Battery system for camera

Claim 2

A battery system for use in a camera, comprising: a camera body; and a battery pack to be detachably mounted to the camera body; the battery pack including: a reusable secondary battery; calculation means for calculating the amount of charge and discharge of said secondary battery; and output means for releasing a signal indicating the remaining capacity of said secondary battery, obtained by said calculation; and the camera body including: means for receiving said signal, indicating the remaining capacity, from said output means; and means for displaying the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, based on said signal indicating the remaining capacity.

Claim 3

A camera body to which detachably mountable is a battery pack including a reusable secondary battery, calculation means for calculating the amount of charge and discharge of said secondary battery, and output means for releasing a signal, indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained from the result of said calculation, the camera body comprising: means for receiving the signal, indicating the remaining capacity, from said output means; and means for displaying the remaining capacity of battery, based on said signal indicating the remaining capacity.

Claim 4

A camera body to which detachably mountable is a battery pack including a reusable secondary battery, calculation means for calculating the amount of charge and discharge of said secondary battery, and output means for releasing a signal, indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained from the result of said calculation, the camera body comprising: means for receiving the signal, indicating the remaining capacity, from said output means; and means for displaying the remaining capacity of battery, based on said signal indicating the remaining capacity.

Claim 5

A battery system for use in a camera, comprising: a camera body; first battery means including a reusable secondary battery, calculation means for calculating the amount of charge and discharge of said secondary battery and output means for releasing a signal indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery obtained from the result of said calculation; and second battery means including a non-reusable primary battery; the first battery means and the second battery means being selectively mountable to the camera body; the camera body including: means for identifying the kind of mounted battery means; check means for checking the remaining capacity of the primary battery of said second battery means and releasing a signal indicating the remaining capacity of said primary battery; means for receiving said signal, indicating the remaining capacity of said secondary battery, from said output means; and display means for displaying the remaining capacity of said primary or secondary battery; wherein said display means is adapted to display the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, based on said signal indicating the remaining capacity thereof, when the first battery means is mounted to said camera body, or the remaining capacity of the primary battery, based on said signal indicating the remaining capacity thereof, when the second battery means is mounted to said camera body.

Claim 6

A battery system for use in a camera, comprising: a camera body; first battery means including a reusable secondary battery, calculation means for calculating the amount of charge and discharge of said secondary battery and output means for releasing a signal indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery obtained from the result of said calculation; and second battery means including a non-reusable primary battery; the first battery means and the second battery means being selectively mountable to the camera body; the camera body including: means for identifying the kind of mounted battery means; check means for checking the remaining capacity of the primary battery of said second battery means and releasing a signal indicating the remaining capacity of said primary battery; means for receiving said signal, indicating the remaining capacity of said secondary battery, from said output means; and display means for displaying the remaining capacity of said primary or secondary battery; wherein said display means is adapted to display the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, based on said signal indicating the remaining capacity thereof, when the first battery means is mounted to said camera body, or the remaining capacity of the primary battery, based on said signal indicating the remaining capacity thereof, when the second battery means is mounted to said camera body.

Claim 7

A battery pack to be detachably mounted to a camera body, comprising: a reusable secondary battery; means for calculating the amount of charge and discharge of said secondary battery; and display means for displaying the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained from the result of said calculation; wherein the display of said display means being observable from the rear side of the camera body when the battery pack is mounted to the camera body.

Claim 8

A battery pack to be detachably mounted to a camera body, comprising: a reusable secondary battery; means for calculating the amount of charge and discharge of said secondary battery; and display means for displaying the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained from the result of said calculation; wherein the display of said display means being observable from the rear side of the camera body when the battery pack is mounted to the camera body.

Claim 9

A battery pack according to claim 4, further comprising: first control means for manually controlling the function of said display means; and second control means for causing said display means to function in relation to the connecting operation of said battery pack to a camera body or a charger.

Claim 10

A camera body to which first battery means including a reusable secondary battery, calculation means for calculating the amount of charge and discharge of said battery, and display means for displaying the remaining capacity of the secondary battery obtained from the result of said calculation, and second battery means including a non-reusable primary battery are selectively mountable, the camera body comprising: second display means adapted to said second battery means and capable of checking and displaying the remaining capacity of said primary battery; detection means for detecting that said first battery means is mounted to the camera body; and control means for controlling said second display means in response to the output of said detection means.

Claim 11

A camera body to which first battery means including a reusable secondary battery, calculation means for calculating the amount of charge and discharge of said battery, and display means for displaying the remaining capacity of the secondary battery obtained from the result of said calculation, and second battery means including a non-reusable primary battery are selectively mountable, the camera body comprising: second display means adapted to said second battery means and capable of checking and displaying the remaining capacity of said primary battery; detection means for detecting that said first battery means is mounted to the camera body; and control means for controlling said second display means in response to the output of said detection means.

Claim 12

A battery system for use in a camera, comprising: a camera body; and a battery pack detachably mountable to the camera body and including a reusable secondary battery and information memory means; the camera body including: communication means for communicating with said information memory means; calculation means for calculating the amount of charge and discharge of said secondary battery; and displaying means for displaying the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained from the result of said calculation; wherein information indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery and stored in said information memory means is transmitted to said calculation means through said communication means when the battery pack is mounted to the camera body, and information, indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained in said calculation means is transmitted to said information memory means through said communication means.

Claim 13

A battery system for use in a camera, comprising: a camera body; and a battery pack detachably mountable to the camera body and including a reusable secondary battery and information memory means; the camera body including: communication means for communicating with said information memory means; calculation means for calculating the amount of charge and discharge of said secondary battery; and displaying means for displaying the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained from the result of said calculation; wherein information indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery and stored in said information memory means is transmitted to said calculation means through said communication means when the battery pack is mounted to the camera body, and information, indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained in said calculation means is transmitted to said information memory means through said communication means.

Claim 14

A battery system according to claim 7, wherein said camera body further includes means for detecting the mounting and detaching of the battery pack to and from the camera body and respectively releasing first and second timing signals in response to said detections, wherein, in response to said first timing signal, the information stored in said information memory means and indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery is transmitted to said calculation means, and the information indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained in said calculation means is transmitted to and memorized in said information memory means.

Claim 15

A battery system for use in a camera, comprising: a camera body; and a battery pack detachably mountable to the camera body and including a reusable secondary battery and information memory means; the camera body including; communication means for communicating with said information memory means; calculation means for calculating the amount of charge and discharge of said secondary battery; displaying means for displaying the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained from the result of said calculation; and clock means; wherein, when the battery pack is mounted to the camera body, the information indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery and the time data, both stored in said information memory means, are transmitted through said communication means to said calculation means, which calculates the amount of spontaneous discharge of the secondary battery from said time data and the current time indicated by said clock means, and determines the remaining capacity of the secondary battery from said spontaneous discharge amount and said amount of charge and discharge; and the information indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained in said calculation means, and the time data are transmitted through said communication means and stored in said information memory means.

Claim 16

A battery system for use in a camera, comprising: a camera body; and a battery pack detachably mountable to the camera body and including a reusable secondary battery and information memory means; the camera body including; communication means for communicating with said information memory means; calculation means for calculating the amount of charge and discharge of said secondary battery; displaying means for displaying the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained from the result of said calculation; and clock means; wherein, when the battery pack is mounted to the camera body, the information indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery and the time data, both stored in said information memory means, are transmitted through said communication means to said calculation means, which calculates the amount of spontaneous discharge of the secondary battery from said time data and the current time indicated by said clock means, and determines the remaining capacity of the secondary battery from said spontaneous discharge amount and said amount of charge and discharge; and the information indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained in said calculation means, and the time data are transmitted through said communication means and stored in said information memory means.

Claim 17

A battery system for use in a camera, comprising: a camera body; a battery pack detachably mountable to the camera body and including a reusable secondary battery chargeable with a charger, and information memory means; and a battery charger including first communication means for communicating with said information memory means, and first calculation means for calculating amount of charging of the secondary battery; the camera body including; second communication means for communicating with said information memory means; second calculation means for calculating the amount of discharge of said secondary battery; and display means for displaying the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained by said calculation means; wherein, when the charger is connected to the battery pack, the information indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery and stored in said information memory means is transmitted through said first communication means to said first calculation means, and the information indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery after charging, obtained from said first calculation means is transmitted to and stored in said information memory means; and when the battery pack is mounted to the camera body, the information indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery and stored in said information memory means is transmitted through said second communication means to said second calculation means, and the information indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained by said second calculation means is transmitted by said second calculation means is transmitted to and stored in said information memory means.

Claim 18

A battery system for use in a camera, comprising: a camera body; a battery pack detachably mountable to the camera body and including a reusable secondary battery chargeable with a charger, and information memory means; and a battery charger including first communication means for communicating with said information memory means, and first calculation means for calculating amount of charging of the secondary battery; the camera body including; second communication means for communicating with said information memory means; second calculation means for calculating the amount of discharge of said secondary battery; and display means for displaying the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained by said calculation means; wherein, when the charger is connected to the battery pack, the information indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery and stored in said information memory means is transmitted through said first communication means to said first calculation means, and the information indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery after charging, obtained from said first calculation means is transmitted to and stored in said information memory means; and when the battery pack is mounted to the camera body, the information indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery and stored in said information memory means is transmitted through said second communication means to said second calculation means, and the information indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained by said second calculation means is transmitted by said second calculation means is transmitted to and stored in said information memory means.

Claim 19

A battery system for use in a camera, comprising: a camera body; a battery pack detachably mountable to the camera body and including a reusable secondary battery chargeable with a charger, clock means and information memory means; and a battery charger including first communication means for communicating with said information memory means and first calculation means for calculating the amount of charging of the secondary battery; the camera body including; second communication means for communicating with said information memory means; second calculation means for calculating the amount of discharge of said secondary battery; and display means for displaying the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained by said calculation means; wherein, when the charger is connected to the battery pack, the information indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery and time data, both stored in said information memory means, are transmitted through said first communication means to said first calculation means, which calculates the amount of spontaneous discharge of the secondary battery based on the time data and determines the remaining capacity of the secondary battery based on said spontaneous discharge amount and said amount of discharge, and the remaining capacity of the secondary battery obtained in said second calculation means is transmitted to and stored in said information memory means.

Claim 20

A battery system for use in a camera, comprising: a camera body; a battery pack detachably mountable to the camera body and including a reusable secondary battery chargeable with a charger, clock means and information memory means; and a battery charger including first communication means for communicating with said information memory means and first calculation means for calculating the amount of charging of the secondary battery; the camera body including; second communication means for communicating with said information memory means; second calculation means for calculating the amount of discharge of said secondary battery; and display means for displaying the remaining capacity of the secondary battery, obtained by said calculation means; wherein, when the charger is connected to the battery pack, the information indicating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery and time data, both stored in said information memory means, are transmitted through said first communication means to said first calculation means, which calculates the amount of spontaneous discharge of the secondary battery based on the time data and determines the remaining capacity of the secondary battery based on said spontaneous discharge amount and said amount of discharge, and the remaining capacity of the secondary battery obtained in said second calculation means is transmitted to and stored in said information memory means.

Claim 21

A camera system comprising: a camera body; and a battery pack detachably mountable to the camera body, including a reusable secondary battery, measurement means for measuring the amount of charge and discharge of said secondary battery, calculation means for calculating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery based on the result of measurement by said measurement means, and display means for displaying the remaining capacity of said secondary battery; the camera body including; load means for consuming the current supplied from said secondary battery; control means for effecting on-off control of said load means; and signal generating means for generating a timing signal indicating the control timing of said control means; wherein the function timing of said measurement means and said calculation means is controlled according to said timing signal.

Claim 22

A camera system comprising: a camera body; and a battery pack detachably mountable to the camera body, including a reusable secondary battery, measurement means for measuring the amount of charge and discharge of said secondary battery, calculation means for calculating the remaining capacity of the secondary battery based on the result of measurement by said measurement means, and display means for displaying the remaining capacity of said secondary battery; the camera body including; load means for consuming the current supplied from said secondary battery; control means for effecting on-off control of said load means; and signal generating means for generating a timing signal indicating the control timing of said control means; wherein the function timing of said measurement means and said calculation means is controlled according to said timing signal.

Claim 23

A camera system according to claim 12, wherein said timing signal controls the start timing of measurement of the amount of the charge and discharge by said measurement means.

Claim 24

A camera system according to claim 12, wherein said timing signal controls the timing from start to end of measurement of the amount of charge and discharge by said measurement means.