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:
Dec. 03, 1996
Filed:
Nov. 29, 1994
Etsuro Suzuki, Yokohama, JP;
Hiroshi Matsushima, Machida, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
Optical apparatus for controlling operations based on a user's visual axis includes a finder for observing an object, and circuitry for judging whether or not a user is looking into the finder. First control circuitry is provided for discontinuing a predetermined operation of the apparatus when the judging circuitry judges that the user is not looking into the finder. Second control circuitry is provided for beginning the predetermined operation regardless of the result judged by the judging circuitry. Selection circuitry is provided for selecting one of an operation of the first control circuitry and an operation of the second control circuitry according to an operational state of the apparatus. Preferably, the device is incorporated into a camera in which a self-timer or a remote-control photographing mode may be carried out even if the user's visual axis is not detected in the view finder.