Television – Camera – system and detail – Support or housing
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-11
2004-05-18
Vu, Ngoc-Yen (Department: 2612)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Support or housing
C348S222100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06738095
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to digital cameras and more particularly to a digital camera having a vertical shutter release switch which is enables/disabled as a function of camera orientation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A camera has external means by which the user can actuate the shutter mechanism to cause an image capture to occur. This mechanism is typically termed the “release” button. The release button typically is a 2-position switch which provide the functions of “half press” and “full press”. Actuating half press wakes up the camera electronics for exposure setting and autofocus. The full press action then actuates the capture sequence. The camera will not see a full press without seeing a half press first.
Some cameras provide multiple release buttons, one on the top and one on the side. The top or horizontal button is used when taking pictures in a landscape mode. The side or vertical release can be used when holding the camera in a portrait orientation. The position of the vertical release button can cause it to be actuated inadvertently unless a lockout method is used to inhibit the ability to press the button. Lockout mechanisms to date have been done by a mechanical means preventing the switch from actuating. This mechanism adds additional components and cost to a design and provides only 2 modes of operation, LOCK or UNLOCK.
Digital cameras can also include an orientation sensor that indicates orientation of the camera when an image is captured. (See: U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,149, issued Nov. 14, 2000, inventor Kagle; U.S. Pat. No. 5, 900,909, issued May 4, 1999, inventors Parulski et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,222,584 B1, issued Apr. 24, 2001, inventor Pan). None of these patents disclose a solution to the problem of disabling/enabling a vertical shutter release switch when a camera is orientation is changed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a solution to the problems discussed above.
According to a feature of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera comprising;
a user controlled camera system;
an orientation sensor for sensing whether said camera is in one of a horizontal or vertical positions;
a user actuated switch located on the side of said camera when said camera is in said horizontal position; and
means for selectively enabling/disabling said user controlled camera system as a function of the orientation of said orientation sensor.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
The invention has the following advantages.
1. A low cost, simple technique for disabling and enabling the function of a vertical release switch.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4710008 (1987-12-01), Tosaka et al.
patent: 5536930 (1996-07-01), Barkan et al.
patent: 5710947 (1998-01-01), Teremy et al.
patent: 5900909 (1999-05-01), Parulski et al.
patent: 5937216 (1999-08-01), Homma et al.
patent: 6148149 (2000-11-01), Kagle
patent: 6222584 (2001-04-01), Pan
patent: 6223988 (2001-05-01), Batterman et al.
Dibella James A.
Ferland Albert
Larsen Lynn V.
Venturino Michael
Myers, III Paul W.
Noval William F.
Vu Ngoc-Yen
LandOfFree
Orientation-sensitive electronic vertical shutter release lock does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Orientation-sensitive electronic vertical shutter release lock, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Orientation-sensitive electronic vertical shutter release lock will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3244260