Photography – Having wireless remote control circuit
Utility Patent
1999-06-14
2001-01-02
Perkey, W. B. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Having wireless remote control circuit
Utility Patent
active
06169854
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a camera and a camera system that have a character display unit and a voice synthesizer inside the camera main unit or in a peripheral device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Sho 55-155338, for example, cameras that issue voice warnings related to their operation, such as ‘use flash’ and ‘replace film’, have conventionally been known. These cameras use 135 film, and include a flash unit and a function to optically record the date and time at which the photograph was taken. They also include a liquid crystal display unit on which the date of photo-taking, and other information is displayed.
On the other hand, APS cameras, which have been increasing in popularity in recent years, have a flash unit and their photo-taking lenses are capable of zooming. Further, they are also capable of recording the dates of photo-taking and the titles of the photos in the magnetic recording area of the film. Where a title is to be recorded in the magnetic recording area of the film, two methods are available: (1) a method in which one title is selected from among multiple titles that are stored in the ROM in advance and (2) a method in which the user operates the character input switches to input the title through the sequential input of characters.
APS cameras must have a number of operation buttons even though the camera itself is reduced in size in comparison with conventional 135 film cameras. Consequently, the area of the display unit screen cannot be made large. On the other hand, because APS cameras have more functions than conventional 135 film cameras and have many items to be displayed on the display unit, where all of the available functions of the camera are to be displayed together, icons symbolizing each of the camera's functions are used. Moreover, where a title to be recorded in the magnetic recording area of the film is selected, the selected title is displayed in an abbreviated fashion by using a combination of characters and numbers.
Cameras having the voice warning function described above provided voice warnings regarding low photo object brightness and film expiration. These warnings had conventionally been given by means of light emission from an LED or through a beeping sound. However, cameras of that generation had a single focal point lens and did not have a mechanism to perform switching between standard and panoramic photo-taking, or a function to magnetically record titles. In short, their functions were relatively simple. Therefore, the number of items covered by the voice warnings was relatively limited, and the cameras also did not have a character input function.
Furthermore, because the displayed icons in conventional APS cameras are very small and symbolic, it is difficult for the user to understand what functions they represent. It was also impossible for the user to read and quickly understand the titles, which were displayed in an abbreviated fashion. This required the user to carry the camera's instruction manual at all times in order to be able to check the functions of the camera displayed in the form of icons and the meanings of the titles from which to make selections. An additional problem was that where the user sought to input the title through the sequential input of characters, because the area of the screen of the display unit was small and the number of characters that could be displayed was small, the title could not be fully displayed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to resolve the problems presented above.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a camera and a camera system that display explanations and warnings regarding the camera's functions and the meanings of the selected titles in the display unit by means of characters or symbols and that provide the same information to the user by means of voice sounds.
These and other objects are attained by a camera having a display unit that displays a first set of information that pertains to the functions of the camera and provides by means of voice sounds a second set of information that is more detailed than the first set of information.
These and other objects are attained by a camera system having a camera main unit and a peripheral device, wherein the camera main unit has (i) a first display unit that displays a first set of information that pertains to function of the camera by means of character, symbol or code or a combination thereof, and (ii) a transmitter that sends signals corresponding to the first set of information thus displayed, and the peripheral device has (i) a receiver that receives the signals sent from the transmitter, (ii) a second information set forming unit that forms in accordance with the signals received a second set of information having the same contents as the first set of information, (iii) a second display unit that displays the second set of information by means of character, symbol or code or a combination thereof, and (iv) a voice synthesizer that provides the second set of information by means of voice sounds.
The invention itself, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4346978 (1982-08-01), Taniguchi et al.
patent: 4367933 (1983-01-01), Sahara
patent: 4389109 (1983-06-01), Taniguchi et al.
patent: 4965627 (1990-10-01), Robison
patent: 5614969 (1997-03-01), Izukawa
patent: 55-155338 (1980-03-01), None
Hasegawa Yasushi
Hirano Masayasu
Kasai Toru
Kasuya Chisato
Kato Takashi
McDermott & Will & Emery
Minolta Co. , Ltd.
Perkey W. B.
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