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US4529291A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Exposure mode control device for camera

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1984-02-27
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Granted: 1985-07-16
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Expires: 2004-02-27
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Abstract

Abstract The disclosed automatic exposure control camera is capable of operating in various exposure modes. In the exposure mode control device, a number of selectable switches select one of a number of imaging effects. An exposure mode selector arrangement holds a signal corresponding to which of the switches is operated until the exposure is terminated. An exposure controller controls exposures in the different exposure modes and selects an exposure mode based on the signal from the exposure selector. Each of the switches has a pictograph as an indication of the imaging effect being selected by that switch. According to an embodiment of the invention, an indicator in the camera displays a pictograph representing the imaging effect to be obtained in the selected exposure mode on the basis of the signal from the exposure mode selector.

Inventors

  • 👤 Toyokazu Mizogui

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 10:11
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/18; G03B7/00; G03B7/08; G03B7/091; G03B7/097

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 288 words
An exposure control device for a camera comprising: (a) exposure control means for automatically determining an aperture value and a shutter time in accordance with the EV along a program line, said exposure control means having a plurality of types of said program lines at least one of said types of program lines being a first program line for setting the shutter time at high speeds, and another being a second program for setting the shutter time at slow speeds; (b) a control signal generating circuit for producing a control signal to said exposure control circuit to indicate one program line out of the aforesaid plurality of types of program lines and to operate said exposure control circuit along that indicated program line; (c) selecting means accessible from the outside of the camera for selecting one program line of said plural kinds of program lines which gives a characteristic image state which the photographer hopes to obtain to the photographic result so that responsive to a selecting operation of said selecting means, said control signal generating means produces the aforesaid control signal and said exposure control circuit is operated along the selected one program line by said selecting means; and (d) a plurality of pictographs on the camera to guide the selecting operation of said selecting means, at least one of said pictographs being a first pictograph assisting in foreseeing concretely the imaging effect of photographs having a stop motion, and another being a second pictograph assisting in foreseeing concretely the image effect of photographs having movement, said first pictograph being arranged to guide the selecting operation of said first program line, and said second pictograph is arranged to guide the selecting operation of said second program line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 288 words
An exposure control device for a camera comprising: (a) exposure control means for automatically determining an aperture value and a shutter time in accordance with the EV along a program line, said exposure control means having a plurality of types of said program lines at least one of said types of program lines being a first program line for setting the shutter time at high speeds, and another being a second program for setting the shutter time at slow speeds; (b) a control signal generating circuit for producing a control signal to said exposure control circuit to indicate one program line out of the aforesaid plurality of types of program lines and to operate said exposure control circuit along that indicated program line; (c) selecting means accessible from the outside of the camera for selecting one program line of said plural kinds of program lines which gives a characteristic image state which the photographer hopes to obtain to the photographic result so that responsive to a selecting operation of said selecting means, said control signal generating means produces the aforesaid control signal and said exposure control circuit is operated along the selected one program line by said selecting means; and (d) a plurality of pictographs on the camera to guide the selecting operation of said selecting means, at least one of said pictographs being a first pictograph assisting in foreseeing concretely the imaging effect of photographs having a stop motion, and another being a second pictograph assisting in foreseeing concretely the image effect of photographs having movement, said first pictograph being arranged to guide the selecting operation of said first program line, and said second pictograph is arranged to guide the selecting operation of said second program line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the pictograph is represented by an image of a person.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said pictographs are arranged between a pentaprism portion of the camera and a release button.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 357 words
An exposure control device for a camera comprising: (a) exposure control means for automatically determining an aperture value and a shutter time in accordance with the EV along a program line, said exposure control means having a plurality of types of said program lines at least one of said types of program lines being a first program line for setting the shutter time at high speeds, and another being a second program for setting the shutter time at slow speeds; (b) a control signal generating circuit for producing a control signal to said exposure control circuit to indicate one program line out of the aforesaid plurality of types of program lines and to operate said exposure control circuit along that indicated program line; (c) selecting means accessible from the outside of the camera for selecting one program line of said plural kinds of program lines which gives a characteristic image state which the photographer hopes to obtain to the photographic result so that responsive to a selecting operation of said selecting means, said control signal generating means produces the aforesaid control signal and said exposure control circuit is operated along the selected one program line by said selecting means; and (d) a plurality of pictographs on said camera to guide the selecting operation of said selecting means, at least one of said pictographs being a first pictograph which represents that even when the shooting target area includes a moving object, in a photograph to be taken, the entire field of view is photographed at a standstill, with the moving object depicted as stopping in a certain condition, and at least another one of said pictographs being a second pictograph which represents that when the shooting target area includes a moving object, in a photograph to be taken, only the moving object is photographed at standstill and the stationary background as if it were moving with the moving object depicted as stopping in a certain condition and the background as blurred, so that said first pictograph guides the selecting operation of said first program line, and said second pictograph guides the selecting operation of said second program line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 357 words
An exposure control device for a camera comprising: (a) exposure control means for automatically determining an aperture value and a shutter time in accordance with the EV along a program line, said exposure control means having a plurality of types of said program lines at least one of said types of program lines being a first program line for setting the shutter time at high speeds, and another being a second program for setting the shutter time at slow speeds; (b) a control signal generating circuit for producing a control signal to said exposure control circuit to indicate one program line out of the aforesaid plurality of types of program lines and to operate said exposure control circuit along that indicated program line; (c) selecting means accessible from the outside of the camera for selecting one program line of said plural kinds of program lines which gives a characteristic image state which the photographer hopes to obtain to the photographic result so that responsive to a selecting operation of said selecting means, said control signal generating means produces the aforesaid control signal and said exposure control circuit is operated along the selected one program line by said selecting means; and (d) a plurality of pictographs on said camera to guide the selecting operation of said selecting means, at least one of said pictographs being a first pictograph which represents that even when the shooting target area includes a moving object, in a photograph to be taken, the entire field of view is photographed at a standstill, with the moving object depicted as stopping in a certain condition, and at least another one of said pictographs being a second pictograph which represents that when the shooting target area includes a moving object, in a photograph to be taken, only the moving object is photographed at standstill and the stationary background as if it were moving with the moving object depicted as stopping in a certain condition and the background as blurred, so that said first pictograph guides the selecting operation of said first program line, and said second pictograph guides the selecting operation of said second program line.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-07-15 1989-01-14 1989-07-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-07-15 1993-01-14 1993-07-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-07-15 1997-01-14 1997-07-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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