Photography – Camera shake sensing – With accelerometer
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-28
2001-10-16
Perkey, W. B. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Camera shake sensing
With accelerometer
C396S542000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304726
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 11-053750, filed Mar. 2, 1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a camera capable of detecting shocks which are caused when fallen or the like and which may damage the camera.
Various kinds of cameras have been proposed which detect hand-originated blurring and shocks. For example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 9-134216 discloses a camera which can detect shocks applied to the camera.
This publication however has no detailed description of how to mount a shock sensor to the camera body. As the shock sensor is one type of an acceleration sensor, it is a blurring sensor if one does not consider the difference in frequency response characteristic between those two sensors.
A typical way of mounting a blurring sensor is to secure the detecting section (sensor) to the support member and then mounting the support member to the camera body as described in, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 7-83750.
As the support member has such a shape as to enclose the sensor portion, it is considerably larger than the sensor. This inevitably makes the mount area of the camera body larger, thus resulting in a larger camera. The provision of the support member eventually increases the cost of the camera.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a camera capable of detecting shocks without enlarging the camera or increasing the cost.
To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of this invention, there is provided a camera comprising a camera body; a flexible substrate having electric parts mounted thereon; a vibration detecting element, mounted on the flexible substrate, for detecting vibration applied to the camera body; and a fixing member for securing the flexible substrate to the camera body in a vicinity of the vibration detecting element.
According to the second aspect of this invention, there is provided a camera comprising a camera body; a flexible substrate secured to the camera body; and a shock detecting element, mounted on the camera body, for detecting shocks applied to the camera, wherein the flexible substrate on which the shock detecting element is mounted is secured to the camera body by screws in a vicinity of the shock detecting element.
According to the third aspect of this invention, there is provided a camera comprising a camera body; a shock detecting element for detecting shocks applied to the camera; and an electric circuit board having the shock detecting element mounted thereon, wherein the shock detecting element is integrally secured to the camera body by attaching the electric circuit board to the camera body by screws.
According to the fourth aspect of this invention, there is provided a camera comprising a camera body; a shock detecting element for detecting shocks applied to the camera; a flexible board having the shock detecting element mounted thereon; an electric circuit board having other electric parts than the shock detecting element mounted thereon; a pressing member for pressing a first connector section of the flexible board and a second connector section of the electric circuit board; and screws for integrally securing the pressing member, the first connector section and the second connector section to the camera body as the screws penetrate the pressing member, the first connector section and the second connector section.
According to the fifth aspect of this invention, there is provided a camera comprising a camera body; a shock detecting element for detecting shocks applied to the camera; a flexible board having the shock detecting element mounted thereon; and screws for securing the flexible board to the camera body in a vicinity of the shock detecting element, wherein the shock detecting element is mounted at an extending portion which is a part of the flexible board.
According to the sixth aspect of this invention, there is provided a camera comprising a camera body; a shock detecting element for detecting shocks applied to the camera; a flexible board having a first mount surface on which a control circuit for controlling the shock detecting element is mounted, and a second mount surface on which the shock detecting element is mounted; a connecting section for electrically connecting the first mount surface to the second mount surface; and screws for securing the flexible board to the camera body in a vicinity of the shock detecting element.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5523892 (1996-06-01), Yoshibe et al.
patent: 5666563 (1997-09-01), Iijma et al.
patent: 6104878 (2000-08-01), Toguchi et al.
patent: 7-83750 (1995-03-01), None
patent: 9-134216 (1997-05-01), None
Frishauf, Holtz Goodman, Langer & Chick, P.C.
Olympus Optical Co,. Ltd.
Perkey W. B.
LandOfFree
Camera does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Camera, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Camera will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2593986