is automatically energized to make the camera ready for photographing as the solar cell generates an electromotive force, so the camera can be made ready for photographing without any manual operation of the main switch control element by the user and the possibility that a photographing opportunity may be missed can be minimized. No electromotive force is generated by the solar cell so far as the camera remains stored away in the camera case or laid in the dark. In this state, therefore, the microcontroller is not energized, the main switch is turned OFF and, thus, the camera is made not ready for photographing. As a consequence, the main capacitor in the strobe circuit is not further charged and the automatic exposure metering function also is no longer actuated. Consumption of the built-in source battery is thereby minimized.