US5049911A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for indicating a remaining quantity of recordable parts of a recording material in a camera
Assignee: Pentax Corp
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Filing: 1989-10-06
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Granted: 1991-09-17
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Expires: 2009-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A device for indicating a remaining quantity of the recordable portion of a recording material, such as a magnetic disk or film. The indicating device comprises a counting device which counts a remaining recordable quantity of recording material, and a warning device which outputs a warning when the reamining recordable quantity is low. The warning device is provided with an acoustic alarm device for outputting a vocal or electronic sound corresponding to the remaining quantity or an optical alarm device for outputting light indicating the value of the remaining recordable portions, or corresponding to the remaining quantity. The optical alarm mechanism is provided in such a manner that the warning light can be observed in the viewfinder of the camera.
Inventors
- 👤 Hitoshi Shimizu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:31
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/34; G03; G03B; G03B1/00; G03B1/60; G03B17/00; G03B17/18; G03B17/36; G03B7/00; G03B7/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A device for indicating a remaining quantity of recordable tracks of a magnetic disk mounted in a still video camera, said magnetic disk having tracks for recording an electric signal thereon corresponding to an object image formed by an imaging device of said still video camera, said indicating device comprising; means for sensing the remaining number of recordable tracks on said magnetic disk, said sensing means comprises means for sensing unrecorded tracks existing at a point midway between outer and inner peripheries of said magnetic disk; and means for giving a warning when said remaining number of recordable tracks on said magnetic disk becomes less than a predetermined value, said warning means including means for counting the remaining number of recordable tracks on said magnetic disk.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A device for indicating a remaining quantity of recordable tracks of a magnetic disk mounted in a still video camera, said magnetic disk having tracks for recording an electric signal thereon corresponding to an object image formed by an imaging device of said still video camera, said indicating device comprising; means for sensing the remaining number of recordable tracks on said magnetic disk, said sensing means comprises means for sensing unrecorded tracks existing at a point midway between outer and inner peripheries of said magnetic disk; and means for giving a warning when said remaining number of recordable tracks on said magnetic disk becomes less than a predetermined value, said warning means including means for counting the remaining number of recordable tracks on said magnetic disk.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An indicating device according to claim 1, wherein said warning means comprises an acoustic warning means for emitting a sound warning relating to said remaining number of recordable tracks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An indicating device according to claim 2, wherein said warning means comprises means for outputting a plurality of different sounds corresponding to said remaining number of the recordable tracks of said magnetic disk.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An indicating device according to claim 1, wherein said warning means comprises an optical warning means for giving a visual warning relating to said remaining number of recordable tracks.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An indicating device according to claim 4, wherein said optical warning means comprises means for providing a symbol corresponding to said remaining number of recordable tracks of said magnetic disk.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
An indicating device according to claim 4, wherein said optical warning means comprises means for providing a number corresponding to said remaining number of recordable tracks of said magnetic disk.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An indicating device according to claim 4, wherein said optical warning means comprises means for providing a colored light corresponding to said remaining number of recordable tracks of said magnetic disk.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An indicating device according to claim 4, wherein said optical warning means comprises means for providing an optical indication in a view finder of said camera.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An indicating device according to claim 6, wherein said optical warning means comprises a light emitting element provided in said view finder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
An indicating device according to claim 1, wherein said counting means comprises means for counting the number of recorded tracks of said magnetic disk after each executed photographing operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
An indicating device according to claim 1, wherein said warning means comprises means for emitting a warning of the existence of said unrecorded tracks existing at said midway point, and the number of said unrecorded tracks.
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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) | 1994-09-16 | 1995-03-18 | 1995-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-16 | 1999-03-18 | 1999-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-16 | 2003-03-18 | 2003-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |