← Back to Patent Explorer
US4472045A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

System for audibly indicating necessary information for the photographic operation of a camera

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1982-03-19
•
Granted: 1984-09-18
•
Expires: 2002-03-19
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An indication system of a camera for audibly and distinguishably indicating at least two different kinds of information of the operating state of a self-timer, a warning against the photographing operation for insufficient brightness of the object or low range of a shutter speed, the voltage checking of a battery and the other necessary information for photographing operation. The indication system comprises an acoustic device having a sound which varies in volume, tone or time interval thereof in accordance with various kinds of output signals of a controlling circuit for digitally controlling the acoustic device by means of counting signals of a binary counter.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kiyoshi Alyfuku
  • 👤 Masayoshi Kiuchi
  • 👤 Makoto Katsuma

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 10:16
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/18; G03B2217/00; G03B2217/005

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 110 words
A system for indicating audibly necessary information for a self-timer operation of a camera, comprising: (a) an acoustic device for producing different signal sounds in accordance with voltages applied thereto; (b) power source means for changing an output voltage; (c) a self-timer switch to drive a self-timer mechanism; (d) timer means producing signals respectively after elapses of a plurality of different periods of time prescribed after the self-timer switch is turned ON; and (e) control means for increasing the output voltage from the power source means and for impressing it on the acoustic device every time the prescribed period of time has elapsed by the signal of said timer means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 110 words
A system for indicating audibly necessary information for a self-timer operation of a camera, comprising: (a) an acoustic device for producing different signal sounds in accordance with voltages applied thereto; (b) power source means for changing an output voltage; (c) a self-timer switch to drive a self-timer mechanism; (d) timer means producing signals respectively after elapses of a plurality of different periods of time prescribed after the self-timer switch is turned ON; and (e) control means for increasing the output voltage from the power source means and for impressing it on the acoustic device every time the prescribed period of time has elapsed by the signal of said timer means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
A system according to claim 1, in which the timer means comprises: (a) a clock pulse oscillator for producing a clock pulse train; and (b) pulse frequency dividing means for dividing the pulse train of the oscillator and for producing plural pulse train outputs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 76 words
A system according to claim 1, in which the power source means includes: (a) a constant current circuit; (b) a plurality of diodes being connected in series and having an output current of the constant current circuit impressed thereon; (c) analog switches provided between respective anodes and cathodes of said plurality of diodes for short-circuiting said diodes by the outputs of the timer means; and (d) output terminals provided at the anode sides of said diodes.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 81 words
A system for indicating audibly necessary information for a self-timer operation of a camera, comprising: (a) an acoustic device for producing different signal sounds by changing at least the volume thereof depending on the self-timer operation; and (b) sound control means for controlling a sound to be produced by said acoustic device, gradually increasing the volume at an interval of time which is determined depending on a passage of time from the moment the self-timer is set in an operative condition.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 81 words
A system for indicating audibly necessary information for a self-timer operation of a camera, comprising: (a) an acoustic device for producing different signal sounds by changing at least the volume thereof depending on the self-timer operation; and (b) sound control means for controlling a sound to be produced by said acoustic device, gradually increasing the volume at an interval of time which is determined depending on a passage of time from the moment the self-timer is set in an operative condition.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 142 words
A system for indicating audibly necessary information for a photographic operation of a camera, comprising: (a) a clock pulse oscillator for producing a clock pulse train; (b) a pulse frequency dividing means for dividing the pulse train of the oscillator and producing plural pulse train outputs; (c) mode selecting means for selecting a mode from a plurality of modes including a warning mode representative of improper brightness in a photographic operation, a self-timer mode and a battery checking mode; (d) an acoustic device for producing signal sounds in accordance with a voltage applied thereto; and (e) gate means, said gate means performing an AND operation of at least two pulse trains out of said plural pulse trains according to an output of the mode selecting means, thereby impressing pulse trains with different duties corresponding to the selected mode to the acoustic device.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 142 words
A system for indicating audibly necessary information for a photographic operation of a camera, comprising: (a) a clock pulse oscillator for producing a clock pulse train; (b) a pulse frequency dividing means for dividing the pulse train of the oscillator and producing plural pulse train outputs; (c) mode selecting means for selecting a mode from a plurality of modes including a warning mode representative of improper brightness in a photographic operation, a self-timer mode and a battery checking mode; (d) an acoustic device for producing signal sounds in accordance with a voltage applied thereto; and (e) gate means, said gate means performing an AND operation of at least two pulse trains out of said plural pulse trains according to an output of the mode selecting means, thereby impressing pulse trains with different duties corresponding to the selected mode to the acoustic device.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 138 words
A system for indicating audibly necessary information for a photographic operation of a camera, comprising: (a) a pulse oscillator for producing pulse trains; (b) mode selecting means for selecting a mode from a plurality of modes including a warning mode for improper brightness in a photographic operation, a self-timer mode and a battery checking mode; (c) duty changing means for changing the duty of pulses in accordance with the mode selecting means; and (d) an acoustic device for producing signal sounds according to an output of the duty changing means; and (e) gate means, said gate means performing an AND operation of at least two pulse trains out of said plural pulse trains according to an output of the mode selecting means, thereby impressing pulse trains with different duties corresponding to the selected mode to the acoustic device.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 138 words
A system for indicating audibly necessary information for a photographic operation of a camera, comprising: (a) a pulse oscillator for producing pulse trains; (b) mode selecting means for selecting a mode from a plurality of modes including a warning mode for improper brightness in a photographic operation, a self-timer mode and a battery checking mode; (c) duty changing means for changing the duty of pulses in accordance with the mode selecting means; and (d) an acoustic device for producing signal sounds according to an output of the duty changing means; and (e) gate means, said gate means performing an AND operation of at least two pulse trains out of said plural pulse trains according to an output of the mode selecting means, thereby impressing pulse trains with different duties corresponding to the selected mode to the acoustic device.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3776625A Cited
US4072973A Cited
US4174888A Cited
US4223987A Cited
DE2846919A1 Cited
JPS54128735A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-09-18 1988-03-19 1988-09-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-09-18 1992-03-19 1992-09-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-09-18 1996-03-19 1996-09-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag