US5027150A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camera
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1990-06-15
•
Granted: 1991-06-25
•
Expires: 2010-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A camera comprising an electronic flash and other load devices powered by a source battery. The load devices are controllable by a microcomputer mounted in a camera body, which microcomputer is also powered by the source battery. The camera includes a power backup such as a capacitor for supplying power to the microcomputer when the source battery has run down. A detecting device detects an output voltage of the source battery, and outputs a detection signal when the output voltage is below a predetermined level. The microcomputer discontinues a camera sequence and operation of the load devices in response to the detection signal. While the camera sequence and operation of the load devices are suspended, photographic information is stored in the microcomputer powered by the backup. After lapse of a predetermined time period, the microcomputer enables the camera sequence and the operation of the load devices provided that the battery voltage is above the predetermined level.
Inventors
- 👤 Manabu Inoue
- 👤 Hiroyuki Okada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:27
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/26; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/042; G05B19/0428; H; H02; H02J; H02J9/00; H02J9/04; H02J9/06; H02J9/061; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/30; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A camera comprising: power supply means; detecting means for detecting a voltage of said power supply means and outputting a detection signal when the voltage of said power supply means is below a predetermined level; timer means for counting a predetermined time period in response to said detection signal; and control means powered by said power supply means for controlling a camera sequence and load means in the camera, such that said control means discontinues the camera sequence and operation of said load means in response to said detection signal and, after lapse of said predetermined time period, enables the camera sequency and the operation of said load means in the event that said detecting means detects that the voltage of said power supply means is equal to or above the predetermined level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A camera comprising: power supply means; detecting means for detecting a voltage of said power supply means and outputting a detection signal when the voltage of said power supply means is below a predetermined level; timer means for counting a predetermined time period in response to said detection signal; and control means powered by said power supply means for controlling a camera sequence and load means in the camera, such that said control means discontinues the camera sequence and operation of said load means in response to said detection signal and, after lapse of said predetermined time period, enables the camera sequency and the operation of said load means in the event that said detecting means detects that the voltage of said power supply means is equal to or above the predetermined level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power supply means includes a battery, and backup means connected to said battery, said load means also being connected to said battery.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means is operable to maintain said camera sequence and said load means in an inoperative state when the voltage of said power supply means remains below the predetermined level after lapse of said predetermined time period.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein said battery is disposable battery removably mounted in a camera body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein said battery is rechargeable battery removably mounted in or fixed to a camera body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein said backup means comprises a capacitor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein said backup means comprises a battery.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said load means includes a motor for winding a film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said load means includes a electronic flash.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said load means includes drive means for driving a zoom lens.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a silver chloride film is used as a recording medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, which is an electronic still camera using a magnetic disk as a recording medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A camera as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, which is a video camera using a magnetic tape as a recording medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
137 words
A camera comprising: power supply means; detecting means for detecting a voltage of said power supply means and outputting a detection signal when the voltage of said power supply means is below a predetermined level; a microcomputer powered by said power supply means and including timer means for counting a predetermined time period in response to said detection signal, and control means for controlling a camera sequence and load means in the camera, such that said control means discontinues the camera sequence and operation of said load means in response to said detection signal and, after lapse of said predetermined time period, enables the camera sequence and the operation of said load means in the event that said detecting means detects that the voltage of said power supply means is equal to or above the predetermined level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
137 words
A camera comprising: power supply means; detecting means for detecting a voltage of said power supply means and outputting a detection signal when the voltage of said power supply means is below a predetermined level; a microcomputer powered by said power supply means and including timer means for counting a predetermined time period in response to said detection signal, and control means for controlling a camera sequence and load means in the camera, such that said control means discontinues the camera sequence and operation of said load means in response to said detection signal and, after lapse of said predetermined time period, enables the camera sequence and the operation of said load means in the event that said detecting means detects that the voltage of said power supply means is equal to or above the predetermined level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A camera as claimed in claim 14, wherein said power supply means includes a battery, and backup means connected to said battery, said load means also being connected to said battery.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A camera as claimed in claim 14, wherein said microcomputer is operable to maintain said camera sequence and said load means in an inoperative state when the voltage of said power supply means remains below the predetermined level after lapse of said predetermined time period.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A camera as claimed in claim 15, wherein said battery is a disposable battery removably mounted in a camera body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A camera as claimed in claim 15, wherein said battery is a rechargeable battery removably mounted in or fixed to a camera body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
A camera as claimed in claim 15, wherein said backup means comprises a capacitor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
A camera as claimed in claim 15, wherein said backup means comprises a battery.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A camera as claimed in claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein said load means includes a motor for winding a film.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A camera as claimed in claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein said load means includes an electronic flash.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A camera as claimed in claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein said load means includes drive means for driving a zoom lens.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A camera as claimed in claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein a silver chloride film is used as a recording medium.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A camera as claimed in claim 14, 15 or 16, which is an electronic still camera using a magnetic disk as a recording medium.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
A camera as claimed in claim 14, 15 or 16, which is a video camera using a magnetic tape as a recording medium.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
180 words
A camera comprising: power supply means; first detecting means for detecting a voltage of said power supply means and outputting a detection signal when the voltage of said power supply means is below a predetermined level; second detecting means for detecting whether said power supply means is loaded to the camera; memory means powered by said power supply means for storing various photographic information; and control means powered by said power supply means for controlling a camera sequence and load means in the camera based on said photographic information, such that said control means discontinues the camera sequence and operation of said load means in response to the detection signal received from said first detecting means and, after said power supply means is unloaded from the camera, enables the camera sequence and the operation of said load means in response to a detection, which is carried out when said second detecting means detects that said power supply means is re-loaded to the camera, of said first detecting means that the voltage of said power supply means exceeds the predetermined level.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
180 words
A camera comprising: power supply means; first detecting means for detecting a voltage of said power supply means and outputting a detection signal when the voltage of said power supply means is below a predetermined level; second detecting means for detecting whether said power supply means is loaded to the camera; memory means powered by said power supply means for storing various photographic information; and control means powered by said power supply means for controlling a camera sequence and load means in the camera based on said photographic information, such that said control means discontinues the camera sequence and operation of said load means in response to the detection signal received from said first detecting means and, after said power supply means is unloaded from the camera, enables the camera sequence and the operation of said load means in response to a detection, which is carried out when said second detecting means detects that said power supply means is re-loaded to the camera, of said first detecting means that the voltage of said power supply means exceeds the predetermined level.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
60 words
A camera as claimed in claim 27, wherein said power supply means includes a battery, and backup means connected to said battery and said load means, said load means being connected to said battery, and said backup means supplying power to said memory means while said control means maintains said camera sequence and said load means in an inoperative state.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
A camera as claimed in claim 27, wherein said power supply means is a disposable battery removably mounted in a camera body.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
A camera as claimed in claim 27, wherein said power supply means is a rechargeable battery removably mounted in or fixed to a camera body.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
A camera as claimed in claim 27, wherein said second detecting means includes a switch operable with loading and unloading of said power supply means, said switch outputting the detection signal when said power supply means is loaded.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
A camera as claimed in claim 28, wherein said backup means comprises a capacitor.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
A camera as claimed in claim 28, wherein said backup means comprises a battery.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
A camera as claimed in claim 27 or 28, wherein said load means includes a motor for winding a film.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
A camera as claimed in claim 27 or 28, wherein said load means includes an electronic flash.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
A camera as claimed in claim 27 or 28, wherein said load means includes drive means for driving a zoom lens.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
A camera as claimed in claim 27 or 28, wherein a silver chloride film is used as a recording medium.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
A camera as claimed in claim 27 or 28, which is an electronic still camera using a magnetic disk as a recording medium.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
A camera as claimed in claim 27 or 28, which is a video camera using a magnetic tape as a recording medium.
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) | 1994-06-24 | 1994-12-24 | 1995-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-06-24 | 1998-12-24 | 1999-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-06-24 | 2002-12-24 | 2003-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |